SPECIALS CHANGE

We will be switching two specials times.  This Friday (May 1st), when your student normally goes to PE, they will go to music instead. On Wednesday, May 6th when they would normally go to music, they will be attending PE.
Please remind your students to wear tennis shoes NEXT Wednesday (May 6th).

Thanks,

Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Cochran

Math Study Guides

Area, Perimeter, and Line Plot Study Guide

Measurement Study Guide

4-27-15

Math:

Class 1:

Area/Perimeter/Line Plot Test Friday, May 1st (study guide will be finished in class on Tuesday)

Class 2:

Measurement Test Friday, May 1st (study guide will be finished in class on Tuesday) Students will be able to use their Measurement flip book on the test 

Wednesday, April 29th: GMAS Social Studies 

Newsletter 4-24-15

Ms. Howell’s 4^th Grade Class 

April 24, 2015

Dear Parents,

We have 3 days down of GMAS testing and only 2 more to go! The students have been working so diligently this week and I am so proud of them! Next week the students will take Science on Monday and Social Studies on Wednesday.

If your child is completing the GMAS Promise, then please remember to initial each day if your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast. Then they will bring the form to school and I will initial each day that they arrive at school on time, listen and follow directions, and take their time and do their best each day of the GMAS. If the students keep their Promise then they will be able to eat lunch with me in the classroom on Wednesday, May 6^th.

We will have 4^th 9 weeks Interims coming up the week of May 4^th. These tests are given to the students to test them on all AKS taught in the 4^th grade in all content areas. The schedule will be:

Monday, May 4^th: Reading

Wednesday, May 6^th: Math

Thursday, May 7^th: Science

Monday, May 11^th: Social Studies.

GMAS Information:

One of the things I shared at conferences this week was about the new Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS).

Below are some links of information that will give you some additional information. 

·      Want more general information about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment? Take a look at the PTA Guide. http://s2.onmycalendar.com/Files/GE/A5R7514422I_PTAguide.pdf

·      Would you like to see a sample of the online Georgia Milestones Assessment? Click through this elementary online test sample.  http://learnoas.ctb.com/GA/

·      Want detailed information about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment? The Department of Education published this assessment guide specific for each grade level tested. http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-End-of-Grade-Assessment-Guides.aspx

·      Parents: This is last year's Georgia Department of Education practice test. This is the only practice test available date formats as seen in the assessment guides.  There are about  4 practice tests for each subject for grades 3-5. There are about 8-12 questions on each practice test.  https://www.georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l

Below are just a few reminders/notes for the week:

• Kiwanis K-Kids is selling onions. You will find an order form in your child’s Friday Folder. Expected delivery is the week of May 11^th.
• The Summer Book Fair will be held May 4-8. The students can purchase 5 books for $20.

School Wide Information 

·        April 27^th – GMAS Test Science Section 1 and 2

·        April 29^th – GMAS Test Social Studies Section 1 and 2

·        May 1^st – Publix Mother’s Day Cake Orders Due

·        May 5^th – Fernbank Field Trip

·        May 12^th – Field Day

·        May 19^th – EOY party 1:45 – 3:00

Next Week at a Glance

Reading –Review

Writing/Grammar –  Review

Word Study – No Word Study until after GMAS

Social Studies –  GMAS Testing/Review

Science –

Mon./Tue. Group- GMAS Testing/Review

Wed./Fri. Group- GMAS Testing/Review

Math –

9:00 Group Review; Area/Perimeter/Line Plots Test Friday, May 1st

12:45 Group Review; Measurement Test Friday, May 1st

Specials Rotation:

Monday-PE

Tuesday-Art

Wednesday –Music

Thursday –Technology

Friday – PE

4-20-15

Day one is down and the students worked so hard!! Four more testing days to go. Tomorrow will be section 3 of ELA. There will be NO HOMEWORK during the next two weeks of GMAS testing. Please make sure that your children get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time each day. If your child is participating in the GMAS Promise, then please make sure to initial it each morning and send in each day for me to initial. 

