News from Smith's Beach

Spelling Words for test on Friday, September 28
Focus:  Using Reference Materials
Words:  against, alphabet, energy, glossary, Internet, neighbor, puzzle, reference, research, system, could, make, no, time
Challenge Words:  dictionary, mystery, thesaurus, vocabulary

Remember Picture Day is Tuesday, September 25.

Pajama Day is Tuesday, October 2.  The class earned this treat by filling the marble jar.  Hooray!  They are making wonderful choices and working very hard to walk quietly in the hall.

Open House is on Monday, October 8 from 1-3 P.M. for you and your child.  Students look forward to sharing their hard work with you.  They are absolutely amazing.  On October 8, 9, and 10 students will be dismissed at 11:30 A.M.  On October 11 and 12 there is no school.  We are all looking forward to some relaxing days.

Guided Reading groups provide some great discussions and a time to ask good questions.  In Social Studies we continue to work on learning the states and capitals.  We completed the West Region, and today we will begin to learn about the states located in the Midwest Region. A tentative date for the state and capital test is Thursday, October 4 (Smith) and Friday, October 5 (Moricz).

Again thanks for all of your support.  You are the best!

Spelling Words for Test on Friday, September 21, 2012
Focus:  Nouns
Regular:
artist, blister, colony, fossil, grocer, hospital, pudding, restaurant, shoulder, sibling, my, now, not, who
Challenge:
cyclone, future, headache, thermometer

News from Smith's Beach

Students are reading a variety of books and working hard with the 40 Book Challenge.  Guided reading groups are taking place.  These groups provide a small group setting for discussion of books and ideas.  Students are completing the author study project, and you can view your child's booklet on October 8. Our focus this week will be on learning how to ask good questions.

In Social Studies we are concentrating on states in the Western Region.  On Thursday (Smith) or Friday (Moricz), students will have an assessment.  They will be expected to correctly locate the states and capitals of this region on a blank map.

We had a great number of parents and students participate in last Thursday's Math Night.  Our Guest Reader Schedule was sent home as well as the Writer's Workshop Schedule.  Please remember that on Monday, October 8, we will have an Open House from 1-3. This event takes place during conference week.  We look forward to having your child share his/her accomplishments with you.

I appreciate all of your support.  Your children are enthusiastic, humorous, and hard-working.  It is an absolute privilege for me to have such an awesome group of students and parents.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.

Fondly,
Kathy Smith

Parent Night Slides and Questions

Hello Sunshines and Families,

I am inserting our slides from Parent Night for you to have and review. Make sure to check our calendar for upcoming events and dates. Here are some of the topics we were asked questions about and our 4th grade team responses. Please let me know via email if you have any additional questions. 

1. Reading lists for Sci/SS- We have a multitude of curriculum we cover in Science and Social Studies, and it would be a rather long book list if we compiled something. Please refer to our Sci/SS websites for more information about our curriculum. Embedded in some sites are book lists.

2. Common Core Standards-Common core standards are different than the old standards because now every state has the same standards. Common core are more integrated, meaning subjects are taught across the curriculum, like writing. There are some skills in Math that were part of the Arizona State Standards, but are no longer part of the Common Core. Some examples of this are finding the mean for a set of numbers and knowing how to make vertex-edge graphs. We will introduce students to these concepts for AIMs testing, but they will no longer be the primary focus since we are using the new Common Core Standards to guide instruction. For more information about the Common Core, check out the link on our Parent's Page.

3. Lego Robotics- Due to scheduling concerns, not all classes will be participating in Lego Robotics this year. TBA

4. Reflex math- Students need to log in to Reflex Math at least three times a week and play until their progress light goes green each day. Students may use the number keypad at the top or on the side. However having kids use the keypads at the top at home will be consistent with how they use it in the classroom and help them build typing skills.

5. Colonial Day- Colonial Day is set for Tuesday, Nov. 20, the day before Thanksgiving break. If you have vacation plans, please be aware of our scheduled activities.

6. Reading logs- Students are expected to read 20 min. a night. Research shows students grow more when given repetition. For instance, Reflex math is based on having students practice math every day to obtain a stronger foundation. Reading works the same way. If there are extenuating circumstances and your child cannot read on a given night, please contact Ms. Smith or Ms. Panas privately. 

7. Electronic readers-We are looking into this. We need district and school approval to use these. I have let students bring them in the past with parent consent and the understanding that the student is responsible for the care and safety of their device. 

Fondly,

Kathy Smith

Smith's Beach News September 3

Welcome to September!

Students are taking on the 40 Book Challenge.  I am so impressed with their effort and the variety of books they select to read. Book commercials are informative.  Did you know one of the classes had a student dressed as a squirrel presenting a book commercial?  The commercials allow students to speak in front of a group and share their reading.  Students are doing an amazing job.

In Social Studies we are focusing on the names of states, capitals, and geographical regions.

Beginning in October we are fortunate to have parent volunteers as guest readers. This will take place on Thursdays from 9:30-10:00 A.M.  If you have any questions, please contact me.
*October 4     Klaus or Cheryl Axen
*October 18   Page Marks
*October 25   Dev Sethi
*November 8 Chris Cutshaw
*November 15 Klaus or Cheryl Axen
*November 29 Traci Grabb
*December 6   Eileen Lawless
*December 14  Jenny Lessie
*December 20  Page Marks
*January 10     Marisol and Dennis Kenman
*January 17     Bake Shaffer
*January 24     Ashwini Kudrimoti
*January 31    Paige Vladich