Welcome to 4th grade!!

Hello! Welcome to 4th grade! Hopefully you all received your letters from me welcoming you to 4th grade! I will be using this blog to send updates on what is going on in class and other important information. I hope to see everyone at the Open House on Thursday the 18th from 6-7pm!!

Week of Sept. 27th

We will continue to read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing this week. The students really seem to be enjoying it!

Literature projects are due Wednesday. Students should begin looking for the books for their next project. They will be reading mystery books.

Week of Sept. 20th

We will be starting a novel unit on Monday. We will be reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. This will take the place of our weekly reading test.

The due date for their first literature project is fast approaching. I have extended my due date to Sept. 29th.

Realistic Fiction is

• a form of fiction (not true)

• accurately reflects life as it could be lived today
  

• everything in the story could happen to real people living in our natural physical world
  

• the characters have normal human powers
  

• story may be set in real places, but the story is NOT based on history, nor does it contain elements of science fiction

Do NOT choose Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing or Because of Winn Dixie as we will read them in class.
Click here or here for a list of titles that fit this genre.

Remember, picture day is Thursday!!!

The high school student senate is selling Earth Day shirts for $10 each. Orders must be turned into Mrs. Stegemann at the high school by Thursday. You can call her if you have questions, 625-1211 ext. 125.

Literature Projects

Only two literature projects are left this year. Historical fiction is the genre due on March 26. Do not choose a book we have read together (i.e., Pink and Say.)
The historical fiction you choose should:
*present a well-told story that doesn't conflict with historical records,
*portray characters realistically,
*present authentic settings,
*artfully fold in historical facts,
*provide accurate information through illustrations, and
*avoid stereotypes and myths.

Students will be given an project they can complete on Friday. It is a flip book. They can do something to go with their flip book if they'd like (for example, dress like a character, play a game the character played, bring in an artifact that goes with the book).

List of historical fiction books

More ideas for historical fiction
The final literature project for this year is the student's choice, but it MUST be a chapter book.

Mrs. Thompson's Homework

As many of you know, I am working on getting my masters in biology and zoology from Miami. This semester I am taking a class called Conservation Biology in the Age of Technology. Like the title suggests, it deals with how to use technology to learn about and communicate conservation topics.

My first big assignment is to develop an ecology project with the kids. I have set up a blog that the kids will be able to take polls, add comments, and even create posts of their own. We will do most of this at school, but I will give the students extra credit if they decide to do additional work on their own.

We started today talking about water conservation and endangered species. The blog address is:

http://cneecocorner.blogspot.com/

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Meeting at the Movies!!

We will be meeting at the Milford Showcase cinemas on SUNDAY, March 7th at 3:30 to see The Lightning Thief. The movie starts at 3:45. Parent are welcome to come or feel free to drop your kids off with $$. The movie is approximately 2 hours, so please be there by 5:45 to pick them up.

Please email if you have any questions.