Sunday, August 30, 2015

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

WEEK TWO IN THE BOOKS!!!

A LITTLE SCAVENGER HUNT IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN!!!

EVERYONE PICKED FRESH CARROTS!!!

We had a great week and are in full swing! Several grades have been entered in PowerSchool and I am still working on finishing up soon. Our scavenger hunt in the garden was a success and concluded with picking carrots for a little mid-morning snack!

I am so proud and privileged to have your kids this year. Fourth grade usually proves to be a challenge academically and socially for kids, and this class has delivered thus far! We have started our insects (science) unit, daily oral language (DOL) practice, spelling packets, and weekly GeoNotes. Our summer essays are coming along and I hope that most of the students will finish their first writing piece of the year by Friday. Math is cruising along through topic one and multiplication facts are always a challenge!

This week, we will continue our writing, spelling, DOL, and GeoNotes campaigns while exploring metamorphosis and aquatic invertebrates. We will also be taking a hike to Ballaine Lake on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. There, we will examine "Water Bugs" and have several stations for students to learn and connect with our beautiful surroundings. If you would like to join us, please come with your walking shoes and be ready to get a bit mucky!

Next week, Wednesday, September 9, 2015, we will be taking a field trip to Creamer's Field. Please feel free to come with us and learn about bird migrations and observe the many types of animals right in our own backyard! 

ALSO, PLEASE SEND IN $5.00 WITH YOUR STUDENT FOR TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

PLEASE check your child's planner for homework and correspondence!   

Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Seats
Jobs/Planners
Class Meeting
9:10 - 11:00
DOL
Spelling Lesson 2
Snack
Organize Folders
Summer Reflections - Essays
Read Aloud - Frindle
11:00 - 11:40
Library
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 2:00
Math Block
2:00 - 3:30
Recess Part II
Science: Metamorphosis/Butterflies
Social Studies: GeoNotes Week 2

*Please note that Math, Specials, Lunch, and Recess are Intermediate schedules and stay in blocks. At times, curriculum instruction will be shuffled to accommodate different initiatives. For example, Monday 8-24-15, we will have a special Pearl Creek Garden Tour at 10:20 am - 10:50 am, so English/Language Arts will be in the afternoon.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to call or email me anytime to discuss things further. I hope you find this information helpful and useful.

ON Friday, September 4, 2015:
-- Spelling quiz 2 (in-class)
-- Summer reflections next draft (in-class)

DUE Friday, September 4, 2015:
-- Spelling packet "No Excuse Spelling Words List 2 (homework)
-- Metamorphosis Worksheets (in-class and homework if not finished at school)
-- Geo Notes Week 2 (in-class and homework if not finished at school)
-- Planners signed by parents/guardians
-- PLEASE SEND IN $5.00 WITH YOUR STUDENT FOR THE FIELD TRIP NEXT WEEK

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if you are in my math class)
Homework due Tuesday, September 1, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-5
Homework due Wednesday, September 2, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-6
Homework due Thursday, September 3, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-7
Homework due Friday, September 4, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-8

*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: 

Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Field Trip - Ballaine Lake Science and Art Excursion (two parent volunteers needed please)

Monday, September 7, 2015
Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Field Trip - Creamer's Field (two parent volunteers needed please)

Friday, September 11, 2015
Harvest Festival 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Pearl Creek Garden

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. If you would like to simply help out in class or volunteer, just let me know!

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman






Sunday, August 23, 2015

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Welcome back to school and welcome to 4th grade!

Great first day and teamwork!!! 
We weren't having fun at all on this one!!!
Before and after!!! 
Before and after!!!

PUFFINS TAKE FLIGHT!!!

I have had the opportunity and pleasure to meet several parents/guardians during the annual Ice Cream Social and it was a huge success. Thank you for attending and if you were unable to make it, I am sure we will meet one-on-one in the near future (Parent/Teacher conferences October 26th and 27th). If you have not yet, please read through our classroom handbook.

The first three days of school were dedicated to team building, ice-breakers, rules and procedures, and mini-lessons! Our classroom chemistry is great! I can tell that this is going to be an amazing year! I especially enjoyed talking with students and getting to know one another! 

We have already completed our first assignment, and on Friday we capped off our week with a Spirit Assembly that rocked the house! 

This coming week, we will hit the ground running and our academic campaigns begin!!! PLEASE check your child's planner for homework and correspondence!   

There are a couple of housekeeping items to mention here:

Thursday, August 27, 2015
5:30 - 6:30 pm room 324
There is a Back to School Night/Parent Classroom Meeting Night at Pearl Creek. We will meet in room 324 to discuss our school year together, classroom policies and procedures, fundraisers, and field trips. This is also a great time to ask questions! Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there. 

I mentioned that I would maintain a class blog for you to see a "snapshot" of what lessons and activities we do in class. I will also include a rough sketch of our schedule for the week, highlighting some of our main events, but please keep in mind that things may change from time to time. At the bottom of the blog post, I will list the homework that is due for the week, for your reference.

Also...if you would like to subscribe to the blog and receive this in your email weekly, enter in your email address at the bottom where it says "Subscribe." You will receive an email from Feed Burner confirming your participation. Follow the instructions and check your spam folder if you do not receive an email. This will set you up for the email campaign.

Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
Jobs
Planners
Class Meeting - Rules and Expectations (re-cap)
9:10 - 11:00
DOL
Spelling Lesson 1
Snack
Pearl Creek Garden Activity
Read Aloud - Frindle
11:00 - 11:40
Library
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 2:00
Math Block
2:00 - 3:30
Recess Part II
Writing: Summer Reflection Essay
Science: Insects

*Please note that Math, Specials, Lunch, and Recess are Intermediate schedules and stay in blocks. At times, curriculum instruction will be shuffled to accommodate different initiatives. For example, Monday 8-24-15, we will have a special Pearl Creek Garden Tour at 10:20 am - 10:50 am, so English/Language Arts will be in the afternoon.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to call or email me anytime to discuss things further. I hope you find this information helpful and useful.

ON Friday, August 28, 2015:
-- Spelling quiz 1(in-class)
-- Summer reflections rough draft (in-class)

DUE Friday, August 28, 2015:
-- Spelling packet 1 (homework)
-- Insects worksheet (in-class and homework if not finished at school)
-- Planners signed by parents/guardians

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if you are in my math class)
Homework due Tuesday, August 25, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-1
Homework due Wednesday, August 26, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-2
Homework due Thursday, August 27, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-3
Homework due Friday, August 28, 2015
-- Reteach/Practice 1-4

*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:

Thursday, August 27, 2015
Back to School Night - Parent/Teacher Classroom Meeting Night
Intermediate grades at 5:30 pm
Primary grades at 6:30 pm 

Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Field Trip - Ballaine Lake Science and Art Excursion (two parent volunteers needed please)

Wednesday, September 8, 2015
Field Trip - Creamer's Field (two parent volunteers needed please)

Friday, September 11, 2015
Harvest Festival 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Pearl Creek Garden

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. If you would like to simply help out in class or volunteer, just let me know!

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman