Week of August 21st

Happy Monday Everyone,

     Today was kind of a whirlwind day!! With the eclipse happening. We learned about eclipses in science and we began working on our i-Ready Diagnostic in math. We will get back to a more normal schedule on Tuesday.

     This week in math we will continue to work on our i-Ready Diagnostic. We will go to the computer lab again on Wednesday this week and Monday and Wednesday next week. Students will also have opportunities to work on their diagnostic on when they go the computer lab with Mrs. Anderson on next Thursday (Johnson) and Friday (Pavlinek).

     In our class studies we will continue to work on place value. In fourth grade we will work with numbers up to the millions place. We will use strategies to compare numbers. Students will be asked if numbers are greater than >, less than <, or equal to = another number. Students will complete an activity on Wednesday for a seat work grade. Please look for a homework activity on Tuesday night to review the material that will be on Wednesday's assignment. We will also be using mental math to quickly calculate 1, 10, and 100 thousand more and less that a given number. We will end the week reviewing strategies for rounding larger numbers. On Friday students will take their third and final math diagnostic.

     On Friday students will also take their first timed quiz of the year. Timed quizzes count as classwork grades. The last timed quiz of the nine weeks counts as a quiz grade.Students will take a multiplication quiz and a division quiz.  For the first nine weeks students will get 3 minutes for each quiz. In the second nine weeks students will get 2 minutes and 30 seconds per quiz. In the third and fourth nine weeks students will get 2 minutes for each quiz. In the first nine weeks the division quizzes will not count for a grade. We take timed quizzes every other week. Both will be made up of 50 randomly selected problems. The multiplication quizzes will cover 2's through 9's. The division quizzes will cover 2's through 12's.

     In science we will continue to work learn about science process skills. This week we will learn about how scientist do their work, the kinds of questions that scientist ask and some tools that scientist use. Students will have an a science homework assignment on Wednesday night. Students will be asked to do most of the reading, vocabulary and questions at home. This allows us to focus on hands on activities and discussions in class. 

     In social studies we will begin chapter one. In chapter one we will begin learning about our state. We will review the basics of map skills, Florida's land, and about latitude and longitude. We will work on social studies on Friday each week. Students will be given the reading and homework assignment on Monday each week. The social studies assignment is due on Friday. Students will always have a lesson in the book to read. Our aim for the reading is that students have read the material closely enough to be able to participate in discussions in class. Students need to be acquainted with facts but also have inferred in the text as well. For this week's homework students need to read chapter 1 lesson 1 and complete the 4 vocabulary  words. We discussed today in class how to complete the vocabulary in their journals. For a list of the words please visit www.msjohnsonsclassrocks.blogspot.com. On the home page you will find the newsletter. At the top of the page you will also see links for websites and vocabulary for math, science and social studies. 

Have a Wonderful Week,

Aesha Johnson

Week of August 14th

Hi Everyone,

     We had a SUPER first day of school!! We we to library and had class with Mrs. Strong. We got our supplies put away and began the task of setting up our journals for math, science and social studies. We are hoping to begin a little instruction on tomorrow. 

     The only homework this week is for students to complete their All About Me posters and to return their PTA packet. When students are selected to be student of the week they will present the poster to the class. Their poster will then be on display in the hallway for the week. Students may be as creative as they want. They can use crayons, colored pencils and markers on their posters. They may also include actual photos on the poster. Here are a few examples:

    This week in math, we will begin taking our FSA Practice Test and i-Ready diagnostic. The FSA Practice test will be given in one session as a paper pencil test. The i-Ready Diagnostic will be given over several sessions on the computer. We will also begin working in our first module in math. Module 1 will cover concepts dealing with place value. Our standards for the week are that students will be able to interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison and recognize that in a multi-digit whole number, a digit in one place represents ten times what it represents in the place to its right. For example students work with statements like one hundred is 10 times as much as ________? And, _____ thousand is _____ times as many as _____ hundred. We will also work on writing numbers in different forms i.e. unit form 10 thousands, standard form 10,000 and expanded form 11, 547=10,000+1,000+500+40+7.

     In science this week we will begin learn how scientists do their work. We will learn the difference between everyday questions and scientific questions. Students will also learn to write an acrostic poem to show what they think science is. The following link is to a clip that we will watch in class this week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqfQpURDoCo 

      As you may know we will be able to see the solar eclipse on this upcoming Moday 8/21. I have 22 eclipse classes for us to share. I am also asking that students make and bring in a solar eclipse viewer. They are very easy to make. All you need is a cereal box, heavy duty aluminum foil, and a piece of white cardboard. Students may also cover the outside of the box with paper to add decorations, but that is not necessary. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_bf2AlpdQo 
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/EclipseCerealBoxViewer.pdf

     In 4th grade social studies, we have an emphasis on Florida history. We will begin this week learning about our state. I am asking all students to try to find one fact about Florida. This week we will take a look at Florida's State flag, bird, animal etc. Students may use the following links to help them learn more about our state:
http://dos.myflorida.com/florida-facts/kids/
http://www.ducksters.com/geography/state.php?State=Florida
http://floridafacts.facts.co/funfloridafactsabout/floridafacts.php

Have a wonderful week.

