Wednesday, October 10th

This morning we made a web of words with -ack and -ock.  Then, we completed a workbook page together using words with the same pattern.  We practiced making our spelling words with letters we cut apart and used the pattern to build other words.  We learned our vocabulary words and used a Power Point to help illustrate the meanings of the words.  We talked about sequencing, a skill that is important for reading comprehension.  Then, we read the story The Enormous Turnip.  We told about the order in which the characters were introduced into the story.  Then, we completed our DLP and completed a page together on nouns.  We visited the library.  After, we reviewed for our Social Studies test that we will take tomorrow.  Practice the geography packet that is coming home, too.  This afternoon, we learned about finding fossils, putting them together, and were introduced to dinosaurs.  We have one page of science homework.  At the end of the day, we took our math tests.  Tomorrow we will begin learning about a new standard in math, therefore we will be changing the classes. 

Don't forget that the Spelling packet is due tomorrow and we will be taking our Social Studies test as well.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

There are several things coming home with your student today!  Please go through all the papers so that you don't miss any important information.  I will highlight a few of them for you.  A half sheet is coming home with the scores of your child's Theme Test.  If you would like to view the test, please email me and we can set up a time for you to come in.  The reading portion was on main idea and compare and contrast skills.  The language portion was on identifying parts of sentences and types sentences.  Next, another half sheet is coming home to let you know what needs to be studied for Thursday's Social Studies test.  We will also have a math test on skip counting, arrays, number patterns and even and odd numbers tomorrow.  Vocabulary cards and review sheets were sent home with your student to study.

This morning we wrote about farmers in our journals.  Then, we read a story called the Enormous Potato.  It is a folktale like this week's story The Enormous Turnip.  We learned about words with -ack and -ock and introduced our spelling words.  We completed our DLP, talked about dialogue within a story, and nouns.  We also set up our Book Bags for this week.  If your child lost his/her word ring, please purchase another one for him/her, as they are quite expensive to replace class sets.  Then, we went to art class.  This afternoon we had music and gym class.  In math, we reviewed for our test tomorrow.  It will be a busy week!

Friday, October 5th

This morning we finished our Theme Test.  The tested skills were main idea and compare and contrast.  Then, we did a number of Christopher Columbus activities including a map, sequencing, writing, and we even put on a play!  For Celebration Day, we made hats like Columbus' sailors might have worn.  It was a lot of fun learning about Columbus Day!  This afternoon we went to gym and music.  Then, in math class, we used doubles to find out what two addends make up different even numbers.  Most students have math homework, but some did finish in class. 

Have a wonderful three day weekend!  Ask your child what he/she learned about Columbus!

Thursday, October 4th

This morning we reviewed types of sentences and punctuation.  Then, we took our Theme 1 grammar test.  We did a sequencing activity using events from Christopher Columbus' adventures.  We read with our 4th grade Book Buddies.  In Social Studies, we finished our posters from yesterday.  Some students did a map activity as well.  This afternoon we finished our book, Frindle.  We shared about our favorite parts of the books, too.  In Science, we learned more about fossils.  We completed a worksheet together and then the students completed a vocabulary page in class.  The lesson outline was assigned for homework.  Science books were sent home with your student.  In math, we learned about even and odd numbers.  All students have one page of math homework. 

Wednesday, October 3rd

This morning we learned a lot about Christopher Columbus!  We read two books and watched a video clip about Columbus and how his adventures changed the world. We also visited the library.  Then, we started making a poster in Social Studies to show where we live (in a home, in a neighborhood, in a city, state and country).  We will finish them tomorrow.  This afternoon we read more of Frindle.  In Science, we started learning about fossils.  We read in our textbook, discussed how fossils are formed and watched a video clip of palentologists digging up fossils as well.  In math, we worked more on arrays.  Everyone has one page of math homework, but Mrs. Walter's class has two. 

Tuesday, October 2nd

This morning we learned how to write letters using all five parts: heading, greeting, body, signature and closing.  We wrote Mr. Langman a letter about all the things we love about Wesley School as a class.  Then, each individual student wrote me a letter telling about things they like in our classroom.  Then, we completed an activity called "Airmail Delivery" to see if the students could identify the parts of a letter.  We also practiced writing the printing letters "t" and "o".  We need to be sure that we are starting our letters from the top!  Then, we glued pictures of the governor in our Illinois Booklets and worked on pages we have not completed.  Before lunch, we went to art class.  After lunch, we read more of Frindle.  Then, we went to gym and music.  In math, we learned how to do repeated addition using arrays.  All students have math homework.

Monday, October 1st

We wrote fun paragraphs about fall today!  I showed the students how to use a four-square graphic organizer to write down their ideas first.  Then, we wrote "final copies" of our paragraphs.  It took a lot of concentration!  We learned about the continents and oceans in Social Studies.  We read about them, looked at a map, and completed a Daily Geography Packet together.  Then, the students completed a worksheet on their own.  We set up our Book Bags for the week.  Don't forget to initial each box they complete!  The parent log is turned in every Friday along with the math fact sheet.  This afternoon we read some more of Frindle.  Then in math, we learned how to use repeated addition.  All students have one page of math homework to complete.  If your child finished it in class, please take this opportunity to go over it with your child and make sure the answers are correct!  At the end of the day, we went to the computer lab to finish our Illinois booklets.  We researched the governor of Illinois. 

**There is no spelling packet this week since we do not have new spelling words.