Mrs. Egdorf's Class News
Welcome
Week of
May 16-20
I can't believe we are down to one week left in the school year! We have had a great week! We've had the opportunity to work on our Animal Game Board PBL and have had a blast doing it! Each group was assigned an animal, researched the animal, and created an educational board game all about their animal. All of the games are so creative and really fun! They've done an amazing job!
We had our end of year picnic at DeCordova earlier this week and had a great time! We avoided the rain but had some very Fall-like temperatures. :) It IS Texas so you just never know!
Next week is full of end of year activities. Here is what we have...
- May 26-4th grade awards assembly at 9:30
- May 26-Class Party 11:30-12:50
- May 27-Talent Show
- May 27-Last day of school/early dismissal at 11:45
May 9-13
STAAR is behind us! I am so proud of how hard everyone worked! I really believe that we gave 100% from start to finish! I know it is such a stressful time but we appreciate everything you do to prepare your child for these testing days.
We wrapped up the week with Field Day at GMS. It was so super fun watching each one of them compete and have a blast doing it! The weather was beautiful and fun was had by all! It was a very exciting day!
As we close out the year please continue to make every effort to have your child at school every day. Although testing is complete, we still have a PBL project to do and it is a fun one!
Here are some reminders...
- May 26-4th grade awards assembly at 9:30
- May 26-Class Party 11:30-12:50
- May 27-Talent Show
- May 27-Last day of school/early dismissal at 11:45
May 2-6
Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day to all you moms! Your impact goes far beyond what you can see. You are so appreciated and loved by your littles and those around you. You are incredible! Thank you!
As you all know, tomorrow and Tuesday wrap up testing for our precious 4th graders. They have worked so hard and they are ready. I couldn't be more proud of not just how much they have put into preparing, but how far they've come. I'm so excited to see how amazingly they perform! Build them up! Tell them you believe in them! Tell them how proud they make you! Tell them you love them! Tell them they've got this!
Don't forget...
- May 9-STAAR Math test
- May 10-STAAR Reading test
- May 13-Field Day at AMS
- May 19-4th grade DCBE Picnic
- May 26-4th grade awards assembly at 9:30
- May 27-Last day of school/early dismissal at 11:45
April 25-29
Hello 4th grade families! I hope you've had a great week so far. We have been working so hard reviewing for our upcoming test that the week just flew by! This week was spent reviewing skills that we needed some extra practice on. We studied our last benchmark and determined our lowest performing areas. We are now focusing on the targeted skills for each individual student. I have seen amazing progress just this week and am so excited for them to have the opportunity to show what they know!
Here are some reminders...
- May 6-Talent Show forms due
- May 9-STAAR Math test
- May 10-STAAR Reading test
- May 13-Field Day at AMS
- May 19-4th grade DCBE Picnic
- May 26-4th grade awards assembly at 9:30
- May 27-Last day of school/early dismissal at 11:45
April 18-22
Good afternoon! I hope you've had a great weekend and are enjoying this beautiful weather! We had a very productive week last week and plan to do the same with this one. We've been doing a lot of reviewing and focusing on where we need to get stronger. I appreciate all of the hard work everyone has been putting in! We have only two short weeks until our day to show what we know. We need to continue to give 100% in every area so that we're ready to rock it!
Please continue to work with your child and build them up every chance you get! This means so much to them and goes so far in increasing their confidence. It is HUGE! Thank you for all the amazing things you do for your child!
Follow our class on Twitter! @jenn_egdorf
Here are some important dates to remember...
- May 9-STAAR Math test
- May 10-STAAR Reading test
- May 13-Field Day at AMS
- May 19-4th grade DCBE Picnic
- May 26-4th grade awards assembly at 9:30
- May 27-Last day of school/early dismissal at 11:45
April 11-15
We've had a very busy week around here! We took our last reading benchmark on Tuesday and our last math benchmark on Thursday. Your child will be coming home with a progress report showing their scores on each.
