Spelling Test March 25th!

Last Friday, we didn't get to our Spelling Test due to the Choir Program. We will redo these wrods this Friday, March 25th!

 

Test 3/25

tiniest

hobbies

copied

countries

pitied

easier

laziest

families

spied

happiest

ladies

friendlier

studied

busier

breezier

prettiest

noisier

healthier

butterflies

funniest

ORGANISMS

DIRECTLY

HABITATS

SPECIES

RADIATION



February 21-25 Objectives

This Week’s Objectives:

Reading: Students will continue with our research and inquiry unit. Students will explore topics that interest them and choose a deep “researchable” question. Students will then conduct research on their personalized question and present the information they found to the class on Wednesday. We will then use pictures to generate questions, and begin a research project on if slavery still exists today.

Science: Students will continue to investigate forces and motion.  To do this we will watch a video, complete hands-on activities, and use computer programs.

Social Studies:  Students will begin investigating Texas as its own country and how Texas became part of the United States of America.

Writing: We will be finishing Camp Write Along this week. We will finish sharing student papers from last week, and students will choose their best paper from the year, and learn how to make small adjustments to make it fit various prompts.

Math:  Students will continue investigating measurement.  Our focus will be on using customary and metric length to determine area, perimeter, and volume, as well as investigating capacity. 

Spelling Test February 25th!



WEEK 25 (2/25)

turkey

lonely

colony

steady

hungry

valley

hockey

starry

melody

movie

duty

drowsy

chimney

plenty

daily

alley

fifty

empty

injury

prairie

SOCIAL

EXCHANGES

REINFORCE

OBSTACLES

TRANSFERS

Fun TAKS Song

As an attempt to get ourselves all pumped up for the TAKS we've been singing fun songs, "Camp Songs" in preparation for the Writing TAKS (March 1- AH!).

One such song is to the tune of the Miley Cyrus song, "Party in the USA." Mrs. Clark found this video on Teacher Tube to play in the background while we sing. Now, the words are still there, but this video has a very animated young man signing the words. The kids were pretty into it, and I thought it would be great to share with the parents! So, SING YOUR HEARTS OUT!!

I hopped off the bus at Jan Schiff with a dream and my brain was filled
Welcome to the land of state testing, whoa am I gonna do well?
Jumped in the seat, here I am for the first time
Look to my right, and I see the “You’ll do great!” sign

This is all so crazy, everybody seems so ready
My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda test-sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the 4^th grade came out and cheered me on

And I knew it’d be okay
And I knew it’d be okay
And I knew it’d be okay

So I put my hands up, I’m takin’ this test
The butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like "Yeah!"
Rockin’ this test like "Yeah!"

Got my hands up, I’m takin’ this test
And now I'm gonna be okay
Yeah! I’ll rock the T A K S  ! !
Yeah! I’ll rock the T A K S  !!! (You have to spell out TAKS for it to make sense)

Texas Revolution Review

Test on Friday!!!

Chapter 6 Review

1. What was the first battle of the Texas Revolution?

Battle of Gonzales

2. When did the Texan’s fly the flag “Come and Take It” above a cannon?

October 2, 1835, during the Battle of Gonzales

3. The Law of 1860 stated what terms to the Texans?

1. No more Anglos (Americans) were allowed to move to Texas
2. No more slaves were allowed to be brought into Texas
3. All items traded with US would be taxed.

4. What was the Runaway Scrape?

Texas families left their homes quickly to escape from Santa Anna and his army after the Battle of the Alamo.

5. What happened at the Battle of Gonzales?

Texas refused to return a Mexican cannon that had been loaned to them to fight the Native Americans. Instead, they hung a flag on it that said, “Come and Take It.” When Mexican soldiers tried, 160 Texas stopped them.

6. Who won the battle of the Alamo?

Mexico and Santa Anna won, even though the Texans killed more than 600 of their men. They only left 30 survivors (women, children, and slaves).

