Wednesday

Thank you to those of you who were able to come to Open House last night! It was great to see you again and wonderful to meet Mrs. Maldonado's parents as well.  I appreciate the kind words you had to say about our upcoming baby. It meant a lot. :)
FYI:
*Wednesday Folders are coming home today
*Math tests from my math class came home today
*graded papers were to come home today but we didn't get them filed into the mailboxes fast enough - sorry!
*gradebook is currently being loaded! :)

Science:
Today we continued working on animal adaptations.  We found that there are 2 different types of adaptations.  See if your child can remember them! (physical and behavioral) We also had time to use the smartboard for an interactive activity that the kids enjoyed!
HW: if your child did not finish the matching adaptations page b/c of open house last night, it is due tomorrow

Reading:
Today in class we continued working on main idea.  Some students had a hard time giving a short main idea phrase from a paragraph so we worked as a whole group again on this.  Then, students were placed in lexile leveled pairs to read from small leveled readers.  Students had 2 questions to answer concerning main idea.  I am trying to work with your children VERY hard on restating the question in the answer and using correct punctuation and capital letters in the beginning of a sentence!! Students are losing points when they do not do this!  We also go into our Lit. Groups and read 2 chapters of our book.
HW: finish leveled questions 1 and 2 if not in class, write vocab words in a sentence (remember, vocab words can be found to the right of the blog under the title "vocab")

Math:
Today we continued working with rounding.  We reviewed rounding to the nearest tens place even with numbers up to the millions.  Today we worked on hundreds place.  Some students are still having a hard time working on this.  Please go through your child's HW tonight to see if they need extra attention on this. We also worked some on our multiplication facts.
**Tests are coming home tonight.  If your child received a D or F, there is a place to sign the test and have them return this.  Intervention groups will be starting shortly and will be working with some of my kids in math group. I will also be giving extra work and extra attention to certain students who scored poorly on the test during Review Fridays as well as intervention groups during the regular math class time. (Please refer to the grading scale to the right of the blog if you need to know what the letter grade is.)
HW: sheet on rounding to the nearest tens and hundreds place, please sign

Writing:
We continued with our writing read-aloud and it helped us use our imagination better when writing entertaining stories.  Students also had a series of writer's notebook prompts to complete to help in our writing process.  We also had time for DEAR with our AR books.
No HW

Have a good night,

Tuesday

*Don't forget! Open House is tonight from 5-6:30! This is a chance to come and see where your child learns each day! You can visit my room along with the Specials classes, too! PTA will be serving pizza and drinks!

FYI:
*Open House 5-6:30
*Picture Day is next TUESDAY

Just showing HW today!

Reading:
None :)

Math: Rounding sheet with 5 problems - please check and sign...students have an example page from class to help them

Science:
Complete animal adaptations matching cards on brown paper - from in class work (students should have cards in baggies to use from class)

Writing:
None :)

See you tonight,

Monday!

FYI:

* rocket red bus riders  will be picked up 10 mins early from now on starting Tuesday morning!! (I believe that this is because of the double diamond design on Harrodsburg road and traffic)
*picture day is NEXT Tuesday!
*Open House is THIS Tuesday from 5-6:30! Come enjoy pizza from the PTA and have your child show you around our classroom! :)*Class Letters will be coming home to you at Open House or on Wed. if you are unable to attend.  These will be mainly for Mrs. Maldonado's students so parents will know what I have your child for! :)

Science:
Our objective today (and this week) is on animal adaptations.  We discussed different bird adaptations and how each helps it survive in their environment.  We did a fun experiment using our own version of different bird beaks and trying to pick up seeds.  Students had a chart of different beaks and claws for birds and why each is useful.  Next, we completed an ORQ on Bird Adaptations as a whole class to model how the ORQs should look in the future and quality work.  These are hanging in the hallway! Maybe you will see them tomorrow!
HW: None

