Sunday, February 5, 2017

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Thanks for attending STEM night at school last week. It was a great crowd and huge fun with a lot of learning. Our class made Flubber as part of our States of Matter unit in school and we sold small batches during the event. We made about $230 for the fourth grade fund, and this will go towards our Twin Bears Camping trip at the end of the year. 

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.

Marble Jar - We have filled it for the second time this year. The kids have formulated ideas and this is what they have come up with: Two-hour block of free time to build forts in class using what we have and they bring in. They have also asked that they may wear their PJs for the event and this will be okay with me. Date to be determined, but it will likely be soon. I would like to have all the students back from trips, and there are four kiddos away at this week. Most likely it will be the following Friday afternoon (2/17/2017).

Quick note about field trips: The last one was the best one yet, as noted by the kiddos! We have been to two now, and there are still about 10 kiddos that have not brought in any money. If you could please do so, if you haven't yet, that would greatly help so we do not dip into our Twin Bears funds. I tallied up the amount each student needed, as some parents have asked, and $20 will cover the total amount of all three shows. I realize that some kids have been away and/or missed a trip. Feel free to adjust the amount you send in if that is the case. Each show is/has been about $7.

Finally, I have the correct week :) Mr. Dunavin is taking kids snowshoeing THIS 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.

OUR TIMES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

--Tuesday, February 7th, from 9:15-10:25 

--Thursday, February 9th, from 11:00-12:10

Monday and Tuesday ELA Workshops are on for this week from 3:30-4:30. Thanks for your flexibility with me last week. Zemra is feeling much better. Wow, that was scary. We have also started the Read Live program and Reading Groups on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00-11:40. Special thanks to Mrs. Wendy Connelly for facilitating one of the groups. I could use one more volunteer to help yet, so if you are able, please don't be shy ;) 

Monday looks like:

9:00 - 9:10

New Jobs

New Seats

9:10 - 10:30

Student-Led Conferences Prep

Persuasive Essays

10:30 - 11:10

Library

11:00 - 11:40

Read Aloud - The One and Only Ivan

11:40 - 12:10

Lunch

12:10 - 12:40

Recess

12:40 - 1:55

Math Block - Topic 11

1:55 - 3:30

MARS

*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 Thursday, February 9, 2017
-- Cursive Handbooks (should be up to letter "N")

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
NONE this week - I would like to try another new spelling format, so please send in the quick technology survey (OUR CLASS ONLY) that I send home with the kiddos this week. The web site is called www.spellingcity.com, but I need to see if this is possible for everyone.

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

DUE ON
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
-- Practice 11-3
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
-- Practice 11-4
Thursday, February 9, 2017
-- Practice 11-5

*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

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