Ask Teacher: Homework, links and your comments
This morning students read their text on "Going West." We also went over our spelling words. We spent a lot of time today reviewing our year's study on language arts. In math the students reviewed the metric system and how to move from Kilometers to meters to centimeters. We also are using the American Standard system. We will be continuing to do this so that students feel comfortable.
Tomorrow is the spelling test and students will have time to study before they take the test.
Students reviewed their new fluency list for reading today. Then we moved on and worked on our language arts. There is a great computer site called prepdog.org This site helps the students practice for their language art ISAT. Start the student on the proficient level and see how they do. These are checked online so that helps students understand their mistakes.
In math class we reviewed our fractions. It has been a few weeks since we have done these and it is so important that the students remember how to do them. There will be a test on measurement, data and geometry so we will mostly focus on those areas.
Please continue to study your spelling words so you will be ready for the test on Wednesday.
Students took their reading and spelling tests today. In math we worked on how to move shapes, slides, turns and flips. Then the students did a worksheet. Homework papers will go home today.
On Wednesday the students will be taking the Language Arts ISAT. If you will go to the links on this page there are two grammar links that will help the students practice for their test.
I just added the "Writing Detective." That might help with the ISAT test too. I will continue searching for things the students can do at home.
Students took their spelling test today and did quite well. They re-read The Voyage of the Mayflower and then read the short story, "Pocahontas." Finally they worked on their vocabulary words and then studied Language Arts by practicing their tests on the laptops. For math we reviewed some of the problems the students didn't understand on their ISATs yesterday. Then we began learning about congruent shapes which must have the shape and size the same. At the end of class we began learning about the different ways you can move figures, slides (transitions), flips (reflections, and turns (rotations.)
In Social Studies we learned about the timber industry in Idaho. We discussed the many jobs that are made from lumbering. We also discussed that is was important to take care of our trees so that they are available for future generations.
We had our math ISATs first thing this morning and the students all did well. Just so you know, last year your child took a 3rd grade ISAT. They earned a score. This year, they took a 4th grade ISAT. If their score isn't as high as it was last year, it is because it is a different, more difficult test. However, the children did very well on their tests. After the test we studied for our Language Arts ISAT which is coming next week, on May 1st. We also studied for our spelling test tomorrow and our vocabulary test on Friday. In the afternoon we learned more about Idaho Counties.
This morning our class reviewed spelling words and analogies. Then we played Language Arts games to help prepare then for next week's test. In math I asked the students to ask questions and we would review anything they didn't understand. We discussed Elapsed Time, fractions, median, range, mode and mean. Then we practiced the different properties of multiplication. There are games on this blog on that will help the students, just click on them.
Today started in an interesting way, we lost power. Some of the rooms had no power, some no heat, and some were fine. Unfortunately we didn't have anyway to connect our computers to the printer, so that made it pretty difficult this morning, but we used our white boards and just moved forward. We read our new story about the Mayflower. Then students studied their spelling words. We then reviewed prepositions to help students be prepared for the Language Arts ISAT on May 1.In math we reviewed fractions and then had a worksheet. In Social Studies, we studied math.
There is a new link on this site, it is about fractions and reviews with the children all they have learned. We have gone through some of this in class, but if your child is not comfortable with fractions, this should help.
We did not take our reading test today, instead we worked on our grammar and vocabulary skills. The students did quite well. In math we reviewed Median, Mode, Range and learned how to find the Mean of a series of numbers. Please ask your children to show you this skill. Then we did a review paper. We did addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Then we worked on how to deal with the variable, N. Students had to figure out which operation to use to solve a problem. They were given word problems using money. They had to multiply by 10, 11 and 12. Then they had to use a table to solve a problem. This is causing them much grief, but if they will try it, it will help.
This afternoon we tried Sweet Potato Mushipan, a Japanese dessert and learned more about the history of Japan, its culture, and listened to the music as the finished their cherry blossom pages.
Students took their spelling tests today and all of the children who are regularly in our class got 100%! That is great news. We read the article about Early America and then students began work on their vocabulary cards. In math we learned about median, mode, and range. It was a new concept. We have been reading about Early America, so I thought it would be a good idea, especially on the 18th of April, to teach them about the ride of Paul Revere which took place 238 years ago today. We watched a short video and then read aloud the poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere but Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was enjoyable.
Students worked very hard on their Direct Writing Assessment this morning. In math students had to read a story, collect data, and then put that data into a chart. They did a good job. In Idaho history we are reviewing the counties of Idaho.
Please review math facts with your children in the next week. This will really help them feel more comfortable on the math ISAT next Wednesday morning.
We had a visitor this morning. Officer Dale Golightly came to talk with the class about taking care of each other. He talked to them about the need to protect each other and make everyone feel safe. Then we did our Daily Oral Language and math. Before the ISAT we learned a little bit about Japanese culture. Then the students took the Reading ISAT test. The students did quite well on this. Then they came back to class and we read, drew, talked and just kind of relaxed until lunchtime. In the afternoon the students practiced for the DWA tomorrow. The biggest problem students had with their last DWA was in planning what to write. So that is what we discussed today.
Today was a little different. We reviewed reading items that could be on the ISAT tests. We talked about poetry, prose and drama and what each entails. We also discussed different questions that could be on the test. We looked at the questions and why the answers were correct. In math we reviewed fact families and multiplying and dividing to solve word problems. We also talked about prime and composite numbers and making a pattern using a rule. The students then made their own patterns and had their team-mate figure out the rule. We will continue these reviews until we finish the ISAT tests.
4B is taking the first ISAT, Reading, at 10 tomorrow morning. Please make sure students get a good night's sleep and eat well tonight and tomorrow.
The ISAT tests start next week. We will do the reading test on Tuesday and the second Direct Writing Assessment on Wednesday. Please make sure that your child has a good rest each night and that they eat a healthy breakfast. Read with them over the week-end and ask questions about the things they have read.
Today we took our reading tests and finished off the spelling tests. In math we worked on line graphs and made those, first on the board, and then the children made their own. For our art activity today students used tissue paper to make flowers for the Cherry Blossom Festival that is being celebrated in Washington D.C. this week.
This morning students wrote a short paper on the story we have been reading. The story is an excerpt from, "The Little Prince." We watched a movie about the book. We also reviewed our vocabulary words for the test tomorrow. In math we studied ordered pairs. Many of the students have an activity to take home as homework.
Students took their spelling test today. The spelling papers were corrected and sent home so students can study. We re-read the story of the week. Then, altogether, students took part of an ISAT practice test. We are going through and discussing what the question means and how to take the tests. This is an effort to make the tests less stressful for them.
In math we reviewed Line Plot graphs and Bar graphs.Students who did not finish this paper were required to take it home and do it for homework.Remember to come to the Literacy Night tonight. It sounds like a lot of fun.
Students had time to work on their vocabulary words today. Then we worked on a review of our studies in Language Arts. For math we learned about elapsed time. Please take a minute with your child to discuss this with them. They do find if the elapsed time is strictly hours, but when it is using minutes, it is more difficult for them.
Tomorrow night will be the school's literacy night. It will begin at 6:30 and end by 8:00 p.m. This will take place in the class rooms.
We read a new story today, a short story, about drawings. Then we reviewed the spelling and vocabulary words. We then went on to computer work to practice for our ISAT tests which will be held later this month. In math we learned about taking surveys and recording and understanding data. Students went home with a new math homework sheet. It gives places for students to write about what they read and a specific place to do the homework.
On April 10th, Wednesday, will be literacy night. It will be held from 6:30-8:00 and will have a lot of fun reading activities. We would love to have you come.
