Thursday, September 24, 2015

Class Reward

Our class has earned 2000 Tiger Tickets for being respectful, responsible, and ready.  The class has voted to have "electronic time" TOMORROW from 3:15 - 3:40.  Your child may bring in an electronic device to play with during this time.  I will keep them locked up in my closet during the day.  Children that do not bring in an electronic device will be provided a lap top to use.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Tiger Trot

Tomorrow is the Tiger Trot.  Since this activity is outside I have told the kids to be sure to wear to their tennis shoes.  They may also bring sunglasses and wear hats tomorrow.  It would also be a good idea to have the kids put sun screen on before coming to school.
Please be sure to send in a water bottle since they will be working up quite a thirst!
Thanks,
Mrs. Thompson

Monday, September 14, 2015

Worms, Worms, and more Worms!

Last week we began our Living Systems science unit.  The first investigation involves learning what a system and sub system are.  Children then went a step further and learned about the ecosystem and the food chain.  We then broke into groups and began to create an ecosystem with recycled newspaper, leaves, twigs, coffee grinds, soil, and tea bags.  Each group then put in 15 red worms and we covered them in a black bag.  The students will check on their worms weekly and record what changes are happening in the worms ecosystem.  The objective is that the students make and analyze a worm habitat as a decomposition.

In reading we focused on character traits.  The children learned some new adjectives and we talked in depth about what some of the more common adjectives really mean, such a jealously and compassion. On Friday they were given an assessment to see if they had mastered the objective.  Scores will be shared in October at our conferences. This week our focus is on figuring out what the theme of a story is.

In math we have worked very hard on 3 - 4 digit addition and subtraction. We have studying place value and rounding. We will assess the children on these skills on Thursday.

This week we will take the district language arts assessment.  This can be a long assessment but I am confidant that the students will do a great job.

I am very happy with how our class has meshed as a "school family'.  Everyday I see more acts of kindness and caring from the kids.  They are wonderful kids and they make coming to work a joy!

Please remember that cough drops are not allowed at school .  I have noticed that some of the kiddos are getting the "yuck" already.  We make sure that we wash hands and Lysol daily to help prevent illness.
Please remember to turn in your Walk-a-Thon money. Thank you for collecting it and supporting our school. We hope to buy more Surface Pros for the students to use.

Upcoming events:
Wednesday, September 16:  1:30 Early Dismissal
Thursday, September 24:  Walk-a-thon
Friday, October 2:  Pride Day
Friday, October 9:  Fall Pictures

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Week Two

     The kids have all done a great job adjusting to school!  They seem to really like 4th grade and are getting used to the schedule.  In 4th grade we move very quickly through the curriculum and our day.  Some days I feel like we have run a marathon! 
Homework has started this week and your child should be able to tell you what is due and when.  If not there is a homework schedule on back of their red folder.  My expectation is that homework is completed weekly.
This year we are NOT having spelling tests.  We will work on words by using the program Words Their Way but will not be testing on them. 
Our schedule is coming together and is complicated.  Here is our routine...
8:45 - 9:00 - Morning Work
9:00 - 9:40 - Every other Monday is guidance with Mrs. Hall
                     Every day 3 is LMC check out and/or lesson/lab
                     Any day that is open is Science/SS
9:40 - 10:20 - Specials
                       Day 1 - Pe    Day 2 - Music   Day 3 - Art
10:20 - 11:30 - Snack and math
11:30 - 12:00 - Intervention
12:00 - 12:15 - Tiger Test
12:15 - 1:10 - Lunch and recess
1:15 - 3:15 - Read aloud and reading
3:15 - 3:35 - Writing
3:35 - 3:45 - Clean up and dismissal

I do know that kids get sick!  However, if you know that your child is sick or that you will be gone please contact me so I can send the work home with them .  I will only send the "must do" home but it will ease anxiety on your child to have it done before they return to school.

Here are some upcoming events:

Friday and Monday Sept. 4th and 7th - No school
Friday, Sept. 11th - Book orders are due and it is a Pride Day
Wednesday, Sept. 16th - early dismissal
Thursday, Sept. 17th - PTO meeting
Thursday, Sept. 24th - Walk -a- Thon

Please feel free to email me with questions and concerns. 
Thanks
Carrie Thompson