Monday, April 3, 2017

Monday, April 3, 2017

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

We had a bit of fun last Friday learning about Health and Nutrition from some professionals!
Check out www.choosemyplate.gov to see what we learned and talk about it with you kiddos!


Testing went well last week and we have another round of it this week. PEAKS (Performance Evaluation for Alaska Schools) will be this Thursday morning (math). Our final session of PEAKS will be next Tuesday (science). Please see that your student gets plenty of rest and that they eat a hearty breakfast, so they can feel comfortable during our session. Special thanks to Kelli and Matt Powers for sending in snacks for the kiddos last week during testing.

Universal Screening (Reading fluency and accuracy, math screenings), and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing will start the week of April 17, 2017 and likely overlap a bit.


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. As mentioned in the last meeting, we will be collecting "Clean recycling," so please start saving your trash for us to bring and use at Twin Bears.

After school ELA Workshops are on for this week as normal.

We have booked all of our final field trips for the year. Check the Important Dates section down below. If you are able, join us, there is plenty of room, and we would love to have you. 

Our Read-a-thon fundraiser ended last Friday, so please gather donations if you haven't already and send them in. We can accept cash or checks made out to Pearl Creek. 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).

In April
--Persuasive Essays
--Spelling City
--Kahn Academy
--DOL
--Typing Agent
--Cursive Handbook
--Biography Book Reports
--PenPals
--Read Naturally Live
--STEM

Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Seats
New Jobs
9:10 - 10:30
DOL
Science - Ecosystems and the Rock Cycle
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
Chromebooks - Google Slides Biography Book Reports

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
--Spelling City - List 3
--Persuasive Essays

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
--Reading Logs
--Continue Read-a-Thon
--Start creating slides for Biography Book Report

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
--Quick Check 13-4
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
--Quick Check 13-5
Thursday, April 6, 2017
--Quick Check 13-7
Friday, April 7, 2017
--Quick Check 13-8

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

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) 

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