7. What happened at the Goliad Massacre?

The Mexican Army captured 300-400 Texans who were trying to retreat. Santa Anna ordered them to be killed.

8. What happened at the Battle of San Jacinto? Who won?

Texas attacked the Mexican army when they were napping. The battle lasted only 18 minutes. Santa Anna was captured (soon after). Texas Won!!! The war was over!

9. Who became the first President of the Republic of Texas?

Sam Houston

10. On the back of this paper, use all 15 vocabulary words in a sentence.

Refer to your vocabulary list.

Many of you have asked to see a few papers that were scored 4s. These papers all have a strong lead, conclusion, great vocabulary and they focus on one moment. Many of our papers lose focus or start talking about the next day.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

I am circular and made of metal. I cannot speak or move on my 

 own. I am a quarter.

            A big, bright sun reflected off my “body”. If it weren’t for the small shade that covered me, I would’ve been reduced to a glob of silvery goo. The thing was, there were these annoying cars that constantly honked their annoying horns. It was so irritating, I could’ve sworn I started smoking and glowing red. Anyway, I couldn’t walk to the noisiest car and beat up everyone inside. Like I explained before, I can’t move on my own. All I can do is sit and wait until someone, somehow, finds me and inserts me into a soda machine. That’s the goal of every quarter. But I know it’s hopeless.

            What seemed like hours passed as I waited, waited for somebody who happened to be looking down. But then, I felt I needed to be more optimistic about this. I even felt a little better until I got run over by an Escalade. “Well, there goes my day,” I thought as I soared across town and landed in a roadside fruit stand, lodged halfway inside a watermelon. A moment later, a young man’s voice asked, “I’ll take that watermelon.” “That’ll be $4.99,” explained the ugly salesman. “Thanks,” the man replied.

            Finally, after a few minutes, the guy who was carrying me noticed that there was a quarter stuck in his melon. “Hey, a quarter! It must be my lucky day!” This guy looked thirsty, and I could tell he needed a Coca-Cola stat! We hurried to the nearest soda machine. We might’ve been, oh, a good mile away, but I could see it. As we got closer and closer with each step, I prepared myself. All my life, I had waited for this moment. Maybe I was wrong before. Maybe it wasn’t hopeless. Anyway, the guy slowly inserted me into the little slot and pushed the Coca-Cola button that would grant him of his wish. I rolled down a narrow slide that led into…….. heaven. Mountains of quarters were piled high. There was even a V.I.P. center for dollar bills. I was so happy that I finally pursued my dream of becoming a resident of the soda machine.

            I can’t believe that I reached my goal. I spotted a Coca-Cola bottle rolling down a wide ramp. Sure, I was excited about what I achieved, but I was also glad knowing that I saved a life.

Parents,

Many of you have asked to see a few papers that were scored 4s. These papers all have a strong lead, conclusion, great vocabulary and they focus on one moment. Many of our papers lose focus or start talking about the next day.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

The Jump of  Death

With no expression on my face I stared down at the pitch black endless hole.

                   The old mysterious well was smack dab in the middle of the overhang. I always wondered what was down there. “Dare you to go in,” one of my friends hissed. “You said yourself you wanted to know what was down there,” my friend enumerated. Although dares are pretty fun, I was terrified of the logs and sticks in there. I looked around me, trees, grass, and toilets got it. I just want to remember the environment I died in. I love proving people wrong, but on this one I hope I don’t prove myself wrong.

