FCAT and Speech

Hello everyone,

            There is a lot going on, so this might be a little longer than what I regularly send you.  So, here we go!

            Your child is currently working toward completing a speech.  Each 4^th and 5^th grader in  Manatee County schools is part of the Tropicana Speech Contest.  This contest is held to help students become more comfortable with presenting oral information to others.  Each class will have 3 winners, with first and second places going on to compete in front of the whole school!  If they are winners at this level, they will then compete for the district title!  It is an exciting opportunity for the kids to present information in a speech format!  Here is the timeline of information so that you are aware of it as well:

April 1^st:  Introduce Speech Contest

April 4^th:   Choose a topic and submit it to the teacher (All topics are approved!)

April 7^th-10^th    -Begin graphic organizer for speech topic

-       Work on composition of speech and timing  

Students should use their knowledge of writing narratives and expository essays at this point.   They can plan and write their essay just like they would normally.  The additional thing to add here is reading it out loud and timing it!  Speeches need to be over 2 minutes and under 3 minutes.  They may want to read and time it a number of times to be sure that it is a length that will work for the grading portion of the assignment. 

April 11^th-Rough draft due – This will be returned to them on April 14^th.  I had this date wrong yesterday for their agendas.  I will be sure to let them know today!

April 15^th-Final draft due (typed or handwritten)

April 15-16^th-Write your speech on 4 x 6 index cards (I have plenty and they will be provided.)

April 17^th, 21^st, and 22^nd-Pracitce Speech Contests- We will practice in class.  Your child should also be practicing at home.  The more they practice, the more comfortable they will be.  I also suggested to them that they record their speech and watch themselves. This way they can see and hear what they sound like during their presentation and improve their performance through this self-evaluation!

April 23^rd and 24^th – Class Speech Contest

April 29^th – School Speech Contest, 9:00 in the Cafeteria

General Guidelines include:  These are for a grade in class.  Speeches must be between 2-3 minutes long.  They must also be their original work.  There are no props or costumes allowed during the speech contest.  First and Second place classroom winners will move on to the school contest! 

If you have any additional question, please feel free to email, call, or send me a note. 

FCAT!  Our testing starts next week, on April 14^th.   We will have two days of reading and two days of math.  It is EXTREMELY important that you try to have your child attend, and be on time, each day.  The new rules of the state are that if they do not complete Session 1, they cannot complete Session 2. That means they would have to miss all of the testing for those days if they are late or absent PLUS the next days as well.  Please make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast each day. The school does provide a snack and drink each day before testing starts.  We have been working hard all year for this and it will be similar to all of the testing they have done all year-both in class and through the district.   We have worked hard and are prepared!  (In fact, we did a practice reading test today so they could feel the time it takes!)   Also, the only other thing that you may want to mark on your calendars is that during the two weeks of FCAT, parents are restricted from the building during school hours.   This is because testing is happening all day long both weeks (5^th grade has an additional test and there are makeup testing.)  This just means that you may not visit the class or attend lunch.  If you need to pick your child up, they will do that through the office as they normally do! 

Throughout the rest of this year we still have lots to learn!  We will be reading two more books after we finish The City of Ember, our current read!  We have lots of math to review and more to learn to prepare for 5^th grade.  We will also have more work to do in both Science and Social Studies.  So, please remind your child that the school year still has lots of time and effort still in it!  I look forward to all that we still have to do!  

What’s Been Going On!

I am sorry I haven’t given everyone an update in a very long time.  I just haven’t had a chance to sit down and reflect/project completely on what had and will be going on!  This year has been a very busy one, as we are implementing so many new things brought to us by the district.  This includes both district level testing and remediation groupings for the students in our classrooms.  Your child may be currently involved in a “Traveling Team”  group.  These are groups to help remediate areas of need and build skills.  These teams meet Monday through Thursday from 8:35 to 9:05 and rotate from teacher to teacher each day.  If your child is not on a “Traveling Team”, they are not missing out.  They are hard at work on additional learning opportunities as well.  They will have a + assignment within our new routine, called Weekly Content 5+.  I just felt like I couldn’t get both Science and Social Studies accomplished at any rate at all.  So, with a little help from the Internet, I stumbled onto someone who was using a reading program in their science classroom.  I have adapted that to meet the needs of the “Travel Team” window, the content areas we need to be covering, and the reading block times that are available.  The kids now know what their assignments are for Science and Social Studies for the week on Monday.  They are given all the handouts needed and I provide a  teacher rotation on the schedule to meet any verbal/hands-on needs that we have.  Then the kids go for it!  They have been loving it! They are on task, work toward completion, and are doing the same things we would have done over a longer period of time compressed into a much shorter one!  I will be monitoring all work for any area of need beyond what I am seeing currently as well.  Students who are on the “Home Team” complete a + assignment each week.  It will usually be a map activity or reading and writing about a Science or Social Studies article I assign them! 

So, that gets us to the project.  This week the students explored and researched a specific tribe found in Florida.  The students determined how their group would research and set about completing their research.  On Friday the students met with their group again, shared their research to fill any holes that they had, and then determined what “store” they would be creating their project for.  The idea is that each group has a wing of the mall and they must draw a crowd to their stores.  I explained that they would be creating more of a poster ad than the actual products.  Here are some samples from last year to give you some direction.

