2 more weeks!!

Things are winding down.  We have been doing a lot of report card assessing. Luckily we should be done with it soon, so we can move on to things that are more fun.

In projects the students are finishing up their market day products.  This week they will be working on making their posters and pricing their items. The 1st and 2nd graders are getting excited to be the consumers for our project.

The students will be taking their last spelling test on Thursday.  They all have high frequency words so they need to be studying.  

On Tuesday June 5th we will be having a Poetry Slam!  Parents are invited to come at 2:30 to watch the students recite their poems.  They have been working hard on getting their poems memorized so I hope you can make it!

Field Day is on June 7! Make  sure your student wears sunblock. There will also be a lot of water activities so count on your child getting wet!  They should come to school with a swim suit under their clothes. They should bring extra clothes to change into before we watch a movie at the end of the day.  Remember everyone is out of school that day at 2:00.

Important upcoming dates

Testing days are about to begin.  This week we will do a lot of reviewing to prepare for our tests.

Please make sure your student is at school on the following days:

Tuesday 5/1- 3rd grade ACT ELA
           - 4th grade ACT Math/Science

Wednesday 5/2- 3rd grade ACT Math/Science
             - 4th grade ACT ELA

Monday 5/7- 3rd SBAC ELA part 1
          - 4th SBAC Math part 1

Tuesday 5/8- 3rd SBAC ELA part 2
           - 4th SBAC Math part 2

Monday 5/14-3rd SBAC Math part 1
           -4th SBAC ELA part 1

Tuesday 5/15-3rd SBAC Math part 2
            -4th SBAC ELA part 2

4/9-4/12

Reading:  
3rd grade compared and contrasted the important points in two texts on the same subject. 

4th- Found cause and effect events in 2 different articles.

Both classes received new spelling words.  They will have a spelling test on 4/19.

Writing:  The students each received the same article on animal helpers.  Then some wrote a narrative paper based on the article, some wrote an opinion and some wrote an informational.  We will continue doing this for 3 weeks.  By the end of the 3 weeks they will have done one of each kind of writing.

Grammar: We are reviewing all the standards we have covered this year.  I am pulling small groups to work on specific standards.

Projects: We got ready for student led conferences. 

**Don't forget student led conferences will be on Friday April 20th anytime between 8:00 and 1:00.  These are student led so your student must be with you.  If you cannot come you can come before or after school the following week.

3/19-3/23

One more week until Spring Break!!

Reading: We focused on finding the main idea and supporting details.  They also received new Latin/Greek words on Monday and took a spelling test on Thursday.

* The students will not be getting a new spelling list unitl AFTER spring break.

Writing: We finished up the deep sea creature writing.  Come check them out in the hallway!

Grammar: We reviewed putting punctuation in dialogue.

Projects:  We continued working on our animal adaptation projects.  

Important Dates this week:
     * Wednesday March 28th @ 10:45 Music program in the High School Hangout
     * Thursday March 29th between 2:30 and 3:30- Animal Adaptation presentations in the cafeteria.

3/12- 3/15

Reading:  I continued doing reading assessments.  The students practiced Cause and Effect. They also received new spelling words and took a Latin/Greek test.

They will receive new Latin/Greek words on Monday.  

There is a Spelling Test on Thursday 3/22

Writing:  We are finishing up our Deep Sea Creatures writing.  They are turning out great!! 

Grammar:  We worked on singular and plural possessives nouns.

Projects:  The students continued working on their animal adaptation projects.

3/5- 3/8

Writing: The students continue to work on their deep sea creature writing.  We should be finishing these up next week.

Reading: We started the 2nd trimester testing.  The students got their new Latin/Greek words.  They will test on 3/15/18.

Grammar:  We worked on correctly putting commas in addresses

Projects: We continued working on our animal adaptation project.  

spelling test

Don't forget there will be a spelling test tomorrow!

1/16-1/18

Reading: This week the students received their spelling words.  Everyone will have the same words this time.  All week we practiced using these high frequency words correctly.  We will continue practicing next week. The students should also be practicing at home. There will be a test on Thursday 1/ 25.

The students took a Latin/Greek test.  I was very disappointed with how many students did not study.  I remind them daily to study for this test.  They also have the new roots in their binders to study at home.  Those that received a 1 or a 2 retook the test at the end of the day. We quickly went over the words and then they were give 10 minutes to study.  Also all of the students received a 3 after this.


Writing: The students continued working on their snow globe writing.  

Grammar:  We continued working on plural vs. possessive nouns.  This is a very hard concept but they are doing a great job understanding it.

Projects: The students continued working on their weather projects. 


