Weekly Homework

Fri. September 25 – Thurs. October 1, 2009
4th Grade Homework Sheet
Dear Students and Parents,
I hope to see all parents in 4th grade on Wednesday, September 30th from 3-4 pm. The meeting will be quick, but very informative and helpful to clarify the curriculum and expectations in 4th grade. I hope to see you there! Just a reminder for the weekend…The California Site Project (diorama & mini CD book) due date is Monday, September 28th.
Students are enjoying art this year on Thursdays, which is actually an extension of mathematical concepts in an innovative way. I am asking that parents send in an old, extra large (dad sized) t-shirt for each student to be stored in the classroom. We plan to work with some paint and water colors in the weeks to come and these t-shirts will be used to protect those beautiful OLA school uniforms.Please note the Pyramid of Prayer Sheet in the homework folder this week. Students should review the following prayers over the next week (during family prayer time, or at bedtime prayer): Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. Students will be tested on their knowledge of these prayers next Friday.
Also, next Friday October 2nd, is a minimum day and school will dismiss at noon. Please have transportation arrangements made ahead of time. We will be having our first Friday Mass in the church and parents are welcome and encouraged to join us at 8:15 sharp.
Please refer to the following homework schedule Have a great week and thank you for choosing OLA School. Please feel free to contact me through the school office (881-2416) or through my email @ yschemenauer.ourladyofassumption.ocs@sbdiocese.org
Day One (FRIDAY)
Social Studies Continents Worksheet
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.5
Reading Read Scholastic News:
Smooth Start
Day Two (MONDAY)
Social Studies Ocean Worksheets
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.6
Reading Complete Scholastic News:
Smooth Start (Pgs.1-8 All)
Day Three (TUESDAY)
Science Ecosystem Expedition- begin
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.7
Reading Read Scholastic News:
Democracy At Work
Day Four (WEDNESDAY)
Science Ecosystem Expedition complete
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.8
Reading Complete Scholastic News:
Democracy At Work (pg.1-8)

**STUDY YOUR PRAYERS DAILY**
Homework Group A (Modification):
Complete the odd problems on math pages 1-4
Complete two spelling assignments per week
Complete two vocabulary assignments per week
Homework Group B (Optional):
Read AR book for 30 minutes per day
Write a summary at the conclusion of your AR book.

Math....Math...Math

Any students that did not complete math pgs. 46-47 (#1-23 all) will need to complete it as homework tonight. Also Excel Math 3 is due tomorrow morning! Please check to see if you have completed these assignments (a lot of classroom time was given before and after lunch) and if additional time is needed please complete these assignments at home.

The classroom philosophy in 4th grade is I do it, (Mrs. Schemenauer teaches the lesson) We do it,(Mrs. Schemenauer guides students through example problems at the board or on their own individual white boards), then You do it! (Students are expected to complete the assignment on their own). Many times when it gets to the "You Do it" portion of the lesson students use their time to talk to neighbors, or sit and daydream in class. If your student is coming home regularly with a lot of daily classwork then please speak to them about working diligently and using their time wisely in class.

Weekly Homework Letter

Fri. September 18 – Thurs. September 24, 2009
4th Grade Homework Sheet
Dear Students and Parents,
Enclosed in this homework folder is a week’s worth of work. Please review your student’s progress and return any work marked “Signed and Return” with a parent’s signature. Students receiving below a 75% on any test(TESTS ONLY) have the opportunity to make corrections on errors made on the test and return it to me by the following Tuesday. This applies to all subjects. For spelling tests, students are expected to write any misspelled word 5 times each in their neatest writing. These efforts will allow the students to receive a C grade (75%) on any test. However, if corrections are not turned in the following Tuesday, then the original grade issued will remain. Parents can check the homework folders weekly to review student work or login at www.gradelink.com to review part of each student’s grade.
The California Site Project (diorama & mini CD book) due date has been extended to Monday, September 28th. This extension was given after some feedback stating the need for more time and the idea that an extra weekend to work on the project might be helpful for some families. I am always open to comments and suggestions and hope that giving this extension will help all students to turn in their best work. The oral presentations for this project will begin on the same day, Monday, September 28, 2009.
Please refer to the following homework schedule Have a great week and thank you for choosing OLA School.
Please feel free to contact me through the school office (881-2416) or through my email @ yschemenauer.ourladyofassumption.ocs@sbdiocese.org
Day One (FRIDAY)
Social Studies Research for CD mini book
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.1
Reading AR book 20 minutes

