Saturday, December 20, 2008

Welcome to Your Winter Vacation!

Keep reading! Make books a life-long friend and habit! Don't know what to read? Check out some reviews written by a fellow fourth grade falcon:

http://falconreaders.blogspot.com/

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Pajama Day Tomorrow!

Homework due tomorrow:
1. Signed Reading Log
2. Constructed Response

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

OOBLECK!


HOMEWORK:
1. One page of math review.
2. Read and record in your log.
3. Your constructed response is due tomorrow.

OOBLECK
Oobleck Recipe
2 cups of corn starch3 drops of green food coloringenough water to make a thick mixture (about the texture of pancake batter) Mix water in slowly.
Some other fun things to observe about OOBLECK:
Oobleck is a solid and a liquid at the same time.
If you make a ball and throw it up in the air, it loses shape and becomes flat in the air.
Oobleck can be molded in a container and when taken out does not keep shape.
If you fill a balloon with 0obleck, the air presses or forces the Oobleck back out.
When you leave Oobleck in the sun, the color evaporates, it turns hard like cement on the top and like jelly on the bottom. When heated this also happens and it is sticky.
Oobleck does not bounce.








Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Go to our other blog to see all of the wasp pictures!


Your homework:

1. Read and record your title/times in your log (due Friday).

2. Work on your constructed response (due Friday).

3. Study your spelling words (test TOMORROW).

Monday, December 15, 2008

Book Log and Constructed Response Due Friday!

We will also have a spelling test this week. Make sure you review your words and know the sounds/patterns they share.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Homework due on Friday

You have a two sided worksheet on symmetry. Please read the instructions so you know exactly what to do for each section.

Your signed book log is due tomorrow.

Your constructed response on "The Bus for Deadhorse" is also due tomorrow.

Symmetrical Polygons!















Presenting our SYMMETRICAL POLYGONS!






Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Hope you are having a good afternoon!


Great job doing your symmetry images in mathematics today! Check back in to this blog tomorrow to see your published design!
Don't forget to study your multiplication combinations if you still need to pass level A.
Your book log and your constructed response are both due on Friday. Remember to put some effort into this assignment as I am looking for QUALITY WORK from all fourth graders.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Early Release Tomorrow!

Students who have not passed Multiplication Mad Minutes Level A
MUST
study their multiplication combinations tonight!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Happy Monday!


Tell your parents about our iodine drop test in science today.


Math homework: SAB pages 53 and 54. Page 53 reviews multiplying groups of ten (9x 6= 54, 9 x 60 = 540). Page 54 asks you to draw lines of symmetry. Read the instructions carefully to be sure you know exactly what to do.


Reading: Keep adding to your reading log and consider working on your reading response before it is due on Friday.

Friday, December 5, 2008

It's Friday!

There are a lot of papers that need to be signed and returned on Monday.
1) The Friday note, detailing our new "Quality Work Game Time" on Fridays.
2) Two permission slips that allow you to watch some movies and participate in the intermediate dance on the last day of school before winter break.

You have a BOOK LOG and BOOK RESPONSE due on Friday. The book response can be turned in earlier, if you desire. Remember to put your best effort into this assignment.

Have a great weekend! Stay warm!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

No homework, except...



Please keep reading at home, even if you don't have an assignment.







Also, if you haven't passed Multiplication Mad Minutes Level A, you should be studying your multiplication combinations every day for 10 minutes. Use some of the web sites provided on this blog if you don't have someone who will practice with you.










Monday, December 1, 2008

Welcome Back!


Today for homework you need to do Math SAB page 44. Please be sure to show your equation and your work for each problem.


You received your new spelling words today. Study them well!


Today in science did a vinegar drop test on our five powers. The baking soda/vinegar combination was the most fun. If you want to try a similar experiment at home, follow this link.




Here is another really fun activity.


Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Halloween Pictures







Happy Thanksgiving!


While I am not giving you any SPECIFIC homework to do over this Thanksgiving break, I hope you find time to read and to work on your multiplication combinations (if you haven't passed Level A yet).


There is no note going home that needs to be returned.


I look forward to seeing you awake and alert on Monday. Please remember to show your loved that you are thankful to them through your words and deeds.


Check out this Thanksgiving website from Scholastic News.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Read!

Spend some quality time with a book today. Record your title, author, and time on the reading log. Work on the back page reading response. Remember, I'm looking for a good constructed response. Narrow in on one topic, support your ideas with information from the text, write in full sentences, use your "expert" reading voice.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Perimeter Polygon Problems! Perfect!




Today you have a worksheet that asks you to find the perimeter of different polygons. Remember our discussion in class today? We made up a list of attributes that polygons share.

