Dear Parents,
What a damp and chilly start to our Monday. With all the gorgeous weather we have enjoyed recently I nearly forgot it was January! Oh well, I guess Spring will be here before we know it and then I may be wishing for cooler days again.
Please note letters for intent for re-enrollment 2012-2013 were sent home on Friday: these should be returned as soon as possible. Also there will be no school for students next Monday and Tuesday (January 16 and 17) due to the holiday and a teacher workday.
Thanks for all your support,
Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Okey’s Homeroom (Morning Language Arts Group)
This week we are reading a Narrative Nonfiction story entitled, “Letters Home from Yosemite” by Lisa Halvorsen.
Throughout the story we discuss and identify main ideas and supporting details to improve comprehension. Since nonfiction text can be especially difficult for fourth grade students, they will be taking their reading books home this week to give them an opportunity to further practice this story. Please ask your child to read the story to you at least twice throughout the week (however the more practice the better). Also please have your child review the vocabulary words daily.
The class will have a comprehension test that is inclusive of this week’s vocabulary on Friday.
Thank you for your continued help and support!
Letters Home From Yosemite (Vocabulary)
glacier- a huge sheet of ice that moves very slowly over a land area
impressive- able to impress the mind, feelings, conscience; amazing
naturalist- a person who studies living things
preserve- to keep from harm or change; protect; save
slopes- land that goes up or down at an angle; sides of a mountain
species- a set of related living things that share certain characteristics; type
wilderness- a wild region with few or no people living in it; place that is in a natural state
**altitudes- heights from above the Earth’s surface
**formations- things that are formed
**reservoir- a place where water is collected and stored for use
**=non-tested words
Homework for the Morning Group (All Homework will be collected Friday)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
1. Read 20 minutes daily, write a summary. If prefer you may type your daily summary and print out your summary/log. Return log signed by a parent on Friday.
2. Complete the worksheet packet (contains three sheets) and return completed packet Friday.
3. Read this week’s story “Letters Home from Yosemite” to an adult at least two separate times this week
4. Make sure you have your vocabulary map complete by Thursday and ready to submit to Mrs. Smith (student’s worked on this Monday during class time and several people finished)
Afternoon Group (Mrs. Smith’s Homeroom)
We are continuing to work on Literature Seminars using the book the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Most of the students are doing a great job keeping up with the readings for their groups and working cooperatively with their peers. I am also pleased with the vocabulary work the class has completed so far. The vocabulary maps are designed to compel the children to use higher level thinking skills while expanding their vocabulary and knowledge.
Homework for the Afternoon Group (All Homework will be collected Friday)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
· Read 20 minutes daily, write a summary. If you prefer, you may type your daily summary and print out your summary/log. Return log signed by a parent on Friday.
· Nonfiction Comprehension Worksheets: All Assignments are due Friday:
Please Follow the Schedule Below to Help with Time Management:
Monday- Read the article and answer the comprehension questions
Tuesday- Reread the article and complete the graphic organizer
Wednesday- Research the writing portion at the bottom of the sheet in the technology lab and take notes when researching: Complete the writing assignment Wednesday at home based on your research.
Thursday- Read the article and the writing assignment to a parent. Have the parent sign the someplace on the front of your sheet acknowledging completion of the assignments.
Thursday- Read the article and the writing assignment to a parent. Have the parent sign the someplace on the front of your sheet acknowledging completion of the assignments.
Friday- Return the completed worksheet and writing assignment to Mrs. Smith
