Week of 16-20th

This is a super busy week!
Students have their project sales day tomorrow. Students need to bring change to make change. 

In my math class on Thursday, we have a sort of mid-term on what we have done so far this year. It is worth the same amount as a test, 100 points.

This grading period ends on THURSDAY! Thursday is the last to take tests to get our required 18 points. I have given several hours of class time for students to make their goal, as well as offered half point fourth grade books to test on. In the next nine weeks, all students really need to make an effort to read chapter books.

Thursday, we have a test in Science from the Botany booklet. A completed study guide will come home tomorrow, so look for it in their backpacks.The study guide has everything that will be on the test.

Our Christmas/Harry Potter party will be Friday. We also hope to present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever play for all parents during the party around 1:00. Our Harry Potter activities will be earlier in the day, so our party can be a little less structured. :)

On a personal note,
I am grateful for the time I have had with this very loveable group of kids. I am looking forward to new adventures in the new year! 
                                Merry Christmas to all!

CHRISTMAS PLAY

OUR CHRISTMAS PLAY IS THIS THURSDAY STARTING AT 5:30, AND AGAIN AT 7:30. STUDENTS ARE TO PREFORM BOTH SHOWS.

DROP OFF STUDENTS AS IF IT WERE A.M DROP OFF BY 5:00P.M. STUDENTS WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THEIR CLASSROOM.

A HOT DOG DINNER FOR STUDENTS WILL BE SERVED BETWEEN SHOWS IN THE CLASSROOM.

PARENTS GO TO ONE SHOW OF THEIR TICKET TIME. A SIGN UP SHEET WENT HOME LAST WEEK.

AFTER THE 7:30 SHOW, YOU WILL PICK YOUR CHILDREN AS IF IT WERE AFTERNOON DISMISSAL. STUDENTS WILL BE CALLED FROM THEIR CLASS. 

Spelling List TEST12-13

1. renewable
2. manger
3. espoused
4. endurance
5. volunteer
6. sustain
7. everlasting
8. swaddling
9. advertisement
10. biased
11. bonus entrepreneur 

NO SPELLING TEST NEXT WEEK.

Review of Persuasive Techniques

http://www.slideshare.net/LHaghighi/common-persuasive-techniques-in-advertising

Feel free to look at some other slide shows on the same subject.

Christmas Around the World

http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm

This site will be used next week, but feel free to check it out now. 

Colonies Study Sites

13 Colonies Quiz Map
http://www.softschools.com/social_studies/13_colonies_map/

Social Studies for Kids Site
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/13coloniesfarm.htm

Thanksgiving Math

http://krogermidatlantic.mywebgrocer.com/Circular/KROGER-782/007821224/Weekly/1

1.  Imagine you have $200.00 to spend on Thanksgiving dinner.
2. Use this advertisement to make a Thanksgiving shopping list on your handout. 
3. Write the estimated price of each item in the correct space on your handout. 
4. If you have more than one of any item multiply the price by the number you need. 
5. Add up the total amount, and subtract the total from 200.00.
6.  Add up the estimated cost. 

Harry Potter World

Take a virtual trip to Harry Potter World.
https://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

"They mean every flavor!"

The kids tasted and wrote a descriptive paragraph on Bertie Bott's Beans. Have them describe to you what their bean tasted like.

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Bertie_Bott%27s_Every_Flavour_Beans

Spelling TEST 11-21-13

1. castle
2. brandished
3. diversion
4. obviously
5. cornucopia
6. November
7. Bonus Quidditch

Harry Potter Wiki Site

All things Harry Potter...
Students this takes you directly to houses.
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hogwarts_Houses

Spelling TEST 11-15

1. eager
2. asture
3. fertilization
4. gloating
5. timid
6. fascinated
7. Quakers
8. population
9. We have a bonus

Study Guide 13 Colonies Study Guide Test 11-22-13

Study Guide from the book. You will also study your foldable, the youtube site with info for the foldable, and any sites on my blog.  Be able to fill out a blank map of the 13 colonies.

