Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
I hope you had a nice weekend...possibly winterizing your house, camper, and/or other aspects of life here in Fairbanks, as the snow comes and goes this month. It will soon be here to stay. Zemra and I took an opportunity to travel down to Anchorage to visit Meagen, and she is doing well. She is just over the 35 weeks, and baby is expected any day now! Hard to believe we have made it this far. We feel so lucky. Thanks for all your kind wishes, support, and understanding.
Last week:
We kicked off our week with a field trip to UAF's Davis Concert Hall and saw "Cantus," pronounced khan-toos...an a capella singing group and it was amazing. They were very talented and the kids enjoyed the show tremendously.
I just was to say...I am so proud of the kiddos...we have finished quarter one and I feel like we have a great routine and are on a roll. They have worked really hard thus far, and with our states project/potluck ahead, we have some wonderful momentum at our backs.
Current Events presentations started last week and WOW, I'm impressed. I look forward to this week's presentations.
Current Event presentation schedule this week:
Monday, October 16, 2017 - Oscar
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - Landon
Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - Mia and Zamira
Thursday, October 19, 2017 - Tyler and Jeremiah
Friday, October 20, 2017 - Zia, Nathan, and Ayla
Last week I introduced a new initiative as part of our Personalized Learning efforts and the students have responded beautifully. We are trying a "Rotation Station," model to our English Language Arts program, which seems to be both effective and engaging. Read LIVE is also underway, and I am so excited to monitor how the student progress through the reading program.
This week:
I am still currently grading, and will be finalizing grades today and tomorrow. Report cards should go home this Friday...
Please sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences (click on the link) if you haven't already.
I am still currently grading, and will be finalizing grades today and tomorrow. Report cards should go home this Friday...
Please sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences (click on the link) if you haven't already.
Second quarter agenda:
- Informative Writing (Q2 formal writing assignment)
- Cursive letters E-J
- Spelling
- STEM Kits
- Newton's Laws of Motion
- States of Matter
- Winter Haikus
- Current Events
- 50 States Map and Capitals
- Cultures and Migration with Mrs. Coffeen
- State Reports
- Class Read (Charlotte's Web)
- Literacy Circles (Second Quarter Book Report)
Monday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
New Jobs
New Seats
Planners
9:10 - 10:25
Class Meeting - Get to know your new neighbor
Spelling
DOL
10:25 - 11:00
Gym
11:00 - 11:40
Current Events Presentations
Station Rotations
11:40 - 12:10
Eat
12:10 - 12:40
Play
12:40 - 1:55
MATH BLOCK - Topic 6-1
1:55 - 3:30
ART - Spirit Masks Finish
Buddies with Mr. Hensel's Class
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
Spelling Quiz Friday
HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
Spelling Lesson 6
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Due On
Due On
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
--Practice 6-1
--Practice 6-1
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
--Practice 6-2
Thursday, October 19, 2017
--Practice 6-3
Friday, October 20, 2017
--Practice 6-4
--Practice 6-2
Thursday, October 19, 2017
--Practice 6-3
Friday, October 20, 2017
--Practice 6-4
***Please note that Math, Specials, Lunch, and Recess are Intermediate schedules and stay in blocks. At times, curriculum, instruction, and homework may be adjusted 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.
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
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Pumpkin Carving - Feel free to join us! And yes, kids will need a pumpkin if you see one and can keep it from not molding. We will carve as many as we have and if we need to double up..well...we will.
Pumpkin Carving - Feel free to join us! And yes, kids will need a pumpkin if you see one and can keep it from not molding. We will carve as many as we have and if we need to double up..well...we will.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017 and Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Parent Teacher Conferences - No school and check the link on the blog to sign up please.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
States Report Pot Luck - Date is set...
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Field Trip to the Alaska Room at Anne Wien
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
