Unit 1 - Geometry

 We'll be wrapping up our first math unit this week on geometry.

Students should know and be able to identify names of shapes, identify characteristics of a polygon, know convex and concave shapes, identify the  face, edge and vertex on a 3D shape, and reflect and image over a line of symmetry.

Math Reminders:

Math homework will come home most nights Monday - Thursday.
Math homework will almost always be a 1/3 sheet with 5-10 problems.

Each math unit we will send home a blue parent letter with vocabulary, definitions, and at home learning projects.

Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Happy Mother's Day

Email Updates About Blog

With Spring comes a bit of cleaning

around the blog... as you might have noticed 

You can now have posts come right to your inbox as an email.

On the right sidebar find the "receive email updates" box.

Enter your email of choice.

A feedburner (the program that turns the post into an email for you) box comes up.

Type in the text.

Another Feedburner message will appear asking you to check and verify from your email inbox.

In the email, click the link to confirm you would like updates when a new post is on the blog.

You'll now get an email if new content is posted on the blog!

* * *

 Feeling adventurous?  Don't know what a reader is?  Click Subscribe in a Reader on the right sidebar, pick your provider of choice, and explore. 

Google Reader is a HUGE time saver and helps me follow a variety of websites without having to check all the time if there is new content on a site I follow.

Brain Activity

Keeping your brain working is a healthy thing to do, just like exercise.

Try one of these, write it down, and bring it to school!

Thinking Activities

View more presentations from rosekv4.

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Report Cards

2nd Quarter Report Cards were sent home with students today.   (The quarter ended 12-17-2010)

Please look for these, as well as their most current STAR reading test and MAP reading, math, and language test scores.

The skills and behavior standards will help give you an idea of how your child's behavior was in 2nd quarter.  I also sent home today a 1/2 sheet of pink paper.  Students self assessed their Q2 behavior the week before winter break, and my scores are next to those.  Comparing their self-assessment with my score can prove interesting some times :)

I will be happy to explain or discuss scores with you.  Please contact me or your child's reading or math teacher if you have specific questions.

Mrs. Rose

Lattice Multiplication

Coming Soon....

Multi-digit Multiplication
The math program we use encourages students to learn multiple ways to solve problems. 

One strategy that is great for many students is lattice multiplication. 

Is this the way most adults learned? No.  Is your way wrong? No.  Is this the only way we'll teach multiplying? No.  Give it a try though, multiplication can be TOUGH for many kids.  This MAY give them an advantage!

Look for the EDM math parent newsletter for tips (online with password here),
as well as ideas at this site.

Create the correct sized grid:

Start doing single multiplication facts within the grid keeping the tens on the top left, and the ones on the bottom right triangle.

Finish doing all your facts (here in purple) and the multiplying is done.

Add following the diagonals (green here) and write the answer OUTSIDE the grid/lattice.  The number is read top to bottom, left to right.  So your answer here is 784.

Making grids at home is good practice because many tests won't provide the grid for students to use.  However, check out printables here as well.  (Scroll down to Multiplication Templates)


Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.

Attendance

Nine students received awards for perfect attendance first quarter. This is a great accomplishment, often really due to their parents! Nice job!

While we DO NOT want students to be sent to school sick (if they've had a fever in the last 24 hours) attendance is very important. If you have specific questions about attendance please contact our front office.

Missing one day could mean missing:

• The weeks main vocabulary lesson
• Introducing a new concept in math
• Review of material before a test
• Writing conference based on their work
• Their only time seeing a specials teacher for the next 3 days
• Discussion about the next paragraph, chapter, or line in reading
• A test or assessment to guide our instruction about how they are progressing
• Practice for readers theater with their group
• Getting to experiment with hands on materials in science
• A guest speaker, presentation, or assembly
• a lot of assignments...

As cold and flu season is upon us, please remind and encourage your child about all the healthy measures to take to stay healthy.

Thanks to all those kids who are there each and every day ready to learn and the parents getting them there!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Have you seen the note about Parent Teacher Conferences?

Have you sent it back?

Conferences are a critical time to communicate A LOT of information. Please double check your avaiability and confirm your conference time with me as soon as possible. If you have any special accomodations or questions ahead of time please let me know!

Here are some parent tips for making sure you get the most out of our conference!


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Pikes Peak Field Trip

We are preparing to take a field trip up to the top of Pikes Peak via the Cog Railway.

This field trip is to support our social studies curriculum in learning the different life zones of Colorado. Students will be able to observe the differences in the areas as we gain elevation toward the peak.

