Telling Time

A few parents have asked me for websites to practice telling time. Here are some good links that I have found. Something for the kids to do over our Thanksgiving break. ;)

Telling Time

Time to the Hour
Move hands, clock shows digital time
Time to 5, 10, 15, 30 Minutes
Choose Correct time to 5, 10, 15, 30
STUDY JAM Elapsed Time
Practice Elapsed Time
Elapsed time (you need paper)
Show Elapsed time on a clock
How much time has passed?
Elapsed time quiz
Time Practice Sheet Generator
Blank Calendars
Calendar Game
Calendar Game2

Time to the Hour
Time to the Half Hour
Time to the 5 Minutes
Time to the 15 Minutes
Time to the Minute
Time Mixed Review
Time Words
Elapsed Time
AM and PM

Happy Halloween!!

Don't forget to bring $12 if your child would like to get a signed copy of the book from our author tomorrow.

Just wanted to thank everyone for giving our 4th graders such a wonderful party! You guys are brave!! Especially with the spaghetti race, they loved it!! Even some treats for the teacher! Thank you so much! Be safe tonight!

Just wanted to thank everyone for giving our 4th graders such a wonderful party! You guys are brave!! Especially with the spaghetti race, they loved it!! Even some treats for the teacher! You all are the best. Thank you so much! Be safe tonight!

Spelling Bee

That’s R-I-G-H-T!!! Your child is now old enough to participate in the Southminster School-Wide Spelling Bee! :)

We will have three classroom spelling bees for our home room on the following dates: this Friday (10/20), Friday (11/3), and Thursday (11/9). Three winners will be awarded points at each of these bees. Upon completion of all three classroom bees, we will total our winning students’ points and send the top scorers on to our school-wide bee to compete with all of the top 4th and 5th graders from our school.

This usually excites about half the class and leaves the other half trembling in their boots. So...no matter who you are, here’s how we roll when it comes to Southminster Spelling Bees. We realize that this is not everybody’s strong suit, but we do expect everybody to participate. For now, there is nothing you need to do to prepare. Just take deep breaths and do your best. 

I will talk to the kids about this tomorrow and they will do great!

Happy Monday to all!

Mrs. C.

October Scholastic Book Orders due October 9th

Order Due Date -  10/09/17

Dear Families,

I want your child to be a successful reader—and for that, I need your help.

When children choose their own books to read for pleasure, they enjoy reading more and spend more time doing it. The more your child reads, the better they will do in school and in life.

Don't forget to check the recommended list here or on the Scholastic web site to see books I have added to our outside reading approved list!

Plus you will be helping our class when you order: Scholastic matches each order you place with FREE BOOKS for our classroom to share!

You can place your orders online at scholastic.com/bookclubs using our class activation code: 

A hard copy will be coming home today as well. Thank you for helping your child become a successful reader.

Multiplication

As we get into bigger multiplication and division problems, it will be very important for your child's success, that he/she is fluent with the basic multiplication facts from 0-12. I will begin sending home a sheet at the beginning of each week, letting your child know what facts we will be tested on at the end of the week. We will begin next week with the 5's and 10's times tables and will take a timed test at the end of the week. We have lots of links on our class web site where the kids can practice facts or they can just make and use good old fashioned flashcards to practice each table. I am attaching the sheet I will send home at the beginning of next week if your child wants to get a jump start on practicing. 

Typed Book Reports

Some children can be more productive if they type reports. If your child would prefer to submit typed book reports, scroll down on this link for directions.

Helping Verbs

Memorize these helping verbs by Friday. For extra credit, memorize the list from the “Helping Verbs Song”!

Is

Am

Are

Was

Were

Have

Has

Had

Will

Shall

May

Might

Be

Been

Outside Reading

Mid-Term reports will be coming home this week. Just a note about outside reading: On the report card, I will document how many reports your child has turned in to me this year. If the number is 3, that means I have gotten NO book reports so far as that number only accounts for the summer books that were read.

A good rule of thumb if your child is "going for the gold" is to turn in at least 1 book report every 2 weeks.

Mrs. Covin expects every 4th grader to get at least the bronze award! I would make sure your child is turning in at least one book report a month. If your child is reading at least 20 minutes EVERY night as they should be for homework, this should be very attainable and even get your child close to the silver award.

5 or 6 would be a good number to see on your child's Mid-Term report card. 

Have a great week!

Scholastic Book Order Deadline/Outside Reading

Just a reminder that our first Scholastic book order deadline is coming up this Friday. If you only order once this year, make it this first order! We get lots of extra bonus points and free books for our first order. (Directions below.)

