The Scoop
Mrs. Waterstredt's weekly newsletter
Week of February 8, 2016
Academics
Math- Our Unit 5 math test is today. Next up: Fractions. We will be working on Understanding that fractions are a sum of their unit fractions (i.e. 5/6 is 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6), and then we will find pairs of fractions that add to one (3/5 + 2/5 = 1).
Writing - This week we will continue to revise and edit our drafts. We will work on using a convincing tone and we will develop our introductions.
Science - This week I will have students focus on themselves as we begin our study of energy. They will discuss and map out their ideas about where their energy comes from and how their bodies transform it.
Social Studies - No Social Studies this week.
Reading- We continue our Interpretive and Analytic Reading unit this week. We will work on analyzing similarities and differences in texts that we read together and with our partners.
Teacher Notes
M-STEP Practice
The Department of Education has released some practice items for student to use to prepare for the M-STEP. Although we don't take the M-STEP until May, I think that it is beneficial for our kids to start getting comfortable with the test and practicing. Here is the link: https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1
Valentine's Party
Our room parents have planned a fun party for our kids! The party will be from 2:15-3:15 on Friday. Please remember that we cannot have any peanut products in our classroom, so be sure any Valentines are peanut-free.
4th Grade Vocal Concert
Thursday, February 11th. Have kids at Northwood by 6:45pm.
Royal Oak Public Library Field Trip
Our last RIF field trip is February 19th. Please send me an email (waterstredtk@royaloakschools.org) if you can drive and I will send the form home with your son/daughter! We will leave at 1:15 and return to school at 3:00. Thank you for your consideration!
4th Grade Lansing Field Trip
We will have the chaperone drawing on Friday. Thank you for sending in your permission slips!
Black History Month
February is Black History Month! We will be exploring the life of an important American scientist, George Washington Carver in class. Despite being born into slavery, George Washington Carver was able to become a scientist, inventor, environmentalist, writer, poet, educator and artist. After reading, discussing and viewing a video about Carver, students will be asked to complete a project of their choice, inspired by an aspect of Carver’s life. This project is to be completed at home, and will be due on March 7th. Parents are invited into the classroom on March 7th at 9:30am to see the presentations.
Projects will also be displayed at Open House... so don't feel pressure to take time off work to come on March 7th!
Look for information coming home with your son/daughter this week.
4th and 5th graders ski free in Michigan!
In case you didn't know... http://www.goskimichigan.com/michigan-ski-programs/michigan-ski-cold-is-cool
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad Online Registration Now Open!
The Northwood Mad Scientists’ Science Olympiad will be Friday March 4th from 6:30-8:30 PM. Mark your calendars! Online registration is now available. Instructions were sent home in your child’s green folder last week. There are a FEW extra instructions in the main office. Permission slips and and money to cover the cost of supplies are due by Monday February 8th. Any registrations received after that date will be waitlisted and added as space allows. The link to registration is https://sites.google.com/site/northwoodmadscientists/registration
As always, we will need the whole Northwood Community’s involvement in order to put on this fun filled, educational event. This year we will need volunteers to fill some “leadership” positions. If you have been a team leader in the past and want to do just a bit more, or just want to get more involved in this event, this is a great chance to do that. Our greatest need at this point is Science Experts and assistants. These people facilitate and run the experiments for the kids.
All positions have instructions on how to do them. You won’t have to reinvent the wheel. Commit early, and you get to come to a kick off party at the chair’s house the evening of February 9th. What other committee does that? Interested? Contact Susan Bannan at northwoodmadscientists@gmail.com or 248-990-8483.
Math Homework and Remembering Pages
Save this Link! This is a PDF of all of the "Homework and Remembering" Pages. If Fido eats your child's homework, just print off a new page!
http://www.hamilton.k12.nj.us/webpages/bnoon/files/homework_remembering_se_grade_4.pdf
Shhhhh... don't tell the students kids, here is a link to the answer key too. This is a great resource to help you check their work each night.
http://www.penfield.edu/files/1783858/Grade%204%20Homework%20&%20Remembering%20Answers.pdf
Next Spelling Test (Words Their Way)
Late Start
February 10
February 24
Royal Oak Public Library Field Trip
*drivers needed!
Contact Information
Email: waterstredtk@royaloakschools.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/royaloakschools.org/kwaterstredt/
Location: 926 W Twelve Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI, United States
Phone: 248 541 0229 4027