Reading Vocabulary

averted
fury
interrogation
stern
accusing
solemnly
cringed
craned

Spelling Words -ed and -ing

counting
craned
seemed
burned
chopped
cracked
begged
moving
slipped
sailing
trimmed
shopping
returned
watching
pushed
visited
cringed
screamed
scratching
flapping

Friday Cluesletter

We had another good week this week! It is really exciting watching the students learn new things. I tell them all the time that I am not getting them ready for 5th grade, but for a great life. In science and social studies, while we try to learn the material, we are really just learning how to read nonfiction writing. When the students start to understand that they can use reading as tool to find out about things they are interested in, a light really comes on. In math this week we discussed some of the ways that estimation and rounding are used in real life situations, and how sometimes we do not need the exact answer to a problem. If, when you are out with your children, tell them when you are using math, and see if they think estimation is appropriate or if you need the exact answer.

Just a couple of reminders: Labor Day is Sept. 7, and Early Release Day is Sept. 14. The time for early release is 11:30, and there will be no after school that day. Please make plans for this. Thanks!

Good questions to ask your students—How do you subtract across zeros? When do you estimate an answer, and when might you need an exact answer? What are the different types of graphs? What is the difference between the subject and the predicate of a sentence? When you are reading, or when they are reading ask them to tell you why characters do what they do.

Looking ahead: Math— Chapter 2—Add and Subtract Whole Numbers
Reading— Facing Challenges—Lesson 4—Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain
Spelling—Words with Inflections –ed and -ing
Writing—Journal Entry
Language—Complete and Simple Subjects and Predicates
Science— Chapter 1—Getting Ready For Science—Lesson 4
Social Studies—Chapter 2—First Americans

Again, I just want to thank you for all your support.

Thanks,

Reading Vocabulary

Surrender
Particular
Sparkling
Clusters
Sizzles
Stroll

Math Vocabulary

Sum
Difference
Round
Expression
Variable

Science

Chapter 1--Lesson 2
Vocabulary
Interpret
Scale

Variant Vowels and Diphthongs

Toil
Faucet
Boyhood
Choice
Dawn
Awful
Foist
Daughter
Flaw
Annoyed
Royal
Allowed
Destroy
Blew
Spoon
Shampoo
Brown
Renew
Wooden
Auction

Weekly Cluesletter

Another week and we all survived!! Things seem to still be going great. I hope that you are finding that your children are enjoying school and learning a lot. I know that they are benefitting by my having already taught 4th grade here last year. I feel more organized and more ready to help your students succeed. I am sending home a lot of papers this week. This is really the first opportunity for me to see (with grades) who is struggling, and with what. I want to assure you that if you are seeing grades that you are not happy with, then I am not happy with them either. I will start small groups next week to help students with the specific standards they are struggling with. This should really help. Also, if you are seeing all perfect work, I want to assure you, too that I am going to challenge your student, as well. You may see a drop in their grade because, I tell students all the time, “If I do not know where you struggle, then I can’t teach you anything.”

Good questions to ask your students—Why would you put numbers in columns in order to tell their order? How do you put numbers in order? What are some skills that a scientist need to be able to do? Tell me an imperative sentence. What is an interjection? Ask your child to make an inference. When you are reading, or when they are reading ask them to tell you why characters do what they do.

Looking ahead: Math—We will start chapter 2, Addition and Subtraction, Writing—Poem and choosing words, Reading—“Danitra Brown Leaves Town,” Language—Subjects and Predicates, Science—How Scientist Use Graphs, Social Studies—America’s Land.
Mandi Odum has volunteered to be our Room Mom so look for some communication through her or PTA concerning our special events. Our class will have special snacks for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and the End of the Year. If you ever want to bring a snack, for a birthday or some other special event, just let me know. We will try to start those between 1:50 and 2:00.

Again, I just want to thank you for all your support.

