December 15-December 19

'Twas the Week Before Break.....

In Spelling this week we will wrap up unit 7 today with a parent activity and review. Then we will have the test on Tuesday. We will not start another spelling unit until we get back from break. 

In math we will also be finishing up our unit on division. We will have a math test on Thursday in the morning. Practicing division and their multiplication facts will be the best way to prepare for this test. 

In Social Studies we will finish up our short unit on basic Missouri facts. There will be a quiz on Thursday. They have a sheet of notes to study for this quiz. We are studying things like the state bird, animal, capital, population, etc. 

In reading and writing we will continue working on poetry. We will share our poetry on Wednesday and some poems will be chosen by the students to share at our assembly on Friday.

Dress up days this week:

Monday: Ugly Christmas Sweater day

Tuesday: Christmas in July (no swimsuits)

Wednesday: Grinch- dress like your favorite character

Thursday: Polar Express (pajama day)

Friday: Red and Green day 

Don't forget our character awards assembly is this Friday at 8:30 AM! 

December 8-December 12

This week in Math we will continue with our division lessons. The math test is scheduled for December 18th for this division unit. They have been taught 3 different methods to do division, however, on the test, they will be able to choose the method that works best for them to solve the problems.

This week in spelling we will start a new word list. We will be looking at compound words and words that have more than one meaning (bear, show, tear, etc). Understanding the different meanings and being familiar with compound words can help them in their writing and their reading. The test for this unit will be next week.

In Science/SS this week we will wrap up our science unit by going over the correct answers for the science test and discussing our classroom and individual data. We will then move on to our new, short Social Studies unit. This unit focuses on basic Missouri facts like the state bird and song. This will be a very short unit that will be tested December 18.

We will continue working on poetry in both reading and writing this week. They will be reading several poems and discussing them and also writing their own poetry.


Miss Ussary's class needs to have book orders in by Friday the 12th.

Holiday parties are this Friday!

Poster Awards

Congratulations are in Order!

Congratulations to our poster contest winners from the Conservation Kid's Day Poster Contest!
For Class Awards:
KOUNTZ
3rd: Kenya Kirk
       Brynna Coman
       Haley Dreier
2nd: Zachary Kelly
1st: Paityn King
USSARY
3rd: Taiylor Harrington
             

2nd: Ben Pugh
1st: Kara Harmon

School Winners:
3rd: Paityn King
2nd: Ben Pugh
1st: Kara Harmon

We would also like to congratulate our Spelling Bee competitors.  Ben Pugh and Kaylie Yates represented each fourth grade class at our school wide competition.  Ben was the first place winner in the fourth grade!  Awesome spelling!  

December 1- December 5

Welcome back! We hope everyone had a great break!

In math this week we are continuing to focus on Division. You will notice some different looking worksheets going home Tuesday and Thursday. These are to give them more practice with division and slow down our lessons a little bit. We are doing this to assure we give them a lot of time and practice to master this skill.

In science we will finish up our unit and review for our test on THIS FRIDAY, the 5th. Wednesday and Thursday we will review in class with some review games. The students will take the test for the first 30 minutes without their packets. Then they will be allowed to use them on the rest of the test until they complete it. Their packets and the review questions asked during our games will help them prepare for the test.

We will also have a spelling test on Friday over our unit 6 words. We will spend the week working with these words and doing hands on spelling activities with them.

This week for Reading, students will be taking the DRA(Developmental Reading Assessment) test.  This gives us a good idea of where your child stands as a reader, and what we base their reading levels off of.  This week (and some of next), the class will be taking the NWEA test.  This test is similar to the state test in Reading, Math, and Language.  We use these scores to see growth and areas in need of improvement.  Students will also focus on reading poetry.  

With reading poetry, students will also integrate poetry in their writing.  This month, students will be working on a poetry book.  The class will learn about figurative language, and how to read and write using this writing element.  Students will be creating a book about winter using several poetry frames.

November 24-November 25

Short Week!

This week in math we will continue our focus on long division. We have 3 methods we are working on teaching them, but our main focus is that they understand what division is and can be successful with at least ONE method. Continuing to work on multiplication facts will help your child with division.

In science this week we will discuss chemical changes. Our science test will be December 5th. We will have two days of review before the test. The packets they have been filling out as we go can be used on the test AFTER the first 30 minutes of the test. Our hope is that they will study and be able to answer some of the questions based on what they know and they will use the packets later to check their answers or answer questions they weren't sure of.

In reading and writing this week we are just doing our "How To" presentations. We will assess students' speaking and listening skills during this time.

These two days are going to fly by this week! We hope everyone has a great break!

November 17- November 21

This week in math we are wrapping up our multiplication focus on Monday and moving into division. We will be back in our math expressions curriculum for this and they will have homework again with a homework side and remembering side.

In science we will continue our discussion on states of matter, physical changes, and chemical changes. We will not be able to get the test in on this unit until after Thanksgiving break. Because of this, we will make sure and set aside several days to just review the material so that they are better prepared for the test. They have packets again for this unit that you have probably see come home. These packets include vocabulary, questions over the material, the investigations we've done in class, and study guides. All of this material will help them better prepare for the test. The test is tentatively scheduled for December 5th.

In spelling this week we will continue our discussion on prefixes and suffixes. We will not begin another spelling unit (with a list/test) until after we return from Thanksgiving break.

This week in Writing, students will begin (and finish) the drafting process on their expository (How-To) papers.  Their presentations will be MONDAY and TUESDAY of next week.  Look for a half sheet of paper on your child's presentation day.  Please send materials needed for the presentation on this day.

In Reading, students will continue with their non-fiction read of Pilgrims and work on their literature circles.  We will continue to work on AR points.  Mid Quarter is tomorrow (11/19).  Students should have at least half of their points.

Sunny D Labels are due November 21st.
Progress reports will go home November 19th. 

November 10- November 14

In math this week we have decided to go back and focus one more full week on multiplication. We are still finding that some students are still struggling with their multiplication facts. We will play games, do times tests, and review our facts with multiplication worksheets this week. The more they can work on these at home the more likely they'll be to master their facts!

In spelling we will continue discussing prefixes and suffixes. We will create a book of suffixes to use as a reference in our room with the book of prefixes that we created last week. At the end of the week we will start discussing how some other languages have contributed to our language. Our spelling test this week is on Tuesday.

In science this week we will continue discussing the states of matter and all the changes they can encounter. We will do investigations and activities in the classroom, as well as work in our science packets to answer questions from the chapter. The packets they are filling out will be a great study tool for the test!

This week in Writing, students will be working on the trait of organization and using transition words.  We will finish up this trait this week, and then begin preparing to draft.  For this draft, students will be asked to create an expository paper, or a "How-To".  In this paper, students will give the class a step-by-step presentation.  This presentation is something that will need to be completed at school, and can be no longer than 15 minutes.  We will have presentations on November 24 and 25. (If some students are ready, we could possibly have some presentations on the 21.)  A note with more detail will go home on Tuesday.  We just wanted to give you a head's up to begin thinking about something that your child could present.  

In Reading, students will begin studying non-fiction text features, and begin a class reading of Pilgrims.  

Please remember that fall is here!  The weather is to take a turn to the cold side this evening.  As long as it is dry and temperatures are above freezing, students will go outside for some fresh air.  Please help us keep everyone healthy and dress them appropriately.