Week of January 2nd-3rd and January 6th-10th

I hope everyone is having a relaxing holiday break. I can't believe 2014 is a couple days away!

I want to thank you all for a great first half of the school year. It certainly has flown by!

I have enjoyed sharing it with your child and I absolutely love fourth grade!

This week (Thursday & Friday) AND next week we will been reading
"The Great Kapok Tree".

Here are the skills/strategies for this story:

Genre: Fantasy

Comprehension Skill: Generalize

Comprehension Strategy: Story Structure

Comprehension Review Skill: Author's Purpose

Vocabulary: Word Structure

Spelling workbooks will be due next Friday, January 10th.

We will be researching rainforests and will be creating our own newscast movie about rainforests. If your child asks to bring in props, it's most likely for the project.  Also, your child may tell you they can't wear green/turquoise/yellow this week. This is because we will be recording in front of a green screen. :) We will begin our study of rainforests this week, and get more into the reading series story next week.

Week of December 16th-20th

Wow! The holidays are fast approaching! This week, we WILL NOT be doing a story from our Reading series. There will not be a Spelling test this week either. We will be reading the novel:

We will be reviewing skills such as character traits, cause & effect, visualization, and more as we read this story throughout the week.

On Thursday, December 19th we will have a holiday celebration in our classroom. We will be making crafts in the morning and playing board games in the afternoon. Your child may bring in their favorite board game. On Friday, we will be enjoying holiday activities and will participate in a holiday sing-a-long with the entire school. 

In Math, we will be testing Chapter 4 on Wednesday. We will not begin Chapter 5 until we return from the holiday break.

Week of Dec 3rd - Dec 6th

Here is the reading information for this week:

This week we will be reading "How Night Came From The Sea". Here are the skills/strategies for this story:
Genre: Pourquoi Tale
Comprehension Skill: Generalize
Comprehension Strategy: Visualize
Comprehension Review Skill: Cause and Effect
Vocabulary: Context Clues

Students are completing their Genre Mystery Puzzles this week. Due on the 3rd is the sheet with the puzzle pieces. ALL pieces should be colored and handed in then. On the 6th, I will collect the completed packet. If your child wants to hand it in earlier, he/she may do so.

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 11th is the Holiday concert at the High School.

It's Turkey Time!

Holy smokes, it's already Thanksgiving! Where has this year gone? This week we are reading Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims. We will discuss story elements, including plot, characters and setting. We'll also discuss sequencing, cause/effect, and summarizing with this story.

There will not be a spelling test or selection test this week.

I wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends. I'm so very thankful for so many things... including the time I get to share with your child each day!

Just a reminder: Wednesday is a half day! :)

A "short" week ~ Conferences!

This week we have been testing Unit 2 in Reading. I can't believe we've finished another unit! The school year is certainly flying by. Next week, we will begin Unit 3.

In Math, we are learning multiplication facts and division. Please continue working with your child on these facts each night. It is very important that they know them for future success in Math.

Conferences are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you are unable to keep your scheduled conference time, please let me know.

This week the students are also researching future career choices. They will be using their research to create an infographic.

Week of October 21st-25th

Here is this weeks reading information:

This week we will been reading "Marven of the Great North Woods". Here are the skills/strategies for this story:
Genre: Biography
Comprehension Skill: Fact & Opinion
Comprehension Strategy: Monitor & Fix Up
Comprehension Review Skill: Main Idea
Vocabulary: Dictionary/Glossary

Thank you for the donations toward the Jamaica trip. Look at these kiddos! THEY are making a mark WITH Jayden and I-- Look at all of the donations they brought in. I can't wait to share my experiences with this group- how THEY are helping to make a difference and impact the lives of many! 

Upcoming Events:
Pumpkin Project - DUE Wednesday
Picture Day- Friday, October 25th.
November 6, 7, 8th- Half Days/Parent Conferences

Week of October 14th - 18th

We've had a busy couple of weeks in room C-6. Students completed their Prezi's on National Parks, so look for those to be posted on the class website. We also wrote and  recorded our own Radio broadcasts on the history of women's baseball. It was a great collaborative effort!

Thank you so much for your donations to help our class 'make a mark' in Jamaica. :)

Here is this weeks reading information:

This week we will be reading "Coyote School News". Here are the skills/strategies for this story:
Genre: Historical Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Draw Conclusions
Comprehension Strategy: Prior Knowledge
Comprehension Review Skill: Setting
Vocabulary: Dictionary/Glossary

The final copy for the Pumpkin Project is due this Friday, October 18th. Please encourage your child to use their best writing. :)

We are continuing to work through Chapter 2 in Math, Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Money. Please be sure to practice basic problems at home as well.

A few reminders:
* Picture day will be October 25th
* Parent/Teacher conferences are November 6th-8th

Week of October 7th - 11th

Here is this weeks reading information:

This week we will been reading "What Jo Did". Here are the skills/strategies for this story:
Genre: Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Cause and Effect
Comprehension Strategy: Prior Knowledge
Comprehension Review Skill: Draw Conclusions
Vocabulary: Word Structure

The rough draft for the Pumpkin Project is due this Friday. Please remember to review the directions in the packet. The writing should be about the character chosen, not a beginning-middle-end summary of the book. I modeled this in class for them, so they should know what to expect.

We have started into Chapter 2 in Math, Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Money. This chapter focuses on addition and subtraction of three-and four-digit whole numbers and money using mental math, estimation, and algorithms.

A few reminders:
* Picture day will be October 25th
* Parent/Teacher conferences are November 6th-8th

This week is SPIRIT week!