Newsletter April 17, 2015

Ms. Howell’s 4^th Grade Class 

April 17, 2015

Dear Parents,

It is that time…time to show what we have learned all year long.   Your children have worked very hard this week in reviewing and preparing for the GMAS.  I know that they are ready to succeed! Please be sure that your children get extra rest, get a good breakfast, and build in some time for play this next week as they begin their tests.  

In your child’s Friday Folder you will find a GMAS Promise. You will initial each day if your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast. Then they will bring the form to school and I will initial each day that they arrive at school on time, listen and follow directions, and take their time and do their best each day of the GMAS. If the students keep their Promise then they will be able to eat lunch with me in the classroom on Wednesday, May 6^th.

Midterm progress reports are also included in this week’s Friday folder.  Please review your child’s current grades and discuss performance with your child.  Please initial the progress report and send it back with your child on Monday. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

GMAS Information:

One of the things I shared at conferences this week was about the new Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS).

Below are some links of information that will give you some additional information. 

·      Want more general information about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment? Take a look at the PTA Guide. http://s2.onmycalendar.com/Files/GE/A5R7514422I_PTAguide.pdf

·      Would you like to see a sample of the online Georgia Milestones Assessment? Click through this elementary online test sample.  http://learnoas.ctb.com/GA/

·      Want detailed information about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment? The Department of Education published this assessment guide specific for each grade level tested. http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-End-of-Grade-Assessment-Guides.aspx

·      Parents: This is last year's Georgia Department of Education practice test. This is the only practice test available date formats as seen in the assessment guides.  There are about  4 practice tests for each subject for grades 3-5. There are about 8-12 questions on each practice test.  https://www.georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l

Below are just a few reminders/notes for the week:

·        Field Trip Form and donations are due by Friday, April 24^th

·        Mother’s Day Cake Orders have been extended and are due by Friday, May 1^st

School Wide Information 

·        April 20^th – GMAS Test ELA Section 1 and 2

·        April 21^st – GMAS Test ELA Section 3 (Extended Written Response)

·        April 23^rd – GMAS Test Math Section 1 and 2

·        April 24^th – Field Trip forms and money due

·        April 27^th – GMAS Test Science Section 1 and 2

·        April 29^th – GMAS Test Social Studies Section 1 and 2

·        May 1^st – Publix Mother’s Day Cake Orders Due

·        May 5^th – Fernbank Field Trip

·        May 12^th – Field Day

·        May 19^th – EOY party 1:45 – 3:00

Next Week at a Glance

Reading – GMAS Testing/Review

Writing/Grammar –  GMAS Testing/Review

Word Study – No Word Study until after GMAS

Social Studies –  GMAS Testing/Review

Science –

Mon./Tue. Group- Wed./Fri. Group- GMAS Testing/Review

Math –

9:00 Group GMAS Testing/Review

12:45 Group GMAS Testing/Review

Specials Rotation:

Monday-PE

Tuesday-Art

Wednesday –Music

Thursday –Technology

Friday – PE

4-16-15

Reading/ELA:
Read 30 minutes

Word Study: No Word Study This Week

Math:

Class 1:

Workbook pages 747-748 #1-6

Class 2:

Workbook pages 791-792 #1-15

Science Class 2: 

Animal Adaptations Test Friday, April 17th

OAS Testing Logs are due TOMORROW Friday, April 17th

Mother's Day Cake Order Forms are due TOMORROW

Field Day T-shirt orders are due TOMORROW

4-15-15

Reading/ELA:
Read 30 minutes

Class 1: Finish your Andrew Jackson rough draft 

Word Study: No Word Study This Week

Math:

Class 1:

Workbook pages 855-856 #1-6 and pages 857-858 #1-15

Class 2:

Workbook pages 733-734 #1-15

Science Class 2: 

Animal Adaptations Vocabulary Test Thursday, April 16th

Animal Adaptations Test Friday, April 17t

I highly encourage both groups to work on their OAS Testing Log at home. We will be going once a week to the computer lab for the students to complete tests as well. If they bring their testing log then I can initial if they score 80% or higher. 

