Fourth Grade Follies

Two things:

 1.  Report cards will go home next Thursday - October 30.  Parent-Teacher conferences are still required and will be scheduled from Oct. 30 - November 7th.  I wil send sign-up sheets in this week’s Thursday folder.

2.  The Boyd Orchard field trip will be CANCELLED in the event of rain.  All money will be reimbursed if this happens.  However, please turn in your permission slip and money in hopes of a good weather day!  Students may dress in Spirit Day attire.

Thanks!

Well, whether we’re ready or not - it’s back to school on Monday.  I have to say that I thought of the students daily as we came across so many things we have been studying.  I wish they all could have come with us - it would have been an exciting and educational ‘field trip.’!!!  They’ll probably come home with some of the stories I am bound to share with them this week.

Test and quizzes will be as follows:

Tuesday - Science quiz
Wednesday - Language quiz, history quiz
Friday - History test

I will have all grades updated in Teacherease by the end of the day.  The 9 weeks ends this week and report cards will be given out at the parent-teacher conferences that are required after the end of the first 9 weeks.  I will send home a sign-up.  For the most part, the time slots will be during the school day, but if there is no way you can come during the day, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

The Boyd Orchards field trip is this Friday.  Permission slips and money are due on Wednesday.   Please make sure this is sent in timely so that your child may attend.  Parents and siblings are welcome to meet us there.  If your child had ordered hot lunch for that day - their lunch will be provided.  If not, please send a sack lunch with your child.

Hot lunch orders are due this week.  I emailed a copy to everyone in the event they did not get one - please let me know if you need another copy and I will send it to you.

Hope each of you enjoyed a relaxing, safe, and enjoyable break.  I am personally thankful for the much-needed rest, but am looking forward to seeing everyone this week!

I trust everyone enjoyed their fall break.  We certainly did.  I am using this space to highlight some of my favorite pictures.  At least this way, I can feel connected to the beauty and blessings we encountered during our week! :)  I hope you enjoy them as well!

Welcome to October!  We are one week away from Fall Break and it sounds like the students are looking forward to this as much as the teachers! :)  We should have very little work to do over the break.

The Fall Retreat was WONDERFUL!  We had an awesome time and it was great to work in groups outside of our classroom.  I think all of the students gave this field trip a THUMBS UP and it was an awesome team building experience.  Thanks to all of the volunteer parents as well as Mrs. Padgett and Mrs. Meadows for coordinating it all so beautifully.

The Insect Projects were terrific.  I was so pleased with the efforts and results.  All of the students learned something new about each insect and I learned something myself.  I will collecting one math problem from each student and will compile them into a math worksheet that will due when we get back from fall break.

Tests and Quizzes for the week:
Tuesday - Math TEST, History Quiz, Science Quiz

Also, we will be finishing up Pocahontas and writing an in-class book report - so please make sure your child brings this book to school each day.

Thank you for all you do helping me help your child.  It’s such a wonderfully supportive group of parents and I’m thankful for you each day.  Have a relaxing and safe fall break and let’s all pray for each other over this week.  Blessings!

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend.  Roger and I enjoyed an extra long (but not extra restful) weekend going to Chicago on Sunday for a Bears game.  We enjoyed riding on the river and Lake Michigan, visiting Millenium Park, the Shedd Aquarium, and most importantly, watching the Bears beat up the Eagles!

This coming Friday, October 3rd, is our Fall Retreat at Bluegrass Christian Camp.  We will leave promptly at 8:00 am by bus and have breakfast as a school at the camp.  Lunch will be provided.  We will return before 2:30 so there should be no conflict with normal school dismissal.  Dress may be Spirit Day clothing and make sure your student wears tennis shoes.  I will be sending a permission slip home tomorrow (Tuesday).  Please return it right away.

That evening is the Fall Carnival which always is a fun evening for both students and families.  Each family is asked to work a 30 minute shift in their child(ren)’s class - so if you haven’t signed up, please contact our homeroom mother, Jennifer Lunsford.

The Insect Project is due this Thursday, October 2nd.  However, this date was set prior to setting the Retreat date - so I will have extra points for those who bring theirs in on Wednesday.  Part of the project includes an oral report, so if you bring your project in on Wednesday, plan on giving your oral report this same day.

 Test and Quiz schedule for the week is as follows:
Wednesday:  Language Test
Thursday:  Science Quiz and History Quiz

One more full week before Fall Break - so keep up the great work!

