Cayo's Kids

March 7th

 IMPORTANT NEWS

On Monday,all students will be given a challenge by Mrs. Shue and Ms. Mansfield. The children who complete at least 15 CRCT Practice Tests on line will be invited to a special event!  Since research indicates that students who practice for the CRCT Test actually perform better on the test, we are trying to provide motivation to practice. They will complete the tests on their computer and send the results to me. Monday we will place a CRCT Practice recording sheet in their agendas to keep tract of the progress. I will also send home another copy of the CRCT instructions with the login information. If you do not have computer access at home, your child may take tests before school or do paper and  pencil tests. Please contact me if you have any questions.

 REMINDER - Book reports are due on Tuesday, March 8th. Students will be presenting these to the class as part of their grade.

The book fair is coming to Nicholson March 7 - 11. Tuesday, March 8th is family night at the book fair from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.  You'll have another chance to visit the book fair in the evening when you come to Nicholson Foundation's Bingo Night on Friday.  

     The Nicholson Foundation is sponsoring their annual Bingo Night on Friday, March 11. Plan on an evening of fun.

 Happy Birthday to BELLA who celebrated on March 1st.

 Congratulations to our new Terrific Kid, Matheus.

Please consider contributing at least two hours of your time to help Nicholson during the next few months. Volunteer opportunities and details are available at the Nicholson web page. Thanks!

 

ACADEMICS

MATH - The children finishing decimals with rounding and adding or subtracting. Then we are moving on to the customary and metric units of weight. We will finish this unit with the study of mean, median, and mode.

 SPELLING/GRAMMAR - We are "skipping" to spelling units that correlate with our other areas of study. Presently, the class is completing the spelling unit with adjectives ending in er and est because we are studying adjectives in grammar. Our next topic in grammar will be compound and complex sentences.

READING - We continue to work on finding main ideas and supporting details in informational text. We will also be discussing cause and effect. Then our class will read an informational text on Colonial Times , gather information, and take notes to write an informational paper.

WRITING - The topic for this nine weeks is informational writing. The class will be writing about what it was like to live in colonial times.  We will use the information gained in reading to write a paper with the qualities necessary to meet the Cobb County standards for writing.

Week of February 7th

   
REMEMBER!

Explorer Reports are due Monday.

Parent Journals should be completed by Tuesday.

 
Our Terrific Kid for this month is Grace.

 
February 13 - Arlena

February 23 - Leah

DATES to REMEMBER

Monday, Feb. 7 - Counselor Appreciation Day

Thursday, Feb. 10 - Penny Wars Kickoff

Friday, Feb. 11 - Academic Alerts sent home

Monday, Feb 14 - Valentine's Day

 IT'S FIREMEN APPRECIATION WEEK

This week Nicholson will be collecting food items to help stock our local firemen's kitchen.  Mrs. Messinger will deliver the items on Valentine's Day. Students should bring items anytime this week. Thanks for your help!

 
Valentine's Day:  We will be exchanging Valentines on Monday, February 14th.    We have 19 students, if your child would like to exchange Valentines. I sent home a class list last week. We will make our collection bags one day for morning work. We will be having a special snack, ice cream sundaes. If you are able to send in a topping or paper product, please send me a note.

 
 ACADEMICS

MATH - We are finishing fractions with addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators. As we work on subtraction,  the process will involve regrouping to borrow when necessary. Next, our topic of study will be returning to decimals.

 READING - Last week our class discussed the difference between reading fiction and reading nonfiction text. As we continue our work on "reading to learn," we are analyzing nonfiction works for text and graphic features. We will also be discussing types of questions, fact and opinion, and main ideas with supporting details.

ENGLISH - Adjectives continue to be our focus.

SOCIAL STUDIES - The students will be presenting their Explorer Reports to the class, and we will complete an organizer of the important information. There will be a Social Studies test on explorers this Friday. Our class will be returning to science class with Mrs. Jackson this Friday.

Week of January 17th

 
The snow and ice are finally melting! I hope you had a great time on our unexpected week off from school. Tuesday, it's back to work with many things to accomplish.

 
to our new Terrific Kid for January, Joshua. TheTerrific Kid for December was Antonette. Thanks for being so responsible and having such great manners!

