A Lot To Be Proud Of

Congratulations to students 4, 10, 18, and 19 for being a STAR student!  You turned in all your assignments on time for the entire month of September!  Way to go!!!  I am really proud of you.

I know that five other students were also very close to making it to our first STAR luncheon(TBA).  I hope that many more of you will be able to join us for the October luncheon.

Great job to all 11 students for working so hard on the extra credit assignment for Science.  We heard some fact-filled reports on Mount St. Helens and saw many terrific models of the earth's layers and volcanoes.  You will be receiving 1-3 bonus points on your next Science test!

Way to go, fourth graders!!!  I got a glowing report from our sub. this morning so I will be putting 10 marbles into our marble jar.  Hooray!

Tuesday, September 30

Morning Work: DWP: Write a paragraph about what you would want to see if you could travel anywhere in outer space.
Spelling: Finish p. 21

Grammar: Finish p. 20
Reading: Finish TFK reading, quiz, and WS.  Read for 20 minutes. If you didn't turn in your Sept. reading contract and book report, turn it in tomorrow!!!
Cursive: Tuesday

Writing: Bring in your 3 favorite items that represent you for our "All About Me" essay

OCTOBER BOOK ORDERS ARE DUE OCT. 15!

Mount St. Helens in 2004

This news report occurred on October 7, 2004, when volcanologists were keeping an eye on Mount St. Helens.

Monday, September 29

Morning Work: DWP:  Would you want to be an astronaut?  Write a paragraph explaining why or why not.
Spelling: p. 20

Grammar: p. 19
Reading: Read for 20 minutes. September Reading Contract and book report are due tomorrow! 
Cursive: Monday
Science: Finish WS 2.1 and Sequencing WS on Mount St. Helens

Adv. Math: Long division 1-8 side ONLY

Mount St. Helens

We have begun our second chapter on volcanoes and we will be focusing on Mount St. Helens --studying what happened before, during, and after the eruption.  Here are some links and videos on one of the world's most famous volcanoes.

Mount St. Helens Volcano Webcam -- see a live view of the volcano!

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Video clip of the eruption of Mount St. Helens

View more videos of Mount St. Helens here.

Reminders

Don't forget to complete any unfinished work from today -- Cursive, TFK WS and TFK Quiz, and parent signatures on study hall sheets.

Bring in a photo of your cinquain poem animal to Art on Monday!

Extra credit volcano project is due on Monday!

Have a terrific weekend!!! 

Thursday, September 25

*** REMINDER:  WE WILL TAKE THE READING MAP TEST FRIDAY AT 9:15.  BE SURE TO EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST AND GET PLENTY OF ZZZ'S TONIGHT! ***
Morning Work: DWP
Spelling: STUDY FOR TEST 

Grammar:  STUDY FOR TEST
Reading: Read for 20 minutes. September Reading Contract and book report are due 9/31! WEEKLY ASSESSMENT TOMORROW
Cursive: Thursday
Science: Extra Credit Volcano Project due 9/29.

OTHER: Bring in a picture/photo of your Cinquain animal to Art class by Monday

Don't forget to bring back your OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOKS!!!

Community Service

Community service is the focus of this week's Time For Kids issue.  Here are several links that were mentioned in this week's issue.

Angel Rock Project - Learn more about the trip to Soweto here.  The site includes a CNN video, a student blog, and a photo gallery.

TFK-South Africa - Explore this diverse country at the Time For Kids:  Around the World website.

Driving For Donors - Read about this 13-year old's hope to get bone marrow donors for cancer patients.

Peace Jam - This foundation's mission is to create a new generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates.

America Supports You - Reach out to help troops serving overseas and their families.  

Service Nation - On September 27, join the Service Nation group for one of more than 1600 service events planned in all 50 states.

King Day of Service - On January 19, MLK Jr. Day, the annual King Day of Service takes place.  

Locks of Love and Wigs for Kids - Donate your hair to those in need after medical treatments.

Pet Finder - Use this site to help locate rescue groups for homeless dogs and cats.

Wednesday, September 24

Morning Work: DWP
Spelling: Finish Page 16
Reading: Read for 20 minutes. September Reading Contract and book report are due 9/31!
Cursive: Wednesday
Science: Extra Credit Volcano Project due 9/29.

OTHER: Bring in a picture/photo of your Cinquain animal to Art class by Monday

Don't forget...Library books are due Thursday!

Tuesday, September 23

Morning Work: DWP
Spelling: Finish Page 15(Word sort)
Reading: Read for 20 minutes.  September Reading Contract and book report are due 9/31!
Cursive: Tuesday
Science: Review Study Guide. Parent signature on Study Guide is due on Wednesday. Practice singing Plate Tectonics songs. Volcano Test on Wednesday.  Extra Credit Volcano Project due 9/29.
Adv. Math: Unit 1 Test Wednesday!  Parent signature on study guide. 1.10 Self Assessment Checklist.