While on the train and hopefully at the top students will spend time writing and reflecting about the trip and the view. We will also be referring to Katherine Lee Bates "America the Beautiful" which was penned on the top of Pikes Peak.

Please refer to the field trip permission slip, information sent home, and me for any questions!

Give your child a few minutes to prepare background knowledge by letting them search the Cog Railway site and their educational materials!

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Book-It

Here is a video helping to explain the Book-It program.

http://www.bookitprogram.com/ReadLeague/videos/racetosavethewords_video.html

The Book-It program has been going for over 25 years encouraging students to read. If students in our class meet their reading goal they will get the free personal pizza certificate in addition to some other non-food related celebrations throughout the year. Food is one way we can celebrate but it is important for kids to know there are other ways to celebrate besides eating!!

Students will come home with a calendar each month and will try to meet their goal of reading 30 minutes EACH day. Parents, please hold your students accountable for this task as it is one of the most beneficial types of learning students can do at home without any extra help!

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Big Scholastic Thank You

I want to give a big thank you to the families that ordered books from our Scholastic Book order in September. Scholastic offers deep discounts on books for families (and teachers) to helps to foster the love of reading. While I am a BIG proponent of using the free resources (like the school or public library) there are occasions where owning a book can have a big impact on a child.

Check out all the free books we got from Scholastic thanks to your orders.

I also have a few more free books coming soon because parents ordered online!

Our next book order will be in the beginning of October. I have posted the October book order on www.scholastic.com/bookclubs if you want to check it out early! Use our class activation code GNTJN when you create a parent account. Flyers will be sent home in a few weeks but check it out early online!

Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.

Time for Kids

Want to do a bit more with the Time for Kids sent home today?

Go to the Time for Kids website or go right to this week's issue to find more information

Read the issue with your child and ask them to summarize an article.


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Writing Homework

Students were assigned a writing poster LAST night. The poster is due FRIDAY!

We are working on narrative writing which tells a story (fictional or real) in order. Students were sent home with a poster paper and can write directly on the poster or create "boxes" and glue their boxes in order onto the poster.

Student examples of the Thinking Maps - Flow map can be seen on this site.

Parents are encouraged to talk with students, help plan the layout, and help with supplies. However, please remember who is in 4th grade. Students should do ALL the writing and the ideas should be THEIR own.

I'm very excited to see what great stories we'll have Friday!

Book Orders

Ordering a book for your child can help motivate them to read and help foster a love of reading. Scholastic book clubs offers popular titles at a highly discounted cost to students.

See the flyer sent home today. Orders are due by Tuesday SEPTEMBER 7th.

Online Ordering Information

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs

Class Activation Code: GNTJN



Now it's easier than ever to find the right books for your child — and help us earn FREE books for our classroom library at the same time! With new online ordering from Scholastic Book Clubs, you can choose from a much wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card.



Best of all, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent places their order online. It's so simple! Here's how it works:


SIGN UP at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs.

On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own user name and password.

When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code shown above. This code ensures that your order is sent to me.




SELECT the books you'd like to order from over 500 titles available online...and take advantage of online-only specials and discounts.


SEND your order to me online by the due date. This time it is September 3rd.
Books will be delivered directly to our classroom, as always.


Of course, you can still order using the form from the printed flyer.



Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure. Plus our whole class benefits thanks to the FREE books we'll earn with every parent online order.



Go to www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs now to get started.



Thank you,

Mrs. Rose



DISCLAIMER: If you are not a part of Mrs. Roses' class and order books we will not send them to you. Please only order a book if you are in my class this year!

Open House

See you tomorrow at Open House.

6-8 pm

The fourth grade team will be presenting about our instruction for the year. We are looking forward to meeting (or seeing you again) at open house!

Students were sent home with a reminder about open house, a class newsletter, and papers they have completed in the last week. Most items are there for you to review but do not need to be returned.

Welcome!

Welcome to 4th grade! I'm excited for our first day of school and for all the exciting lessons, activities, and learning we will accomplish this year.

The first few days of school involves a LOT of paperwork so please take the time tonight or in the next few days to review the documents sent home. Please fill out and return appropriate documents as soon as possible.

Thanks for coming to our blog to check it out. Expect to see 1-2 posts per week.

Seen this bug?

Have you seen this bug?

I sent home postcards with this beautiful Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) this week.

Included on the postcard are classroom and teacher contact information. If it works for you, place the postcard on the refrigerator or other location in case you need to contact me throughout the year.

If your family would greatly benefit from a 2nd copy please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate!