Welcome Back! I hope you all had a great Spring Break!
Reading: This week, we will be reviewing theme and plot. If you get a chance, discuss some of your favorite books with your children and what the theme is, or perhaps discuss the theme in the book that your child is reading and help them discover the theme. Some "tricks" to determining the theme are asking, "What did the main character learn?" or "How did the main character grow or change?" or looking for "Words of the Wiser" where an older and wiser character shares words of wisdom or a life lesson with the main character. The vocabulary words for this week are: inspiration, reconstruct, ambition, manufacture, commitment, munitions, foresight, and persistence.
Spelling: The spelling words this week follow a VCCV pattern; words such as achieve and whether are on the list!
Language: This week we are working hard on our Student Treasure Books! The children are writing about what they have learned in 4th grade! What a wonderful variety of topics they have chosen to write about!
Math: We are doing a fraction menu this week! The children are solving difficult problems involving fractions as they practice finding simplest form, equivalent fractions, comparing fractions as well as adding and subtracting fractions.
Alabama History: This week, our focus is on Alabama's part in the Civil War as well as how the war ended and what happened after the war.
Science: The students are researching about magnets. They are learning more about how magnets and electricity are connected.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
4th Nine Weeks: Week 1
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
It promises to be a busy week of learning this week before our week off for Spring Break.
Reading: The focus of the week is on elements of the story, especially focusing on the plot line, conflict, climax and resolution. The students are reading books this week about he Civil War as they discuss these aspects of the story. Our vocabulary words this week go along with the Civil War and the stories we are reading this week: cause, valise, rubble, alcove, drummer-boy, pugnacious, advocate, gallant and Mason-Dixon line.
Language: There will be a test on commas and quotation marks tomorrow (Tuesday). The rest of the week, we will focus on writing for our Student Treasures book. Look for information this week about ordering your own copy of this book written by these students!
Spelling: The focus this week is on words with VCCV and VCV spelling patterns in words such as dentist and reward.
Math: Fractions continue to be the focus. This week the students will be learning more about mixed numbers (2 and 1/4) and improper fractions (9/4). We will also explore adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.
Alabama History: The students will be learning more about the Battle of Gettysburg, military leaders of the Civil War and Sherman's march and destruction through the South.
Science: We will learn about static electricity and magnets this week as we connect that information to what we already know about electricity.
It promises to be a busy week of learning this week before our week off for Spring Break.
Reading: The focus of the week is on elements of the story, especially focusing on the plot line, conflict, climax and resolution. The students are reading books this week about he Civil War as they discuss these aspects of the story. Our vocabulary words this week go along with the Civil War and the stories we are reading this week: cause, valise, rubble, alcove, drummer-boy, pugnacious, advocate, gallant and Mason-Dixon line.
Language: There will be a test on commas and quotation marks tomorrow (Tuesday). The rest of the week, we will focus on writing for our Student Treasures book. Look for information this week about ordering your own copy of this book written by these students!
Spelling: The focus this week is on words with VCCV and VCV spelling patterns in words such as dentist and reward.
Math: Fractions continue to be the focus. This week the students will be learning more about mixed numbers (2 and 1/4) and improper fractions (9/4). We will also explore adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.
Alabama History: The students will be learning more about the Battle of Gettysburg, military leaders of the Civil War and Sherman's march and destruction through the South.
Science: We will learn about static electricity and magnets this week as we connect that information to what we already know about electricity.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Huntsville Depot and Museum
Yesterday, we traveled two hours north to the Huntsville Depot and Museum. There, we were greeted by a rather intimidating army officer who swore us in as part of the army.
From there, we met with a Civil War nurse. She talked about how difficult it was to be a nurse, how little training she had, and how little they knew about germs. Ask your child about the children in our classroom who were "treated" for their illnesses and what happen to them.
We also heard from a cook for the Civil War army. He told us about the meals that the soldiers ate while traveling across the country. Ask your child about the hardtack that the soldiers ate and the special treats that they craved.
The students went on a Scavenger Hunt in the top floor of the depot where prisoners were kept. The prisoners had written and drawn on the walls, and many of their signatures were still preserved.
The students were given instructions as if they were new army recruits, learning how to follow instructions and how difficult it would have been to be a young soldier away from your family.
From there, we met with a Civil War nurse. She talked about how difficult it was to be a nurse, how little training she had, and how little they knew about germs. Ask your child about the children in our classroom who were "treated" for their illnesses and what happen to them.
We also heard from a cook for the Civil War army. He told us about the meals that the soldiers ate while traveling across the country. Ask your child about the hardtack that the soldiers ate and the special treats that they craved.
The students went on a Scavenger Hunt in the top floor of the depot where prisoners were kept. The prisoners had written and drawn on the walls, and many of their signatures were still preserved.
Students explored the sacks that soldiers carried with them, learning more about what soldiers were responsible for, how they entertained themselves and why the war was called a "gentlemen's war."
The students were given instructions as if they were new army recruits, learning how to follow instructions and how difficult it would have been to be a young soldier away from your family.
Our last speaker was a spy for the Union army who lived here in the south. She talked about how they used books to carry messages and how one husband and wife even used a clothesline to communicate.