Chapter five starts on page 187 The New England Colonies

To Know…

·         Charter

·         Puritans

·         John Winthrop

·         Colonies Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire

·         Founder and why for each colony

·         Known For

·         Exports from New England

·         Reasons for colonies

·         Review Questions on page 193

·         Roger Williams

·         Thomas Hooker

·         David Thomson

·         Native American Relations page 198-99

·         Review Questions on p. 199

·         Fishing and Whaling

·         Review Questions p. 204

·         Life Style

Chapter 6 Starts on page 209  Middle Atlantic Colonies “Breadbasket Colonies”

·         Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey

·         Founder and why for each colony

·         Trade Export

·         William Penn

·         Duke of York

·         Dutch vs. England

·         Review Questions p. 215

·         Immigrants 219-220

·         Review Questions p. 222

·         Backcountry 226

·         Review Questions p. 227

·         Life Style 

Chapter 7 The Southern Colonies

·         Maryland, Virginia, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia 

·         Know founder and why

·         Indentured servant

·         Slave

·         Cash crop

·         Plantation p. 242

·         Review Questions p. 239

·         Resource Map p. 247

·         What did people do to make a living Life Style

·         Review Questions 251

Harry Potter Sorting Hat Quiz

Which house will you be in?
http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/HarryPotter/Docs/Quiz-House.html

Math Practice

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/menus/place_value.htm

Spelling Test 11-8

1. pollination
2. murmured
3. interjection
4. regions
5. vanish
6. fundamental
7. immigrant
8. sufficient
9. awkward
10. materialized

Reminders For November

• Conferences this week
• Friday 1/2 day 11:45 Dismissal 
• Nov. 7 McTeacher Night starting at 5:30
• Nov. 11 No School Veteran's Day
• Nov. 25-29 No School Thanksgiving Break

Conference Time

Here is a copy of the letter that came home today just in case it didn't make it home in your kiddo's backpack. :)

It is fall conference time! So often this time of year, students start to get off track. It may be grades, or organization, or simply making good choices. This is an excellent opportunity for us to meet, and decide what we can do to get them back on the right path. Plus, it is an opportunity to communicate with each other. I sincerely hope you are able to meet with me. If we have met often, and you feel comfortable that your child is on track, then you do not need to sign up.

Please sign up for at least 3 times. I will let you know a.s.a.p what time I will meet with you. Look for this returned note in your child’s backpack.  If you are constrained by time, but would still like to talk with me, we can have a conference over the phone. I just need for you to write “by phone” beside the time you check off.  If you are wanting to conference by phone at a later time that is not listed, you can write the time you would like to call me, and I will try to work it out. Make sure to list the best number to reach you.

Tuesday: 1:00-1:20______________________________

3:20-3:40________________________________

3:40-4:00_______________________________

4:00-4:20_______________________________

4:20-4:40_______________________________

4:40-5:00_______________________________

Wednesday: 11:00-11:20_________________________

3:20-3:40_____________________________________

3:40-4:00_____________________________________

Thursday: 1:30-1:40______________________________

3:20-3:40_____________________________

3:40-4:00_____________________________

Friday: 1:00-1:20 _______________________

1:20-1:40_____________________________

1:40-2:00_____________________________

2:20-2:40_____________________________

2:40-3:00_____________________________

If you are unable to meet this week, we can certainly try for next week. Conferences are always available by request. J

Best Halloween Ever Online Quiz

http://www.readcentral.com/Quiz/Book/the-best-halloween-ever-quiz

Mr. Nussbaum's Site

http://mrnussbaum.com/grade-4/

This site is great for all subjects. If you do not find what you are looking for type it in the search box up in the right hand corner.

