Monday, September 26, 2016

Monday, September 26, 2016

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Image result for school cartoons finishing assignments
This week:
Due to the shortened week, we will make a push to finish up a lot of assignments/in-class we have been working on and we will not have a new set of spelling words. However, we will start our "States and Capitals" unit. 

Pillow making tomorrow morning! Please send you kiddos in a yard of fabric and some stuffing. Thanks in advance to parents coming out!

The First Quarter Plan:
  • Spelling
  • The United States - Geography, Mapping, Economy
  • STEM Kits
  • Kahn Academy
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • StoryTown
  • Book Reports
  • States Reports
  • Reading Logs
  • Cursive Handbooks

Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Classroom Jobs
Planners
9:10 - 10:25
Pillow Making - small groups at a time
Step Books
Pen Pal Letters
ART - What would the world be like without...
10:25 - 11:00
PE
11:00 - 11:40
Pillows
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 2:00
Math Block
2:00 - 3:30
Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows
States and Capitals
GeoNotes
TFK

*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.

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.

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
ON Friday, September 30, 2016:
-- Cursive letter "D" and "E"
-- GeoNotes 2 and 3
-- Book Reports: Reading Logs, Plot, and Recommendation in Step Books
-- PenPal Letters Sent

HOMEWORK (homeroom)
DUE by Friday, September 30, 2016:
-- States and Capitals 1 and 2

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Homework due Tuesday, September 27, 2016
-- Practice 3-3
Homework due Wednesday, September 28, 2016
-- Practice 3-4
Homework due Thursday, September 29, 2016
-- Practice 3-5
Homework due Friday, September 30, 2016
-- Practice 3-6

*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. 

ONGOING INFORMATION
READING LOGS
Reading logs are a regular part of our class. 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 - Updates have been made and I will be adding more so please check back here each week!!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Pillow Making Morning - Volunteers with sewing machines needed please

Monday, September 26, 2016
Teacher In-service (No School)

Friday, October 21, 2016
Field Trip - Herring Auditorium
"Women of the World" - Two volunteers needed

Friday, October 28, 2016
Halloween Carnival at Pearl Creek

Monday, October 31, 2016 and Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thursday, November 17, 2016
States Reports Pot Luck - Sassman and Hammer  

Thursday, December 15, 2016
Field Trip - West Valley High School Performing Arts Center
"Amahl and the Night Visitors" - Two volunteers needed

Friday, January 27, 2016
Field Trip - University of Alaska - Davis Concert Hall
"A Children's Symphony" - Two volunteers needed

Thursday, February 2, 2017
Field Trip - Herring Auditorium
Versa Style Dance Company - Two volunteers needed

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

SPELLING LESSON:

1. 
6.
11.
16.
2. 
7.
12.
17.
3. 
8.
13.
18.
4. 
9.
14.
19.
5. 
10.
15.
20.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

This week:
We will be continuing our first book reports of the year and students are well on their way through pages one and two of their step books. They have been tasked to recreate the cover, with the title and author. Then, to write about a main character in their book. I will anticipate seeing reading logs for their reports coming in this week. Students should be reading their books for a minimum of 20 minutes a night.

Spelling lesson 5 is a review of selected words from lessons 1-4. Packets will go home Monday. There will not be a quiz on Friday. 

Tuesday, we will be venturing out into the Boreal forrest yet again with our first grade buddy class, collecting samples from Frog Pond for place-based science inquiries. It is a 15-20 minute walk each way. Please make sure your kiddos have appropriate coats and shoes (gear). Feel free to join us, we will leave PC at 2:30 and be back before dismissal. Please let me know if you are coming to pick up early and we will have your student wait at the office in lieu of making the short hike.

Note: Our class picture day will be this Friday, September 23 at 11 am.

I have added many dates to the "Dates to Remember," section on the blog, but there will be more so please check there regularly. 

Next, Tuesday, September 27, 2016, we will be pillow making with Mrs. Hammer's class. If you are available and/or have a sewing machine...please please please help. This is an annual, engaging event, and we need skilled hands for this. I also ask that you take your student to Joanne's and pick up one yard of fabric, their choice of design. 

Try to pick fabrics that are not too plushy, feathery, or ruffled, as they are difficult to manage for the machines and kids. We will start at 9 am in the commons. Below are samples of the pillows and poly-fill that you need to get. Intermediate classes will start making these soon, and Joanne's is the only show in town right now (Michaels is closed due to fire damage right now)...hint hint, it's going to get busy there.

