Spelling City

Spelling City is a great way for your child to practice the spelling words for the week.  I am sending home the directions for how to log into the site.  We have created one site with the fourth grade spelling words, for all fourth grade students to use.  The site has both the regular spelling list and the list for the bonus words.  Your child will not need to do the regular spelling list of 20 words if they score a 100% on the pre-test.  If score 100% they move onto the bonus words.  This is a fun way to practice the words and study!  The link will be posted under Learning Links to the right.   Enjoy!

Welcome!

Welcome to Fourth Grade!  It is going to be a great year!  This is our classroom blog and I will use it as my main form of communication with parents and students.  You may susbscribe to this blog and that will allow you to receive an email notification when a new blog has been posted.  For those of you who purchased school packs from the school store, it is my understanding that they will be here waiting for you on the first day of school.  The PTO has already delivered the agendas for students to use. 

I have mailed out a letter to all the parents about a project we are going to be working on the first week.  We are each going to be creating a digital story about ourselves as a getting to know you activity.  Please encourage your child to be thinking about what they may want to include.  In addition, if you could gather pictures for this it would also be helpful.  If you can scan them onto a disk or CD it would be great.  If you cannot, please send the pictures in on the first day of school, in an envelope with their name and student number on it.  This will allow me time to scan them here at school.

If you have comments or questions please post them in the comment section after this post.  Your question may help others!

I am looking forward to a great year!
Ms. Bucci

Field Day

I never dreamed that so much trouble would be caused over wearing pink for Field Day.  Many teachers have done so in the past, so I did not think it was a big deal.  It certainly was not my intention to cause this much commotion.  I will change the color to ORANGE.   Please have your child come to school on Field Day in an ORANGE shirt.  We did not have many colors left to choose from so hopefully this works better than the previous color.  Again, sorry to have upset people. 

Ms. Bucci

Web Quest

In one of my Grad classes I found a web quest on electricity.  I would like to do it with the class but unfortunately we are out of time this year.  I am going to throw it out to the students as an opportunity to receive some extra credit.  If you child chooses to do this project, it MUST be turned in by June 18th.  I have to turn grades in on June 20th. 

I did not create this web quest, so you will not recognize the teacher's name.  This is ok.  We are allowed to use it even though I did not create it. 

Step 2 requires the student to take an on-line quiz.  Please record your child's score on the answer sheet I provided them.  All the other items I will score myself. 

Step 4 asks your child to create a safety poster.  They can either create an actual poster, or if they choose to they can create a glogster, which is an on-line poster.  We have done several of these in class so they will know what to do.

This can be a great project for you to do along with your child to see just how much they already know about electricity!  Hope you have fun!

Please contact me with any questions.  You may want to post questions here under the comment section so all students participating can benefit from it.

Thank you,
Ms. Bucci

Here it the link for the web quest:
http://www.coweta.k12.ga.us/eses/IT/Its%20Electric%20WebQuest.htm#eval

Testing Schedule

Even with the year winding down, we are still in full learning mode.  We have a lot of material to cover throughout the year and snow days and field trips always put us behind.  We are finishing our next social studies unit and will be having the test on Wednesday, June 9th.  I will be sending home papers that the students can complete to help as extra study practice.  I will again be sending home the open ended questions.  All the answers can be found in the book and through out our classroom learning. 

We will also be finishing a math unit this week.  I realize we just finished a math unit, but this unit is mostly review of multiplication, so it will flow quickly.  The test will be Friday, June 11th.

Finally, we are finishing up our magnetism and electricity unit, in science.  We have been working on this for quite some time and the students have learned a great deal of information.  Parts of the test will be hands on where they will actually be creating circuits.  This test will be Monday, June 14th.

OTHER EVENTS

• 
  
  June 9th- Library visit to discuss Summer Reading Program
• 
  
  June 14th- Science in Action assembly (?)
• 
  
  June 16th- Computer Expo, 6pm-8pm Fawn Hollow
• 
  
  June 17th- 4th Grade Picnic
• 
  
  June 21st- Field Day (rain date the 22nd)
• 
  
  June 23rd- Step-up Day
• June 24th- LAST DAY! 
  
  
  

Updates

I wanted to make you aware that I am going to be out for the next several days, because I will be having minor surgery.  The students are being left in the very capable hands of Mrs. Cordone.  I have no doubts that she will do a fabulous job.  I hope to return on Tuesday.

On another note, the students will be doing a review for this past math unit tomorrow and out test is scheduled for June 2, 2010.  

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me.  I will try to check my email and will be having contact with Mrs. Cordone.