Also, a big thanks to the moms who have already done volunteer work for our classroom!! Mrs. Kennedy typed up our outside reading approved list (link below). Thank you, thank you! The kids will add approved books throughout the year to their blue folders and, Mrs. Barnette and I will be adding those same approved books to this online list for easy access. You can view this live online list along with all other important information about outside reading here. This is the SAME information that is in our blue folders, I just added it to our website in case a blue folder gets lost. ;)

Scholastic Online Ordering Directions:

Class Code - GRZHL

Order Due Date - 09/01/17

Subject: Scholastic Book Clubs Class Order Due Date is approaching!

Dear Families,

This is a friendly reminder that your Book Clubs orders are due by 09/01/17. You can place your orders online at scholastic.com/bookclubs using my class activation code: GRZHL

Happy Reading

Outside Reading

As I mentioned, I kind of want to stick with the other class on this since this has been the program here for a while. We will stick to the list (teacher approved books) in our blue reading folders for the 1st 9 weeks like we talked about. Where I misunderstood is, they will not be doing just choice books for the rest of the year. Instead, for the rest of the year, after every 5 books from the list, THEN they can pick a choice book approved by me and you.

That being said, once your child gets to the gold award (30 books), THEN, he/she can read ALL choice books approved by me and you. Of course it can still be books from the list if that's what your child wants to read. :) 

The good news is I will be adding teacher approved books to our list. One way you can see what I added now, is to log in to Scholastic with the directions that I emailed yesterday. There will be a place where you can see "teacher recommended books. These are books that I will add to the teacher approved list.

Hope that made sense! Let me know if not. Have a great weekend!

Spelling-DOL, Vocab-Grammar

As we talked about Tuesday, we will be alternating Spelling and DOL, with Vocabulary and focusing on a grammar skill by using our English books. Next week will be Vocabulary/English. Vocabulary weeks will have less words, but be harder than spelling weeks because the kids will need to be able to spell the words correctly, be very familiar with the definitions and how to use the words in sentences AND many of the words will have more than one definition. Spelling City will be assigned and the kids will have 2 paper assignments as well. Tuesday, flashcards will be due, with the word on one side, and the definition(s) on the other. And Wednesday, STRONG sentences will be due with every definition of the word. For example if a word has two definitions, then two sentences should be written for that word. In a strong sentence, the reader can use context clues to figure out the meaning of the word. For example, for the word ajar, the second sentence would be a strong sentence."The door is ajar. She made sure the door was ajar so that she could hear what was going on in the next room." Until the kids get faster and better at writing strong sentences, I will give them plenty of time Monday and Tuesday to work on them!

First E-News!

Thank you so much for coming to parent night, but thank you especially for making me feel so welcome. I have to say, this was the best parent night ever for me! I am so excited about this school year and working with you and your babes!

A few things we had questions about last night:

• Chapel clothes-Yes, we wear white
• Yes, we do take a bus to Montgomery
• And, yes, Mrs. Covin does know that Sea Lab starts on Easter Sunday. This was the only time they could take us. She says labs will not start until Monday, so drivers are welcome to come on a different day.
• Please send in $10 for a T-shirt if you have not yet

A few other things:

• Outside reading folders are coming home today. These can stay at home until your child has a report ready to turn in.
• The first nine weeks I will not be too much of a "stickler" with cursive. I'll use the spelling tests to let the kids know what letters/words they still need to practice. But, starting the 2nd nine weeks, points will be taken off for spelling if the letter is not formed correctly, so make sure your child is practicing whatever I point out on spelling tests. ;) 
• I will be giving out a free ticket to Six Flags at the end of the school year to any student that reads an EXTRA 6 hours. This is not a requirement. This means any reading done outside of school that will not be turned in for school credit. The book needs to be a "just right" book. Your child should know what this means.

Scholastic:

• Class Code - GRZHL
  Order Due Date -  09/01/17
  
  
  
  

  Let's help make our children successful readers!

  
  

  When children choose their own books to read for pleasure, they enjoy reading more and spend more time doing it. The more your child reads, the better they will do in school and in life.

  
  

  Scholastic Book Clubs flyers are made for you and your child to shop for books your child will love to read. Each month, the flyers are filled with trusted, excellent quality, age-appropriate books chosen by Scholastic for prices as low as one dollar.

  
  

  Plus you will be helping our class when you order: Scholastic matches each order you place with FREE BOOKS for our classroom to share.

  
  

  Thank you for helping your child become a successful reader.

