Ms. McPherson

What's New in Room 220

WOW!!! It's hard to believe that we are coming up on the last nine weeks of school.  This school year has been full of new and interesting experiences and concepts for both parents and students.  As you know next month in April we will be taking the CRCT.  We will be reviewing the curriculum and practicing test taking strategies in class.  Parents, I ask that you encourage students to regularly log onto the Online Assessment System and take the practice quizzes.

I have found a new online tool that will help students practice their spelling words through games and practice tests.  Just click the link below and choose the current week's list (#28).  Your child can participate in any of the free activities that are offered on the site.

http://www.spellingcity.com/dinamcpherson/

Did you Know...

You can view any of our current or past Scholastic News magazines on line.   Just click the link below,  type in the issue title or scroll through archived issues.  Students can write the answers on a separate sheet of paper if they have lost their magazine.  It is also a good idea to encourage students to read past issues to practice reading informational and extended texts as a way to increase reading stamina and comprehension.

http://sni.scholastic.com/SN4/03_11_13_SN4

Week of October 29, 2012

                                             

Conference week was a huge success!  I enjoyed meeting with parents to discuss student progress and how together we can help students to be even more successful academically.  Below are some reading strategies that you might find useful.

Reading Strategies:

1. Read questions before the text (this will give you an idea of the information you should pay close attention to)

2. Number each line/paragraph(this makes it easier to identify where you found specific details)

3. Highlight question words to remind yourself what the author is asking

4. Underline important information as you read it (focus on details that will help answer the questions you read in advance)

If the text seems overwhelming you can also:

Read smaller chunks of text at a time, then stop to retell or summarize what you read (you can even write big ideas on a sticky note and place it on that page/section)

Here is a helpful on-line reading comprehension practice website:

Comprehension Practice

       

 

Spelling Sort # 12-To spell words with -er, -ear, -ere, and -eer

      er=/ur/                 ear=/ur/                        ear/ere/eer

      sermon                earthquake                         teardrop

     *serpent               *learner                            spearmint

     *hermit                  pearly                               yearbook 

    *thermos               *rehearse                             appear

    *kernel                   yearning                             *dreary

                                   *earnest                             *sincere

                                   *searching                           *adhere

                                                                               *merely

                                                                               *cheerful

 

 We have recently begun a new unit in Social Studies.  We will be conducting an in depth research on 6 European explorers.  Students are resonsible for knowing the reasons for exploration, areas that were explored, obstacles each explorer faced, accomplishments made by their exploration, as well as the negative or positive interaction these explorers had with the Native Americans.

Download European Explorer graphic organizer blank

Students will also be assigned an out of class project for this unit.  Information will go home with students this week.  Download Explorer's Bio-cube

Here are some helpful websites:

European Explorers Site 1

All About Explorers

Writing:

Starting this week, students will be given a weekly writing prompt.  The prompt will include a rubric that states specific requirements for that piece.  Students will be expected to use a graphic organizer each time to plan their writing.  The weekly prompt will build the student's stamina for writing and also give them continual practice with using grammar;  a variety of sentence types; descriptive adjectives; as well as using correct capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.  This writing is to be completed independently in class.

 Download Writing Prompt 1 Big Money 2012

 

 

 
 

 

 

Spelling Sort #9- or in the 1st or 2nd syllable.

order        forest        normal        forty         florist

northern    forward    corner        chorus        record

perform    ashore       before        explore      ignore

adore        inform      afford        sorry          reward

Week of 9/24/12

Spelling Sort: Two-syllable words with the vowel patters au, aw, al

Reading/Language Arts:

    We are currently focusing on using inferences to draw conclusions from a passage, writing responses to different types of literature, and using text features and text structure to understand informational text.  In Language Arts we are learning about the two parts of a sentence (simple and complete subjects, and simple and complete predicates.

Social Studies:

We are currently studying 6 different Native American tribes(Inuit, Kwakiutl, Nez Perce, Hopi, Seminole, and Pawnee). We are learning how adapted to their environment and used their natural resources for food, clothing, and shelter.  We are also reviewing parts of a map and practicing map skills like using latitude and longitude to find exact locations, and using map scales to measure distances.

