Last Day of School

We celebrated our last day of school today with a frigid field day.  The only thing that I don't like about field day is that I don't get to spend the day with my own class.  Luckily we got to meet up for pony bars before dismissal.  We had a fun day, and ended as 4th grade tug-of-war champs!  Thank you for sharing your kids with me this year (and some of you for 2 years!).  I promise they have taught me more than I could have ever taught them.  I wish them all the best in middle school, and hope they will pop back in to see me next year in my new position as a reading teacher.  Have an amazing summer break!

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, May 23rd

No homework!  We took our math test today, and the students helped me unpack and sort our new reading series for next year.  Reminder - middle school visit tomorrow.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, May 22nd

Math - 13.5 - We practiced problem solving with area today.  We will take our chapter 13 test tomorrow.

Science - None - We finished up our slideshow presentations today.

Language Arts - None - We used our LA time today to watch a video on the National Parks.  This video tied in closely with everything we've studied in social studies this year.  Plus, 4th graders get in free to National Parks - so check one out this summer if you can!

Social Studies- None - We finished up our DG packets today.

Lessons & Assignments Friday, May 19th

Math - None - We learned how to find area and perimeter with a missing side today.

Science - None - Our technology wasn't working today, so we did some brainstorming and prewriting for next week's presentation project.

Language Arts - None - We watched the Cricket in Times Square movie today, and completed a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the movie and the novel.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Egg Drop & Recorder Concert

We had Mrs. Kuhnen's last egg drop today, and our 4th grade recorder concert today. 

 It was such a fun afternoon!

AR Party!

Our school wide reading theme this year was "Under the Sea."  All students that earned 20 points or more were invited to a special celebration today.  The 4th graders got to paint an ocean picture, and have an ocean themed snack.  We had a blast!

Lessons & Assignments Thursday, May 18th

Math - None - We took our midchapter quiz today.

Science - None - Mr. Blair and I continued team teaching a lesson on slideshow presentations.  Today the students started a Google Slides presentation.

Language Arts - None - We took our novel unit test today.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, May 17th

Math - None - We learned how to calculate the area of combined rectangles today.

Science - None - We started a team teaching project with Mr. Blair today on how to use and create slideshow presentations.

Language Arts - None - We finished up our novel unit packet today.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Classroom Visitor

Aidan's dad visited our classroom yesterday to tell us about his job as an electrician.  The best part?  We all got to get in the bucket truck!  Awesome!!

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, May 16th

No homework tonight.  We had a beautiful day for a field trip to the Riverbandits game today.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, May 15th

Math - None - We learned how to use the formula to find the area of a rectangle today.

Science - None - We started watching a Discovery Education video on the states of matter today.  We will finish this on Wednesday.

Language Arts - None - We finished reading our novel today, and completed our comprehension and vocabulary packet.  We took the AR quiz on the story, and will continue working on extension activities later this week.

Social Studies - Chapter 9 review sheet - We worked on the chapter 9 review sheet in class today.  Those that did not finish need to complete it at home for homework.  Students can return in on Wednesday since we have a field trip tomorrow.

Player of the Week

Aidan is our Player of the Week this week!

Lessons & Assignments Friday, May 12th

Math - None - We started chapter 13 today.  Our first lesson was on finding perimeter.  This is a concept that is covered in 3rd grade.  In 4th grade, our responsibility is to teach students how to find perimeter using a formula.  In this case, P= (2xl) + (2xw) or P= 2 (l+w).  The students had a tendency to try to shortcut this today by adding instead.  Although they will get the correct answer, and certainly get it faster, the goal of today's lesson was to teach students how to use a formula.  If you are practicing at home, please, please, please use the formula.  Understanding how to use a formula now will benefit us later in the chapter, and again in 5th grade.

Science - None - We did a secret code chapter review today.

