From Mrs. Collins' Desk....

Thank you for your generosity!  Our fourth grade mitten tree is full of a variety of mittens and gloves!  ALso, the fourth grade hallway is stacked with can foods!  

In class, students have been busy reading their books for book reports that are due next Wednesday, December 14th.  Because the book reports are due on Wednesday, there will be no Word Wall next week.  This will enable the students to focus on the reports.  It is important for us to wrap this reading unit up prior to leaving for the holidays.  So, we will begin reading the short story "Twisted Trails" on Friday and the story quiz will be next Tuesday the 13th..  Finally, students will have their Reading Vocabulary Test next Thursday, December 15th.

Upcoming Dates in Reading:

Tuesday, Dec. 13th: "Twisted Trails" story quiz

Wednesday, Dec. 14th:          Book report with illustration due

Thursday, Dec. 15th:  Reading Vocabulary Test

Math News from Mrs. Drake:  In math the students are learning to use a variety of strategies and models to divide whole numbers up to 3 digits by 1-digit divisors both with and without remainders. The students are discovering the relationship between multiplying and dividing. I am so glad they have conquered the multiplication facts so well, as it has made the dividing of numbers so much easier on them. This Tuesday the students will have a division fact quiz. The format will be the same as the multiplication fact quiz. We will be unable to finish chapter 6 before the holidays. We will continue division after Christmas Break. 

Our class Christmas party will be on Friday, December 16th at 9:30 and it will last about an hour.  Mrs. Parrish has volunteered to organized this for the children.  If you can help in any way, please let her know.  

From Mrs. Collins' Desk....

This week I read a picture book to the students called The Mitten Tree. In the story, an elderly woman knits mittens and hangs them on a blue spruce tree for the needy children in her neighborhood. It is a very sweet story with a touching lesson. The fourth grade students will have their own mitten tree to help the needy. If your child would like to participate, please send mittens or gloves to school the week we return from Thanksgiving Break. The mittens or gloves can be any size, color or design. This will be a special project for our students to share many mittens and gloves with needy children this winter season. Thanks for your help.

I have been so impressed with the Book Talks given by the students during the past weeks!  Students have shown such enthusiasm for the books that they have read.  Their excitement is contagious.  Other students are wanting to read the books they are hearing about or read other books from the same author that they have enjoyed.  

Speaking of books, the Scholastic book order has been shipped and will be given out tomorrow.  Thank you for ordering from Scholastic, because of our order I was able to receive close to 100 free books for our class library!  Many of the free books were presented in the Book Talks.  I have asked students to return all of my classroom library books by today.  During Thanksgiving, I want to reorganize it to make it more user friendly.  Please look around your home and ask your child to look in their backpack and school desk for my books.  

Lastly, students are reading the story "Pat Cummings:  My Story".  The skills taught this week are fact/opinion, summarizing, and suffixes.  The story quiz will be on Friday.  There will be no new word wall stems, definitions, and words given out this week.  We will pick back up on the Wednesday we return from break.  

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with lots of family, fellowship, and food!

From Mrs. Collins' Desk....

The students are doing a fabulous job on their Book Talks!  The students are really getting interested in many different books.  We will be finishing them up next week.


Social Science News from Mrs. Baugh:  This week, in science, we had a fun time as we tried to simulate different bird beaks using spoons, forks, straws, and toothpicks.  The students worked in pairs as they tried to pick up rice, foam packing peanuts, and water.  It was an interesting way to introduce a lesson on animal adaptations.  Ask your child about the "Blubber Glove," and why we did that experiment.  Science is so much fun!

Keep clipping out those Box Tops for our Box Top Bonanza in November!  The grade level who has collected the most Box Tops receives a pizza party.  Plus we are earning money for our school.

From the Mrs. Collins' Desk

Students will begin presenting their Book Talks next week.  For the past two weeks, they have been given a large part of their reading class to read their book.  Many have finished their books and preparing for their Book Talk.  Each student knows what is to be expected and the calendar of when they will present.  It is key that students practice their Book Talk several times, preferably in front of someone.  Here is the schedule of who is presenting next week:

Monday:                No school

Tuesday:              Hannah & Dorian

Wednesday:        Caleb & Lydia

Thursday:            Corynne & Westin

Friday:                 Eli & Harrison

Next week, we will be starting a new unit by reading The Hatmaker's Sign.  The skills we will be working on are making judgments/decisions, using context clues, summarizing, and learning suffixes.The new unit's theme is how we can use our talents to communicate ideas.  

