Tuesday!

FYI:
Doughnuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms is TOMORROW morning at the Book Fair in the Library!
Anyone willing to take Stella and Ned for Spring Break?
No school on March 18th for students

Math:
Today we continued with comparing and ordering decimals.  Students are getting better and remembering to use place value when comparing numbers. Today we worked with word problems, number lines, and patterns.
HW: pg. 9 in Workbook, please check and sign

Reading:
We continued with our skill of theme and hyperbole's with Tall Tales.  Students read Stormalong and answered comprehension questions and exaggeration questions about this Tall Tale.  Next, students are getting to make up their own Tall Tales! I think this should be easy for some! haha! Our main character is Ms. Sharp!!!! The kids are excited!  Lastly, students had chapter(s) to read in their Lit. Books.
HW: read one chapter of lit book; Hoot, Great Good Thing, and Hatchet need to read 2 more chapters; and students who did not finish Stormalong need to finish

Science:
Today we reviewed behavior of light.  We did different demonstrations to show reflecting, refracting, and absorbing light.  We also went over translucent, transparent, and opaque light.  Your child will be having a short quiz tomorrow over these terms.  They are all identified with examples in their Science Journals.
HW: practice terms for quiz

Writing:
No writing due to Health today.

Have a good night,

Monday

Good Afternoon!
FYI:
Book Fair is going on this week! Your child may visit before school or during our Library time
Good Luck to Jack and Alyssa at the Chorus Festival tomorrow!
March 18- No school for kids
We are running out of Expo markers! Students use these daily! If you are able to send in some we would greatly appreciate it!! :)

NED & STELLA need a home over Spring Break!!!! Is anyone willing to take care of them?! Please email me or send in a note if you think you will be able to! Thank you! :)

Math:
Today we worked on comparing and ordering decimals.  We did a fun activity using Expos on our desks! It took students a few practice times to realize 0.9 is the same as 0.90, but I think we have the hang of it! We practiced lots and it was quick and easy to see their answers on their desks!  We also worked independently on some Singapore exercises.
HW: pg. 12 in workbook, please check and sign

Reading:
Today we began our new skill on theme and point-of-view.  Students read the tall tale, Pecos Bill, in small fluency groups.  Then we discussed what a hyperbole is and found lots of them in our tall tale!  Next, students had plenty of time to define their vocab words for the week.  Students were also to read 1 chapter or 2 chapters (depending on lit book) in their lit book and write a summary over that chapter in their reading response journal.
HW: read in lit book, write summary

Science:
Today we learned more about light and how light moves.  Students did several experiments with a partner to answer certain questions about light. 
No HW

Writing:
We continued working on similes and wrote a poem with similes included.
HW: finish simile poem

Have a great night,

Friday

We had an eventful Friday!

We learned about more polygons this morning, learned about 3D shapes, and faces/edges/vertices.

We also got to practice for our PE Program today! It is on March 25.  The students have an important note they are bringing home today in regards to the performance.  This is a HUGE deal! I'm so happy my class behaved well enough all through the year for Ms. Timaji so that she would pick us!!

We also had Guidance today with Mrs. Moses. She spoke on physical and sexual abuse.  It was a hard topic, but the kids were very mature today during the lesson.

We also practiced subtraction with larger digits and worked on our SS Daniel Boone plays.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend,

Thursday

Math:
Today we continued working on adding and subtracting decimals. The kids are getting the hang of lining up the decimals and place values; however, we are having trouble with simple addition and subtraction skills - especially when regrouping with zeros.  PLEASE check your child's HW tonight!!
HW: 5 problems on add/sub decimals

Reading:
Today we finished up our plot, problem/solution practice and took a short quiz on it with a passage.  We also played a few vocab. games and took our vocab. quiz.  Lastly, students read 2 more chapters in their Lit. Books and I was able to meet with 2 of the groups to discuss the plot of the book.
HW: finish reading ch. 3 and 4 from Lit. Book if not

Science:
Students learned about reflecting, refracting, and absorbing light through a neat Smartboard activity.
They took notes in their science journals and wrote down new vocab.
No HW

Writing:
Students worked on adding similes to their poems.  They also performed a simile play.
No HW

Wednesday

Happy "Read Across America Day"!!

Dr. Seuss and Mrs. Burton's 4th Graders!

Our very own Brandon S. won the KBA reading award for 4th grade...so he got to PIE the principal in the face!! :) {picture blurry from the TV news!!}

Ashley, Brandon, and Alyssa's favorite children's books!