We also worked to prepare our 3D models and presentations for our Happy Habitats project. We are super impressed with how great they all look! The students totally rocked and we appreciate everyone doing their part to provide supplies for these!
We are partnering with HEB to celebrate Earth Day! We will be having a plastic bag collection contest! Please send plastic bags from any retailer to school with your child next week, April 18-22. These will be recycled and made into new products!
Here are some reminders...
May 9-4th grade math STAAR test
May 10-4th grade reading STAAR test
May 13-4th grade Field Day at AMS
April 4-8
We had another very productive week and even finished up the 5th grading period. Crazy that's it's already the last grading period of the year! You almost have a 5th grader! We've been spending most of our time on time and measurement as well as reviewing previously taught concepts. In the coming weeks we will be using every minute of every day working hard on review and our PBL projects. We are so excited to have begun our Happy Habitats project. We are getting ready to start building our 3D models and are preparing our brochures and sales pitches for our designs. Your child should have brought home a list of supplies with their assigned item labeled. Please send these to school no later than Wednesday so that we can get started. They have been doing amazing and we are having so much fun! Thank you for your help!
Here are some reminders of some things coming up...
- Tomorrow-Reading benchmark
- Thursday-Math benchmark
- Thursday-College Spirit Day/report cards go home
March 28-April 1
What a great week we had! Got the much anticipated writing test behind us and had a fabulous trip to Austin! It was rainy but we still had such a fun time. I think we might have even learned some things! :)
Here are some reminders for upcoming happenings...
Square One Art orders are due tomorrow
We are still in need of classroom supplies.
pencils
pencil cap erasers
Kleenex
Expos
Any and all help is much appreciated!
March 21-25
I hope you all had a restful weekend and a very Happy Easter!
We ALL know what happens tomorrow...STAAR writing! We are so excited for everyone to finally get to show what they know! They have been working harder than ever the past couple of weeks and are so ready to knock it out of the park! Please make sure your child receives a full nights sleep, a good breakfast, but most importantly, kind and encouraging words from you. Let them know how proud you are of them and how truly amazing they are. They are going to do incredible and we are so proud of the them!
On Friday we will be traveling to Austin and absolutely cannot wait! This trip is such a wonderful experience and I'm so happy that we get to do it together. Thank you, thank you, thank you to those of you that have so graciously donated money to go toward trip expenses. Money will be spent on snacks and drinks for the bus ride, as well as a pizza lunch on the Capitol lawn. We are still asking for donations to cover the last little bit and any amount is so appreciated. THANK YOU!
If you will be joining us and taking your child home with you from Austin, please make sure you send a note stating this no later than Wednesday. I will be having those signed by Mrs. Roe that afternoon and cannot release any child without this documentation.
All Austin money is due tomorrow along with any forms to be signed that have been sent home. I know this is a lot of information so please let me know if you have any questions about anything at all! :)
Please refer to the packet I sent home last week for more information. Here are the basics...
no cell phones
yes to electronics
yes to DVDs that are rated PG
bring a sack "dinner"
yes to snacks for the bus
yes to activities/things for the bus ride
yes to disposable camera (students WILL NOT be allowed to take anything from the bus)
March 7-11
We made it to Spring Break! I think we have all earned it and are more than ready! We have been working so hard and need some rest before we come back ready to give it our all for the home stretch.
This week in math we have been reviewing areas of difficulty from the benchmark. We not only want to know what problems we missed, but it is important for us to know why we missed them.
In science we explored genetics and the difference between inherited and acquired traits. We love our science time!
Please remember to return Austin t-shirt forms and money as soon as possible. Money is due no later than March 29th. Also, if you are planning on attending don't forget that you will need to complete a background check with the office. point
We have reached the time of year when supplies are getting low. We would so appreciate any help replenishing them. Our classroom is in need of
pencils
pencil cap erasers
Kleenex
Expos
Here are some reminders of things coming up...
