Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog
Weller Elementary School
Last week...
Friday was the last day of the first quarter and yes, I am still grading things that came in all last week. Grades and report card comments are due by Wednesday this week, in preparation for report cards to go home Friday.
As you can see, pumpkin carving was great. Thank you for sending in so many, as a result, kids were able to pair up and everyone had a chance to participate. A special thanks to the four parent volunteers that joined us on Friday. We couldn't have done it without you. The kids especially loved eating the roasted seeds at the end of the day!
And...one more thanks to the parents that helped with "The Gauntlet" on Friday night during Fall Festival. I think the obstacle course was fun for all, and may be here to stay for future years. I also couldn't have done it without your help.
The date is set for our State Reports Potluck. Friday, November 22nd from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. The gym is reserved. I will be sending home flyers with details about the event and posting updates here in the next few weeks.
Pillow Making: How does Friday, November 22nd sound? I know, I know, I said December, but why not November? We will need 2-3 volunteers with sewing machines and 2-3 volunteers who can help with stuffing and cutting fabric. I will send home more information in a flyer (this week), but here is the info for now. If you could please, pick up 1 yd. of fabric (of your child's choice) from Joann's Fabric and a small bag of Poly-fil? That is all they will need to complete the project. If you are unable to obtain said materials, for whatever reason, simply send me a quick note, and I will make sure your kiddo is all set up, no questions asked. We will keep the pillows here at school for SSR and school assemblies. |
| Small Bag of Poly-fil |
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| 1 Yard of Fabric |
This week...
There are quite a few students that have some work to finish up from their first-quarter tasks, so they will have some time to work on those things this week, but we are forging ahead. I am going to layout the second quarter book reports and Fictional Narratives for phase three of our state reports. Spelling packets and math homework will come home, and please keep those reading logs coming.
Okay...P/T conference sign-ups opened last Thursday, the 17th...and yes, I have already given them (the District) grief about the need to open it up earlier. I sent out a special email from PowerSchool (like you get on Sundays when a new blog post is published) with the link and screenshots for directions. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be on time for your appointment. There are times when I will be booked up with three appointments in a row and I may have to reschedule so that we can have a meaningful conference about your child. I purposely included natural breaks in the day, but please respect those slots.
Shout out to Eve! She did an amazing job in the play Frozen Jr.! My daughter and I loved it.
Please keep checking the "Dates to Remember" section at the bottom of the blog...I would also like to add: Please get "cleared" by the District to volunteer for any future field trips. It is a relatively simple process but takes some effort. It should be noted that it is free, and good for two years.
The Second Quarter Plan:
- Fictional Narratives - States Reports
- Persuasive Essays
- State Reports and Poster Board
- States Potluck
- Spelling
- Life Sciences
- GeoNotes
- Red Bird Math
- enVision Math
- Daily Oral Language (DOL)
- Q2 Book Reports - Biographies
- Reading Logs
- Cursive Handbooks
- Class Novel - Where the Red Fern Grows
- Art
- And much, much, more...
8:30 - 9:00
Arrive
Writing Prompt
Morning Announcements
Class Meeting - New Jobs
Student of the Week Presentation - Evelyn
9:00 - 9:30
Gym
9:30 - 10:00
Music
10:00 - 11:30
Snack/Read Aloud
Intro to Fictional Narratives for state report
11:30 - 12:00
Lunch
12:00 - 12:30
Recess
12:30 - 1:45
Math Block
1:45 - 2:00
Break/Movement Activity
2:00 - 2:45
Charlotte's Web Final Packet
2:45 - 3:00
Clean Up
Stack Chairs
Mailboxes
*Please note that math, specials (PE, music, and library), lunch, and recess are part of a fixed schedule and stay in blocks. At times, curriculum instruction will be shuffled 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.
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
This is the beginning of Q2. I will start gathering the Q2 TDL after Q1 grades and report cards are complete.
HOMEWORK
ONGOING
--Reading Logs (ongoing)
--Spelling Lesson 4
MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK
DUE ON
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
--Subtracting across zeros
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
--Practice/Reteach 4-6
Thursday, October 24, 2019
***A brief note about homework. It is my philosophy that homework is an opportunity for students to practice skills that they have learned in school that day/week. The benefits are proven and tremendous. I try to keep things simple: 20 minutes of reading practice (reading logs), 20 minutes of math practice (worksheet), and 5-10 minutes of spelling (1 page per night). If your student is working on homework for more than an hour each night (Monday - Thursday, none on the weekends), please contact me so we can discuss things further. It is not my intention to make life impossible for you at home.
DUE ON
--Subtracting across zeros
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
--Practice/Reteach 4-6
Thursday, October 24, 2019
--Topic 4 Take-Home-Test
Friday, October 25, 2019
--Practice/Reteach 5-1
***Please keep in mind, projects, or tests we have in class may have to be brought home to be finished or to study. Please ask your child if they have completed their work and check PowerSchool regularly.
ONGOING INFORMATION
READING LOGSReading logs are a regular part of our class. Students will receive "points" 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).
Reading 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 grades improve significantly while naturally benefitting 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.
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. Simply 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. All passwords have been reset and synched to their individual defaults for the start of the school year. Please do not make any changes. It is as follows:
Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)
Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)
DATES TO REMEMBER AND FIELD TRIPS
Thursday, October 31 and Friday, November 1, 2019
--Parent/Teacher Conferences (please sign up online when it opens up, I will post the link as well)
Friday, November 8, 2019
--Field Trip to Herring Auditorium at Lathrop HS to see "The Sound of Music." More details to follow.
Friday, November 22, 2019
--State Reports Potluck!!! More information will come home in a flyer, but you heard it here first!
It will be from 5:00 - 7:00 PM!
Friday, November 22, 2019
--Pillow-making Extravaganza
It will be in the morning from 9:30 AM - to 11:30 AM!
Friday, December 6, 2019
--Field Trip to Herring Auditorium at Lathrop HS to see "The Nutcracker." More details to follow.
Friday, January 31, 2020
--Field Trip to UAF's Davis Concert Hall to see "Bach to the Future." More details to follow.
Friday, March 20, 2020
--Field Trip to Herring Auditorium at Lathrop HS to see "Eileen Ivers." More details to follow.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - Friday, May 15, 2020
--Angel Rocks Hike and Twin Bears Educational Excursion. We will have several meetings throughout the year about this as it is a 3-day overnight camping trip, and yes we will need volunteers!
Even more to come...
It's a good life!
Mr. Sassman
