Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Thanksgiving Break and Awards Assembly

Thank you for coming to conferences! I know it was cold and time is precious! I enjoyed sharing your child's growth with you and talking about future goals.  We had 100% attendance!


After break we are going to have a busy three weeks until we have another break.  Please make sure that your child is coming to school on time and is here daily, unless they are sick.  Please send in warm winter clothes for the kids. We do go outside to play as weather permits.


There will be an awards assembly on Friday, December 5th from 2:00 - 3:00. The following kids will be getting either a Paws for Applause or a Write Stuff award:
Amanie
Sean
Spencer
Mason
Annie
Lauren
Alyshia
Jenna
Ryleigh
Jadyn
Colby
Ian
Olivia


It would seem that we have someone/something that is "eating" our pencils.  If you have any extra pencils at home our class would love the donation.  I go through an average of 25 pencils a week. I am not sure where they all go to but they seem to disappear!  The pencils need to be plain yellow ones because any other kind "kill" our pencil sharpener.


Upcoming Events:


Nov. 24 - Nov. 30 - No school
Dec. 3rd - Half day
Dec. 5th - Awards Assembly and Truman Celebration
Dec. 17th - Half day
Dec. 22nd - Celebration with our second grade buddies
Dec. 23rd - Holiday activities


If you are willing to send in a holiday treat to feed our class and our second grade buddies on Dec. 22nd please let me know. There are just under 60 kids total. I am ok with a "fun" treat for the day.
I am also looking for someone to send in a drink for the kids.


Do you have a fun holiday craft that you would like to do with the 4th graders?  I am looking for a couple of parents who would like to come in on Tuesday, Dec. 23rd to do an activity with the kids.  If you are interested please let me know.
Wishing your family a blessed and relaxing Thanksgiving break!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Intramurals

Monday will be girls only.
Tuesday will be boys only.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Thankful Celebration and Conferences

I am writing this blog with my kids.  I think that if they are a part of the blog writing then they will be more apt to ask you to check it and/or tell you what is going on at school. :)


Conferences have started.  The evening conferences are on Nov. 13th and 18th.  Some of you have times with me in the morning or right after school.  Your child brought home their report card and on the front was a turkey with your conference time on it. I look forward to meeting with you to share your child's growth!


We have earned our 550 tickets.  The children had voted to have "toy day" but decided to wait until after Christmas so they can bring in their new toys.  So instead we decided to celebrate our ticket totals with a movie, popcorn, and pj day. That will be this Friday (Nov. 14th). I have asked children to bring in some already popped popcorn to share with the class if they can. We haven't decided on a movie yet but it will be a rated "G" movie.


On Friday we will be watching a Brass Ensemble at 1:00 in Music.


On November 20th we will be watching the Disney movie The Newsies as the conclusion of our Progressive Era.  On Nov. 21st we will be having a Thanksgiving celebration with our second grade buddies.


In reading we have been working on fluency, biographies, authors purpose, and inferences.  Children have also been working on character traits.


The kids want me to write that they are angels. :)  They are pretty good kids! :)


A reminder that there is not school the week of November 24th

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Music Program , Conferences, and Pizza Party!

The 4th and 5th grade music program is this Thursday, October 30 at 6:30 at the Truman Gym. Students should wear nice looking clothes and arrive to my classroom by 6:15.


Please take a minute to go to the Truman website to sign up for conferences. If you would rather meet with me at 8:00 am please send me a note indicating that and I will let you know what mornings I have free.


Our class won the Box Tops contest so we will be rewarded with a lunch pizza party on Nov. 7th! Thanks for sending in the Box Tops! Keep saving them for the next big contest.


Book orders are due on Friday, Oct. 31st.


Our next Truman celebration will be on Friday, Nov. 7th. 


Please make sure that your child has warm clothes for recess. I have seen a lot of shivering kiddos!


