Friday, September 25, 2020

Friday, September 25, 2020

     


 Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Weller Elementary School



This week...
Was a short one for the kiddos. Thursday and Friday were dedicated to staff training, professional development, meetings, and logistical planning should the kids be coming back to school on October 5th. However, we were still productive. For those who could make it Wednesday, to pick up your student's packet, thank you. We will start rolling along with those materials next week while wrapping up a few things from the previous weeks. 

I also received several folders back, with a lot of work in them! That was so awesome, but it took me some time to go through it all. Well, I did it! I was able to assess, grade, and update PowerSchool (PS). I also assessed and graded everything that was submitted in our Google Classroom. So...PS is completely up-to-date (except Math Topic 1 Test, I am grading it after this). If you have not yet experienced PS, the link is right below here. You can log in and check your kids' schoolwork, including missing or late assignments. 


I mentioned to the kids that we are now in week six of our fourth-grade year and I am going to start grading a little "tougher" (I have been blown away with some of your kiddos work either way). I will be assessing skills, effort, responsibility, and things will be getting a bit more reflective of what is being produced! This is always a tricky transition, so hold on! If your kiddo has not turned in an assignment, there will be a "Missing" mark in place of the grade. As we get closer to the end of the quarter, those become zeros and can weigh heavily on a final grade! Please, please, please keep up with your kids' PS grades. Now is the time to learn and get acquainted with it. It only gets more pertinent as your child progresses through their schooling (middle school and high school especially).

You should have received:

-White construction paper (2 pieces)

-A Geometry Template

-Weekly Geography 2 and 3 worksheets

-6 rooms poetry template (if needed)

-Topic 2 Math Test

-Topic 3 Math Packet

-Spelling Packets 2 and 3

-Charlotte's Web Packets Chapters 5-8 and 9-12

-Reading Logs (if paper copies are needed)

-DOL Lesson 2


 Please turn in/return if you have not yet:

-Topic 1 Math Test

-Topic 2 Math Worksheets: 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4

-GeoNotes 1

-Charlotte's Web Packet 1 (Chapters 1-4)

-Reading Logs (if you have paper copies)

-DOL Lesson 1

-Getting to know your Atlas Worksheet 1a and 1b

-Spelling Packet 1

-Summer Reflections Final Copy (if your kiddo did the paper version, not digital)

-Seasonal Haikus  (if your kiddo did the paper version, not digital)

-"I can't imagine a world without..." artwork

  
Next week...
-Continue Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (read together, worksheets together, and discourse)
-Charlotte's Web Google Slides
-GeoNotes 2  
-Spelling Packet 2
-Math Topic 2 Test
-Start Math Topic 3
-Start Charlotte's Web Worksheets (Chapters 5-8)
-DOL 2 (Daily Oral Language - sentence editing)
-Continue with our Daily Writing Prompts
-Start Math Art (Parabolic Curves and Repeating Patterns)
-Continue with Cursive Handbooks (Letters I and J)
-Mystery Science: Why do your biceps bulge?
-Final Drafts: Six Rooms Poetry

Homework
Our Google Classroom Stream has now become a thing! I have recently started posting on our Stream at the end of each day, a list of tasks that the kids need to finish up with for the day, and the things we have been working on. I believe it is helpful, so I will keep on doing it. Some work may spill over into the evening and becoming essentially, homework...more to come on that, but I promise, no tears!

Please have your child reading for 20 minutes a night. Then, have them record it on their reading logs. When the log is complete, you may either send it in, take a picture and email it to me, or enter it digitally in our Google Classroom.

The First Quarter Plan:
  • Non-fiction Narrative Writing - Summer Break Reflections
  • Spelling
  • The United States - Geography, Mapping, Economy, States Reports
  • EnVision Math
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • Q1 Book Reports
  • Reading Logs - SSR
  • Cursive Handbooks
  • Poetry
  • Figurative Language
  • Class Novel
  • Read Aloud
  • Art
  • And much, much, more...

Monday looks like:
8:30 - 9:15 (Synchronous - With the teacher)
Class Meeting
Check-ins and feedback about turned in assignments
Class Novel - Charlotte's Web
CW Packet (Chapters 5-8)
9:15 - 10:15 (Asynchronous - Independent Work)
Complete Writing Prompt
Writing - Work on any missing or late assignments
Snack
Break from a screen
10:15 - 11:00 (Synchronous - With the teacher)
Math Topic 2 Review Part 1
11:00 - 12:00 (Asynchronous - Independent Work)
Math Topic 2 Review Part 1
Lunch
Break from a screen
12:00 - 12:30 (Synchronous - With the teacher)
Social Studies - Weekly Geography 2/Spelling Packet 2
Read Aloud/Art - Wonder
12:30 - 1:30 (Asynchronous - Independent Work)
Finish up the day's tasks
Check the Google Classroom Stream to make sure kiddos are on track
1:30 - till' tomorrow
Go outside
Play
Be a kid
Read for 20 minutes and record it in reading log
Finish up any work from the Google Classroom Stream for the day

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/PERSON ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
--None for now! But hopefully not for long :)

HOMEWORK
-Reading Logs each night and record it online or on paper
-I have posted on our Google Classroom Stream our list of items that needed to be completed for the day and things we are working on over the week. Kids may have additional work to finish up from the day, and therefore would essentially become "Homework," for the evening.

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK
-I have sent home worksheets for the topics that we are working on. Please complete those and save them to turn in when we do pick up and drop off days.

*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 before you have signed their planner. 

ONGOING INFORMATION
ZOOM
Here is our class' meeting ID and password:

CLASS WEBSITE
If you have not yet, please browse our class' website: www.wellerwhales.org. It has a lot of great resources and we will use this from time to time.

READING LOGS (In-Person)
Reading logs are a regular part of our class and the students' overall reading grade. Students will receive 5 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). I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs or they can submit through our GC. If a student reads for 5 days or more, they will receive a ticket for the "Prize Box" drawing. We draw prizes weekly, on Fridays at the end of the day.

READING LOGS (Remote Learning)
Reading Logs are required and will count towards the students' overall reading grade. Kiddos will receive 5 points for each day that they read during the school week. They can be turned in either digitally in our GC or by paper during our drop off and pick up days.

GOOGLE DRIVE/CLASSLINK
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. It is as follows:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER
-Wednesday, October 7, 2020 (If we are not back in school)
Assignments/Materials drop off and pick up day

-Friday, October 16, 2020
Last day of the first quarter

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman