Hello, Fourth Graders!
     Who can believe it?  When I heard the weather prediction on Saturday, I thought we wouldn't get much snow, but it does look like someone with a large bowl of marshmallow creme has been out overnight decorating my neighborhood.  If you like snow, please get outside and enjoy it.  I predict that this will be the last significant snow of the season.  We will see if I am correct in the weeks to come.
       Because this snow day was so unexpected, I did not send home any extra work for you.  My suggestions are pretty simple.  You can check them out on the list that follows.  At the bottom of the page, I have updated my jokes and riddles.  They are from that great book called Jokelopedia.  Maybe they will make you giggle and inspire you to write a few of your own.  
       I know this day was supposed to be a part of our spring break, so I think we better enjoy it!  I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow and hearing about your snow adventures!

Bunny ears and hugs to you,

Ms. Hohman
hhohman@access.k12.wv.us


1.  Writing Prompts
*Our writing assessment is just around the corner.  Remember it is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 2013.  You can access WV Writes at home, and continue the writing you started last week.  I added one extra prompt for anyone who needed it.  We will discuss your progress tomorrow and Wednesday. 
  
2.  Please read your SSR book or another book you are interested in for 30 minutes.

3.  SSR Response # 20-
*If you haven't finished last week's response, please do so.  I know that many of you are still trying to catch up after being out for several days.  Be sure to record the title, author, date and SSR #19.  Use the prompt sheet to help you enrich your response with details.  The summary section should be brief---3 to 5 sentences, but the the response section should be much longer.   
*Some people love to work ahead.  If you are so inclined, you can work on SSR # 20.  Our next SSR response will not be due until the week of April 8, 2013.  There will be so much writing the week of April 2nd that I thought we might all need a little break from our written responses.  We will still have our normal conferences, though.    

4.  Science-
*We will complete a review sheet in class tomorrow, and take a short quiz on Wednesday.
*Here are a few sample questions:
     Name the components (parts) of a complete circuit.
     What is a magnet?  Give some examples of items that can stick to a magnet.
     How do you know that an object can conduct electricity?
     How does a switch work? 
8.  Spelling-
* You can use the Spelling City site to practice for our Spring Hop Spelling Bee. 
*No test this week---Our next spelling test will be April 5 and it will cover Unit 6 Week 1. 
 
9.  Catch up on make-up work!  If you know you have other work, take advantage of the time to do it.  Many people have work in their response notebooks to do.  Check Edline, or email me if you are unsure. 

10.  Keyboarding Practice-. 
*This is the tech steps site.  Remember, our password is TOE90.  Please select the typing tutor at the bottom of the page.  You can practice keyboarding.  This is such a good skill as we get ready for the writing assessment. 
*Please go to https://www.techsteps.com/public/login/

Just for fun:

Do you know why a snow storm this time of year is often called sugar snow?  See if you can find out, and tell us about it tomorrow. 

Want to learn more about the 13 original colonies or to find out more about the reasons why colonists decided to fight for their independence?  Try doing some independent research.
This site is called EBSCO Host.  Your user name is WEST and your password is VIRGINIA.
http://search.ebscohost.com/
Choose Kids Search and then ENCYCLOPEDIA.  Then you can type in

American colonies or American Revolution to see what you can learn.

 Jokes to make you giggle:

What kind of hair does the ocean have?  Wavy

Why was the chicken team so bad at baseball?  They kept hitting fowl balls.

What does a reptile wear on its feet?  Snakers.

What do you get if you cross a Jedi knight with a toad?  Star warts.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Electra.
Electra who?
Electricity.  Isn't it shocking?  ( I thought that one was cute, since we have been studying electricity.  Can you make up one for magnetism?)

Tongue Twisters to Try:

Can canned clams can clams?

She freed six sick sheep.

Betty's bunnies did backflips beside Bill.

Try writing your own jokes, riddles or tongue twisters.  Maybe you could sign up to read them during Author's Chair. 


*Check out this great site to help with spelling~
(Spelling pretest)
http://www.ncsd.k12.mo.us/emints/dhorn/studentresources/communicationarts/rslinks/rslinks.htm#theme1
(Great review site for our reading series)
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/waltkek/fourthgrade.html
P.S. Here's a site I would like for you to visit for extra practice.
http://wvde.state.wv.us/learn21/!