Upcoming Events:
Thursday, October 30:  4/5 Music Program 6:30
Friday, November 7:  November Celebration Day, Pride Day
Monday, November 10:  Paramount 9:15-11:15
Thursday, November 13:  Conferences
Tuesday, November 18:  Conferences
Monday, November 24-28 No School

Monday, October 20, 2014

No School On Friday

With the last day of the week being Thursday we will be having things due a day earlier than normal.


Comprehension Tidbits will be due on Thursday, Oct. 23rd.
The spelling test will be on Thursday, Oct. 23rd.


Please sign up for fall conferences online by going to the Truman website. Look below the picture of Truman School to find Online Conferencing Scheduling. Conferences will be held Thursday, November 13 and Tuesday, November 18. Your child should attend the conference as part of it will be student led.

Information regarding the 4/5 music program was sent home. It is Thursday, October 30 at 6:30 at the Truman gym. Students should arrive by 6:15 and go to my classroom. They should wear nice looking clothes for this program. Thank you!



Thank you to all of our America Readers for taking time out of their day to share a story with the fourth graders!


A reminder that we will be golfing on Wednesday, Oct. 22nd in the morning. Please make sure that your child has appropriate clothing for this event.  I suggest wearing layers.  Children will be eating lunch at school so you do not need to worry about a lunch.


A new book order will be sent home today with the children . It is due on Nov. 7th.  If you are ordering books for the holidays please just send me a note and I will contact you when they come in.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Picture Day
Friday, October 10 is Picture Day. We are scheduled to have them taken in the morning around 10:30. Information and an envelope were sent home on Friday.

The class has earned their 1000 Tiger Tickets so we will be having our electronics day on Friday, Oct. 10th.  Your child may bring in something to use electronically during our celebration. I will have lap tops for kids who forget. Our next goal is to earn 550 tickets. The children selected "toy day" as their reward.

 Please send in any Box Tops you have collected by Friday, October 17. Thank you!

Your child took the Topic 3 test covering place value today.  Scores will be sent home to you. If you have any questions, please let me know.

 In Science  students did the lightbulb challenge. Given a D-cell and 2 wires they experimented with lighting a lightbulb. Next, they had to figure out how to light one using only one wire

In Social Studies we are learning about the Progressive Era and did a mock example of capitalism and monopolies.  Ask your child about the Bubble Gum Store.

During Oct. we will be having the Linn Area Extension Office come. We have the Master Gardeners.  They will be teaching the kids about plants through a variety of experiments.

In reading we are working on fluency and reading to remember. We have read books about deserts and are now doing a research paper.

Upcoming Events:
Friday, October 10:  Picture Day, Costume Bingo at Taft (Information regarding this event was sent home on Friday. A volunteer sign up sheet was sent home as well.)
Friday, October 17:  America Reads Day, Box Tops due
Wednesday, October 22: Golf 11:10-1:45 at Airport National Golf Course
Friday, October 24:  No School
Thursday, October 30:  4/5 Music Program 6:30

Monday, September 22, 2014

Reading Fluency

Last week I learned that the Department of Education has changed the reading fluency requirement for children in the 4th grade.  Children are not required to read 127 correct words per minute.  By the end of the year they should be able to read 156 correct words per minute.  This is dramatically higher than what we first reported to you.  It is vital that EVERY child practice their Comprehension Tidbits and read aloud so that all kids can meet this fluency goal.  Please have your child practice their Tidbits until they read at least 127 correct words per minute.  If they still haven't met that goal by Friday you should still return their book so that I can see their progress.  Please record every attempt in their book.
This week we will start the district math assessment. This is a long test so we will be doing a page a day.  Please make sure that your child is at school for this test.
This week is also our Wellness Week.  Our activities are as follows:
Monday - Dance Break
Tuesday - 5th grade has the Jon Cushing run and we cheer
Wednesday - Healthy snack donated by Hy-Vee
Thursday - Buddy activity in PE and Art
Friday - Tiger Trot