Mrs. Paul’s 4th Grade Class

September 12, 20164th Grade Vol.1 Issue 4

Reminders

  • Kona Ice Thursday, September 15th
  • Pep Rally Coin DriveThursday, September 22nd
  • Permission slip due/$25 down payment for Montgomery field tripWednesday September 28th
  • Character Education AssemblyThursday, September 29th
  • Hat and PJ DayFriday, September 30th
  • Freedom Friday-snack Ms. McCaslin/activity Mrs. JohnsFriday, September 30th

All Star Student

  • Analine CliftonSeptember 12 – 16
  • Gianna September 19 - 23

Dear Parents,

We had a wonderful and busy week. I have really enjoyed getting to watch how our class continues to build community. The students are really looking out for each other and relating so well with each other. The other day, one of the students had not played four square before. There were several students who stopped their game, explained it, and invited that student to play. They all celebrated that student as he began having success and have encouraged him to play ever since. The students continue to go over and above in doing jobs around the classroom to keep it clean and organized. Their rooms at home must be spotless!! Also some of the sweet girls have taken time out of their recess to pick bouquets of flowers for me to place on my desk in the classroom. Little heart rocks have been found for me outside too. What precious, precious children we have in this class this year. You have so much to be proud of!!!

We will be doing a “blubber lab” in the science lab this week. The students will have the opportunity of comparing the temperature of ice water with one hand in a ziplock bag in ice water and the other hand in a ziplock bag of “blubber” (Crisco) over the ice water. The students will understand how those blubber layers allow animals to survive in very cold temperatures. I want to thank the parents who sent in the Wish List gift cards at the beginning of the year. I was able to use those to purchase the Crisco for the science lab for the students

You should have received a letter concerning the upcoming Montgomery field trip in April. On the form it explained how there will be a $25 down payment for the trip. Please send in the permission slip and down payment by September 28th

The blue progress folders went home again on Friday. Please make sure that your child shows you the papers inside. You will see the Weekly Report, letting you know the behavior and homework choices that your child made the preceding week. Your child should ask you to sign in two places in the progress folder. Please make sure that your child brings back all of the papers and folder by Wednesday. There are lots of wonderful grades going home again this week! I will print out a computer generated progress sheet that will go in the blue folders this week so that you can see the averages that your children have in the subjects that I teach.

We have some students who need to brush up on their multiplication skills. Here are some math websites for continued multiplication practice. Hopefully these will be helpful!

Here are some upcoming activities for our class:

Math – Mrs. Paul’s Class and Ms. Campbell’s Class:

We will continue working on Unit 5. Our focus this week will be on understanding how much 10,000 is, strategies for subtraction, the US Algorithm for subtraction, and knowing if I add or subtract in a word problem. The students will have the opportunity of working on an exit ticket this week. All of the exit tickets are glued into the journal and used as a study guide in preparation for the upcoming unit test. The students will be given an assessment on Tuesday focusing on numbers to 10,000. We will also continue to focus on multiplication facts. Please make sure that your child is practicing at home. There will be a Unit 5 Summative Test on Thursday, September 22.

Science – Mrs. Paul’s and Ms. Campbell’s Class

Mrs. Paul’s class finished the science tools packet, and Mrs. Campbell’s class will complete theirs on Monday. Then our focus will be on animal studies investigating animal adaptations. I will read a book called, What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? The students will look at a variety of animals with varying adaptations to assist them with their survival. The students will have an opportunity of researching an animal with an adaptation and then creating a Wanted poster for that animal. The students will be using the scientific method with a lab focusing on the function of “blubber” in cold regions. The students will feel the difference of temperature when placing their hands in ice water alone, versus ice water with a layer of “blubber” (Crisco layer in a ziplock bag) between their hand and the ice water.

Social Studies– Mrs. Paul’s Class

The students will have a quiz on the SS week #4’s magazine on Tuesday, September 13th. The students will then begin working on the magazine for week #5. The study guide will be given out on Wednesday and due on Friday. The students will work on week #5 Alabama Dailies. There will be a quiz on Friday, September 16th on week #5’s Alabama Dailies.

ELA with Miss CampbellWe will be reading the storyMighty Jackie, the Strikeout Queen. We'll use this story to wrap up the concentration on character traits and setting, and use it to really dig into plot. The students will begin assembling the pieces of their personal narratives into a rough draft.Wednesday, there will be a phonics assessment on the words that came home in the reading journal last Thursday. A new list will be in the journalThursday, along with an example of what the kids will have to do on the corresponding assessment.

Thank you for your support! Email me if you have any questions Mrs. Paul