Final Friday

Thanks for today's title, Audrey.   Of course, it is not the final, final Friday. That comes in June. This is the final Friday of 2019.

Enjoy your break!

The only assignment from me, is to keep up with the Winter Reading Challenge. It is due January 6. We MUST get 100% participation to earn the hot chocolate celebration.

If you have time and want to get ahead, work on IXL. Kids may focus on their target strand. If you can't remember, work on Grade 4 and % ELA skills.

Check with Ms. Hicks about math IXL expectations.

Field Trip forms are due January 7th.
The trip is January 10th.
These parents are "approved" by CPS to join us: SC,KN, AA.
I know that other parents have expressed interest. PLEASE call this number to speed up the process.
773-553-1544

If you have not begun the application process, please see the tab on this blog called "CPS University" to get started. I know it is a pain, but it is a quick process.

Approved volunteers are clear to join us on trips, attend Field Day, help in the classroom, and join us for special presentations.

The Son of Poseidon Thursday

 is tomorrow!




This evening at home.....
-study for tomorrow's spelling test.
-finish the Percy Jackson Flag design. The entire design should be colored.
-finish writing about the flag. How does each element represent the children of Poseidon?

Tomorrow is Pajama Day!


Spelling Words:
weary
appear
square
weird not wierd
scarce
scare
prepare
spare
spark
cheer
compare
repair

Tomorrow is crazy sock day: is-match, crazy colors, or make your own...

Hello fourth grade families. I know that everyone is busy getting ready for the holidays. We are working until the end of the year in Pod 200, and there is still much to accomplish in the next few days.

Today we...

• added some more lights to our decor. Thank you Jaeden!
• logged on to Common Lit, a new resource for reading. I can be accessed via this blog.
• examined out MAPS data and found the skills on IXL that match our target areas. We will be talking more about this in the next couple of days and in early January.
• enjoyed the Winter Concert. What a treat!
• learned about eclipses in Science.
• went to lunch and recess
• learned some new ways to divide using regrouping
• studied for tomorrow's Southeast Quiz 
• read Percy Jackson

This evening....

• finish the PJ sheet that was sent home yesterday.
• read the yellow note.
• read about the Winter Break Reading Challenge
• don't forget that there is a reading test tomorrow.
• remind yourself that the spelling test in Friday.

If we have 100% participation in the Winter Break Reading challenge, I will treat the class to hot chocolate. The challenge sheet is due January 6th, which should give you plenty of time.

Parent Volunteers: Several parents have volunteered to come on the trip. Our master list indicates that most are "Awaiting School Approval." 

Please call the following number at the Board to check your status. Otherwise, you may not be able to join us. 773-533-1544

Time to Design Tuesday

I can not guarantee that the "gingerbread houses" will make it home in one piece. I can assure you that it was a hands on experience.

This evening at home...

-The Percy response is due on Thursday. Pace yourself! Use the book to help you. It is linked to the blog.

-We will take the Reading and SS tests on Thursday.

-We will take the Spelling test on Friday.

Tomorrow is festive fancy dress day. 

Stay tuned to learn about the Winter Break Reading Challenge.If we get 100% participation, I will make hot chocolate for the kids to enjoy during a "read in."

Missed You Monday

Hello 201 and 202 Families!

I had to make an unplanned visit to the doctor with my son today, which meant I could not make it to school. All is going to be fine, and I am looking forward to our Gingerbread House making tomorrow.

We will get started right away!
Don't forget your supplies.

Any parent who is on the "approved" list for CPS is welcome to join us. We will need all hands on deck to make it work.

If you can come, please come on up to 201 at 8, and please send me an email so that I can let the office know to expect you.

If you can donate long heavy duty tin foil, please let me know. Otherwise I will make sure to pick some up.

There is no regular homework tonight. Please read, do some IXL and make sure that you are preparing for the SE quiz and the Reading test.

Because our monthly incentive is Friday, we will take both the Reading and SS tests on Thursday. 

Forever Friday

Ask Sophia about today's title!

This weekend at home....

-Study for next week's tests and quizzes.

-We will take the SE test on Thursday. We made a study guide today.

-We will take the reading and spelling tests on Friday.

-Don't forget about the thirty minutes of IXL. You can find skill goals on the tab above.  I will be checking on Sunday evening and entering smart scores.

*Don't forget about Gingerbread House supplies. Tuesday is construction day!

Happy Birthday Gabriel! Thanks for the goodies!

Spirit Week
Monday-Candy Cane Day
Tuesday- Holiday Sweater Day
Wednesday- Festive traditions day. Get dressed up!
Thursday- Crazy Sock Day
Friday- Pajama and Incentive Day

Thank You Thursday

Thanks to Sophia's family, 201 is twinkling with holiday light. We had fun stringing them up this morning, and I didn't fall off a table, which was a plus.

Yesterday, I attended the CPS Region 2 Learning Summit. I am excited to practice all that I learned with your kids. The report from the substitute teach was excellent, which is a credit to your wonderful children. Thank you 201!

This evening at home..

• make sure you are studying for next week's Southeast States and Capitals test.
• complete the "Generalizations" sheet and the "conclusions" sheets.
• read!

