Friday, January 22, 2021

Friday, January 22, 2021

 

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Weller Elementary School



 
It certainly feels weird typing, "Week one in the books" during the third week in January, but here we are, and it was nothing short of amazing. I was elated to have the kids in our room, seeing their happy faces. We accomplished a lot this week. We are working our way through Topic 9 in math, DOL 4, Warm/Cold Trees, and we started Rorschach Haikus.
 
The kids did an excellent job wearing masks all day, adjusting to the new and wonky schedule, and they followed procedures, so that we can stay safe and in school. We eased into things this week, talked a lot about classroom procedures, and got to know each other in (literally) a new dimension.   
 
Next week...
I mentioned to the kids, several students have not finished their Persuasive Essays, Biography Book Reports, and/or State Reports. Ms. Nuss and I will be pulling kids and separating them by projects that are overdue. We will work with those students in small groups, to help get those things done. I will also be introducing new projects - Superhero Stories, State Posters, and Cereal Box Book Reports - to kiddos that are ready. We will finish up Rorschach Haikus and keep our class books going (MSOTM and WTRFG).
 
In case you missed it: Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, until the end of the school year. This is an option and not required. I also want to let you know that the kids will not be able to heat up food from home in the class microwave. We have been told that that is not allowed. The school usually provides a lot of options for breakfast and lunch, so I think that this should be okay. You can find the school lunch calendar right below if you need. I have to say, it saves me about 10-15 minutes of prep for my own kiddo each morning, and she likes the lunches (for the most part).
 
Speaking of free breakfast, I will be making the kids pancakes on Monday...just a little something I have been doing for years, for my classes, and it's about that time :)
 
Lastly, we will be making slime! If you have time or think of it, feel free to send in some Elmers glue and some Barbasol Shaving Cream! I have a good supply here already, but to help with the re-stock is always a good thing. No worries if you cannot.

Paper reading logs should have gone home. I explained to the kids, that if they read 5 nights, get their logs signed, and turn them in next week, then they will get a ticket for the prize box drawing on Fridays. Ask them about it!
 
 
The Third Quarter Plan:
  
New Additions/Finishing Up
  • State Reports and Posterboards
  • Poetry - Winter Haikus, Diamantes, What I love about Winter, and more...
  • Class Novel - My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
  • Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
  • Art - Warm and Clod Trees, Space Art
  • New Year Resolutions and goal-setting
  • Advice to a fourth-grader
  • Student-led Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Long Division
  • Fractions
  • The Rock Cycle
  • Cereal Box Book Reports
  • Superhero Stories
  • Newton's Laws of Motion
  • STEM Kits
  • Current Events
The Staples
  • Spelling Packets
  • Cursive Handbooks
  • Reading Logs - SSR
  • EnVision Math
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • Weekly Geography
 
Monday looks like:
8:00 - 9:10
Arrival/Breakfast - I will be making the kids pancakes in the morning!
Writing Prompt
Class Meeting
Rorschach Haikus
9:10 - 9:40
State Reports
9:40 - 10:15
Snack
Read Aloud - Where the Red Fern Grows
10:15 - 11:30
Math Block - Topic 9 Test
11:30 - 12:00
Lunch
12:00 - 1:00
Class Novel - My Side of the Mountain
Recess
1:00 - 1:10
Clean up
Pack up
Dismissal

*******Please note now that we are back to in-person instruction***********
-Kids should be reading for 20 minutes every night, and recording it in their reading logs. I will have a folder filled with them by the door. They may also continue with their digital reading logs too. Either one works for me. If they fill 5 days a week, they will get a ticket for the weekly prize box drawing on Fridays.
-Kids will receive about 20-30 minutes of classwork to complete each night that we have school.  This can include math, spelling, GeoNotes...Please work with them on this if they need help. I would like for students to have no more than 40-50 minutes of work each night. Please let me know if this expectation is beyond reach and we can talk about how your child can be successful. Please again, I don't want tears along the way or any surprises at the end of the quarter!

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.


HOMEWORK
-Reading Logs each night and record it online or on paper


MATH HOMEWORK
-I will send home worksheets for the topics that we are working on. I will be updating this section as we progress through in-person instruction. Stay tuned please.

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. I am currently making adjustments and enhancements on some pages, but the site is full and live.

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 Google Classroom or by paper during our drop off and pick up days.

ClassLink/GOOGLE CLASSROOM
ClassLink is the portal in which students can access their Google Classroom. Once they log into their Chromebook, kids can access the bookmarks folder on their Chrome browser and click on ClassLink. That will bring them to the apps page where they will find Google Classroom. 

DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, February 15th, 2021 - Tuesday, February 16th, 2021
-Parent/Teacher Conferences (No school)
These are student-led so your kiddo will need to be present as well. More to come on this.

Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
-Teacher Professional Development Day (No school)

Monday, March 8, 2021 - Friday, March 12, 2021
-Spring Break (No school)

 
It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman
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