Mrs. Vance's Class News

Vega Challenge

The Vega Challenge is here! All fourth graders need to be practicing for the CRCT to famiarize themselves with the type of questions, as well as, review material that will be on the test. An explanation of the Vega Challenge went home with every student, explaining the program. Not only do students get the needed practice, but they get rewards! When your student logs on, the "pop up blocker" needs to be disabled, or turned off, so they can log on successfully. The user name and password were included in the packet. The student needs to click on the link that says "View Teacher Assigned Tests". If you have any questions or need help please let me know. Good luck!

April Curriculum News

CRCT Testing will be April 22nd - April 26th. Please make sure your child eats breakfast each mornng, and arrives to school on time.

Spring Break: Week of April 8th

Reading

Students are reviewing concepts that have been taught throughout the year. We are focusing on skills such as: describing characters and story setting in depth using text evidence, main idea and supporting details, and infering a characters thoughts and feelings using text evidence. We will also review nonfiction texts by using text features for information.

Math

We are working on multiplying fractions by using repeated addition, fraction models, and number lines to determine the products. Then, we will review prime and composite numbers, and factors and multiples.

Social Studies /Science

We are finishing our New Nation unit and will be switching back to Science. In Science, we will be learning about ecosystems. Students will learn about various food chains and webs along with producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Spelling

There will be no Spelling Bingo until after Spring Break.

Important Reminder

To all of those wonderful Nicholson Volunteers, we want to thank you for all you do here at Nicholson! We currently have 1,189 volunteer hours! Our goal is to reach 3,00 volunteer hours! Please don't forget to log any volunteer hours on the sheet in the lobby!

CRCT Resources

 

We are pleased to share with you resources that have been posted to the GaDOE website relative to the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT).

Please see below:

 

CRCT Parent Brochure 2013 (Under “Helpful Resources”)

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/CRCT.aspx

 

CRCT Study Guides (Under “Helpful Resources” >>> “Student Guides”)

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/CRCT-Study-Guides.aspx

Revisions have been made to the CRCT Study Guides as a result of the transition to the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) in the content areas of Reading, English Language Arts, and Mathematics. 

We hope that you find these items helpful.

January Curriculum News

It's hard to believe we are entering the third nine weeks of the school year!

Below is what we will be focusing on the next couple of weeks.

Math

Students are reviewing multi-digit multiplication and division concepts. Students will use these skills to solve multi-step word problems where various operations will be needed to solve a word problem. Please continue to practice those basic facts! Mathdrills.com is an excellent website for printing out practice sheets for these basic facts!

Language Arts

Students are working on narrative writing this month. They have written a personal narrative about their winter break. Students are now learning how to write an imaginative narrative using the illustrations from The Chronicles of Harris Burdick to generate story ideas.

Next week we will begin a unit on figurative language. Students will learn to demonstrate an understanding of figurative language. We will focus on idioms, similies, and metaphors.

Spelling

Our next Spelling test is Thursday, January 17th. The test will be over the Sound and Light words that were sent home last week. Spelling Bingo Activities are due on this day as well. We will also have a Spelling test on Thursday, January 31st. This test will focus on vocabualary from our American Revolution unit.

Reading

Students are working on reading information from two texts on the same topic. Then, students are writing and speaking about the topic to show deep understanding or comprehension.

Students are also learning how authors of informational text use evidence and reasons to support points.

Social Studies

We just began our unit on the American Revolution. Students are researching the causes and effects of the events that led to the Revolution. Students will be learning about the key individuals during the Revolution as well. Our field trip to the Youth Museum will support all curriculum taught in this unit!

 

Letter From Mrs. Shue

Parents please take a minute and read this important letter from Mrs. Shue.

 

Dear Nicholson Families,

The events of December 14, 2012, that took place in Connecticut, have shocked our sensibilities and assaulted our very core. Tragedies, such as this serve as a painful reminder that the most unconscionable horrors do sometimes occur.

I believe that most people are good, and they seek opportunities to bring joy and happiness to those around them. Unfortunately, there are others who create turmoil and tragedy wherever they go. People who make decisions without regard to how it will impact those around them are just beyond our mind’s capability to understand. It is so hard to make sense out of tragedies that are totally senseless.

I want to assure you that we have security measures in place, and we practice them on a regular basis. While these practices and safety resources go a long way toward maintaining a safe learning environment for our students, no security measure available can protect against every conceivable threat. Despite that fact, and despite the occurrence of random acts of nature and disturbed individuals, let me reassure you that the safety of your children is our highest priority, and that we will be vigilant and use the resources we have available to ensure that students stay safe under our watch.

As many of you are aware, I began efforts over the past several months to request that the front entrance to Nicholson be reconfigured so that we are better able to control who enters our building.  Due to budget constraints this is not able to be completed without the support of SPLOST IV.  This is an approved item for Nicholson in the SPLOST IV notebook which you can view on the county website under SPLOST.  In the meantime, we are challenged with monitoring the front entrance of the building to ensure that every person entering the school has been identified.  Due to budget constraints, we simply do not have the personnel to place in the front lobby consistently.  I am reaching out to you, the Nicholson community, to come forward and assist us with the reception area in the front lobby.  I urge you to contact the school today (770) 928-5573  to volunteer a ½ day or full day of your time between now and the end of this school year so that we can make sure all visitors to our building are properly identified.  Although we all know there is no absolute way to prevent senseless acts, we can certainly tighten our security so that we can all feel a little safer.  Will you step up today to help us?  Don’t wait for someone else to volunteer.  We need YOU!