* Snack: Every day I have at least 5 students who tell me they do not have a snack.  I am no longer bringing extra snacks for students. Please make sure your student brings a snack for the morning and one for the afternoon.

2/5-2/8

Reminder:  Your child may bring in a Valentine for each student in the class.  Please only fill out the from section of the card. I will provide the treat for the Valentine party. 


Writing: The students are each researching a deep sea creature.  I love this writing assignment  because these creatures are all so unique!

Reading: We continued learning about text feature.  This week we focused on pictures and captions. 

The students received their new Latin/Greek words.  We will test on these on Thursday 2/15.

The students did a great job on their spelling tests!  

Grammar: The students learned about shades of meaning with related words.  We also reviewed parts of speech, quotation marks and irregular nouns.

Project:  We started our animal adaptation project.  The students will each create the ultimate animal to survive in a specific habitat.  We read about the 4 different habitats.  The students each got to pick which habitat they wanted their animal to be in. We then read about animal hands/feet.  The students filled out a note taker picking which animal hands/feet they want their animal to have.  

1/29-2/1

** We need shoe boxes for our next project.  If you have 1 or 2 you could send in that would be very helpful.  Also if you have any magazines with animals in them that you could donate to our classroom that would be great!


Reading: This week we started reading non-fiction.  We introduced the text features title, subtitle, heading and subheading.  

The students also received their spelling words.  Their test will be on 2/8.

3rd Graders: They did a great job on their work this week.  They took their time and went back and found their answers in the text.  I was very proud of their work ethic! 

4th Graders:  This week the 4th graders did not take their work seriously.  Out of the entire class only 3 turned in their work completed correctly.  The others had to get their work back to fix.  Some of them had to fix it 3 or 4 times before getting it correct.  If they go back and use their text to find their answers they would not have this problem.  Starting this week, if a student turns in his/her work the first time and misses enough problems to earn a 1 on the assignment I will be sending it home for a parent signature.  They will still be required to fix their work and turn it back in.  This work in not too hard for them, they just don't want to take the time to read carefully and go back and find their answers.

Writing:  The students had a narrative assessment.  They had to write a narrative story about missing Valentines.

Grammar:  We worked on subject/verb agreement.

Projects:  We finished up our weather projects and presented to the 2nd grade.

1/8- 1/11

Reading: 

3rd: The students practiced using context clues to determine the meaning of an unknown word.

4th: The students compared and contrasted the same story using multi media.

Writing: The students are writing a narrative about being stuck in a snow globe.

Grammar: We started learning about possessive nouns.  

Projects: We started our severe weather projects. The students are are working together with students in Mrs. Luyt's class. I love when we are able to do this! 

Week #14

Don't forget to bring in Secret Santa gifts by Wednesday. If for any reason you can't please let me know.  Also just fill out the From portion on the name tag.

We will present projects at 2:00 on Monday in the cafeteria.  They have worked very hard on their projects and are ready to show them off!

Reading: 3rd:  The students compared 2 stories with the same characters.

4th- The students worked on making inferences within a text. 

Writing: We are finishing up our narrative writing.

Grammar: The students reviewed different grammar standards using a mentor sentence.

Projects: We finished up and practiced our 51st state project.

On Thursday we will be watching a movie in the afternoon as a part of our Christmas party.  The students will be able to choose to watch Home Alone in Mrs. Luyt's room or Santa Claus 3 in our room.  If you do not want your child to watch one or both of these movies please let me know. 

Week 13

Thank you to everyone who came to conferences!  If you missed your conference or didn't sign up for one please email me to set up a time.

Reading: 3rd-  We read 2 books by the same author.  The students determined the setting, theme, problem, solution and beginning, middle and end of both stories.  Next week we are going to compare and contrast both stories.

4th-  We watched Pixar Shorts and made inferences based on what we saw.  They had to be able to provide evidence to support their inference.

Writing: We continued working through the writing process with our narrative writing.

Grammar: We wrote letters to Santa for the LVN.

Projects:  We are finishing up our 51st State project.  I will send home an email at the beginning of the week letting you know when we will present.

Secret Santa: The students all drew their names for Secret Santa.  Remember to only spend $5 on the gift.  The Dollar Store is a great place to shop for this!  Only fill out the From part of the name tag.  

Christmas Party: We will be having a Christmas party on the Thursday before break.  I will send home more details at the end of the week.  

Week #12

Reading:  The students continued working on finding evidence in the text to support their answer.  They also worked on correctly using evidence based terms and evidence.

The students took a spelling test on Thursday.  Overall they did a great job.  They will not get a new list until after Christmas break.  Spelling will be run a little differently after the break.  I will go into detail at a later date.  