Day Two (MONDAY)
Social Studies Research for CD mini book
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.2
Reading AR book 20 minutes

Day Three (TUESDAY)
Social Studies CD book/Diorama
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.3
Reading AR book 20 minutes

Day Four (WEDNESDAY)
Handwriting CD book/Diorama
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Pg.4
Reading AR book 20 minutes
** There is no reading log. Parents are responsible for monitoring their students reading at home. Students are responsible to have at least one AR test completed in class by Wednesday, September 30th. This will reflect their at home reading.
Homework Group A (Modification):
Complete the odd problems on math pages 1-4
Complete two spelling assignments per week
Complete two vocabulary assignments per week
Homework Group B (Optional):
Read AR book for 30 minutes per day
Write a summary at the conclusion of your AR book.

CALIFORNIA SITE PROJECT: NEW DUE DATE EXTENSION- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH

The California Site Project Mini CD books were sent home with students today. We went over the expectations according to the guideline and rubric sheet provided. After feedback from some parents and students the due date for the diorama and CD mini book has been extended to Monday, September 28th. Some felt that another weekend would help them complete the project better and give parents more time to work individually with students on the expectations of the assignment. PLEASE WRITE IN THE NEW DUE DATE ON THE ASSIGNMENT SHEET TO HAVE A RECORD OF THIS EXTENSION AT HOME!

Thank you so much for all of your support. It is such a blessing to have such a supportive environment for the students!

JUST A 4TH GRADE REMINDER....

Weekly Homework Folders are due in class tomorrow at 7:55 am. Students reviewed the way the folders are to be organized in class this afternoon and the guidelines for the headings each piece of paper. We also went over strategies for organization in class. Please review all homework and have a parent signature on each piece. Also, students turning in their California Sites Postcards early tomorrow will receive a bonus point! The final day to turn in postcards is Friday, September 18th.

Tuesday Math...How Big Is One Million?? (Parent Education Session)

Today in class students continued in their studies of place value. But they excitedly were able to discover 1,000 thousands equal one million! (1000x1000=1,000,000)Students also used the math period to discover that one million is the same as 10 hundred thousands. They were then assigned Pg.40 all and Pg.41 (EVEN #) to further practice these mathematical concepts. Also, they were given thirty minutes in the afternoon to finish up this assignment if they needed more time. Students not finished can complete this work at home. (Pgs.40-41 are due tomorrow morning at 7:55am.)

Also, please note there will be a parent education meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 3:00-4:00 pm in the fourth grade classroom. This will be an informal meeting in which I can clarify the fourth grade procedures since you have now experienced life in the fourth grade world! Please RSVP by returning the form your student brought home today.

Weekly Homework Folder 9/11-9/17

Fri. Sept.11 – Thurs. Sept.17, 2009
4th Grade Homework Sheet

Dear Students and Parents,
Welcome to the weekly homework folder assignment sheet. The students have gone over these procedures in class today and should be able to clarify the way their homework is to be completed and organized. Please refer to the student’s knowledge and ask them to orally explain the procedure to you(the parent). Please sign each page of homework your student completes. Students have been assigned a homework group of either A or B. Please read the back page of this newsletter and clarify the expectations for your student according to their Homework Group and the guidelines on the back.
Students were assigned their California Site Project on Thursday. Please refer to the guideline sheet regarding assignment due dates and specific requirements.
Finally, please be sure students have enough school supplies with them on a daily basis. 3 pencils sharpened daily will help keep distractions to a minimal and plenty of paper and index cards are always helpful! Students are easily distracted by others getting up and down to sharpen pencils, so please allow your child some time to sharpen pencils at home this weekend.
It is a privilege to teach your children. You can always reach me at the school office 881-2416 or by contacting me at the following email address with any suggestions or questions:
yschemenauer.ourladyofassumption.ocs@sbdiocese.org
Day One (Friday)
Social Studies Brainstorm ideas for your postcard on a blank sheet of paper. (Symbols and Slogans)
Math Multiplication Code Sheet
Spelling/Vocab One Assign.each
**Reading 20 mins. AR book
Day Two (Monday)
Social Studies Work on postcard design
Math Missing Factors Sheet
Spell/Vocab One Assign. Each
**Reading 20 mins. AR book
Day Three (Tuesday)
Social Studies Color postcard design (leave no white areas)
Spell/Vocab One Assign. each
Math Five Minute Frenzy Sheet
**Reading 20 mins AR book
Day Four (Wednesday)
Social Studies Finish postcard
Spell/Vocab One Assign. each
Math Two Digit by One Digit Sheet
**Reading 20 mins. AR book
Group A Modifications:
-Complete two vocabulary assignments for the week
-Complete two spelling assignments for the week
-Math: Complete odd problems only Day 1& 2
Complete two of the four timed frenzy tests
Complete 32 problems of the 64 two digit multiplication sheet
Group B Modifications:
-Option: Read AR book for 30 minutes per night.
-Option :Write a summary of each chapter of your AR book.

