Sunday, August 9, 2009

Getting in Gear!

Hello Fitzmorris Falcons!

I'm not quite ready to say "Welcome Back to School," but I'm starting to feel summer vacation wind to a close. Our entire family is trying to go to bed sooner, wake up earlier, and appreciate every minute of our remaining vacation time. Somehow, knowing it will all end soon makes it so much more precious.

Peter has been reading a lot of science fiction and fantasy books, looking for the best one to introduce to his 8th graders. I just finished one of his recommendations... Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Today, during the heat of the day, I hid out in my room for 4 hours so I could finish the book!

My daughters have been playing Spore on the computer. I've gotten attached to this game, too. When they aren't designing creatures they have been doing a lot of art (glue guns ROCK!). They've also be rereading The Lightening Thief series of books and the Harry Potter series.

I've been planning on having the girls review some of their math skills by visiting some of the websites on this blog. We've all become a bit rusty remembering our multiplication combinations, and being able to say "42" when you hear 7 x 6 would be a great way to start the academic year.

I look forward to reconnecting with all of my previous 4th graders and meeting my new classroom companions for the 2009-2010 school year!

Until then,
7 x 9=
8 X 4=
3 x 7=
:) Fondly,
Mrs. Hovinen

Monday, June 15, 2009

It's Summertime!

I hope you are all having a great vacation so far! Don't forget to keep reading and working on your math skills.

You can send me an email anytime at
ghovinen@jeffco.k12.co.us

I look forward to hearing from you!

Fondly,
Mrs. Hovinen

Monday, May 11, 2009

Student Led Conferences!


Now that you are almost done with fourth grade, I would like you to reflect on some of the things you have learned during this academic year. Do you feel you are at least one year smarter? What do you consider your strengths and what are some areas you want to work extra hard on in fifth grade?


I, too, am looking over my year as your lucky teacher. I am eager to read your impressions of this year. What were some of your favorite subjects? What do you think about giving homework? Is there something that absolutely needs to be changed for next year's fourth graders? Should I change the job list? Do you think spellings lists help you learn? If you want, you can sign your name to the blog or leave your name as "anonymous."


Click on "comments" at the bottom of this entry (below and agenda) and let me know!


Student Led Conference Agenda

1. Share your magazine with your adult. Show all of the work you did to plan and research for the final draft. Write at least one sticky-note complement and put it into a magazine.

2. Look through your portfolio with your adult. Share some of your greatest pieces of work. Use your writing/reading spirals to show how your writing has improved over the year. What are some things you are doing now that you didn’t do at the beginning of fourth grade? How have you grown as a writer?

3. Go to the kidney table and have your parent pick out a Quick Images card. Race to see who can build the image first. Repeat.

4. Go to the Living Science Stations and share some things you observed and learned about the animals. Share your Ecosystems Unit Folder, highlighting your favorite activities.

5. Have your parents fill out a parent survey form. When it has been turned in, come collect your Family Magazine and the DVD of your digital stories and the poetry recitation.

6. Want more? Go into our hovinenhomework.blogspot.com blog and let me know some things you and your adult liked about this year and some suggestions for change.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Plan a balanced meal!

Use the graphic organizer that was sent home to plan a balanced meal, recording each item in the correct food group(s).

Please bring this completed table back tomorrow so you can use it as a planning tool for your contribution to Mrs. Benson's blog.

If you would like, you can do this school assignment at home. After you have completed the top of the homework, follow the link below to get to Ms. Benson's blog. The rest of the instructions for this activity are on the bottom half of your homework page and on Ms. Benson's blog.

http://falconhealthyhints.blogspot.com/

Your plan is due in class tomorrow, even if you do the blog assignment at home tonight.

Have a good afternoon/evening!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Only 10 Short Mathematics Word-Problems Today!

Please remember, also, to give Jamie's survey to an adult at home. She will need the results back tomorrow for her data analysis and graph.

I hope everyone is enjoying the magazine unit! I know I'm having a great time helping you out and watching your magazine grow. I'm also really having fun making my own magazine. Keep up the great work!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Math Homework Tonight!

Please do SAB pages 17 and 18 as homework tonight.

Many students are working on their Making Magazine unit at home. What could you do? Write up a series of questions, and then sit down and interview someone in your home! Have you read a book that relates to the main idea of your magazine in some way? Write a book review! Feeling especially creative? Write a Haiku about your main idea.

