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May 2009

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May 11, 2009

Team Jackson


Goals

It is hard to believe that there are only two more weeks of school!  Although you are planning your summer at Team Jackson we are completing many assessments to show our growth in fourth grade.  We will be taking our Scholastic Reading Inventory, our post test in mathematics and our final Spelling inventory throughout this week.  It is very important that your student stays focused so they can do well on these tests.

Hands on

Math: In my class, we will be reviewing for the 4th nine weeks post test  on Monday and Tuesday.  This Wednesday we will all take the post test.  In my homeroom, addition to Exemplars we have been working with hands on equations during Wiser Wednesdays. Mrs. Langosch and I are proud of how well all of our students have done learning this new skill.

Anti-smoking-sign-750110

Writing Workshop:  Most students have completed their interior paragraphs of their persuasive writings.  We will review how to write an engaging beginning and fabulous closings before we write our final copies.  Toward the end of the week, we complete our last narrative writing assignment by writing to a prompt. 


Westard

Reading Workshop:  At the beginning of the week my class will complete our study of the work of Gail Gibbons.  Currently they are working in pairs to complete a cause/effect assignment on Sunken Treasure.  Toward the end of the week, we will read about westward expansion.

English:  We will complete a brief study of prepositions.

Galaxy1

Science: My class has returned from Social Studies and we will be studying stars and the moon.  On Monday, I will assign a constellation project that will be due on May 19th. 

April 27, 2009

Team Jackson

Recycle2

ECO-BOXES:  The students did a great job on their eco-boxes! I am very proud that everyone reused cereal boxes to make the projects. I have used our new Flip camera to record their presentations.  As of this time, we have only completed part of them, but we will finish all by the end of the week.  I have added the presentations below, just click and view.  I will give your student their number to help with quick viewing.  Enjoy!

Download VID00004                            

Download VID00005                        Download VID00013 

Download VID00014

Download VID00003 

Download VID00007 

Download VID00008 

Download VID00009 

Download VID00011

April 13, 2009

Team Jackson

Spring

I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful spring break. This week we will be taking some practice tests to prepare for the CRCT.  The testing will actually begin on April 21st and last through the following Monday.  Eco-box projects are due on WEDNESDAY.

 

Math:  My math class did a great job on their recent test on multiplying decimals by whole numbers.  This week we will begin using manipulatives to learn how to divide decimals by whole numbers.  Toward the end of the week we will review the distributive property.  Our next topic will be three dimensional shapes. 

Reading Workshop:  As we practice reading this week, we will also be studying the highlights of the Science unit on stars and constellations.  At the end of the week we will again practice for the reading section of the CRCT.

Writing Workshop: We will be reading The Pain and the Great One and analyzing the text to practice writing a whole class persuasive paper.  We will divide the class and write the paper to persuade from both points of view.

Spelling:  Unit 14 and we will have the test this Friday.

English:  We will be completing our study of adverbs and testing this skill by the end of the week.

Science:  My class will continue to work with Mrs. Crowder in Social Studies this week.  Please remember that the Eco-box project is due this Wednesday, we will begin the oral part of the projects on Thursday.  Most students do better if they practice the oral part of the project at home before the presentations.

Important Dates:

Monday: Computer Lab

Wednesday: Guidance

Friday:  Spelling Test

April 03, 2009

Boosterthon money

Performingarts animatedThank you for your participation in our recent boosterthon fundraiser. I used the money to purchase a flip video camera.  Look for future video clips from the classroom.  Click on the link below to see a sample of Traffic eating lunch.

Download VID00002

March 30, 2009

Team Jackson

Goals_destination1

Many of my students have met their reading goal this past two weeks.  If you received a letter about your child's reading progress, please sign and return the letter on Monday.  Please encourage your child to read!  I will be increasing all reading goals because of spring break. Our next reading goals will need to be completed by April 17th.  Remember reading helps increase achievement in all academic areas.




Crct

CRCTtesting will begin on April 21st after spring break.  Please have your student practice for these tests by completing the on line practice tests. (The link is on Nicholson's homepage)  I gave all  parents a copy of their student's GTID number at conference.  If you need another copy of the number please email me.


Math:  In  my math class we will review multiplying decimals by whole numbers.  We will continue to use manipulatives and then draw our results on grids with colored pencils.  We will use the same process and develop our division skills with decimals and whole numbers.

Vegetables

Reading Workshop:  We will continue to read and analyze Gail Gibbons books.  The students will be required to read and write a summary of five of her books. We will glue these into our Reading source books.  After CRCT, we will have a special presentation about one of her books. CRCT: We will complete some practice tests during reading this week.


Essay

 

Writing Workshop:  Our final paper this nine weeks will be a persuasive essay.  We are currently practicing reading persuasive articles and books and filling a graphic organizer to show the way the author persuaded his audience.


Adverb1

English:  Our focus this week will be adverbs, most  students can name the common adverbs but do struggle with those that do not end in "ly".  We will practice this skill all week and have a test on Thursday.

 

Moon

Science:  My class will be having Social Studies this week with Mrs. C. I will be teaching her class about the stars and constellations. While my class is working with Mrs. Crowder they will need to complete their eco-box projects and presentations at home.  I will give out any needed supplies on Monday.

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Monday: March 30:  Eco-box assigned, due April 15th

Wednesday: April 1: Guidance 10:00-10:45

Thursday: April 2:  Adverb test

Friday: April 3:  Art Enrichment Day

April 6-10: Spring Break: Please Read!

March 23, 2009

Team Jackson

Boston tea partyI want to congratulate Joshua, Tanner, Ariana, Chandini, Eddie and Bailey for meeting their AR reading goals.  These students enjoyed a special breakfast this week.  KEEP READING!  On Monday, all of fourth grade students will be going to the Cobb County Youth Museum to participate in a play about the road to the Revolutionary War. 

