From the Mrs. Collins' Desk

We have been busily reviewing for the chapter six social studies test which was today.  All students have a study sheet, and with a little extra effort, all students will do well.  Today, a new science chapter, entitled "Earth's Features and Its Materials," was introduced with an experiment on how running water shapes the land.  Ask your child to explain what happened in this experiment and what was learned.  Here's a little trivia for you.  Did you know that the Mississippi River is the 2nd longest river in the United States?  Do you know which is the longest?


In math, a new chapter began this week. The 8th chapter is on fractions and decimals. The students will be learning about equivalent fractions, tenths and hundredths as decimals, and renaming fractions as decimals. Have you gone to the GO MATH website lately? It is called "Think Central". Please don't forget this valuable tool. The Mega Math games and iTools can help to reinforce the skills being taught. Please continue to look over nightly homework and encourage your child in their efforts. They are doing great! 

From the Desk of Mrs. Collins'

Today was the talent show and we were so proud of Corynne and Marlee.  They did a tremendous job playing "Rocky Top" on their violins and clogging too!  Way to go girls!

There are two upcoming events in February that I wanted to make you aware of so that you can mark your calendar.  On February 10th, the fourth grade will be attending a performance at the Opry House that is entitled "The Freedom Train."  We will be traveling by car, and each class can have up to six adults (who will also be our drivers) to go with us.  Also, on February 14th, the fourth grade will be presenting a program at 1:00 p.m, our Valentine's Day program titled "Friends".  The students are busy practicing for our program. I hope you and other special loved ones will plan on joining us.  Mrs. Matherly always does a wonderful job with these musical productions.  More information will be coming home about both events in the near future.


The fourth grade hallways are full of colorful artwork and wonderful writings completed by our students.  If you have an opportunity, come and look at your child's work.  It's impressive!

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

Students have chosen their Book Talk books and are eagerly reading them.  They were given about 30 minutes in class today to read and will be given time tomorrow to read, as well.  Earlier this week, the Book Talk calendar was given to students to show when each student would give their Book Talk.  They are scheduled for the end of January and beginning of February.  The students did such a great job last time that I am looking forward to hearing their talks!  Next week, the students will be assessed on Word Wall on Wednesday.   Students will be learning about fact/nonfact, comparing/contrasting, and identifying root words. Also, we will be reading Gluskabe and the Snow Bird and the story quiz will be on Friday.  

Social Studies/Science News from Mrs. Baugh:  Today, in social studies, we devoted the entire class period to honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King made such a powerful impact on American history, and I want fourth graders to be aware of the contribution that Dr. King made.  We watched a short film clip of one of his speeches, read a biography of Dr. King, did some role playing and creative writing, and also discussed how fourth graders can make a difference in making this country a better place.

Math News from Mrs. Drake:  The students are working diligently as we end the chapter on division. A quiz was given on Wednesday and will be in this week's signed papers. Most students did very well. I encourage you to take a couple of minutes over the weekend to check on their progress with dividing two and three digit numbers by a 1- digit number.  A test will be given on Tuesday.

Here are a few of the pictures from our winter celebration day when we returned back to school from the holidays.

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.