March Madness (4th Grade Style)

Dear Students and Parents,
Well as we head into March, the fabulous fourth grade students continue to work hard. Enclosed in this folder is a reading comprehension assessment. This Mid-Year assessment charts the student’s ability to comprehend what they are reading without help from me.(This assessment cannot be corrected for points since it is not a test but instead an assessment of the student’s independent ability) Some students need to improve their ability to use the reading strategies we review in class while they are reading independently. The best way to improve reading comprehension is to increase time spent reading. To this end, I ask you the parent to have your student read regularly for 30 minutes a day. Ask your student to orally summarize the chapter to you as they read their AR book. (Summaries answer Who? What? Where?When? Why? How?-in other words just the main ideas of the chapter) The 4th grade class will have an AR contest and keep track of the AR books read and tested on throughout the month of March. The top 3 students from 4th grade will win a prize and be recognized at the end of the month. So we will have our own 4th grade version of “March Madness” which I will introduce to the students on Monday, March 1, 2010.
Also, (in an effort to improve comprehension skills) we are currently reading Trumpet of the Swans in class. I am modeling how to summarize chapter by chapter and demonstrating how to answer basic comprehension questions in full sentence format. The students have been given time in class to complete vocabulary words from the book and are also going to take a Trumpet of the Swans Vocabulary Test next Friday. Next Friday is also a minimum day and school will dismiss at noon. Thank you for making transportation arrangements ahead of time.
Student grades can also be checked by visiting www.gradelink.com regularly.
Also, please check the homework folders for any tests in which students have scored below 75%. Students may make corrections on a separate sheet of paper for tests only. Since we are in the middle of 2nd trimester many students need to re-stock their supplies for the classroom: glue sticks, sharpened pencils, erasers, paper, etc.
Have a great week and please feel free to contact me by sending a note with your child or through my diocesan email: yschmenauer.ourladyoftheassumption.ocs@sbdiocese.org
Day One (FRIDAY)
Handwriting Day One
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Fractions-Pg.95
Day Two (MONDAY)
Handwriting Day Two
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Fractions-Pg.96
Complete Trumpet Vocabulary(if not finished in class)
Day Three (TUESDAY)
Handwriting Day Three
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Fractions-Pg.97
Study Trumpet Vocabulary/Make flashcards
Day Four (WEDNESDAY)
Handwriting Day Four
Spell/Vocab One Assign Each
Math Fractions-Pg.98
Study Trumpet Flashcards
**A new spelling/vocabulary word sheet is included in this folder for the next two weeks. Any student losing their sheet may check the file folder outside of the 4th grade classroom to get another copy. Please encourage your student to be a responsible citizen and keep their homework folder organized. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!