Week of 2/4/19

Happy Monday Everyone,

     I would like to thank everyone for participating in last weeks Literacy Week Character Parade!! Our class looked amazing!! 

Wednesday 2/6

Early Release

Tuesday 2/12

JBE Family Science Night 6:00-8:00

Friday 2/15

No School-Weather Day

Monday 2/18

No School-President's Day

     This week in math we will begin adding and subtracting fractions. We will begin with adding and subtracting fractions we will gradually move into adding and subtracting from whole numbers and mixed numbers. Students will also learn how to show both operations on a number line. 

   

     This week in science we will finish up our work on motion. We will complete several hands on activities to help students understand motion. Students will take a quiz on unit 9 lessons 1 and 2 on Friday. Our test is tentatively planned for next Wednesday 2/13. 

     The other 4th grade teachers and myself have become very frustrated with the lack of information in the science book. We are finding that the information provides only surface understanding for our students. We want them to be able to take information and apply it to real world situations. And we are finding that impossible given the way we currently approach science. 

     Starting with this unit students will be receiving additional materials that we will be secured in their science journals. We will refer to both our text books and the extra materials when working in science. We also no longer complete a day of social studies in class. Beginning now through the end of the year I give students a social studies assignment (quiz sheet, vocabulary, or Brain Pop) at the beginning of the week. The assignment will be due on Friday of that week.

     I am hopeful that with the renewed focus on science will provide students with more time to interact with the materials which will lead to deeper understanding and better grades on the end of unit assessments.

     Please consider coming to Family Science Night next Tuesday from 6:00-8:00. I will give extra credit in science for anyone that attends and participates. Students that attend will also receive 10 tickets. 

     This week in social studies we will work on chapter 5 lesson 3. This lesson picks up at the end of First Seminole War. The United States Army took Pensacola from Spain. Since Spain was not as strong as it once was, it decided to give all of it's Florida lands to the United States. As soon as the treaty was signed Florida became a territory. Being a territory meant that the U.S. government would give money to Florida's territory government and provide military protections. Soon after becoming a territory the settlers wanted the government to remove the Seminoles from their lands near and around present day Tallahassee. 

      Students homework assignment this week is to complete the quiz and numbers 1-5 for chapter 5 vocabulary. Both assignments are due on Friday. 

   Have a GREAT week,

    Ms. Johnson

     

Week of 1/28/19

Happy Monday Everyone,

     Welcome to a full 5 day week!! And boy is it a busy one!! Please see the calendar section for a full list of all of the Literacy Week activities. 

Week of January 28th Literacy Week

Monday-Drop Everything and Read

Tuesday-Dress Like a Pirate/Read With a Buddy 

Wednesday-Author Visit

Thursday-Growth Mindset/Literacy Display

Friday-Character Parade

Friday 2/1

Timed Quizzes

Tuesday 2/12

JBE Family Science Night

     This week in math we will continue our work on fractions. This week our focus will be on comparing fractions. Students will do this by using landmarks, mathematical reasoning, and with fraction equivalence. At the end of the week we will begin working on adding and subtracting fractions. Students will take timed quizzes on Friday.

     This week we will study. Students will learn the meanings of  motion, velocity, acceleration and how to calculate speed. Did you know that acceleration is more than speeding up. Acceleration is speeding up, slowing down or changing direction. 

  

     We will not have a lesson for social studies this week due to the Literacy Week Character parade. Students do have a sheet that needs to be completed for homework. The sheet is due by Friday. 

Growth Mindset

     For our Growth Mindset we are continuing to learn how to set goals for ourselves. Right now students are setting goals for the 3rd quarter. Once students have set their goal we will discuss making a plan to make sure our goals are successful.  

Have a GREAT week,

Aesha

Week of January 21, 2019

Happy Tuesday Everyone,

     I hope everyone enjoyed their extra long weekend. Our next long weekend will in February. Schools will be closed on Friday February 15 for a weather day and on Monday for President's Day. Until then we will be very busy with many activities. Please see the list below.