They all have three or more straight sides (called line segments) that meet at edges (called the vertex); make a closed figure (no open parts or extra bits); and they don’t cross lines or touch other shapes.

We also learned some geometric vocabulary!
Can you remember the definitions of these words? Polygons, line segments, sides, edges, vertex, vertices, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, right angles, obtuse angles, and acute angles.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Perimeter is the measurement AROUND a polygon.


Do the perimeter worksheet.


Read at home, add to your log, and work on your Back Page response.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Have a Great Weekend!

Remember to return your green report card folder and your Friday Note to school on Monday.

Our class is collecting boxed desserts for our Thanksgiving fundraiser. Please consider contributing if you are able.
Spelling test on Monday!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Thursday

Your book logs and Back Page response are both due tomorrow. Please make sure you have proofread your work before turning it in.
Your spelling test will be on Monday. Keep reviewing your words and look for those patterns!

Idea Notebook: Spend 20 minutes doing WHATEVER you want in your idea notebook. Think like a writer!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Author Visit Tomorrow!


Tomorrow, author Todd Mitchell will be coming to Fitzmorris Elementary School. We have been reading his book, The Traitor King. Visit Mr. Mitchell's web site to learn more!




Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008


Math: You have 4 story problems to read and solve. These sentences will test your reading comprehension AND your math skills. Underline key words, draw pictures, read the text aloud... How can you determine what you need to do to solve each problem?


Spelling: Study your words.


Reading: Reading log and back page due on Friday.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

Math: You have SAB 3-4 to do. Remember, those multiplication problems are not at all difficult! 6 x 30 is almost the same as 6 x 3, and you ALL know how to do that combination!

Reading: You should be continuing to add titles, authors, and minutes to your log. Your Back Page Response is due on Friday as well. Remember to just pick one idea to write about (an important character trait of the main character, for example) and write like a reading expert. Please look over your response before you turn it in to me!

Constructed Response Checklist
_________ I found and underlined key words in the question.
_________ I used words and examples from the text and spelled them correctly.
_________I sounded like an expert on this text.
_________I checked for capitals and endmarks.
_________I whisper read my answer and it will make sense to someone else.

Spelling: Words went home today.

Group #1
PEA
SLED
VEST
DEER
CHEESE
BELL
SEAL
DRESS
LEAF
SHEEP
TREE
FORK
JEEP
WHEEL
DESK
QUEEN
NEST
SLEEP
LEG
SWEEP
BED
LEGS

Group #2
TURN
SURE
CURVE
PURE
BURN
HURT
CURL
CHURCH
LURE
NURSE
CURE
PURSE
HURL
BURST
CHURN
CURSE
SURF
PURR
CURB
TURKEY
PURPLE

Group #3
SUNNY
SLOWLY
HAPPILY
QUICKLY
RAINY
CLEARLY
SNOWY
EASILY
FOGGY
DIMLY
MISTY
QUIETLY
STORMY
LOUDLY
ANGRILY
DAILY
CHILLY
CLOUDY
WINDY
NOISILY
BREEZY
ROUGHLY
LAZILY
SMOOTHLY

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Thursday, November 6, 2008


You have your new reading log and back page reading response. These are due on Friday, November 14. Feel free to do your reading response at any time during the week.


Your Thursday note is due on Monday. If you were one of the students who did not turn your log in today, a blank one (with all of the zeros you might receive as grades) has been attached to your Thursday note. This needs to be signed as well. If you have your completed log at home from this last week, please TURN IT IN so those zeros can be replaced by grades you have earned.


If you have not passed Mad Minutes Level A, you MUST be practicing your multiplication combinations every night for 10 minutes. You can follow the game links on our blog site to play some online games, if that works for you!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Wednesday, November 5, 2008


Math: Page 65. As we discussed in class, you need to problem solve as many possible combinations of feet as possible.


Reading: Your book log and back page response are both due tomorrow. Profread what you have written before you turn it in so you be sure that you have used proper capitalization and punctuation. Double check that you are focusing in on one idea and have given examples from the text you read. Sound like a reading expert!


Book orders are due tomorrow by lunchtime.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day!

Math: You have 25 simple division problems.

Reading: Both parts of the reading log (front and back) are due on Thursday.

Word Study: Your spelling test will be on Monday, since we don't have school on Friday.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Monday, November 3, 2008


Book orders went home today. If you chose to place an order, please do so before lunch on Thursday. To make the process even easier, follow the Scholastic Link below and order with a credit card online! Our class user name is mrshovinensclass and our password is Fitz4H.



Math: You need to finish the math packet we started in class today (SAB pgs 47-50).