There will be a Latin/Greek test on Thursday 12/7.  

Writing: We continued working through the narrative writing process.  Most students are ready to begin their rough drafts.

Grammar:  We reviewed past and present tense verbs, then took an assessment.

Projects: We are on the tail end of the 51st State project.  The goal is for all projects to be completed by 12/7.  We will then practice presenting to eachother, and then finally invite the parents in to enjoy.  As soon as I know a set date and time I will send out an email.

Don't Forget

* Conferences are on Friday.  If you have not signed up for a time, or contacted me about coming on a different day, please click on the link and sign up
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4faea928a3f49-...

* A bookorder was sent home.  If you are ordering a book as a gift for your child please let me know. 

Week 11

Reading:The students reviewed finding evidence in the text to support their answer. They received new spelling words.  They will be having a test on those words on 11/30.

Writing: We are slowly working through the writing process when writing a narrative. 

Grammar: We reviewed and tested on making simple, compound and complex sentences.

Projects: The students continued working on their 51st State project.

** Be on the lookout for a scholastic bookorder coming home soon.  If you would like to order for Christmas and do not want your child to see the order, let me know.  

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving.  I will see you tomorrow!

Week #10

Reading:  This week in reading we worked on literal and non literal meaning of phrases.  The students received new Latin/Greek words.  They will have an assessment on these words on 11/ 16. They also had a spelling test.  

Writing: We continued practicing correctly using quotation marks in dialogue.  The students took an assessmenton Thursday.  We also practiced using specific word choice to set the mood in writing.

Grammar: We reviewed parts of speech and took an assessment. We also continued practicing the difference between simple, compound and complex sentences.  We will take an assessment on this next week. 

Projects: We continued working on the 51st state projects. 

One more week and then we get the entire week off for Thanksgiving!! 

Don't forget, the students are supposed to read 20 minutes every night.  Also make sure they are practicing for spelling and Latin/Greek tests.  They have time in class, but a little extra practice at home would be great too. 

Week #9

Writing: This week the students wrote an opinion paper completely on their own for an assessment.

Reading: This week we reviewed the standards we have covered so far this year. 

Grammar: The students were introduced to subordinating conjunctions.  They practiced finding the subordinating conjunction in a complex sentence.  They also had to find the dependent clause.

Projects: We continued working on our 51st state projecty.

Week #8

Reading: This week the students learned about theme.  We talked about how theme is the moral of the story or lesson the author wants the reader to learn. We read different books and discussed what the theme of the story could be.

Writing: We finished up the best animal opinion writing.

Grammar: This week the students learned about coordinating conjunctions.  They practice putting two independent clauses together using a FANBOYS conjunction.

Projects: The students continued working on their 51st State.

Misc: Tuesday is Halloween. The students can wear their costumes to school. Please no masks or weapons.  We will have a school wide costume parade in the morning and party in the afternoon. It should be a GREAT day of fun!!

The students all received new dictionaries from the Rotary Club this week.  They were so excited.  They want to take them home but I asked them to leave them at school so they can have them to use.  At the end of the year they can bring them home. 

Week #7

Reading: This week we worked on using evidence based terms when answering a question.  We read books and then discussed how to answer the question using evidence from the book.

We took a LG test. There will be a spelling test on 10/26. Make sure your child is studying!

Writing: The students are writing about which animal they think is the best.  They have done research to support their opinion. They are working on putting their opinion and the facts they have found together.  

Grammar:  The students learned that every sentence has a subject and a predicate.  Also, each sentence has a simple subject and predicate. We practiced finding the subject and predicate in sentences.

Projects: The students are finishing up their Nevada Symbols books.  Most have started their 51st State Project.  They are creating the 51st state.  I can't wait to see how creative they get with this project.

Week #6

Reading: This week we talked about character traits.  We read pictures books and discussed the character trait of the main character, using evidence to support the trait.

The students took a spelling test on Thursday. If they received a 1 their test will need to be signed and returned.  The students have some time to study in class, but please be sure to also study at home. They will be getting new spelling words on Monday.

They will be having a Latin/Greek test on Thursday 10/19

Writing:  We completed our ant opinion writing.  I am impressed with how well the students are doing!

Grammar: We finished up with regular and irregular verbs.  We then did an activity with comparative and superlative adjectives. 

Projects: We did our egg drop.  Only one egg was broken during this activity!!  We then started introducing our next project by making a Me Map.  

Picture re-take day is on Monday.  If you did not like your student's pictures send the packet of pictures back to school so they can do retakes.