The First Quarter Plan:
  • Spelling
  • The United States - Geography, Mapping, Economy
  • STEM Kits
  • Kahn Academy
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • StoryTown
  • Book Reports
  • States Reports
  • Reading Logs
  • Cursive Handbooks

Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Classroom Jobs
Planners
New Seats
9:10 - 10:25
Step Books
Pen Pal Letters
Spelling Lesson 5
10:25 - 11:00
Library
11:00 - 11:40
DOL
Geo Notes
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 2:00
Math Block
2:00 - 3:30
Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows
Towers - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) LESSON

*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.

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.

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
ON Friday, September 23, 2016:
-- Cursive letter "D"
-- GeoNotes 2
-- Book Reports: Reading Logs and Plot in Step Books

HOMEWORK (homeroom)
DUE Thursday, Thursday 22, 2016:
-- Spelling Lesson 5 (homework)
-- Planners signed by parents/guardians

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Homework due Tuesday, September 20, 2016
-- Practice Review Chapter 2
Homework due Wednesday, September 21, 2016
-- Take home test Chapter 2
Homework due Thursday, September 22, 2016
-- Practice 3-1
Homework due Friday, September 23, 2016
-- Practice 3-2

*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. 

ONGOING INFORMATION
READING LOGS
Reading logs are a regular part of our class. 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 - Updates have been made and I will be adding more so please check back here each week!!!

Friday, September 23, 2016
School Picture Day Grades 4-6

Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Pillow Making Morning - Volunteers with sewing machines needed please

Monday, September 26, 2016
Teacher In-service (No School)

Friday, October 21, 2016
Field Trip - Herring Auditorium
"Women of the World" - Two volunteers needed

Friday, October 28, 2016
Halloween Carnival at Pearl Creek

Monday, October 31, 2016 and Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thursday, November 17, 2016
States Reports Pot Luck - Sassman and Hammer  

Thursday, December 15, 2016
Field Trip - West Valley High School Performing Arts Center
"Amahl and the Night Visitors" - Two volunteers needed

Friday, January 27, 2016
Field Trip - University of Alaska - Davis Concert Hall
"A Children's Symphony" - Two volunteers needed

Thursday, February 2, 2017
Field Trip - Herring Auditorium
Versa Style Dance Company - Two volunteers needed

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

SPELLING LESSON 5:

1. tread
6. brain
11. allow
16. renew
2. broad
7. throw
12. auction
17. boyhood
3. split
8. goal
13. flaw
18. returned
4. chief
9. scrape
14. daughter
19. chopped
5. season
10. choice
15. destroy
20. counting

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog






This week:
We will be starting our first book reports of the year and students should have picked a book last week. This first report will feature a fictional chapter book of choice. Students should be reading their books for a minimum of 20 minutes a night. This should enable them to finish the book within three weeks of reading. They will be working on their assessments in class. They will be creating step-books that highlight setting, characters, plot, recommendation, and art work. 

We have some regular items on the agenda as well: 
DOL, Spelling, and StoryTown, but we will also finish 
out our insects unit with an art project featuring the 
works of Hokusai. This is a really great lesson 
and the final products are beautiful!

Lastly for now, we will start our pen pal letters Tuesday. Our
partner class if from Lambertville, NJ. As the students know,
I grew up in New Jersey, so this is exciting for me as well!
This is the school we will be collaborating with:

Established in 1705, Lambertville has a lot of history!
It is in a small (1 sq. mile) "River-town" with 3000 residents situated 
along the beautiful Delaware River. Check out the pictures
and information here: Lambertville Info



The First Quarter Plan:
  • Spelling
  • Insects
  • The United States - Geography, Mapping, Economy
  • STEM Kits
  • Kahn Academy
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • StoryTown
  • Reading Logs
  • Cursive Handbooks
  • Literacy Groups
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Classroom Jobs
Planners
9:10 - 10:25
Daily Oral Language (DOL)
Spelling Lesson 4
10:25 - 11:00
PE
11:00 - 11:40
StoryTown
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 2:00
Math Block
2:00 - 3:30
Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows
Hokusai - Insects and Art Project

*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.

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.

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
ON Friday, September 16, 2016:
-- Spelling quiz Lesson 4 (in-class) words are listed below and in planners
-- Cursive letter "D"
-- GeoNotes 2
-- Book Reports: Cover and Characters

HOMEWORK (homeroom)
DUE Thursday, Thursday 15, 2016:
-- Spelling Lesson 4 (homework)
-- Planners signed by parents/guardians

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Homework due Tuesday, September 13, 2016
-- Practice 2-3
Homework due Wednesday, September 14, 2016
-- Practice 2-4
Homework due Thursday, September 15, 2016
-- Practice 2-5
Homework due Friday, September 16, 2016
-- Practice 2-6

*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. 

