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Welcome to Mrs. Vassey's 4B Classroom!

Week of:

August 30 - September 9, 2010

Reading
Unit 1: Reflections - Story: 'The Lost Lake' pgs. 17-41. Practice Book pgs. 1-7. Study vocabulary on pg. 2 and definitions written in ILA copybooks. Skills: Story elements-setting and character, comprehension, using parts of a book, making inferences, multiple-meaning words. Story test Friday, Sept. 10.
Book report letters (on blue paper) will be sent home explaining the 3 major book reports for the year.

Language Arts
Spelling: Words with short vowel sounds, pgs. 1-6. Pretest will be sent home the first wek of school. Standing weekly spelling homework will be correctly writing (in cursive) into the copybooks the list words spelled incorrectly on the pretest, two times each, and using any 10 of the spelling list words to compose 5 good sentences (minimum of 7 word sentences). Underline the spelling words used in the sentences neatly in red pen. No more than 2 list words per sentence will be counted toward the 10 word goal. This assignment is due the second day of the school week or the day after the pretest is given. The first week we will work on this assignment together so that everyone understands how it is to be completed. Test on List 1 - Sept.10.
Grammar: The writing journal will be explained, and we will begin working on the writing process for the first topic in class. See yellow colored handout placed inside the writing journal for a listing of all 15 journal topics for the year. This sheet will require a parent signature, and will be kept in the journal all year long. The first journal entries are due the week of Sept. 13.
Language Arts: Pgs. 2-9. Complete sentences, sentence fragments and the 4 tyoes of sentences. Grammare quizzes will be announced, and dates should be written into the assignment book.
Math
We will be using a new math textbook this year, Math Connects by Macmillan McGraw-Hill. Information will soon be sent home with directions for accessing the student textbook online, if you should care to review a lesson without your child having to carry home a heavy book. Most homework assignments will be from the small, softback Homework Practice Workbook. Currently the workbooks have not yet arrived. Once they do, expect some math homework Monday through Thursday.
Math Connects Pgs. 2-17. 'Smart Start' a review of math concepts from third grade. Chapter 1 'Use Place Value to Represent Whole Numbers.'
We will soon begin 'First in Math' an individualized online math program once each week using the computer lab.

Science
Discussion and activities about 'What Is a Scientist?' and the Scientific Process.
Science A Closer Look: Unit A 'Living Things' Lesson 2 'Classifying Living Things.' Pgs. 34-37.
Video on the Classification of Animals.
Our science textbook website is www.macmillanmh.com (Click onto Grade 4 Science)

Extras
Welcome to 4B! What a pleasure it was to see so many of you at Back to School Night. Please sign and return forms received as soon as possible.
Be sure to read the book report and the journal letters which explain important parts of our language arts program in fourth grade. They will be sent home with your child as soon as they are explained here at school.
There is a $3.50 fee to cover the costs of both the spelling tablet and the Catholic School Assignment Book. Those who ordered the box of school supplies have already paid for these 2 items. Please hold off on the boxes of tissues requested because we have a backlog from last year. Once we start running low, I will notify you on this web page.
Special classes begin the second week of school. Our first gym day is Wednesday, Sept. 8. The gym uniform must be worn on gym days.
Specials Schedule: Monday- Music and French; Wednesday - Library and Gym; Thursday- Art; Friday- Health.
Summer packets will be collected the first week of school. Small awards and prizes will be awarded for those meeting goals and challenges.
Thank you for your prompt attention to all of the "start up of a new school year" correspondence and information. It is sincerely appreciated.
I am looking forward to a great new school year with my new fourth graders!

Week of:	August 30 - September 9, 2010
Reading	Unit 1: Reflections - Story: 'The Lost Lake' pgs. 17-41. Practice Book pgs. 1-7. Study vocabulary on pg. 2 and definitions written in ILA copybooks. Skills: Story elements-setting and character, comprehension, using parts of a book, making inferences, multiple-meaning words. Story test Friday, Sept. 10. Book report letters (on blue paper) will be sent home explaining the 3 major book reports for the year.
Language Arts	Spelling: Words with short vowel sounds, pgs. 1-6. Pretest will be sent home the first wek of school. Standing weekly spelling homework will be correctly writing (in cursive) into the copybooks the list words spelled incorrectly on the pretest, two times each, and using any 10 of the spelling list words to compose 5 good sentences (minimum of 7 word sentences). Underline the spelling words used in the sentences neatly in red pen. No more than 2 list words per sentence will be counted toward the 10 word goal. This assignment is due the second day of the school week or the day after the pretest is given. The first week we will work on this assignment together so that everyone understands how it is to be completed. Test on List 1 - Sept.10. Grammar: The writing journal will be explained, and we will begin working on the writing process for the first topic in class. See yellow colored handout placed inside the writing journal for a listing of all 15 journal topics for the year. This sheet will require a parent signature, and will be kept in the journal all year long. The first journal entries are due the week of Sept. 13. Language Arts: Pgs. 2-9. Complete sentences, sentence fragments and the 4 tyoes of sentences. Grammare quizzes will be announced, and dates should be written into the assignment book.
Math	We will be using a new math textbook this year, Math Connects by Macmillan McGraw-Hill. Information will soon be sent home with directions for accessing the student textbook online, if you should care to review a lesson without your child having to carry home a heavy book. Most homework assignments will be from the small, softback Homework Practice Workbook. Currently the workbooks have not yet arrived. Once they do, expect some math homework Monday through Thursday. Math Connects Pgs. 2-17. 'Smart Start' a review of math concepts from third grade. Chapter 1 'Use Place Value to Represent Whole Numbers.' We will soon begin 'First in Math' an individualized online math program once each week using the computer lab.
Science	Discussion and activities about 'What Is a Scientist?' and the Scientific Process. Science A Closer Look: Unit A 'Living Things' Lesson 2 'Classifying Living Things.' Pgs. 34-37. Video on the Classification of Animals. Our science textbook website is www.macmillanmh.com (Click onto Grade 4 Science)
Extras	Welcome to 4B! What a pleasure it was to see so many of you at Back to School Night. Please sign and return forms received as soon as possible. Be sure to read the book report and the journal letters which explain important parts of our language arts program in fourth grade. They will be sent home with your child as soon as they are explained here at school. There is a $3.50 fee to cover the costs of both the spelling tablet and the Catholic School Assignment Book. Those who ordered the box of school supplies have already paid for these 2 items. Please hold off on the boxes of tissues requested because we have a backlog from last year. Once we start running low, I will notify you on this web page. Special classes begin the second week of school. Our first gym day is Wednesday, Sept. 8. The gym uniform must be worn on gym days. Specials Schedule: Monday- Music and French; Wednesday - Library and Gym; Thursday- Art; Friday- Health. Summer packets will be collected the first week of school. Small awards and prizes will be awarded for those meeting goals and challenges. Thank you for your prompt attention to all of the "start up of a new school year" correspondence and information. It is sincerely appreciated. I am looking forward to a great new school year with my new fourth graders!