Wednesday 1/23

Talent Show Assembly

Early Release

Thursday 1/24

100th Day of School

Friday 1/25

Ticket Cash In

Week of January 28th Literacy Week

Monday-Drop Everything and Read

Tuesday-Dress Like a Pirate/Read With a Buddy 

Wednesday-Author Visit

Thursday-Growth Mindset/Literacy Display

Friday-Character Parade

Tuesday 2/12

JBE Family Science Night

     This week in math we will begin looking at strategies for comparing fractions. We will begin by comparing fractions to landmarks. Students will decide if a fraction is less than half, equal to half, between half and 1 whole, equal to 1 whole, or greater than one whole. From there we will begin to explore more mathematical ways to compare fractions using multiplication and division to give fractions withe unlike denominators the same denominator by finding equivalent fractions. Students will use the greater than >, less than <, and equal to = symbols to compare. Students will also begin to place fractions with different denominators on number lines. 

     This week in science, we will finish up our study of heat energy. We will then move into force and motion. In this study we will look learn about motion, position, speed, velocity, and acceleration. Students will learn how speed is calculated (Speed=Distance/Time). We will also learn about the forces that causes motion. This is a short unit. It has two lessons one giving information and one hands on lab. We are planning to take the test within the next two weeks. 

     This week in Social Studies we will read and discuss Chapter 5 Lesson 2, The Seminole. We will read how they originally came to Florida from Georgia and Alabama to avoid additional conflicts with the Colonists. We will discuss the causes of the 1st Seminole War and learn about Andrew Jackson's connection to Florida and Jacksonville. There are Brain Pop movies on the Seminole Wars and Andrew Jackson.

  

Week of January 14, 2019

Happy Monday Everyone,

     Students are bringing home 2nd quarter report cards today. All of the papers on the inside of the envelope are yours to keep. Please sign the envelope where indicated and return it to school no later than Friday. 

      There is no school this Monday 1/21/19, there is no school due to the MLK Jr. holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday. 

Monday 1/14/19 Report Cards Come Home

Thursday 1/17/19 Science Test Unit 8 Heat

Friday 1/18/19 Timed Quizzes 2 minutes each

Monday 1/21/9 Martin Luther King Jr. Day--No School

     This week in math we will continue to decompose fractions. This week we will focus on equivalent fractions. We will start with models and work our way to using multiplication and division. To find an equivalent fraction you either multiply or divide a fraction equal to 1 whole (2/2, 3/3, 4/4 etc.)  by the fraction you were given. 

On Friday we will take our first timed quiz of the third nine weeks. Our time now moves to 2 minutes. Use the website below for some fun practice.

http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/mathfact/mathFact.htm 

     This week in science we will finish our work on heat energy. We will complete a lab on conductors on Tuesday and Wednesday. The test will be on Thursday. We will then finish our physical science study with forces and motion.

     This week in social studies we will continue the tug of war that Florida went through. When we finished chapter 4 we learned that at the end of The American Revolution the British had to give control of Florida back to Spain. How long will Spain keep control of Florida? Read chapter 5 to find out. 

Have a Fantastic Week,

Ms. Johnson

Week of January 7, 2019

Happy New Year Everyone,

     I hope that everyone had a wonderful winter break!! I would like to thank everyone for the generous and thoughtful Christmas presents. I would also like to thank everyone that helped out with our Winter Festival Parties!! Relaxing in our jammies while watching movies and completing fun activities was a great way to spend the day. The students worked so hard during the first semester it was truly an earned treat to spend the day just hanging out.

Tuesday 1/8 Winter Math Packets are due.

Wednesday 1/9 Early Release

Friday 1/18 Timed Quizzes 2 Minute Time Limit 

     This week in math, we will begin Module 5. In this module we will work on fractions. Students will continue their understanding of what fractions are as they relate to parts of whole numbers. This week we will learn how to decompose fractions and how to model equivalent fractions using tape diagrams. We will also begin learning how to multiply fractions by whole numbers. 

     In order to receive full credit for winter packets students need to make sure they turn in all of the work on Tuesday, 1/8/19. For technology homework students need to complete at least 30 minutes of i-Ready. Next week we will move our i-Ready minutes back up to at least 45 minutes. 