ONGOING INFORMATION
READING LOGS
Reading logs are a regular part of our class. 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
Friday, September 23, 2016
School Picture Day Grades 4-6

Monday, September 26, 2016
Teacher In-service (No School)

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

SPELLING LESSON 4:

1. counting
6. cracked
11. trimmed
16. visited
2. craned
7. begged
12. shopping
17. cringed
3. seemed
8. moving
13. returned
18. screamed
4. burned
9. slipped
14. watching
19. scratching
5. chopped
10. sailing
15. pushed
20. flapping

Monday, September 5, 2016

Monday, September 5, 2016

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

HAPPY LABOR DAY! 


Labor Day: The first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

For more information about Labor Day, follow the link below! Some interesting stuff!


I hope you enjoyed your extended weekend with family and/or friends. The weather held out for just long enough. Meagen, Zemra, and I had a wonderful time taking in the views of beautiful Mt. Healy with a hike and quickly realized that the colors are looking a bit like fall. This is actually my favorite time of year.



Last Week:
It was productive, engaging, and full of greatness! Thank you so much to the parents and volunteers who came out to Ballaine Lake for the hike and activities. We had five stations: Aquatic Invertebrates, Terrestrial Insects, Berry Picking, Water Colors, and Six Rooms Poetry. It was a huge success and the kiddos really enjoyed the hands-on learning. 

We finally concluded Universal Screening assessments. You and I will have a chance to discuss the "snapshots" at Parent/Teacher Conferences in October. Friday was capped off by a teacher vs. student soccer game on the field here at Pearl Creek as a close to Mr. Dunavin's PE unit.

Technology is in half swing. The students have already logged into their PowerSchool accounts and signed their technology agreements, but all the computers in school have been bogged down with MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing...Yes I know, more testing required by the state...uggggg. We will work more with the laptops and computer lab in the next few weeks. Included on the agenda is Google Docs, Google Slides, Comic Life, Typing Agent, and Kahn Academy. 

This week:
As you know, this is a short week, but it is back to business as usual. We will start our StoryTown curriculum for English/Language Arts and I am making a push to have all students finished with their final copies of their Summer Reflections! 

We will also be starting our first book reports of the year and students should have a book picked out no later than Friday. This first report will feature a fictional chapter book of choice. I will discuss with the class, about how to choose appropriate books for this. 

PLEASE MARK YOU CALENDARS: Our Pearl Creek Harvest Festival is this FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 from 5-7 in the garden. This has become a beloved annual gathering and fundraiser for our school. We are so fortunate to have our garden as an educational resource for our students every year, and this event provides the means to do so. Bring family and friends. The suggested donation is $5 per person, $20 per family, and includes loaded baked potatoes, salad, and soup. You may also donate by sending in baked goods and/or a loaf of bread. Parent Volunteers are needed to help chop veggies/set up on the 9th beginning at 9 am. You may sign up at the office for that if you are able.

The First Quarter Plan:
  • Narrative Writing - Summer Break Reflections
  • Spelling
  • Insects
  • The United States - Geography, Mapping, Economy
  • STEM Kits
  • Kahn Academy
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • StoryTown
  • Reading Logs
  • Cursive Handbooks
  • Literacy Groups
Tuesday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Classroom Jobs
Planners
New Seats
9:10 - 10:25
Daily Oral Language (DOL)
Spelling Lesson 3
10:25 - 11:00
PE
11:00 - 11:40
StoryTown
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 2:00
Math Block
2:00 - 3:30
Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows
Buddies - Potato Harvesting with Mr. Hensel's First Grade Class in the Pearl Creek Garden

*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.

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.

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
ON Friday, September 9, 2016:
-- Spelling quiz Lesson 3 (in-class) words are listed below and in planners
-- Cursive letter "C"
-- Summer reflections final draft

HOMEWORK (homeroom)
DUE Friday, Friday 9, 2016:
-- Spelling Lesson 3 (homework)
-- Planners signed by parents/guardians

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Homework due Wednesday, September 7, 2016
-- Take Home Test Unit 1
Homework due Thursday, September 8, 2016
-- Practice 2-1
Homework due Friday, September 9, 2016
-- Practice 2-2

*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. 

ONGOING INFORMATION
READING LOGS
Reading logs are a regular part of our class. 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
Friday, September 9, 2016
Harvest Festival 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Pearl Creek Garden

Friday, September 23, 2016
School Picture Day Grades 4-6

Monday, September 26, 2016
Teacher In-service (No School)

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

SPELLING LESSON 3:

1. toil
6. awful
11. royal
16. shampoo
2. faucet
7. foist
12. allow
17. brown
3. boyhood
8. daughter
13. destroy
18. renew
4. choice
9. flaw
14. blew
19. wooden
5. dawn
10. annoyed
15. spoon
20. auction