Thank you also to my room mom, Cami, and all the moms and dads that helped to make our winter party a success. The kids had so much fun in the stations creating gumdrop and marshmallow structures, making crafts, decorating cookies, and of course posing for silly pictures. We couldn't have done it without you. I hope all the kids had fun with the book exchange. They seemed pretty excited about it.
We are beginning the third nine weeks today. The report cards for the second nine weeks will go home on Friday. Yesterday we talked about changes, goals, or resolutions we needed to make academically, personally, and socially (SEL lesson) in order to make the second half of fourth grade even better than the first.
In Writing, we will continue to have mini lessons in basic grammar and spelling (currently the long /i/ sound). In addition, students are working on a persuasive piece they began in late December. We will have class time to work on this composition, but they are also welcome to work on it at home, as it is on the Google Drive this time. I will be accessing it a few times a week to check on progress and offer comments and strategies for improvement. The due date for the finished composition is January 25th by 5:00 pm, which is a Sunday. In addition, we will be working on an expository poetry piece about a Texas history figure. I will introduce it today, and ask students to come in with either a book or printout of information on the Texas figure they have chosen by Monday, January 11th.
In Social Studies, we will be learning about the Texas Revolution beginning with Mexico's control of Texas after Spain which started the ball rolling for a series of battles between Texas and Mexico.
Finally, beginning this week, all fourth grade students have been grouped to work on skills in which they are demonstrating a need based on benchmark tests given in December. Every student will be a part of a group that works on either math, writing, or reading skills. Since Mrs. Friend and Mrs. Smith will be helping us, it allows for our groups to be smaller and focused on student need. These groups will meet during our homeroom time on Thursdays and Fridays beginning this week (7:55-8:25).
That's it for now. I hope you all have a wonderful week!