Sunday, January 25, 2015

Week of January 26th


Ride the Weekly Wave:
Math-We will continue our unit on fractions this week as we practice how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and adding and subtracting mixed numbers (with regrouping and simplifying).

Reading-We will continue our POETRY unit as we focus on writing our own limericks and collecting poetry genre examples and original works for our Poetry Portfolios.  
ELA/Writing-In Writer’s Workshop, we will be looking at “on-demand” writing through different strategies to best prepare for the upcoming ACT Inspire Writing Test.

Social Studies-We will finish up our unit on the American Revolution as we learn about important African Americans and women through an exciting “YAKKIT” app activity where we will be recording ourselves from famous African Americans’ and women’s points of view.

Science- We will finish our magnetism unit by exploring magnetism and electromagnets through hands-on stations and experiments! **Be on the lookout for a magnetism brochure!!


News from the Beach:

Upcoming Events:  
·       February 2nd- PTA Meeting/Science Fair @ 6:30
·       *February 3rd POETRY CAFÉ at 1:00 in OES Library!!!*
·       Week of February 9th- Jump Rope for Heart Week
·       February 13th-Class Valentine’s Day Party
·       February 13th- Interims go home
·       February 17th- Booster-thon Kick-Off
·       February 18th- 2 hour delay for students


Set Sail for…Upcoming Tests/Projects:
·       Friday-M4T Test and Adding/Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers Test
·       Friday-Magnetism Brochure Project DUE!!

Homework for the Week:
(please refer to your child's agenda daily for more details-this is only an OUTLINE of what to expect):

·       Read 2 steps (30 minutes) for 100 BC and sign Reading Log *every* night
·       Return Signed Papers *sent home Monday*
·       Fractions Practice in Math wkbk.
·       STUDY for tests and work on Magnetism Brochure!!!

Super Surfer of the Week

Reagan is our star student this week for showing the character traits of RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, and COOPERATION in the classroom!! She will be our “tweeter” of the week, posting about what is happening in our classroom! You can follow our class on twitter.com @mrsburns19girls
 100 Book Challenge Goals
  

        Good: 250 steps
  Better: 440 steps
**Our entire class has reached 300 steps! Way to go girls!








Monday, January 19, 2015

Special Visitor and Blackout Poems :)

We had a very special visitor in room 402!!

Her name is "Miss Lauren" (Mrs. Burns' sister), and she is a college student at Columbia International University. She has had a lot of experience with public speaking, theatre, and she is passionate about speaking out to help others and poetry!


The girls got to practice their speaking skills while getting some special coaching from Miss Lauren about what they did well and what they can work on. They LOVED meeting Miss Lauren and learned a lot about how to become better public speakers! They got to share their free verse "Black Out" poems to the class, explain the project, and talk about why they love writing and reading poetry!








Our Blackout Poems on display!


"Security Cameras" by: Emma Mize

To learn more about the amazing free verse poetry inspired by Austin Kleon check out this video: Blackout Poetry



Thanks, Miss Lauren!! We love you!

IT'S ELECTRIC!!

We have been busy in room 402 exploring electricity through building circuits, testing conductors v insulators, making circuits online, and MORE!! Check out what we have learned and some resources to view at home for our upcoming test!


Go to this website to practice series and parallel circuits, conductors and insulators, and complete circuits:  

Watch this Science Court Video all about Electricity: 

Here are the girls building simple CLOSED circuits using batteries, Christmas lights, and electrical tape




After we learned about building circuits, we did a lab activity to test if different objects (such as pencils, keys, paperclips, screws, metal nails, wooden tees, etc) were CONDUCTORS or INSULATORS of electricity

CONDUCTORS keep the flow of electricity and the light stays ON!

INSULATORS stop the flow of electricity and the light stays OFF!
Here are the girls testing the materials and recording whether they are conductors or insulators of electricity




For 2 bonus points on the Science Electricity Test this week POST A COMMENT BELOW answering the following...

1. What was one thing you LEARNED about electricity?
2. What was your FAVORITE part of learning about electricity?
3. What is the DIFFERENCE between a parallel and a series circuit?

OR

 **REMINDER!! Science Fair Projects are due on February 3rd! Post a comment about your great ideas, girls!!


Week of January 20th

I hope that all of you enjoyed your long weekend celebrating the life and work of MLK! Here's what is happening this week in room 402!


Ride the Weekly Wave:
Math-We will continue our unit on fractions this week as we practice using mixed numbers, improper fractions, and how to add and subtract mixed numbers!