GMAS Information

Dear Parents,

We need your help! Next week, we will start our end of the year Standardized testing. Students will take two sections each day (other than the Language Arts day 2), and sections of this test will be very lengthy.  Because of this, I would like to provide students with a healthy snack in between the two sections of the test each day. I am requesting that parents send in snacks, if possible, to help make sure that students have energy and are able to focus completely during the testing time. Please let me know if you are able to send in any of the following items. Please keep in mind that we have 26 students in our class. PLEASE NOTE: Snacks must be individually wrapped and ready to hand out quickly. Also, please make sure that all snacks are peanut free, as we have allergies in the classroom.

Monday, April 20- Goldfish snack crackers
Tuesday, April 21- Pretzels
Thursday, April 23- Nutrigrain Bar
Monday, April 27- Quaker Granola Bar
Wednesday, April 29- SmartPop! Kettle Korn Mini Bags
All days- Bottle of water

I really appreciate all of your help as we work together to make testing as successful and stress free as possible!

Thank You,
Amy Howell

Other important information:
· GMAS Testing will be from April 20-May 1. The test schedule is as follows:
o Language Arts Section 1/2- Monday, April 20
o Language Arts Section 3 (Extended Response)- Tuesday, April 21
o Math- Thursday, April 23
o Science- Monday, April 27
o Social Studies- Wednesday, April 29
· Feed your child a breakfast high in protein (for example: eggs or peanut butter).
· The school offers breakfast a healthy breakfast every morning.
· Make sure your child sleeps at least 10 hours the night before a testing day.
· Keep life simple the week of testing.
· Have your child at school by 8:20 each testing day so that they have time to settle in for the day.
· NOTE: Children who must take make-up tests will not be tested in their own classroom by their own teacher and will be less at ease and more likely to make mistakes.  So, please make every effort to have your child in school and on time ALL testing days.
· Remind them to always do their best!
· Our lunch time will be from 11:45-12:10 from April 20-May 1

Animal Adaptations

Study Guide

Vocabulary

4-14-15

Reading/ELA:
Read 30 minutes

Class 1: Andrew Jackson Rough Draft due Tuesday

Word Study: No Word Study This Week

Math:

Class 1:

Workbook pages 837-838 #1-10 and pages 849-850 #1-7

Class 2:

Metric Worksheet

Social Studies Class: 

Vocabulary Pictures 

Science Class 2: 

Animal Adaptations Vocabulary Test Thursday, April 16th

Animal Adaptations Test Friday, April 17th

I highly encourage both groups to work on their OAS Testing Log at home. We will be going once a week to the computer lab for the students to complete tests as well. If they bring their testing log then I can initial if they score 80% or higher. 

4-13-15

Reading/ELA:
Read 30 minutes

Class 2: Andrew Jackson Rough Draft due Tuesday

Word Study: No Word Study This Week

Math:

Class 1:

Workbook pages 829-830 #1-11 and Workbook pages 843-844 #1-9

Bring OAS Log tomorrow

Class 2:

Workbook pages 707-708 #1-23 Except for #'s 2, 7, and 12

Science Class 2: 

Animal Adaptations Vocabulary Test Thursday, April 16th

Animal Adaptations Test Friday, April 17th

I highly encourage both groups to work on their OAS Testing Log at home. We will be going once a week to the computer lab for the students to complete tests as well. If they bring their testing log then I can initial if they score 80% or higher. 

Newsletter 4-3-15

Ms. Howell’s 4^th Grade Class 

April 3, 2015

Dear Parents,

Happy Spring Break! I know many of you are traveling and going on vacations over the next week. Please be careful and have fun! The students have been working so hard preparing for the GMAS and I know they are looking forward to a much needed break! Enjoy J

We will be taking a field trip to the Fernbank on May 5^th.  I sent home the permission slip with your child yesterday. Please complete and return by Friday, April 24^th. A contribution of $21 is requested to cover the cost of transportation and admission fees. No student will be denied an opportunity to participate because of failure to contribute; however, if enough funds are not secured, the field trip may have to be cancelled. We will also need to have at least three chaperones to keep group sizes down. The cost for a chaperone is $24. If you are available to chaperone please indicate on the form and/or send me an email. You can send in cash, check, or may on My Payments Plus. I know the students are looking forward to this!