Spelling: Your word study words went home with you today. Cut them out and sort them. Find the spelling patterns that certain words share. See if you can learn some rules about how our English words are put together. During the week you can speed sort your words, write sentences, take practice spelling tests... Can you make up a fun way to practice your words at home?


Reading: Remember to keep reading every day and to record your book title, author, and time on your log. At any time during this week you can do the BACK PAGE response. This will be due on Thursday.


Thursday, October 30, 2008

Thursday, October 30

Happy (almost) Halloween!

There is no homework tonight. I do hope, however, that you have made reading a LIFELONG habit and so you do it even if there is no log going home.


Also, if you are one of the students still on LEVEL A MULTIPLICATION MAD MINUTES, you should be studying your multiplication combinations every night. Please. Your brain will thank you.



Q. Why didn't Dracula have any friends?
A. He was a pain in the neck!

Want to read more Halloween jokes? This web site has jokes, coloring pages, and games.

http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/Holidays/Halloween.html

October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween! I wish you a fun and safe Friday and weekend!

Math: There is no homework, but I recommend visiting this website so you can practice your addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. There is some quick practice for everyone at every level. If you like practicing this website at home, feel free to take a graph so you can chart your progress (just like we do at school with our Mad Minutes)!
http://oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/mathmagician/maths1.html

You received a reading log for the next week. Don't forget that you now also have to do a "Back Page Reading Response." If you misplace your log during the week, you can either make your own up or come get an extra (they are on the wall by my file cabinet).

You also need to return your signed Friday Note on Monday.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

It's division time! You have 25 math problems to do. Don't worry, you should know all the multiplication factors involved in this worksheet. Pretend you are playing "Missing Factors."
42 divided by 6 = something
6 x something = 42

I know that 6 x 7 = 42, so 42/6=7.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Tuesday, October 28


Welcome back to school!


Math: Please do Student Activity Book page 31. There are only two division problems, but each one has two parts. You first need to write a division story to match the equation. Then you solve the problem. Don't forget that your story decides what to do with the remainders!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

It's our October Mini Break! I'm certain you will enjoy your days off. I look forward to seeing you fresh, rested, and ready for school Tuesday morning!

In case you do miss the fun and learning we have here at Fitzmorris Elementary, here are some educational websites you might want to visit. Have a few free minutes while you take a break from reading? You can do some games and activities related to the topics we have been covering in school!

If you do find yourself playing some of these games, I would love it if you would comment to me on this blog to let me know which games you would recommend and which ones you think your friends should avoid.

Happy Fall!

This site lets you make multiplication arrays. Just click on one factor, then the other, press the = sign and PRESTO! You have a multiplication array.
http://www.mathcats.com/explore/multiplicationtable.html

Here is a National Geographic website recommended by Mrs. Garcia. She says that it has a great game that relates to what you are studying in Social Studies!
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Games/GeographyGames/Copycat

Here is another site that has some interactive math games you can play. I like this one because you can pick what kind of math you want to practice.
http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/ekowalcz/math/elementary_web_sites.htm#Geometry%20and%20Measurement

Here you help a robot decide if the word is a common noun, proper noun, or not a noun at all! It’s called Noun Dunk. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/basketball/index.html

This is a website from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Here you can help Rex the Rhino discover mysteries about rocks, fossils, and minerals.
http://childparenting.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=childparenting&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.childrensmuseum.org%2Fgeomysteries%2Fmysteries.html

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Math: Writing fractions worksheet due tomorrow. Remember, the total number of pieces is written below the line (this is called the denominator) and the number of parts shaded is written above the line (this is called the numerator).
Writing: If you want to have your friendly letter mailed off tomorrow, you need to bring the address of your recipient in. Otherwise, you will be able to take the letter home so you can hand deliver it.

Red Ribbon Week: Team up Against Drugs! Show off your team spirit by wearing a jersey!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Monday, October 20, 2008

Happy Monday!
Reading: We don't have a reading log this week, but I hope you have made a habit of reading everyday even if you don't need to keep track!

Math: SAB page 27. You don't need to do SAB 28 unless you want extra credit.

Red Ribbon Week: It's no sweat to stay drug free! Wear sweats tomorrow!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Friday, October 17, 2008


Happy Friday!
Please return the signed Friday Note on Monday.
Keep reading and practicing your multiplication/division combinations.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Thursday, October 16, 2008


Math: Please do the greater than/less than worksheet. Keep practicing those multiplication combinations. Remember, division is just discovering the missing product!


Reading: Log due tomorrow.


Spelling: Ten word test tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wednesday, October 15, 2008


Read! Study your multiplication combinations! Manipulate your word study words! Watch the debates! Go to bed early! Have a great breakfast! I'll see you on Thursday!



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