Students have completed the English-Language Arts section of the STAR tests. They will take the math portion next Thursday and Friday (May 6-7). It will be nice to have STAR testing done!
Eight families still need to return their science permission slips. I would really appreciate it of you all could return those as soon as possible. If you can't remember, please ask your child (they have been reminded). Mrs. Kawata (and everyone in the district, including me) appreciates families taking the time to complete the parent survey and return it. Although I don't know exactly how many have come back, clearly 29 have not, so if you could complete it and return it as soon as possible that would be great!
We have been working on perimeter, area, congruent figures, and line and rotational symmetry in math. Some of these concepts are challenging, and extra practice will really help. Remember, your child can use Study Island at home to work on these concepts. We will be learning about volume and how to calculate the volume of rectangular prisms next week and many students will need extra practice. Sometimes when students realize how these concepts are used in everyday life, it makes the concepts less intimidating.
THANK YOU!! Several families brought in tissues, and, barring some major respiratory epidemic, I think we should have enough to last through the rest of the school year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy your weekend!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Students have now turned in their 4th grade California History essays, for the essay contest, and their pioneer projects...time to move forward in California history!
We have been working in math on data analysis. Students should know about mode, median, outliers, and mean and how to find or calculate each. Additionally, they have been looking at ways to display data (and why to choose a particular way to display the data): line plots, bar graphs, double bar graphs, line graphs, and circle graphs (pie charts). Each time we discuss graphs, we also discuss everything needed to make a graph: title, labels, scale, interval, and keys (where needed). If you happen to find any kind of graph in the newspaper, or elsewhere, take a few minutes to share it with your child--what kind of graph is it, how effective is it in helping us understand the information, and what can we learn by carefully reading the graph?
Students have been doing a lot of writing, across the curriculum. In addition, we have been reviewing complete and simple subjects, complete and simple predicates, nouns, verbs (don't forget those "to be" verbs!), prepositions and prepositional phrases, adjectives, articles, and conjunctions. We are not ignoring adverbs...we will look at how they are used as well. Students have also been learning about compound sentences and how to punctuate them. We regularly review punctuating dialogue, as well as the 4 basic types of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
Be sure to check out Study Island! Our very generous PTA has paid for a wonderful standards-based, web-based software program that allows students to review grade level standards through lessons, tests, and games. You and your child can access this at home, at no cost. Each student knows their own username and password (username is the same as their AR username with @nusd added at the end, and the password is the same as their AR password). Students got to try the site yesterday in the computer lab. They seemed to enjoy it. It is a great supplement to the curriculum!
Just a reminder: 4th grade will be testing (State STAR testing) beginning Thursday, April 29 (4/29, 4/30, 5/6, and 5/7). Please help your child do his/her best by not stressing about the tests, by encouraging him/her to always do their best, and by making sure that your student is well-rested.
Special Surprise! Every student has been given a free ticket to the Aquarium of the Bay, by The Bay Institute and the STRAW Project. The tickets expire Dec. 30, 2010. Enjoy!
Have a wonderful vacation! Hopefully everyone will come back healthy and rested, although I would still love to have donations of tissues just in case!
We have been working in math on data analysis. Students should know about mode, median, outliers, and mean and how to find or calculate each. Additionally, they have been looking at ways to display data (and why to choose a particular way to display the data): line plots, bar graphs, double bar graphs, line graphs, and circle graphs (pie charts). Each time we discuss graphs, we also discuss everything needed to make a graph: title, labels, scale, interval, and keys (where needed). If you happen to find any kind of graph in the newspaper, or elsewhere, take a few minutes to share it with your child--what kind of graph is it, how effective is it in helping us understand the information, and what can we learn by carefully reading the graph?
Students have been doing a lot of writing, across the curriculum. In addition, we have been reviewing complete and simple subjects, complete and simple predicates, nouns, verbs (don't forget those "to be" verbs!), prepositions and prepositional phrases, adjectives, articles, and conjunctions. We are not ignoring adverbs...we will look at how they are used as well. Students have also been learning about compound sentences and how to punctuate them. We regularly review punctuating dialogue, as well as the 4 basic types of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
Be sure to check out Study Island! Our very generous PTA has paid for a wonderful standards-based, web-based software program that allows students to review grade level standards through lessons, tests, and games. You and your child can access this at home, at no cost. Each student knows their own username and password (username is the same as their AR username with @nusd added at the end, and the password is the same as their AR password). Students got to try the site yesterday in the computer lab. They seemed to enjoy it. It is a great supplement to the curriculum!
Just a reminder: 4th grade will be testing (State STAR testing) beginning Thursday, April 29 (4/29, 4/30, 5/6, and 5/7). Please help your child do his/her best by not stressing about the tests, by encouraging him/her to always do their best, and by making sure that your student is well-rested.
Special Surprise! Every student has been given a free ticket to the Aquarium of the Bay, by The Bay Institute and the STRAW Project. The tickets expire Dec. 30, 2010. Enjoy!
Have a wonderful vacation! Hopefully everyone will come back healthy and rested, although I would still love to have donations of tissues just in case!
Friday, April 2, 2010
It was great to see so many families at Open House, despite the rain. Your children work very hard. Thank you for taking the time to honor their efforts.
Now that we have finished The Pioneers Go West, ...If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, and Patty Reed's Doll, students will finish the unit with the Pioneer Project. We spent a lot of time talking about it and going over the requirements yesterday in class. The project is due no later than Friday, April 9. This is a project that students should be working on every day. Please do not let your child wait until Thursday night to try to put everything together. They have already done the brainstorming part, making key decisions about what to include in their writing. Students are allowed to type the project (emphasis on student--let them do it), but they do not have to. The requirement is that the final copy must be neat and legible. Students are encouraged to include pictures, but the pictures must be created by them (no photographs or downloaded images). If you have any questions, please contact me.
A big "Thank you!" to all the families who donated books to our classroom. The classroom books get a lot of use, so it is wonderful to add to the collection and to replace some of the most worn-out copies of favorites. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. (Note: Not to appear greedy but for those families who don't have younger children, if you ever want to donate your child's already read books to the classroom, I am happy to take them!)
Between allergies, colds, and the flu, the class has completely wiped out our supply of tissues. If you are interested in donating tissues to the classroom, I would be grateful to have them. I still have plenty of hand sanitizer and paper towels. Thanks.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Now that we have finished The Pioneers Go West, ...If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, and Patty Reed's Doll, students will finish the unit with the Pioneer Project. We spent a lot of time talking about it and going over the requirements yesterday in class. The project is due no later than Friday, April 9. This is a project that students should be working on every day. Please do not let your child wait until Thursday night to try to put everything together. They have already done the brainstorming part, making key decisions about what to include in their writing. Students are allowed to type the project (emphasis on student--let them do it), but they do not have to. The requirement is that the final copy must be neat and legible. Students are encouraged to include pictures, but the pictures must be created by them (no photographs or downloaded images). If you have any questions, please contact me.
A big "Thank you!" to all the families who donated books to our classroom. The classroom books get a lot of use, so it is wonderful to add to the collection and to replace some of the most worn-out copies of favorites. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. (Note: Not to appear greedy but for those families who don't have younger children, if you ever want to donate your child's already read books to the classroom, I am happy to take them!)
Between allergies, colds, and the flu, the class has completely wiped out our supply of tissues. If you are interested in donating tissues to the classroom, I would be grateful to have them. I still have plenty of hand sanitizer and paper towels. Thanks.
Have a wonderful weekend.
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