Reminders

• Pod 200 will attend the second grade CAC show tomorrow.
• Field Trip notes are going home today.
• Next Tuesday is Gingerbread House Making Day. See the note below.
• Next week is School Spirit Week. A note went home yesterday.
• Next Friday is pajama day and our monthly incentive. We will be watching a movie in the pod and hanging out with friends. 
• Progress Reports will go home tomorrow. Remember that this is a "week 5 snapshot." Missing or late work was recorded as a "0" and may be dragging down averages. There is still time to get the work in, but it will earn partial credit.  Our goal is to eliminate late work, except in case of illness. Teachers on the third floor do no accept late work.

Gingerbread House

• Is any family able to ask their local pizza parlor for pizza round donations? We need 26 -12 inch rounds. 
• We need long, heavy duty foil to wrap each creation. 
• We need enough plastic knives for 26 students.
• Each student needs to bring graham crackers, a tub of frosting and some candies for decorating.
• Parents, the more the merrier! Let me know if you would like to join us to help organize. This is a fun hour with the kids.
• Our time slot is from about 8:00-9:10.

Tuesday Thoughts

Hello Parents!

Please read the note about MAPS testing!
Please read the note about Gingerbread Houses.

This evening at home....
-pp 103 and 104 of the Readers notebook
-read!

*If anyone wants to donated holiday lights, we would love to do some decorating in 201!u

Drawing Conclusions

Click on the link to see the task cards.
You and your partner have fifteen minutes to discuss and find an answer for each of the cards.
Record your answers on an index card.
Number each response.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Sd0RqXh4vTVEJYcERZVVpCeVE/view?usp=sharing

Making Excuses Monday

Hello Team 201 and 202 Families!

Kids, do you know how I selected today's title? I am truly genuinely sorry if you don't.


I may have time to add more later, so check back in a few hours.

This evening at home...

• complete pages 99 and 100 in the Readers Notebook
• read!
• tell a parent about the Gingerbread House Project and show them the note.

Our reading test on Lesson 9 will be next week, as will the spelling test. Start preparing now!

1. weary
2. appear
3. square
4. weird
5. scarce
6. scare
7. prepare
8. spare
9. spark
10. cheer
11. compare
12. repair

Thumbs Up Thursday

1. mystery
2. discovery
3. prairie
4. starry
5. injury
6. envy
7. mercy
8. melody
9. alley
10. valley
11. steady

We are working hard today, and your kids are getting the job done!
Today we....

• broke in our new Writing Journals and met in small groups to brainstorm ideas and complete a graphic organizer.

• finished up some comprehension work in Life and Times of the Ant.

• created "A Day in the Life" journal entries, based on our reading.

• learned why Percy Jackson is the Supreme Lord of the Toilet, which is the title of chapter 6 and responded in writing.
• passed out notes about Six Flags Reading. This year, the reading log is online. The letter has a special code that is associated with our class. 

This evening at home....-read about Ares, the god of war.-use the half sheet provided to provide a sketch of Ares. Use text features to help your reader understand who he is and why he is important.-study those spelling words, and make sure you are comfortable with the vocabulary words. We have a test tomorrow.
201 only: the NE scrapbook is due tomorrow!

Wednesday Words

Readers Notebook: pp. 173 and 174
Make sure that you are going over and studying this week's vocabulary words, found in Life and Times of the Ant
Don't forget that the NE Scrapbook, complete with fully colored pictures and informative captions, is due on Friday morning.

Terrific Tuesday

This evening at home...
-read, or reread The Dove and the Ant in Journeys
-complete the questions based on the Dove and the Ant(handout)
-read
-201, finish the SE States, Capitals and Abbreviations list in your SS notebook.

Don't Forget 201, tomorrow is Picture Day!
The Northeast Scrapbook is due on Friday
These students have turned it in:GD, JR, MB, AA, AK, MH, BS,HH, GF
 Tips: fully colored, captions, info-rich

Mandibles Monday

Today we read The Life and Times of the Ant in Journeys. We will also forge ahead in Percy Jackson. We carved out some time to read our library book club books, meet with book club members,  and respond in our reading notebooks.

The Southeast region is our Social Science destination. Today, we will get to know the states and capitals, and will explore the region's geography.

This evening at home....

• finish reading The Life and Times of the Ant.
• as you read,annotate the text using post it notes. I will be checking! This can count as your nightly reading.
• complete pp. 171 and 172 in the Readers Notebook.

Don't forget...

• This Wednesday is Picture Day
• I will be checking for an hour of ELA IXL next Sunday. See the tab above for directions and skill sets.
• Make sure to bring your book club selection to school each day. Please keep up with the reading goals, and be willing to reread if you choose to read ahead of the group.
• If you have not turned in your Northeast Scrapbook, please get it to me by this Friday.

This week's spelling list:

1. mystery
2. discovery
3. prairie
4. starry
5. injury
6. envy
7. mercy
8. melody
9. alley
10. valley
11. steady

Want to learn more about amazing ants? Click on the links.

https://www.natgeokids.com/nz/discover/animals/insects/ant-facts/

https://pestworldforkids.org/pest-guide/ants/

Picture Day Reminder

201 takes pictures this Wednesday, December 4!