Sunday, September 28, 2014

Sunday, September 28, 2014




Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog




Please note: There is no school this Monday, September 29, 2014. All teachers will be attending In-service classes that day and school will resume on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. 

Local Artist Elizabeth Eero Iving will be joining us on Thusday, October 2, 2014 from 9:30 am to 11 for a special presentation and sketching lesson with the students. If you would like to see some of her beautiful artwork, you may visit her web site at: www.elizabetheeroirving.com

The field trip to Lathrop High School was great. The students said they enjoyed getting some fresh air and new experiences around town. It was a great little break from our daily routine and a wonderful cross-cultural experience.

Pillow making was a HUGE SUCCESS due to the hard work and dedication from our many parent volunteers and your support. Thanks so much for sending in the materials with your child. We had 6 parents and 5 sewing machines going in the commons and completed close to 50 pillows in just over an hour on Friday! SO THANK YOU AGAIN for all your help, hard work, time, and resources parents. Without you, none of this would have been possible!

I have had several folks contact me for information about how to access EnVision Math and PowerSchool. The directions are as follows: 

1. Go to the web site: www.k12northstar.org
2. In the upper right hand corner, you will see a login button. Click the link and enter in your child's s-number and password (call me or email me for their information, but your child should know it, we have used it several times in class and lessons). 
3. After you have logged in successfully, the next page will have a link on the left side of the screen that says, "Power School Login." Click the link and enter in your child's s-number and password again. 
4. This will take you to their grades and assignments section. You may browse and click the grades to see what the breakdown of assignments are. 
5. For EnVision Math materials and the textbook, on the main grades page, you may scroll down to the bottom left of the page and see a tab called Pearson. Click the link and follow the buttons for Pearson Realize. This will take you to the online version of the math materials. Browse the site and contact me for additional help or details when needed. 

These are all VERY helpful tools to monitor, learn with, and help your child to succeed. I hope you have found my directions easy to follow! Please let me know otherwise and I can help. 

Tuesday looks like:
9 - 9:20
Class meeting
New Seats
Planners
9:20 - 10:55
SS: Capitals Quiz 1-25
Science: My Insect Report Day 1
10:55 - 11:30
PE
11:30 - 12:00
Current Events - Darcy 
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch
12:30 - 1:00
Recess
1:05 - 2:15
Math Block: EnVision Math Lesson 3-1
2:15 - 2:30
Current Events - Sam
2:30 - 3:30
ELA: Story Town Lesson 1 Grammar

Homework due Tuesday, September 30, 2014
-- States and Capitals Quiz 1-25 

Homework due Thursday, September 2, 2014
-- SS Packet: Climate in the United States

Homework due Friday, October 3, 2014
-- Retold 5
-- States and Capitals Quiz 26-50

*Please keep in mind, projects or tests we have in class may have to be brought home to be finished or to study. Please ask your child if they have completed their work before you have signed their planner. 

Dates to Remember: 

Monday, September 29, 2014 
Teacher In-Service Day (NO SCHOOL)

Monday, October 27, 2014 and Tuesday, October 27, 2014
Parent/Teacher Conferences - Sign up with the Mrs. Lisa Corbett at the front office if you have not done so already. If you need to adjust your time or schedule with her, simply stop by or call. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you all.

Please Note: We can always use more volunteers in and out of the classroom, but it is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you are interested in attending or helping out as a chaperone on a field trip, you must be cleared with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District...see me for a packet

Have a wonderful week and check back for updates!

Mr. Sassman

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog





I hope all is well with you and your family. Last week was a push for a lot of work but WE DID IT, as I knew we could! School pictures were last Friday and if your child missed them, there will be a make-up date scheduled soon. Just call the front office for more information. You may order prints online through the company's web site. The Innisbrook Fundraiser ended last Friday as order forms were due. If you participated or donated to the PTA, THANK YOU very much for your support. The staff vs. students soccer game was exhilarating and concluded in a nail-biting tie, with two goals for each side! It was a beautiful afternoon and a great way to end the week! We have a lot of exciting things coming up, so please keep checking the blog for information. 

This week I will be assigning dates for Current Events Projects/Presentations. Ask your kids what their date is and for the directions. I have included a detailed description of the assignment, expectations, and a rubric. If you would like to visit for their presentation, you are more than welcome!