 At the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year the Nicholson PTA set a goal to have every parent volunteer 2 hours at school this year. Please set a New Year's Resolution to volunteer at our school. Your child will love seeing you help out and all help is greatly appreciated. Contact the PTA, front office, or any staff member to learn about the many opportunities for you to help out at Nicholson.

REMINDER 

Please return the signed signature card and envelope from your child's report card. Thanks!

 
Happy Birthday to Miya who will be celebrating on January 22!

IMPORTANT EVENTS

Jan. 21   Terrific Kid Ceremony

              Family Dance (6-8)

Jan. 25   100th Day Celebration

Feb. 3     PTA Meeting & 4 Grade PE Program

 
ACADEMICS

MATH - We are currently working on fractions and will cover equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators. Please remember the 100th Day of School is quickly approaching. That means the 100 Club Members will soon be announced. To qualify for the 100 Club a student must pass the addition, subtraction, and multiplication Timed Test in 5min. with at least 90% accuracy. Also passing the division test will mean qualifying for The 100+ Club.

READING/WRITING - Our Traditional Literature unit is ending with our written Response to Literature. The students are incorporating story mapping, writing a summary, and making a judment into this writing activity. They will be using the the book Yeh-Shen as their topic. An informational reading unit will be next.

SPELLING and ENGLISH - The spelling sort that we will start has the students identifying and sorting words with the ambiguous vowel patterns au,aw, and al. Adjectives will be our next topic in English.

 

WEBSITE LINKS   

fractions 

grammar games 

Rats Grammar

math facts practice

Aunty Math

Social Studies activities

 

 

 

 

 DECEMBER CALENDAR

Dec.  9   PTA/Chorus Holiday Concert

Dec. 13  Relay for Life Candy Cane Gram Sales

Dec. 14   Spelling Bee

Dec. 17   PJ Day

             Holiday Party 9-10

Dec 20-Jan. 3 Winter Holidays

 ACADEMICS

  MATH - Our geometry unit continues with the following items. We will categorize triangles according to their angles and sides.  Also, the class will study rotations, quadrilaterals, and coordinate planes. This Wednesday there will be a quiz on lines, line segments, rays, and types of angles.

READING - The study of Traditional Literature will continue, as we compare the elements of fables, tall tales, and fairy tales. We will also compare different versions  of the same fairy tales. Please continue to work on the book report that is due December 14th.

WRITING - Since our focus this nine is writing a response to literature, we are identifying the elements that are needed for this piece of writing. The students continue to work on summaries. After reading The Rough Face Girl, they will learn to write four types of jugments of a book. Figures of speech will be used to enhance our writing.

SOCIAL STUDIES - Our research on Native Americans should conclude this week and the groups will be presenting their reports to the class at the end of the week.

GRAMMAR - The class will complete the study of simple subjects, and predicates. Then review complete subjects and predicates.

 

Week of November 1

IMPORTANT DATES 

Nov. 1         Quarters for Kickball

Nov. 2         No School 

Nov. 3         Quarters for Kickball/last day

Nov. 4         Parent Study Skill Workshop

Nov. 5         Relay for Life Kickball Game

Nov. 11        3rd Grade Veteran's Day Performance 1PM &7PM

Nov. 15       Scholastic Book Fair Week

PARENT STUDY SKILL WORKSHOP - On Thursday, November 4th, our guidance teachers will be presenting a program to inform parents of ways to help their children improve their study skills. Since study skills are an important part of the school experience, this information will be very beneficial. The presentation will be offered at 7:30 A.M. and at 6:30P.M.

 ACADEMICS

MATH - We have finished learning to divide numbers with a one digit divisor. Long division will continue to be our focus with division  using a two digit divisor. After division, we will be working on geometry (lines, angles, triangles). Please work on the multiplication and division facts. Some students are still in need of practice. There will be another timed test on Wednesday. Several students have completed all four( + - X and division) timed tests :)

WRITING - This week the students are finishing their county benchmark writing, the personal narrative. After that, we are concentrating on writing a response to literature. This will involve continuing to practice writing a summary, as well as, learning to write a judgement of a piece of traditional literature.