OTHER:  Bring in a picture/photo of your Cinquain animal to Art class by Monday

Jeopardy, Garageband, and Volcanoes...OH MY!

This morning, we had a "blast" studying for tomorrow's science test.  First, we played Science Jeopardy.  The categories were:  ALL ABOUT VOLCANOES, LAYERS OF THE EARTH, TECTONIC PLATES, AND MORE ABOUT VOLCANOES.  Each team did a great job and got to participate in Final Jeopardy!  Congratulations to the winning team, the Chicago Wolves. Click here to listen to the Jeopardy theme song.

We also recorded our Plate Tectonics songs on Garageband.  We enjoyed teaching the songs to our classmates and listening to our final product.  Watch out, American Idol!  We have some singers in the making! :)  We'll soon put our songs on a podcast so you can         listen and sing along, too!

Plate Tectonics Songs

Our class created lyrics to some popular songs so that we could remember the different ways that plates move.  We will be recording our songs using Garageband and hopefully we'll create a podcast for you to listen to our songs soon!  Here are the lyrics we wrote with our teams.

Convergent Boundary
Sung to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Miley Cyrus

Here comes a volcano!
It’s coming with magma,
Again and again, til it erupts.
Cause plates are colliding,
They form a volcano,
And convergent is it’s name.
Here comes the lava!
Convergent boundary is it’s name.

Divergent Boundary
Sung to “Disturbia” by Rihanna

Di, di, di, di, di, di, divergent (3x)
Divergent, it likes to pull away
Divergent, it likes to pull apart
Divergent, it likes to pull away
It likes to stay away…stay away
I got to go
The plates are pulling apart
Come on, let’s go
Before the plates start moving away

Subduction
Sung to “See You Again” by Miley Cyrus

When plates subduct
Volcanoes form
When the earth quakes
The volcano shakes
When it erupts
It goes like boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Subduction is where plates collide
And one plate goes under the other one.
Boom boom boom(echo)

Transform Boundary
Sung to “Barbie Girl” by Aqua

Transform’s where plates slide…
Horizontally
That causes earthquakes
That’s when the ground shakes
It can cause damage
It will be deadly
But just stay steady
But just stay steady.

Monday, September 22

Morning Work: DWP
Spelling: Finish Page 14(Wordsearch); Review this week's words
Reading: Read for 20 minutes. Finish Practice Packet p. 15-16.  September Reading Contract and book report are due 9/31!
Cursive: Monday
Science: Finish and review Study Guide. Parent signature on Study Guide is due on Wednesday.  Practice singing Plate Tectonics songs. Volcano Test on Wednesday. We will play "Jeopardy!" tomorrow to review for the test.  Extra Credit Volcano Project due 9/29.
Adv. Math: SL 1.9

Conjunctions!

Schoolhouse Rock Video Conjunction Junction

Subject and Predicate

Click here to play Sink or Swim.

Click here to take a quiz on simple subjects and simple predicates.

Click here to take another quiz on subjects and predicates.

Click here to play Subject Pathway or here to Ride the Predicate Coaster.

Schoolhouse Rock Grammar video on subject and predicate, The Tale of Mr. Morton

Friday, September 19

Reading:  Read!!!

Science:   Volcano Test on Wednesday.  Extra credit Volcano Project due 9/29.

Adv. Math:  SL 1.8 & Enrichment 1.8.  Practice double-digit multiplication and squaring/unsquaring numbers.

Bad News, Good News

Unfortunately, we were unable to take our Reading MAP test today because the computers were not cooperating.

Fortunately, we were able to write our CINQUAIN poems instead.

We'll take our MAP test next Friday at 9:15.  

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!  

Thursday, September 18

Morning Work:  DWP

Cursive:  Thursday

Reading:  Read for 20 minutes.

Science:  Extra Credit Volcano Project Due 9/29.

Don't forget to review your spelling words and reading practice packet.  

Volcano Videos and Websites

Click on these cool volcano sites:
Volcano World

Volcano Thinkquest

Volcanic Eruptions


Hawaii Volcanoes

Plate Tectonics

Click here for another TeacherTube video on plate tectonics.

Wednesday, September 17

I'm so proud of you, fourth graders, for working so hard today.  In fact, we used our class time so well that we were able to finish our morning work, spelling, and grammar in class!  Some of you even got to finish your cursive!  Keep up the great work!!!

Reading:  Read for 20 minutes.

Cursive:  Wednesday

Adv. Math:  3 multiplication problems -- Hopefully we'll take our Math MAP test tomorrow afternoon!

Don't forget to bring back your library books tomorrow!!!

Tuesday, September 16

Morning Work:  DWP

Spelling:  Page 9

Cursive:  Tuesday

Reading:  Read for 20 minutes.