Ms. Johnson

Welcome to 4th Grade

    Welcome to 4th Grade Mrs. Pavlinek and I are looking forward to getting to know you this year. The list below outlines the supplies that students will need for our classes. You may bring your supplies to Orientation or with you to class on the 1st Day of School. Please leave a comment telling me what you liked best about your summer vacation. You may also want to check out the other pages on my site.

💚
Ms. Johnson

4^th Grade Supply List

Quantity	Item
1	1 ½ inch Trapper Keeper with Zipper
2	1 inch Three Ring Binders
2	3-Prong Folders with Pockets
1	Pocket folder with 3 Holes to Fit Inside Trapper Keeper
3	Packages Wide Ruled Notebook Paper
7	Composition Notebooks with at least 100 pages
Infinite	Pencils #2 Only (No Mechanical Pencils)
1	Package Red Checking Pens
1	Pencil Pouch with 3 Holes to Keep in Trapper Keeper
1	Handheld Pencil Sharpener
5	Glue Sticks
2	Yellow Highlighters
1	Pair of Scissors
1	Package of Colored Pencils or Crayons
1	Large Eraser
1	Package of Pencil Top Erasers
1	Sticky Notes
1	Repositionable Tabs
1	Ream of Copy Paper
3	Rolls of Paper Towels
2	Boxes of Tissue
1	Gallon Ziploc Bags
1	Clorox Wipes
1	Earphones or Earbuds – place in a baggie, labeled with student’s name
1	Flash Drive
Boys	Antibacterial Hand Soap,  Quart Size Ziploc Baggies
Girls	Hand Sanitizer, Sandwich Size Ziploc Baggies
Optional	Band-Aids, Scotch Tape, Centimeter Graph Paper, white-out, snack-size bags, Windex

***No Rolling Backpacks

*** Many of the items on this list students use daily and will need to replenish throughout the year.

***During orientation, please take a moment to look at individual teacher wish lists.

Week of May 8th

Happy Monday Everyone,

      I would like to say a big THANK YOU, to everyone for all of the thoughtful gifts for Teacher Appreciation. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are appreciated more than you will every know. An extra thank you to Mrs Aurelie Drexler for organizing everything.

     Another thank you goes out to Mr. Tony Foisy and Mr. Chris Lee for being our Career Day Speakers today. We learned so much from you both.

 

     As mentioned last week I will be out on this Wednesday for the next part of my district training. Mrs. Migliaro will be the sub again this week.

     We will participate in Play Day on this Friday. Please have your child wear their class shirt, a light blue shirt, or any JBE shirt. Students also need to wear tennis shoes. We will be outside from 10:30-12:00. Students may also want to bring hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. Play Day is meant to be a fun relaxing event for all to showcase what they have learned in Physical Education classes with Coach Cooper.

     This week in math we will learn how to multiply decimals. In 5th grade students will have to add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals using models, drawings, and other strategies. We will focus our work on multiplying decimals using the algorithm.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/math/decimals-percents/mult-of-decimals.htm
Student math choices are due on next Tuesday 5/16.

     This week in science we will learn about the three different types of rocks and the rock cycle.

igneous rock clip-- http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/igneous-rocks.htm

sedimentary rock clip-- http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/sedimentary-rocks.htm

metamorphic rock clip-- http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/metamorphic-rocks.htm

rock cycle clip-- http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/rock-cycle.htm

The test for chapter 3 will be next Monday 5/15. Science choices for chapters 7 and 8 are due on Tuesday 5/16.

     This week in social studies we will complete chapter 7. The test will be on Friday 5/12.

Have a GREAT week,
Aesha
 


   

Week of May 1st

Happy May Everyone,

     We are entering into our last month of school! This will be a very busy month.

