Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Field Trip

Today we enjoyed our Ag Expo field trip, and we learned how farm foods become our table foods.  We enjoyed a pizza and pop treat, all products from our Will County area farms.

No homework tonight.  No spelling test this week!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Mangrove Homework

We have a field trip on WEDNESDAY to the Ag Expo.  Remember that we will be having a pizza and soda snack on this trip, but we will be back for lunch.  Please let us know if your child should not have this snack.  

There will not be a spelling test next week, but you can prepare for the Unit 26 test after the Spring Break.  

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We are currently reading Mangrove Wilderness on pages 629-645 in our Storytown book.    The mangrove is a very special tree that grows in salt water.   This is an expository non-fiction text.  Students have a homework assignment to reread this story by WEDNESDAY.

Everglades Video

Alligator Video

http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/animal-planet-presents/videos/planets-best-everglades-swamp-safari/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtMfT4QilS4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks1lyiQ9CMM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw8qOx3iZDo

We have also been working on the grammar skills of linking and action verbs, including verb tense (past, present, future). 

Monday, March 21, 2016

Mangrove Story - due Wednesday

We have a field trip on WEDNESDAY to the Ag Expo.  Remember that we will be having a pizza and soda snack on this trip, but we will be back for lunch.  Please let us know if your child should not have this snack.  

There will not be a spelling test next week, but you can prepare for the Unit 26 test after the Spring Break.  

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We are currently reading Mangrove Wilderness on pages 629-645 in our Storytown book.    The mangrove is a very special tree that grows in salt water.   This is an expository non-fiction text.  Students have a homework assignment to reread this story by WEDNESDAY.

Here's a link to the online book:  eBook
Here's a brief video about the mangrove tree:  http://video.pbs.org/video/2365052043/

Everglades Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZINehTgt_E - Mangrove Facts (8 min.)

Friday, March 18, 2016

Friday!


We have a field trip on Thursday to the Ag Expo.  Remember that we will be having a pizza and soda snack on this trip, but we will be back for lunch.  Please let us know if your child should not have this snack.  

We took our Spelling Unit 25 Review test today.  There will not be a spelling test next week, but you can prepare for the Unit 26 test after the Spring Break.  

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We are currently reading Mangrove Wilderness on pages 629-645 in our Storytown book.    The mangrove is a very special tree that grows in salt water.  We will continue with this story next week, and rereading it will be our Tuesday night homework assignment.  This is an expository non-fiction text.

Here's a link to the online book:  eBook
Here's a brief video about the mangrove tree:  http://video.pbs.org/video/2365052043/

Everglades Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZINehTgt_E - Mangrove Facts (8 min.)

Thursday, March 17, 2016

St. Patrick's Day Link

Some fun St. Pat's Games for Kids:

http://www.blackdog.net/holiday/pat/

http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/st.patricksday/games.php

We will have a Spelling Unit 25 Review test FRIDAY.  Students can made extra credit word searches for their classmates.  

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We started to read Mangrove Wilderness on pages 629-645 in our Storytown book.    The mangrove is a very special tree that grows in salt water.  We also completed a vocabulary workbook page.

Here's a link to the online book:  eBook
Here's a brief video about the mangrove tree:  http://video.pbs.org/video/2365052043/

Everglades Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZINehTgt_E - Mangrove Facts (8 min.)

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Mangrove Wilderness and Spelling Review Unit 25

Mangrove Wilderness and Spelling Unit 25

On Monday we practiced taking the PARCC test on computer.  You can find a link to the site here:

http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/english/

The main purpose of this practice was learning how to navigate the test site, how to drag and drop, play a video clip, and hi light answers.  We also practiced typing our extended response answers.  You can use this site at home to see the sample of the test material.

We will have a Spelling Unit 25 Review test FRIDAY.  Students can make extra credit word searches for their classmates.  The word searches would need to be handed in to me by Wednesday afternoon so that I can get them copied for the class.  All words must be spelled correctly in order to be copied for the class.   

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We started to read Mangrove Wilderness on pages 629-645 in our Storytown book.    The mangrove is a very special tree that grows in salt water.  We also completed a vocabulary workbook page.

Here's a link to the online book:  eBook
Here's a brief video about the mangrove tree:  http://video.pbs.org/video/2365052043/

Everglades Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZINehTgt_E - Mangrove Facts (8 min.)

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Mangrove Wilderness and Spelling Unit 25

On Monday we practiced taking the PARCC test on computer.  You can find a link to the site here:

http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/english/

The main purpose of this practice was learning how to navigate the test site, how to drag and drop, play a video clip, and hi light answers.  We also practiced typing our extended response answers.  You can use this site at home to see the sample of the test material.

We will have a Spelling Unit 25 Review test FRIDAY.  Students can make extra credit word searches for their classmates.  The word searches would need to be handed in to me by Wednesday afternoon so that I can get them copied for the class.  All words must be spelled correctly in order to be copied for the class.   

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We started to read Mangrove Wilderness on pages 629-645 in our Storytown book.    The mangrove is a very special tree that grows in salt water.  We also completed a vocabulary workbook page.

Here's a link to the online book:  eBook
Here's a brief video about the mangrove tree:  http://video.pbs.org/video/2365052043/

Everglades Video

Monday, March 14, 2016

PARCC Test Site and Spelling Review Unit 25

Today we worked hard to prepare for PARCC testing by reading several stories on the computer.  If your child was absent today, they can find the link by clicking here:
http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/english/

The main purpose of today's practice was learning how to navigate the test site, how to drag and drop, play a video clip, and hi light answers.  We also practiced typing our extended response answers.  You can use this site at home to see the sample of the test material.