- March 14-18-Spring Break
- March 21-Spring pictures
- March 21-Camp Grady Spruce meeting for 4th grade parents 6:00
- March 25-Bad Weather Makeup Day/No school
- March 29-4th grade Writing STAAR
- April 1-Austin Field Trip
February 29-March 4
It's been so great to be back this week! As some of you know, my daughter had a procedure done in Houston last week that the family needed to be there for. She is doing great now and has already come so far in her recovery. It's going to be a long road but we're going to get there.
This week we spent Monday and Tuesday reviewing for our benchmark that we took on Wednesday. Overall, I was very proud of how hard they all worked. We will be sending home progress reports with the most current benchmark scores in the coming days. Benchmarks will also be available for you to view at Open House on Tuesday. They will not be going home. While your child's score MAY not be as high as you'd prefer, please keep in mind that the passing standard is 56 and we are looking for progress from one assessment to another.
On Tuesday we had the privilege of watching the Extreme Science assembly. It was so cool and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it! Some students even had the opportunity to participate on stage!
On Friday, in recognition of Texas Independence Day we participated in Texas rotations and had a celebration with chips, queso, and tortillas. We sure do LOVE our state!
Information for our 4th grade Austin field trip went home this week. We are so excited and ready for this amazing experience! Please return the order form for shirts as soon as possible. Money is due March 23rd. If you plan to attend, you will need to complete a background check if you don't already have one.
Please make sure your child is completing and returning ALL homework each Friday. It is so important for them to get that extra practice that homework provides.
This Wednesday we do have a follow up appointment in Houston for my daughter so I will be out. If your child attends math tutoring on Wednesdays, they are more than welcome to attend the Tuesday session this week. I apologize for any inconvenience and will be back on the regular schedule following spring break.
Here are some important reminders of things coming up...
- March 7-11-AES Book Fair
- March 8-Open House 5:30-7:00
- March 14-18-Spring Break/No school/Extended day closed
- March 21-Spring pictures
- March 23-Austin money due
- March 25-Bad Weather Day/No school
- March 29-4th grade STAAR Writing
February 15-19
I hope you've all had a fabulous week! We have been working so hard on our geometry! This week our vocabulary has grown to include lines, line segments, rays, angles, and perpendicular and parallel lines.
In science we explored the different phases of the moon. We love love love our science time!
If you haven't turned in Boosterthon pledges, please do so as soon as possible.
Also, please remember how important homework is to your child's academic success. It is a great opportunity for your child to get extra practice. There are just not enough hours in the school day to practice as much as we need to. Thanks for your cooperation!
I also wanted to say a big THANK YOU for making sure your child is at school everyday! Our attendance has been awesome recently and that is because of you!
Here are some important things to remember...
- February 26-Box Tops due
- February 26-Six Flags Reading Log due. LATE LOGS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
- February 29-March 4-AES Book Fair
- March 8-Open House 5:30-7:00
- March 14-18-Spring Break/No school/Extended day closed
February 8-12
I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend and a great Valentines Day! Last week we wrapped up division and started input-output tables. We will continue that this week and also start geometry. YAY! It's one of my favorites and I know that we will have so much fun with it! Please make sure your child continues to study those multiplication facts and keeps practicing their division.
As you know, we ran the Fun Run on Thursday and it was so much FUN just as promised! On Friday your child came home with a collection envelope and should return on Wednesday with all the pledges they collected. I am so proud of all the hard work you all put into making it such a huge success!
Believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about our Austin Field Trip on April 1st! If you think you might want to help out as a chaperone please get your background check done with the office as soon as possible. It is such a great experience for everyone and the more the merrier! Soon we will be sending home info on t-shirts and more details about the actual trip. Stay tuned!
Here are some important things to remember...
- February 16-Elementary start time changes to 7:30
- February 16-Beginning of 5th six weeks
- February 18-College Spirit Day/report cards
- February 29-March 4-AES Book Fair
February 1-5
We sure have had some fun this week! We kicked off Boosterthon and are doing awesome! Please please please continue to get those pledges! We are working hard to earn funds for an athletic track and cool new video announcement boards for the pit. Right now we are at $16 pledged per lap. That's great but let's keep the pledges coming! The weekend is a great time to get out and get it done!