Even though we won't have school on Monday, Word Wall will still be on Wednesday and the story quiz will be on Friday.

On Tuesday, I sent home November's Scholastic book order.  If you would like to order books for gifts and keep them secret from your child, you can send me an email to hold those books and I will keep them in my classroom for you to pick up.   Book orders are due Friday, November 11th.

From the desk of Mrs. Collins'....

We have had a busy week!  We had the flashmob promoting anti-bullying which aired on Channel 2 news. Students also, enjoy foods from Biblical times at our Bible tasting.  Many of the students tried foods that were unfamiliar to them.   Today, students who earned the reward of the Games-to-You were able to enjoy time playing video games.   


On Monday,  we will have a Halloween snack.  I only needed two parents and Mrs. Tomlinson and Mrs. Burkeen were the first to reply. I appreciate all the parents who volunteered to send items. Students may bring individually wrapped candy or other trinkets to place in the goody bags.


Social Science News from Mrs. Baugh:  We concluded our study of Tennessee Indians with a chapter 3 test yesterday.  Next week we will begin the "Age of Exploration," with the Europeans arriving in the Americas.  It's a great study that I know the classes will love.  In science we are talking about life cycles and metamorphosis.  In class, each student will be partnering up as they research and draw either a complete or incomplete metamorphosis.

From Mrs. Collins' Desk....

If you haven't returned your child's pictures for the yearbook, tomorrow is the last day.  Also tomorrow, students who sold 3 or more books will have an ice cream party after lunch.  Any students who sold 5 or more books will get to enter and enjoy the "Game Trailer" on Friday, October 28th.  Thank you for making this fund raiser such a wonderful success.


Reading News:  On Monday, October 31st the elementary will be having a Book Character dress up day.  Students may choose their favorite book character (picture or chapter book) to dress up as.  The Book Character dress up day is an alternative to the traditional Halloween dress up.  Mrs. Merritt wanted to implement this as an elementary activity.  However, it is an optional activity.  Students do not have to participate.  There will be no grades given in any academic subject area on the student's participation.  Please be mindful that is will be a regular school day, so students must be able to sit and pay attention through out the day.  Any costume that is uncomfortable or distracting may need to be left for trick-or-treating.

The students will be preparing a Book Talk in the month of November.  Details will be sent home next week, but a Book Talk is similar to a oral book report.  Students should be choosing a book that is fiction, included in SR, on grade level, and they have't read before.  I will be approving the books through next week.  Once their book is approved by me, they can begin to read it.

Next week, the students will be reading "Will Her Native Language Disappear" which is a short magazine article.  Therefore, the word wall assessment and the story quiz will both be given on Wednesday.  Also, the Unit 2 Reading Vocabulary test will be given next Friday, October 28th.  Students have the list of words and definitions in their reading section of their three ring notebook.  Students should not only know the words and definitions but how to use them.  For example, can they write an original sentence with the word, list a synonym/antonym, or draw an illustration of the word, etc.?

From the Desk of Mrs. Collins'....

Tomorrow will be our first field trip and looking at the weather, I think it will be a beautiful day!  If you are driving in the morning, please be at school by 9:20am.  We will leave at 9:30.  The students should bring their sweatshirt, sack lunch, and leaves.


Report cards will be coming home tomorrow.  Please sign and return those on Monday.


During morning announcements this month, students from our class are reading the scripture.  They are doing a fantastic job and I am so proud of them!


Science & Social Studies News:  In science we have begun a chapter on "Continuing the Species."  The class has already learned some fascinating facts.  In social studies we are continuing our study of Native Americans.  We will be concentrating on the Indians of Tennessee, beginning next week.  


Math News:  On Friday, October 21, the students will have a math test over chapter 3. The students completed a mid-chapter review on Wednesday, and an entire chapter review will be completed next Thursday. I believe these reviews will help them to recall the skills from this chapter. With the last chapter, I had the students take an online test that was very helpful to most students. I will again place an online test for this chapter. It will be ready for the students to take next week, but keep in mind additional skills will be taught through Wednesday. 

From Mrs. Collins' Desk....

Tomorrow is the Fall Picnic.  So, please feel free to come and enjoy lunch with us on the front lawn.  We will be eating at our regular lunch time, 10:50 to 11:20 am.


Next week, the students will not have a memory verse and graded papers will not be sent home. Tomorrow, next week's spelling words will be introduced and the spelling test will be Wednesday.  