Please make sure that your child has the supplies that they need for school. Such as pencils, red pens, glue sticks, and scissors. I am completely out of my personal supply of these materials and I will not be able to make another purchase this school year. Please talk with your child and see what supplies they need, so they can be prepared for the remainder of the school year. Thank you to all of you who have sent in extra supplies for our classroom! I greatly appreciate it!

Please ensure that your child is taking GMAS practice tests online weekly, or even nightly. All tests are due by Friday, April 17^th. They are a great preparation for the GMAS we have coming up at the end of April. They model the GMAS and it is important that your child feels confident with the format of the test. It will reduce any anxiety they have before the real thing! If you have any questions please let me know.

GMAS Information:

One of the things I shared at conferences this week was about the new Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS).

Below are some links of information that will give you some additional information. 

·      Want more general information about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment? Take a look at the PTA Guide. http://s2.onmycalendar.com/Files/GE/A5R7514422I_PTAguide.pdf

·      Would you like to see a sample of the online Georgia Milestones Assessment? Click through this elementary online test sample.  http://learnoas.ctb.com/GA/

·      Want detailed information about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment? The Department of Education published this assessment guide specific for each grade level tested. http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-End-of-Grade-Assessment-Guides.aspx

·      Parents: This is last year's Georgia Department of Education practice test. This is the only practice test available date formats as seen in the assessment guides.  There are about  4 practice tests for each subject for grades 3-5. There are about 8-12 questions on each practice test.  https://www.georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l

Below are just a few reminders/notes for the week:

·        Don’t forget to be completing practice tests on the OAS website.  If students turn in forms by April 17^th, they will receive a special treat from me. 

·        Field day t-shirt order form are due by Friday, April 17^th

·        Mother’s Day Cake Order are due by Friday, April 17^th (I sent this order forms home yesterday)

·        Field Trip Form and donations are due by Friday, April 24^th (I sent this order forms home yesterday)

·        Omega Learning, one of our business partners, is hosting a reading contest at our school. The top reader at our school will win a Kindle Fire, and the next four readers will be placed in a drawing for a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble. All you have to do is read and log your minutes. The form is available on our school website. All entries are due by Friday, April 17. We cannot take late entries, so be sure you turn it in on time! Good luck, and keep on reading!

School Wide Information 

·        April 6^th – 10^th – Spring Break

·        April 17^th-Label Ladies, Hat Day, Midterms Go Home

·        April 20^th – GMAS Testing begins

Next Week at a Glance

Reading – Informational Reading

Writing/Grammar – Opinion Writing

Word Study – No Word Study until after GMAS

Social Studies – Women Reformers/Personal Finance

Science –

Mon./Tue. Group-Animal Adaptations; Review all Science AKS taught this year for GMAS

Wed./Fri. Group-Review all Science AKS taught this year for GMAS

Math –

9:00 Group Area, Perimeter, Line Plots; Review all AKS taught this year

12:45 Group Measurement, Area, Perimeter, Line Plots; Review all AKS taught this year

Specials Rotation:

Monday-PE

Tuesday-Art

Wednesday –Music

Thursday –Technology

Friday – PE

4-2-15

Reading/ELA:
Read 30 minutes

March Bookmark due Friday, April 3rd

Word Study: No Word Study This Week

Math:

Class 1:

Measurement Test Friday

Class 2:

Geometry Test Friday 

I highly encourage both groups to work on their OAS Testing Log at home. We will be going once a week to the computer lab for the students to complete tests as well. If they bring their testing log then I can initial if they score 80% or higher. 

4-1-15

Reading/ELA:
Read 30 minutes

Pronouns Test Moved to Thursday  (Practice on Study Island)

March Bookmark due Friday, April 3rd

Word Study: No Word Study This Week

Math:

Class 1:

Measurement Test Friday

Workbook pages 761-762 #1-27

Class 2:

Geometry Test Friday 

Workbook pages 943-944 #1-20

Social Studies: 

W/F Group: Unit Test Thursday 4/2

I highly encourage both groups to work on their OAS Testing Log at home. We will be going once a week to the computer lab for the students to complete tests as well. If they bring their testing log then I can initial if they score 80% or higher.