Thanks,

B. Toney
4th Grade
Pine Ridge Elementary School
 
 "From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.”
--Dr. Seuss

Science Vocabulary

Observation
Inference
Prediction
Estimate
Hypothesis
Experiment

Reading Vocabulary

Legendary
Muttered
Gaped
Flinched
Snickering
Glared
Stunned
Fluke

Spelling Words

Cheese
Heel
Season
Boast
Chief
Gape
Aim
Brain
Fluke
Crayon
Eagle
Throw
Rose
Student
Goal
Woke
Ripen
Cube
Rainbow
Scrape

Friday Letter

Man, we are already a week into school! Things are getting exciting quickly. Today the students took loads of tests (Reading, Spelling, Math and Science). Friday will generally be assessment day. Next week look for a Reading Test, Math Chapter 1 test, Spelling test, timed times table test (3’s), and an open book science quiz. As for sending student work home, I generally hand student papers back after I grade them or check them. I am trying to hold on to them until Fridays so that they all come home on the same day, but sometimes I still pass them out so that we can go over mistakes and rework missed problems. I generally just check most daily work, and as the year progresses you will find that the students get better at checking their own work (at least this is the idea). I am still working with each student as far as my expectations go, and you may see a drop in grades at the beginning of the year. This is normal because my expectations differ from the teachers they had last year, and I take this into consideration when doing final grades.
Here are some great questions to ask your children to see if they are understanding what is happening in class—Why do scientists use standard measures? What are some inquiry tools? What does a microscope do? How many numbers are there? Why is it so important where we put numbers? What is the difference between place value and value? What is a period in math class? What is the difference between interrogative and declarative sentences? What do good writers do when they get an idea? Can you use “foisted” in a sentence?
Your children should be able to answer these questions pretty easily. I ask them all the time. They should also have notes in their folders that relate to these questions.
Next week we will study Math— Chapter 1—Place Value and Number Sense, Reading— Facing Challenges—Lesson 2—Mighty Jackie, Spelling—Words with Long Vowels and Vowel Digraphs, Writing—Descriptive Paragraph, Language—Imperative and Exclamatory Sentences; Interjections, Science— Chapter 1—Getting Ready For Science—Lesson 2, and Social Studies— Chapter 1—America’s Land.
We really are off to a great year! The students are getting along well. Most work is getting turned in on time, and the class is very well behaved. I am truly looking forward to seeing how much we can grow this year. It is going to be fun!!
Thank you so much for all your support!
B. Toney
PS—If you tried to leave a comment on the webpage and couldn’t, I have fixed that problem. You do not need a Google account now. You can leave one as an anonymous user.

Schedule

7:45—8:00 Morning Duties
8:00—8:20 Science
8:20—9:10 Special Area
9:20—10:20 Writing
10:20—11:20 Math
11:20—11:50 Shaw
12:00—12:20 Recess
12:25—12:55 Lunch
1:00—2:00 Reading
2:00—2:25 Social Studies

Mornings are a little different each day with special areas, but this is a good idea of what we are doing and where we will be each day.

Due tomorrow—

Spelling Homework—3 x’s each, ABC order, BIG, and Wordsearch
Spelling Test
Science open book test Chapter 1 Lesson 1
Reading Assessment (comprehension of story, character traits, declarative and interrogative sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and vocabulary)
Math timed Time’s Table test 2’s

Room Parent

I am in need of a Room Parent if anyone is interested.

Thanks

Science Vocabulary

Standard measure
Microscope
Spring scale

Reading Vocabulary

Pact
Queasy
Foisted
Venture
Annoyed
Depriving

Math Vocabulary

Digit
Period
Millions
Benchmark
Pictograph
Compare
Place value
Order
value

Spelling Words—

Pact
Brand
Brick
Crop
Broad
Tread
Film
Else
Gram
Gum
Dread
Spend
Past
Plot
Check
Split
Sting
Strap
Strap
Task
Twin

Studying this week—

Science—Inquiry tools
Writing—Writing Process and Character’s traits
Math—Place Value
Reading—Character’s Traits, Spelling with short vowel sounds, types of sentences, Comprehension
Social Studies—Starts next week