Math:  In my math class we have spent the last week reviewing two digit by three digit multiplication and three digit dividends divided by two digit divisors.  Many of my students remembered these important skills but a few need to continue to practicee.  This week we begin multiplication of decimals by whole numbers using models, colors and  finally the algorithm. Please practice for the CRCT using the link on Nicholson's homepage.

My_brother_dans_delicious

Writer's Workshop: This nine weeks our focus will be persuasive writing.  Many students have practice with this skill because they have been persuading their parents for years.  Now we will use this background knowledge to write a persuasive paper.  We will start this genre by reading My Brother Dan is Delicious.




Sunken

Reader's Workshop: We will investigate the life of Gail Gibbons and  work in groups to write short summaries about many of her books.  As a class, we will complete an in depth review of four of her books, beginning with Sunken Treasure.


Spelling:  During spelling this week we will complete lesson 13.  In addition to spelling, we will also complete our unit on adjectives. Please review your words to learn prior to our test on Friday.

FrogEcosystem


Science:  My class will  complete their webquest on ecosystems by Thursday this week.  On Friday, I will explain and assign the Eco-box project.  Theproject will be due April 14th. (This is the Tuesday after spring break.) Your student should be prepared to give a oral presentation about their project as part of their grade.

March 16, 2009

Team Jackson

Constellations

Everyone had a wonderful time learning about constellations in the Star Lab! This lesson will help provide background knowledge for our future star lessons. The third nine weeks is complete and report cards will go home on Thursday. It hard to believe that we only have nine weeks of fourth grade left.  We all will be working hard to complete our preparation for fifth grade.  CRCT tests are coming up in late April, please have your student practice for these tests on line, the website is one Nicholson's homepage.

Picture%20testanxiety

Math: The third nine week post test will be Monday.  We will stay in our homerooms on Tuesday and review basic skills.  The students will start their new math classes on Wednesday. In my math class we will begin with multiplying decimals.  Again, practice math facts!




Gail gibbons

Reader's Workshop:  We will continue to practice the skill of fact and opinion this week.  In reading groups this week the students will read nonfiction books about ecosystems. Our reading focus this nine weeks will be an author study about Gail Gibbons.


Persuasive

Writer's Workshop: At the beginning of the week we will respond to a prompt on a narrative topic.  We will continue to practice this genre so we are prepared for the fourth grade post test in writing.  Toward the end of the week we will begin persuasive writing.

 

 

Grammar:  We will continue to study adjectives and have a quiz on Thursday or Friday.

Science:  My students have returned from Social Studies and we will begin ecosystems on Monday.  After a brief overview of ecosystems, the students will work in pairs to complete a web quest on this topic. 

Important Dates:

Wednesday:  Second Grade Performance at 9:00, Guidance at 10:00

Thursday: Report Cards
 

Ecosystems Web Quest

Green animatedWe will be completing this web quest on ecosystems on Thursday in Science.

Ecosystem webquest

March 09, 2009

Team Jackson

StarlabFirst I want to thank the class for my sweet card and beautiful flowers to celebrate my new grandchild, Carson.  This week at Nicholson, all fourth grade and second grade students will having Science lessons in the Star Lab.  The Star Lab is a portable planetarium, in which students can observe all the stars and constellations in the night sky. The lab has not been to Nicholson in recent years, so I am very excited for our students  to have this additional Science experience!

Clipart-pencil-checklist

Math:  In my class this week, we will be learning about customary and metric weight.  It is important for students to be able to apply this knowledge to everyday objects.  We will also learn how to draw and interpret line graphs.  On Thursday and Friday, we will review all skills learned this nine weeks to prepare for the post test next Monday.  As always please continue to practice math facts to help your student improve their math achievement.  Special Note: The CRCT practice web site is on the Nicholson home page.

Writer's Workshop:  The informational reports on Colonial times are almost complete. All students are completing their rough draft or writing their final copy. 

Fact_and_opinion_1

Reader's Workshop: This week we will be learning about fact and opinion.  The students will be completing a Beyond Question lesson on this topic.  We will complete A Lion to Guard Us and turn in their packets for a reading grade by the end of the week.

 

 

Spelling:  Lesson 12:  The core words for this week are class, piece, surface river and common. We will be learning about how to spell the /k/ and /s/ sound within words. The test will be on Friday.

Stars

Science:  My class is still with Mrs. Crowder for Social Studies.  All fourth grade classes will be in the Star Lab on and Wednesday. My class will  begin ecosystems on Thursday.

March 02, 2009

Team Jackson

CarsoneWe have a new member of Team Jackson!  Please welcome Carson Camille, she was born on February 19th, weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 21 inches long.  I love being a new grandmother and really enjoyed my time holding and rocking her.  I will see everyone on Monday ready for a new week of learning!

Decimals Math:In my math class we will continue to work with decimals. On Monday we will compare and order decimals.  We will have a quiz on decimals on Wednesday.  Toward the end of the week we will begin interpreting graphs.

A Lion

Reader's Workshop: This past week we read and worked on Lion to Guard Us, we will finish this week and turn them in for a reading grade.  We will also read The Great Kapok Tree and practice the skills of cause/ effect and  main idea/details.  



Dress

Writer's Workshop:  The students have been working hard on their informational reports on Colonial America. We will complete our drafts and write our final copies.


Adjectives


Grammar:  We will continue our parts of speech study with adjectives, the students will have homework nightly and have a test next week.


FrogEcosystem

Science:  My class will complete their health packets and turn them in for a grade in health grade.  In Science we are studying ecosystems, each class will make their own worm vermiculture and write journal entries about them.