Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
 |
| Whatever you celebrate...I hope you had a nice weekend! My family and I enjoyed spending time together!!! |
 |
| I wonder if the tests measure these areas??? Just sayin'! |
Sorry for the barrage of cartoons this week...I just couldn't pick a favorite!!!
I have mentioned several times over the past few blogs that State Testing is coming up and it is here this week. Please, Please, Please, make sure you kids get plenty of sleep the night before and have a "hearty" breakfast in the morning (tests are this Thursday and Friday). Also, please send them in with some healthy snacks for the morning time, as this will be when the testing will occur. Thanks so much for your help on this.
I found an article online that a teacher wrote to her students and have made a few modifications (for Alaska and our class of course), but I will be telling this to the kids this week. Feel free to share it with them!
Dear Students,
This week you will take your AMP tests for math and reading. Next week you will take a test for science. I know how hard you have worked all year, and there is something important you must know.
These tests do not assess all of what makes you special and unique. The people who create and score these tests do not know each of you like I do. And certainly not the way your families do.
They do not know that some of you can fish, hike, camp, and live in the harshest winter environments, with a smile. They do not know that you love yoga and drawing. They have not seen your talent for dancing or singing. They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them, that your laughter can brighten up the darkest day, or that your face turns red when you feel shy or embarrassed. They do not know that you participate in sports, wonder about the future, or sometimes you help with your little brother or little sister after school. They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy, and thoughtful;
compassionate, involved, and inspired...and every day you try to be your best.
The scores you get back from these tests will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything. These tests do not define you. There are many ways of being smart. YOU are smart. YOU are a light that brightens my day and the reason I am happy to come to work each day. So, in the midst of all these tests, remember that there is no way to "test" all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU.
All that I ask is, that you do your personal best, and do not give up. You have put in a lot of hard work at school, and I believe in you.
Sincerely,
Your teacher,
Mr. Sassman
OUR READ-A-THON IS MORE THAN HALF OVER!!! I HOPE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP THEIR DAILY READINGS AND LOGS! WE HAVE ABOUT 5 DAYS LEFT!!! STUDENTS SHOULD BE READING EVERY NIGHT AND MARKING DOWN THEIR TIMES ON THEIR CALENDAR.
FINAL PLEDGE FORMS AND MONEY WILL BE DUE MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016. I MADE COPIES AND GAVE FILLED OUT PLEDGE FORMS BACK BEFORE THE BREAK. YOUR KIDS SHOULD HAVE THE ORIGINALS. I AM STILL MISSING SEVERAL BY THE WAY...
PARENTS: PLEASE INITIAL FOR EACH DAY AND TIME. I WILL ALLOW SOME TIME IN SCHOOL TO READ AND WILL INITIAL AS WELL.
I have changed up our spelling routine a bit. Spelling Lesson Packets will be due on Mondays (one week from the day given), so that students may have the weekend to finish them up/complete them. My hope is that I will see a higher rate of return, given that the students have a full week, including a weekend. Those that are turned in on Fridays, will receive a bit of "extra credit" and students will inherently be more prepared for the quizzes that day! That's correct, we will still have quizzes on Fridays.
Next Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 5 PM we will have an informational parent meeting about our planned Twin Bears/Angel Rocks Camping/Educational Excursion! Please mark your calendars and be there for key details and a chance to volunteer. This has been a great event in the past for Mrs. Hammers' class and mine, but we could not do it without the support from families like yourselves.
The Final Quarter
- Literacy Groups
- Literacy Circles
- Kahn Academy
- Narrative Writing - Spring Break Reflections
- AMP testing
- Mock Trial
- Tableaux
- Rock Cycle
- Ecosystems
- K'NEX Bridge Building
- Zentangle
- Book Battles
- Debates
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
Planners
Class Meeting
9:10 - 11:00
Writing - Spring Break Reflections
Figurative Language
Read Aloud - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
11:00 - 11:40
Read Aloud - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
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
Project Keoni
ART - Shading the Hills!
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.
HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK
Monday, March 28, 2016
-- Spelling Lesson 16
Thursday March 31, 2016 and Friday, April 1, 2015
-- Get plenty of rest and have a nice big breakfast!!!
HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK
Monday, March 28, 2016
-- Spelling Lesson 16
Thursday March 31, 2016 and Friday, April 1, 2015
-- Get plenty of rest and have a nice big breakfast!!!
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if you are in my math class)
-- NONE (AMP TESTING THIS WEEK AND NEXT)
ONGOING INFORMATION
READING LOGSI have decided to implement weekly reading logs as a regular part of our class for this next quarter. Students will receive "points" for for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday).
The logs will be due on a rolling basis and should have dates read on them. I will give credit as they are turned in and filled out correctly (please initial these). The points students receive will be added to their overall reading grade, counting towards their final grade.
It is simple, if students read and turn in their logs, they will see their grade improve significantly while naturally benefitting in fluency and accuracy. If they do not, they will not be given a "0" on the assignment, they simply will not receive any points.
Please look for these to come home this week. I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs. Email me with any questions or concerns please.
GOOGLE DRIVE
You can access all of your student's digital assignments online and work at home if you would like. Just go to www.gmail.com and type in their email address and password. Then find the Google Menu (where you will find the Drive, Docs, and Slides) icon in the top right corner (it is a nine square grid next to their s-number). This is where they will make their Google Slides Presentation for their Biography Book Reports. It is as follows:
Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)
Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Thursday, March 31, 2015 - THESE ARE STATE MANDATED, STANDARDIZED TESTS
AMP Math Tests - please make sure your kiddos have a restful night's sleep and a hearty breakfast. They will be testing all morning.
Friday, April 1, 2016 - THESE ARE STATE MANDATED, STANDARDIZED TESTS
AMP English/Language Arts Tests - please make sure your kiddos have a restful night's sleep and a hearty breakfast. They will be testing all morning.
Parent informational meeting about Twin Bears
Thursday, April 7, 2016 - THESE ARE STATE MANDATED, STANDARDIZED TESTS
SBA Science Tests - please make sure your kiddos have a restful night's sleep and a hearty breakfast. They will be testing all morning.
Friday, April 22, 2016 (this date may change due to scheduling)
Fairbanks Cultural Center in the morning and then a picnic lunch beside the Chena River downtown
Supreme Court Mock Trial at the Courthouse in the afternoon
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 through Friday, May 13, 2016
Angel Rocks Hike and Twin Bears Camping Trip - Details to followMonday, May 16, 2016
Arctic Bowl and Pioneer Park Picnic
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 (also an early out day - dismissal at 2 PM)
Birch Hill Recreation Hike and Picnic
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