HW:
Math:
adding and subtracting decimals sheet

Reading:
practice vocab words, sentences for xtra credit, finish reading Ch. 2 in lit book and write a summary in reading response journal

Tuesday

FYI:
Music HW due on March 8th (student received it yesterday)
New Book Log is coming home tomorrow in the Wed. Folder
From 5th Grade:

Due to lack of response, we have decided to cancel the5^th grade pancake breakfast this Saturday (3/5).

*We are running out of expo markers! We use them daily with our small white-boards.  If you are able to send in a pack, we would really appreciate it!
* :( No one signed up to come read tomorrow!!!!!!!!!! We will enjoy reading to one another.

Math:
Today we continued learning about decimals.  We reviewed tenths and learned about hundredths.  Kids did a good job! We worked on writing them in word form, in fraction form, and decimal form, as well as showing a picture of them.
HW: finish 1-2, 5-6 in workbook if not in class, Decimals WS

Reading:
Today we worked with problem and solution on the story we read yesterday. Students also made up their own problem and solution stories with different pictures.  They were funny! We also got to start our new lit books.  Students read ch. 1.  Students also wrote a summary in their reading response journals and made a prediction for ch. 2.  I will begin meeting with Lit. groups tomorrow.
HW: write summary for ch. 1 in response journal and make prediction for ch. 2
**As I've told the kids, I expect these entries to have correct spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure! I think some of the kids are getting a little lazy on this!! yikes!

Science:
As a part of our new unit, we started a new topic on light today.  We did a few experiments to tell how light energy traveled, and 3 types of reflecting light.  Students then worked in pairs to read about the 3 main types of light and answered questions in their Science Journals.
HW: finish answering questions in science journal - need to restate question in answer

Writing:
We continued with poetry.  Students were given extra time to read through poetry books for kids I've pulled. Students found their favorite poem and copied it into their writer's notebook.  We did this to help us learn poetry form and stanzas.
HW: finish copying poem if needed

Have a good afternoon,

Monday

Hope you had a great weekend!
FYI:
*new books logs will be coming home this week in the Wed. folders
Math:
Today we began our new unit on decimals.  Students did a great job.  We worked with manipulatives to help us see how fractions and decimals are alike.  Students also practiced writing decimals in word forms.
HW: decimals worksheet

Reading:
Today we began our new skill on problem/solution, and climax of a story.  However, we began the day with an ORQ on character's actions from last week.  We read the story together and then discussed what it would take to get a 4, and then students did the ORQ on their own.  Next we read Uncle Romie and Me and discussed the climax of the story.
HW: define vocab words, finish ORQ if needed

Science:
Students presented their Shark Tank activities!! I was impressed! Some were super creative!!
*There were a few students who did not have a project. Students had 5 nights to work on this and 2 full science class days where I had a project for them if they couldn't think of one and supplies! I was disappointed.  Students are expected to bring one in tomorrow if they didn't have it ready today.
Writing:
Today we worked on Family Ups and Downs poems.  They were cute!

*We got to meet and hear Miss Kentucky speak on African-American History as well as watch a Step-Show from a UK fraternity! It was so neat!!! :)

Have a good night,

Friday

Please read the post about Read Across America Day!!!

We had a great Review Friday today!
We began the day with Calendar Math and then Geometry! Singapore Math takes much more time than the 'old math' so we are now learning Geometry on Fridays! We learned about different quadrilaterals. 

Next we had a mini-lesson on Self-Esteem.  I read a cute story about a little girl and the students wrote down all the things they LOVE about themselves in their writer's notebooks!

We also had SS today. Students finished up their Daniel Boone articles from last Friday.  Students were also put into groups to create a play based on early KY settlers or Daniel Boone.  They began writing it today and we will perform next week!
HW: complete Daniel Boone articles by TUESDAY

We enjoyed our Math Buddies by adding money. Both classes needed the practice!

Next, we had Class Meeting, DEAR time, and finished the day with Health.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Thursday

FYI:
Please read the below posts about Read Across America Day!! :)

Math:
Today we took our Fractions test.  We will begin decimals on Monday.
No HW

Reading:
Today we continued with our skill on character's actions.  Students are doing a great job with this.  We shared our character book with a neighbor on the changing characters and then students turned that in.  We also took our vocab. test today. I only had 7 kids out of 30 do the extra credit!!!!!!  We also read our short leveled books and worked on responses with character's actions changing.  Lastly, students were assigned their new Lit. Books based on their MAP Lexile scores.  We made our reading response journals but did not begin reading. 
HW: finish first response in reading journal

Science:
Today I gave student's time to work on their Shark Tank activity.  Many students were given supplies and everyone has an idea!! :) They are due Monday. Can't wait for the presentations!
HW: work on Shark Tank conductor/insulator activity

Writing:
Today we worked on poems again! Our poem of the day was on pets! Not all of us have our own pets, but we do have Stella and Ned, so they gave us something to write about!
No HW

Have a good afternoon,

Wednesday

We welcomed a great new student today! We're glad you're here, Tyson! :)

FYI:
Check Wednesday Folders!
March 2 is "Read Across America Day". If you would like to come in and read a short children's book (about 5 min. long) to our class, we'd love to have you! I will try to work around your schedule; however, I only have my homeroom from 7:45-8:15 and 11:30-1:30. Please email me with questions or if you'd like to participate! If you'd like to send in your favorite story that you and your child like to read, do that and I can read the story or your child can to the class! :)


Math:
PRACTICE problems from the review for Test tomorrow!!