Monday- Pajama Day
Tuesday-  Favorite Jersey Day
Wednesday- Crazy Hair Day
Thursday- Camouflage Day
Friday- Orange & Black School Spirit Day

Week of September 30th - October 4th

Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful long ALF break. :) This week we will be testing on Unit 1 and completing our Unit 1 Inquiry Project.  The inquiry project will be on National Parks. Your child has picked a National park to research, and will be creating a presentation on their park using Prezi.com.

Pumpkin Project~
Rough drafts are due soon. Please remember to review the directions in the packet. The writing should be about the character chosen, not a beginning-middle-end summary of the book. Have your child bring their packets to school this week if they have taken them home.

We will be starting Chapter 2 in Math, Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Money. This chapter focuses on addition and subtraction of three-and four-digit whole numbers and money using mental math, estimation, and algorithms.

A few reminders:
* Picture day will be October 25th
* Parent/Teacher conferences are November 6-8th

C-6 has been doing an amazing job... I am truly blessed with such an awesome group of kids this year!
Check out their Southwestern Animal projects on the class website: Southwest Projects

ALF & Week of September 23rd-26th

Wow- I can't believe it's Autumn Leaf Festival time already! Next week is a short week. There will be a half day for students on Thursday and no school Friday.

Because of the short week, we will not be having a Selection test in Reading. We also will not have a Spelling test. Students are still expected to do the Spelling workbook pages that are assigned, as well as the Reading trifold. I will be testing Vocabulary words only next week.

We will been reading "Letters Home from Yosemite".

Here are the skills/strategies for this story:

Genre: Narrative Non Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Main Idea
Comprehension Strategy: Graphic Organizers
Comprehension Review Skill: Fact and Opinion
Vocabulary: Suffixes

In Math, we are finishing up Chapter 1. We will be testing on Wednesday. Please have your child review their Math Journals at home in preparation for the test.

We will be testing the first chapter of Social Studies on Wednesday as well. Don't forget to pay attention to text features!

Sites to practice VOCAB each week.

Here are sites that will give your child the opportunity to practice the vocabulary words for the remaining story in this Unit. :)

Have fun!

Horned Toad Prince:  http://www.quia.com/jg/1457642.html

Letters Home from Yosemite:  http://www.quia.com/jg/1457644.html

Scholastic Book Clubs

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub
One-Time Class Activation Code: FMTQW

Dear Families,

Encouraging reading is one of the most important things we can do to help your child succeed. It can be tough finding the right books to keep them interested, which is why I am so excited that our class will be participating in Scholastic Reading Club this school year.

With Scholastic Reading Club:

• Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library
• You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books for your child
• You'll find the best values on a variety of formats, including eBooks

Each month, your child will bring home Reading Club flyers. Together you can choose from books hand-selected by teachers and experts, and then order online or by returning your order form and payment to me.

I'd also love some help growing our classroom Reading Club. If you'd like to help out, please let me know! I'm excited to get our class reading!

Thank you for your support,

If This Is Your First Time Ordering Online:

•  REGISTER at scholastic.com/readingclub
•  ENTER the Class Activation Code at the top of this letter
•  CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and Storia eBooks
•  SUBMIT the order to me by the due date listed on the website
•  EARN FREE Books for our classroom too!

September 16th to 20th

This week we will been reading "The Horned Toad Prince".

Here are the skills/strategies for this story:
Genre: Fairy Tale
Comprehension Skill: Author's Purpose
Comprehension Strategy: Story Structure
Comprehension Review Skill: Sequence
Vocabulary: Context Clues

In Math we will be discussing how we can use money to learn decimals. This week, we will also be testing on Chapter 1 in Social Studies.

Week of September 9th-13th

Last week, we learned about Lewis & Clark. On Thursday, the students wrote lil' newspaper articles about someone or something from the expedition. Then, they used the laptops to visit Fodey.com and generate their own article. Look for their work on the class website. :)

This week we are reading the story Grandfather's Journey. Here are the skills/strategies for this story:

Genre: Historical Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Sequence
Comprehension Strategy: Graphic Organizers
Comprehension Review Skill: Author's Purpose
Vocabulary: Glossary/Dictionary

In Math, we are working on place value. We have been writing numbers in word form, standard form, and expanded form.

We're also starting timed adding/subtraction tests this week. It is so important that your child is able to recall basic addition and subtraction facts without using their fingers. If you have a set of flashcards at home, please practice these facts each night. If you need to borrow some, let me know. Your support is greatly appreciated for your child's success.

First days in fourth...

Language Arts ~ Sept. 4-7

Hello! We had a wonderful first week in C-6. I hope you had an enjoyable long weekend. 

This week we will been reading "Lewis & Clark and Me". Here are the skills/strategies for this story:
Genre: Historical Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Author's Purpose
Comprehension Strategy: Answer Questions
Comprehension Review Skill: Cause & Effect
Vocabulary: Word Endings

In Math, we are working on place value. We will be writing numbers in word form, standard form, and expanded form. Your child has a Math Journal that he/she has been working on in class. This journal should go home each night your child has homework. It's a great reference for the vocabulary/skills we're working on. Please encourage your child to familiarize themselves with the math vocabulary.

Parent Orientation

Hello! Fourth grade will be holding a Parent Orientation on Tuesday, September 10th. Our meeting will be at 6:00 in room C-6. Hope to see you there!

Help us out!

Hi Friends,

I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed. So I've created a classroom project request at DonorsChoose.org, an award-winning charity.

I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. For the next week, any donation you make to my project will be doubled! If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class.

Here's my classroom request:
iWant to iReach Reluctant Readers With iPads!

To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the match code INSPIRE on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through August 17, 2013. 

My students and I greatly appreciate your support.
Traci