Each of these opportunities will be for (1) extra stick - unless you do something SUPER DUPER, then we may consider awarding you with more!
1.) Visit the Plimoth Plantation website and learn to "Talk like a pilgrim." Write a short conversation or draw a comic strip of a dialogue between two early settlers using some of the terms you see here.
2.) Read the Mayflower article about girls travelling to the new world, and write a summary of what it was about. Some very interesting facts and perspectives!
3.) Read the text of the real Mayflower Compact document. If you were about to go ashore on uncharted land with the rest of your shipmates, what would rules would you put in writing? Create your own version of the Mayflower Compact that includes the regulations you think would be necessary for "the common good."
(EXPIRED) Questions of the Week 2/1
What We Are Studying
*Social Studies* - Early English settlements, How was life alike and different in the New England/Middle/and Southern Colonies?
*English* - Helping verbs, classifying parts of speech in sentences, proofreading
*Reading* - Characteristics of and personal connections to Aesop's fables/morals
*Writing* - Finishing Response to Literature, begin Informational Writing
*Vocabulary* - Review of Units 5-8
CRCT Practice Tests Are NOW ONLINE!
Many of you have asked how to help your child prepare at home for the upcoming CRCT. Visit the practice website at www.georgiaoas.org and log in using the id sent home in a letter earlier this month. Tests have been assigned to students now in all subject areas, and can be taken multiple times. In the coming weeks, we will be assigning this activity for homework once a week, as well, and parents will need to sign their child's agenda indicating that a test has been completed. Please don't wait to try it out, however, so we can be informed of any log-in problems as soon as possible.
New Science Lab Blog
Check out the happenings in our new Science Lab!! Our class has been twice already, doing fun activities with an egg drop and a class "galaxy." They are loving Ms. Bellamonte and watching her feed the pet tarantula, Bella! Visit the Science Lab blog for more info!
UPDATE: The "Science Lab" event that was videotaped at our school is now airing on COBB edTV (Comcast channel 24 / Smyrna Charter Cable channel 97). You can see it "at or near the top of the hour" in the local shows. These shows air daily (with some exceptions) at 5am / 7am / noon / 5pm / 7pm and midnight. Please see our programming grid at: http://www.cobbk12.org/cobbedtv for those few exceptions. Our story will air dozens of times (at least) over the next several weeks and will be posted within the video archive on the Cobb Home Page at www.cobb.k12.org as well.
Ford Curriculum Night Is Coming!
Ford Curriculum Night is Thursday, February 12th, 2009
The Relay for Life Team is hosting an Italian dinner. Dinner is from 6:00 - 6:45 PM in the Ford Cafeteria
(Please send in your reservation ASAP so we can plan on you attending. Flyers are available on the Ford website)
Special Interactive Sessions will be taking place from 6:45 - 8:00 PM all around Ford Elementary. Please drop in to each session to learn more about what students are doing and learning here at Ford.
Here is a brief listing of some of the topics: (a map and program will be available that evening at the door)
*special guests - Durham Principal Georgeanne Young and Lost Mountain Principal Dr. Terry Poor
*Test Taking Skills
*Candy Grams
*Technology
*SmartBoard activities
*Centers in the Gym
*Math games
*Cobb Virtual Library Resources
*Spelling Games
*Online Resources
*Science Lab
*Accelerated Reader demonstrations
*Extension & Enrichment
And much more!
Classroom Update 1/30
Hello, everyone! This week just FLEW by! Conferences are over, and we enjoyed meeting with each and every one of you to discuss progress in the 4th grade. That was our "official" meeting, but please feel free to contact us via email at ANY time if you have questions/concerns, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you need to set up a meeting to talk face to face, we are available for that, too. Take this weekend to refresh, read, and get ready to be back at school for full days next week - EXCEPT for Early Release Day, Wednesday the 4th! A few announcements:
1.) February is "Love the Bus" month, and we'd like to get the kids involved in the campaign to show appreciate for their bus driver. Visit the Love the Bus website for ideas on how to participate. You can even share stories and nominate your favorite bus driver for recognition!