READING - The text and graphic features that are found in informational text will continue to be our focus this week. Next week, we will be reading and discussing the components of traditional literature . As we compare tales from different countries, the children will complete organizers and write summaries.

ENGLISH - Our final focus will be on verb tenses (present, past, future) and irregular verbs. There will be a quiz on verbs on Friday.

SOCIAL STUDIES - This week the class will continue to gain background knowledge on Native Americans. Then, they will work in groups to become experts on one particular tribe. Their group will create a booklet and present the information to the rest of the class.

       WEBSITES FOR PRACTICE

muliplication.com

aplusmath

measuring angles

angle activities

folktales webquest

brainpop

verb study

 many math and grammar links

Conference Week

 Parent conferences will be held this week, so school will be dismissed at 12:20 everyday. If you are not able to meet at your appointed time, please contact the office, and I will call you to arrange another time.

 
Thanks so much to all those parents who helped to make our Fall Carnival a success. You are awesome!

CONGRATULATIONS to Alan F. who is our new Terrific Kid!

 IMPORTANT DATES

Oct. 18  Art Fundraisers go home

Oct. 19  Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Oct. 27  Lifetouch Picture Makeups

Oct. 29  Wear red for Red Ribbon Week
 ACADEMICS

MATH - Monday and Tuesday we are finishing the first math unit and reviewing for the final test. The benchmark test will be on Wednesday, so you may want to review with your child. Each student has a Math Journal that explains many of concepts we covered over the last nine weeks. Our next focus will be long division.
WRITING - We are beginning to write our personal narratives. The students will be working on these over the next week.   

READING - We will spend some time reviewing the text and graphic features that are found in informational text. Then we will begin a unit on Traditional Literature, and we will analyze fables, folktales, tall tales, and fairytales.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES - Cayo students are finishing the unit on the water cycle and will have the unit test this week. Next week, they will begin a unit on Native Americans. Students will work in groups to research a specific tribe. Each group will create an informative booklet on their specific tribe. Then the students from each group will present their findings to the rest of the class.

Jackson students will finish their social studies unit on the regions of the US at the end of this week. They will have a final test next Tuesday and then return to science class with Mrs. Jackson.
 

 

Week of September 27

 
IMPORTANT DATES

Sept. 30          Mod Squad Kickoff Pizza Night 6:30-8:30

October 15      Fall Carnival

October 18-22 Conference Week - Dismissal 12:20

 
ACADEMICS

MATH -This Tuesday the class will take the Math Pretest for the second quarter. We also continue to solve two digit by two digit multiplication problems. First, we are using area models, and then we will use the traditional algorithm.

READING - PLEASE encourage your child to read independently for at least 20 minutes every night. This is very important to develop their comprehension skills! Some students are doing an exceptional job, but many do very little reading at home. I appreciate your help. Our class will resume our focus on narratives with an emphasis on story elements. This will encompass using a story map to write a summary of a story, analyzing and comparing story characters, and understanding the term plot.

WRITING - As we finish our discussion of writing an engaging beginning, the students begin to work on using transition words in their writing.  We will also place an emphasis on word choice. Through exciting words, writers keep their readers engaged in the story.

SPELLING/GRAMMAR - There will be a spelling test on sort #3 this Thursday. The students are still working on recognizing the three types of verbs, and will soon have a list of helping verbs to memorize.

 

 

Week of September 27

 WELCOME BACK

I hope everyone enjoyed their fall break. There are only three weeks left until the end of the first quarter.

 
Lucky me!  A big thank you to my class for the birthday present, A gift card to Chili's. I plan on a relaxing dinner very soon. Thanks so much! 

 

September 13

WOW! We are already facing the sixth week of school. My class has done a fantastic job of learning our new routine and adjusting to fourth grade. So many of the students have displayed  great behavior and effort.

A big thank you to Mrs. DeVore for stepping forward to be our room parent. I really appreciate your time and effort. Thanks also to all those parents who have supported her classroom fund.

