Howdy Partner!

Welcome To Mrs. Thomas’s

Fourth Grade

McLouth Elementary USD 342

~~~~~Weekly News Update~~~~~

October 6 - 10, 2008

Language Arts

(Reading, English, Spelling)

Independent Reading:

*Remember students need to be reading one approved library book for October.

 They should be reading a few pages each night to reach this goal.  Don’t forget to log the time reading on the “Reading is Thinking” log sheet.  A new form is attached for this week.

*Weekly Reader – Peanut Butter Jam, passed out on Tuesday, due on Friday.

“October Talking Calendar”

Ask your child what days of the month they “talked” about-it’s a couplet poem and an illustration.  Then your child recorded it on a cassette with the rest of the class so

we can play it back each day and listen to a new poem!

► Reading:  Theme 2 Story:  Tomas and the Library Lady

Summary:  When Tomas goes to the library for the first time, he makes a friend and finds a whole new world of stories that he can share with his family.

Skill:  Sequencing Events/Time Order word clues–students will work on sequence of events in the order in which the story events occur.  Skill:  Characters feelings-relating the characters actions and words to feelings.

*Remember to check out the class website at www.mclouth.org; click Elementary Classroom Pages; click right on Mrs. Thomas for a page of websites that go with our subjects.  Click on Reading Text Support to play a vocabulary game on this week’s vocabulary words and to click on Internet links for the story.

Take Home Book:  (Handed out on Thursday/due back on Monday)

This week’s booklet is called A Thousand Words.

 *Students should read the booklet silently and complete the comprehension work on the last page.  Remember to underline in the story to prove the answers.
*Students should next read some of the booklet out loud to a parent or where a parent can hear—working on a fluent read aloud (reading in a smooth way just like we talk)
*Parents can support the reading by helping with difficult words and asking questions about the characters, important events, problems and solutions and by spot checking the student’s comprehension work.
*Parents sign the front cover and your child returns it to school. 
Thanks for the little extra support that helps improve your child’s reading skills.

► English Skills: 
Thesaurus-using synonyms to make our writing more exact or interesting. We will use the English book thesaurus, classroom and library copies to find more interesting words in our practice.

► Spelling:  Theme 2 Unit 1 –Sounds /ou/ and /o/.
Example:  /ou/ words like: pound, howl; /o/ words: jaw, cause

Basic words 1- 20 are tested on Friday; Challenge Words 21-25 should be attempted but don’t hurt the students grade.  All correct challenge words are extra credit at the end of the quarter and can help students raise their grade.

Spelling Study Practice Sheet (Peer Tutor):  comes home the night before the test on Wednesday this week to study and get a parent signature to be ready for the test on Thursday (no school for students on Friday).

►Handwriting:  we will concentrate on the lowercase and capital “W, w” on individual letters and in sentence form.

►Chapter 2 Adding and Subtracting Numbers

*Lesson 6 Adding and Subtracting 3 digit and 4 digit Numbers p. 48 – 51

We will be practicing our math skills and also finding missing digits in a problem.

*Lesson 7 Choosing a Method p. 52 – 55

We will look at problems and decide if paper/pencil, calculator or mental math is a better choice for computing the answer.

►Problem Solving – Continue with Make  a Table

► Track Math – we continue to work on 2 minutes timings for addition and subtraction.  We will be working on the entire page of problems for extra practice. Students can benefit from reviewing their facts at home for speed and accuracy.

►Accelerated Math – individualized, computer generated practice with scan/checking for immediate feedback.  Students are working as time allows approximately 2 times a week or in free time.

Science

*Lesson 2 What are Nonrenewable Resources? p. C46-55

Topics include:

♦Identify fossil fuel resources and their uses
♦Recognize soil’s importance in supporting life on Earth.
♦Identify rocks and minerals as nonrenewable resources.

Students will also receive a handout on Kansas State Soil and the size of soil particles.  We will be doing some hands on activities with soil next week.

Other

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Bull pup Schedule Mrs. Thomas’ class:
(Bring your favorite stuff for the Bull pup case
and invite family to eat lunch at 12 noon with you!)

Tuesday, October 7 – Tucker & McKayla
Thursday, October 9 – Ricky & Cassie
Tuesday, October 14 – Harleigh & Braden
Monday, October 20 – JayJay & Celia
Wednesday, October 22 – Hannah & Rachael
Friday, October 24 – Jacob & Jesse

Field Trip News

First we will go to the Environmental Festival at Slough Creek on Wednesday, October 8.  Bring back the permission slip by Tuesday.  Bring a sack lunch and drink on Wednesday.  Dress appropriately.

We are also going to the
American Royal Rodeo
on Friday, October 24. 
Permission slip is due by October 14.

Friday, October 10 End of Quarter No school for students, Teacher Professional Development and Workday

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, October 16

Picture Day for Elementary
Wednesday, October 22
Mark your calendar and look your best!