Sunday, January 8, 2017

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog



Last week was short and sweet...we made neck gators and started Zentangles. We also did some review in math, on Topics 5 through 8. This week we will be back to some regular, routine tasks with the addition of some reading comprehension activities and selecting books for the next round of book reports. Please look for more information that comes home regarding this. Our winter Universal Screening is also now underway.

Our class has been selected to participate in "Kids Weather," with Mr. Mike Shultz on Newscenter 11. He will be here tomorrow, Monday, January 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm to film our class.

Spelling Bee is coming in February. I sent kids home with the list of words if they would like to study some. We will have a class spelling bee for those interested, as I can only send 4 kids to the Pearl Creek preliminary. 

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
9:10 - 10:30
Spelling
DOL
Reading Comprehension
10:30 - 11:10
Library
11:10 - 11:40
Read Aloud
Pen Pal Letters
Cursive
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 1:55
Math Block - Topic 9 (long division is here)
1:55 - 3:30
"Kids Weather" with Mr. Mike Shultz
Class Spelling Bee
Universal Screening

*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 13, 2017
-- Cursive Handbooks (should be up to letter "K")
-- Pen Pal Letters (we still have a few kiddos finishing up)

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
By Thursday, January 12, 2017
-- Spelling Packets (now differentiated packets)

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
DUE ON
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
-- Practice 9-1
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
-- Practice 9-2
Thursday, January 12, 2017
-- Practice 9-3
Friday, January 13, 2017
-- Practice 9-4

*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. 

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 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

Friday, March 3, 2017
Portland Cello Project - TBD

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman