Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
Good morning and happy Saturday. I hope all is well with you and your families. For a quick update: My wife Meagen is doing well and has stabilized for a few consecutive days, so I am flying back to Fairbanks tomorrow afternoon to prepare for class on Monday. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be with the kiddos, especially knowing baby is still cooking and Meagen is okay!
Last week
It was a was productive one. Mrs. Wartes got our spelling program started, and I will be making some slight modifications to it when I return. Brainstorming for summer reflections has begun, and math is underway. You will see an increase in homework and classwork as we progress. I have signed all the students up for Kahn Academy, which is a supplemental part of my math program. Spelling City, Typing Agent, and Google Classroom will get going soon as well...We will get into all that some more during Back to School Night in September.
This week
The Pearl Creek Olympics have started and the kids are working hard with Mr. Dunavin in PE. Our first round of statewide MAP testing will be on Wednesday and Thursday. While the timing is not great (with my return), we have a small window to do this, and these are the mornings that we have the computer cart. Please make sure the kiddos have a good breakfast and are well rested.
I feel great with where the kids are at right now, and this week will be dedicated to garnering routines, expectations, assessing diagnostics, and developing a rapport with the kids, all while progressing through curricula. I am ambitious, motivated, and eager.
Coming up
I have started planning our first excursion of the year - Thursday, September 7, 2017 - to Ballaine Lake where will will do some field observations and rotation stations, specifically studying aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates while implementing art and poetry. Feel free to join us for the learning and fun. We will be going as a fourth grade cohort, so Mrs. Hammer's and Mr. Carlson's classes will be joining us.
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Seats
New Jobs
9:10 - 10:30
Class Meeting
Hey there...where ya been?
Getting to know you...getting to know me
Classroom Collaboration
10:30 - 11:10
PE
11:00 - 11:40
Read Aloud - Frindle
Begin - "Perspective Art"
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 1:55
MATH BLOCK
1:55 - 3:30
Writer's Workshop - Cursive and Summer Reflections
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
First Draft - Summer Reflections
Spelling Quiz Friday - Lesson 2
Spelling Quiz Friday - Lesson 2
HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
By Friday
Spelling Packet Lesson 2
Summer Reflections Draft One - If not finished in class
Pick first book for Quarter One Book Report - we will discuss this more
Spelling Packet Lesson 2
Summer Reflections Draft One - If not finished in class
Pick first book for Quarter One Book Report - we will discuss this more
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Due On
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-3
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-4
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-3
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-4
Thursday, August 31, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-5
Friday, September 1, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-6
ONGOING INFORMATION
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-5
Friday, September 1, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-6
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 - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon
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:
DATES TO REMEMBER
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 - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon
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, September 4, 2017
No School - Happy Labor Day
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Field Trip - Ballaine Lake (Exploration of Aquatic and Terrestrial Invertebrates)
Friday, September 8, 2017
Annual Pearl Creek Harvest Festival
Picture Day - Intermediate Students (Primary on Thursday)
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Back to School Night - 5 to 6 PM
Friday, September, 29, 2017
Teacher In-service (No School)
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