 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

      Spring has finally arrived and the students have definately caught Spring Fever.  Next week we are on Spring Break for a much needed rest.  However it is very important that the students maintain the skills they have learned and continue to study for the CRCT.  They will be taking the CRCT the week of April 18-27.  You should have received their logins for Georgia OAS.  There are also other sites such as www.elementaryschooltutoring.com/crctskills.html that will be useful for studying as well.  In addition, I will be sending home a minimal amount of review work with the students.  I understand that many families are traveling so I don't want the work to be cumbersome.  Have a happy and safe Spring Break.

SOCIAL STUDIES-BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT POWERPOINT

 Download Branches

 

Happy New Year!

Welcome back students and parents.  We have settled into the new year quite nicely.  The year is moving along very quickly and we still have lots of interesting and fun things to learn.  Students should have brought home a green form with directions on how to log into Georgia OAS so they can begin practicing for the CRCT.  Their login numbers are on the top of the page.  If for some reason your login number does not work please contact me.  We are also holding our second parent math night on Tuesday February 2, from 5:00-6:00.  Our focus will be fractions/decimals, measurement, and OAS.  We also have our annual field trip to the Fire Safety Village coming up on Friday February 10th.  There is no charge for this trip.  However, students must return their permission slips or they will not be permitted to attend.

What's New in Room 220?

    Parents and students we are now in the middle of the second nine weeks of school and we have been learning a great deal!

    
    In math we are focusing on long division with 1 and 2 digit divisors.  Students have learned to use the area model of division, how to use base ten blocks to solve division problems, and how to do the traditional algorithim (Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down, and Start again).  Students must know their multiplication facts with fluency.  They should be practicing them on a daily basis.  We are continuing to review multiplication of larger numbers, rounding and place value as well.  Below are some math websites you may find helpful.  Some provide worksheets while others provide online interactive practice for the students:

www.AAAmath.com                        www.mathfactcafe.com                     

www.IXL.com                                www.coolmath4kids.com    

www.funbrain.com

    I will also be sending home student login information for OAS (Online Assessment System) so students can practice at home for the CRCT.

 

        This year Nickajack has elected to make November multicultural month in our school. It is an activity that will broaden our student's knowledge of the world beyond their back door.  It also supports our character traits of tolerance, acceptance of others, and compassion. Each grade level is assigned a different continent of study.  Within that continent, each classroom researches a different country.  Our country of study in Nigeria.  Students were sent home with a letter describing their role in our classrooms research.  Time has been set aside in the classroom to investigate, however any information or artifacts students wish to gather on their own is also welcomed.  We will culminate Multicultural Month with a Multicultural Fair in December.  More information will be given out as we get closer to the date.

    In the classroom we have just finished our study of Native American cultures and we are moving into European explorers.  We will discuss their reasons for exploration, accomplishments, obstacles, and their interaction with Native cultures. There is an at-home project (Bio-cube) connected with this area of study that will be due after the Christmas break. Information including directions, requirements and a rubric will be shared with the student and sent home after Thanksgiving break.

                                                  

    In Language Arts we are focusing on varying the types of sentences we use in our writing.  Students are learning to incorporate simple, compound, and complex sentences in their writing pieces.  We are also learning how to respond to a text that we have read or that has been read to us.  Students will retell a story to show that they understand basic story elements such as characters, plot including conflict and solution, and themes.  Students will also learn to summarize the key parts of a story and to make a judgement about what they have read by giving their opinion of a character or a situation. 

    As you can see there is a lot to be discovered and learned in the weeks to come.  Parents I thank you in advance for your continued support.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

WELCOME TO FOURTH GRADE!!!

    Hello parents and students.  We have had a very successful start to the new school year. This year is full of exciting new discoveries for the students.  In fact they are currently acting as entrepreneurs and are creating their own business as an introduction to economics!  I am positive that as we work together, the students will certainly rise to new academic heights. 

 I will be using my blog to relay information about curriculum quarterly.  I will also post resources, classroom happenings, and weekly spelling and vocabulary words.  I look forward to seeing you all at the Parent Orientation/Curriculum night next Thursday.

Week of 3/21/11

Vocabulary list 26

aide                eager                quell

arbor              hose                  stalk    

bouquet          plow                  tunnel

dread             plump                urban

 

Spelling Sort 26- words with gh and ph

physics            elephant            cough            naughty

phantom          nephew              tough            taught

photocopy       dolphin              rough            caught

photograph    trophy                laughter        fought

phonics          telephone           height            homophone

 

REMINDER...... Students will be taking their social studies unit test on The Birth of a Nation and Government on this upcoming Tuesday March 22.  This test grade will count towards the 3rd nine week grading period.