Colony Region Review Video

This youtube video is a great review of the regions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42h_TXblaKo

Colony Regions

Information from each region.
http://www.sitesalive.com/hl/tg/private/hltgColonies.pdf

Place Value Game

http://education.jlab.org/placevalue/result.html

Halloween Party

 Just in case you did not get the hard copy, here is a copy of the Halloween party letter.

We will have our Halloween party on Thursday, the 31^st at 12:45. Students will wear costumes to school on Halloween. We will have games time that runs until 1:30. From 1:30 until the parade we will eat up goodies. 

I need parents to volunteer to run a game during the games time. These brave volunteers will choose a Halloween themed game, and prizes to go along with it. Students will move in small groups from game to game.  You may want to have enough prizes for each spooktacular student.

We also need yummy treats. I love the Halloween themed treats. There are literally thousands on Pinterest, and Disney Family has a great deal of ideas too. We have 16 students, and one teacher ;) in our class.  The following are kid’s requests…

·         Chocolate

·         Cookies

·         Cupcakes

·         Pizza

·         Bacon

·         Caldron of Halloween Punch

·         Fruit Tray

·         Ghost Peeps

·         Eggnog

·         shrimp

·         Halloween Ice Cream

We are happy to have any treats you would like to bring. J

Please let me know, on this form if you want to run a game at our party, or if you prefer to bring a treat.

More on Colonies

This site links to many other sites. It is a fantastic resource.
http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/colonization_colonial_life.html

Pumpkin Eyes

Pumpkin eyes are being sold for 25 cents to place on our class pumpkin. Why eyes? The more eyes our pumpkin has, the better chance we have of winning a pizza party! It is a big competition between each class to get the most eyes on their pumpkin. All proceeds go to the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. :) Lets see if we can win it!

Diocesan Survey

Students and families are asked to fill out this survey A.S.A.P.  Thank you :)
http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/section/response/begin?surveyConfigId=143822

Science Brain Pop and Plants Review

This is a good review for plants...
http://www.brainpop.com/science/cellularlifeandgenetics/plantgrowth/

Login
Name sjwv
password irish

Photosynthesis Quiz
You can also review photosynthesis on Brain POP. 
http://www.neok12.com/quiz/PLANTS06

Just a few shots from the first 9 weeks :)

Think Math Site

Practice Games Use This Site!!!
http://harcourtschool.com/thinkmath/grade_4.html

Spelling List Test 10-11

1. unison
2. synergy
3. diligent
4. persistent
5. privileged
6. Burgess
7. plantation
8. proprietor
9. vegetative
10. spores

13 Colonies

We are learning about the 13 colonies. Mr. Nussbaum's site has great kid geared information about the 13 colonies.
http://mrnussbaum.com/13-colonies/

This site, called Social Studies for kids is also helpful.
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/13colonies1.htm

This site has the colonies in a time line order.
http://www.timepage.org/spl/13colony.html

Spelling City!!!

Please USE...
http://www.spellingcity.com/

Interactive Field Trip to "Plimouth"

http://www.plimoth.org//learn/thanksgiving-interactive-you-are-historian

Click on the link above to find out more.

Blessing of The Pets

Blessing of the pets has been moved to tomorrow. Please remember that live pets may not come to class. :) Stuffed pets may come to class, or pictures of pets to be blessed by Father Dean. All living pets and parents will meet us in the lot at 2:00.
Students may be dismissed with parents after the blessing, but, unfortunately not from the lot. All students must go back into the school to be accounted for, prior to being signed out in the office by a parent.   We are super safety, I know, but for good 400 good reasons. :) It gets a little hectic, and we want to ensure everyone's safety.
Again, do not forget that you can bring a stuffed animal, or picture of your pet, if your pet is unable to make it. :)

Common Core Standards for Teacher

http://wveis.k12.wv.us/Teach21/public/ng_cso/NG_CSO.cfm?tsele1=3&tsele2=53

I just wanted to make the core standards easy to access. This works out for you too, because you can view what I will be teaching throughout this school year. Science is still in the works.

