Grade reports went home today. There should have been many papers attached to it. I have noticed that this group has trouble with their basic addition problems. They are still counting on their fingers. This will harm them soon, when we hit multiplication. So, daily we are doing timed addition tests. I sent home this weeks. They have 2 minutes to complete the 70 problems. Many are in the 30 range right now, some in the 50 range, and a lot below the 30 mark. Please use the blank problems on each page to practice at home. They need to know these like they know their name! It should be an automatic response in their heads. When Mrs. Hankins and I looked through both 4th grade classes test scores from last year, we were shocked at the number of kids that were not proficient (on grade level) in math. We have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. These second and third grade skills MUST be mastered soon in order to be successful in the 4th grade skills. Yikes!
Conference preference sheets also went home today. You will need to mark your first and second request for day and time of your desired conference. I do not do separate conference times for divorced families. I believe that there is one kid with two parents that love them and can come together for 20-30 minutes and focus on what is best for that child. I really don't think I have any students that have severe divorce issues between parents. Please talk and decide on a time that works best for you both. This is also a time where you will need to be able to focus on your child in my class. Please select a time that you will have childcare for other children so we can have an uninterrupted discussion about your child. Please return slips on Monday. Tuesday at the latest. Thanks.
Jeff the Nature Guy will be here LIVE on Monday. He will be talking to the kids about beavers. If you have never seen or heard of Jeff he is from the Beartooth Nature Center in Red Lodge and we LOVE him. He is the most kid friendly, crazy, knowledgable guy I know when it comes to educating kids about animals. We are still working out the details for the field trip to the Beaver Dam with him. The hang up is the fact that beavers are nocturnal animals. The kids still really want to go to see the lodge, tracks, and dam sightings. We just may or may not see a beaver. I agree with the kids that it would be so worth it to go see, and Jeff will do an awesome job sharing all sorts of facts that will back up every thing we have learned in class. Permission slips will come home Monday! In the meantime, ask your child to tell you three facts about a Beaver's home. One needs to be what the home is called. If they can write the word LODGE in their planner for Monday's check in and earn $50.
We had two students get real live mail in class today! Cameron and Nicolette were totally stoked to receive mail from their parents in class. How cool! Even I got a letter!! You should have seen their faces light up! Very cool. Don't know what I am talking about? Parents had homework this week. It is in the post below titled Fun Times in the 4th Grade. Cool!!!
Please don't forget to help your kids study for their health test this coming Tuesday. Their notes should be at home!
New book order forms came home this week. Order online at scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our class activation code is GW8N8. Kids earn $200 for each book ordered. Thanks!
Happy Birthday to Brooke and Trenton! Yummy treats! Thanks!
Have an awesome weekend!!
