Homework for Week of 9/22

Math Homework

Using the internet, magazines, or the newspaper, students should identify at least 8 examples of large numbers used in everyday life. Numbers should be greater than 999,999. They can cut out this information and glue on construction paper or copy the information on paper. This assignment will be due Friday, September 26th.
Example: In 1994, McDonald's served over 99,000,000,000 hamburgers.

Science/Social Studies

Students brought home a Social Studies study guide on Friday and will bring home a Science review on Monday. Please quiz your kiddos on these reviews to prepare them for upcoming tests. Our Social Studies test is on Tuesday, September 23rd and our Science test is on Thursday, September 25th.

iPad Apps

I know that some of you have access to iPads at home or might want some programs for your kiddos to do that don't require flash. Here is a list of apps that would help your kiddo with some of the skills we are working on this year. These are all free apps. However, some might ask you to upgrade, but it is not required to continue to play.

Thinking Blocks (all 3 apps) - this one is also available on the computer...here is the link Thinking Blocks (Your kiddo is familiar with this program as we use it in class)
Math Splash Bingo by DartFrog
4th Grade Friendzy by WS Publishing
iTooch Elementary by eduPad (This covers all content)
4th Grade Splash Math by StudyPad
Fourth Grade Learning Games by Kevin Bradford LLC

These are NOT required, I just want to provide some additional options at home (plus they are super fun educational games).

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Mrs. Milot

50's Day on Friday (9/19)

This Friday, September 19th, will be our very first Coyote Call Out! For each Call Out this year, we will be celebrating "heroes" from a different era. This Call Out will focus on the 1950's. Students are encouraged to put on their best 50's poodle skirts or roll up their jeans and be ready to rock and roll! (Ms. Christian and I will be dressed as members of the Pink Ladies!) We hope that everyone will be able to join us at 2:00 in the cafeteria for our 50's Coyote Call Out!

Homework

Math

Your kiddo brought home some math homework today. Please don't feel overwhelmed by it! There are twenty problems on it, but it is not due until Friday, September 19th. Some kiddos have had an opportunity to work on this in class and others have not. They need to be sure to show their work throughout the entire paper. I would also love for them to explain to you what they are doing with each problem!

Social Studies

We are working on Texas citizenship and celebrating freedom in Social Studies. I have attached a link to a game that will help further their understanding of the government. Get on with your kiddo and see how much you know!
iCivics

Science

We are continuing our work with properties and states of matter. I have attached some links to games that will help solidify their learning.
Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Changing States
States of Matter and Physical Properties
Changes in Material
Videos on States of Matter


Thank you so much for your continued support!

Mrs. Milot

Fantastic!

 This is one of THE BEST groups of kiddos that we have seen! It is hard to believe that we are only 9 days into the year! We are making the most of every day and accomplishing our goals efficiently so that means LEARNING IS IN THE AIR!
Grades were entered over the weekend and are available to view on Skyward. If you do not have access to your Skyward account to view grades and other information, please contact the office for your user name and password. This website will keep you up to date on your child's progress.Thank you!
You will notice more grades entered than papers you see come home. One of the main reasons is our format for learning during Reader's and Writer's Workshop. Each day, we have a mini lesson for both subjects introducing or reinforcing a certain skill/ or skills. Here, we write, draw, or possibly glue information in our notebooks. Daily grades are taken to reflect mastery of these skills through mini lessons in reading and writing. Notebooks are kept at school but will be sent home at times for viewing.
Please see the pics below as an example.

Math

Homework:

Your kiddo will be bringing home papers with ID cards for both Think Through Math and XtraMath tomorrow. These are two programs I would like to be used on a regular basis. Think Through Math (TTM) is an interactive math program that caters to your kiddos personal needs. They have access to a live tutor with this program! XtraMath is a web-based program to increase speed and accuracy. I can track your kiddo's progress with both programs and see where there might be a need for improvement. 