The kids should have brought home the blue sign and return paper, the general guidelines, and their notes.  When I was going through their folders before I left, I found a few in their folders.  They will bring them home on Monday. 

            I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for the wonderful job you are doing with your child to support their Tuesday writing.  I have told the kids a number of times that you are right on with your evaluations.  Keep encouraging them, it is paying off!  And, I really can’t do it without you too!  You are such a valuable tool to your children, so just know that you are doing that great work and it makes a huge difference!  We did a prompt on Thursday and, just glancing at them, I see some major growth in just the two prompts you have helped them with!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

            Some up and coming things that are going on include:

December 11^th Movie-Each year Mr. Stenger and Mrs. Dixon give the kids a gift of a movie and popcorn.  They will be seeing Monsters University.

December 13^th 3^rd Grade play-We will be attending the play at 9:00!  It looks great!

December 19^th Class party-  I will be getting with Mrs. Taraska to get a plan going for our Holiday party!  Mark your calendars now!

-Native American Mall project due.

December 20^th-Last day of school before the Holiday Break!

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions! 

Have a great weekend!

            

Quick Update

Here are a few things to get you caught up on what’s been going on!

      1.  We are having a Halloween party.  Mrs. Taraska is working on getting things together.  We are planning on having it after the parade and specials.  That places it around 10:30.  Feel free to come on by and help out. 

2.  Costumes:  Willis has a policy that no scary costumes should be worn.  Also, masks are fine to have, but cannot be worn on the stairs, etc.  I would suggest a change in clothes to come to school, as wearing the costume can loose it’s appeal after awhile.  Please be sure costumes also follow county dress codes.

3.   The Parade:  As many have hear and seen on Facebook, the parade will work differently this year.  We will walk the kids around the outside of the building for parents to see.  We will come out the far side doors by the playground, go around the bus and car loop, and then head around by the covered area to go back to our classrooms using the side doors.  You do not have to check in unless you are coming to the party.  According to the directions, you would do this after the parade.

       4. Field Trip:  Please return the field trip form and the payment as soon as possible.  The first field trip is next Wednesday!  We will not need lunches, etc. as we will return before our lunch times.

5.   Math:  We are now looking at Chapter 3.  This chapter deals with algebraic work.  I have been STRONGLY suggesting to the kids (and telling them) to bring home their Math Journals.  The work we do to learn the skill is in their journal and can be used as a guide.  The purpose of this unit is to build a foundation in what numerical and algebraic expressions are-not to answer them.  This is so confusing, as the kids have been told their whole lives to solve the problem.  So far, we are getting a lot of what is being taught.  By completing Chapter 4 first, I did some front loading of information with the kids.  It is so different for us, because this is not what we had experienced as students.  We were, “Here’s the problem, here’s are the parts, solve it.”  What this chapter is establishing is the concrete (in pictures) reasons for why and what these represent.  So, ask for that journal or teaching page to come home!  They have it, and I have been stressing to them to use their tools!!!

      6.    Vocabulary site:  I know a couple of parents have said it has been asking for an access code.  I can’t “see” that on my side.  Here are the links to the direct activities.  Let me know if they work for you:

Orange: http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/levels_color.cfm?sp=student&level=orange#hangman

Green: http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/levels_color.cfm?sp=student&level=green#hangman

I’m sure there is more.  So, if I missed something, shoot me an email!  It’s been a busy two weeks!

Thanks,

Mrs. Santello:O)

Change in Spelling and Vocabulary Approaches

            This week we will be starting something different.  Ms. Scherpf and I have been working together to address some vocabulary needs in our classes.  We are going to use a tried and true program called Vocabulary Workshop.  This program has been around forever and allows the students to learn how to use words in context.  This will cause a shift in spelling as well.  We will put aside the Words their Way program and begin to use the vocabulary words instead.  In addition to the words from the book, your child will receive some additional words from the classroom setting each week. 

Here’s how it would look: 

1.     Wednesday:  This day they would be introduced to the words for the week.  This includes a read the definition and fill in the blank activity.  They would then, also, being their Spelling Rubric that night.   Since we will be sending a copy of the definitions, synonyms, and antonyms home, these activities can no longer be used on the rubric.  ( I will work on adapting it with a new copy.)

2.      Thursday – Monday-There is an activity for each day that they will be completing in class.  This will be taking as a classwork grade for each assignment.

3.     Tuesday:  Test day!  This will include taking the vocabulary and spelling portions of the test. 

So, no change in when homework is due, just the words/expectations.  By Tuesday, they are expected to know the words well enough to complete the assessment.  Additional work may be needed at home.  But there is an answer for that as well! The company who makes the books also has an awesome website to accompany the work.  Here it is:

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/levels_color.cfm?sp=student

It is important to ask your child if their level is green or orange and to know what unit they are working on.  At the top of the page that comes home with the words will be the unit!  They can use these fun activities over and over!

