Just Moon Phases Test Study Hints - Tuesday November 10

This test is assessing your child's ability to interpret, make predictions, and draw conclusions based on the lunar cycle and its patterns. 
Hints:
Study the lunar cycle (the order of the phases) on page 162, and practice by answering the questions on page 167 about the moon phases listed on page 166.

Second Nine Weeks Extra Credit - Science

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY for the second nine weeks.
Due by Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Earn an extra 100 for a science test grade.

Your child must observe the moon, record the date, time, and draw a picture of the moon phase each night from Monday, October 26 until Sunday, December 13.

Print and use the document below to record the data: 
(Your child will need to print at least two calendars to successfully complete the assignment.)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwMKLL0OTWOLZzUwVlYwSGVlTGc/view?usp=sharing

If a night gets skipped or it was too foggy/cloudy, there are apps and news stations that record/report the moon phases for our area. This is an acceptable resource. 
For example:
http://www.moongiant.com/

Sun, Moon, Earth Test (Chapter 4) Date Change & Study Hints

Due to testing mandated by the district, the Sun, Moon, Earth Test (Chapter 4) will have to be moved back to Tuesday, November 3. The benchmark testing (MAPS) mandated from the district must be taken online, and the students are scheduled to take the science portion on Friday, October 30.

There is not anything to study for the benchmark testing, but, please, review the questions at the end of each lesson in Chapter 4, the end of the chapter, the questions on page 167, and the questions on page 170-171 for the test on Tuesday, November 3.

Fourth Grade Updates/Expectations (for Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science)

Dear Families,

Fourth Grade Updates/Expectations (for Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science)

• Look at your child's planner each week to see upcoming due dates.
• Review the blogs.

These are two methods of communication between what we are learning in class and home assignments. Please thoroughly check these two resources prior to emailing the teacher with questions.

• If you are going out of town, you must get approval for an excused absence from Dr. Copeland before the trip. Otherwise, this is an unexcused absence.
• After feedback from you, we have updated how the averages are calculated for all subjects for the reminder of the school year.

Tests/Summative Assessments 50%

Classwork 20%

Quizzes/Formative Assessments 20%

Homefun 10%  

• Quizzes/Formative Assessments' purpose are to monitor student learning to make instructional adjustments. This can be a quiz, teacher observation, or any quick method. You may not get much or any notice as the nature of these types of assessments is to see where the students are at that moment. 
• For end of a unit/book/chapter tests or summative assessments, you will receive adequate notice, and students should prepare/study. 
• Please send an email or call to make a scheduled appointment if you would like to meet with one of us. The morning or in the middle of the day does not allow us to give you the time that you deserve to discuss your concerns/questions.
• Your child has a couple of usernames and passwords in the front of their planner. The one for iReady and ThinkCentral is the same. Typing Club does not require a password. 
• Typing Club is optional at this time. Some parents inquired about ways to help their child to improve their typing skills for the TNReady test. This is a good resource for your child to be familiar with the keyboard. 

Language Arts/Social Studies

• Classwork/Journal Grades will be taken throughout the year. If a student does not turn in their classwork or journal they will earn a 0. If they are able to turn it in on a later date, 20% will be deducted for each day it is late. For example, if a journal grade is worth 5 points, and the student can't find it or doesn't present it to the teacher until the 3rd day after it was due, they will only receive 2 points out of 5 for the grade. It will be the child's responsibility to bring the work directly to the teacher. 
• Please keep an eye out on Mrs. Cassidy's blog for resources under the Practice Skills tab as they will be updated as the students begin a new skill.
• ThinkCentral is a new program online we will be using for writing to get ready for the TNReady writing assessment. Instructions have been sent home and are found on the blog. The username and password are in the front of your child's planner. 

Math 

• Classwork/Journal Grades will be taken throughout the year. If a student does not turn in their classwork or journal they will earn a 0. If they are able to turn it in on a later date,  20% will be deducted for each day it is late. For example, if a journal grade is worth 10 points, and the student can't find it or doesn't present it to the teacher until the 3rd day after it was due, they will only receive 4 points out of 10 for the grade. It will be the child's responsibility to bring the work directly to the teacher. 
• Reminder: There are resources on the blog for each concept in math. Please check for regular updates. As new skills are learned, new material is posted to the blog on the Skills Review and Practice page.  Additionally, there are links for multiplication practice, including printable resources, for home practice within the "helpful links" section. Please check out the PowerPoint, "One Month to Change a Lifetime" at the bottom of the math blog homepage.  It contains information on an alternative method for learning multiplication facts.

Science Update

• There will be a new tic tac toe board for the second nine weeks. (This will happen every nine weeks.) 
  
• Your child must do the middle square EVERY time.
  
• Then, they will pick two other squares that connect with the middle square to make tic tac toe.
  
• An adult MUST sign for the family game activity (and it be turned in on the assigned due date). Your child will not get credit if the adult does not sign.
  
• Do not sign on the tic tac toe board. Sign in the journal.
  
• If you cannot find something on the blog, find where the months are listed (on the right hand side) and expand the month. This will list the headers for each post and make the information easier to find.

Thank you for a successful first nine weeks and your support!

Sincerely,

L. Caldwell, L. Faulkner, & E. Sublette

Dr. Parris' Visit

Chapters 1-3 Study Hints

Chapters 1-3 Assessment is Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Study Hints:

1. Know the academic vocabulary that has been assigned for homefun for Chapters 1, 2, and 3.
2. In your textbook, go over the questions at the end of each lesson in Chapters 1, 2, and 3.
3. In your textbook, go over the questions on pages 66-67, 134-135.
4. In your textbook, go over questions 1, 3, 4, and 6 on page 96-97.
5. In your textbook, read Chapters 1, 2, and 3.

Other hints...
Know causes for endangerment/extinction of species.
Understand what happens when something is introduced or taken from a food web.
Know some insects that go through incomplete metamorphosis.
Understand what tropisms are.
Know how reproduction helps a species survive.
Know the difference and state some examples of innate behavior and learned behavior.

You do not have to turn anything in. This is to help YOU!

Learning is a Ball Donors Choose Project

I've created a classroom project request at DonorsChoose.org, an award-winning charity. 

I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. For the next 4 days, any donation you make to my project will be doubled (up to $100). If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class. 

Here's my classroom request: 

Learning is a Ball! 

To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the promo code SPARK on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through September 20. 

My students and I greatly appreciate your support. 

Ms. Caldwell