• To help you plan your calendar. Here are the End of  the Year dates for different activities. 
• May 3rd Wednesday Progress Reports
• May 8th Monday Career Day
• May 11th Thursday Deadline for Jump Rope for Heart and Muffins with Moms (A-L)
• May 12th Friday Play Day and Muffins with Moms (M-Z)
• May 29th Monday Memorial Day No School
• May 30th Tuesday 4th Grade Awards @ 10:00
• May 31st Wednesday Early Release
• June 1st Thursday 4th Grade End of Year Party
• June 2nd Friday Last Day of School Noon Dismissal

     I have been invited to participate in a new district initiative called Conerstones. Teachers from around the district where nominated by their Principals. We are being asked to help design lesson plans to fully engage students. The initial meetings are this Friday and  next Wednesday. I will have to be out on both of these days.  I will have my computer with me so if anything comes up you may email me. 

    This week in math students will continue practicing their 5th Grade skills. We will work on 5th Grade level multiplication. In 5th Grade students will have to use the standard multiplication algorithm. The problems will extend to 3 digits by 2 digits, 4 digits by 2 digits, and 5 digits by 2 digits. Please watch this video for more information 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVYwunbpMHA.

   In science this week we will begin learning about weathering and erosion

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/weathering-and-erosion.htm

   In social studies we will begin learning about how the introduction of railroads brought tourism to our state. 

Have a GREAT week,

Aesha

Week of April 10th

Hi Everyone,

     We had a successful first day of testing. Thank you for all of your support in helping students get ready for the test. Also thank you for sending in snacks and for the wonderful emails of  good luck wishes. Students do not have any homework tonight. They may work on any of our internet platforms for practice if you our they wish. We will take session 2 on Tuesday morning. Students should get outside this afternoon and unwind. Get to bed tonight at a good time to allow enough time for lots of rest. Please have a good breakfast in the morning and come to school ready to ROCK the last part of our math test!!

     Students do not have school on this Friday 4/14. We will take the reading FSA on Monday 4/17 and Tuesday 4/18. Students will need to get to bed on time Sunday and Monday nights so that they are prepared to read the many reading passages on the reading test. 

     This week in math we will, of course take our FSA math test on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday we will take one of our end of the year diagnostic tests. After the taking the FSA our diagnostic tests should be a breeze. Next week we will begin two simultaneous units. One unit will have us covering some concepts to get ready for 5th grade math, Step Up to 5th Grade. The other will be a unit where we will use the math that we have learned over the past two years, Dream House. 

     In science this week we will learn about food pyramids and food chains. We are nearing the end of our plants and animals unit. Have students think about where their food comes from and how we get energy from the things that we eat. 

     We will work on our social studies on Thursday this week since there is no school on Friday. Students should have read and annotated chapter 6 lessons 1 and 2. Students were supposed to have read both lessons and taken notes in their science journals. This was homework last week and the week before. Please make sure that students have completed this assignment. 

Have a Wonderful Week,
Aesha

Week of April 3rd

Hi Everyone,

     Mrs. Pavlinek and I are extremely grateful to everyone that donated to our Donors Choose projects last week. Both of our projects were fully funded!! We have already received the tablets and are learning how to use the Seesaw program. 
     After receiving the tablets we have realized that they are extremely fragile. We both have started another Donors Choose project to purchase cases and screen protectors for the tablets. If you are interested in giving to either project you may use the links below.

Ms. Johnson--21st Century Learners Protect Their 21st Century Tools
Mrs. Pavlinek--Promise to Protect

     Your child should have brought home their report card on last Friday. Please review all of  the enclosed papers; report card, FSA Testing information, virtual school information, and gifted progress report (for those that are in the Gifted Program). All of the enclosed paperwork is for you to keep. We just need for you to sign the outside of the envelope for the 3rd nine weeks and return it to school no later than Friday. 

     This week in math we will finish up our unit on measurement. Students have been learning about both the metric and customary systems of measurement. Students will need to know which units are best for measuring different objects. Students will also need to be able to convert within each system. Students will not have to convert metric units to customary units. We will also learn how to convert units of time. Students do not have to memorize the conversion numbers. They will get a reference sheet to use during the test. Students were given a copy to use in class and on their homework. It can also be found at Measurement Reference Sheet. 

     To further help us to see what to expect on the day of testing, students have taken a practice test for math. We learned how to navigate through the test, how to answer the different types of responses, and how to use the different mathematical tools. You can see the practice test that we took by going to Math Practice Test.

     We will finish up our work in our FSA practice books both in class and for homework. For computer homework this week I am asking students to work on Prodigy. There is a special FSA review section that has been assigned. Students need to do complete at 30 minutes. Please complete more if you have time. 

     This week in science we will learn about the different parts of a food chain. Students should begin using words like producers, consumers, and decomposers when describing different plants and animals. What would happen if all of the producers died off?

     This week in social studies we will learn about the Civil War. We have already discussed the causes of the war. This week we will take a closer look at the war itself, the Gettysburg Address, and time period immediately after the war.