This week in math we worked more on division and started a middle of the year assessment to get us ready for the math benchmark that will be given on March 1st. In the coming days we will be reviewing previously taught concepts as well as new material. I know we are going to rock it!
Please make sure you are checking your child's homework each week. We had several students not return homework today. It's important for them to get that extra practice at home. If they are having trouble with anything please have them ask me about it early in the week, not on Friday morning when it is due.
Also, your student may be bringing home unfinished work today. This work should be completed and returned by Monday. They have had quite a bit of class time to finish all of their work but sometimes do not use their time wisely. Also, if there have been absences your child may be behind on some work. With the end of the grading period coming up next week, we need to make sure all work is complete and turned in.
Here are some important things to remember...
- February 11-Fun Run
- February 12-Valentines Party 9:00-10:00
- February 12-early release at 11:45/end of 4th grading period
- February 15-student holiday/teacher workday
- February 16-Elementary start time changes to 7:30
- February 18-College Spirit Day/report cards
January 25-29
Another fun and productive week is in the books! We continued working on long division and have started partial quotients. Have your child teach you all about this method at home! They are loving it! Progress reports, parent conference letters, and tutoring forms went home earlier this week. If you have not returned them, please do so as soon as possible. We will begin scheduling conferences soon!
Important things to remember...
- February 2-Boosterthon Pep Rally 1:30
- February 2-Good News Club starts
- February 11-Boosterthon Fun Run
- February 12-Class Valentines Party 9:00-10:00
- February 12-End of 4th six weeks/early dismissal at 11:45
January 18-22
We've had a fun week and got a lot accomplished! In math we have continued our work on division and took a common assessment. Progress reports, parent conference letters, and tutoring forms will be going home next week. Please return those as soon as possible.
Please make sure your child is completing their homework each week. We understand that some nights are busier than others so homework is sent home Monday and should be completed and returned by Friday.
Here are some important things to remember...
- January 26-Reading Night
- February 2-Boosterthon Pep Rally 1:30
- February 2-Good News Club starts
- February 12-Class Valentines Party 9:00-10:00
- February 12-End of 4th six weeks/early dismissal at 11:45
January 11-15
It's been another great week! We are getting back into our routine and moving right along.
This week in math we continued our work on division. We are getting the hang of it and just about ready to move on to long division next week. Continue to work on those multiplication facts at home since knowing those is vital for mastering division.
In science we had fun reviewing electricity, weathering, erosion, and deposition. We took our science common assessment today and are excited to see our scores!
Please continue to make sure your child is completing and returning homework on Fridays of each week. We had quite a few today that were missing either part or all of their homework. This extra practice at home is so important!
Here are some important dates to remember...
- January 18-MLK Day/School holiday
- January 26-Reading Night
- February 2-Boosterthon Pep Rally 1:30
- February 2-Good News Club starts
- February 12-End of 4th six weeks/early dismissal at 11:45
I hope you all had a wonderful break and came back rested and ready to learn! We are so excited to be back!
This week in math we have been reviewing previously taught concepts and dividing. We have just about mastered dividing using repeated subtraction and will start dividing using arrays and area models next week.
In science we talked about recycling, renewable, and non-renewable resources. We started making Google slides and will finish those next week. We sure do love science!
Here are some important reminders...