Friday, September 26, 2014 will be our first field trip. We will be going to Lathrop High School's Herring Auditorium to see a cross-cultural performance by George Kahumoku Jr. & Masters of Hawaiian Music from 10 am - 11 am. For examples of his style of music you can go to the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PunLz_wbxnE 

For this Friday, can you please send in $7 with your student to cover the cost of the transportation and performance. 

I am currently working on setting up our next field trip, so look for updates. This will be in November before Thanksgiving. I would like to incorporate UAF into our science curriculum, particularly our unit in Fossils, so if you know of a particular department that would like to host some elementary students, please let me know. In the spring, we will focus on Rocks, Minerals, Alaskan Plants and Habitats. I would like to visit again for that unit.

I would also like to have a class Read-a-Thon fundraiser before the winter holiday season. My goal is to have that plan ready for you by parent/teacher conferences (October 27/28).

Lastly...for now...we will be making pillows this Friday, September 26, 2014. This has started to become an annual tradition here at Pearl Creek and the students really enjoy it. Can you please pick up your materials and bring them in by Thursday? Each student will need 1 full yard of fabric, which can be bought at Michaels or Joann Fabric here in town. They will also need one package of pillow stuffing. I have included pictures below. Thanks so much. Currently, we have about 4 volunteers, but we could always use some more help and sewing machines. I anticipate this project running throughout the day because of the intermittent schedule, but our goal is to get them all done that day. 

Example pillow fill. You can find at Fred's, Wal-Mart, Sam's...
Example style/size pillow we will make 18" x 18"
 Thank you so much for your continued support and help! 

Monday looks like:
9 - 9:20
Class meeting
New Jobs
Planners
9:20 - 10:55
Science: Aquatic Invertebrates and other Insects
Science: Build-a-Bug
Counselors
10:55 - 11:30
Library
11:30 - 12:00
Intro to Current Events Project/Presentations
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch
12:30 - 1:00
Recess
1:05 - 2:15
Math Block: EnVision Math Lesson 2-5
2:15 - 2:30
Recess Part II
2:30 - 3:30
SS: States and Capitals

Due before or on Wednesday, September 24, 2014
-- $7 Field Trip Money
-- States and Capitals Packet 1 (in-class)*
Homework due Thursday, September 25, 2014
-- TFK
Homework due Friday, September 26, 2014
-- Retold 4
-- States and Capitals Quiz (in-class)*
-- Insects Packet 1

*Please keep in mind, projects we complete in class may have to be brought home to be finished. Please ask your child if they have completed their work before you have signed their planner. 

Dates to Remember: 

Friday, September 26, 2014
Field Trip to Herring Auditorium at Lathrop High School
George Kahumoku Jr. &Masters of Hawaiian Music 10 am - 11 am
I have 2 chaperones that have committed, but there may be a last minute spot due to cancellations or student absences, so if you would like to still attend, I can put you on the late-call(alternates) list. Thanks so much! (First Come, First Serve...must be cleared with the District...see me for a packet)

Friday, September 26, 2014
Pillow Making at Pearl Creek - all day availability, contact me please.

Monday, September 29, 2014 
Teacher In-Service Day (NO SCHOOL)

Monday, October 27, 2014 and Tuesday, October 27, 2014
Parent/Teacher Conferences - Sign up with the Mrs. Lisa Corbett at the front office if you have not done so already. If you need to adjust your time or schedule with her, simply stop by or call. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you all.

Have a wonderful week and check back for updates!

Mr. Sassman

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Sunday, September 14, 2014


Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

A room with a view!



Most certainly a busy week!

Our annual Fall Festival! What a beautiful evening!



Families enjoying their time at Harvest Festival!

"It's a good life."

Leaf collecting for our printmaking activity and lesson! Right outside our door!

Techies! Typing Agent in full swing!

Today I am feeling like the luckiest teacher on Earth! I belong to a school and community that is involved, compassionate, and inspired! Every one of my students is a pleasure to have in class! I am so proud of their work and efforts! My fellow teachers are sharing, wonderful, resources in and out of the classroom. I hope you are feeling as good as I do today! 

It was indeed a busy and productive week! The Harvest Festival was a huge success and a great time! I want to thank all the people who helped by donating their time and/or food to the event!

We had a chance to explore around campus and collect some leaves for our printmaking project. The students learned about local artist Klara Maisch as well as her techniques for creating beautiful art. We put those practices into our own work and the results were beautiful.