We had a wonderful day, full of learning, and I was so very proud of the way that your children behaved: listening intently to the presenters and asking intriguing questions to further their understanding. Thank you for your support with this wonderful learning experience!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Flashlights
Yesterday, as a culminating activity to our study on electric circuits, the students made their own flashlights. Unfortunately, we were a bit pressed for time, so not all the students were able to finish their flashlights, but as the materials were their's to keep, I hope they take full advantage of some time at home and complete them or even add more decorations to their creations! It was so much fun to watch them use what they had learned in science while being creative to make their very own creation! 
Special Visitor
Yesterday, we had a special visitor come and speak to the classroom. Mr. Taylor, Sunny's dad, has been living and working in Kuwait for over a year. He told us all about the country: the people, the customs, the geography, the food and more. The kids had wonderful questions, and it was certainly a treat to have him visit the classroom and share his knowledge of another country!
Monday, March 10, 2014
3rd Nine Weeks: Week 10 (Last Week)
Spring seems to have finally arrived! I hope that you and your family were able to spend sometime outdoors this weekend enjoying the sunshine.
The field trip is this Wednesday! We will be traveling to Huntsville by way of Homewood City Schools buses. We expect to leave soon after 8, so please ensure your child is here on time, and we expect to return before 3 pm. Don't forget to send a sack lunch with your child if you signed up for your child to bring his/her own lunch. Disposable lunch bags are best for field trips if at all possible.
Reading - This week, while learning about story elements such as plot, character development and setting, the children will be reading stories about the Civil War, enhancing their Alabama History study. The vocabulary words for the week are: plot, conflict, climax, resolution and militia. We will spend a little bit of time on the students' biography webpages in the morning, but they are due tomorrow (Tuesday).
Spelling - This week's spelling words have a VCV pattern such as polite, siren and habit.
Language - The students are learning more about how to punctuate quotation marks as well as continuing to work on the comma rules. Expect a test later this week, most likely on Friday.
Math - Fractions continue to be the focus in math and we will continue to deepen our understanding of fractions as we move into more difficult fraction concepts like comparing fractions with unlike denominators, adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators and even mixed numbers (a whole number and a fraction).
Alabama History - Students are learning about why the South seceded, the differences between the North and the South, and the beginning of the Civil War. No doubt our field trip on Wednesday will help them to understand what they are learning about, but also pique their curiosity to learn even more!
Science - We are completing our study of electricity this week by creating our very own flashlights! We will also have an electricity test late this week before beginning our study on static electricity and magnetism.
The field trip is this Wednesday! We will be traveling to Huntsville by way of Homewood City Schools buses. We expect to leave soon after 8, so please ensure your child is here on time, and we expect to return before 3 pm. Don't forget to send a sack lunch with your child if you signed up for your child to bring his/her own lunch. Disposable lunch bags are best for field trips if at all possible.
Reading - This week, while learning about story elements such as plot, character development and setting, the children will be reading stories about the Civil War, enhancing their Alabama History study. The vocabulary words for the week are: plot, conflict, climax, resolution and militia. We will spend a little bit of time on the students' biography webpages in the morning, but they are due tomorrow (Tuesday).
Spelling - This week's spelling words have a VCV pattern such as polite, siren and habit.
Language - The students are learning more about how to punctuate quotation marks as well as continuing to work on the comma rules. Expect a test later this week, most likely on Friday.
Math - Fractions continue to be the focus in math and we will continue to deepen our understanding of fractions as we move into more difficult fraction concepts like comparing fractions with unlike denominators, adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators and even mixed numbers (a whole number and a fraction).
Alabama History - Students are learning about why the South seceded, the differences between the North and the South, and the beginning of the Civil War. No doubt our field trip on Wednesday will help them to understand what they are learning about, but also pique their curiosity to learn even more!
Science - We are completing our study of electricity this week by creating our very own flashlights! We will also have an electricity test late this week before beginning our study on static electricity and magnetism.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Empty Bowls
Today the students participated in a service project to help raise money for Magic City Harvest (http://www.magiccityharvest.org/). This organization takes left-over food from restaurants and schools (even Shades Cahaba!) to area shelters, utilizing food that is all ready prepared to feed to the hungry in our area.
Magic City Harvest's biggest fundraiser of the year is called the "Empty Bowl Project." Children from around the Birmingham area paint and/or make bowls that are then donated. On April 3rd, Magic City Harvest hosts a luncheon (http://www.magiccityharvest.org/newsandevents) where people purchase the bowls and also get delicious soup made by local chefs.
Check out these beautiful pieces of artwork that your children made. It was so much fun to watch them work with such smiles on their faces, knowing that they will not only be making someone smile while eating soup, cereal or ice cream out of the bowls, but knowing that in that process they were also helping to fill the bellies of the hungry in our area.
Magic City Harvest's biggest fundraiser of the year is called the "Empty Bowl Project." Children from around the Birmingham area paint and/or make bowls that are then donated. On April 3rd, Magic City Harvest hosts a luncheon (http://www.magiccityharvest.org/newsandevents) where people purchase the bowls and also get delicious soup made by local chefs.
Check out these beautiful pieces of artwork that your children made. It was so much fun to watch them work with such smiles on their faces, knowing that they will not only be making someone smile while eating soup, cereal or ice cream out of the bowls, but knowing that in that process they were also helping to fill the bellies of the hungry in our area.
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