Reading:
*Vocab. words are to the right of the blog page under the title "Vocab". (if you are reading this through an email, you may need to visit the actual blog page to see the vocab. words)Our objective this week is determining the main idea of a text (informational) and explaining how it is supported by key details. 
Today we discussed oral stories and the techniques and shared adventure stories. Then we read 2 real-life stories about adventures and found the main ideas of each.  Students also got their vocab words for the week and had some time to define the words.  Lastly, we got into our Lit. Groups and read 2 chapters as a group working on fluency and expression.
HW: possibly finishing definitions of vocab words

Math:
Today we began our new unit on Estimation and Rounding.  Today we focused only on estimation.  We did a few activities and some word problems together. 
HW: pg. 15 in workbook, estimate only*tests are graded and will be given back hopefully in the Wed. folders once I have been able to enter in grades to the gradebook

Writing:
Today we completed a smartboard activity to help us learn the writing process.  Students had a lot of time to get with their writing groups and work together on the writing process.  We will begin our first big writing piece of 4th grade by the end of the week - a Personal Narrative.
No HW

Have a good night,

Friday

Our First Review Friday was a success! :)

We began our day with finishing up our science lesson from yesterday on plant structures and functions. Next, we had an assembly with Buster the Bus Safety. 

In Math we worked in small groups working on large addition and subtraction problems and multiplication.  Students did a nice job rotating groups with me and Mrs. Powell as well as working in pairs.  Then we did a problem solver activity.  Hannah found all 3 ways to make the problem work!! :) Your child has it for you to try!

Social Studies: Today we learned about different landforms and bodies of water.  After researching some and finding pictures of common ones we have in the United States, students chose 3 landforms and 2 bodies of water to write and give definitions for to make on their pancakes! The kids were super creative and they turned out great! Some even ate theirs!! :) Below are a few pics; but they don't do it justice! ha!

Maddy L: The smarties are the tall tall grass. The chocolate chips is the soil. The chocolate syrup is the muddy water.The gummy bears is the mountain that is split between.The red hots are the volcano.

Jaycee: the gummy bears with chocolate syrup is a volcano.the plain gummy bears are trees .the red hots are swamps .some of the syrup is a bay and the chocolate chips are channels.

Writing Buddies: Today we worked with our 2nd grade buddies on our "Where I'm From" poems. Our kids did a great job helping!

Lastly, we got a visit from Tabi the turtle! Thanks Maddie!

Have a great weekend!!!!

Thursday

Good Afternoon! We've had a busy day! Sorry for the later post - we had a long meeting during planning!

Just showing HW:
Science: None
Reading: None
Math: None
Writing: None

Looks like a great afternoon to read outside for the book log minutes and play! :)

Have a good night,

Wednesday

FYI:
*Check Wed. Folders!
*My math class - test tomorrow

This morning we practiced cursive writing and multiplication.

Science:
Today we made a diagram of a flower plant with its structures and functions.  Students also took a mini-quiz over classifying.
No HW

Reading:
Reading was partly interrupted by a Boy Scouts meeting; but we did get to read and write our own cinquain poems.  We will record those tomorrow. We also practiced a little for our vocab. test.
HW: practice words for vocab. test (will need to write in a sentence and spell correctly), some students need to finish cinquain poems

Math:
Today we split up into small groups with my assistant and completed the study guide as well as went over the HW...especially the last question! :)
HW: STUDY study guide and pages we completed out of workbook for test TOMORROW

Writing:
We continued working on our poems.  Most students are finished writing their first drafts and are working on spelling with the dictionary.
No HW

Have a great night,

Tuesday

FYI:
*Reading Logs are to be filled out nightly - 20 min. per night!
*Gradebook is not up yet, but will be soon! :)
*Items Needed for Friday: gummi bears, red-hots
*Please put a star next to your signature on the planner to let me know you read our blog! Thanks!