Friday Letter

Parents,
I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be teaching 4th grade again. I have already met and fell in love with your children, and I am certain that a great year lies ahead. Every Friday you can expect a letter home from me. In today’s letter you should find expectations, discipline, and some things about the webpage.
I want to state right off that 4th grade is HARD (but not too hard). I believe that it should be this way, but when students accomplish that which they find difficult, it becomes so much more rewarding. We have math and spelling homework just about every night. Other subjects will have homework on an assignment by assignment basis. It is not my goal to overwhelm students or parents with homework. This should be just a review of the lessons activities. Students should also spend at least 30 minutes reading every day. This can be any kind of reading. You can read to them. They can read to you or to a younger or older sibling. They can read silently (on the way to practice). I will also have expectations for your students in writing. These are called rubrics. Rubrics will be sent home or used in class with most assignments. It let the students know what to expect, and how to set their own goals. I am looking forward to helping each student set their own goals, and then helping them achieve them.
My discipline plan is pretty straight forward. I have seven rules that I think enhance the educational experience for each child. They are:
1. THE TEACHER IS IN CHARGE.
2. BE PREPARED
HAVE PENCIL, PAPER, BOOK AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED FOR THE DAY. ALSO COME WITH A MIND READY TO WORK. BE ON FOCUSED AND ON TASK.
3. BE RESPECTFUL OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
DO NOT TALK DURING INSTRUCTION. KEEP HANDS, FEET, AND OTHER OBJECTS TO YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES AS THIS MAY CAUSE DISTRACTIONS FOR YOU AND OTHER STUDENTS. GET TO CLASS ON TIME.
4. COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME
BECAUSE EDUCATION IS A BUILDING PROCESS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO ASSIGNMENTS IN THE ORDER THEY ARE GIVEN. YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO CRAWL BEFORE YOU CAN WALK. (IF YOU MISS AN ASSIGNMENT DUE TO BEING ABSENT, YOU MUST GET ASSIGNMENTS AND NOTES FROM ANOTHER STUDENT. IF THERE WERE HAND-OUTS YOU MUST ASK FOR THE SPECIFIC HAND-OUT AFTER CLASS. (ABSENTEE FOLDER)) AFTER AN ABSENCE YOU HAVE ONE DAY TO MAKE UP ASSIGNMENTS.
5. STAY IN YOUR SEAT
BRING ENOUGH PENCILS AND/OR PENS AND PAPER TO COMPLETE YOU ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE DAY. HOLD ALL TRASH AT YOUR DESK UNTIL THE END OF THE PERIOD.
6. BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT
YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO USE THIS CLASSROOM OR TEXT BOOK. LEAVE THE CLASSROOM BETTER THAN WHEN YOU CAME IN. IF YOU SEE TRASH ON THE FLOOR OR IN A DESK THROW IT AWAY ON YOUR WAY OUT. DO NOT WRITE ON YOU DESK, IN YOUR BOOKS, OR ON THE WALLS.
7. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES, SEE RULE NUMBER 1.
Students will have a card on their desk and if they break a rule I will put the number of the rule on the card (I will give warnings and visual clues before I write on the card.). If this happens more than three times on one day I will send a note home for you to sign and discuss with your child. I also take time away from recess, and use an appropriate behavior sheet that reminds and helps student to stay on track. Along with that I like to use many rewards. When I catch students following the rules exceptionally well, or going above and beyond expectations (behavior or academically) I will give students stickers that they put on their agenda. When they have a certain number I will reward students with candy treats, extra recess, game days, eating in the room for lunch, and anything else I can think of to motivate them. While I want you to know the rules and what is expected, I want to assure you that we spend very little time on discipline here. Most students are very well behaved and are usually trying to do the right thing when they have to be corrected. (For example: calling out the correct answers rather than raising their hand to give opportunities to other students). I do not expect any problems from what I have seen thus far.
My webpage is up and running. I want to use it as a communication and educational tool this year. You will find the standards that I teach there, and you will find fun websites there, and you will find messages from me there. The rules are also posted at the bottom of the page. I am hoping that I can use this to communicate with you and your children better. I am going to post this letter on the page, and I am asking that you please leave a comment so that I can get an idea of who’s looking. Thanks. You can get there two ways 1. Go to the school site and find my class, or 2. mrtoneyhomeroom.blogspot.com, either will work.
Thank you so much for all your support,
Mr. Toney
toney-r@harris.k12.ga.us

Parent Homework

Parents,
Along with all the beginning of the year paperwork will you, please, in one million words or less tell me about your child.
Mr. Toney