Katie Riley

Week of May 5th

We're down to the last few weeks. This is what we have going on this week:

• Beginning literature circle books and projects
• Working on 5 paragraph persuasive essay
• Spelling unit 29. 3 activities due on Friday (reading log too)
• Distributive property and order of operations
• Beginning to study the Civil War
• Science test on Thursday (study guide came home last week)

Other important dates:

• Field day is this Wednesday, May 7th. Make sure your child has a water bottle and sunscreen.
• Awards Ceremony is Tuesday, May 20th at 1:00pm. You will be notified if your child is receiving an award
• End of the yeare class party is Wednesday May 21st from 10:50-11:50. We will be having an ice cream/sundae party. A list of donations will be coming home shortly.
• Other events will be given when known (i.e. .yearbook signing).

Have a great week!

Week of April 21st

Now that we're back from spring break, we are working hard on getting ready for testing. This week we will be doing some practice tests and reviewing concepts. There will be no spelling or math homework this week. However, I would like the students to keep up with their reading. It's a good way to unwind and keep focused on school. Reading logs will be due EVERY Friday from this point. I have talked with the class about the importance of nightly reading and making sure the logs are accurate. We have a great deal of inconsistency and I'd like them to refocus on this important habit.

Testing Reminders:

• Please be on time for school. We begin at 8:00 am. If you have appts scheduled before 11:00, we ask that you reschedule. Studies show that kids do their best when in the normal environment and not have to complete make-ups.
• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and eats a good breakfast. A breakfast with a lot of sugar would be more harmful than beneficial. Also, we do take a snack break during testing. Please make sure your child has something healthy and water to drink.
• Please check with them about pencils. I have extras to cover lost or broken items, but not enough to supply everyone with what they need.
• Comfortable clothes and layers will help your child as well. Since it is warm outside and they are wearing summer clothes, the air conditioning can be chilly.

Thank you for all of your support and help this week. I know they will do great, they have worked so hard this year.

I appreciate all the extra donations to the classroom. You are wonderful! Thanks again.

Have a great week!

24th-28th

Here's what's going on next week:

• We will be working on integrating SS during reading and using skills to understand content. Our studies will focus on Westward Expansion
• CRCT test practice/preparation
• Dividing decimals (quiz on Friday)
• Ecosystems (Unit B chapter 1)

Other important information:

• Picture Day on Monday. Individual packages are available but we will be taking group pictures as well.
• Spring Carnival on March 29th from 1-4pm. Please send donations for our "summer fun" basket by Monday.
• Chattanooga field trip on Thursday, April 3rd. More details to come home this week.
• Please return report card signatures and envelopes.

Have a great weekend (maybe some nice weather for a change!).

Extra Credit Question: What are the 3 questions that an adverb answers? (+5 poings in English)

Week of 17th-21st

Here's what is going on next week:

• Studying different types of reference text
• Writing summaries
• Adverbs
• Multiplying decimals
• Ecosystems/Ecology

Other important information:

• There is a Social Studies test on Wednesday
• Please return registration cards and envelopes ASAP. Thank you for your help.
• Report cards come home on Thursday
• Spring pictures will be taken on Monday, March 24th. Information was sent home in Thursday folders.

A note from the room mom:

A letter will be sent home shortly requesting items or monetary donations for the Spring Carnival Basket. We really need everyone to try to participate to fill the basket. At this time we only have one item. Our theme is "Summer Fun" so if you are out and about and find something you'd like to send in, we'd love to have it! Thanks for your help.

Extra Credit: List 3 synonyms for fact and 3 synonyms for opinion (that's 6 total!) (+5 points in Reading)

Week of March 10th

Parents,

I want to commend all of the students for an excellent job on their VIP project. I'm so very proud of how hard they have worked and the presentation they made today. Thank you for your support by sending in supplies, finding costumes, creating souvenirs, and adding last minute details. We couldn't do it without you. The question boxes will come home today, posters will be displayed in the hallways, and final grades will be in the blue communication folders next week.

Next week this is what we're doing:

• discussing fact and opinion
• using main idea and supporting details to write a summary
• studying adverbs
• CRCT math test practice
• finishing our Space Unit. A study guide will come home on Monday. The test is on Friday.
• Last units on Fire Safety (test Monday)
• Finishing Junior Achievement
• Reading Logs due Friday
• Spelling Activities due Monday (from this week) and Friday (for next week)

Just a friendly reminder that we will be doing a Solar System Activity next week. A list of items that I am requesting for donation were sent home yesterday. Please send these in on Monday. Thank you SO much for your support.

The end of the 3rd marking period is Friday. I can't believe we're on the homestretch already!

Have a great weekend!

