Sunday, October 29, 2017

Sunday, October, 29, 2017


Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

See you this Monday or Tuesday...

Last week:
Was a busy one...academically, we are rolling along with our State Reports! I also introduced our Q2 Book Reports to the kiddos and assigned them all a group. This assignment is called Literacy Circles. I will be able to elaborate more during conferences this week. I sent the students home with their packets and books. The first assignment is due this Friday, November 3, 2017. I would also like their Halloween Acrostics and Autumn Haikus to be typed (completed), and printed by the end of the week.

Pumpkin Carving was awesomeness...and we roasted the seeds...yummmmmmm!











Art Specialists were in the house...Waterfalls featuring fourth grade artist Katsushika Hokusai!

The Halloween Carnival was a huge success. Our class created and managed the operation of an obstacle course...Special thanks to Lindsay W. and Greg K. for volunteering their time and help for set up and running the course. As a class fundraiser, we made $312!!! WOW! This will go into our "Fourth Grade Class Account," and will be used for future field trips...ahem...Twin Bears in the spring :)





We filled our marble jar, as you may know, and celebrated with a class party Friday afternoon. The kids enjoyed pizza, candy, and soda! We also watched part of a movie, and had some electronics time. The students earn marbles, as a class, when they (individually and as a group) go above and beyond, get work done, and show their best behaviors! I can say that this class has worked hard all quarter and shown real kindness, they earned it!

This week: Short and sweet... 
No spelling due to the short week. We will resume next week. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences Monday and Tuesday.

Literacy Circles Friday, Read LIVE, State Report work.

Current Events will continue this week...

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - Nathan, Zia, Oscar
Thursday, November 2, 2017 - Lucy, Victoria, Olive
Friday, November 3, 2017 - Brooklyn, Azielle, Jeremiah 

Second quarter agenda:
  • Fictional Narrative (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)
Wednesday looks like:
9:00 - 9:10
Planners
9:10 - 10:25
State Report Work Session
10:25 - 11:00
Library
11:00 - 11:40
Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows/Art
11:40 - 12:10
Eat
12:10 - 12:40
Play
12:40 - 1:55
MATH BLOCK - Topic 8-2
1:55 - 3:30
Current Events Presentations
Station Rotation

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
Here is our To Do List - Q2 - I gave these out last week
(IC) In-class Assignment
(HW) Homework


HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
Literacy Circles Entry 1 

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Due On
Thursday, November 2, 2017
--Practice 8-1
Friday, November 3, 2017
--Practice 8-2

***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:

Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)
Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)

DATES TO REMEMBER

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. 

Monday, November 13, 2017
Field Trip to Herring Auditorium - "La Santa Cecilia" - Check em' out on the link. Please send in $7 with your kiddo for the show and transportation...I have three spots open for parent chaperones if you would like to join - first come, first serve :)

Wednesday, November 29, 2017
States Report Pot Luck - Date is set...

Thursday, November 30, 2017
Field Trip to the Alaska Room at Anne Wien (9:10 to 11:30)

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman