Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
I hope you all had a nice and relaxing spring break. I was able to spend some time with my family and catch up here at school. Third quarter report cards will be out at the end of the week. Look for them to come home Friday, March, 24th.
Today is the start of a new quarter, the fourth, and last of the year! WOW, if you think that was fast, April and May are going to go by in a blink. We are busy, busy, busy. This week coming back, we will work on Folk Tale Triramas, have another STEM lesson in Newton's Laws of Motion, pick books for Biography book reports, and continue with our Daily Five Routines.
We have booked all of our final field trips for the year. Please check the dates below and keep that read-a-thon going strong through the end of this week. Our class goal is $1000.00 and if we reach it, we will have a hoagie and movie party during school in April (in the afternoon, following our wonderful state-wide, mandated, standardized tests).
Which brings me to my next topic...I am not happy to report that April is testing month in our schools and there will be a lot of overlap. For example, PEAKS (Performance Evaluation for Alaska Schools), Universal Screening (Reading fluency and accuracy, math screenings), and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) all have to be completed in a three-week period. Please see that your student is getting plenty of rest and eat hearty breakfasts, so they can feel comfortable during the sessions. This obviously cuts into our instructional time, so things may be a bit busier than "normal."
Wednesday, April 5th, from 5-6 PM we will have a "Volunteers" meeting about our spring trip to Twin Bears. At this time, we will coordinate and get better numbers on who may be helping out and with what tasks. If you would like to volunteer, please try and make it.
Today is the start of a new quarter, the fourth, and last of the year! WOW, if you think that was fast, April and May are going to go by in a blink. We are busy, busy, busy. This week coming back, we will work on Folk Tale Triramas, have another STEM lesson in Newton's Laws of Motion, pick books for Biography book reports, and continue with our Daily Five Routines.
We have booked all of our final field trips for the year. Please check the dates below and keep that read-a-thon going strong through the end of this week. Our class goal is $1000.00 and if we reach it, we will have a hoagie and movie party during school in April (in the afternoon, following our wonderful state-wide, mandated, standardized tests).
Which brings me to my next topic...I am not happy to report that April is testing month in our schools and there will be a lot of overlap. For example, PEAKS (Performance Evaluation for Alaska Schools), Universal Screening (Reading fluency and accuracy, math screenings), and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) all have to be completed in a three-week period. Please see that your student is getting plenty of rest and eat hearty breakfasts, so they can feel comfortable during the sessions. This obviously cuts into our instructional time, so things may be a bit busier than "normal."
Wednesday, April 5th, from 5-6 PM we will have a "Volunteers" meeting about our spring trip to Twin Bears. At this time, we will coordinate and get better numbers on who may be helping out and with what tasks. If you would like to volunteer, please try and make it.
In March/April
--Persuasive Essays
--Spelling City
--Kahn Academy
--DOL
--Typing Agent
--Cursive Handbook
--Biography Book Reports
--Read Naturally Live
--STEM
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Jobs
New Seats
9:10 - 10:30
Biography Book Report Introduction
10:30 - 11:10
Library
11:00 - 11:40
Read Aloud
Partner Read
SSR
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 1:55
Math Block
1:55 - 3:30
PEAKS Practice
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
--Spelling City - List 3
--Persuasive Essays
--Pick book for Biography Book Reports
--Persuasive Essays
--Pick book for Biography Book Reports
HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
--Reading Logs
--Continue Read-a-Thon
--Start reading Biography Book Report book
--Continue Read-a-Thon
--Start reading Biography Book Report book
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
--Quick Check 12-6
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
--Quick Check 12-7
--Quick Check 12-6
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
--Quick Check 12-7
Thursday, March 23, 2017
--Quick Check 12-8
Friday, March 24, 2017
--Quick Check 12-9
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
Thursday, April 20, 2017
--UAF's Permafrost Tunnel - THANKS TOM DOUGLAS for getting us access to this wonderful, local resource, during our rock cycle unit.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
--Morris Thompson Cultural Center (AM) and Superior Courthouse tour/mock trial (PM)
Wednesday, May 10 - Friday, May 12, 2017 (3-days)
--Twin Bears/Angel Rocks Hiking/Camping Trip
Monday, May 15, 2017 (also early out day 2 PM)
--Birch Hill (Hiking and Picnic/Games)
--Birch Hill (Hiking and Picnic/Games)
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 (also early out day 2 PM)
--Bowling at Arctic Bowl and hike to Pioneer Park for picnic and play
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 (also early out day 2 PM)
--Last day of school, Field Day, School Picnic
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