Science:
Today we started a new learning outcome: structures and functions.  We made our own chia pets by planting grass seeds! We talked about what is needed for the grass to grow. Tomorrow we will go more in depth about structures and functions of a plant.

Reading:
Today we split into our leveled groups and read in pairs about another survival story.  Students practiced their fluency and expression.  Many students got notes from me about their reading! :) They were also to answer questions 1 and 2 from the back of the book. Most have this for HW.  I asked students to re-state and make sure it is QUALITY work! Hopefully we won't have as many re-do's as we did last week! We also practiced our vocab. words as well as discussed our job roles and how we answered the questions from yesterday's Lit. Group reading.
HW: finish questions 1 and 2 in small leveled reader, complete each vocab. word in a sentence

Math:
Today we continued with comparing numbers.  We worked on ordering numbers least to greatest as well as finding number patterns.  This was difficult for some students, so Mrs. Powell (our assistant) helped a small group more one on one.
HW: workbook pg. 10 - parents PLEASE check and sign
*Our test is THURSDAY! We will work on a study guide tomorrow in class

Writing:
Today we continued with our poems we are making for Open House night next week.  We added in more adjectives to make our writing interesting and more engaging. Students also practiced their cursive.
No HW

*Morning Work: We worked on filling out a multiplication chart! I'm surprised at how many kids forgot their facts! Please let me know if you'd like for me to make you flashcards to work on the facts at home.
Have a good night,

Monday!

PAWS Party Day! :)  Kids got to wear their PJ's and have a few minutes of extra recess since we earned our first set of PAWS so quickly!

This morning started off great! Students found their new seating arrangement and everyone came in quietly and ready to work. YAY! We worked on cursive letters this morning along with writing Ms. Borders a note in cursive.

Science:
Today we completed our classifying living things with our smartboard activity.  Students interacted with different games with mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and more and also got to watch some pretty cool TeacherTube videos on a robin's egg hatching!
No HW

Reading:
We have the same outcome as last week with finding key details and supporting details in a text.  We read a story about the desert and desert animals first, and then played a game on the key details from the story.  Next, students were given their vocab words to define.  You can find those on the SIDE of the Blog in case your child forgets to bring it home! Scroll down a bit and see the title Vocab Words!  We also got into our Lit. groups and read ch. 3 of our book and then each had a different 'job' to complete.  Tomorrow students will be discussing the different literary elements they were to each complete on the chapter.
HW: finish defining words for vocab, finish lit. group job paper if not finished in class

Math:
We continued with comparing numbers and worked with listing numbers greatest to least. Students did this in several different interactive ways and they were awesome! :)
HW: workbook pg. 7 & 8; parent or adult please check and sign
*Math Test on THURSDAY. Students will be getting a study guide to complete Wednesday.

Writing:
Today we continued working on cursive and working on a writer's prompt we hope to share with you at Open House night! :)
No HW

Items Needed:If you are able to send in one of the following that would be great (before Friday!):
chocolate chips
gummi bears
pixie sticks

Have a great night,

Thursday

FYI:
*No school for kids tomorrow
*Please subscribe to the Blog if that will help!
*Your child may be in Mrs. Maldonado's room for Reading or Math. We will be sending home letters next week to let you know where your child has been placed.  These are flexible groups and could possibly change multiple times in the year.
*Infinite Campus (grades) should be up and running by the end of next week. You are able to check that any time.  If you need to know how to long on, there are simple directions under the "Grading Scale" tab to the right of my Blog.

**Lunch Bunch: Today, not all of the children received lunch bunch. :(  We are working to get it next week already! Please refer to the Informational Packet that you received on Open House night if you need to know reasons why your child could have missed.  This would be marks in Mrs. Maldonado's class for reading or math as well.

*MY Reading Class only: Some students received their work today from yesterday to re-do for better quality.  If so, they will be asking you to check and sign it.  When it is turned in on Monday they will (hopefully) be receiving a 100%.  If it is not turned in Monday the student will get the first grade that was given. 