Here is a list of our test/quiz schedule this week:

Tuesday:  Science Test, History Quiz
Thursday:  History Test, Spelling Test 

We are over half way finished with this semester.  I think the students are finally becoming ‘tuned in’ to what is expected and our work is coming to school more consistently.  You still may want to check your child’s planner to make sure they have gotten all of their work completed.  I count some homework and others I do not.  The students are not told which homework will go into the grade book - so it’s important they get each assignment completed as accurately as possible.

We have our first science test on Tuesday, Sept. 23.  I sent a study guide home last Wednesday - so they have had plenty of time to get it completed.  If they turn it into me, I will go over it and mark any answers that are not correct so that the student can study correct material.  We will review on Monday - but please encourage your child to bring home their quizzes and chapter checkups to help review at home.

All grades have been updated in Teacher Ease; however, I have not made adjustments to participation, etc.  That will be done at the end of the semester.  What you see on Teacher Ease (and in the mid-terms that will come home this week) are grades derived only from work (homework, quizzes, and tests.)   I do not have some of Mrs. Padgett’s reading grades, so those are also not included in the grades.

I sent home a 3-pack of Book Orders on Friday.  They are due on Thursday, Sept. 25.  I told the kids that if you aren’t interested in purchasing anything, but want to help contribute with some books to our class - please send in a few dollars.  There are some great books that would be beneficial to some of our history and science units and I would love to be able to get them for the classroom.

The Abundant Sales orders are due this Monday, September 22. Make checks payable to WCS and do not collect sales tax. I know several students in our class have done a great job in getting orders!

There is no school on Friday - so enjoy your day off.  Roger and I will be traveling to Chicago on Sunday to go to the Bears/Eagles football game - so I will not be there on Monday, September 29th.  If you need anything, I will have my cell phone. 

I am reading Sign of the Beaver outloud and the kids seem to really be enjoying it.  When we finish, we will watch the movie.  I think this may be the first time they may tell you how much better a book can be! :)  I am hoping to make that clearer as the year progresses.  There truly is nothing like a good book!

Thank you for your continued support in all areas of the classroom.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Enjoy your weekend!

This week’s test/quiz schedule is as follows:

Tuesday:  Science quiz
Wednesday:  History quiz
Friday:  Bible test, Math test, Science quiz

We had another good week.  On the most part, we did very well on our first history test.  I think 60% of the class had 95% or greater.  These tests are a lot different than 3rd grade, so I was pleased with the grades.  I sent home a study review sheet and if the student completed that and used it to study, they did very well.  It is important that the students learn to use the reviews - they will help begin the process of independent studying. We will not go over the review in class, but if they bring it to me completed, I will mark the answers that are wrong so that they can study ‘correct’ information. They also had 3 quizzes in which to help study - so it’s probably a good idea to encourage them to bring those home as well before a test.

A few reminders:
Early release on Wednesday, September 17th. Students need to get picked up at 12:45. I love your child - but don’t think I have enough room to take any home with me - so please remember to pick them up. There is NO ASE on Wednesday.

Abundant Funds sales need to be turned in on September 22nd. We had 4 students (Nicholas, Kerstyn, Bridget, and Dillon) who have already sold 10 or more items. If you need order forms, please send a note and I will make sure your student has additional in his take-home folder.

Oct. 3rd is our fall retreat at Bluegrass Christian Camp. It will be for the entire day. I do not know what the transportation arrangements are - but I will let you know if we need drivers.  Oct. 24th will be a school-wide trip to Boyd’s Orchard.  We will be taking a bus - but parents are welcome to meet us there.

Please make sure your student has their Bible for class. Part of the participation grade includes looking up verses, so if they do not have their Bible, they are unable to participate.

Please continue to do the math facts sheet with your student on a daily basis - especially if they are using their fingers. We are beginning long division and if they have not mastered the facts, division can be very difficult and frustrating. I appreciate your efforts in helping them at home.

The midterm grades will be sent home the week of Sept. 22nd. I have had students with a C or below on tests have them signed because I do not want any surprises - but the grades are also posted on Teacher Ease. I will have this week’s grades updated by Sunday. If you are having any issues accessing this information, please let me know.

I am seeing improvements every day in the responsibility and maturity of your student. The first 9-weeks seems to be the toughest - but they are doing very well. I am proud of their efforts.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and look forward to seeing those sweet little faces again on Monday!

We will have tests and quizzes as follows this week:

Tuesday:  History Quiz and Science Quiz
Thursday:  History Test
Friday:  Spelling Test, Language Quiz, Math Quiz

Bible verse is due on Friday.