I hope everyone enjoyed their snow day and the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  I’m looking forward to a great week of teaching and learning.

Thanks to all who sent in supplies.  We still need lots of things on the list.  Please continue to send in one or two things as you can.

In Math last week we worked very hard on learning to divide with 2 digit divisors.  We will continue to work on that this week.  I want the students to work all of the steps and not take short cuts.  They may use their calculators and inverse operation to check their answer.  We will also work on multiples/factors, converting decimals to fractions, converting mixed numbers to improper fractions, and vice versa.  These skills are challenging for 4th graders so they will need to practice at home.  Again, I encourage you to help them be sequential thinkers by working through all of the steps without shortcuts.  When they have complete understanding of the process, we will look at using shortcuts.

In Science we will continue to study the Earth’s resources.  We will discuss renewable and nonrenewable resources as well as man’s role and duty in preserving resources.

In Language we will work on skills each day in our TCAP coach book.  The skills this week include compound words, recognizing words spelled correctly in context, punctuation, and abbreviations.

In Writing we will continue to work on our snowflake story.  We will use write from the beginning program to write this imaginative narrative from the point of view of the snowflake.  The students will be using rubrics to self and peer assess.

In Reading we will continue to discuss Snowflake Bentley.  We will complete activities that align with this story.

In Social Studies we will begin studying the Middle Colonies.

Happy New Year!!!  Welcome back to school.  I can’t wait to see what great accomplishments each of the students will make this semester!!

I sent home a list on Wednesday of supplies that we need in class.  Please ask your child about this list or see the previous post.  If you could send one or two things on the list, it would be great.

In Math we are reviewing skills covered in the first semester and learning new skills.  The students have written new “I can” statements based on their December benchmarks and they are also working on those.  We will continue to cover new skills as we move toward Spring benchmark testing and then TCAP.  We are also continuing to take weekly multiplication test.  Every student in the class has improved so much.  I’m very proud of their work ethic and their commitment to always do their best.

In Reading/Language Arts our theme centered around the story we are reading, Snowflake Bentley.  We are working on many skills including summarizing, main idea and supporting details, author’s purpose, etc.  We are also starting a new writing prompt:  ” A Day in the Life of a Snowflake.”  This prompt will be written from the snowflake’s perspective.  The students will write a 5 paragraph imaginative narrative on this topic over the next few weeks.  We will be editing at every step so that the students will become great writers.  In English, we are working in our TCAP coach books and covering a new skill each day.  Much of this is review.  The students have also written “I Can” statement in Language Arts and are working on these each day.

In Social Studies we are continuing to study the 13 original colonies.  We are studying economics, lifestyle, religion, and culture.

In Science we finished our unit on Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition this week and will begin learning about renewable and nonrenewable resources next week.

Thanks so much for all  you do to help the children be successful in school.  I feel so fortunate to be able to work with your children!!!

I would like to thank everyone for all of the goodies, gifts, etc. that you sent to me personally and our class.  Our party was wonderful.  We sent leftover food to the Brook’s House (I’m sure that this made a lot of families very happy). 

I hope everyone is having a safe and restful holiday.  We ended the semester on such a high note with our benchmarking.  Everyone in our Math class either made substantial gains and/or scored Advanced and/or Proficient on the benchmark test.  I’m so proud of how dedicated and motivated the students are to learning.  They have written new I Can statements based on their individual needs and will work on these so that they can continue to make their gains.  We also had great gains in Reading/Language Arts and I’m equally proud of the boys and girls for their dedication in this class.

Last I want to brag on the students for their great writing pieces.  We worked on writing, editing, and rewriting on this past piece.  I feel that the students are really learning how to write a great paper.  When we return we will start a writing piece on a day in the life of a snowflake.  This will be an imaginative narrative and will be written from the voice of the snow flake.

In Reading we finished The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  I believe the students really enjoyed reading this story and the activities that went along with it.  When we return from break, we will read about a man named Snowflake Bentley.  If you want to “google” him, you can find lots of information on him.  I’m excited to share his story with the students.

In Language, we will focus on individual skills from the TCAP coach book in preparation for Spring testing.  Each day the students will focus on a skill and will be provided with extension activities to enforce these skills.

In Science we finished learning about weathering and erosion.  There are a couple of great BrainPops and BrainPop Jrs. on this subject.  If you want to review these with your child, the username is:  lssd and the password is: knight.  We continue our earth science unit when we return to school after break.

In Social Studies we have been learning about the New England Colonies.  The students have been completing a bubble map on the colonies.  We will finish this and learning about the Middle and Southern colonies when we return from break.

In Math we will also be preparing for Spring testing.  The students will learn skills from the TCAP coach book and these skills will be reinforced by working independently from a Math packet and the Math book.

As we start the new year, we are in need of several supplies to keep the classroom running efficiently.  If you could send one or two things from this list, it would be so helpful:

1.  paper towels

2.  baby wipes

3.  clorox wipes

4.  pencils

5.  copy paper

6.  folders (with pockets and prongs – any color)

7.  yummy treats for the treat box (individually wrapped)

Thanks again for all you do to support the learning in our classroom!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mrs. Smallwood

We had another great week in 4th grade at Byars Dowdy!!!

I want to congratulate the three fifth graders who will be advancing to the County Wide Spelling Bee – Way to go…Ashlyn, Tony, and Matthew!!!  I am proud of you and all of the others who competed for the top six spots in the school.

We had a great Thanksgiving lunch Friday in our classroom.  We enjoyed delicious turkey and dressing and ate on “real” tablecloths.  I am so thankful to have such a wonderful class.  I enjoyed this time so much!

I also want to brag on the boys and girls for how they have worked so hard to learn their multiplication tables.  Most of the students are missing 3 or less out of 100 on a timed test.  We will continue to shave time off until we can complete 100 in five minutes or less!!!

In Math this week we have worked on multiplying.  We are multiplying (and estimating) 3, 4, and 5 digit numbers by one number (both with and without decimals).  We have worked on real world problems and continue to solve Math Olympics problems.  We are also continuing to learn to be sequential and deductive thinkers by solving logic puzzles.  Next week we will continue to work on multiplying larger numbers.  When we return from Thanksgiving, we will begin multiplying by two digits.  We are continuing to go to the SuccessMaker lab each day.  Every child has a personal goal and they are steadily working toward that goal.  Be sure to ask your child to share all of the Math skills they have mastered this week.  I think you will be surprised!

In Language we are working on a writing prompt:  Three Things We are Thankful For.  The students have been using the write from the beginning process for this piece.  They are also peer editing using a rubric for each paragraph.  Next week we will put this all together into a rough draft.  The week after Thanksgiving, we will writing our final drafts.  Additionally we have been learning about similes and metaphors.  The students wrote a simile from a turkey’s point of view stating that eating turkey is like or eating turkey is as __________ as ____________.  The goal is to get folks to eat something else besides turkey at Thanksgiving.  We will be writing metaphors this next week.  The students will also be including a metaphor and simile in their Three Things…story.  If your child did not share their simile with you, ask them to.  Also ask them why we use similes and metaphors in our writing.

In Social Studies we have finished the early colonies of Jamestown, Plymouth, and Viriginia Colonies.  We will begin learning about the Thirteen Colonies this next week continue to learn about them until Christmas break.  Be sure to ask your child about economics and how supply and demand affected the colonies and how it affects us today.

In Science we are working on the phases of the moon.  The students have been working on a moon collage that includes:  What causes the phases of the moon (written in their own words), a legend about the moon (which they made up), fact about the moon (which they researched), and a career in space science (which they researched and wrote about).  They are arranging the moons phases and labeling them and placing the above work around this.  Be sure to ask them to share this information with you.  They are quite creative and interesting.  When we return from the Thanksgiving break, we will begin working on Weathering and Erosion.

As you know, this next week is a two day week.  As always thanks for giving me the opportunity to work with your children!!!

We’ve had another great week this week!!!

The time change, the full moon, and the weather change has made it an interesting week!!!

In Math we are working on rounding to the greatest number, then multiplying using multiples of 10, 100, or 1000.  We’ve also worked on using different strategies for problem solving.  We worked with Mrs. Canham’s class today to solve a logic puzzle.  Next week we will work on multiplying larger numbers and multiplying with decimals.  We will continue to practice our multiplication tables.  I’m so proud of the whole class for the progress they have made on their multiplication tables!!!