We will have a Spelling Unit 25 Review test FRIDAY.  Students can make extra credit word searches for their classmates.  The word searches would need to be handed in to me by Wednesday afternoon so that I can get them copied for the class.  All words must be spelled correctly in order to be copied for the class.   

Here's a link to the word list and games:

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

There is no school tomorrow due to Election Day.  See you on Wednesday!

Friday, March 11, 2016

Spelling Test, PARCC Practice, and a Great Musical

Today we took our Unit 24 Spelling test.  Next week, Unit 25, is a Review Unit, and then we will take a week off from Spelling prior to Spring Break.

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

Today we also practiced for PARCC testing, which will be held a few weeks after returning from Spring Break.  The goal is for students to do their best, not to stress, and to experience taking a computer based test.  We practiced today to experiment with using the keyboard to drag and drop information, to hi light computer material, watch an instructional video clip, and to type extended response answers.  You can practice at home by using this same link.

Thanks to all for coming to last night's musical.  Ms. Bendy worked hard with the students, and the performance went well!

Block 1 finished Woof, and Block 2 finished their novel study over Stone Fox. 

Enjoy the weekend!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Musical is TOMORROW at 7 p.m.

Musical Practice & Unit 24 Spelling

Today we completed Spelling workbook page 97-98 and practiced learning the base words of each spelling word from our list. We will have a spelling Unit 24 test on Friday.

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

Block 2 is finishing their Stone Fox novel unit this week.  Block 1 is working on Literary Terms such as theme, characters, conflict, and tone.  We are also reviewing the focus skill of Sequence this week, and we are practicing Grammar skills.

The musical is at 7:00 this THURSDAY.  Open House and Art Showcase begins at 6:15.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Musical Practice & Unit 24 Spelling

Today we completed Spelling workbook page 95 and practiced learning the base words of each spelling word from our list. We will have a spelling Unit 24 test on Friday.

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

We do NOT have a Tuesday night homework assignment to read.  Students have been practicing for the 4th grade musical, so we were not able to complete a Storytown Selection.  We also met today with Mrs. Foley to learn about making good conflict resolution choices, we checked out new library books, and the entire 4th grade had a discussion with Officer Mike about honesty.  It was a busy day!

The musical is at 7:00 this THURSDAY.  Open House and Art Showcase begins at 6:15.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Next Week - Musical

Next week we are off school on Monday for Pulaski Day.  We WILL have a spelling Unit 24 test on Friday.  We will NOT have a story for Tuesday homework due to practice for the 4th Grade Musical next week.  Open House begins at 6:15, and the show is at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 10.  There is a morning show as well -- please see the note Ms. Bendy sent home today.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Crickets, Insects, and Spelling Words

Today we are working on some insect research to get to know more about our friend Chester the Cricket in The Cricket in Times Square.  Our class enjoyed this fantasy story about Chester and his friends this week, but here are some factual videos about our insect friends.

Cricket Video

Insect Video

We also completed our practice pages in our spelling pages to prepare for tomorrow's test.  Please continue to practice Unit 23 Spelling words for Friday's test.   They are NOT easy.  Words end with -ation, -ition, -al, and -ial.  Please study at home.   I accidentally flip-flopped the Unit 23 and Unit 22 Spelling CHALLENGE words.  Please study the CHALLENGE WORDS on the REVISED newsletter. 

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

As the second trimester celebration, our fourth grade students will have a reward on Friday.  For the last hour of the school day, they will be allowed to bring in a board game to play with their classmates. (Please note that this does NOT include ELECTRONICS).

Filed trip permission slips were sent home today for the Joliet Agriculture Expo on March 23. There is a $2.00 transportation fee.  Pizza and pop are provided to the students as a snack.  We will return in time for lunch.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Cricket in Times Square Test

Today we reviewed and took the story test over The Cricket in Times Square.  This is a fun, fantasy story.  We watched the cartoon video that summarizes the chapter book by George Seldon.  
Cricket in Times Square Video (2 min.)
Cricket in Times Square (24 min.)

eBook

Please continue to practice Unit 23 Spelling words for Friday's test.   They are NOT easy.  Words end with -ation, -ition, -al, and -ial.  Please study at home.   I accidentally flip-flopped the Unit 23 and Unit 22 Spelling CHALLENGE words.  Please study the CHALLENGE WORDS on the REVISED newsletter. 

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

Filed trip permission slips were sent home today for the Joliet Agriculture Expo on March 23. There is a $2.00 transportation fee.  Pizza and pop are provided to the students as a snack.  We will return in time for lunch.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Cricket in Times Square

Today we read The Cricket in Times Square.  This is a fun, fantasy story.  We also practiced the vocabulary for this story and completed our workbook page 132.  The story is found on pages 600-617 in Storytown and is in Theme 5 if you are using the ebook.  Our story test is tomorrow.

Cricket in Times Square Video (2 min.)
Cricket in Times Square (24 min.)

eBook

Please continue to practice Unit 23 Spelling words for Friday's test.   They are NOT easy.  Words end with -ation, -ition, -al, and -ial.  Please study at home.   I accidentally flip-flopped the Unit 23 and Unit 22 Spelling CHALLENGE words.  Please study the CHALLENGE WORDS on the REVISED newsletter. 

Spelling City - Practice games to play at home
Spelling Lists

Filed trip permission slips were sent home today for the Joliet Agriculture Expo on March 23. There is a $2.00 transportation fee.  Pizza and pop are provided to the students as a snack.  We will return in time for lunch.