Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
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| Sorry folks...electronics will be prohibited during this field trip!!! We will talk more about that on Tuesday!!! |
FINAL PLEDGE FORMS AND MONEY ARE DUE THIS WEEK. PLEASE HAVE YOUR KIDDOS TALLY UP THEIR HOURS/MONEY OWED, AND SEND IT IN WITH THEM OR BRING IT TUESDAY EVENING.
THIS 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. This has been a great event in past years for Mrs. Hammers' class and mine, but we cannot do it without support and help from families like yours. At the meeting, we will talk logistics, planning, volunteering, and packing lists. PLEASE try and make it.
As you have probably already heard, the School District has decided to forego
AMP testing this year due to all the technical problems that were encountered. The validity and fairness of the tests have been compromised, so the decision was made quickly and notice was sent out late last week. To say the least, I am pleased with how the whole situation was handled and I applaud the state for their actions. Let's see what comes next, but for now, let's enjoy the rest of this wonderful school year and NOT worry about "high-stakes testing."
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.
THIS 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. This has been a great event in past years for Mrs. Hammers' class and mine, but we cannot do it without support and help from families like yours. At the meeting, we will talk logistics, planning, volunteering, and packing lists. PLEASE try and make it.
As you have probably already heard, the School District has decided to forego
AMP testing this year due to all the technical problems that were encountered. The validity and fairness of the tests have been compromised, so the decision was made quickly and notice was sent out late last week. To say the least, I am pleased with how the whole situation was handled and I applaud the state for their actions. Let's see what comes next, but for now, let's enjoy the rest of this wonderful school year and NOT worry about "high-stakes testing."
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.
The Final Quarter
- Literacy Groups
- Literacy Circles
- Kahn Academy
- Narrative Writing - Spring Break Reflections
- Mock Trial
- Tableaux
- Mount Fuji
- Fossils
- Ecosystems
- K'NEX Bridge Building
- Zentangle
- Book Battles
- Debates
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
Planners
Class Meeting
9:10 - 11:00
New Jobs
New Seats
Writing - Spring Break Finish
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
Fossils
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, April 11, 2016 (students will receive these Monday, April 4, 2016)
-- Spelling Lesson 17
Monday, April 11, 2016 (students will receive these Monday, April 4, 2016)
-- TFK: Kids Speak Up
HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK
Monday, April 11, 2016 (students will receive these Monday, April 4, 2016)
-- Spelling Lesson 17
Monday, April 11, 2016 (students will receive these Monday, April 4, 2016)
-- TFK: Kids Speak Up
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if you are in my math class)
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
-- Practice/Reteach 13-8
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
-- Practice/Reteach 13-9
Thursday, April 7, 2016
-- Practice/Reteach 13-10
Friday, April 8, 2016
-- Topic 13 Review (TEST TOPIC 13 ON FRIDAY)
-- Practice/Reteach 13-8
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
-- Practice/Reteach 13-9
Thursday, April 7, 2016
-- Practice/Reteach 13-10
Friday, April 8, 2016
-- Topic 13 Review (TEST TOPIC 13 ON FRIDAY)
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:
Parent informational meeting about Twin Bears
Friday, April 22, 2016
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