*January 11-Cattle Raisers Museum Presentation
*January 14-Science Fair
*January 18-MLK Day/School holiday
*January 26-Reading Night
December 14-18
We have made it to the halfway point! I can't believe the first semester is already finished! We have been so busy with all kinds of fun stuff this week! Earlier in the week we made our gifts to take home and they turned out so cute! I hope you love them! On Tuesday we participated in the Dogs of Character assembly. It was wonderful and had such a great message. On Wednesday we got to watch the Spelling Bee and saw our very own Zach Layland in action. He did awesome and we are so proud! On Thursday we did our 4th grade Christmas rotations. The students traveled to five other classrooms to play games, make crafts, and play trivia. They did great! Today we had our Christmas party. It was so much fun! Delicious donuts and yummy kolaches make any party great! We also got to make the cutest most creative little ornaments ever! They turned out so awesome! THANK YOU to all that came and helped and joined us!
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Relax and spend time with family. Be safe and we will see you all ready to start the second half of the school year on January 4th.
December 7-11
We've had so much fun this week! We continued our work on multiplication and had such a great time doing it! We played Snowman Multiplication on the board and the competition got pretty intense. It was a blast! We also took our multiplication test and totally rocked it! I am so proud! Let's make sure we continue to study those basic facts at home. We must know these in order to be successful in everything we do from here on out!
In science we talked more about weathering, erosion, and deposition. We worked more on our Google slides and are becoming experts! We love having Chrome Books in our class and use them every chance we get!
Next week is a busy week and the last week of the six weeks. Please make sure your child is at school each day and is ready to keep learning!
Next Friday is our Christmas party and we are asking each child to bring $2 to go toward food and drinks. Please send money no later than Wednesday, December 16th. Since this will take place in the morning, we will be having donuts, kolaches, milk, and water. Parents are welcome to join in on the celebration too! It is going to be so much fun and a great way to start our two week break!
Here are some reminders...
-12/15 – Dogs of Character Program 3-5 1:45pm
-12/16 – Spelling Bee
-12/17 – 4th Grade Music Program at 6:00
-12/18 – Class Christmas Party 8:30-9:30
-12/18 – Early Release 11:45 am and end of 3rd grading period.
November 30-December 4
It has been such a great week back! It was so wonderful to see everyone's smiling faces again after a well deserved break for them all! I can't believe it's already December and Christmas break is right around the corner. We have been busy busy trying to take advantage of every single minute we are in the classroom.
This week in math I have been so proud of how hard everyone has been working on multiplication! We have multiplied 2 digit by 1 digit, 3 digit by 1 digit, 4 digit by 1 digit, and 2 digit by 2 digit. Whew! That's a lot! I love seeing how many different ways we can work our problems and that some prefer certain methods over others. That is why it is SO important that we learn ALL of them! We've used the standard algorithm, lattice, partial products, and area model. Before you know it, we'll be moving on to division!
In science we have learned all about weathering, erosion, and deposition. We learned a super FUN chant that has helped us remember what each of them mean. Here's the link!
https://youtu.be/jFU6jh3R1vg The students also created Google slide shows showing off their new knowledge. They are doing such a great job!
Here are some important things to remember...
Please take the time to study multiplication facts every single night. As we are moving on to more difficult concepts, this becomes more and more important. We MUST know our basic facts.
Please make your best effort to have your student to school on time. With our new schedule this becomes even more crucial. We work every single minute we are here, and even if they are just a few minutes late they are missing important instructional time.
December 16 - School Spelling Bee
December 18 - Christmas party/early release at 11:45
December 21-January 2 - Christmas Break
January 7 - Report Cards/College Shirt Day
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Get out and enjoy this beautiful weather while we are lucky enough to have it!
November 16-20
It is so exciting to know that we have made it to Thanksgiving break! I am so thankful that I get to see the changes we make from week to week! We have come so far in just the few weeks we've been in school!
This week in math we continued our work in two by two digit multiplication. We just keep getting better and better! Please ask your child to demonstrate all the different ways we have been multiplying. They are loving it!
In science we learned about the different properties of soil. Who ever thought soil could be so fascinating!
While we're talking about science, I'd like to mention that forms for the science fair went home yesterday. This is a great opportunity for your child to experiment and be creative. The AES Science Fair will take place January 14th with the winning participants moving on to the GISD District Science Fair on February 24th. To make the registration process as simple as possible, you are encouraged to complete the form online at https://goo.gl/KYeMHY
I hope you all have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving! See you all back here November 30th!
