Sunday, February 19, 2017

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

STUDENT-LED PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES THIS MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT IS THERE ALSO :) I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL!

Parent informational meeting for our Angel Rocks/Twin Bears Camping Trip will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 from 5-6 PM. We will discuss details, packing lists, permission forms, medical forms, volunteering, and fundraising. Please mark you calendars. Thanks.

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.

Due to conferences being this Monday and Tuesday, ELA Workshops will not be this week. They will resume until next week.

This week, there is National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) testing being conducted for the fourth graders at our school. Kids will be pulled from class in small groups and take assessments across several subjects and is often referred to "Our Nations Report Card." Click Here for the link for more information.

Wednesday looks like:

9:00 - 9:10

Class Meeting

9:10 - 10:30

NAEP TESTING (some students)

Persuasive Essays

10:30 - 11:10

Library

11:00 - 11:40

NAEP TESTING (some students)

Read Aloud - The One and Only Ivan

11:40 - 12:10

Lunch

12:10 - 12:40

Recess

12:40 - 1:55

Math Block

1:55 - 3:30

NAEP TESTING (some students)

Neptune

*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

NONE

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK

Flex Date - Book Report Final Write Up

I have explained to the kids that they should be finished reading their book report selections by the end of this week of they have not already. On my desk is a reflection sheet with writing prompts, that I would like them to fill out, using complete sentences. This does not have a due date quite yet. I will accept them on a rolling basis. Please ask them about this and help where necessary. Thanks!

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)

Thursday, February 22, 2017
--Quick Check 11-5
Friday, February 23, 2017
--Quick Check 11-6

*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 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

Monday, February 20, 2017 and Tuesday, February 21, 2017
--Student-led Parent-Teacher Conferences

Tuesday, February 28, 2017
--Angel Rocks/Twin Bears Informational Meeting

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)
--Ice Park (hopefully)

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman