Sliding into Week 6

    

Our class contract, drafted and created by our whole class.  Students showed their allegiance to it by tracing their right hand.

Week 6 included a lot of new units!  In math, we started unit 2 which is all about multiplication.  We are back on our regular homework schedule, so expect math homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the test.  Our new reading unit is about characters.  We started reading the book, Tiger Rising, by Kate DiCamillo, to help us dig into some great characters.  In writing,  we started Realistic Fiction by generating ideas.  Lastly, in science we got to do a fun experiment with gummi bears using the scientific method.  We are looking forward to diving deeper into these new units!

SNAP math:  Be on the lookout for SNAP math flashcards.  Most students received their flashcards this past week.  Please encourage your student to go through them each day to help them with their fact fluency.  Some students graduated from SNAP math by testing out; these students will not have flashcards.

School Assembly:  Please send your student in his/her color the park shirt on Thursday, as we will be having a school assembly during the day.

Halloween Party/Parade:  We will be having our Halloween party and parade on Monday, October 31st.  I will give more details next week about it, but students will have the opportunity to dress up.  If you signed up for a part in our classroom party, I will send out a reminder in the following week.
 

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: I can generate realstic fiction story ideas by:

                     -paying attention to people, places, and events in my ordinary life

                     -using fiction books to spark ideas

                     -rereading my small moment story ideas with fiction writer's eye

                 I can write a believable story plan for realistic fiction.

Science:  I can use the steps of the scientific method to perform an experiment.

 

Math:  I can use area models for multiplication of 1s and 10s.  

             I can use place value to multiply tens.

             I can use patterns in multiplication with ones, tens, and hundreds.

             I can represent one-digit by two-digit multiplication using area model.

Reading: I can:

• make mental images of my character
• envision my character's world
• empathize with my character by connecting with their experiences

Important Dates:

Friday, October 21st: Popcorn Friday

Tuesday, October 25th:  Turkey Trot at 4pm
Thursday, October 27th: Skating party at 6:30pm 
Monday, October 31st: Halloween parade and classroom party
Friday, November 4th: Early release at 12:15. 

Some Photos of our Gummi Bear Experiment:

Spirit Week!

     Some high schoolers paid a visit to our school on Friday to pump us up for the big game!  Students loved hearing the drums, laughing at the superfans, and cheering along with the cheerleaders.  It was a fun week and we managed to accomplish so much!
     On Friday, your student should have brought home his/her unit 1 post test.  Please sign it and send it back in on Monday.  Students who did not score a 3 in any of our 5 targets (you'll see the targets and the score for each on the half-sheet stapled to the front of the test), will retake that section on the retest.  If students scored a 3 in a section, they do not need to retake the questions that go along with that section.  The retest will take place on Tuesday.  Please review questions your student got wrong.  
    Our Economics review packet, along with our economics materials, should have come home on Friday as well.  Please encourage your student to study the packet as our Economics test will be on Monday.  
     Lastly, don't forget that Friday, October 14 is an early release day.  Students will be let out of school at 12:15.  Please be aware that students may order lunch that day, but it will be a sack lunch that is sent home.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: I can finish revising my small moment story by:

                     -using transition words or phrases to move my story along

                     -writing a strong ending

                I can edit my small moment story by:

                     -using tools to spell words

                     -grouping sentences into paragraphs

                     -using editing symbols as I hunt for grammar errors

Social Studies: I can apply elements of a market economy by looking at scenarios, and give examples for these areas:

  -substitute goods

  -positive/negative incentives

  -people who are: employed, unemployed, out of the work force
  -types of resources

  -scarcity

Science:  I can take notes and discuss elements of the scientific method including:

 -safety  

 -materials

 -tools

  -steps

  -communication with other scientists

  -presenting results

Math:  I can review these areas: place value, word problems, rounding, adding multi-digit problems, subtracting       multi-digit numbers, and comparing multi-digit numbers.

             I can assess my learning by looking at my evaluation and noticing area to improve upon.

             I can set goals and make a plan to improve my understanding of unit 1 concepts.

             I can execute my plan to achieve my goals.

Reading: I can:

• think about why making predictions is important
• keep track of my predictions
• share predictions with a partner

Important Dates:

Monday, October 10th: Economics Test

Tuesday, October 11th: Unit 1 Math Retest

Tuesday, October 11th: Parent Club meeting at 9am

Friday, October 14th: Early release; students released at 12:15pm

Tuesday, October 25th:  Turkey Trot at 4pm
Monday, October 31st: Halloween parade and classroom party

Here are some pictures of our class working hard in our Spirit Week gear:

Week 4...Learning Galore!

Happy Fall!  This week as the weather changed, we continued to work hard in our classroom.  Today, coming home you will find a Scholastic Book Club Flyer and a note to go with it.  If you would like to order books, I'd love it if you used our class code and helped us earn free books for our classroom.  The buzz around the classroom is that the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be released in November, but you can pre-order it by October 17th (this info. is in the flyer).  Here is a link for ordering online:  https://clubs.scholastic.com/home.  You can find this link under the "Scholastic" tab on this blog as well.

Instead of wearing our "Be the One" T-shirts this year, our school will be wearing the "Color the Park" shirts for assemblies and field trips.  If you did not get a "Color the Park" shirt, you should have gotten a green form yesterday.  If you didn't get one, and still need to order one, please let me know.

Next week is spirit week!  A note went home in folder today, but here is another reminder:

Spirit Week!

Next week is Hudsonville’s Homecoming and

Park School will be showing our school spirit!

Monday:  Sweet Dreams  (Comfy day  PJ's / sweats)

IF YOU HAVE GYM ON MONDAY...MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS HAVE GYM SHOES!!!  Also, please make sure that the pj's are appropriate for school (girls...no nighties, etc.)

Tuesday:   Taste the Rainbow~ Wear your grades color!

K-Yellow

1st-Green

2nd-Purple

3rd-Blue

4th-Orange

5th-Pink  

Wednesday : Willy Wonka Hat Day

Wear your favorite Hat

Thursday  Now-n-Later Neon Day

Wear neon colors or Color Run Shirts

Friday  Eagle Pride is Sweet Day  

Wear your Maize and Blue

*Eagle Pride Assembly @ 9am!

*Reminder about the HEF Fundraiser before the HomeComing Game-Mr. Field in the Dunk Tank @ 5:20!

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: I can revise my small moment story by:

  -changing my action parts to internal thoughts and feelings

  -finding my "heart of the story" and writing more about it

  -"exploding the moment"

  -elaborating with description, dialogue, action, and feeling

Social Studies: I can tell characteristics of a market economy:

  -buyer/seller based

  -demand

  -private property rights
  -Voluntary exchange

  -competition

  -consumer sovereignty

Math:  I can:

• relate subtraction to addition
• use methods for ungrouping to subtract any number
• add and subtract multi-digit numbers
• solve addition and subtraction word problems with greater numbers

Reading: I can:

• use sequential retelling to talk about books
• use synthesis retelling to talk about books
• talk about books with a partner
• recommend books to a partner

Important Dates:

Tuesday, October 4th: Unit 1 Math test

Friday, October 9th: Pep rally

Friday, October 9th: HEF Fun Fest and homecoming game; Mr. Field in the dunk tank at 5:20pm

Friday, October 14th: Early release; students released at 12:15pm

Fun Photos from the color run!

                         

Week Three...Yippee!

Students got to check out books from the library for the first time this week.  Books are due Thursday.  Please make sure that your student treats our library books with care.

Please feel free to send a water bottle to school with your child. Students have been thirsty, and we don't always have time to line up at the drinking fountain.  

Park 5th graders are having a can drive next week to raise money for 5th grade camp.  There will be a classroom competition to see which class brings in the most cans.  Help us win by sending in cans!

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: I can plan and draft my small moment story.

Social Studies: I can tell the difference between natural, human, and capital resources.  I can use what I know about resources to tell about scarcity. 

Math:  I can:

• round and compare greater numbers (up to 1,000,000!)
• add greater numbers using a method of my choosing
• use estimation and mental math to check my answers
• subtract from thousands

Reading: I can:

• pay attention while reading, so that words matter
• clear up confusion by asking questions
• recall strategies to problem-solve when I get to unfamiliar words

Important Dates:

Monday, September 26 - Friday, September 30th: 5th Grade can drive

Monday, September 26th: Recorder form due for MusicFriday, September 30th: Popcorn Friday
Friday, October 14th: Early release; students released at 12:15pm

Week 2...Yahoo!

Students worked hard generating ideas for their small moment stories.

M-Step results came home yesterday in student's backpacks.  They should have come home stapled, to be opened by a parent or guardian.  If you have any question about them, please let me know.

Students have been doing a great job of reading each night, and turning in math homework.  Please anticipate homework coming home every Tuesday and Thursday unless otherwise noted in agendas.  

Please don't forget to sign student agendas every day.  Feel free to use agendas as another way to communicate with me when needed.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: I can generate ideas for personal narrative small moment stories by thinking of special people, special places, strong emotions, and turning points.  

Social Studies: I can think about economics and define: needs, wants, goods, services, consumers, producers.  

Math:  I can:

• round and compare multi-digit numbers.
• read, write, and model numbers to the thousands.
• identify the place value of numbers to one million.

Reading: I can make surface and deep connections while reading.

Important Dates:

Friday, September 23rd: Color the Park: Gates open at 5pm for hotdogs, race starts at 6pm

Monday, September 26 - Friday, September 30th: 5th Grade can drive
Friday, September 30th: Popcorn Friday
Friday, October 14th: Early release, students released at 12:15pm

We did it!

We made it through our first week with flying colors!  The first week of school is a lot of procedures and assessments which can be BORING (not to mention the heat and humidity)!  All obstacles aside, I am proud of the great attitudes and hard work I witnessed.  Thanks for your support at home as we are all adapting to the school year.

Typically in this update I will include what we did in class according to subject area.  This week we spent most of our time getting to know the classroom, procedures, and each other.  Keep a look out for subject-specific information next week.

I'm sure you have heard all about our school's big event, "Color the Park."  More information is at the end of this post, including important dates. 

If you would like to pull out more information about our week from your student, here are some prompts:

- What did Mr. Peabody do to show Tommy the power of his words (from the book, Mr. Peabody's Apples)?

- Name one or two "I will" statements that we will have in our class contract?

- Show me the motions to the rule, "Make Smart Choices."

- What is this year's theme for our school and what did Mr. Field do to help us learn about it?

Color the Park

Color the Park is a fun, 1.5 mile course in which families can walk, or run while having color powder tossed on them throughout the course!

This is our main fundraiser for the students. We are encouraging family participation! The walk/run will begin at 6pm, and there will be food available to purchase at 5pm. We will have raffle prizes and an auction.

The event takes place at Hughes Park and Park Elementary.

The following promo video can be accessed on you tube:

https://youtu.be/iV1OKFU5VD0

Important Dates:

Monday, September 12th - Color the Park Registration Forms and T-shirt payment due

Tuesday, September 13th - Parent Club meeting at 9am

Friday, September 16th - Lunch Buddy forms are due

Friday, September 16th - Early Release (students get out of school at 12:15pm)

Friday, September 16th - Color the Park Pledge Forms are due

Welcome to Mrs. Chmura's classroom blog!  Feel free to poke around and get comfortable.  Check in for more updates as we get closer to the 2016-2017 school year.