Where to begin....

Happy Friday...we have been super busy...here is the rundown...

LANGUAGE ARTS
In Language Arts we have been focusing on fables, tall tales and legends...these kids are very knowledgeable when it comes to all different types of stories! While reading fables we have been discussing the moral/lesson, while reading tall tales we have enjoyed the exaggeration and impossible feats, and now that we're headed into legends, we are discovering what make these stories different from all the others...we haven't figured that out quite yet...just started the Legend of Sleepy Hollow today! At the end of this unit the kids will take a test...one that summarizes all that we have been reading, discussing, and reflecting on. The test will cover the elements of each type of story: folk tales, fairy tales, fables, tall tales, and legends.

In writing I am pleased to say that almost all students have finished drafting, revising, proofreading, and conferencing their "Ella" stories. We will begin the publishing process next week. I am excited for the final products! Speaking of writing...take note of the special message at the end of this post...a letter writing opportunity that I am very excited about!

We took a break from word study this week and will continue with it for next week. I feel like I need to make something more clear for both students and parents. WORD STUDY is truly the study of words...sometimes it's about spelling, other times it's about the meaning, many times it is both. Many of our students are excellent spellers. When given the 15 word pretest, they do not get any wrong. Those children are encouraged to look for words that they have misspelled in their writing (and put in their Quick Word Handbook) or words they find that they do not know the meaning...it may not always be a challenging spelling test on Fridays, but the goal would be that each student is spelling and using the words appropriately. There are certain word study/vocabulary/phonics assessments that all students in each grade level have to take....our word study activities help the kids prepare for such assessments. If your child is writing very simple sentences and you see that there is not a lot of challenge involved...encourage (or force, whichever you prefer!) your child to write more elaborate sentences, using the words in appropriate and descriptive ways. Some of the challenge HAS to come from them...I can only provide the foundation. It may sound as if I am being defensive...but, actually no one has come to me and said that it's not challenging...however I am seeing some kids just doing what is asked and nothing more...I'd like to see the "more" in their word study work. Thanks for letting me vent! :-)

MATH
We have been working with fractions and patterns this week. The fourth grade indicator is that "students will identify, describe, extend, and create growing patterns (with at least 3 levels of growth) and repeating patterns (at least 3 repetitions) using symbols, shapes, designs, or pictures to generalize a rule"....iayaiyai!! So we took that indicator and paired it with "students will read, write, or represent proper fractions of a set or region using symbols, words or models." What better way to pair them than to have the kids create their own patterns...had to have at least FOUR levels and the core of the repeated pattern had to be repeated at least two times...and then to write about the patterns using fractions. You should have seen their heads swimming!! Some of my favorite words..."this is hard..." :-) Results of their efforts will be hanging in the classroom soon!

SCIENCE
You have sent me some aspiring scientists!! They are heavy into figuring out which mystery powders are which household chemicals...and of course, they all think they have it figured out! The focus this week was to provide evidence from an investigation to identify the processes that can be used to change materials from one state of matter to another...we made solutions and suspensions...then used filters to separate the mixtures...then observed crystals!! You should have heard the noise levels in here...the more excited they are, the louder they get. I should back up and tell you that on Thursday, while we waited an extra day for all of the water to evaporate, the kids read a non-fiction article about crystals, highlighting new information that they found. I had a child tell me that he went to La Paz for dinner last night...and he said, "Guess what I ate on my chips?! CRYSTALS!" I love it when they make connections! We will continue our investigations next week as we add different liquids to see how the different liquids affect the chemical reaction with each powder.

Speaking of science...the science fair projects are now in full swing. The kids' questions and hypotheses were due today...along with the UES forms for the Science Fair. I am still missing 7, so please check your child's folder for the form and see that they fill it out and you sign it, please. We will be working as a class next week discussing the next steps, I will model the steps and they will record the next deadline in their agendas. I am hoping to help them (and you!) stay on top of it so that you are not left spending Thanksgiving weekend doing a science fair project! Please email me as you have questions.

And now...to the letter writing opportunity..."Christmas in Afghanistan"...Logan Cresswell's uncle was deployed to Afghanistan this week. He is part of our own Frederick based Marines, Bravo Company, 4th LAR. Logan's mom, Kristen Forse, is putting together care packages for these brave marines that will include letters from our class. The goal of "Christmas in Afghanistan" is to send each Marine a "present" to open on Christmas day. Mrs. Forse is also collecting items for the care packages...below I have listed these items. Please know that I completely understand how tight times are right now, I just wanted to make you aware of these care packages that are being put together, and if you were looking for an opportunity to give this holiday season, there is one going on in our "own backyard" with which you can participate. All donations must be collected by December 1st in order to get the care packages there on time. If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Forse at 240-357-0626.

Items that are in need include:
baby wipes
razors
shaving cream
bar soap
socks
hand/foot warmers
toothbrush/toothpaste
magazines
books
crossword puzzles
stationary
gum
canned food
candy

Have a great weekend...enjoy your families.