2.) Mark your calendars - Curriculum Night is coming! Thursday, February 12th at 6 p.m. All 4th graders are invited to be greeters that night, sign up with Mrs. Micklow ASAP. Many educational activities will be presented that evening, with a delicious lasagne dinner beforehand! Come see the 4th grade "SmartBoards" in action.
3.) If you go out this weekend to purchase Valentine cards, please remember that there are 24 students in our class (minus your child). We will send home a class list next week with everyone's name on it for your child to personally address their Valentines. No one is required to bring in cards, however if you choose to do so, please make sure to send in one for EVERYBODY!
(Expired) Questions of the Week
Each one of these is worth (1) extra stick. Write down your answers on regular paper, and bring in to show to your teacher:
1.) What historical significance can you find for the date in history, Jan. 14, 1784? What does "ratified" mean? What was the document called? Write a brief paragraph describing what this day means in our nation's history.
2.) Visit the website on Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion to read up on the man and his thoughts. Print out the quiz at the end, and fill in the answers yourself using the website for clues.
3.) Did you know that besides motion and gravity, Sir Isaac Newton also developed theories about light? (what we're studying next in science) What did he discover about white light? Use your internet sleuthing abilities to find out! Write it down, and also answer the question: How did a man of such poor and humble beginnings become "Sir Isaac Newton" instead of just Mr. Newton?
4.) When we came back to school, we didn't have much time for sharing holiday tales with each other before we got right back to the business of studying! Write a 1-page story about a highlight from your two week break. Maybe an outing you took, a favorite gift you received, a friend/relative whose company you got to enjoy, or a special family tradition that you practiced. Tell us all about it using rich details and colorful language. Illustrate it, too!
Classroom Update - January 8th, 2009
1.) No spelling or vocabulary this week. We are completing a writing project and taking a pretest in our new "Buckle Down" CRCT practice workbooks. We'll start back with vocabulary unit 7 next week.
2.) Our Fire Safety program with the Cobb County firemen began this week. It will last every Tues/Thurs from 11:00-12:00 for three weeks. Hopefully you noticed that your child brought home a workbook to complete last night. These lessons are completed for both classwork and homework. Your child WILL receive a health grade for their efforts during the 3 week fire safety program. Because this time slot affects our regular lunch schedule, on Tues/Thurs we will be eating sack lunches in the classroom. If your child does not like the school sack lunch, please remind them to bring a lunch from home for the next 2 weeks on Tues/Thurs.
3.) Congratulations to all our students who met their last 9 weeks AR point goal with 85% or better accuracy! This Friday we will have a lunch + dessert bar celebration for those super star readers. If you'd like to help out, please contact either Mrs. Losure or Mrs. Kastensmidt via email.
4.) Please send in your conference confirmation form ASAP. You will receive your child's 2nd 9 weeks report card during this meeting. Don't forget that school will dismiss 2 hours early the week of January 26-30th, and make the necessary transportation arrangements.
5.) All parents are invited to come to meet the new Science lab teacher this Friday morning during her Open House from 9-10 am. Hope to see you all there!
6.) Every student was given new AR goal for the 3rd 9 weeks TODAY. It was written in their agenda. Please review this with your child to help them make a plan for meeting this goal. Many students require that extra "push" to hold them accountable for their nightly reading, especially at this mid-point of the year. Remember, books from the public library and reading TO your child are both OK! This is an incentive based program, and does not directly affect your child's reading grade, however it does benefit their overall comprehension ability. Don't forget students are supposed to be filling in story maps on the books they complete towards the 25 book campaign. Reading for a minimum of 2 hours per week is a 4th grade requirement, and will count towards the Six Flags Reading Program. (more information to come home Monday) Thank you for all your support of your child's reading - it really does make a difference!