I consider these programs to be your kiddos regular homework. I would like to see them on them at least three times per week. I will also be giving out paper homework, typically on a weekly basis. It will be given at the beginning of the week and due back at the end of the week. I know that your kiddos are very busy with all their activities and they need time to be kids, so if there are extenuating circumstances I can be flexible. Homework will not count as a grade for me! It is only to provide more practice for your kiddo. If I feel you kiddo needs some extra practice on a specific concept, I might assign individual homework for your child as well. 

Some ways to help your kiddo at home:

Identify patterns in the real world – Talk with your child about patterns they may see in the world. These could be geometric patterns, number patterns, growth patterns, etc. 

Play “Race for $1” – Our class has been playing a game called “Race for a Hundred” using base ten blocks. This game can be adapted to play with money. For two players, all that is needed are about 25 pennies, 25 dimes, one dollar bill, and a die. Take turns rolling the die. The number indicates how many pennies to draw. As a player collects 10 pennies, he/she should trade for a dime. Play continues until someone can trade ten dimes for one dollar. Talk about the relationship of pennies to dimes, dimes to dollars and pennies to dollars. Can your child explain in terms of 10 times as much or 1/10 the amount?

Questions to ask: Describe the relationship between each of the places on the place value chart. (For example, the tens place is ten times bigger than the ones place or the tens place is one-tenth the size of the hundreds place.)

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Getting Started

Technology

Ms. C and I are Speed 21 teachers. This means that we create technology rich lessons aligned to the district curriculum. This also means we have some pretty cool technology in our rooms! :) One of the technologies available to us are iPads. We will begin utilizing this technology this week. In order to ensure proper usage, we have an iPad Acceptable Use Policy paper that your kiddo brought home today. Please review this with your student, then sign and return it to us by Friday. Even though we have class iPads, we don't have enough for every student. Therefore, if you kiddo has a device they can bring to class, please allow them to do so. Please don't feel obligated to send a device if you do not have one readily available. Your kiddo will still be able to use technology!

We have also sent home a brochure on Digital Citizenship which outlines elements to being a responsible and safe Digital Citizen. These are elements that will be discussed in class. We just wanted to make you aware of what the expectations are related to technology usage.

Science Safety

We have finished composing our science notebooks for the year and are ready to begin our investigations! Included in our notebooks are student safety contracts. Your kiddos brought home a safety contract for you to sign. Please sign it and return it to school by Friday. The rules that we discussed are as follows:

1. I will act responsibly at all times during science activities.
2. I will follow the teacher's instructions and investigation procedures carefully.
3. I will wear safety goggles and protective clothing when instructed to do so.
4. I will tie back long hair, remove jewelry, and wear closed-end (both toes and heels) shoes when told to do so.
5. I will not taste, eat, drink, or smell anything during science class unless instructed to do so by the teacher.
6. I will tell the teacher if I see someone or something that is unsafe.
7. I know the class emergency plan.
8. I will immediately notify the teacher of any emergency.

If you have any questions, please let me know! We begin experimenting with properties of matter next week!

Super Hero of the Week
To coincide with our school theme and build relationships in our classroom, we would like to highlight a "super hero" of the week. We will begin the rotation in 2 weeks. This "super hero" will have responsibilities/privileges both in and out of the room. Students will be notified on Fridays as to who the super hero is for the following week. Some of the privileges are:

Monday- Have a buddy sit with him/her at the side table at lunch.
Wednesday- Read a special letter written by his/her parents highlighting his/her wonderful qualities. 

Friday- The super hero will share the "Share Sack", containing (3) items special to him/her.

**Parents- Please write a short letter to your child expressing what qualities you appreciate about him/her. Place it in a sealed envelope (with the name on the front) and send it to us as soon as possible. Thank you!

Upcoming Dates

Labor Day Holiday- Monday, September 1st
Grandparent's Breakfast - Monday, September 8th

Thursday Folder Volunteers

Ms. C and I appreciate the help offered to stuff folders. It is one less job for us and we are thankful for the help! We would love to get on some sort of schedule or rotation. Please feel free to respond (make comments) on this blog to offer specific dates or rotation ideas. Any mom/dad willing to organize this rotation is more than welcome. :)

We have enjoyed our first week so far and feel very blessed with our students this year! Thank you for sharing your kids with us!