Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
 |
| I guess the deep freeze is back for today!!! Tomorrow should warm up quite a bit! |
Last week was heavy on science with Newton's Laws of Motion, States of Matter Experiments, and Scientific Inquiry. We will keep a STEM theme this week with more activities and STEM night coming up on Thursday, February 2, 2017. Solar System starts this week by the way!
- Pearl Creek PTA presents STEM Night: Thursday, February 2, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
- Cost: all activities are FREE (dinner available for a fee).
- Join us at STEM Night! Pearl Creek PTA is happy to bring together dozens of community and school volunteers to expose our students to the many different aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in Fairbanks. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will keep everyone busy! Activities include circuit building, permafrost tunnel, dinosaurs, fossils, drones, raptors, emergency services, nursing, science fair information, and much, much more.
- PTA will be starting the book drive for the spring book giveaway. Students can bring in gently used books and drop them off in the box by the kaleidoscope. The giveaway will be just before spring break. Keep an eye out for more details coming home.
Book Reports: The kids should have a book picked out and have started it. I will be sending home individualized reading comprehension homework for their book reports.
Fourth Grade No Excuse Spelling List Two this week, should be a breeze! I will send the kids home with those words, and we will have a quiz on Friday. Please keep in mind this may be easier for some than others, but it is imperative that all students learn/reinforce their knowledge of these benchmarked words.
Quick note about field trips: As you may have noticed, there are three performances that we are signed up for. ONE OF THEM IS THIS FRIDAY! I tallied up the amount each student will need for these, as some parents have asked, and if you could send you child in with $20, that will cover the total balance of the shows. In the near future, I will also be scheduling a parent meeting (night) to discuss Twin Bears (3-day overnight camping trip in the spring and the rest of the year's field trips). I am super-excited for this by the way...Thanks for those that already sent in money. I also added a list of spring field trips, with limited dates.
Starting next Monday...I will be staying after school until 4:30, to meet with kids for extra support in reading and math. This is meant for students that need more one-on-one time, not homework club. I will meet with a few students this week and speak with parents where needed. If you think your child would benefit from this, please either email or call me.
Mr. Dunavin is taking kids snowshoeing next week. Our class goes on two separate days: FEEL FREE TO JOIN IN. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS HAVE ALL THE APPROPRIATE WINTER AND SNOW GEAR. They will have to sit at the office and wait till the class gets done otherwise. Thanks so much.
--Tuesday, February 7th, from 9:15-10:25
--Thursday, February 9th, from 11:00-12:10
In January:
Figurative Language
DOL
Zentangle
States of Matter
Book Reports
Folk Tale Triramas
STEM
Pen Pals
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
Class Meeting
New Jobs
New Seats
9:10 - 10:25
Spelling
Book Reports
10:25 - 11:00
Library
11:00 - 11:40
One-on-One Meetings
SSR
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 1:55
Math Block - Topic 10
1:55 - 3:30
Solar System - Yes...this starts today!
*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
By Friday, January 27, 2017
-- Cursive Handbooks (should be up to letter "K" and "L")
HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
By Thursday, January 26, 2017
-- Spelling Practice (No Excuse Spelling Words List Two) (See the options I sent home with the kiddos)
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
DUE ON
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
-- Practice 10-3
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
-- Practice 10-4
Thursday, January 26, 2017
-- Practice 10-5
Friday, January 27, 2017
-- Practice 10-6
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
-- Practice 10-3
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
-- Practice 10-4
Thursday, January 26, 2017
-- Practice 10-5
Friday, January 27, 2017
-- Practice 10-6
*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 LOGSReading 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 benefiting 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, 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
Thursday, February 2, 2017
STEM Night @ Pearl Creek 5:30-7:30 PM
Friday, February 3, 2017
--No School - Teacher in-service day
Monday, February 20, 2017 and Tuesday, February 21, 2017
--Student-led Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 3, 2017
Portland Cello Project - TBD
Wednesday, May 10 - Friday, May 12, 2017 (3-days)
--Twin Bears/Angel Rocks Hiking/Camping Trip
Field Trips coming in the spring...we will talk more about these soon.
--Morris Thompson Cultural Center
--Superior Courthouse tour and mock trial
--Birch Hill
--Bowling/Pioneer Park
--Permafrost Tunnel UAF (hopefully)
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
