Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
We are off to a great start in 2018. Wow...really...2018. I thought we would have flying cars by now...sheesh. It is great to be back with the kids and last week was a productive one. The students completed several Spelling City lessons at school and I introduced several ongoing assignments for the start of the second semester: including Persuasive essays, Pen Pal Letters, and Biography Book Reports. The students have all chosen books and should be reading a little each night. I sent home the rubric for your reference. The kids have also chosen dates to present their Google Slides Presentations. I will send home a calendar this week with their selections. Report cards also went home Friday!
I have added important dates through the third quarter at the bottom of the blog. More to come, as I line out our spring schedule.
PTA has asked me to post this:
- Pearl Creek PTA presents STEM Night: Thursday, February 1, 2018 5:30–7:30 p.m. Join us at STEM Night! Pearl Creek PTA is happy to bring together dozens of community and school volunteers to expose our students to the many different aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in Fairbanks. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will keep everyone busy! Activities include circuit building, permafrost tunnel, dinosaurs, fossils, drones, raptors, emergency services, nursing, science fair information, and much, much more.
- Cost: all activities are FREE (dinner available for a small cost - tacos).
- PTA will be starting the book drive for the spring book giveaway. Students can bring in gently used books and drop them off in the box by the kaleidoscope. The giveaway will be just before spring break. Keep an eye out for more details coming home.
Quick note about field trips: As you may have noticed, there are three performances that we are signed up for. I tallied up the amount each student will need for these, as some parents have asked, and if you could send you child in with $21, that will cover the total balance of the shows. In the near future, I will also be scheduling a parent meeting (night) to discuss Twin Bears (3-day overnight camping trip in the spring and the rest of the year's filed trips). I am super-excited for this by the way...
Third quarter looks like - in brief:
Space Art
Rock Cycle
Pacific Rim
Volcanoes
Spelling City
Pen Pal Letters
DOL
Geo Notes
Biography Book Reports
Google Slides Presentations
Persuasive Essay Writing
Folk Tale Triramas
Read LIVE
Student-led Parent-teacher Conferences
9:00 - 9:10
Planners
New Jobs
9:10 - 10:25
Persuasive Essays
GeoNotes
10:25 - 11:00
Music
11:00 - 11:40
DOL
Read Aloud - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
11:40 - 12:10
Lunch
12:10 - 12:40
Recess
12:40 - 1:55
2:00 - 3:30
Biography Book Reports/Google Slides
Pen Pal Letters
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
By Friday
--Start Google Slides for BBR
--Persuasive Essay Rough Draft
--GeoNotes Lesson 5
--Start Google Slides for BBR
--Persuasive Essay Rough Draft
--GeoNotes Lesson 5
HOMEROOM HOMEWORK
For FridayNONE
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
--Practice 13-1
Thursday, January 18, 2018
--Practice 13-2
Friday, January 19, 2018
--Practice 13-3
***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 - 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. They must login using these credentials:
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 - 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. They must login using these credentials:
Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)
Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)
DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, January 26, 2018 ($7.00)
Field trip to Herring Auditorium - "Compose Yourself"
9:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Staff Professional Development - Early dismissal at 2 PM
Friday, February 2, 2018
Staff Professional Development - No School
Friday, February 9, 2018 ($7.00)
Field Trip to UAF Theatre - "This Girl"
9:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Monday, February 19, 2018
Day one Student-led Parent-teacher Conferences - Please make sure your child is present
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Day two Student-led Parent-teacher Conferences - Please make sure your child is present
Monday, March 5, 2018 ($7.00)
Field Trip to Herring Auditorium - "Taiko Project"
9:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Friday, March 9, 2018 - Sunday, March 18, 2018
Last day of the third quarter - Early out and the beginning of spring break
More yet to be added for the fourth quarter...
--Twin Bears Camping Trip
--Birch Hill Hiking and Picnic
--Mock Trial at the Courthouse/Morris Thompson Cultural Center
--Bowling and Pioneer Park
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
