3.28.12

It's Wednesday :)

Hello!!  I hope you're having a fantastic Wednesday. 

Today in reading we continued to work on identifying character traits.  We read 2 passages and identified the main characters traits.  During small groups, students are reading a new book beginning this week.  We are also working on identifying character traits in ourselves and writing a story about our traits :)

READING HOMEWORK:
Students should complete "The Night Before".  This is a reading passage and then there are questions on the back to complete.

In math today we took our decimals test.  We've been learning about decimals the last few weeks and tested over what we had learned. 

MATH HOMEWORK:
none

In writing we are continuing our living wax project.  Today students will see other students who are giving speeches on a famous person and begin working on their own speeches.  This is a fun project we are looking forward to having families involved in as well!

Thank you! Enjoy your day!

3.27.12

Hello Tuesday :)

What a gorgeous day outside, just a bit too chilly this morning though right?  Spring time really is my favorite time of year! I love getting outside and enjoying the sunshine before its too hot out!

Today in reading we continued to further our understanding of character traits.  In whole group we discussed what character traits are and wrote a poem using our initials.  The class helped each other to identify traits about themselves and it was a fun way to learn more about our own character traits :)

We do not have reading homework this evening.

In MATH we reivewed our chapter take home from last night's homework and began working on a packet to prepare the class for our test tomorrow. 
For HOMEWORK in MATH:
Students should complete their math packet and study their decimal information to prepare for their test tomorrow (WEDNESDAY March 28).

Thank you, happy Tuesday to you!

3.26.12

Good Monday to you!!

In reading this week we are working on characters and identifying character traits.  We want to identify what character's actions prove to be a character trait.
We do not have any reading homework for MONDAY.

In math we are continuing to work on decimals and demonstrating what we know about decimals.  We DO have Math homework for Monday.
Math Homework:
Chapter Review/Test - Textbook pages 51-52.

In writing we are working on our Living Wax projects.  Students are researching a famous Kentuckian and beginning to write a paper on their chosen person.  This week we will be beginning to write our paper about our Kentuckians.

Have a great Monday :)

Thursday :)

Hello!!

I am so grateful to be working with these students.  What a bright group of fourth graders at Deep Springs we have!!

Reading:
We are learning about theme in reading this week and finding the theme in different texts.  Theme is the central idea or message of the story.  Some stories tell you the moral or lesson, others do not. 

HOMEWORK:"Jason and the Golden Fleece" students should answer questions 1-10.

Math:
We are continuing to compare decimals.  Today we started rounding decimals to the nearest whole number or tenth.  We are ordering numbers with decimals from least to greastest.

HOMEWORK:
Students should complete pages 13-16 in their workbooks.

Enjoy this beautiful weather  :)

Happy Wednesday!!!

Hello!!  I am Ms. Collins, I will be substituting for Mrs. Thomas for the remainder of the year.  She needs to stay home and take care of herself before baby Jack arrives.  I have substituted for this class several times before and look forward to getting to know each of your students better!

Today we reviewed expectations.  With the transition I wanted your student to know what I expect from them and wanted to get to know your student better!  I look forward to a fantastic remainder of the school year.  If you all need to get in touch with me for any reason feel free to call the school and we will make time to chat :)
Today in READING we are working on finding the theme of a story, drama or poem.  Finding the theme of a story is when you find the central moral or lesson. 

HOMEWORK:
Worksheet that is called "The Guide"

MATH:  We continue to work on comparing and ordering decimals, and completing a decimal pattern.

HOMEWORK: none

WRITING:

We worked on getting information from our research.

HOMEWORK: none

SCIENCE:

The student are continuing their unit over Force and Motion with Ms. Frederick.

HOMEWORK: none

3.19.12

Woweeee...did you SEE the Wildcats in action this weekend?!?  YAAAAAY!!!  I am so pumped, I hope that this is the sign of good things to come for our boys in blue!  I've got the fever...the March Madness fever...do you?!?

READING:
This week, we are reviewing the skills of summarizing, making inferences, and identifying themes in fictional texts.  The theme is the overall message of a fictional passage (kind of like the main idea of a nonfiction text).  We first worked to make inferences of passages we read.  The students did TERRIFIC with this review so we moved quickly onto themes which are sometimes harder to identify.  We practiced this skill with some known fables and finding the moral of the story.  In groups, students complete word work assignments for vocabulary; read fables and identified what lesson we can learn from them (the moral...or THEME of the story); and did a theme scavenger hunt where I gave them several fictional texts to read and they had to identify the theme of each.
HOMEWORK: Vocabulary Exercises 1 and 2.

MATH:
We worked on comparing and ordering decimals, and completing a decimal pattern.
HOMEWORK: none

WRITING:
We worked on getting information from our research.
HOMEWORK: none

SCIENCE:
The students started on a new unit over Force and Motion with Ms. Frederick.
HOMEWORK: none

Have a wonderful evening!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

3.15.12

Happy Thursday, all!  What fantastic weather today, but boy has it ever been HOT in here?!? Wowza!  Like, I do not think anyone can fully comprehend what we've been dealing with...it is actually about 20 degrees cooler OUTSIDE, than it is INSIDE.  NO lie...it is stifling!  We are literally sweating our britches off!  Eeeeeee! 

Thank you to those of you who have sent back your conference forms!  Remember, it is first come, first serve and I MUST meet with you prior to my leave.  Next week is the best time to do so, so please get back with me ASAP to ensure a time that is convenient for you!

a.m. Activities:
This morning, we took our KPREP practice session assessment for Math.  It was HARD, but the students worked so well and so diligently and you should be very pleased with their efforts!

MATH:
After the practice test, we had Math.  I went over the workbook pages from last night to review hundredths and then I taught them 2 games to practice skill.  We had a lovely time!
HOMEWORK: none (for either class)

PM Activities:
We took a summative assessment over our skills of focus in READING for the previous weeks which was Main Idea, Author's Opinion, and Fact & Opinion.

REMEMBER, there is NO school tomorrow (Friday, March 16th) because of staff development day!  See you back here Monday, March 19th!

and good luck to our boys in blue, the C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS who take on my alma mater, WKU, tonight at 6:50!  I love my former school, but I will NEVER root against those WILDCATS!!!  Hopefully, we just keep on winning and winning until title number 8 is OURS!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Have a terrific 3-DAY weekend!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas