Dear Parents,
     I hope all of you can get out and enjoy the nice weather!!!  This weekend is recital weekend (YAY!) for us, so we will be indoors and miss the warm weather we are to get.  We are winding down to the end of the year.  There will be lots of things that we need to accomplish and get taken care of by then.  I plan to work your kids hard until the end.  They are all doing a great job, but having trouble staying seated and using time wisely during study hall is a big issue.  I blame it on "cabin fever" and not being able to be outside when normally we are this time of year.

Language Arts -  We finished the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Wednesday!!  I showed the students the older movie with Gene Wilder.  We watched it Thursday afternoon.  I have talked to the students about book projects that can be done.  They were to talk to their parents about the options they have, and I plan on picking them Friday afternoon.  Then they will know what they are doing and can get started.  We have a book report due on May 3rd and than these projects will be due the week of May 20th. 

Math -  We are learning division in Math right now.  This week they have learned the simple form of the standard algorithm and partial product.  Of course, I am hearing that most kids like the partial product way of working a problem.  I am not surprised.  It tends to make so much more sense to the kids.. We have practiced both strategies all week.  Tomorrow we will move on to bigger problems.  I hope they have taught you a little something new about division.

Social Studies -  We have been talking about the Southwest this week.  We finished a movie on the Grand Canyon on Monday.  We began talking about the varied climate of the Southwest states.  We learned about three major areas found in that region:  desserts, savannas, and wetlands.  We talked about plants and animals that can live in these areas also.  Remember your student should be working on a project.  I have a few students who have not brought in poster board yet to for their person or poster.  The longer you wait the more they will be pressed for time.  

Have a great weekend!!! Do something outside!!

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels

Dear Parents,
      Wow, how about that rain!!  We finally received the much needed rain.  I heard on radio this morning almost 4 inches total.  That should make all the farmers happy!! Students are struggling right now to pay attention and focus.  It definitely showed in their Language Arts test results.  You will find the sheet of results in their folders today.  Please make sure you look them over and sign and return.  I have written notes on some of them.  This is the hardest test of the year dealing with strategies like summarizing, generalizations, and text structure.

Language Arts -  We have started Unit 6 this week.  We are back to a normal routine of spelling tests and reading stories.  We will be finishing Charlie and Chocolate Factory also in next couple of weeks.  We have 5 chapters left.  I plan on showing the movie next Thursday afternoon.  It is a great time after they worked hard on Lap-a-thon in the morning.  We will then work on picking projects.  

Dollars for Scholars Essay-  We worked on an essay the week after Spring Break for the Dollars for Scholars group.  The 4th graders were asked to write "Why Education Is Important to Me".  They wrote their response, which had to be 250 words or less, and then we edited and revised.  Ms. Hartstack and I mainly focused on spelling and punctuation.  We did not change the way a student worded things.  We may have pointed out areas where things were confusing and didn't make sense but the student had to make the changes.  The essays were judged by three teachers in this building and the top 3 essays were chosen.  Congratulations to Olivia Hagen, Ansley Waigand, and Sierra Myers for writing essays that advance to the next level.  The essays were then given to the Dollars for Scholars group to be judged by a group of teachers from SWCC.  There will be one winner from these three girls that will be awarded a $50 savings bond.  Good luck to all three!!  We will not hear anything until mid May.

Social Studies-  We have begin Chapter 10 on the Southwest region.  We have started by talking about the Grand Canyon.  We talked about who first saw it and who was the first person to explore through it.  We will be watching a video I have on it when we finish reading the lesson.  We will view it Friday and Monday.  It is very interesting and shows great views of the National Park.  I will work on getting the students their due dates for their last project while they are watching the video.  Due dates will range between May 6-17.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!   

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels

Attention!!

Lap-a-thon 

&

Spring Clean-up is postponed

Until next week!!!

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday!!! We are finishing up Iowa Assessments today!!! This is the new name to the ITBS tests.  We tested on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings.  I really hope everyone encouraged their children to do well.  I will be anxious to see the student's scores.  Next week we will go back to a completely normal week with a regular routine.

Language Arts -  We took the Unit 5 test this week.  Not one f the best tests we have taken in 4th grade.  Please look for their results in next week's folder.  We continue to read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in class.  We have created golden tickets and they are hanging in the hallway.  We have been talking about when we will watch the movie and when the final project for this unit will be due.

Social Studies - We will be beginning the Southwest Region.  I have assigned the new projects this week.  I combine the Southwest States and the Western States together.  This is the last project for them!!!  Time flies when you are creating fun things!!  I am looking forward to this last project.  All of their projects have been great.  I can see they are putting some effort into their work.  I am very pleased with them.  We will move through the Southwest a little faster that the other chapters so I can get to the West Region.

Math - We have finished up chapter 6 test and will be starting chapter 7 on Division.  Please begin going over flash cards with your child.  We will start out easy then move into long division. I have a new way to show them to divide.  It is called "Partial Quotient".  Something I am sure the parents haven't seen.  You may learn something from your 4th grader.

Have a great weekend!!
Mrs. Sickels

This is Iowa Assessment Week!!  4th graders spend their mornings testing.  Thanks to the PTO for providing some "brain food" while we work hard.  Make sure your child is getting enough sleep at night and a big breakfast to help them do their very best!!!!

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