          I carefully lifted my leg waiting anxiously to go down. I was terrified of what might be. I snatched that thought and threw it away. My mind was racing with dreadful thoughts. I kept pushing them aside. Now I was completely focused on the well. My left leg was over the well. The part of my leg that was uncovered was hitting the cold stone that made up the well. I lifted my right leg with such caution like it was a new born baby. My body began to shake. People began to gossip. “Right leg over!” I kept telling myself. It took me 10 minutes to get that through my head. I am pretty hard to convince. I finally built up the courage to do it. My hands instantly grasped the sides of the well to keep me balanced. “Just do it! Don’t be a chicken!” I hissed to myself. Before I knew it as quick as a wink I slid my bottom off the side and I was off. “I’m going to die!” I rambled. I was about a couple feet off the ground. I went down like a speeding bullet. BOOM! My feet hit the wood. Or that’s what I thought I hit and what hit it. I was terrified to open my eyes. I wanted to prove them wrong, but I was scared they were right.

          Suddenly I looked below me and there was wood, and I looked above me and there were my friends. I was in the well! I couldn’t believe it. There was one thing in my mind that sent the bliss running away. “How am I going to get out?” I enumerated. “Oh! No!” my friends babbled.

          The emotions that day went from one to the other, but those emotions helped me reach my goal. That day I learned that perseverance pays off.

Awesome Writing!

Parents,

Many of you have asked to see a few papers that were scored 4s. These papers all have a strong lead, conclusion, great vocabulary and they focus on one moment. Many of our papers lose focus or start talking about the next day. Please notice that the paper below focuses on something very simple, reaching an AR Goal. The young author makes a small, everyday thing, seem extraordinary.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Shooting for my goal!

        

          It’s a possibility that I could pass the AR quiz, but it’s another possibility I could fail it.

          It was as quiet as a haunted house. No one would be able to speak a word because we were in the library. Today I was going to do my AR quiz on The cabinet of wonders, and I was determined to get a 100. The tables sat in the center of the room. The screen that the projector reflected on was covering the blinds. Kids came pouring into their seats. Bookshelf’s sat in every corner of the room holding books that could weigh millions. I ambled towards my table. Then I quietly sat with my classmates. Dread filled the air. I doubt that I could make 100% on my quiz, but part of me said I could do it. I sat straight and tall, feeling confident, and also waiting for what Mrs. had to annoce.

          Mr.’s voice echoed through the huge room,” You may check out books or take quizzes.” She dismissed every table, and I knew exactly what I was going to do. The computer and I were face to face, and I was still not for sure if I could do this. My hand moved forward clenching the mouse and moving it back and forth on the table telling the computer to wake up. The screen brightened and seemed to be the only light. My fingers trembled against the keyboard. My heart pounded as if it was going to pop out of my chest. My legs felt like butter just waiting to melt. My stomach bundled up into a knot. “What if I get them all wrong?” I thought. “Maybe I should do this tomorrow or another day.” I whispered. “No your doing this today pull yourself together!” another part of me babbled. I took a big gulp and clicked on the mouse once more and was about to begin.

          “Five more minutes!’’ yelled Mrs. ‘’What? Already?’’ I thought. The screen started asking me questions about the book. My fingers were clenched into a fist knocking on the table. I read the question one more time. “Ummmm….uhhhh A?,” I asked myself. I finally picked my answer. I sat there motionless thinking back into the book.” Hurry up five more minutes are almost done don’t be a chicken,” I told myself. I was down to my last question. I took a deep long breath. Then without thinking twice I picked C even though I wasn’t a 100 percent sure. The computer took its time loading my score. Then suddenly it was done! My jaw dropped. My heart pumped at a regular speed again. I couldn’t believe the outstanding score. “I got a 100! ,” I screamed to the world……or maybe just the library. Either way I  was as proud as could be that I met my goal.

       I learned that all you need to do to meet a goal is to trust in yourself and shoot for the stars.

        

Objectives for the week of February 14-8

This Week’s Objectives:

Reading: In reading this week, we will begin our research and inquiry unit. Students will explore topics that interest them and choose a deep “researchable” question. Students will then conduct research on their personalized question and present the information they found to the class on Friday.

Science: Students will review matter and thermal energy objectives on Monday and take the Matter & Thermal Energy TEST on Tuesday – Major Grade.  We will then begin our investigations of Forces and motion.  Students will describe motion in different ways and investigate how forces are added and subtracted.