Reading-We will continue our POETRY unit through station activities such as “Blackout” poetry, word work, and buddy reading. We will be working on our poetry collections this week from in class poetry reading and analysis as we look at different genres of poetry…our final test is this week!
ELA/Writing-In Writer’s Workshop, we will be integrating capitalization rules as we finish our Action Plan write up and presentations.

Social Studies-We will be continuing to learn about the key battles of the Revolution as we finish up our timeline project!

Science-IT’S ELECTRIC!! We will finish our unit on Electricity. We will also begin exploring magnetism and electromagnets through hands-on stations and experiments! **Be on the lookout for a magnetism brochure project next week!


Set Sail for…Upcoming Tests/Projects:
·       Wednesday-Science Test on Electricity (*Study notes on Heat, Light, and Sound; Circuits and Symbols, Parallel v Series Circuits; Conductors v Insulators)
·       Friday-Final Poetry Test (*Study poetry collections and notes in Reading notebook)
·       Friday-Social Studies Test on Key Battles of American Revolution (*Study notes on battles #1-6 in Social Studies notebook)

Homework for the Week:
(please refer to your child's agenda daily for more details-this is only an OUTLINE of what to expect):

·       Read 2 steps (30 minutes) for 100 BC and sign Reading Log *every* night
·       Return Report Cards *sent home Tuesday*
·       Fractions Practice in Math wkbk.
·       STUDY for tests!!!

News from the Beach:

Upcoming Events:  
·       January 20th-2nd Nine Weeks Report Cards Sent Home
·       January 23rd School Spirit Day and 2nd Quarter Awards
·       February 2nd- PTA Meeting @ 6:30
·       February 18th- 2 hour delay for students


Super Surfer of the Week

Cassy is our star student this week for showing the character traits of RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, and COOPERATION in the classroom!! She will be our“tweeter” of the week, which is a new responsibility for star students! You can follow our class on twitter.com @mrsburns19girls


                                                           100 Book Challenge Goals

  Good: 233 step
Better: 400 steps


Love, 
Mrs. Burns

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Week of January 12th


Ride the Weekly Wave:
Math-We will continue our unit on fractions this week as we practice using mixed numbers, improper fractions, and how to add and subtract mixed numbers!

Reading-We will continue our POETRY unit through station activities such as “Blackout” poetry, word work, and buddy reading. We will be working on our poetry collections this week from in class poetry reading and analysis as we look at different genres of poetry…even diamante “selfie” poems!
ELA/Writing-In Writer’s Workshop, we will be integrating capitalization rules  as we finish our Action Plan write up and presentations.

Social Studies-We will be continuing to learn about the key battles of the Revolution as we finish up our timeline project!

Science-IT’S ELECTRIC!! We will finish our unit on Electricity through experimenting with conductors and insulators of electricity, and we are testing next week. We will also begin exploring magnetism and electromagnets!

Set Sail for…Upcoming Tests/Projects:
·       Tuesday-Poetry Intro Vocabulary Test (TIPS Poetry Vocab #1 from last week)
·       Friday-Poetry Genres Test (TIPS Poetry Vocab #2)
NEXT Tuesday-Science Test on Electricity (*Study notes on Heat, Light, and Sound; Circuits and Symbols, Parallel v Series Circuits; Conductors v Insulators)

Homework for the Week:
(please refer to your child's agenda daily for more details-this is only an OUTLINE of what to expect):

·       Read 2 steps (30 minutes) for 100 BC and sign Reading Log *every* night
·       Return Signed Papers by Tuesday *sent home Monday*
·       Fractions Practice Sheets
·       Poetry Note Cards

Super Surfer of the Week

Carolyn is our star student this week for showing the character traits of RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, and ORGANIZATION in the classroom!! She will be our“tweeter” of the week, which is a new responsibility for star students! You can follow our class on twitter.com @mrsburns19girls


News from the Beach:

Upcoming Events:  
·       January 12th @ 6:30 Science Fun Night
·       January 15th PTA Chick-fil-A Spirit Night
·       January 19th MLK School Holiday
·       January 20th-2nd Nine Weeks Report Cards Sent Home
·       January 23rd School Spirit Day
100 Book Challenge Goals
  Good: 220 steps
  Better: 380 steps 

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Christmas Program

Enjoy some pictures and videos from the 4th grade Christmas program :) The girls practiced extra hard, and all of their hard work definitely showed!!! I'm such a proud teacher!!