  
  

  Sincerely,

  Mrs. CONSTANTINE

  
  

  Please place your online order to me by September 1_.

  
  

  Please order online if possible, I have found that it's much more reliable and I have never had a mistake made with online orders!

  
  

  Go online to: scholastic.com/newparent

  Look up my name: Tanya Constantine

  Or enter our Class Code: GRZHL

  Follow the instructions to place your order online by: September 1.

  
  

And last but not least, thanks for being so supportive of our first attempt at integrating technology into the curriculum. I know some of us are a little apprehensive, but know that the advancement of technology will continue at an increasingly rapid pace. We will own self driving cars, and our homes will be "smart" before we know it. Technology can be an effective, and sometimes one of the only ways we can connect with our kids. Can it be dangerous? Yes. Do we need to teach them how to be safe using it? Absolutely! (Same with other aspects of life.) Bottom line, ever changing technology is their world and they need to be prepared for it. Critical thinking, solving problems and being able to use technology in new and creative ways will all be "musts" for jobs of the future. As our children move into their challenging teen years, they will be using technology for almost all of their communication, if we want to guide them properly and keep them safe, we ourselves have to become knowledgeable and comfortable with it. If you ever need parent resources for how to help your child with technology, I will be glad to share what I have.

Kahlil Gibran, a wise Lebanese writer, once wrote:

You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, 
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, 
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!

Can you believe next week is the last week of school!? I know I can't. Here are a few dates and reminders. Don't hesitate to let me know if you have questions.

• Bring a book from home each day, our classroom books will be packed up and the library will be closed.

Monday 5/22/2017: (this time has changed) Seniors from Hoover High School walk our halls. Read-a-thon, bring books from home. Memory books, letters of advice to 3rd graders.

Tuesday 5/23/2017: Field Day, wear sunscreen, bring a hat, water bottle, and sunglasses. We will practice unlocking locks for our lockers next year!

Tuesday 5/23/2017 (Tentative-if I don't send an update, then this will be the time.) 4th graders wear their end of the year t-shirts and "walk the halls" at 8 a.m. as the students of SSC congratulate them and they "Move on Up to be a Buc".

Wednesday 5/24/2017 Unfinished projects to be completed in class.

Thursday 5/25/2017: Early dismissal, board game day

Friday 5/26/2017: Early dismissal, Clean up our room day!

*Check our calendar for other important dates.

To do:

• Send in a self addressed stamped envelope if your child will not be here the last day of school.
• Send in any school books that your child needs to turn back in to school. They all have a hard back parent handbook at home, it is called The Student Math Handbook, it is the one that was sent home at the beginning of the year. All library books are due. Do not worry if you have gotten an email from the library about turning laptops in. They can stay at home over the summer.
• Check out the Summer Fun web site and keep learning during the summer!
• If your child did not get a yearbook and wants one, send in $30 Monday, May 22. First come first serve.
• We will be bringing home a little each day until the last day. Please help the kids remember to clean out back packs every night!!

It has been a wonderful year! Thank you so much for sharing your children with me. Have an amazing, restful, memory filled summer! A poem just for you:

I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give him back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than he was then.

Although he would have attained this growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.

I give him back reluctantly, for having spent many months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we will always retain a little of each other.

We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year.

But give him back I must.

Love,

Mrs. C.

Movin on Up to be Buc!

Friday 4/21/2017: Scrapbook/Journal Due (Res

Tuesday 4/25/2017: Wax Museum Dress Rehearsal

Tuesday 4/25/2017 BGIS parent transition meeting at Brock's Gap cafeteria at 5:30

Wednesday 4/26/2017: Wax Museum for Parents 9:30-10:30

Monday 5/1/2017 4th grade field trip to Brock's Gap

Wednesday 5/10/2017: 4th grade field trip to Montgomery

Friday 5/19/2017: (tentative) Seniors from Hoover High School walk our halls.

Tuesday 5/23/2017: Field Day, 4th graders "walk the halls" as they "Move on Up".

1. BGIS Transition Parent Meeting - BGIS will host a parent meeting Tuesday, April 25th for the parents of all incoming 5th graders for 2017-18. This is a parent only informational meeting. It will take place at 5:30PM in the BGIS Cafeteria. All parents are invited to attend this meeting.

2. BGIS Transition Field Trip - We have a trip set for the morning of Monday, May 1st for4th graders from SSC, to go to Brock's Gap to visit their new school. The kids will meet with 5th grade teachers and take a tour of the school.
3. BGIS Placement Link for Parents:
https://goo.gl/forms/449dBnhzZ3dHLqiZ2

4. If any parent has questions or trouble opening the form they can call the school and Mrs. Ashley Kilgore or one of our other office staff members will help.