November 9-13
We are a week into the third grading period and it's been an awesome one! We've been so super busy this week with our new threeway switch schedule. It has been such a smooth transition and the kids have done an unbelievable job adjusting. We are so proud!
In math we have been hitting multiplication hard and this week they had the opportunity to take their learning into their own hands. Since there are so many different ways to multiply two by two digit numbers, we split into groups of three and created a google slide show as a class. Each group was assigned a strategy and designed their own slide to teach the rest of the class about that strategy. Each slide had to include the definition/explanation of the strategy, at least three examples, and a video of the strategy being used. They did awesome and loved every minute of it!
In science we took advantage of the beautiful weather and did an activity outside during our science lab time. We talked about force and motion using books, a marble, and a ramp (ruler). We measured the different distances the marble traveled when the ramp was at the angle that one book provided and worked our way up to four books. It was so much fun!
We also had our second six weeks good behavior party yesterday! We celebrated by an hour of electronics and board games! Of course we all enjoyed that! Everyone was very responsible and took care of all the devices and games they were allowed to bring.
The classroom Spelling Bee will be in next Thursday , November 19th during class time. Each child will have a chance to participate. Words came home this week. If you need another copy of the words, please let me know and I’ll send another set home. If your child is the classroom winner, they will go on to the campus Spelling Bee. They will get a new set of words to review. The campus Spelling Bee will be December 16th at 9:00. Happy spelling!
Here are some other important reminders
Please make sure your child continues to complete and return their homework. Assignments are sent home on Monday and should be returned on Friday. It is so important to reinforce concepts taught at school, at home. Thanks!
November 18 - Thanksgiving Feast during lunch
November 19 - AES Chick-fil-A Spirit Night 5:00-9:00
November 23-27 - Thanksgiving break
November 2-6
Well we've made it through the second grading period! Yay! It's been a super great week! On Friday we participated in Career Day and it was so much fun! We had the opportunity to visit with a soil conservationist, a retired teacher who now works at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, an author, a physical therapist, a warden, a banker, and a representative from Fossil Rim. We learned so much!
In math this week we spent our time reviewing place value, representing decimals using models and money, comparing fractions, and adding and subtracting whole numbers and decimals. Please make sure your child is studying their multiplication facts at home. Just a few minutes a day will go so far!
In science we talked more about sound and reviewed our results of our lab last week. We did however miss our science lab time this week due to our Opera House field trip, but had so much fun watching the performance that I don't think anyone really minded.
Here are some important dates and reminders
November 9 - Beginning of 3rd six weeks
November 10 - Family Fitness Night 5:30-6:30
November 12 - College Spirit Day/Report Cards go home
November 18 - Thanksgiving Feast during lunch
November 19 - AES Chick-fil-A Spirit Night 5:00-9:00
November 23-27 - Thanksgiving break
I hope you have all had a great weekend! See you tomorrow!
October 26-30
Only one more week left this grading period! Can you believe it? Six weeks 2 is just almost done! It's been a fun and exciting week around here. Between the full moon, Red Ribbon Week, Character Costume Day, and the constantly changing weather, we've been busy!
This week in math we added and subtracted fractions, compared fractions, and played some fun games in stations. Fraction Dominoes, Fraction Battle, Place Value Memory, and Decimal Sums and Differences were a huge success!
In science we talked about sound and traveled to the lab where we made a straw oboe, constructed guitars using rubberbands, and made music with bottles. There was lots of noise involved!
In other news, we have welcomed our newest 4th grade teacher, Mrs. April Strickland to our team! We are so excited and just know that you will all love her! She will be teaching writing while Mrs. Gravley will teach reading and social studies and I will still be teaching math and science. We are so ready to get our three way rotation going and will begin on Monday. Please let us know if you have any questions at all about this exciting change.