Social Studies:  Students will finish the unit on the Texas Revolution this week. They will be completing a chapter review to help them study for the unit test on Friday (Major Grade).

Writing: We will begin Camp Write Along this week. Students will visit neighboring camps (classrooms) to be exposed to different writing prompts. On Friday, students will choose their favorite prompt from the week, and write a full paper.

Math:  Students will begin learning about measurement.  They will estimate and measure to solve problems involving length including area and perimeter in both customary and metric measurements. 

Spelling Test February 18th!

WEEK 24 (2/18)

wiped

covered

mapped

pleasing

slipped

putting

traveled

seeking

visiting

mixed

shipped

phoning

offered

smelling

hiking

checking

fainted

landed

becoming

wandering

WEARINESS

FRACTURED

STANDARDS

GRACEFUL

CONCLUDED



Box Top Update!

Parents,

Below is a message we received from our VIPS coordinator. Please continue to send in Box Tops! Our school gets money and our class gets prizes!

We have earned $2,757.90 just by collecting Box Tops!  This wouldn’t be possible without all your support – Thank You! 

There are many opportunities to earn Bonus Box Tops.  Please visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/ for all the on-going promotions and contests.

Classroom Totals:

4^th Grade:         Barron 870; Clark 1215; Davis 1418; Pickert 787; Rahaman 397; Tomlinson 746

Prizes:

600                  Extra Recess

1200                Game Party

1800                Bubble Party (K-1^st) Homework Pass (2^nd-5^th)

2400                Movie & Popcorn Party

3000                I Love My Teacher Gift Basket

Texas Revolution Vocabulary

Quiz on Friday!!

Right: A freedom

Petition: A signed request for action

Democracy: A form of government in which people make decisions themselves or choose leaders to do so

Delegate: A person chosen to speak or act for others

Convention: An important meeting

Constitution:  A written plan for government

Republic: A form of government in which the people choose their leaders

Abolish: To put an end to (Ex. The students wished the teachers would abolish homework.)

Patriotism: The love of one’s country

Retreat: To pull back or withdraw

Cavalry: A unit of soldiers on horseback

Massacre: The killing of many people who cannot defend themselves

Scout: A person sent ahead to gather information about the land or the enemy

Cabinet: A group of people who help a leader make decisions

Election:  An event in which people vote to choose government leaders

Week of Febuary 7 - 11

This Week’s Objectives:

Reading: We will continue to focus on recognizing familiar themes in fiction. Students will also finish up the unit on Summarizing. We will review our strategies and take the Summary Post Test (Major Grade) on Tuesday.

Science: Students will continue their investigations on how thermal energy is transferred to matter through conduction, convection, and radiation.  They will understand that the movement of particles of matter is caused by thermal energy which we feel as heat. They will also complete a review for our matter test on Tuesday February 15.

Social Studies:  Students will continue studying the Texas Revolution. They will be completing a project of their choice that covers events, people, or causes and effects of the Revolution. Project possibilities will be chosen from a menu provided for them. A vocabulary test will be given on Friday (Major Grade).

Writing: We will be finishing and sharing our paper on reaching a goal. The students will be given a story that received a score of a one or a two and be asked to turn it into a “4” paper. Then, we will share our improved papers. The students will be encouraged to complement their classmates on specific aspects of each other’s stories.

Math:  We will wrap up reading, writing, and ordering decimals; comparing decimals to fractional parts; and identifying and naming fractions and decimals on a number line. The students will review for and complete a test over Fractions and Decimals on Friday (Major Grade).

Spelling Test February 11th!

WEEK 23 (2/11)

rising

traced

stripped

slammed

dancing

striped

winning

snapping

bragging

handled

dripped

begged

dared

skipped

hitting

spotted

raced

dimmed

spinning

escaped

TREMBLES

WRECKAGE

POSSESSIONS

DEBRIS

CONSTRUCTED