(205) 439-1600

 *Check our calendar for other important dates.

Scrapbook/Journal

Thursday 3/23/2017: Red Mountain Field Trip

Thursday 4/14/2017: Speech Memorized by this date

Friday 4/21/2017: Scrapbook/Journal Due (Res

Tuesday 4/25/2017: Wax Museum Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday 4/26/2017: Wax Museum for Parents 9:30-10:30

*Check our calendar for other important dates.

Important Person in Alabama History Scrapbook/Journal

Due Date: Friday, April 21st Plenty of time will be given

at school to research, the journal will be completed at home.

A scrapbook is a fun way to remember important things that happened. Your job is to first research your person by finding the information you need for each page and then make a scrapbook of the person you are researching using the information you found. It should look like it was actually made by your person, depending on when your person lived, you could make it look old! You can use strips of leather to bind it, with the help of an adult burn the edges of each page, use a wet tea bag to stain the pages, roll the page up with a rubber band and put in the dryer for a few minutes. You can google other ideas.  Remember I showed you some examples of scrapbooks in class. Please let me know if you have questions!

Color, cut, paste, create, draw, type- be creative when making a page! Remember all of the author’s crafts we have learned in writing: strong leads and endings, transition words, adjectives and adverbs, similes and metaphors, repetition, etc.

The scrapbook must include the following items:

1. A cover which includes:
• Title of the scrapbook
• Picture of your person
• Your name
2. A title for each page.  Except for page 3, each page should be written in paragraph format.

    Page 1- (2 paragraphs) 1st paragraph-Introduction (3-5 sentences) 2nd paragraph-Where and when were you born? Did you have any brothers and sisters? What did your parents do? In this section talk about how your life began, what were you like as a child ( 5-7 sentences)

   Page 2- (1 paragraph) What would people admire you for? What questions might people from today ask you?  What else would people want to know about you? (5-7 sentences)

   Page 3- A picture of your person-a caption about your picture and a famous quote from your person.

   Page 4-  (1 paragraph) This section should include information about your life as a grown up. Did you go to college? Did you get married? Where did you live? Did you have any kids? Tell about your life, things you did (5-7 sentences)

   Page 5- (1 paragraph) Where and when did you die? Why did you die? Do you have a memorial, where is it located? (3-5 sentences) If you are still alive: Where do you live now, what do you do now? (3-5 sentences)

     Page 6- (1 paragraph) Why are you famous? What have you contributed? Did you invent anything? In this section you should talk about why you are famous, what did you do to make yourself famous and how you were important to the development of our state and and/or our country. This will be the bulk of your facts about your character. (7-10 sentences)

• All work in your scrapbook must be done by YOU! Parents may assist with ideas,  and proofread for mistakes, but they may not write it for you, type it for you, or do the work/research for you.

Seuss

Thursday 3/23/2017: Red Mountain Field Trip

Thursday 4/14/2017: Speech Memorized by this date

Friday 4/21/2017: Scrapbook/Journal Due (Res

Tuesday 4/25/2017: Wax Museum Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday 4/26/2017: Wax Museum for Parents 9:30-10:30

*Check our calendar for other important dates.

The kids are enjoying our QR Codes for Dr. Seuss books. They wanted me to email you the link because they would really like a copy for home if you are able to print. If you can't print, and your child would like a copy, please let me know and I'll print it from here. Thanks!! https://docs.google.com/document/d/18g4dvA0tOZudbbu50c3EtrUupcGmGkPqIvUwJtOYErs/edit?usp=sharing

We are almost out of pencils, please send in 24 sharpened pencils with your child by Monday of next week. Thanks!

Just a little bit about what is going on in class: Reading-Our CAFE goal this week is "fluency-I can read smoothly," last week we learned how to infer the meaning of characters and what is going on in the story. Ask your child to show you how he/she can prove that they know how to use those skills. Writing-We are busy studying, critiquing and writing reviews on Dr. Seuss books . Math-Fractions, fractions and more fractions. Content-We have just finished studying about the rivers in Alabama, Native American tribes, The Trail of Tears and The Creek War. We are now learning about a sad and difficult time in our state called slavery and soon we will begin studying the Civil War. Ask your child to show you their person and project for Black History Month. Some of us even did a Facebook page for our person. Soon we will be choosing another famous person from Alabama to do a REALLY big project on. We will also create a journal for this person and have a Wax Museum! More information will be coming home soon.