Here is some important info-
November 2 - Picture retake day
November 4 - Field Trip to Opera House (Please sign and return permission slips ASAP)
November 6 - End of 2nd six weeks/Early release at 11:45
November 9 - Beginning of 3rd six weeks
I hope you all have a super weekend! Stay dry and enjoy the fall temperatures! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
October 19-23
Well, week nine is now behind us and it's been a great one!
In math this week we added fractions with like denominators and reviewed rounding, comparing fractions, finding fractions on a number line, and completed common assessment 1. We have been super busy!
In science we studied magnetism and what makes objects magnetic. In the lab we tested different objects for magnetism. We had lots of fun!
Today we had our second day of enrichment. This is such a special time for students and teachers alike! It is so cool to see the kids participating in something that they are passionate about. :)
Last night was Spring Creek Night! It was so great to see so many smiling faces participating in something that benefits our school. Thanks to all who came!
Don't forget, next week is Red Ribbon Week! Please send your child with $1.00 if they plan to dress up as their favorite book character on Friday. Also, please keep in mind that we are asking that no scary or gruesome costumes be worn. We have lots of littles (and some teachers) here that may get a little spooked. This is a fun day that should be enjoyed by all!
Here are some important reminders-
October 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week (more info to come)
October 30 - Character Costume Day!
November 2 - Picture retake day
November 6 - End of 2nd six weeks/Early release at 11:45
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the rain while we're getting it!
October 12-16
I can’t believe we’ve just completed the 8th week of school! On one hand I feel like I’ve known your students forever, but on the other I feel like we’ve just gotten started. It is so exciting to see the changes from week to week!
This week in math we spent some time working on Xtra Math, Think Through Math, and Study Island. Your child has access to all of these websites at home and they are a great way to practice all of the concepts we are studying. We also worked on comparing fractions with like and unlike numerators and denominators, as well as reviewing previously taught concepts. We have just started adding and subtracting fractions and will continue into next week as we move into adding and subtracting whole numbers and decimals.
In science we once again built circuits but this time we tested a list of objects to determine whether they were insulators or conductors. We also spent time in the computer lab doing online investigations of electrical circuits, insulators, and conductors. We had so much fun! In addition to circuits, we also became experts on previously taught concepts. Each group was given a topic to research and then present to the class. It was so cool to see them teach and learn all at the same time!
Here are some dates to remember-
October 22 - AES Spring Creek Night
October 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week (more info to come)
October 30 - Character Costume Day!
November 2 - Picture retake day
November 6 - End of 2nd six weeks/Early release at 11:45
October 5-9
Another week is in the books! I hope you've all enjoyed it as much as we have. Each week brings new things to learn and more fun to be had. I love fourth grade!
Today we traveled to DeCordova for our Good Behavior Picnic. So much fun! Yesterday we attended the fire safety assembly and learned so much. The kids did great and loved getting to see the fire truck and all the equipment used by the fire fighters. Such a great experience!
Back in the classroom we began practicing comparing fractions with like and unlike denominators. Our work with this is not done so we will continue this into next week. I am excited about how much progress we've already made though!
In science we've been looking at circuits. In the science lab we actually got to build our own. We built a simple circuit, a circuit that could be turned on (closed) and off (open) with a switch. We used a battery as our power source and small light bulbs as our resistor. We might've had a little too much fun when we switched out the light bulb with a resistor that was even more cool! See video below...
Here are some important reminders-
Report cards went home yesterday. Be sure to check your child's folder.
October 12 - Homecoming Parade at 7:00 pm
October 13 - Cookie Dough delivery
October 16 - Pajama Day for winning grade level box tops competition for the month of September! Keep them coming! :)
October 22 - AES Spring Creek Night
October 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week (more info to come)
October 30 - Character Costume Day!
November 2 - Picture retake day
November 6 - End of 2nd six weeks/Early release at 11:45
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Don't forget to cheer on our Rangers!