Reading:
Today we worked more with character's actions.  We read a short passage from the book, Because of Winn Dixie. Students then depicted the 3 main characters and described how their character's actions changed throughout the story. 
HW: finish character's actions from reading, study words for test, extra credit: write vocab sentences

Science:
Today we continued learning about heat, and talked about insulators and conductors.  The students did great! We also started a project that will be due MONDAY.  Students are to create their own insulator or conductor! They can use any house-hold item!
HW: work on Shark Tank insulator/conductor project

Writing:
Today we worked on poems again, YAY! We wrote Lighthearted Lament poems.  The kids did a great job and they were cute and funny! We're moving right along!
No HW
*Mrs. Sharp came to read to our class this afternoon. She read, E for Ethics.

Have a great night,

Tuesday

Hope you enjoyed a nice long weekend with your kids! :)

FYI:
Book Fair info coming home in Wed. folder tomorrow
No Chorus this week
March 2 is "Read Across America Day".  If you would like to come in and read a short children's book (about 5 min. long) to our class, we'd love to have you! I will try to work around your schedule; however, I only have my homeroom from 7:45-8:15 and 11:30-1:30.  Please email me with questions or if you'd like to participate! If you'd like to send in your favorite story that you and your child like to read, do that and I can read the story or your child can to the class! :)

Math:
Today we spent more time practicing fraction problems with word problems.  Most of the students did well, but we still need to practice!
HW: do practice problems from their review guide - test on THURSDAY

Reading:
Today we started a new unit on character's actions.  We got into small leveled groups and read a really funny play.  Students and I discussed how and why the character's actions changed from the beginning of the story to the end.  Then each group was able to present the poem.  Too cute!  We also read from our read-aloud and copied down the new vocab words this week.  We will be back to normal and using each vocab word in a sentence correctly for the test on Thursday.
HW: define vocab by using a dictionary or dictionary.com (students were encouraged to take home one of my dictionaries if they did not have one at home)

Science:
Today we began our new unit on Heat, Light, and Electricity.  We just focused on heat today.  We did a few experiments and had lots of great discussions about how heat is produced, friction, etc.  The students did a great job! I also helped them with 'note-taking' to get some key ideas from their reading in the KCCT book. Lastly we answered some questions to wrap-up heat in our science journals and I helped the students restate the question in their answers.
NO HW

Writing:
Today we continued with our poetry unit and wrote Sound poems.  They were really good! I can't wait to compile all our poems together in our book!
No HW
Have a great night,

Thursday

Quick Post:
Math: worked on all review items on fractions, kids did great! NO HW

Reading: took vocab test, presented plays {too cute!!}, and students are currently taking AR Lit. Book tests
No HW

Science: health today

Writing: We wrote observation poems and WOWZA they were great!

Wednesday

*Mid-Terms will be coming home in your child's Wed. Folder. I try my best to keep the grade-book updated, so hopefully you have been checking I.C. and already know what your child's grades will be.  Grade-Book has already been updated since the posting date; so if you check tonight, that is why there are extra grades.

Math:
Today we worked hard on changing mixed numbers to improper fractions.  The kids did great! Every child passed the quiz I gave, and only 3 students did not get a perfect score! I was so happy! We also made a review sheet to practice all the things we've learned so far in fractions.  Lastly we continued working on 4 digit subtraction.
HW:  complete review sheet
*Currently, the math test is scheduled for next Thursday

Reading:
Today we continued our study on genres.  We looked at fantasy-fables.  Students used the laptops to see Aesop's traditional fables and how college students from UMass changed them to make them more modern.  We found characteristics of fables along with compare/contrasted them using a venn diagram.  Next we worked on our plays that the students will be presenting on Thursday. Lastly, students had time to read in their Lit. Books
HW: FINISH lit. book - taking AR test tomorrow, finish fable chart if not in class, study vocab words for test tomorrow

Science:
Students took their test on Weather and States of Matter
No HW

Writing:
We began our poetry unit by looking through different poetry books and finding rhyme and verse.
No HW

Have a good night,

Tuesday

The Mayor came to speak to our 4th graders!! Ask your kids about it! :)

HW only today:

Math:
fractions HW sheet

Reading:
finish bio., study for vocab test on Thurs.

