What We Are Studying

If you have anything cool that you would like to share during these units, feel free to bring it in!

*SCIENCE*
Ecosystems, Animal Adaptations

*SOCIAL STUDIES*
The Alamo, Exploring the West (Oregon Trail, California Gold Rush), Opposition to slavery

*MATH*
Dividing Decimals, Multiplying Decimals, 3-D shapes, Problem Solving

*WRITING*
Persuasive Writing

*READING*
Summarizing text, novel study, reading strategies, DRA testing

Class Update 4/27

* CRCT Testing is finished! The kids did really great staying focused during the test, and also during the afternoons as we reviewed for the next day's content. Please congratulate your child on a job well done, and we look forward to seeing those testing reports come back to show how well they knew their stuff!

* Thank you, parents, for getting your children here to school on time for testing everyday. A special thanks to Room Mom Extraordinaire, Mrs. Kastensmidt, for organizing the snack schedule! You all did an amazing job keeping our kids fed with a variety of yummy treats each day. We even have some left over for snacks this week!! Way to go, moms & dads!

* We will be using our final weeks of school to go back over some of the Social Studies topics we only had time to briefly introduce, and to prepare for 5th grade. We have several end-of-year assessments coming up in reading, writing, and math. Please encourage your child to push through until the very end and not give up on learning! These DO count for placement and planning for 5th grade.

* How is your student's AR goal coming? After the testing each day there was plenty of time for independent silent reading, and I saw many students taking AR tests. 2 things to remember: The goal challenge will have to end by Friday, May 15th in order to still have time to celebrate during the final week of school. Also, the Ford media center will close for checkout 2 weeks prior to the end of school, and all books will be recalled at this time for inventory. So, that leaves less reading time and less opportunities to get books, both of which will need to figure in to your child's reading plan. We will run a report at the beginning of the week and send you an update mid-week to help you stay on top of your child's goal. I'd like to have everyone participating in our final AR celebration!!

* Friday is our Kennesaw State student, Ms. Jang's last day. We have enjoyed having her be a part of our classroom and she has helped out in so many ways. From one on one reading testing, small group math review, leading us in a few lessons, even playing kickball at recess, the kids have loved having her. Please have your student make a card for her to bring to class on Friday thanking her for her service to our class. We are also going to take up a collection to buy her a gift card to School Box so that she can buy supplies for her own future classroom! We are asking for just $2 per student, preferably out of their own allowance funds so that they can feel a part of her gift.

* Any ideas on an end of year homeroom celebration? Please email me with your thoughts for a special event to culminate our 4th grade year.