You should have received a note home on Thursday telling you how to sign up for conferences online. Truman is trying to "go green" and do this electronically . If you are NOT able to access the internet you may send the form back to me and I will do it for you. I cannot guarranty the times that you picked since I am unaware of the avaliable times until I log in and see what times are left.
The Truman Trot was a great success! The school raised more than $6,100 to use towards technology in the classrooms. Thank you to all the volunteers and businesses that donated their time and materials to make this day fun for the kids!
This week we will begin two weeks of heavy testing. The children will begin the Iowa Core math assessment this week and take the unit 2 patterns test. Next week the children will be taking the reading assessment and the writing assessment. PLEASE have your children here at school and on time so they are not getting behind on these tests.
This week in reading we are working on inferences and character traits. Children will be asked guided questions that will require them to infere about what they have read to answer the question. This is a skill we will continue next week as well.
In writing we are working on writing an opinion piece. I hope to have those sent home by Friday. Please take a minute to read those with your child. They will be putting a lot of time into them. We are also continuing to work on non-fiction summaries.
In math we are working on patterns in numbers and some of us are continuing to work on learning multiplicaiton facts.
In science the children are working on doing scratch tests to gain clues as to the hardness of the rock/mineral. They will use this information to identify the rocks/minerals.
Tenement houses are due this Friday. They will be displayed in the glass case in front of the school. This week we will be learning more about Teddy Roosevelt and how his Presidency is important in the Progressive Era.
Mrs. Smith is taking over more and more of the teaching. Next week she will be in charge of the entire morning.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Truman Tiger Trot
Thank you to the parents who attended the Parent Night on Tuesday. I appreciate the time you took out of your busy lives to come and learn about your child's fourth grade year and how to make it as successful as possible. If you were unable to attend I sent the packet of information home with your child. Please note that we are now doing conference sign up online. You can access this on the Truman Website.
This week we worked on summarizing text. We used the rule of 5 and wrote written summaries. This is one of the "big rocks" for 4th grade. We talked quite a bit about how it is important to read to remember. As I looked over the data that I collected from the reading assessment I realized that all but 2 children in the class need to work on reading comprehension. We are putting a lot of focus on this skill all year. At home you can work with your child on this by asking them to retell the events of the story they are reading or by asking your child about the characters in the story, where the story takes place, and what the problem is in the story. If your child is not able to retell these things to you I would have them go back and reread until they are able to answer these questions.
In math we are finishing up our unit one math which is multiplication. Most kids have mastered their basic multiplication facts by now. If your child has not I sent home flashcards with the facts that they still need to master. Please practice them with your child nightly. Sign the sheet and return them to me daily. At school I am working with them on ways to help them learn these facts and continuing to give them their multiplication level tests. I have talked to the kids about the importance of reading each math problem correctly and rereading it so they know what the question is asking.
There were many children that did not return their spelling homework or their Comprehension Tidbits. Please note that the homework schedule is on back of the red take home folder and that spelling is due on Thursdays and comprehension is due on Friday.
Please remember to earn money for the Truman Tiger Trot! This event will happen on Friday, Sept. 27th. The money earned from this fundraiser will help get technology into the classrooms that don't have it.
I have sent emails to you to check to make sure that I have the correct email address for you. I will be using email to update you on your child's progress this year. Please check to see if you have an email from me.
Half day - Sept. 25th.
Tenement houses are due Oct. 4th
Oct. 11th - Picture day
This week we worked on summarizing text. We used the rule of 5 and wrote written summaries. This is one of the "big rocks" for 4th grade. We talked quite a bit about how it is important to read to remember. As I looked over the data that I collected from the reading assessment I realized that all but 2 children in the class need to work on reading comprehension. We are putting a lot of focus on this skill all year. At home you can work with your child on this by asking them to retell the events of the story they are reading or by asking your child about the characters in the story, where the story takes place, and what the problem is in the story. If your child is not able to retell these things to you I would have them go back and reread until they are able to answer these questions.
In math we are finishing up our unit one math which is multiplication. Most kids have mastered their basic multiplication facts by now. If your child has not I sent home flashcards with the facts that they still need to master. Please practice them with your child nightly. Sign the sheet and return them to me daily. At school I am working with them on ways to help them learn these facts and continuing to give them their multiplication level tests. I have talked to the kids about the importance of reading each math problem correctly and rereading it so they know what the question is asking.
There were many children that did not return their spelling homework or their Comprehension Tidbits. Please note that the homework schedule is on back of the red take home folder and that spelling is due on Thursdays and comprehension is due on Friday.
Please remember to earn money for the Truman Tiger Trot! This event will happen on Friday, Sept. 27th. The money earned from this fundraiser will help get technology into the classrooms that don't have it.