Language Arts - None - We had our Egg Drop kick off activity with Mrs. Kuhnen today.  She read the 4th grade classes a story about eggs, explained the egg drop, and went over expectations for our field trip on Tuesday.  After that, we finished our current read aloud book in class.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Classroom Visitor

Ethan's dad visited our classroom yesterday to tell us about his job with the city of East Moline.  The kids loved asking him questions about how the sewer plant works, and enjoyed hearing about his dedication to coaching baseball.

Lessons & Assignments Thursday, May 11th

Math - None - We introduced chapter 13 this morning, which is on area and perimeter.  We did some examples together on the board, and previewed the vocabulary we will encounter in this chapter.

Science - None - We read about mixtures and solutions today.

Language Arts - None -We continued working on our novel unit today.  We studied vocabulary, and discussed the various types of conflict found in a story.

Social Studies - None - We learned about the history of labor unions today, and the reforms they brought on during industrial growth in Illinois.

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, May 10th

Math - None - We took our chapter 12 test today.  We will start our final chapter of the year tomorrow.

Science - None - We started reading a new chapter about states of matter today.  We also explored the concept of density, by floating various objects in oil and water.

Language Arts - None - We continued on our novel unit today.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, May 9th*

Math - None - We reviewed in class today in preparation for tomorrow's test.

Science - None - We read a Scholastic News article today.

Language Arts - None - We continued working on our novel unit today.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

*Please note:  These plans were tentative.  I had a sub today while I attended training.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, May 8th

Math - None - We looked for patterns in measurement units today.  This was our last lesson in chapter 12.  We will review tomorrow, and take our chapter 12 test Wednesday.

Science - None - We took our quarterly assessment posttest and pretest today.

Language Arts - None - We used our language arts time today to play catch up.  We needed to finish up our quarterly assessments, complete our Star reading and Star math assessments, and finish our math reflection sheets.  Whew!

Social Studies - None - We read about industrial growth in Illinois after the Civil War today.

Player of the Week

Ethan is our Player of the Week this week!

Lessons & Assignments Friday, May 5th

Math - None - We practiced adding and subtracting with mixed measures today.  For example, we subtracted 1 pound 8 ounces from 3 pounds 4 ounces.  This was a challenging lesson, so we did most of it together.

Science - None - We took the chapter 10 test today.  Results were sent home today - great job 4th grade!

Language Arts - None - We continued working on our novel unit today.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Lessons & Assignments Thursday, May 4th

Math - None - We practiced figuring elapsed time today.

Science - None - We played a review game in preparation for tomorrow's test.

Language Arts - None - We continued with our novel unit today.  We discussed analogies, vocabulary, character traits, and answered comprehension questions.

Social Studies - None - We completed our daily geography, and watched a few Discovery Education video clips on the industrial movement after the Civil War.

Interactive clock

Clock

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, May 3rd

Math - None - We learned about converting units of time today between minutes and hours, hours and days, days and weeks, etc.  

Science - None - We read about other objects in the solar system, such as galaxies, universes, and stars.  We will take our chapter 10 test on Friday.

Language Arts - Read chapter 6 - We continued working on our novel unit today.  We discussed chapters 3-4 today, and read chapter 5 in class.  We discussed vocabulary words, verbs, and characterization.

Social Studies - None - We previewed unit 5 today on the growth of Illinois.  We will be reading about the industrialization of our state in this unit.  We also completed a vocabulary preview page in class.

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, May 2nd

Math - None - We learned about making conversions with metric units of mass and liquid volume today.

Science - None - We had Ag in the Classroom today.  We learned all about pigs.

Language Arts - read chapters 3-4 - We discussed chapter 2 today, and worked in groups for discussions.  We also talked about similes and personification.

Social Studies - None - We did not have social studies today.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, May 1st

Math - None - We learned about metric units of length today.  We all decided that the metric system was way easier than the customary units!

Science - None - We finished our planet packets today.

Language Arts - Read chapter 2 - We started a novel unit on The Cricket in Times Square today.  This will take us to the end of the school year.  Today we read chapter 1, and worked on our comprehension and vocabulary packets.  We discussed character traits, vocabulary, hooks, and cliffhangers.

Social Studies - None - We started our unit 4 test today.