2017 - 2018 Nerd House Coffee Talk
Home of Ms. Smalling's Strong Brewed Crew, Issue 22
Five Days in Four
It seems that short weeks are always longer than regular weeks. We tend to squeeze five days of learning in to four days. I know I was looking forward to the long weekend, and I have no doubts the kids were as well. Please enjoy the beautiful weather and time with your family. Happy Easter to everyone!
Valentine's Day Science Experiments
After Spring Break plans and illness took out many of our opportunities to celebrate the hard work the students did completing their Valentine's Day experiments, we finally had the opportunity to celebrate success with our science buddies. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather, time for friendship and best of all....popsicles.
Flexible Seating - A Repeat In Case You Missed It
Many of the students have asked if they can bring bean bags and "cool chairs" from home. I'm completely okay with it as long as you, the parents, are okay with it. I made it clear to the students that if they bring anything it belongs to them, and they are the ones to use it in class. I don't want there to be mass chaos regarding seating...so it will be a "you bring it, you sit in it" situation. When the student brings alternative seating and doesn't want to use it for the day, it will go unused. Sorry if this means I'm a "Debbie Downer," but I want to make sure that we don't have hurt feelings if one person was chosen over another.
Speaking Subject-ively
Our Week In Math
Decimals, decimals, and more decimals have been on the menu for the last few weeks. I'm happy to announce that we can turn fractions into decimals and vice versa, compare and order them, add and subtract them, and even identify them on a number line. Mission conquer the decimal - completed. Onward and upwards to geometry!
Our Week In Science
We have finally moved on to my favorite topic in science....life science! This week we concentrated on complete and incomplete metamorphosis. The students were also given a project to present an animal's life cycle through Google Slides and make a 3D representation of it as well. The project will be due next Friday, April 6.
Our Week In Reading
Reading reviews are a success, and the next one is due in two weeks!
Our Week In Social Studies
We are currently the challenges and opportunities Texas had as a young republic. This includes creating a new government, new rules, and a new monetary system.
Our Week In Word Work
We have just completed our study of comparative and superlative adjectives. Next week we will be moving on to suffixes ending in -ness, -ful, and -less. The video that accompanies this sort can be found here.
Our Week In Writing
We have had a terrific week in writing camp. Each day from 10-11, the students have been going to other 4th grade teachers to get specific help on their expository writing. We have given specific attention to craft elements, structure, depth, and planning. The other hour of writing has been spent concentrating on elements of writing such as compound/complex sentences and punctuation, vivid verb use, amazing adjective use, and possessives versus contractions. We will continue writing camp next week as well.
Upcoming Events
April 2-6 : Talent Show in the AM
April 3: Math Camp begins and writing camp continues
April 10: Writing STAAR
April 19: Field Day/Boosterthon Fun Run