Monday Update...

Homework folders went home last Friday. Students should be working on Day Two tonight and have Day One completed. (However, students may adjust the completion of these assigments to their own personal schedules)These folders will not be due until Thursday, September17th, 2009 as stated in the homework letter.

SOCIAL STUDIES ALERT:

Students received their postcard paper in class for their Social Studies California Site Project. Please follow the directions given on the information sheet.

Daily homework: Students were taught place values in math class today. They completed Saxon book pgs. 36(all ) and 37 (odd). Any student that was not finished by the end of the day needs to complete the assignment at home tonight. These assignments will be collected tomorrow morning for a grade. (Parents are welcome to review this assignment with their student tonight before they turn it in tomorrow!)

CALIFORNIA SITES PROJECT/ SOCIAL STUDIES

Students were given their California Sites Project Guidelines today in class. Please review these guidelines with students tonight. The site selection lottery will take place tomorrow, September 11th in class. ( Students will only be allowed to participate if they bring in their site selection sheet with three choices selected and their parent's signature.) Numbers will be drawn from a bag and students can then select their site by signing up with Mrs. Schemenauer. Final dioramas and CD mini books are due on Friday, September 25th, 2009 when each student will give an oral presentation to the class. California is full of great sites and attractions and we get to have a tour of 17 sites in one day without leaving the OLA campus! Please refer to the guideline sheet for individual due dates and specific requirements. ( Postcard paper will be given out in class on Monday, September 14,2009 for students to complete by Friday, September 18th! )

MATHEMATIC MADNESS!!!!!

Wow! The fourth grade students gave their oral presentations today for their "Math Don't Leave School Without It" Projects. There was a flurry of multiplication, division, two-step problems and even multi-step mathematics presented throughout the day. Students were responsible for taking notes on the presentations given and attempting to identify the mathematical concept presented as well as work out the problems. Fourth grade is full of amazing problem solvers and every student completed the assignment!! YIPPEE!! Once again, fourth grade is forever fabulous!

Homework Alert:

Students located AR books coinciding with their ZPD levels in our classroom library today. Students were individually evaluated by Mrs. Schemenauer. So the homework for tonight is...

1) Students are to read their AR book for twenty minutes.

2) As a portion of their twenty minute reading time they should read two pages orally to a parent, grandparent, or any adult. The adult needs to sign the homework sheet that the student copied from the board in class.

** Supplemental** Any student desiring a greater challenge can write a one page summary about their reading. Summaries should include the main points of the reading only. (Who?What?Where?When? Why? How?)

Happy Labor Day Weekend...Homework???

4th grade students should enjoy their Labor Day Weekend. In class this week students have been reviewing the 4 steps of division. They were given eight division problems to work on( showing their work as they go) and apply the four steps of division. (They learned and recite a little tune about these steps in class) Next, they are expected to use multiplication to check their answers. (HINT:Multiplying the divisor by the quotient should give you the dividend) Please be sure to have a parent go over these problems and sign the paper and bring it back to school on Wednesday.

Also, students took home their Accelerated Reader Diagnostic Reports. Parents should review the sheet with students and then sign and return the form to school on Wednesday, September 9th.

Have a great extended weekend!!

**The "Math Don't Leave School Without It " Oral presentations will begin in class on Wednesday, September 9th.**

HOMEWORK ALERT!!!!

Students are responsible to have a final, completed rough draft of their three "Math Don't Leave School Without It" paragraphs. Also, a completed illustration demonstrating a problem with the solution should be finished at home on the paper provided in class. Students had time to work on this in class but many needed additional home work time to complete. The final draft should be on the top and all of the worksheets, rough drafts, and rubric should be paper clipped behind it. This is due at the beginning of school Friday morning.