In Science we are learning about the phases of the moon and what causes each phase.  Our vocabulary words are:  waxing, waning, orbit, revolve, phase, reflect.  Ask your child to explain the difference between a waxing and waning moon and also what causes the phases of the moon.  We will continue to study the phases of the moon through next Friday.

In Social Studies we have studied Jamestown Colony, Virginia Colony, Plymouth Colony, New Amsterdam, New Netherland, and New Sweden Colony.  We have been learning the reasons that colonist came from European countries to settle in the Americas.  We have learned about hardships and conflicts the early colonists faced.  We’ve discussed supply and demand and how this economic concept affected early settlements as well as how it drives the economy today.  Ask your child to explain what happens when there is a great demand for a product and a low supply or vice versa.  We will begin learning about the 13 colonies next week.

In Reading/Language Arts we worked on proverbs, adjectives, and articles.  We also read a book called If I Were a Road.  The students completed several activities that aligned with this book including designing a road with four seasons and a road sign transformation.  Ask your child to share a “why would” wheel with you and also ask them about their transformation.  Next week in Language Arts we will begin a new writing prompt over three things we are thankful for.  We will use the write from the beginning model to write this piece.

Thanks to all of you for supporting your child’s education.  It is truly a team effort!!!

http://www.brainpop.com/science/space/moonphases/

http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/space/moon/

Username:  lssd

Password:  knights

I am so excited about the learning going on in 4th grade at Byars Dowdy!!!  Thanks to all of the students for giving 100% and to the parents for supporting the boys and girls.

Here’s what we have been learning:

Math:  Properties of multiplication – Ask your child to explain Associative, Commutative, and Zero Properties to you.  They should also be able to explain the Property of one.  We have also been working very diligently to learn our multiplication tables.  The only way to learn this, is through repetition.  The students are taking multiplication tests twice a week.  We are busy going to SuccessMaker lab every day for one session.  The students have personal goals and are keeping up with their goals in their assessment folders.  They should be able to tell you where they are in SuccessMaker and what their goal is.  We are also continuing to work on our “I CAN” statements in our assessment folder.  We are enjoying a daily problem from Math Olympics.  Ask your child if they have earned an Einstein Award for solving a Math Olympics problem.

We have just begun to learn long division.  I am encouraging the students to work every step so that they will know the process when the problems become more challenging.  They are using Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down (Daddy, Mother, Sister, Brother) as their steps in dividing.

We will begin working on factors, multiples, order of operations, and multiplying large numbers next week.

Reading: The students have been working on their Cereal Box book reports in the classroom.  Several students have presented and the rest will be presenting throughout the week.  The boys and girls have really enjoyed working on these reports.  They have been so creative and I am looking forward to hearing their presentations.  I hope they will hear about a book or two that they would like to read from their classmates.

We are also working on a unit about “Roads.”  We read The Road Not Taken Monday.  We also looked at multiple meaning words such as bridge, crossroads, and uphill.  We discussed how many of these words could be used to describe the journey of life.  On Tuesday we worked on being flexible thinkers by completing a “Why Would” circle on Mountain Roads, Desert Roads, City Roads, and Country Roads.  We will continue working on this unit for several more days.  Some other skills that will be included are point of view, simile, metaphor, and research skills.

Social Studies:  We are studying the Early American Colonies.  This week we are covering the Spanish Colonies and The Virginia Colony.  Ask your child to tell you the reasons for colonize the Americas and the impact that colonization had on the land, native people, etc.

Science:  We will be completing our unit on life science this week.  The students will test on Thursday and we will begin working on Earth Science on Monday.  Your child should be able to tell you about cells, habitats, ecosystems, food chains, food webs, metamorphosis, and so much more.

Other information:  We really need paper towels in our classroom.  It would be great if you could pick some up on your next trip to the store and send them in.

The students will read at home.  However, they will complete the report at school.

Cereal Box Book Report

The students selected a fiction chapter book (approved by the teacher).  They have two weeks to read their book and finish the report (see directions below).  As they finish their report, they will sign up to present their report to the class.

1. Select a fiction book and have it approved by the teacher.
2. Bring in an empty cereal box.
3. Complete your box:

Front of box:  You will illustrate the front of the box to represent your book.  You can choose a scene, character(s), etc to draw pictures representing your book.  The front must be original, elaborate, colorful and capture the theme of the book.

Right Side of the box:  List the characters with a description of each, the setting (see template – you may use or you may create your own).

