This Week

Tests coming up: this week Math Unit 6 on Wednesday.

In Reading we continue our study of the novel "Phantom Tollbooth." Students will independently read and complete the study guide sections for chapters 6 to 8 this week. There's a new list of words to learn for chapters 6 to 11. Everyone has a list of words and meanings in their binders. The vocab and spelling test for these words is the end of next week. PT study guide activities include reading each chapter, then writing reactions to the chapter in their journals; then doing web notes and study guide questions. The web notes break down each chapter into the familiar categories of identity, perspective, conflict and resolution. We are also keeping lists of all characters, places and figures of speech we encounter.

Our history research project about foods of Colonial America continues with note taking finishing up, finding supporting images, writing first draft of a six paragraph report (guidelines are in their binders) and developing a plan for a technology application. We will be in the computer lab working with Mrs. Baralt for the next three weeks on this project.

Next week tests include a quiz on Phantom Tollbooth chapters 6 to 11 scheduled for Thursday. And the PT 6 to 11 vocab/spelling test on Friday.

As mentioned during our Author Share event Friday...students are working on various story starters to practice writing short pieces of fiction.

What a great turn-out for the 4th grade show and celebration of our books. You're the greatest parents on earth.

Jazzy

Before the Big Show

Costume check before the big performance of "We Haz Jazz" the 4th grade musical.

Sharing Our Books

Sara A. reads poems from her recently published book "Enchanted Tunes and Other Writings" during this morning's author-share event. It was a packed house with all families attending. Everyone read from their books and enjoyed various treats including Italian spumoni ice cream.

We Haz Jazz dress rehearsal

This Week: assessments

This Wednesday we have the first Phantom Tollbooth spelling and vocabulary quiz for words in chapters 1-5. We've been working on these words off and on for three weeks.

Thursday is our first Phantom Tollbooth quiz for chapters 1-5. The questions come from the study packet.

Next week on Wednesday we will have the Math Unit 6 test. We will be preparing, as usual, a study guide for this challenging and lengthy unit.

Snowglobes and Long Division

So what do a snow globes have to teach us about math?


Well, Taylor M. just happened to bring in some of her snow globes for us to admire. I was looking around for a memorable subject to use to explain the mysteries of long division. So we imagined that Taylor has a total collection of 324 snow globes and she wants to know how many shelves she needs to display them nine to a shelf.



Once we had the snow globe computation model understood, we practiced with other numbers. We kept thinking that we were dividing snow globes in groups for display on shelves.

Using the partial quotient method, Delaney C. shown above, and other classmates took turns projecting their computations on the big screen for us to analyze.

You Know It's Cold...

....when figure skater Delaney C. wears a coat at recess. Recently many of us have been well bundled up....but until today not DC who hangs out regularly in ice rinks.

February Parent Conferences Proposed Schedule

Below is the same schedule we used for the September conferences. Let me know if these times still work for you. Adjustments can certainly be made. Conference Day is Thursday, Feb. 10. The conferences for four families can take place the Monday before as shown below.

February 7, 2011 Monday

12:10 Olson

12:30-12:50 Ali

2:45 Coop

3:15 Gilani

February 10, 2011

7:30 Jotch

8 Bernstein

8:30 Samuelson

9 Counsman

9:30 Hess

10:30 Broderick

11 McMullen

11:30 Cano

12 Mauch

12:30 Elwyn

1:30 McCain

2 Tralins

A Message from Coach D.

Friday is our annual Knockout tournament for boys and girls in 4/5/6? A trophy will be awarded to the top two finishers for boys and girls at each grade level. The competition will be held during the home varsity basketball game this Friday at 7 pm

Plus all students get in free!!

Jazz Quilt Help

Mrs. Rowe is looking for a volunteer(s) to put together the quilt blocks for the "We Haz Jazz" quilt. This quilt will be on display during the performances on 1/27 and 1/28, and will then be held until it is sold at the Big Event this year. It will be the grade level auction piece. So far, the children have been cutting out letters and sewing them to 14" square fabric pieces. Mrs. Rowe has all of the necessary fabrics and threads to complete the project. Please email Mrs. Rowe if you are interested. srowe@shorecrest.org

Daily Reflections

Brain research confirms that it takes at least three exposures to fix new information in our memories. That's why we take a few minutes in the afternoon and more if needed at home to reflect on all the new things we've experienced and studied each day. These bullet point reflections are recorded in student planners which are part of the binder. Parents get snapshots of their child's lessons and doings. Students have a permanent record of each day.

The photo is from Jordan T.'s planner. By the way, each morning partners read each other's reflections and add details if necessary.

Our Class Geography Bee

Everyone got seven questions. The scores were high and attitude was good. Trevor, Connor and Saif got six of the seven correct.

We Visit Middle School Science Fair

The student activities room is jammed full of fascinating science fair projects and displays. We spent about an hour today looking it over. Many sixth graders were on hand to talk about their investigations. These included which surface barnicles prefer, effects of beverages on teeth, how to make levees stronger, nail polish science, and which solvent best removes ink marks. Fifth graders researched a scientist and the results were displayed in a timeline of sorts from the Greeks to modern times. Our students have a better idea of what to expect next year.

Coming Up....A Really Busy Month

Here's a brief description of new projects and units of study.

We will be reading and studying the challenging but worthwhile classic "Phantom Tollbooth." This modern allegory/fantasy's vocabulary is a real workout for fourth graders. We will be using many of the words found in the novel for our next three vocabulary/spelling lists. Much of the reading will be done in class. I expect students to stay with the daily assignments and not read ahead, no matter how tempting.

In History we continue to read and take notes on the origins of the 13 colonies. We have finished New England and are taking on the middle colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

Our history research project, the "Foods of Colonial America," is under way. Students are deciding on what food topic they will pursue. These range from the history and social influence of codfish, deer, turkey, sugar, tea, corn etc. Guidelines, due dates and all sorts of how-to information will be distributed. Basically, students develop a series of questions to be researched. They each produce a written report and, time permitting, another version of their findings using a technology application.

In Math we are finishing unit 5 about multiplying with two digit numbers. The unit assessment will be next Wednesday. Unit 6 takes on all aspects of division. Keep practicing the times and division facts.

Science this trimester is all about the effects of water on land. We have already been out inspecting our campus for signs of erosion etc. The unit involves a model of the land contained in a plastic bin. We run streams of water across the land in many controlled investigations changing one variable each time. Pictures of the results will be posted and discussed on the blog.

We are putting the final illustrations in our books of collected writings. Everyone will soon be invited to an author share and celebration. Later this month we will practice writing another short story under timed conditions to prepare for the standardized assessments we administer annually.

We will be doing the second reading comprehension level assessment for each student in the next few weeks. The results will be available at February's parent conferences.

In addition to all the above...we're putting on a big show later this month. Rehearsals are getting underway. More about that later.

Trevor B. Wins Geography Bee

Trevor made school history today when he won the Shorecrest Geography Bee. This is the first time a fourth grader has won the school championship in the annual event for grades 4 to 8. He next takes a written exam to qualify for the state bee. Last year the Florida Geography Bee winner, aTampa Bay area middle schooler, won the national title.