Flashcards part 2

Last set of flashcards are going home today.  I made sure EACH CHILD went to their back pack and put their cards in there.  Hopefully they all make it home.  Just a reminder our test will be Tuesday the 9th. 

Needs and Updates

We finished flashcards for VS 4a, b and c.  Those should go home TODAY.  VS 4d and e will go home tomorrow answered.  SO - that means our test on Colonial VA will be on December 9th - next Tuesday. 

Also - I have a plethora of snack baggies (thank you very much!) but I am out of sandwich bags (of course).  If you think about it while you're grocery shopping or holiday shopping and would grab a box for us that would be super!  If not - no worries.

In addition - we seem to be having a pencil shortage.  You may have heard that I require a shoe if a student needs a pencil.  I give them their shoe back when I get my pencil back.  This ensures that I get my pencil back.  My suggestion is to make sure your child has a pencil or two.  Don't send in a bunch because they are like ants with crumbs - they will be gone in minutes!  I will continue to have pencils for them to borrow but if you can make sure your child is supplied that would be great.  Keep a few at home and send a few with them to school.

Updates Before Break

First, let me apologize.  I am a little behind on grading due to being out most of last week.  My plan is to get everything done over break; hopefully that works!  =)

After break, we will be doing our flashcards for the Colonial Times unit in VA Studies.  I'll email you when the completed flashcards come home. Our test will be sometime during the 2nd week in December.  Holy COW it's December already!!!!

On Friday, December 5th we will have our Winter Wonderland from 5:30-7:30.  It's only $5 to get in and there will be really cool games, crafts and even a moon bounce.  There will also be a pizza dinner for $2.50.  The book fair will also be open and SCA will be selling spirit wear and baked goods. All proceeds come directly back to the school so come in and have a blast!

Also in December our kids will have their first SCA dance!  It will be Friday the 12th and it is right after school.  If your child wants to go, they need to be picked up at 5 in the gym.  It's only $1 to get in and all the grade levels have to bring an item - I think our item is a bag of chips, because they will eat snack during the dance as well.  All of this will come home in a permission slip when we get back from break.  But please let me know if you have any questions. Fourth graders are normally very excited because this is the first dance they get to attend. 

 

Finally, Tuesday folders will go home next week, not today.  That way folders won't get misplaced and I can put some papers in their mailboxes.  

 

As always, if you have any questions let me know.  Have a super break!  Enjoy the warm  weather today and the possible snow on Wednesday.  In Virginia, you just never know what you're going to get!

Reading Project - Due Thursday the 13th

This week in reading, our story is a nonfictional text focusing on movies as well as looking at the difference between facts and opinions.  Using these skills I have assigned my reading students a "movie" poster.  Here are the guidelines to follow:

1. Can be based on a current movie or a "made up" movie
2. The artwork on the poster has to be original - cannot copy the picture off of a current DVD/movie poster - and cannot be printed
3. NOTHING gory, bloody or scary please
4. Must contain two facts about the movie ~ for example, the setting, a character, something that happened in the movie ~ The main characters in this movie are Gru and the Minions.
5. Must contain two opinions about the movie (similar to a critic) - for example, in class I used the example ~ This movie is great!  Please don't use that one and encourage your child to be creative in their opinions
6. Putting the poster on construction paper is wonderful, poster board is not needed

Please know your child will have time to work on this in class on Wednesday and Thursday.  This is not an elaborate project.  I want them to focus more on the fact/opinion angle than putting tons of time into the poster part. 

Jamestown Trip tomorrow.

I just wanted to post the specifics for the field trip tomorrow.  I will also be discussing this with the students today but just to be sure the correct info gets to you here goes:

1. Buses LEAVE school @ 7:45 ~ Mrs. Fleming should be here by 7:15 so you can arrive anytime after that. 
2. Come to my back door.  The front door remains locked until 8:30 and there won't be anyone there to let you in.

3. Bring a lunch - no one has told me they needed a prepared lunch from the cafeteria so I'm assuming everyone is bringing a lunch.  NO SODAS please and no GLASS bottles. 

4.  Electronics are welcome as are movies (rated G); however, your child is responsible for their own things.  We will be leaving everything on the bus and students aren't allowed to bring backpacks so just keep that in mind.

5. Your child may bring money for the trip, but again, they are responsible for it.  There is a gift shop but please be sure your child understands, NO guns, knives, or anything else that could be a weapon can come back on the bus.  Cameras are allowed and if your child is bringing their DS or iPOD for the camera feature that is fine.  Again, they are responsible for it.

6. We leave Jamestown about 2:30 and should be back to school between 4:00 and 4:30.  Please let Mrs. Fleming know when you take your child, don't just leave.  :)

6. The weather is supposed to be less than stellar tomorrow and we WILL NOT CANCEL.  Please be sure to dress your child warmly and rain boots/umbrellas are highly suggested.  90% of our trip is outside.

VA Studies Test

Last set of flashcards have been answered and should go home today. Our test on Jamestown will be Friday November 14th. 