Here is a link to a page that can help you write your Haiku.
http://abcteach.com/free/h/howto_haiku.pdf

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Author Visit Preview

Hey guys and gals! I hope you are all enjoying your four day weekend. I'm here at school, grading and reviewing and organizing a lot of "teacher" papers.

I just ran across a reminder that we are going to have another author visit this year.

Phil Thomas will be at our school May 12th - day and evening. I'll be reading part of one of his books to you and he will spend some time with our class discussing his writing process.

Check out his website-
http://applewoodadventures.com/

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Basic Division Homework due Tomorrow

You have a review homework sheet tonight. Now that you know your multiplication combinations, you also know your division combinations!

7 x 8 = 56 so 56 divided by 8 = 7.

If you need to review your multiplication and division combinations, please visit the multiplication.com link on the sidebar of this blog.

Last Book Order of the Year Due Friday

http://pcool.scholastic.com/parentordering/login.jsp?ESP=SBC/ib//acq/pcool_slimnav_Parents///nav/txtl////

April 7, 2009

Dear Fourth Grade Falcons,

Two book orders were sent home today. These will be the last book orders of the year. You are under no obligation to purchase anything from these book orders. I have found, however, that they are a reasonable price and make great gifts (and they are great for stocking up your summer reading library!).

If you are ordering this month please:

1. Send the order form in by Friday, April 10. They will be mailed out promptly by lunchtime. I will accept orders any time before that.
2. Now you can order online and pay by credit card! Go to www.scholastic.com/parentordering and sign in. Our class user name is mrshovinensclass and our password is Fitz4H. I’ll hyperlink the website on the Hovinen Homework blog site.
3. If you want to order through me, make your check payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. You can write one check for all book orders. Any cash needs to be contained in an envelope or baggy.
4. Please make sure you have clearly filled out the form and have included your child’s name.
5. Notice that if you are joining one of the “clubs” you will need to fill out an additional form and you will be billed a monthly charge for an ongoing subscription.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Living Stations Pictures!





















































What fabulous scientists!











Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Our Ecosystems unit has STARTED!

Look around your house for pictures you can draw or cut out for your ecosystems unit. Also, if you want to bring in your pet for our class menagerie, please ask permission from your parents and remember that you need to provide some information about that creature.

Your book log is due on FRIDAY. Please continue reading at home and recording your title and time each evening.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Great CSAP work today!

Your book log is due on Friday.

There are some links to some fun, educational fractions games on our blog site. Let me know if you have played some at home!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Due Tomorrow!

Your book log and reading response are both due tomorrow.

Your Scholastic Book Order is due on Monday, but you can turn it in tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Book orders are due on MONDAY!

There is no homework tonight.

Feel free to do your IDEA NOTEBOOK for extra credit.

Your book log and book response sheets are due on FRIDAY.

Book orders went home today. The deadline for ordering from these three orders is Monday. You can order online by following this link:

http://clubs.scholastic.com/cool/login.jsp

Our class user name is mrshovinensclass and our password is Fitz4H. This is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way to order from Scholastic.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tuesday!


You have one page of math homework tonight.

Your book log and book response are both due on Friday.

Have a good evening!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Fun Fraction Games Here!

Click on the title of the game you want to play and then go down and select "Begin Game".
If it asks you to register, just click "maybe later" and it will take you directly to the game.

http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=FractionGame

I recommend starting with one of these games:
Fraction, Name, and Picture Match
Fraction and Picture Match
Equivilant Fractions and
Adding Fractions with Same Denominator

Happy Monday

This is Mrs. Hovinen's Class!
Your homework tonight is a two-sided math worksheet.

Your reading log is due on Friday.

Your book response is also due on Friday.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Have a great weekend!

Please remember to return your Friday Note on Monday, signed by your parent.

You received a new book log that starts today. Don't forget to record your title, author, and time.

You also have a short text with questions and a constructed response. This is due on Friday, but can be turned in any time next week.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Don't forget your PENNIES FOR PATIENTS!


Today’s homework is a two sided math worksheet.

Tomorrow is our last day for Pennies for Patients. Please help us earn a pizza party!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday's Homework

You have a FREE CHOICE entry in your IDEA NOTEBOOK but I want it to be inspired by the sticker I gave you this afternoon. Have fun with your entry. You will be sharing them with your peers tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Welcome Back!