            This change will begin this week!  Please be sure to ask your child about their new assignments and help them in any way you can to work toward success in both vocabulary and spelling!

Update for the Week of October 7th.

           We’ve made it through another week and we are also moving towards the end of the first quarter.  Very soon I will be sending out an email about Parent Teacher Conferences.  These conferences are established as an opportunity to discuss your child’s report cards.  They are short, only 10 minutes, and are focused on going over each area of the report card.  One thing to keep in mind is that if you have other concerns about your child, we can meet at a different time to go over those concerns.  I have non-duty hours that are available to meet when you do have concerns.  You may email me or write me a note in your child’s agenda if you are in need of additional time to discuss, in depth, concerns you have with your child’s progress. 

            On Tuesday we will be attending the Symphony at Van Wezel.  This is considered a formal event for school.  Students have two options.  They may wear their traditional school uniform.  The other choice is they can come to school in their best clothes-something they would wear to a special occasion.  This would include long pants and a dress shirt for the boys and a fancy dress for the girls.  One of the goals of the symphony is to teach the children that performing arts is an opportunity to enjoy themself in a formal setting. The other goal to is to expose them to wonderful music around them.  Every day they are exposed to wonderful music that they don’t tend to notice.  The Sarasota Symphony plays these pieces along with an announcer who shows them how it impacts their every day life.  This year should be extra fun as they are playing pieces from Star Wars and other science fiction sources.  We will be back in time for lunch, so there are no special needs for that.  Students may bring a change of clothing for when we get back.

            We continue to work on 2 digits by 1 digit multiplication in class.  We will be heading into 3 digits and 4 digits by 1 digit multiplication.  This is just an extension of the pattern into larger numbers.  The key to success right now is multiplication facts.  We examine our abilities by checking for skill first-do we get the steps that we need to take in the skill of our math.  Then we check for accuracy-are we getting our facts correct.  Right now, most of the errors are landing in the second area.  It is key that multiplication facts are memorized. We use them every day of our lives, so it is, truly, a life skill beyond 4^th grade.  You can work with your child with flash cards, online sources, and even timed tests at home.   Please take time to work on memorizing the facts with your child. 

            We have started our first novel in reading, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  One of the key concepts we will be practicing with Charlie is Author’s Purpose.  Last year students learned that Author’s Purpose was to entertain, inform, or persuade.  In 4^th grade, students are expected to experience feelings and thoughts of authors.  This is frequently called Author’s Perspective.  Students were shown a Power Point about Roald Dahl’s life so that they could see why he writes what he writes.  One simple thing to do with your child as they are reading is to ask them what they think the author means in their writing or why they wrote a particular thought or action.  Many things in fourth grade move into this conceptual level of thinking-why do things occur and what is the mean of the occurrences.  That is the transition that is taking place as you see the stories we are reading and the work that we are doing come home. 

            As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me or send in a note. 

Have a Great Week,

Mrs. Santello:O)

County Assessments

       The past two days your child has taken County Assessments.  These assessments were in both reading and math.  These are assigned by the county to help us gage the growth of your child.  They are based on FCAT style math and reading questions.  

       Your child may talk about these assessments.  Please encourage them to keep doing their best.  This is new to all of us, including the teachers.  We do not know what will be on the assessments, just like taking the FCAT.  In class we continue to work on all the skills that have been presented.  Each night there is homework to help develop those skills.  Until we have further input, this practice will continue.  I will update you on any new information we receive from the county about these assessments.  Just stay postive with your child as we all learn the process together.

Update for September 23rd

We are now settling in since our classroom change.  I am very much looking forward to getting to know your children even better now that we are smaller in size.  I know that many of you have questions since progress reports.  Please let me know of any questions you have, and I will be glad to try and answer them.

         Here are some things you need to know!  First, I’m sure you are wondering about lunch and recess times.  We are now going to lunch at 12:09, followed by recess.  That puts us inside by 1:00 each day.  Our specials run from 9:45-10:25.  We had an adjustment in our special schedule as well.  Here is our special’s schedule:

Day 1:  Science

Day 2:  Math Lab

Day 3:  PE

Day 4:  Art

Day 5:  Music

Day 6:  PE

This schedule started today, Monday, September 23^rd.  If any other changes come about, I will let you know. 

         We are currently starting Chapter 4 in math.  It is very important that your child has their multiplication facts memorized.  Their ability to quickly recall their facts is key to developing the knowledge to do larger math problems.  We are going to be looking at 2 digits by 1 digit multiplication in the first part of the chapter. After the mid-chapter checkpoint, we will then be learning 3 digits by 1 digit multiplication. 

         We are finishing up our studies on the government of Florida.  We learned some exciting material about the Constitution last week on Constitution Day!  We will finish up the branches of our state government, how a bill is made, and how citizens are responsible for the government in Florida. 

         In Science, we have been learning about how Luke Dollar, a scientist in Madagascar, conducts fieldwork with the use of the Scientific Process.  We have been piggybacking this learning with building knowledge of text features. 

I hope this gives you a little guidance in where we are as a class.  I will be sending out more frequent updates to keep you posted on what we are doing.  If you have any further questions, please be sure to ask.