VA Studies VS 3

1st set of Flashcards will go home today - there are about 24 or 25 and they are answered.  We'll do the 2nd set next week.  Test will be the week after Jamestown sometime.  I'll let you know when we do the 2nd set the exact date. 

 

I forgot in my "parade" email yesterday - if you want to come in and party with us/walk in the parade just let me know!  :)

Fun Run Shirts and Jamestown Chaperones

I'm attaching the order form for Fun Run t-shirts and the information to go along with it.  Tomorrow is the last day for orders and the shirts are only $3.  All info is attached so if you have any questions hopefully that will help.  

 

Also - I have a few spots open on the bus for Jamestown.  If you would like to ride the bus down with us as a chaperone, let me know ASAP and I will reserve your spot!

We did flashcards today; we will answer them tomorrow and they will go home tomorrow, so look for them tomorrow.  Our test for this section of VA Studies will be Wednesday the 15th of October. 

Also - the permission slip for Jamestown will go home today.  I should have known better than to not put it with take home things early because of course at the end of the day I forgot.  If you haven't contacted me about being a chaperone please don't send in money until I confirm we have room.  I believe we are only allowed to have 6 chaperones but we often have kids who don't go and we can fill their slot with extra parents.   The other option is for you to drive behind us and just pay to get into Jamestown - and then you can take your child home with you when we leave.  This is my preferred option, however I don't get the choice.  lol 

 

Good news - We received our actual Tuesday Take Home folders this morning - no more slips of paper to keep track of. 

Thank you to everyone who sent in items for our cookies and for those able to volunteer to help us.  It's an exciting project but messy and chaotic so be ready!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VA Studies Test and Interims

We have finished all of our flashcards for this half of the unit.  VS 2c (water features) and 10b (products and industries) should have come home yesterday.  Our test on this will be on Tuesday September 30th and it will cover bordering states, regions, water features and products and industries.  The study guide is on my website under the VA Studies tab if you would like to print a copy for at home.  It is a lot of information so please be sure your child is studying and, even though it's tempting, do not throw the flashcards away after our test; they are a wonderful way to keep all of this information fresh for the SOL in the spring.  If your child studies just 5 minutes everyday he/she won't be stressed trying to remember everything.

Interims will also come home next week on the 1st (Wednesday).  If you have any questions or concerns with your child's grades please let me know!  We're all still adjusting but we're getting into our routines and I think we're all meshing well!

Tuesday Folders

In all the excitement and anticipation of my dentist appointment this afternoon I forgot to leave a note for my sub to send home Tuesday "folders."  So - tomorrow will be Wednesday take home! 

Flash Cards, Book Order, and Tuesday Folders

We did our first set of flash cards today for VS2a ~ bordering states.  There are only 6 and we did them together for practice but they should come home today.  Please look for them.  They are to stay at home and are a super study tool not only for the tests we have but for our SOL.  I asked for your child to study 5 minutes every night.  They don't have to make it through all of them because there will be a lot soon!  =)

I am also extending the book order until Thursday because I forgot to send home a reminder.  If you want to go online and order our code is GPQBC and the website is Scholastic.com.  The new Wimpy Kid is ready for pre-order if your child likes that book.

In addition, your student will bring home a pink slip of paper showing that our SCA is selling a special addition pink t-shirt to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  They are only $10 and the order form and money are due back this Friday the 12th.

​ Last but not least - Tuesday Take Home folders are not here yet.  Your child will bring home all of their papers in their blue communication folder this week with a slip of paper that needs to be signed.  If they bring the paper back tomorrow signed I give them candy so please look for it tonight.  Cross your fingers our folders will be here for next week. :) As always please let me know if you have any questions!

Our First Week

I hope everyone had a great week!  Despite being very hot in our rooms this week we did some really neat science experiments; ask your child about them!  We also started our first unit in VA Studies and will do flashcards for it one day next week.  I'll email you when they are done so you will know to look for them.  The flashcards are a super way to study for up coming tests in VA Studies. 

We did our math assessment today and we will be switching for math starting Monday. Next week we will start another story from our new reading series.  I read the story once and discuss it with them on Monday only.  It would be a super idea for them to bring their book home and read it to you as well.  Also - We will start spelling Monday but of course in the heat and chaos I forgot to send home spelling words today!  Spelling homework will be as follows:

Monday - ABC order in your agenda; Tuesday - Tree Sorts; Wednesday - write ten sentences; Thursday - parent pre-test (signed by a parent or guardian).  Let me know if you have any questions and have a great weekend!

Welcome to 4th Grade!!

It was great to see those of you who were able to make it in to our open house!  If you weren't able to make it, I look forward to meeting you next week.  This week we will be getting acclimated to our new routines and classmates.We will not be switching for anything except reading.  So if your student leaves me for reading they will go to their reading teacher starting Tuesday.  We're hoping to start the 2nd week with math classes and everything!  Please let me know if you have ANY questions or concerns.  Have a great holiday weekend!