Going forward, with your help as volunteers, we can ensure that all persons will be challenged when they do not have proper identification.  Please do not be offended if someone at the reception desk asks you to provide identification.  Remember, we are trying to keep all kids safe and the person at the desk may not know you personally. 

    Unfortunately there are times when no one can prevent such evil that occurred in Connecticut. We try to meet a balance of our schools being a place that welcomes visitors without too much inconvenience to actually institutionalizing our schools to look like prisons. Here at Nicholson, we now have an Access Control System which prevents anyone who does not have an access badge from entering the school (except for the front entrance which is disarmed during the school day).  In addition, surveillance cameras were also installed in our school just this year.

We have a school wide Safety Plan, approved by GEMA. Cobb School District was one of the first school districts to comply with state law to have these Safety Plans in place.  In addition, we have Code Red Lockdown Drills so that our staff  and students are prepared in the event of an emergency. We are only one of the few school systems nationwide that conduct Lockdown Drills.

I encourage you to continue to search for the good in the world, to appreciate the blessings that we have each day, and to support each other in difficult times.  Please keep the families affected by these tragedies in your thoughts and prayers. 

Hug your families tight tonight and every night. 

For kids,

 

 

Wanda  Shue

.

 

 

Important Dates/News

Permission slips for the Fourth grade field trip to the Youth Museum were sent home December 3rd. The cost of the field trip is $15.00. The field trip reinforces the curriculum for the events that led up to the Revolutionary War and the creation of the United States.

December 7th Deadline for Star Tree gifts

December 11th Stevi B's Night

December 13th Chorus Holiday Concert 6:30 p.m.

December 14th Spirit Day, Chick-fil-a biscuits $3

December 20th Last day of 2nd 9 week grading period

December 21st-January 7th Winter Break! No School!

December Curriculum Update

Math- We are finishing up our unit on fractions. Our next unit focuses on multiplication and division of multi-digit numbers. Keep practicing your math facts!

Language Arts- Students are writing opinion papers about which type of snacks they perfer, sweet or salty. Students will construct a paper with an opinion with reasons and support.

Spelling Bingo is due Wednesday,December 12th. Students will be tested over their Exploration and Colonial times word list as well.

Social Studies- Students are working on writing and illustrating informational books about explorers of North America. Students have spent time researching obstacles faced and accomplishments of Cabot, Columbus, Cartier, Balboa, and Hudson.

 

Curriculum Update

Math- We are beginning our unit study about fractions. Students will learn how to add and subtract fractions with like denominators. Students will also learn about equivalent fractions.

Language Arts- Students will be learning how to use relative adverbs in their writing. Students will begin by identifying relative adverbs in writing samples. Then students will construct sentences showing correct use of relative adverbs.

Writing- Students have been learning how to form an opinion with support. Students are currently working on opinion papers stating their opinions about zoos. Students are to provide suoport with details.

Science- We are finishing up our unit on force and motion. Students have learned about simple machines and their uses. The students are completing a performance task about the impact of simple machines at home and/or the work place. Students will be interviewing a family member to better understand the importance of simple machines. Interviews are due November 17th. Once interviews are conducted, students will complete a media presentation (photos, video, power point, or report of findings) to explain the impact of a simple machine in everyday life. Students will share their final products with the class in early December. The most informative presentation will be featured on our morning announcements, WSTR.

Spelling- Students are assigned a Spelling Bingo sheet every other week. Students should complete 5 activities, or 4 with the free space. The next Spelling Bingo is due Thursday, November 29th.

Curriculum Update

                                   Important Reminders

Students need to read 20 minutes every night. Books that are read should be recorded on their reading log, which is at the front of their agenda. I check this log at least 3 times a week.

    Students should also be practicing their multiplication facts. The Math curriculum focuses on multiplication and division throughout the year. Knowing basic multiplication facts makes this portion of the curriculum much easier.

Reading and Language Arts

    Students have been meeting with a strategy and guided reading group at least twice a week. In these groups, students are setting goals for their reading and practicing meeting these goals while reading independently.

    In Language Arts, we will begin to focus on the use of relative pronouns and adverbs. Students will need to use these correctly in their writing.

Writing

    Our Writing focus for this nine weeks is opinion writing. We will be revisiting writing narratives as well.

 

Math

    This week we will focus on measurement conversions. For example, students will learn to convert inches to feet and centimeters to meters.

Later on in the nine weeks, we will focus on fractions. Topics covered include: addition and subtraction of fractions with common denominators, and equivilant fractions.

 

Important Dates

Penny Wars
We will be holding a 'Penny War' on October 17, 18, and 19th.  So save up your change, and help our class win!  Proceeds from Penny Wars will go to the Cobb County Relay for Life. 

Fall Carnival
The Fall Carnival and Silent Auction will be held Satuday, October 20 from 4-7 PM.  There will be games, a cake walk, dunk tank, facepainting and lots of yummy refreshments.  Fun for the whole family!

Conference Week
Conference Week will be held October 22 through October 26.  Students will be dismissed daily at 12:20. Conference letters with your conference date and time will be sent home October 11th. Please sign and return your letter, indicating if your assigned date and time will work. I look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your child's academic progress.