I have sent emails to you to check to make sure that I have the correct email address for you. I will be using email to update you on your child's progress this year. Please check to see if you have an email from me.
Half day - Sept. 25th.
Tenement houses are due Oct. 4th
Oct. 11th - Picture day
Friday, September 6, 2013
Our First Two Weeks of School
I have enjoyed getting to know all of your children these last two weeks. They are a great group of kids. They are working hard to learn the expectations in 4th grade and the schedule.
This week the children have been learning "how to read" again. We have been talking about how good readers use metacognition (thinking about our thinking) and schema ( our past experiences) to understand what we are reading and to make connections. Next week we will be continuing to learn more skills to help make us better readers. We will also be starting our guided reading groups.
In math we are working hard on our multiplication facts. The expectation is that all 4th graders are fluent on their basic multiplication facts. Please have your child practice these facts at home. Each child is in a multiplication level ranging from 0 - 10. That is the facts that they need to know. For example if I didn't know my 5 facts then I would be in level 5. Ask your child what level they are in. The Truman website has a great link in the math room for the kids to practice their math facts. They played it today in computer lab. I would strongly recommend your child spending some time on this site daily.
In Social Studies we are learning about the Industrialization Era or the Progressive Era. We have talked about World War 3, Robber Barrons, tenement houses, and child labor.
In Science the children are breaking apart mock rocks to try to figure out what properties are in them.
Here are some school updates:
The crossing guard will be on duty from 8:30 - 9:15 and from 3:15 - 4:00 daily. Children should NOT be dropped off before 8:40 am unless they eat school breakfast or go to intramurals.
Your child should have brought home a PTO fundraising packet. Please read it carefully. We are hoping that each child can raise $40 so that we can get some more technology in our building.
This weeks comprehension tidbits story is titled Thomas Edison.
Our class has earned 100 Tiger tickers. We will celebrate on Tuesday with a sharing time. Children may bring in one small , non living, item to share. Please no electronics!
Our school has earned over 1000 tickets so we will be having a school wide picnic on Friday.
There will be an at home SS project note coming home next week , Your child will be making a tenement house. Please save a kleenex box or shoe box for this project.
Thank you for making sure that your child is doing and returning their homework on time. I only had 4 kids not have homework turned in today.
Parent Night will be on Sept. 17th. This will be the night that I give you informatioon on things that you will need to know to help your child be more successful at school. It is also a time that you can ask any questions that you may have.
I will be reading testing next Friday the 13th and on Monday the 16th. Mrs. Lewis will be my substitute.
Have a great weekend and please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns!
This week the children have been learning "how to read" again. We have been talking about how good readers use metacognition (thinking about our thinking) and schema ( our past experiences) to understand what we are reading and to make connections. Next week we will be continuing to learn more skills to help make us better readers. We will also be starting our guided reading groups.
In math we are working hard on our multiplication facts. The expectation is that all 4th graders are fluent on their basic multiplication facts. Please have your child practice these facts at home. Each child is in a multiplication level ranging from 0 - 10. That is the facts that they need to know. For example if I didn't know my 5 facts then I would be in level 5. Ask your child what level they are in. The Truman website has a great link in the math room for the kids to practice their math facts. They played it today in computer lab. I would strongly recommend your child spending some time on this site daily.
In Social Studies we are learning about the Industrialization Era or the Progressive Era. We have talked about World War 3, Robber Barrons, tenement houses, and child labor.
In Science the children are breaking apart mock rocks to try to figure out what properties are in them.
Here are some school updates:
The crossing guard will be on duty from 8:30 - 9:15 and from 3:15 - 4:00 daily. Children should NOT be dropped off before 8:40 am unless they eat school breakfast or go to intramurals.
Your child should have brought home a PTO fundraising packet. Please read it carefully. We are hoping that each child can raise $40 so that we can get some more technology in our building.
This weeks comprehension tidbits story is titled Thomas Edison.
Our class has earned 100 Tiger tickers. We will celebrate on Tuesday with a sharing time. Children may bring in one small , non living, item to share. Please no electronics!
Our school has earned over 1000 tickets so we will be having a school wide picnic on Friday.
There will be an at home SS project note coming home next week , Your child will be making a tenement house. Please save a kleenex box or shoe box for this project.
Thank you for making sure that your child is doing and returning their homework on time. I only had 4 kids not have homework turned in today.
Parent Night will be on Sept. 17th. This will be the night that I give you informatioon on things that you will need to know to help your child be more successful at school. It is also a time that you can ask any questions that you may have.
I will be reading testing next Friday the 13th and on Monday the 16th. Mrs. Lewis will be my substitute.
Have a great weekend and please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns!
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