Colony Life

There are several places on this site that are useful and fun. It is a great way to view life in early colonies. 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/history/index.html

This site may actually be better.
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/classes.cfm

5 minute video  on kid life...
http://www.history.org/media/videoplayer/index.cfm?cat=kids&file=KidsTelltheStory

Spelling TEST Friday 10-4

Students will turn in vocabulary on Friday. We will have time to define in class tomorrow.

1. proposition
2. summon
3. statement
4. glucose
5. oxygen
6. slavery
7. colonists
8. shimmering
9. humane
10. assemblies

Grammar Practice Games

Here are two of my favorite site to practice grammar. Please make sure you are spending some time at least a few times a week practicing. The best part is they are games, so you get to have fun while you learn!
http://funenglishgames.com/topics/grammar.html

http://www.hoodamath.com/games/word.html

Field Trip

Parents,

Permission slips have been sent home to go to the water expo at Marshall this Friday. There is no charge. Please make sure your child's permission slip is signed so they can attend this excellent learning experience.

Friday is also a half day. Dismissal will begin at 11:45.

New Spelling Words TEST Thurs. 9-27

1. caravan
2. modulated
3. preserve
4. species
5. settlement
6. encounter ( I goofed on this one on your handout by forgetting the r.)
7. vascular
8. photosynthesis

Students the test will be Thursday this week. You will have some time to define the words tomorrow in class.

BrainPOP

Don't forget about Brain POP!
user name: sjwv
password: irish

Choose anything you are interested in. School topics include...

1. Spanish Conquistadors
2. Colombian Exchange 
3. Columbus 
4. Explorers 
5. paraphrasing
6. main idea
7. Drama
8. cells 
9. domains 
10. classification
11. kingdoms

My Student's Progress

Dear Students and Parents,


From this day on homework will only be on mystudentsprogress.com. This will hopefully remove any confusion on where to find homework. I will still post weekly spelling lists, and all our fun interactive sites, as well as class assignments. No more homework assignments will be here on my blog. Please check mystudentsprogress.com from now on. I am sorry for any confusion this has caused.


Thank you,
Mrs. Casto

Homework 9-16

Reading: Fifth grade will be our audience tomorrow. Be sure you are ready.You will only be able to use your notes, no scripts.

Math:
Casto Handout Arrays
Wagner T.T.M Lesson and study math facts

Sci. Study Guide Test Wed

Rel. Workbook p. 11

Vocab/Spelling New Words
Get started defining with parts of speech tonight.

1. pupils
2. portal
3. azure
4. delicacy
5. overpower
6. grant
7. treaty
8. theater
9. vain
10. eukaryotes

9-13-13

NO HOMEWORK
Have a Wonderfully STUPENDOUS Weekend!

Carnival and Shrek

Two stupendous things are happening tomorrow, Shrek and Carnival on the Block!


Optional things to do...
 

Turn in your yellow sheet with money for tickets and wrist bands.

Bring a cake for the cake walk.

Bring cash to the carnival for games, food, baskets, and a whole new vendor's area in the Parish Hall.

See Mrs. Casto in the dunking booth!

Have a Stupendous TIME!!

Homework 9-12

On this stormy day, I am just really glad I can update. :) If you are unable to get online to do ThinkThroughMath.com to do your lesson, just send a note to school.

We have a test in Spelling.


Reading:
You need to practice your parts in the play. Also, by Monday you need to write down your parts in order.
It may be a good idea to write the name of the person or "camper" who has the part just before you. That is up to you.

Math: One thinkthroughmath lesson
Wagner 10 fact families

Science: Finish Review 8 Handout

Homework 9-11-13

Spelling Test Friday


Reading: Some students need to do their constellations. Continue to practice your parts. By Monday you will need to write your parts in order.

Math: Casto Thinkthroughmath lesson and 10 fact families
            Wagner handout

F.Y.I We will shoot for a Science Test on Tuesday of next week.