Science:  Finish WS 1.1

Adv. Math:  SL 1.7 & Enrichment 1.7

*** SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER FORMS AND MONEY DUE TOMORROW!!!***

Responsibility

Don't forget to:

1.  Write down your homework assignments in your assignment notebook.

2.  Listen to directions in class and use your class time well.

3.  Keep your papers and desk organized.

4.  Do your homework.

5.  Bring back your folders and assignments to school.

Unfortunately, we've had a rough start to the week with late assignments, incomplete work, missing papers, etc.  I hope we will have a better day tomorrow! 

Monday, September 15

Morning Work:  DWP(Daily Writing Prompt)

Spelling: Page 8

Cursive:  Week 2-Monday

Grammar:  Page 7

Reading:  Minimum of 15-20 minutes of reading.  Remember your September contract reading goal!!!  Practice Page 8-9

Adv. Math:  SL 1.6(due Tues.) & Enrichment 1.6(due Wed.)

Science:  Extra Credit Volcano Extension Activity -- Choose 1.  Due on Sept. 29!

Other:  Scholastic Book Order due Wednesday

Friday, September 12

The only homework for this weekend is to complete Week 1 of your cursive packet.  Also, don't forget to read nightly to meet your September reading goal.  

We had a great week, fourth graders!  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Communicating Via Skype

We had so much fun in the LMC today!  Our class was able to have a "video conference" by using a communication tool called Skype.  Mrs. Polito had the class in the LMC.  Students wrote down a science question or a general question for me to answer.  Then each student had a chance to ask his/her question to me as I answered them from our classroom.  I even took my laptop to the office and the class got to see and talk to Mrs. A, Mrs. Crowley, and Ms. Csensich.  We hope to connect to other classrooms in other parts of the country and/or world this year.

Skype

What is Skype?  Click here to find out!  

Will we be using Skype?  Yes!

When will we use Skype?  In the LMC tomorrow!  

Thursday, September 11

Morning Work:  DWP(Daily Writing Prompt)

Spelling:  Review homework and spelling pre-test;  post-test Friday

Cursive:  Week 1 - Thursday

Reading:  Read for at least 15-20 minutes

Science:  Science quiz Friday -- review "Story of a Volcano" WS, "Journey to Center of Earth" WS, "Volcanic Vocabulary"; color volcano diagram

Adv. Math:  SL 1.5 & Enrichment 1.5

Wednesday, September 10

Morning Work:  DWP(Daily Writing Prompt)
Spelling: Pages 4 & 5
Cursive: Week 1 - Wednesday
Reading: Minimum of 15-20 minutes of reading. Remember your September contract reading goal!!!
Science:  Volcano WS

Adv. Math: SL 1.4

Tuesday, September 9

Spelling: Page 3
Grammar: Page 2
Cursive: Week 1 - Tuesday
Reading: Minimum of 15-20 minutes of reading. Remember your September contract reading goal!!!

Adv. Math:  SL 1.3 & Lesson 1.3 Enrichment

Volcanoes, Volcanoes, Volcanoes!!!

Did you know that an estimated 24 volcanoes are erupting in the world at any given moment? Click here to take a volcano quiz, play volcano games, and see a volcano explorer in action!

Treasures

During reading class we read Johanna Hurwitz's short story called The Mystery of the Missing Lunch. We worked on creating a problem and solution chart to help us summarize the plot of the story.

Click here to learn more about the author!

Click here to visit the Treasures website to play mystery, spelling, and vocabulary games.

Important FYI

District M.A.P. Test Schedule

During the week of September 15-19, fourth graders will be taking both the Reading and Math MAP test in the Library/Computer Lab.

Miss Lee’s Homeroom will take the Reading MAP test on Friday, Sept. 19, at 9:15 a.m.

Fourth grade students will take the Math MAP test with their Math class. Here is the schedule:

o Mrs. Cheek’s Math Class – Mon., Sept. 15, at 1:30 p.m.

o Mrs. Bagnall’s Math Class – Wed., Sept. 17, at 1:30 p.m.

o Miss Lee’s Math Class – Thurs., Sept. 18, at 1:30 p.m.

Please help your child get a good night’s rest before the tests and eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the tests. Thanks so much!
-Miss Lee

States and Capitals Song

Happy Friday

It's hard to believe our first week of school is over!  Today was a fantastic day.  I am so proud of you for "buzzing" about your books this morning.  It was wonderful to see so many of you enjoying your novels.  Keep up the great reading!

Don't forget your September reading contract.  I'll finish conferencing with you on Monday!

Have a terrific weekend!!!

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World

We read Faith McNulty's How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World today. Click here to see where you would end up if this were possible!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Today was our first full day of school. Thankfully, we had much cooler weather today.

We read Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. This book's message says that life can be extremely tough at times, but we will be just fine if we keep on the road and face up to each challenge as it presents itself. We then reflected on our 3 main goals for the year. We plan on "stepping up" in fourth grade!

Parents, thank you so much for attending tonight's Curriculum Night. It was so nice to meet all of you and I look forward to working with you and your child this year.

Welcome to 4th Grade!

Happy first day of school!

After meeting all 21 of you today, I know that we will have a terrific year together!