September 28-October 2
We had another great week in 4th grade! And it was the final week of the first six weeks! It's crazy how fast time flies by when you're having so much fun!
This week in math we started adding and subtracting decimals and reviewed previously taught concepts. As we will be doing every week, we also practiced problem solving skills using our UPS check packet and our Countdown to the STAAR packets. Students do get a completion grade on these since we go over them together. This should be an easy way to boost those math averages!
In science we talked about the difference between mixtures and solutions and even got to create our own. We now know that all solutions are mixtures, but not all mixtures are solutions. They loved this lab!
In addition to all that fun, we used our chromebooks this week to begin working on code.org. This is an awesome website that teaches and promotes computer science. Each student has their own login so activities are geared toward their current skill level. You can go read more about it here www.code.org/about They are loving it!
Here are some important reminders of upcoming events...
October 5 - Student holiday/teacher workday
October 22 - AES Spring Creek Night
October 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week (more info to come)
October 30 - Character Costume Day!
Go Cowboys and yay Rangers! We are the AL West Division Champs! This just made my weekend! Hope yours is just as great!
September 21-25
Well, it's been a quiet but productive week. I love seeing the progress we make each day! Our brains have grown tremendously just in the five short weeks we've been here!
This week in math our work on decimals continued. We spent more time comparing and ordering and even worked with a partner to compare place values to help us order a set of decimal cards. Each pair them combined their cards with another pair to order twice the amount. It was a fun way to add some movement to something we've been spending so much time on! In addition to decimals, we used our whiteboards to practice the snail and hill method for rounding. This is a difficult concept and having that visual is huge! They loved it and even asked if we could do more!
In science we traveled to the science lab to SAVE FRED! This is a really fun STEM activity that allows the students to work together to problem solve. Here is an explanation of the activity...
Fred, the gummy worm, has been spending his time boating on the lake near his home. He is not too bright, he is a worm after all. He has never learned to swim and he never wears his life preserver. The worst has finally happened! Fred’s boat has capsized and he is stuck! His life preserver is caught under the boat, but he cannot reach it without falling into the water and drowning. Can you save FRED?
Materials Needed:
- gummy worm (Fred)
gummy life saver (the
life preserver)
1 plastic cup (the boat)
4 paper clips
Problem:
How can you and your partner save Fred using only 4 paper clips? You may not touch Fred, the boat, or the life preserver directly with your hands, only with the paper clips.
I've included some pictures to show just how engaging and fun this activity is!
Here is some important info to remember-
October 2 - End of first grading period/early release at 11:45
October 5 - Student holiday/teacher workday
October 22 - AES Spring Creek Night
October 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week (more info to come)
October 30 - Character Costume Day!
September 14-18
We've have such a great week! I am seeing wonderful things from each student every single day. We put our 10 NEW CHROMEBOOKS to use and loved every minute of it. We have already used them several times!
This week in math we spent most of our time working on decimals-comparing, ordering, locating on a number line, as well as some adding and subtracting. On Tuesday we did our beginning of year assessment and will use that as a tool to guide instruction. Your child will not receive a gradebook grade on this test. We used our Chromebooks to do some skills practice on Think Through Math and Xtra Math too! I encourage you to allow your child to log in to these programs at home as well.
In science we talked about buoyancy, states of matter, and fermentation and watched how "sewer maggots" clean and sanitize "cow urine." I have included some pictures and a video of the students' reactions at the bottom of the page. It was priceless!
Here are some important reminders and useful information-
Student Council forms are due by Monday, September 21. These went home Thursday.
Homework helper videos are available for viewing on the 4th grade level website.
Please make every effort to have your child to school on time. Even if they are 10-15 minutes late, they are missing important instructional time.
September 21 - AES picture day
September 24 - AES Family Picnic
October 2 - End of first grading period/early release at 11:45
October 5 - Student holiday/teacher workday
I hope you have all enjoyed your weekend! I'm loving that the Cowboys pulled that one out and our Rangers are still hanging on in 1st place! :)