Today we did our first science experiment about energy.  The students built “racers” that we had to use a trial and error method to get our racers to make it to the “sweet spot” on the floor.  Students were able to bring their racers home today.

A special thank you to the McDonald’s in Allen Park off of Oakwood and Allen Road for donating all of the cups and lids needed to build our racers!

Testing our racers

Testing our racers

Testing our racers

Testing our racers

Racer

Recording observations

Recording observations

Racers

Racers

Week 2 Spelling Words (short vowels a and e):  problem, latitude, machine, system, member, snack, happen, candy, theft, travel

Content Area:  points, lines, line segments, rays, quadrangles

Students will take the weekly Spelling Test on Friday on our iLearn Spelling course.  You can have your child log into the course at home so you can see what they spelled correctly or got wrong.  Students can only take a Spelling Test one time.

Students should be reading 20-30 minutes every night (Monday-Thursday) and filling out their reading logs.  A parent must initial the log each day to confirm that their child has done the reading.  This reading log is to be kept inside the student’s homework folder.  I will not accept a hand written note stating that your child read but he/she forgot their reading log in their desk.

Parents should be checking Student Planners each day and signing at the bottom of the planner.  This is how parents can see what their child has for homework every night and to make sure that the homework is being completed and returned to school on time.

Math homework is given a grade of 1 point.  If your child attempts the homework they will receive one point.  If the homework is not turned in, your child will not receive any credit.  Student Exit Tickets that are completed in class are given a check if the student understood the basic concept taught, a check plus if they completed the entire assignment correct, and a check minus if they are struggling with the concept.  Please use the Homework Helper sheets and the Tips for Parents sheets at home to discuss the math work with your child.

Reminder that this Wednesday, September 19th is a LATE START day.  The first bell will ring at 9:35 a.m.

Reminder that Snow Spirit Wear money and order forms are due this Friday, September 21st.

Reminder that recorder order forms and money are due this Friday, September 21st.

If you have not already signed up for Parent Teacher Conferences, please go to the SignUp Genius link below to pick a date and time to attend:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4eafa822a4f94-parent1

Thank you to all of the families that attended Open House last night!  It was so nice to meet all of you.  If you were unable to attend Open House, you will need to sign up for a parent teacher conference in November.  Below is the SignUp Genius link to pick a date and time for conferences:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4eafa822a4f94-parent1

Thank you for signing up for my blog and receiving weekly information to help you understand what your child is learning in school.

Spelling words start today.  Lesson 1 words are a review of short and long vowels along with 5 content area words.  The words that will be tested on Friday are:  oxygen, strap, bent, umbrella, shipment, prime, staple, because, hope, rumor, north, south, east, west, location.

Students will be bringing home a Reading Log starting today.  Students are expected to read 20-30 minutes every night Monday-Thursday.  Reading on the weekends in optional.  Students must record the date, title of the book they read at home, the number of pages they read, the number of minutes they read, and have a parent sign with their initials every day.  The Reading Log should be kept in students’ homework folders, as it will be checked at school on a daily basis.

Just a reminder that if you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday with treats in school, you will need to notify me with a note, email, or voicemail so that we can schedule it in our day.  If you do not let me know ahead of time that you wish to bring in treats, we may not have time to enjoy them in class.

It is suggested that students bring a water bottle and a healthy snack to class every day.  Water keeps the brain energized!

Reminder that this Friday, September 14th is half day.  Students will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m.

Welcome back from an extended Labor Day weekend!  I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend!

Our class schedule is listed under the “Class Schedule” tab on this blog.  Please remember to wear gym shoes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

As the weather continues to be hot, please remember to send a water bottle with your child to school.  Also, we have a healthy snack every morning around 10:30 a.m. since we have the late lunch at 12:40 p.m.

We will begin our new Math program starting today.  Students will have homework in math each day after the lesson is taught in class.  A homework helper guide will be coming home today along with the first homework assignment.  All of the workbooks will remain at school and students will tear pages out to go home as we use them.  It is your child’s responsibility to keep these notebooks in good condition in their desks.  If students lose or damage the books, it will be the family’s responsibility to replace them.

Students are expected to return all homework in on time.

Students should be reading at least 20 minutes each day at home.

Student Planners will be coming home as soon as the office delivers them to our classroom.  Parents should look at the Student Planners each day for homework assignments and information from school along with signing each day in the planners.

Just a reminder that Snow PTA is holding a Box Tops competition where the top three students will win prizes.  Please put your box tops in an envelope or baggie with your child’s name and teacher.  But make sure to get them in by Friday, when the contest ends!

We will continue to collect Box Tops after Friday, but they will not count toward the competition

Families can get free books from Scholastic when purchasing Kellogg’s products.  If you are interested, click on the link below:

https://t.mssage.scholastic.com/nl/jsp/m.jsp?c=%40Vf5CZN6A4bxax%2B9A4W8t8f%2Bg18HeNBeyOX6njSPa4ZY%3D&ET_CID=20180828_SNP_Kelloggs_LIB_ACQ_PK1_23612&ET_RID=1178319141

Welcome to Ms. Shene’s 4th Grade Blog!  Thank you for taking the time to sign up.  I post a weekly blog at the beginning of the week with important dates to remember for the upcoming week.

Students were sent home with an emergency card that was already pre-printed from the office.  Please verify the information on the sheet, make any corrections necessary on the front and back, then send it into school as soon as possible.  The August lunch menu was sent home today along with the application for Free and Reduced Lunch.  Even if your family filled out a lunch form last year, you will need to fill out another form this year.  If you are not applying for Free and Reduced Lunch, then you do not need to return this form.

On Tuesday, I will be sending home a welcome back to school letter and a Student Information Sheet (2 sided) for a parent/guardian to fill out and return to school.  It will help me better get to know your child.

Thank you to all of the wonderful families that sent in supplies with your child!  It is all greatly appreciated:)

The district has adopted a new Math program (Eureka Math) for K-5 this year.  It is aligned with the Common Core and students will be provided with three books to use in the classroom.  It is important that these workbooks are kept in good condition and are not lost or misplaced by students.

Since the 4th grade lunch is from 12:40-1:18, students should plan to bring a healthy snack to school to enjoy every morning around 10:30 am.  Please do not send in any types of drinks except water for snack time.  We do have a student in the class with a nut allergy, so please do not send in any snacks for your child that contain nuts.

Congratulations on a wonderful year of learning and growing! This has been one of my best years of teaching because I had amazing students and supportive parents. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s educational journey! Have a wonderful summer!!!

Summer Learning: Reading and Math

Dear Snow Families,

According to Johns Hopkins University, the effects of summer learning loss (summer slide) can result in nearly a three-month loss in grade-level equivalency in math and a two-month loss in reading.  

Your child had a great school year and has learned so much!  We do not want the summer slide to occur as we want your child to start off strong next year!  Reading and math skills can be practiced on MobyMax.

Mrs. Bush will monitor student work and post the leaders on the Snow School blog  https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/mrsbush/  Click here for Mrs. Bush’s Blog.  MobyMax offers many areas of learning so it is important that your child and you are aware of their target areas listed above.