This week was also full of technology! The students learned about PowerPoint presentations, and we will be diving into creating and presenting our own presentations in the coming weeks. 

We have quite a bit of work on our plates coming up, but I am confident we will accomplish our goals! 

Monday's schedule looks like:

9 - 9:20
New Seats
Social Skill Building
9:20 - 10:55
ELA: Daily Oral Language Week 4
ELA: Spelling
Counselors
10:55 - 11:30
Library
11:30 - 12:00
Time For Kids (TFK)
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch
12:30 - 1:00
Recess
1:05 - 2:15
Math Block: EnVision Pre-test Unit 1 Topic 1 (Test Tuesday)
2:15 - 2:30
Recess Part II
2:30 - 3:30
6+1 Writing Traits: Ideas

Homework due Wednesday, September 17, 2014
-- Something special to me...(writing traits essay)
Homework due Thursday, September 18, 2014
-- Retold 3
-- TFK
Homework due Friday, September 19, 2014
--Spelling Packet 3
--Build a Bug (in-class)
-- DOL TEST (in-class)
--Spelling Quiz (in-class)

Dates to Remember: 

Friday, September 26, 2014
Field Trip to Herring Auditorium at Lathrop High School
George Kahumoku Jr. &Masters of Hawaiian Music 10 am - 11 am
1 Chaperones Needed (First Come, First Serve...must be cleared with the District) 

Have a wonderful week and check back for updates!

Mr. Sassman

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Sunday, September 7, 2014



Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Great session with the school counselors; 2 truths and 1 lie!

Working hard on the DOL test!


Week three in the books and rolling! Fall is approaching quickly and I have noted a few dates to remember coming up at the bottom of the blog. Please mark your calendars and join us for the festivities. Fall Harvest Festival is a large fundraiser for the school PTA and we would love to see you! The school is also asking students to bring in a bread donation of any kind on Friday. You may send it in with your child and we will collect it for the festival. Thank you in advance for your generosity. 

This past week, the students worked hard and I am very proud of the progress we are making. This week we are changing speeds a bit and focusing more on science while integrating the arts! On Wednesday, September 10, we will be identifying and examining flora samples from around the Pearl Creek campus, followed by a printmaking activity using our samples. If you are interested in coming by to participate or help, please let me know, we would love to have you (9:30 - 11:00ish). A big THANK YOU to Mr. Kurt Carlson for coming in and helping out with our reading groups for the last two Thursdays. We look forward to seeing you this week as well! For those that are interested in volunteering for field trips and classroom activities, I have a Volunteer Information Packet for you to fill out from the District. Please fill this out and complete the required items (Background Check) as it is imperative to be in compliance for the safety of our children and school.

Band and Orchestra start this week for the students and I am sure there will be some excitement around the school!

This Thursday will be the first week of parent communications with your son/daughter in their Writer's Journal. I will have the students bring them home for you to read and respond to. I will include an informational letter for you as well. Thanks so much for your participation in this important activity.    

Monday's schedule looks like:

9 - 9:20
Class Meeting
Planners
New Classroom Jobs
9:20 - 10:55
Binder Tabs
ELA: Daily Oral Language Week 3
ELA: 6+1 Writing Traits - Idea
Group Poster Presentations - Class Poster
Read Aloud: Indian in the Cupboard
10:55 - 11:30
Library
11:30 - 12:00
Summer Reflections Final Copies
SSR: Retold 2
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch
12:30 - 1:00
Recess
1:05 - 2:15
Math Block: EnVision Lesson 1-6
2:15 - 2:30
Recess Part II
2:30 - 3:30
Science: The Scientific Method - Be a Scientist (intro)
A walk around Pearl Creek Campus: Collecting Flora (weather permitting)

Homework due Friday, September 12, 2014
-- Retold Part 2
-- DOL TEST (in-class)
-- Science Vocabulary Quiz: Chapter 1 Lessons 1 and 2 (in-class)



Dates to Remember: 

Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Print Making with local flora

Friday, September 12, 2014
Harvest Festival - Pearl Creek Elementary School 5-7 PM

Friday, September 26, 2014
Field Trip to Herring Auditorium at Lathrop High School
George Kahumoku Jr. &Masters of Hawaiian Music 10 am - 11 am
2 Chaperones Needed (First Come, First Serve...must be cleared with the District) 

Have a wonderful week and check back for updates!

Mr. Sassman