Week of Sept. 17

4th grade is rolling right along and I must say, I was a little apprehensive about teaching students so young, but I am really enjoying these kids. Most are so interested in learning, work really diligently and have a great sense of humor! My kind of people! Time is just flying by and I cannot believe we are almost ready to send home the first progress reports.

Speaking of progress reports...Last week, on Friday, I sent home your students current homework grade in their agenda. I asked for it to come back signed tomorrow. It is vitally important students do their homework daily. I just don't have time for them to reads in class for 30 minutes everyday and to be successful in school students must read daily. This homework is due everyday, unless we have a vocabulary test the next day (most Thursdays). Reading homework should absolutely NOT be done all on one day. The point is to get students into the habit of reading daily and writing about it. This helps create lifelong readers. It also aids in getting students to think about what they read, as they read it. Reading and writing the summaries all at one time belies the point of the assignment. It is also important that students read for 30 minutes. I am very suspicious when a student reads 4 pages in a grade level chapter book and tells me it took them 30 minutes to finish. Beginning this week, homework of that nature will not be accepted for credit.

I also sent home a note if your student didn't turn in their metaphor poem. Most students turned it in the next day, but I still have a few who haven't given it to me. That grade will show up as a "0" on the progress report and report card, until the assignment is handed in.

Speaking of that assignment, students did and awesome job on them and many line the wall outside the classroom. They are beautiful! I will hang many more in the classroom this week,as there isn't enough space to hold them all outside! I will try and get a picture of some of them to post here, so if you can't get to school to read them, you can still see them!

Looming in the horizon: Remember, our book reports and projects are due  Oct. 5th. Make sure your student understands the assignment and is working on it.

Here's a poem for you to read and discuss with your student. (Ask about them rhyme scheme, imagery and whether or not it has onomatopoeia or simile?)

Humanity                                          by Elma Stuckey

If I am blind and need someone

To keep me safe from harm,

It matters not the race to me

Of the one who takes my arm.

If I am saved from drowning

 As I grasp and grope,

I will not stop to see the face

Of the one who throws the rope.

Or if out on some battlefield

I’m falling faint and weak,

The one who gently lifts me up

May any language speak.

We sip the water clear and cool,

No matter the hand that gives it.

A life that’s lived worthwhile and fine,

What matters the one who lives it?

This week's vocabulary/spelling. Try and use these words in your homework summaries for extra practice! From Harriet the Spy, Chapter 2. Test on Friday!

Vocab for the Week:

Vocabulary/Spelling   Week of Sept. 17, 2012

From  Harriet the Spy

4A and 4B

4a will write 12 sentences, 4b will write 13 sentences

bounded

obnoxious

embracing

grimaced

enraged

horribly

thundered

dreadful

sneer

despised

stammer

scowled

startled

apprehensive

meekly

dignified

collapsed

Vocabulary/Spelling   Week of Sept. 17, 2012

From  Harriet the Spy

4C

4C will write sentences with 14 words

bounded

obnoxious

quizzically

grimaced

enraged

disapprovingly

thundered

dreadful

sneer

despised

stammer

scowled

startled

apprehensive

meekly

dignified

absentmindedly

Here is a poem., written by a 4th grader this week, using her spelling words. Enjoy!

Wolves in the Street  By Carlee Wilson

Walking down the

Street, nighttime. Hear a

Yowl, hear a yowl.

I’m petrified, but on

The other hand, this

Is way cool.

Wolves in the street,

Coyotes in the chimneys,

Foxes in the fence, filled

With anxiety, wait, is

That a dead deer at the door?

Canines in the sky

Canines in your hair

Canines, over here, Canines,

Everywhere, I feel a twinge

Of hope, a twinge of fear,

A twinge of curiosity and coolness

I mean, will I be spared?

Exasperated pets,

Exasperation everywhere,

My books interspersed,

I abruptly

Run!

Coyotes on

The roof, wolves in the wall,

I looked, dubiously

Everywhere, wait is

That a dog, afraid of

A fly?

Stare intently over here.

Intently over there, running.

I discarded all thought that

I won’t be spared, with

 Wolves acting sedately

Wolves behaving relentlessly.