Academic Alerts will be sent home on Wednesday, September 15th. Alerts are sent home for students that currently have a D or F average in a particular subject. If you receive an alert, please sign and return the necessary papers. Also, use the strategies listed on the alert to help your child improve his/her grade before report cards.   

Don't miss FAMILY MATH GAME NIGHT on September 16th. A spaghetti dinner will be served from 5;30-6:30, and then join us for some fun. From 6:00 - 7:00 play math games and even take one home.

CONGRATULATIONS to Mary, our first Terrific Kid for this school year!

GOOD NEWS

The Nicholson PTA and Foundation  are making it possible for our school to have access to the BRAIN POP website. Students will also be able to use this website at home.  There are some wonderful short videos that enhance our curriculum. Look for the user name and password in your child's agenda on Wednesday. 

ACADEMICS

 MATH -Next, my math class will be multiplying three digit numbers by one digit and then two digit by two digits. Our work includes multiplying  using distributive property and expanded form (partial products). Please, please help those students that are still needing to learn the multiplication facts with accuracy and speed. See my last blog for practice websites.

 READING - We continue to discuss the elements of a personal narrative. As we are reading narratives by Patricia Polacco, the children will be comparing the elements in her books.  Other topics of study include: How does an author help me understand the characters in a story? What are THICK and THIN questions?  How do I make connections to the text I am reading?

WRITING & GRAMMAR - The three types of verbs (action, linking, helping) are the focus for grammar. Creating an engaging personal narrative with well developed characters is our goal, so we are gathering ways to make story characters more interesting. We will also discuss ideas for engaging beginnings.

SOCIAL STUDIES - We have completed the first unit and will have a test on Thursday. All students have a green study sheet, as well as, their interactive notebook to use for help in studying. On Thursday, I will also collect everyone's notebook to be graded.

SCIENCE - My class is now visiting Mrs. Jackson for science four days a week. They are learning about The Scientific Method and will also study the water cycle.

 
  
  
 

August 30

Congratulations to our new Student Council Representative, Miya  and the alternate, Cydnee.  I'm sure both girls will do a great job representing our class. 

Our Fire Safety Program ends Tuesday with a visit from a firefighter who will present the students with a certificate. The visit to the Cobb Safety Village was very informative, and our fourth graders had outstanding behavior.

A big thank you to all those who are able to support our Nicholson fundraiser. This enables our PTA to provide many extras for our school.

IMPORTANT DATES

August 31   PTA Ice Cream Social

Sept. 6    Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 10 Picture Day

  Fall Fundraiser ends

  Movie Night

Sept. 11   East Cobber Parade

Sept. 16     Math Night & Spaghetti Dinner

Sept. 20-24  No School

 ACADEMICS

MATH - We are completing rounding of whole numbers with some word problem practice. Decimals, tenths and hundredths, are the focus for Tuesday and Wednesday. This Thursday we will have a quiz on the value of decimals. We will begin multiplication of two digit numbers by one digit and move on to  larger numbers. It is extremely important that all students practice and master the mutiplication facts through the 12's. Long division will follow mutiplication, and excellent fact recall is imperative. We will also be completing  multiplication timed tests ( 100 facts in 5 min.).
PRACTICE WEBSITES   Muliplication ,  Math Playground,   Decimal Games

SPELLING/ GRAMMAR - Spelling test on Thursday on Unit 2. Word cards should have come home today. Grammar- We will continue to study nouns and have a quiz on Friday.    Noun Games

READING - This week will focus on story elements ( setting,characters, plot,theme, story problem, solution).

WRITING - We will be answering the question, "What is a narrative?" The Cobb County writing standard and expectations will be discussed.

SOCIAL STUDIES - Our Interactive Notebook is a great resource for the students to review the concepts that we have been studying the last few weeks. Parents may even want to take a look at them!  We are finishing Chapter 1 and learning about regions of the US. The influence of climate and resources on an economy have been our focus. We have also been reviewing map skills . There will be a quiz on reading a Political Map (symbols, key, borders, directions).