Week 9

Although this is really week 9, technically it is the start of our second nine weeks!  I always tell the kids how much I love this first week of a new nine weeks: it is a fresh start, a clean slate (and gradebook!).  So, if there was a subject a child didn't feel like he or she did his or her best on last nine weeks, nothing is stopping him/her from improving this nine weeks!

If all goes as planned, the Tuesday Communicators will come home tomorrow (on Tuesday).  You should be able to sit down with your child and average his/her scores for each subject using the yellow sheet on the inside of the communicator.  You will receive the official report cards later this week when we meet.  I'm looking forward to meeting with each of you and discussing your child's accomplishments so far and setting goals for the rest of the year.

Don't forget that the Book Adoption Fair is during conferences as well.  If you get a chance on Thursday from 3-7 or Friday from 7-11:30, the library will be open with books that are hoping to be adopted!  By adopting a book, you're making a donation to the SCE library that will bring joy to children for years to come!

This week:

Reading: Our focus this week is on distinguishing fact from opinion.  We will also be paying attention to punctuation that helps us phrase groups of words when we read out loud.  Vocabulary words this week are: thrilling, entertaining, critics, jolts, promote, advertise, angles, focus, and target.  There will be a vocabulary and reading quiz on Thursday.

Spelling: This week we are again focusing on the different "oo" sounds.  Our spelling test will be Thursday as there is no school on Friday.

Language: We are finishing up the Owl Update!  The kids have done a great job!  We are also continuing to work on cursive handwriting.

Math: We are finishing up addition and subtraction this week as we look at estimating and problem solving skills.  We will either have a test Thursday or next Monday.

Alabama History: Although Native Americans are not really in the 4th grade course of study any more, I find it very difficult to teach about the explorers with out a little bit of knowledge of who was here first! :)  So, we are going to quickly discuss Prehistoric Alabama as well as the more modern Native American tribes such as the Choctaw and Creek during the next two weeks.

Science: We will be discussing parts of the ear this week as well as assigning a project for the students. The students will be given the task of designing their very own instrument with a few requirements based on what they've learned in our sound unit.  Your child will be able to tell you much more about the task tomorrow afternoon.  We will have a test early next week on sound and how the ear works.

Thanks for your help and support at home!