*Science:
We continued working on classifying living things.  We made it through almost all the different types of mammals.  We played a couple of activities on the smartboard as well.
No HW

*Reading:
Students took a short quiz over our objective this week: finding key details in a text.  We also finished our grammar sheet for the week.  Since we all did this together, students should be receiving a 100% on this! Next week students will be completing this on their own.  We also got into our Lit. groups and read the second chapter of Frindle.  If you have time this weekend we'd love for you to pick us up an extra copy at the Public Library!  Lastly, students wrote in their reading response journals from one of the topics covered in the chapter.
HW: finish reading response journal prompt ONLY if not finished in class

*Math:
We are continuing working on place value.  Today we focused on comparing numbers using <, >, =, and finding the answer for questions like: 2,000 less than 34,098.  We were also able to take our quiz over this outside with chalk! You may see it if your child is a car rider!
No HW

*Writing:
We continued with our editing skills and worked a LOT on cursive writing.  It has been set as an expectation this year that students are able to read and write cursive fluently by the end of the grade level. :)
No HW


***Also, the kids earned their PAW party already! They voted on PJ day and extra recess for Monday.  Kids can wear slippers, but bring tennis shoes for PE!

Have a wonderful 3 day weekend!

Wednesday

FYI:
*Wednesday Folders are coming home today with important info from the Office
*Planners should be signed every night
*Please check blog daily! Add your email or shoot me an email to do it for you to get it automatically sent.
*Picture day is Sept. 6
*Open House night Aug. 30

Science:
Today we continued with the classification of living things! We played a fun game involving carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore as well as invertebrates and vertebrates.  Students did a great job listening and following along.

Reading: {remember, this only shows the HW and activities from students in my Reading class}:
We continued with working on key details.  We had so much planned today and didn't get to half of it! Good thing we have tomorrow! Students worked on their daily grammar sheet and then we did our read-aloud.  Next, students were placed into small groups and worked on fluency and emotion while reading from small leveled books on mysteries.  Students then showed their knowledge of problem and solution and analyzing with answering 2 questions from the story.  I asked the students to WRITE in complete sentences and MORE than 1 sentence.  I also asked for correct punctuation and capital letters.  I will be looking those over tonight and will be asking students who did not follow these guidelines to re-do their work.  We want QUALITY WORK!! Students also worked on their vocab words (no test this week).
HW: finish 2 questions from leveled readers if needed, define vocab words if needed, complete vocab sheet - everyone

Math: {only shows what we did in MY math class}:
We continued working on the different forms and place value and also worked on comparing numbers up to the thousands and beyond.  Students did pretty well with this.  We were able to work in pairs to complete an activity to help us with this as well.
HW: complete a paper with 5 comparing numbers problems AND a place value math comic sheet - please sign and check both

Writing:
Today we worked on editing our spelling mistakes.  Next we started working on our cursive writing as students will be asked to write in cursive on some assignments.  Lastly, we made large posters with our sensory words.  They are neat and will hopefully help us use better words when we start writing! No HW

Have a good night,

Tuesday

Good Afternoon!
 FYI:
*If you have any old magazines or you get magazines for your kids, we'd love to have them after you read them at home! (i.e. Ranger Rick, Time for Kids, etc.)
*Please be checking and signing the planner each night!
*Picture day has been set for Sept. 6
*Orchestra papers are due on THURSDAY
*I will be working on the volunteer schedule this Friday and be sending this home soon!
*Math HW tonight
*We need scissors!! They were left off the list, so if you can get a pair for your child we would GREATLY appreciate it!

