Lesson 18 Week 25-31Jan2008

This lesson reviews highly used words from the previous 5 lessons.

outside
together
calendar
several
February
dictionary
bought
shower
amount
mountain
proud
worse
January
daughter
total
single
scissors
separate
terrible
broad
candle
arrow
laundry
library
autumn

Final test will be on Thursday 31Jan2008

Winter....Brrrrr it is cold outside.

Without a doubt winter is here, so please ensure your child is dressed appropriately to go outside for recess if temperatures allow.

All students should come in daily with boots, gloves, hats or hood, snow pants or bibs, and a warm coat. If your child doesn't have these items they will not be allowed to go outside. We don't want them sick.

I know some kids don't especially enjoy going out when it is cold, but we feel it is important for them to get their daily dose of fresh air, sunshine (Vitamin D) and movement.

If your child is sick and you don't want them to go out a particular day please send a note letting us know your wishes.

Is there is anyone that would be willing to run a gym class? The students would love it.

We have the old sanctuary available to us on Fridays from 1:15-1:45.

School Supplies

The 4th grade is in need of replenishment of supplies. Please bring in the following items:

Black or Blue ERASABLE PENS (1 Pkg)

Red Pens (1 pkg)

Lined Index Cards (3x5)

Highlighters

Large red erasers (2 pk)

Pencils (10 pk)

Wide Ruled Notebook paper (2 pks)

Copier paper (1)

Pocket folders (2)

Please check your child's binder to see if the dividers are holding up or if the binder is in need of upgrading.

Thanks in advance.

Spelling L17

dictionary
arrow
February
January
narrow
library
mirror
parents
tomorrow
berries
carrying
borrow
error
sorrow
married
cereal
carols
spiritual
miraculous
merrily

The pretest till be on THURSDAY, Jan 24, since this is a short week. The final test is on FRIDAY, Jan 25.

The words in orange are for those students assigned a modified list.

2nd quarter ending

JANUARY 25TH, 2008

The above date is the closing of the 2nd quarter. It is hard to believe that the school year will be halfway over.

Ask your child if they have late work to be turned in. It is also written on the whiteboard. As I have mentioned to a couple of parents, I do try to get late work posted on the blog but it is ultimately the student's responsibility. Their assignment sheets show what is done daily and it is required that they get their parent's signature daily to show communication. This also shows us that you are aware of their work. If there are issues with late work feel free to check their books and papers to ensure timely completion. All their class papers that are ready to be turned in have the assignment written in the top right hand corner and page number so it can be checked against his/her assignment sheet.

Beginning next quarter, JAN 28th, any work (including math corrections) that is not turned in will result in a 0 grade for that assignment. Classwork assignments count as 1/3 of the final grade towards that particular course. So all the student has to do is turn in his/her work to receive a grade of 100% which is 1/3 of the final grade.

We hope this will help to instill responsible habits in the students, because it is a building block to what is required as they advance in school. We have diligently asked repeatedly for assignments and now that will have to end.

Any questions or concerns please see us. We will be happy to work with you to help develop ways to encourage your child to achieve success.

Spelling L16

perhaps
together
calendar
worse
separate
scissors
current
curve
journal
serve
tractor
search
syrup
earlier
laborers
earth
earned
verbs
calculator
firmly

The words in blue are the modified list. The pretest will be on WEDNESDAY and the FINAL ON THURSDAY.

New Year Expectations 2008

Today I thoroughly went over what our expectations are of the class and each individual student.

We discussed RESPECT as it pertains to self and others. In this conversation we covered these topics:

Respect to Self-

• not to talk down to yourself (examples: I can't do this, I'm so stupid, Idiot, etc), Replace with positive verbals.
• don't hurt your body intentionally or pretend that you are hurting yourself (examples: poking your pencil at your head, hitting head on table, etc)
• briefly went over smoking and drinking and peer pressure and told them to talk to their parents or a trusted adult if there was a problem.

Respect to Others-

• When speaking use polite words and tone (keep voices low no yelling), let people finish speaking before you do. Don't interrupt adults or when someone is on the phone. Patience.
• Bubble: everyone has a comfort zone and some people don't like to be touched or stood beside real close. Stay out of their bubbles,
• Bullying: reviewed what we went over at the beginning of the year.
• Property: leave other people's stuff alone, pick up items on floor even if it isn't yours, leave spaces better than you came into them.

Next, I covered that they are being prepared for 5th grade and the behavior needs to reflect their increasing maturity. We are raising the bar and expecting more in order to have them ready for 5th grade work and behavior.

If your student's name is on the board a letter will be written home, by him/her, explaining their behavior and what steps they/we are going to take to make better choices. This letter will need to be signed and returned the next school day or a phone call will be made home to ensure good communication is happening and no one is blindsided concerning classroom discipline issues. Always feel free that you can schedule a conference to discuss any concerns with us.

We know the students understand the expectations and we know that they each are capable of making good solid choices.

Please make sure you review their ASSIGNMENT SHEET daily and sign it. This lets us know that you are aware of their assignments and can check their work if needed.

BOOKS;

A couple of students have lost some of their textbooks and claim they have looked at home. Please touch base with your child on this. We will be notifying the parents if the book/s are still missing on Monday.

New Year's Party

I know this is a late post but the New Year's Party will be tomorrow, Friday, from 1:30-2:30. Please ensure that your child brings in a Secret Santa gift...they know who they have. The gift is not to exceed $10.

Spelling L15 Jan 4-10, 2008

We are trying something new with spelling. The new Spelling Lessons will be assigned on Fridays and then the following Wed will be the pretest and Thursday will be the final lesson test.

The reasons for the change are as follows:

• Since Friday seems to be a day several tests have fallen on and spelling is a definite test it is easy to move that to another day freeing up Friday a bit more and lessening the stress on the student.
• By assigning the lesson on Friday it adds 2 more days for studying the words and meanings since there isn't usually any formal homework assigned over weekends.
• The students that work with a modified list will be responsible for the spellings of the first 15 words but they need to know the meanings of all the words.
• It would benefit your child if they can use all the words in original sentences because that is how extra credit is earned on the test. I pick out 2 words and they must be able to use them in a sentence that is written properly. They do not know which 2 words will be the extra credit.

The words for the spelling test are listed in the previous blog. We weren't able to do L15 before we broke for Christmas vacation.