Science:
study the packet and pages from class for test TOMORROW

Have a good night,

Monday

Happy Valentine's Day! :)

FYI:
Mid-Terms will be coming home in the Wed. folders
Tuesday the Mayor will be coming to GSE and speaking with our 4th graders!
Science Test moved to Wednesday

Math:
We practiced more with improper fractions to mixed numbers.  Students have another practice page to work on. Please check and sign.
We also practiced subtraction - a lot of the students have a lot of problems with this. If you're able to find extra time to give practice problems that would be great.
HW: fractions worksheet - 6 problems

Reading:
Today we continued working on genres. We worked on plays.  Students made up a new Epilogue to the play we read on Wed.  Then students began making up their own plays using the characteristics we found for plays.
HW: read in Lit. Book (Lit. Test on Thursday)

Science:
Today we practiced come questions that will be similar to those on the test.  I've moved the test to Wednesday due to my absence for the Behavior Committee I'm on and will miss 1/2 day tomorrow.
HW: practice problems from study packet for test on Wed.
Writing:
All articles are in and I am in the process of grading those. 
We did a short writing activity based on the book we are reading as a class.  The entries were funny!
Have a great night,

Thursday

*Please help your child remember to bring in his/her Valentine's box/bag and valentines for tomorrow!

Party will be at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon!


No HW today :)

Random Acts of Kindness Week at GSE:

Random Acts of Kindness Week Agenda:




Monday, February 14th, 2011

Wear Red to School Day

Kindness Wall Display

Morning news Kindness skit

Kindness Pledge-on morning announcements



Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Kindness Wall Display Continued

Morning news kindness skit

Kindness Pledge-on morning announcements





Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Kindness Wall Display Continued

Say something nice day

Morning news kindness skit

Kindness Pledge-on morning announcements



Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Kindness Wall Display Continued

Kindness Post Office

Morning news kindness skit

Kindness Pledge-on morning announcements





Friday, February 18th, 2010

Kindness Wall Display Continued

Kindness Post Office

Morning news kindness skit

Kindness Pledge-on morning announcements

Tuesday

Short Post Today! :)

Math:
NO HW, some students have an extra sheet to work on if he/she didn't pass the equivalent fractions quiz today.

Reading:
Practice vocab. words, Finish poetry sheet from class, read 2 chapters in Lit. Book

Science: Guidance, no HW

Writing: Health, no HW

Monday

FYI:
~Valentine's Day Party is THIS Friday. Please bring a decorated bag/box in for yourself {if you need a bag have your child let me know and I will give them one}. IF you bring in Valentines, you must have one for each student in our class.  The flyer that was sent home last week has a list of current student names.

Math:
Today we continued with equivalent fractions and we also began comparing and ordering those fractions.  Students did a GREAT job with this! Tomorrow we will take a mini-quiz...if everyone passes the quiz I have promised the class a pizza lunch to go along with our fractions unit.
HW: worksheet on equivalent/comparing fractions

Reading:
Vocab. Words can be found HERE. Include Fiction and Non Fiction to those words as well.  Vocab Test will be the correct spelling of the word and the definition this week.
Today we worked on different genres and their characteristics.  We read a non fiction story and talked about what types of hints we can find in the story.  Students also had time for their Lit. Books.
HW: read 2 chapters in Lit. Book

Science:
In science today we created concrete poems while describing the 3 states of matter.  So far, the student poems look great and are very creative!!
HW: finish concrete poems if not finished in class

DEAR: Students were able to read AR books, take AR tests, and complete a level of Lexia.

Writing:
Some students worked on typing their articles on the computers.  Other students were able to choose a topic from their Writer's Notebook free-writes and type that story/poem/etc.

Have a great night,

Friday!

These kiddos are ready for Super Bowl Weekend! :)

We had a great Review Friday!

We started off the day working on math skills.  Students rotated in groups with me, laptops, and Ms. Powell.  I worked with students on fractions - mainly equivalent fractions.  Ms. Powell worked with students on multiplication facts, and on the laptops students worked on the MAP skills on their RIT levels.  We love this site!

Next we moved on to reading.  Students took AR tests, did a few levels of Lexia, or read their AR books.

Then we completed our Native American powerpoints and presented those.  The kids were also given leveled activities to learn through a WebQuest on Daniel Boone.

Students also completed an On-Demand for Ms. Sharp.

We ended the day with Math Buddies working on multiplication.

Have a great weekend!