Science: Today in science we learned to classify items by their characteristics.  We first went through living, non living, and once living items and determined what they needed or didn't need to survive.  Then we went on a science walk and found all kinds of things to write in our Science Journals.  Kids did a great job with this and the Exit Slip at the end showed! Almost everyone received a 100%! No HW

Reading: Today we worked on some grammar through our Drops in the Bucket.  Then we talked about what goes into a mystery and found key details in stories to help us find the solution.  We popcorn read from our Treasures series about a missing lunch.  I heard some great fluency and expression while students were reading! :)  The students also helped me in key details to find something that was missing from my desk! ;) Lastly, we participated in an activity with our reading response journals and our new lit. books - Frindle.  We are still needing about 5 more copies of this book, so if you are going to be at the public library, we'd love it if you'd check one out! Frindle by Andrew Clements. No HW

Math: Today we continued with our place value and word form/expanded form.  Kids did pretty well and it showed on their exit slip! We also played a fun activity to help with numbers up to the thousands place. HW: pg. 1 of their workbooks, please sign

Writing: We began with 10 minutes of DEAR time for students to read a book of their choice.  Then we worked on our editing skills and spelling mistakes for our flashback time.  Next, we wrote out text messages and edited those! It was fun. No HW

Have a great night,

Monday!

Welcome Back! Hope you had a wonderful weekend with your family!

We had another great day today.  Our science class and reading class were each cut short due to meetings for the kids.

In reading class we took a self-selected reading survey, read from our read-aloud, and talked about expectations. No HW


Today in math class we played a few review games with addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Yikes! Some of us need to work on multiplication! :) We also began place value and digit forms. No HW

Today in writing we starting reviewing editing skills, free-form writing, and correcting spelling mistakes.

**the BOOK LOG is coming home tonight.  Students are expected to read 20minutes a night.  Students have not been to the library yet, so if you do not have any books at home or cannot get them to the public library, please just write that on the log dates so I will know! We will have Library on Wednesday. The book log needs to only be turned in on the due date - not weekly. 

FYI:
*Orchestra: Students will receive a paper in their backpacks today FOR YOU about orchestra. Students need to return this BY THURSDAY if they'd like to participate.  It will be during specials times every Monday and Wednesday.
*Art Form: There is an Art page coming home regarding info from Ms. Long today in the backpacks.
*Planners: Every student needs a planner.  They are $5 and can be purchased in the mornings at school.  This week students will get a 'pass' for not having one or getting it signed, but it will count towards lunch bunch starting next week.  Please help your child in this responsibility by asking them or reminding them to SHOW YOU their planner and SIGNING the bottom.

Hope you have a great night,

Friday!

Good afternoon!
If you are just joining us today, please read down a few posts for other information!

We had a great day today! We worked on our Writer's Notebooks and got our hands wet with some writing! Students were also given a little bit of time to decorate their notebooks to make them important to them!

We also learned about how an experiment is done (good for the upcoming science fair later this year!) and did an experiment with raisins and Sprite! Ask your child what happened to the raisins!! :)

Next we worked with math and did a poster about all the numbers in our lives! Savanna thought of the most items in 7 minutes - so she won!  We also did a writing assignment where I will assess their writing to know how to plan our writing lessons starting Monday.

Lastly, we met with our 2nd grade book buddies! It was fun to read to them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

First Day!!

WOW! What an AWESOME first day!!

First, let me tell you how much I love all of your kids! I had a wonderful time teaching them today and getting to know them! Thank you for letting me! :)

Today we did a lot of 'get to know you' and building community games.  It was very fun!! We also went over all our expectations and the kids met them all!!

I hope to share pictures on here soon - I just need to go through all the paperwork first to see who is allowed to be online in picture form.  :)

**HOMEWORK:
1. please send your child with $5 for a planner - it is mandatory for 4th grade!
2. Your child's WEDNESDAY folder is coming home tonight with papers for YOU! Please fill out and return tomorrow!
3. Volunteer sheet - please send this in from the Open House packet
4. Homework Policy - please send this in from the Open House packet

I am excited for tomorrow and getting to know your kids more!

Have a great night,