Extra Credit: What are the 8 phases of the moon we discussed? (+5 in Science) due on Friday.

Week of February 25th-29th

Here's what we're learning next week:

• Finishing main idea/supporting details. Beginning fact and opinion
• Reading groups will be working on nonfiction literature circles and practicing the concepts
• Working on VIP project
• Reviewing decimals and fractions to prepare for our assessment March 5th
• Continuing American Revolution and Space
• We also have fire safety, junior achievement, and guidance this week!

A few field trip forms were incomplete. I cannot accept any forms that are not notarized. Please make sure this is done and return ASAP.

Reading logs, spelling activities, and behavior blocks due on Friday.

I am looking for donations for refreshments for our VIP tea. If you are able to help with juice, cookies, muffins, etc. please let me know.

Have a great weekend.

(No extra credit this week since it was a short week...)

18th-22nd

Here's what we have going on next week:

• No school for students Monday and Tuesday. See you on Wednesday
• Field trip forms need to be returned by Friday. I'm still in need of a chaperone. If I have no volunteers I will open up the slot to another classroom parent. Please let me know by Friday.
• Continuing with main idea and supporting details
• VIP project. Posterboard and a shoebox due Wednesday. If you have extras, please send in. All work is being done here at school.
• Measuring weight in the metric system. We will have a weight quiz on Friday.
• Battles of the Revolution and Phases of the Moon

Thank you all for the wonderful cards, flowers, and treats you sent this week for Teacher Appreciation Week. It was greatly appreciated!

I have a request. The students are becoming very forgetful returning items to school. This week there were many reading logs incomplete, spelling activities not turned in, and behavior blocks not signed and returned. Make sure to look through and clean out weekly blue folders. I am still missing a few progress reports. Please help me to encourage them to get organized and be responsible for their academics and behavior. The routine will greatly pay off in the years to come.

Extra Credit Question: What causes the seasons? (make sure to use science vocabulary to answer) +5 points in Science

11th-15th

Coming up next week:

• Studying Main Idea and Supporting Details
• Working on our writing fair entries
• Continue to read and take notes on our VIP
• Beginning unit on weight
• Space/American Revolution

Other important happenings/dates:

• We will be starting our Junior Achievement
• Fire Safety lessons taught by firefighters
• Guidance
• Valentine's and boxes/bags should be brought to school to share on Thursday. We will have a special snack as well
• No school for students Feb. 18th and 19th
• Please return field trip forms. I still need 1 chaperone if you're interested.
• Students should have VIP books in school. Posterboard due by Friday.
• Progress reports will come home on Thursday only for students with less than C averages.

We've got a lot going on, so please let me know if you have questions. We've started a revised behavior plan that has blocks. Students lose blocks for not following classroom/school expectations. They will come home on Thursdays for you to sign and students with 10 or more blocks will participate in "Fun Friday".

Bonus Question: Write 3 examples of cause/effect that you notice this week. Example: Cause: My room was messy. Effect: My parents put me on restriction. (+ 5 points reading) due Friday.

4th-8th

We've finally had a few normal days! Coming up next week...

• Discussing cause/effect in our reading
• Finishing our note-taking and creating paragraphs and posters to display what we learned
• Continuing with decimals. We will be adding, subtracting, comparing, ordering, and rounding. A test will be on Friday.
• Studying what causes the seasons and the events of the Revolutionary War.

Other important information:

• Our 4th grade VIP Tea project came home on Thursday. We will be doing much of the project in class. They will need to have a book approved and ready to start by next Friday (8th). If this is a problem, please let me know.
• Early Release Day (yes, another) on Wednesday the 6th.
• No school for students Feb. 18th and 19th to celebrate President's Day.
• Please remind your child of the importance of completing assignments and turning them in. We have quite a few this week using study hall time to catch up.

Congratulations to Evan, Morgan, Justen, and Anne for answering last week's bonus question correctly!

Question for this week: What was the name of the event that started the American Revolution? Who was the first person to die? (+5 in Social Studies for answering both questions) due Friday the 8th.

28th-1st

Thank you for a great conference week. I enjoyed meeting to discuss your child's progress. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

A reminder that Monday will be Early Release Day. We will also have Early Release Day on Wednesday, February 6th.

In the classroom we are working on:

• Identifying text structure and forming questions to help us understand what we read
• Taking notes to answer research questions
• Verb tenses
• Continuing with decimals
• Studying space and American Revolution

A few reminders:

• Reading logs due Friday the 1st. Please review for accuracy before initialing and returning to school.
• 3 Spelling Activities due on Friday.

This weeks bonus question:

What is the most common type of star? (+5 points in Science)- Due next THURSDAY (31st)!