Reading News:   Because of the half days next week and fall break, our schedule in reading will be different.  Our schedule will be as follows:


Friday (Sept. 30):  Read independently the story "Just a Dream", review   story vocabulary, introduce sequence of events

Monday (Oct. 3):   Reread and discuss "Just a Dream" and work on story comprehension, compound words

Tuesday (Oct. 4):  check story comprehension, story quiz

Wednesday (Oct. 5):  word wall assessment (There will be no new word wall stems given on this day and no word wall assessment on Oct. 12.)

I sent Scholastic book orders home this week.  The order should be turned in or ordered online by Thursday, October 13th.  The classroom activation code is GNGNM.

A math message from Mrs. Drake: Over the next few weeks, our math class will be learning to use variables in algebraic expressions and equations, as well as finding patterns in numbers and extending patterns. The students are just like sponges the way they are absorbing this new material. I see progress being made in how they are working through problems and reasoning out the situations. I am seeing the students, think, think, think.  This new curriculum is encouraging them to use their skills in ways that have not been challenged through other programs.  I realize this change has been hard, but I believe this curriculum will teach them strategies to reason through their “everyday” math encounters. We are building life long skills. Thank you so much for helping at home and encouraging your child with this new program. I am so proud of their efforts with Go Math!

Social Science News from Mrs. Baugh:  In science, tomorrow, we are wrapping up Chapter one Lesson 3 with a test.  The kids have been fascinated with the strange fungi that have been found and brought into class.  It makes the term decomposer come alive.

In social studies we are finishing Chapter 2 Lesson 3 with a study of the Eastern Woodland Indians.  This Friday, in class, we will be constructing various Indian dwellings.  The class has been divided into five groups, and each group will be designing their special Indian shelter.  They may be asking you if they can bring in Lincoln Logs, sticks, bark etc. for this project.  I'm excited to see how this turns out.


I look forward to seeing you all at Cougar Day on Saturday!

From Mrs. Collins' Desk....

Earlier this week, I sent home information about parent teacher conferences being held on October 4th and 5th.  I have also set aside additional days for your convenience.  For those of you who have returned them, tomorrow I will send home confirmation of the day and time of your child's conference.  I look forward to meeting with each of you.


Reminders:  Tomorrow is the last day to turn in City Saver sales.  Thank you for supporting this fundraiser!  Also, several of you have sent in Cougar Day prizes.  Again, thank you!  Next week is the deadline to participate in the Magi Box Project.  




Reading News:  Because of the many scholastic book orders placed, I was able to receive over 50 books worth more than $200 for FREE.  The students have been thrilled about these new books in our Reading Library, which include the Diary of the Wimpy Kid series, Judy Moody series, Little House on the Prairie series, the 39 Clues box set, and many more.  THANK YOU!  


We have been wrapping up Unit 1 in Reading this week.  Students took the unit test assessing their knowledge of these skills:  story elements (setting, plot, characters), making inferences using story clues, identifying the problem and solution, main idea, multiple meaning words, synonyms, antonyms, and parts of a book.  Next week, we will begin Unit 2 with the story, "Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World".

From the Desk of Mrs. Collins'

I wanted to remind you that we have a wonderful science field trip scheduled for next month, (October 14th) and you are invited to join us.  We will be traveling by cars to the grounds of the Goodlettsville Church of Christ Camp which happens to be at the end of the street that I live.  This camp has wooded acreage and a small pond and is a super spot to have an on-site science study.  So, mark your calendars because we will have many interesting and fun-filled projects planned for that day.  More details will be coming closer to the date.      

Science News from Mrs. Baugh:  What a great time we had making terrariums Wednesday!   The class enjoyed picking the different flower seeds that went into their creations. We discussed why this was an ecosystem, and also the various limiting factors that might affect the growth of their plants.  It was wonderful to watch as students brought in earthworms, snails, crickets, and painted rocks to personalized their ecosystems.  Ask your child to tell you why his (her) terrarium is an ecosystem.  

From the Mrs. Collins' Desk

This week has been a short week due to the Labor Day holiday.  The students are impressing me by reciting the memory verse on Thursdays!  I am very proud of them for preparing ahead of the Friday due date.  Thank you for working with them at home and helping them learn each week's verse(s).  


Mark your calendars because Cougar Day is Saturday, October 1st. Our class will have the Astro Jump/Ball Pond in the Kid's Korner.  Mrs. Tomlinson has graciously agreed to be our class chairman and organize our booth.  We will need donations of prizes and your time to help make this a successful day.  


