Thursday, May 22, 2014

Dear Parents,
     Happy Last Thursday of the 2013-2014 school year!!!  WOW!! I really can't believe we are at this point all ready!  Time has flown but maybe because I had the first 5 weeks of school off!  I have really enjoyed this time I have spent with your kids.  I thank you for sharing them with me.  Here are just few things that we will be doing in these last days of school.  

Language Arts - We are finishing up out last unit test today.  The students took the first part of it on Tuesday and today they are finishing up the Revising and Editing section which is based on grammar skills.    This is the final test for this subject.  I was very pleased with out last Friday assessment the students took.  All score were 85% or above!!  Half the students missed only 1!  It was exciting.  So far I have checked the first half of the Unit test and I am impressed with how they have done.  It looks better than previous tests.    We have been working on finishing up Author Reports this week.  Today will be peer editing and then they will publish and share with other students on Friday.  I am looking forward to learning about other authors.

Math - We have focused on division problems all week.  I went over division with money amounts and we discussed divisibility rules.  Today they will complete a diagnostic checkpoint which will show me how they are doing on division problems.  I will use this as an assessment because we will not be taking a test over the last chapter.  On Friday we will take the end-of-the-year test.  We took this test at the beginning of the year also, and so I can compare the scores.  It is just a great way to see where kids are still struggling to pass on to the 5th grade teacher.

Social Studies - You should have seen their last test last night and signed.  We are reading in the book about the West.  We will take another practice test for states and capitals on Friday.  Tuesday is their big states and capitals test.  They have to be able to label a map with the correct state and its capital.  Great projects this round!!  Thank you for all the hard work.
Tuesday, May 27th!!  The last day!!  Here are my plans for the last day of school.  We will begin the day with the social studies map test.  When they are finished they will clean out their desks.  When the majority are done with that I will start movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".  Usually I read this book with the kids as a unit and we do activities.  This year with the new reading series it didn't work due to time.  I still would like to show the movie.  The movie I show is the 1960's version.  We talk a little about special effects and such.  We may not get to see all of it but will see majority.  The 5th grade may come join us.  We will eat lunch at noon.  We plan to eat lunch with our class either outside or in classroom.  Please remember to send a sack lunch with your child.  You can even send a drink.  NO milk will be provided that day.  We will enjoy lunch, and talk with our friends from other classrooms then we will prepare for field day.  Field day will begin at 12:45.  We will play games and enjoy the outdoors until 2:15.  We will then come back to rooms and prepare for the end of the day prayer.  This will be held in the gym.  We share in prayer and say good-bye to the 8th grade and those people who will be leaving us.  Kids will be dismissed then at normal time.

It has been great working with all of you this year.  It has been one wild ride for us all.  I will have a closeness to this class different from all my others just due to the make-up of our year.  I think 4th grade will be a memory for all the students too.  I will always remember the hard times we went through together and how strong these students are!!  I hope all of you have a great summer!!! See you next year.

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels


Monday, May 19, 2014

Dear Parents!!
     I am so sorry!!! I didn't put out a blog last Thursday because we went on the field trip and I totally forgot!!  Here are just a few things to know about this week.

Language Arts - We are taking the Friday assessment today since we missed last Thursday.  Tomorrow we will begin the Unit 6 test.  We will take it off and on for the rest of the week.  I also plan to work on the Author report we started.

Math- We will be finishing up division.  I am focusing on them being able to do division problems comfortably this week.  On Friday we will take the end-of-the-year test.

Social Studies- They have a test over chapter 11 today.  We will begin reading chapter 12.  There will be no homework with this chapter just reading.  We will just enjoy our information on the West Region.  They do need to practice the maps and location of states because they will be tested over that next Tuesday.  Next Tuesday will be their final test in Social Studies over the map.  They will label the states and list it's capital.

Social Studies Projects are due this week.  Please be sure your child's is done on time.  Thanks for all the hard work that has been put into projects.  The kids have enjoyed doing them and sharing with classmates.

I will have a better blog on Thursday!!  It will be the last one!!!!  Enjoy this last full week of school!!!!

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Dear Parents,
     Happy Thursday!!  What a rainy yucky week!!!  I want some sun and warmth!  Please check the folder for a letter about the 4th grade annual field trip.  We will be heading to Boone, Iowa, to ride the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad.  It is a fun trip.  It is great to learn about the history of trains in Iowa and their importance.  We also travel over the "High Bridge"  which in the highest single track bridge.  It is not the Kate Shelley Bridge. That is a different one that is linked to this train line but we don't go over that one. I am in need of a couple of drivers for this trip.  Please email or text me if you are interested and I will send the proper forms home for you to fill out.  This is a first come first serve basis. Please fill out permission form and return.

Math - This week we have been covering a little bit of geometry that I saved until we learned about double-digit multiplication.  We have learned perimeter, area, and volume all this week.  I have given examples and demonstrated its meaning with manipulatives.  We also paid close attention on how to label each one.  This is where "square units", and "cubic units" come into play.  We will begin our division chapter starting tomorrow.  Please work on those division flash cards!!!

Language Arts - This week our story is called Museums Worlds of Wonder.  It is an informational piece telling us about 5 different museums in the United States and what they have to offer.  It is an interesting story because we learned some pretty cool facts about different places we might like to visit.  Spelling words focused on three syllable words and the grammar was on possessive pronouns.  We discussed advertisements and what their purpose is.  The students are working on an advertisement on a museum they have been to or an imaginary museum of their own making.  We also read a photo essay on recycling.

Social Studies -  We picked our last state and project this week.  I will send due dates home with the students today or tomorrow.  They will be due from the 16th through the 23rd.  We are learning about the Southwest rather quickly.  The lessons with these states are not very long.  We have talked about the varied climate the region has.  We also focused on the Grand Canyon and what it had to offer.  They seemed to enjoy the video I showed of the Grand Canyon.  My favorite part is the park ranger that guides you to the bottom while your are riding a burro.  He has a great sense of humor.  It is something I would like to try.

I am amazed that we are all ready in the last month of school.  I know this is a very busy time for all of us.  Please keep in mind this last month is just as important as any other month in their 4th grade year.  Please continue to encourage the importance of getting homework completed neatly and on time!!  As always, thank you for sharing your child with me.  Have a great weekend!!

God Bless, 
Mrs. Sickels