Homework Packet 2 Instructions

For those who have questions on homework packet 2, here are some helpful hints:

• The Ballad of Mulan:  On this page, students need to time how many words they can read in one minute.  They will record that number on the chart to the side.  (Family or friends can help time them, OR students can time themselves.)  They need to do this three times.  Hopefully, more words will be read each time!
• Reading Log:  This week, all of the reading log entries need to be a summary of what the student has read.  Try to read for 10 to 20 minutes every day.
• Correct Capitalization:  Follow the directions on the page to find the capitalization errors.
• Preamble to the Constitution:  THIS PAGE WILL BE DONE AT SCHOOL.
• Sequencing (Page One):  Using clues from the short stories, circle which event makes the most sense to happen next.  For example, the answer on the first question would be:  They will go to school.
• Sequencing (Page Two):  Follow the page directions.  The first event is:  Jack woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible pain in his stomach.

Thank you to everyone who turned in homework packet 1!  Good luck on completing homework packet 2!

Food Chain Video

By popular demand, here's the link to the food chain video we watched in class:

Food Chain Song from Adventure Time

Try not to watch it too much!

Science Videos and Angle Game

Here are the links to some of the things we've been working on in class:

Science (Vertebrates):
Omnivore, Carnivore, Herbivore Song
Predator and Prey (Buffalo, Lions, and Crocodile Video)

Math (Angles):
Banana Hunt

Here's a Preview of What's to Come in Math:
Polygon Song
Parallelogram Song

Galileo Testing

We started our Galileo Testing this afternoon.  Students who were absent today will make up the test on Thursday or Friday of this week.

Tomorrow, we will be testing from 2:00 to 3:30.  Please, try to avoid scheduling appointments for that time.

We also plan to test from 2:00 to 3:30 on Wednesday, but this agenda is not yet set in stone and may change.

Fourth graders did a great job testing today.  Keep it up!

Week One and Homework Packet 1

Homework that was due today:  Reading Log, Student Contract  (Thank you to all of the parents who are willing to volunteer in our classroom this year!)

We made it through our first week of school!  Woohoo!

Today (Friday, August 22), students will take home their first homework packet.  I will give them instructions on how to do their homework packets in class, but--just in case they forget--here's what they'll need to do:

• Cliff Hanger Reading passage:  Time how many words your student can read in a minute.  Do this three times and record the results on the page.
• Reading Log:  Read from a novel for at least 10 to 20 minutes.  This week, all responses will be summaries of what the student has read.
• Vocabulary: Synonyms:  Follow the page directions.  Remember, synonym means same.
• Synonym search:  Complete the crossword puzzle using the clues.  The girl is holding a box with words in it.  These are the words that go in the crossword puzzle.
• Sequencing:  Follow the page directions.
• Subtraction and Addition Facts:  Complete the subtraction and addition facts.

In fourth grade, students should spend 40 minutes or less on their homework every night.  If your student is spending more than 40 minutes on homework every night, then the homework is too hard.  Let me know if this happens.  I will gladly give them an easier homework packet.

These homework packets will be due next Friday, August 29.

Also important to note:  Galileo testing will take place next week.  Fourth grade will be testing in the afternoons.  I will post the exact days and times we will be testing as soon as I know.

Thanks for a great first week, Fourth Graders and families!

Back to School

Hello, Parents!  I'm excited to be working with your fourth graders this year.  In future posts, expect to see student work, pictures of field trips, and even posts written by the students themselves!  Today, students should have taken home a newsletter and a student conduct contract.  Please, have students return the last page of their contract signed.  Also this week, students took home a book order.  To order from the book order online, visit https://clubs2.scholastic.com/ and click on the parent link.  Our classroom code is J3XHC.

As always, please, feel free to stop by before or after school--or send an e-mail--if there are any questions.

Here's looking forward to a great school year!
Ms. Walker