Thank you and have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Ms. Bucci

Social Studies Test

We will be having a Social Studies Test on Unit 5 on Friday.  Toward the middle of the week I will be sending home the EXACT essay question so the students are prepared for them.  They also will have a study guide.

Thank you!

What a GREAT week!

I just wanted to thank everyone for making this Teacher Appreciation Week so special!  The Flowers on Monday, Cupcakes on Wednesday, the delicious luncheon on Thursday and cards today.  I also received 2 more boxes of tissues for the classroom.  We go through lots of those so that was perfect!  This is a great class!

We have just finished our unit on 3-D shapes counting faces, edges and vertices, as well as determining perimeter.  We will be having a test on Tuesday of next week.  I will be reviewing today with them, as well as Monday. 

We are moving from magnetism to electricity in science.  This half of the unit is a lot of fun for them building circuits and finding conductors.  It is extremely hands-on. 

Hoping you all have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

Ms. Bucci

Many Thanks!

Thank you all so much for the beautiful flowers!  It really brightened up my Monday morning!  They are all beautifully displayed on my desk and the sweet smell of them is filling the room! 

Thank you for your thoughtfulness!

Laura Bucci

MATH TEST

Just a reminder that the math test is TOMORROW!  It covers long division and double digit multiplication.  Students have study guides also.

Also, we have been working on our book reports for several weeks now.  Many students have finished but some have been working at a snail's pace.   These have now become homework.  I cannot give anymore class time toward working on them.  They will be due FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2010!

Hope you had a restful week. 

Remember to VOTE tomorrow!

TEST POSTPONED

The math test will NOT be tomorrow.  Too many of the students are continuing to struggle with multiplication of 2-digit numbers.  Please have your child practice this at home!  We are falling behind the rest of the math classes because we are spending so much time on this.  I was hoping to get the test in before the break, but this does not seem likely.  In which case it will be the TUESDAY we come back, April, 27, 2010.  I cannot push it any farther back than that.  PRACTICE PRACTIEC PRACTICE!!!!

Sites to help with multiplication and division

The following are two great sites that will help your child with long division and multiplication.

Hope they help!

http://www.dositey.com/2008/index-page-free_activities-sub-34-subsub-m.php

http://www.kidsnumbers.com/

MATH TEST

Our math test is scheduled for Thursday APRIL 15, 2010.  We will be going over the study guide today.  The biggest thing to do to help your child is to have them practive their multiplication facts.  Division is IMPOSSIBLE without the knowledge of their multiplication facts.  In addition, long division will be tested.  Many student continue to struggle with this as well.  Simply creating problems, (no remainders) will help too.

*****Social studies test tomorrow*****

Social Studies Test

Our next Soical Studies test will be on April 13, 2010.  It will cover the material in chapter four of our book.  This chapter is about the Middle Atlantic Region.  The students are finishing up study guides in class and they should have all the correct answers.  We go over the study guide as a class and it is their job to change their incorrect answers.  There are 4 open ended questions that look A LOT like the ones I sent home for them to find the answers to on their own.  I would make sure they study that material!

VOTING

Please remember to vote tomorrow.  It is so important that you voice your opinion on the town's budget.  Your vote could be the one that counts!

Artist In Action

Many of the students have no returned their Artist in Action forms.  It is very important that they are returned this week so Miss. Crea could preparre for the event.  It is May 3rd from 9:15-10:00. 

Thank you,
Ms Bucci

Humphrey's House

Tuesday, April 6, 2010, we will be headed to Humphrey's House.  The students will be divided into groups and making their own lunch.  IF YOUR CHILD HAS A FOOD ALLERGY OF ANY KIND, THEY MUST PACK THEIR OWN LUNCH IN A BROWN BAG.  I will be sending home a reminder letter as well.  On it is the menu for lunch.  We will be back early in the afternoon. 

Let's Play Ball!

Let's Go Yankees!

It is baseball season once again and we are going to kick it off here in Room 8!  Everyone is encourages to wear their favorite baseball team apparel, (no hats please)!  I know I will be decked out in my NEW pin-striped jersey.  We will be writing poems and stories about our favorite teams for some added fun.  Maybe even play a little multiplication baseball!

Conferences

Just a reminder that there is early dismissal (1:05 pm) on Thursday and Friday for conferences.  The book fair will be open Tuesday - Thursday for purchasing books. 

In addition, there is NO SCHOOL on Friday, April 2, 2010! 

Have a great week and Stay dry!