Left Side of box:  Summary of book including main problem and how it was solved.  Try to grab the audience’s attention with this summary (you may use template or create your own).

Top of box:  Title of Book, Author/Illustrator, Rating, (use template or create your own).

Back of Box – Create a game, maze, etc that aligns with the theme, story, characters, etc of your book.  Make this interesting and fun.  This should be colorful, creative, and original. 

4. You should have five items in your box:
1. create a bookmark that represents your book
2. an author study – research your author and report on your author, include a picture, any other books he/she has written, etc.  Glue your author study to a piece of construction paper.
3. Illustrate a scene in the book
4. Your choice
5. Your choice

This project will count  300 points:

100 – presentation

100 – box (20 for each for front, back, sides, and top)

100 – for items in your box (total 5)

Wow!  What a great turn out for parent/student/teacher conferences.  I’m so proud of all of the students who were “in charge” of their own conference.  They worked so diligently preparing their information.  Thanks to all of the parents who came to the conferences.  If you could not make it and you still want to conference, just email or call and we can set something up.

Fall Festival News – Byars Dowdy is holding the Fall Festival on October 22 from 4-8:30. Fourth grade is planning to host a booth that will include games and sports.  We need 30 parent volunteers to work for one hour (beginning at 3:00 and ending at 9:00).  If you can work for one hour during this time, send a note or an email letting us know.  All of the money raised goes to the classes to buy much needed supplies/equipment/etc.  If we do not get enough volunteers, we will not be able to have this booth.  Please consider helping us out.

Additionally, we are putting a basket together for the silent auction.  The theme is sports, fun, and games.  Please let us know if you could contribute a new item (sports equipment, games, tickets to sporting events, tickets to local fun places such as Maple Hill Sports center, exercise videos, sports wear, etc.) to the basket.  We need all items sent in by October 20th.  Again, the money raised will go to support the needs within the classroom.

Fourth Grade Academic News:

Math – We are beginning to work on multiplying.  Ask your child to explain how to find a factor of a number.  They should also be able to explain the difference between a prime and composite number.

Language Arts – I am so proud of the fabulous writing prompts that the students just completed.  Their topic was “Three Wishes.”  Their writing made me laugh and cry.  What a gift it was to read them.  When we return from Fall Break, they will start a new writing exercise.  I will post more information on that later.

Reading – The students are going to begin working on a book report when we return from Fall Break.  They will choose a fiction book to read and present.  I will be sending home the criteria and requirements for this report after the break.

Social Studies – We have been studying explorers.  The students completed an outline over many early explorers.  They used their books, videos, the internet, and consulted with each other to complete these outlines.  Most of the students have chosen an explorer to further research.  When we return from the break, they will be researching the explorer they chose and giving a presentation to the class.  I will be posting more information on this as the time approaches.  In the meantime, ask your child to share what they have learned about these explorers.  They should be able to tell you when they explored, who financed their expedition, what they were looking for, and what they actually found.

As Fall Break approaches, I am both excited and sad.  I love that we are finally in our routine and I feel that we have such a momentum going in our classroom.  My hope is that we will not lose our enthusiasm for learning over the break and we can “hit the ground running” upon our return.  On the other hand, I look forward to spending time with my children and husband.  I hope to read a couple of books and work on my dissertation.  We plan to visit a couple of universities with our daughter, who is a senior over the break.

I hope you all have a save and wonderful break and get some rest and relaxation in!  I will see everyone in two weeks!

Mrs. Smallwood

This week:

We have been working on our assessment folders.  The students are using their benchmark tests to monitor their progress, set goals, write I can statements, and action plans to meet their goals.

We also completed our first writing prompt.  The students wrote about their 3 wishes.

In Social Studies we began to learn about early explorers.

In Science we continued our study of how living and nonliving things interact with each other within an ecosystem.  We talked about the delicate balance and the students designed a healthy and unhealthy ecosystem.

In Math we began working on multiplication.

Next week:

This is the last week before Fall Break (the time has flown by)!

Parent teacher conferences on Tuesday evening.  Report cards will go home with parents who come to conferences.  Otherwise report cards will be sent home on Wednesday.

Picture Day – Wednesday

Awards Day (9:00) and ROAR celebration  - Clyde’s Slides (12:10) on Friday.