Tonight for homework you have one page of addition and subtraction review problems.

Also, even though there is not a book log, please read!

Don't forget your Pennies for Patients' money.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy your long weekend!

If you want to play some (uneducational) Valentine's games, check out this link!
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/valntine/valgms.htm

Monday, February 9, 2009

It's Monday!

You have one page of money homework due tomorrow.

You also have a spelling test tomorrow. Study your words.

Your book log is due on Thursday.

Don't forget to work on your Valentines. Our party will be Thursday morning.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

How much money do you have?

Homework: Do the two-sided money worksheet.

Study your spelling words. Rememer: We are practicing homophones and contractions.

Come play this game called GAME CHANGER:


Monday, February 2, 2009

Idea Notebook

You need to write a FREE CHOICE story in your idea notebook tonight. Remember to have a beginning, middle, and end. Try to keep your story focused and interesting.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Happy Thursday! Wear a tie tomorrow!


Book Log due tomorrow.


Tie Day tomorrow!


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

WEDNESDAY!

Your homework tonight:

1. Free Choice in your Idea Notebook
2. One more day to study your spelling
3. Read! Your book log is due on Friday
4. Friday is also TIE DAY! Ask around for a tie to wear to school.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tuesday... Do you know what time it is?

Please do the time telling worksheet (both sides).
Your spelling test is tomorrow.
Your book log is due on Friday.

Want to practice some online time-telling activities? Follow these links:

Bang on Time
http://www.teachingtime.co.uk/clock2/clockwordsres.html

Read the Apple Clock
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/clocks.html

Stop the Clock
http://www.teachingtime.co.uk/draggames/sthec4.html

Drag the Hands
http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/telling/time.html

Monday, January 26, 2009

Let it SNOW!

Idea Notebook: Free Choice!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Have a great weekend.

You have a new book log for this upcoming week. Start reading tonight and record your title and time onto the chart.

Your signed Friday note is due on Monday.

Your spelling test will be on Wednesday. Please study your words a little at a time.

I found another GREAT website with some fun math games that will review a lot of your fourth grade skills.

http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Idea Notebook Due Tomorrow!

I look forward to seeing some creative entries! You can write about anything you want-- and we hope to be WOWED!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Wednesday

Read the article in Scholastic News and fill in the graphic organizer.

Study your spelling words.

Fun facts about the White House

Visit this web site to learn all about the White House.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Day!


Your homework tonight is to add to your idea notebook.

The title of your page is INAUGURATION DAY.

You can be as creative in your entries as you like. Make a comic strip. Write a poem. Write trival questions (with the answers, of course). Describe the room we were in as we watched the swearing in. Imagine you are one of President Obama's daughters and write about your first day... I can't wait to see what you all create!

Friday, January 16, 2009

No school on Monday!



There is no Friday note today. A book log was NOT sent home today. Basically, you only need to study your spelling and read for pleasure. Some of you still need to study your multiplication combinations so you can pass MM Level A.


Since we don't have school on Monday in order to pay respect to Martin Luther King, Jr., you might be interested in learning something about this great man. There are some games and activities here, too.







Tuesday is a very important day in our country's history. Do you know why?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Field Trip Tomorrow!

Your reading log and constructed response are due tomorrow.

We have a field trip to the Colorado History Museum tomorrow. Please dress for travel!
If you would like to vistit the museum virtually before we go as a class, follow this link:
http://www.coloradohistory.org/

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Early Release Day!



You received your constructed response homework today. It is due on Friday, along with this week's book log.

Tomorrow night is FAMILY MATH NIGHT! I look forward to seeing most of you there. Fourth grade will be making and sharing Oobleck with the school. Make sure you pick up your HOMEWORK PASS from me at the start of the evening.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Thursday


Can you name the states that border Colorado in order, starting from the north and moving clockwise?


Want to keep learning about Colorado while you are at home? Try this web site!



Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Wednesday

No homework tonight!
Book orders are due on Friday.
There will be a Mad Minutes test on Friday. (Study your combinations!)
Learn all the names of the states that border Colorado.

Scholastic Book Order Form Due Friday


To order online with a credit card, follow this link:



Our username is: mrshovinensclass
Our password is: Fitz4H

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