They Reached Nome

Congratulations to our first FOUR readers to reach Nome!  It was a close race!  Coming in first was Musher David Volturno who arrived at 11:37 am, on Saturday, March 20th!  He was followed by Musher Alex Lee who arrived at 2:26 pm, on Saturday and Musher Emily Pelella arrived at 6:22.  Musher George Zwally rounded out the top four when he arrived at 9:01 am Sunday, March 21st!  Congratulations to these readers for all their hard work.  Sadly our other mushers are no where to be found! David will receive a $25.00 gifrt certificate to Linda's Story Time and Emily, Alex and George will also be rewarded with $5.00 to spend at the book fair!  I am so proud of them!  Way to go!!!!!1

A HUGE SUCCESS!

Game day was a huge success!  The children really enjoyed sharing their games with each other.  We have a marathon game of Monopoly, suduko on the SmartBoard, Blokus 3-D, Square Up, Clue, Battleship, Risk, and cards to name just a few!  They did a great job playing and sharing.  As an extra treat, the third and fourth grade went outside for some Bubble fun!  After all the bubbles they had to fill in for the CMT's, they finally had fun bubbles.  They had gum to blow bubbles nad bubbles to blow!  What fun!

Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather!

GAME DAY!

The children have worked so hard preparing for and taking the CMT’s. As a little celebration for their efforts, we are going to have Game Day in Room 8! Students are encouraged to bring in their favorite board games. Surprisingly, many games are educations and the children do not even know it! So why they think they are having fun playing games, they are really learning! It is great!  Please have your child bring in their favorite game for all to enjoy! Make sure the game is clearly marked with their name and all pieces are secure. It may be beneficially to place small pieces in a zip-lock type bag for safe keeping.
Thanks!

Iditarod Reading

The book your child has chosen to read about the Iditarod, sled dog racing, a musher, or Alaska (see earlier post) MUST be completed by Monday, April 5.  On this date we will be beginning our book projects in school.  Some of the project will be completed here in class, while some of it will need to be completed at home.  The final book project will be due on April 16, 2010.  This is the last day before Spring Break!  Please post a comment is you have a question.

Thanks

Idita- READ!

Our classroom version of the Iditarod, known as Idita-READ, is under way!  The students are tracking their minutes that they read and moving along the Iditarod trail.  Each minute equals one mile.  Some of our "mushers" are off to a great start!  Musher Alex Lee is in the lead with 175 miles traveled and has arrived and left Swenta.  Musher Emily Pelella is close on his sled runners with 155 miles read.  She is 6 miles past Swenta.  Sadly, some of our mushers have not even left Anchorage.  They have not traevled a single mile!  Very disappointing!  The winner of our Idita-READ will win a $25.00 gift certificate to Linda's Storytime!  Let's Get Reading!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the Klittnick family!  There is a new member!  Welcome to Baby Angelica!  She was born Friday night.  Mom and baby are both doing well!  Best wishes from Room 8!  You are going to be a great big brother (again) Ben!

Let the Race Begin!

The 2010 Iditarod is scheduled to start on Saturday.  This is a ceremonial start, with the official start being Sunday.  Racers will draw their starting numbers tonight at the Musher Banquet.  The students have researched information about their musher and have created Glogster posters about them.  We are also creating a cartoon (with the help of Toondoo.com) to add to our glogster posters.

This unit will integrate all the core subject areas.  Your child will read a book, either fiction or non-fiction, about the Iditarod, sled dogs, or racers.  A book report will be completed in various forms, depending on the genre of book they chose.  I have some books here in the classroom, and the library has some as well.  You may need to visit the public library if your child does not find a book here at school.  We will also be doing a math problem of the day as homework, which we will then discuss in class the following day.  The students will also be researching the history of the race and the land of Alaska.

The class will be running in the Idita- READ!  Each night I ask that you please time the number of minutes they read.  Each minute will corolate to a mile in the Idiatarod.  Your child will travel from check point to check point, just as the mushers do, by the number of minutes they read.  The first child to reach "Nome" will win a special prize.

The children will be bringing home their Iditarod notebooks each night so PLEASE make sure they return to school with them each day!  We will be recording  and storing information in them so all our materials are in one spot.

Please contact me with any questions you may have!

Thank you,
Laura

Report Card Information

VERY IMPORTANT: The marking period closes next week Friday. I will be working on report cards until then. This is the first semester that parents have access to report card grades in Power School BEFORE they are finalized and published. SO, please note that my report card entries will be a WORK IN PROGRESS until they will be officially finalized on March 18th. Understand that, if you try to access the grades, your child's report card may seem incomplete, as I work in sections on them. ALSO, much like a writing piece, I will be going back to "revise and edit" several times for quality and accuracy. Thank you for understanding!!!

Welcome!

Greetings and welcome to the classroom blog.  This Blog will keep you  updated on the happenings of the classroom.  Please check the blog at least once a week for new updates.  As time goes on, I will add links to sites and other interesting information.

Thank you,
Laura Bucci