Math News from Mrs. Drake:  Next Tuesday, the students will have another multiplication fact quiz. I have tried to ease them back in to testing over these facts, and most are doing very well. Please look at the quiz in this week's graded papers and see how your child is progressing. They need to be memorizing the facts at this point. You may want them to use flash cards, computer games and/or worksheets with facts on them. The students need to know their facts so well,  they just breeze through the list easily. Tuesday, I will begin timing the tests to encourage the memorization of the basic facts.


Social Science News from Mrs. Baugh:  The students enjoyed painting their salt maps of Tennessee.  This concluded our study of chapter 1 in social studies.  We will be testing over chapter 1 on Friday.  The students have a study sheet, and we have been also reviewing for this test in class.

Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend

Today with graded papers, notes about Ident-A-Kid and Cougar Market Place were sent home.  Tomorrow is the last day to send in money for the homecoming t-shirt and scholastic book orders.  


We will be out of school on Monday, Labor Day.  I hope you are able to enjoy the long weekend with family and friends!


Social Science News:  In social studies, this week, we have been studying about the great  state of Tennessee.  On Friday, we will have a quiz on the eight border states of TN, and the four major cities located in the three grand divisions of TN.  Also, on Friday we will be breaking into small groups, and the students will have an opportunity to put this learning into practice as they create both physical and political salt maps of TN.  Also, remember to bring in a two liter clear soda bottle for terrariums.

We're Off to a Tremendous Start!

The students and I have certainly hit the ground running this school year!  I am very proud of the effort students are putting in all of their school work.  Last week, many students said their Bible verse early on Thursday and everyone had said it by Friday.  Way to go!  


Each day, Mrs. Baugh, Mrs. Drake, and myself are reviewing our expectations for them in fourth grade. It is important that they know exactly what is expected of them.  The students continue working on organization, responsibility, and time management.  We understand this is a work in progress but want to them to be accountable.    


The dates for our three field trips have been set.  Mark your calendar:
                  Nature Field Trip                                         October 14th
                     Downtown Nashville Walking Tour           April  18th
                     Jr. Docents at The Hermitage                    May   8th
All the field trip are wonderful learning experiences for the students!  I always hear great things from parents about the Walking Tour and The Hermitage.  On the Walking Tour, our guide is the best and most adults learn something about Nashville that they didn't know.  Being Junior Docents at The Hermitage is one of the most memorable experiences in fourth grade!  We will also, need parents to help us provide transportation and supervision on all three trips.  




Today, several items will be coming home.  For students who attended Goodpasture last year, they are receiving yearbooks.  Also, the City Saver fundraiser is kicking off today.  Students will be bringing home their graded papers.  It is beneficial for students to review their graded papers and rework those that contained errors.  To view your child's grades online, Power School information about their user name and password went home yesterday.


Math News:  Mrs. Drake wanted to pass along this valuable information.  "I want to encourage everyone to work on basic math facts at home. Let the children use flash cards or games to help them memorize the addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. The quick recall of the basic facts will be very beneficial. After this week, I plan on giving them one fact quiz a week. Next week, the fact quiz will be on the addition facts. Please take a few minutes each day to drill these with your child." 


Social Science News:  Students have been excited to use the microscopes this week in science.  They have been examining plant cells from a green onion.  Remember that your choices for the Tourin' Tennessee project is due by September 2nd.  


Reading News:  We are off to a terrific start in reading!  In class, the students are learning about important elements, like the setting, characters, and the problem/solution which make a great story.  Also each Wednesday, students will be given 5 new stems (prefixes, roots, or suffixes) to learn for the week.  Then on the following Wednesday, they will be assessed if they know the stems, definitions, and two words which use that stem.  In class, we refer to this as Word Wall Wednesday.  Coming home with graded papers will be information about the SR program.  In the next few weeks, students will be assessed as to which grade level they are currently reading.  

Welcome to Fourth Grade!

I am very excited about the new school year.  I believe that this year will be the very best and I am thrilled to be a part of it.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to get to know your children and be a part of their educational experience.  Fourth grade is a fabulous year with many fun and exciting learning opportunities!


I look forward to getting to know each of you during this year, and thought I would tell you a little bit about myself.  I have taught at Goodpasture for twelve years; three years in third grade and nine years in fourth grade.  My husband and I have three children.  My oldest son, Ryne was married last summer to his college sweetheart, Heather.  They currently live in North Carolina where he is completing aviator school in the Air Force.  Tyler, my middle child, is living and working in Nashville.  Briley, my youngest and only daughter, is a junior at Freed-Hardeman where she plays on the soccer team.


I encourage each of you to communicate with me anytime by email, phone, note to school, or we can meet together before or after school.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns you may have throughout the year.  By working together, we can have successful and great year for your child.