     In science we will begin the week reviewing how heat energy moves. Students need to remember these important points:

1 Heat moves from warmer objects to cooler objects until both objects are at the same temperature.

2 Heat moves in three ways:

   conduction, heat moving between two objects that are touching

   convection, heat moving in a liquid or gas

   radiation, heat moving without molecules

3 Temperature is a measure of how much energy an objects molecules have at a

   particular time. When an object has a high temperature its molecules are in  

   an excited state and the molecules move quickly. When an object has a low 

   temperature its molecules are in a less excited stated and move slowly.

For the rest of the week we will begin Unit 8 Lesson 2 What are conductors and insulators. This topic will extend into next week. 

    

     This week in social studies we will continue with chapter 4. We will read and discuss lesson 3. 

 

Week of December 17th

Hi Everyone, 

     This is our last week of school of 2018!! That means that we are already half way through the school year. The 2nd nine weeks ends on this Friday 12/21. Students do not return to school until Tuesday January 8th. On Monday January 7th I will finalize report card grades. 

     Please ask your child about needed supplies. As we have reached the mid-way point students are beginning to run out of glue. If possible purchase your child a craft bond glue stick. Many of the regular glue sticks do not have a strong bond and student work sometimes falls out of journals. Many students do not have headphones. Headphones are a needed supply since we go to the computer lab at least once a week. We also use the lab top cart at once a week with Mrs. Chin for Genius Hour. The headphones in the lab are in short supply and I do not have extra headphones in the classroom. Students are also out of pencils and many have lost their scissors.

     A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Samaikhya for winning the 4th Grade Spelling Bee!!

      This week in math students will take the module 4 test on geometry. We will then work on a culminating project, Geometry Snowman, to finish the unit. 

     Students will be receiving  a Winter Math Packet this week. The packet contains work that matches the standards that we have worked on so far this year. The packet is optional, but I encourage all students to complete the work. Students may get help from an adult or older siblings to answer questions, but the student must complete the work themselves. The completion of the packet is optional. Students that successfully complete the packet with a grade of B or higher will earn 25 tickets. 

     This week in science we will begin learning about heat energy. Students will learn that heat moves from warm places/objects to cooler places/objects until the temperature of both are the same. Students will also learn that heat moves in 3 ways; conduction, convection, and radiation.

     We will not cover a new lesson in social studies this week. Students do have a vocabulary homework assignment. 

      I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays. What ever you celebrate enjoy this time off. I hope that you get to spend tons of time with family and friends. 

Ms. Johnson

Week of December 3rd

Hi Everyone,

     We have another full week of school. And today would have been the perfect day to be home with a good book. Hopefully today is the only day with so much rain. 

     We have an illness make its way around the classroom. Students have had fevers, headaches, sore throats, and upset stomachs. Remember that a student must be fever free for 24 hours without medication before they can return to school. With testing happening this week we want to keep from spreading our germs as much as possible. 

     We will begin mid year testing this week. Please see the schedule below:

Mon. and Tues. (3rd & 4th) Achieve 3,000 and i-Ready Reading testing with Ms. Billiard
Wed. and Thurs. (5th & 6th) i-Ready Math testing with Ms. Johnson
Fri. and Mon. (7th & 10th) District ELA Scrimmage-students will test in their homeroom 
Wed. and Thurs. (12th & 13th) District Math Scrimmage-students will test in their homeroom 

Please make sure that students are getting plenty of rest and eat a filling breakfast. We want our students to show what they have learned so far this year. 

     This week in math we will learn how to find the measure of an unknown angle using the known measures of the angles around the unknown angle. This work will be done without the use of protractors. Students will do work like what is shown below.

 

Students will have to use information such as:

*circles equal 360 degrees

*straight lines equal 180 degrees 

*right angles equal 90 degrees

*a quarter of a circle equals 90 degrees

*three quarters of a circle equals 270 degrees

     

     This week in science we will finish up our work on sound energy. We will then begin working on how the kinetic energy of wind and water can be used to help us create clean energy. We will take our test on unit 7 next week. 

     

     Students did a great job last week with their annotated notes for social studies. Students will take annotated notes for this weeks lesson, chapter 4 lesson 1. When students take notes they:

*should include the section heading/subheading title

*should pull out a few important details from each paragraph

*not copy ever word

*should try to take the text and put it in their own words

*don't have to write complete sentences bullets are okay