Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU so much for your kindness and generosity before the break. I received many nice cards and thoughtful gifts. I love the coffee, plants, cookies, trail mix, mugs, candy, honey, pictures, gift cards, and speaker!!! I feel so lucky to have such an awesome class and supportive bunch of parents! I had a great break and I hope you did as well!
Again, welcome back! This week is a short one, so there will not be any homework, but look for spelling lessons and book report information next week. Thursday, we will have an in-class activity during the morning: creating neck warmers/gators. Feel free to join and make one for yourself while helping the kiddos. In the afternoon, we will explore Zentangle while I conduct Universal Screenings with the kids...yes, it is that time of year again.
Oh...our class has been selected to participate in "Kids Weather," with Mr. Mike Shultz on Newscenter 11. He will be here next Monday, January 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm to film our class. I will randomly select 3 kids to be highlighted for a story, a picture, and a question. The rest of the class will be on the news as well.
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 3 kids to the Pearl Creek preliminary.
In January:
Figurative Language
DOL
Zentangle
Neck Gators
States of Matter
Book Reports
Folk Tale Triramas
STEM
Pen Pals
Thursday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Seats
New Jobs
Class Meeting
9:10 - 10:30
Neck Warmers
10:30 - 11:10
PE
11:10 - 11:40
Read Aloud
Pen Pal Letters
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 1:55
Math Block - Review Topics 5 through 8
1:55 - 3:30
Zentangle
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 6, 2017
-- NONE (short week)
HOMEWORK (homeroom)
-- NONE (short week)
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Homework due Friday, January 6, 2017
-- Topics 5 though 8 Benchmark Test (take home)
-- Topics 5 though 8 Benchmark Test (take home)
*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
Friday, March 3, 2017
Portland Cello Project - TBD
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
