Friday, January 30, 2009

It's hard to believe that January is coming to a close. It certainly flew by with all of our days off.

Students have been working so hard on completing their research papers. Most everyone has finished their first drafts and are in the revising and editing stage. Some have already had their last conference with me and have started typing. All students are typing their own paper this time. It is a first this year for every fourth grader to type up his/her own paper without any teacher help. Wish us luck!

Report cards and running records have been that talk this entire month, but especially this last week. Students have been assessed and doing correctives on many outcomes. Everyone hung in there and most fourth graders were able to sit back and watch a movie for a half hour this afternoon.

Chorus is starting up again in preparation for their May concert. New students from our class joined and hopefully they will enjoy singing with their peers.

Please remind your child or remind yourself to read this weekend! 30 minutes each day :) Also, please fill in those reading logs. Have a fun and safe weekend.

Mrs. Hedstrom

Friday, January 23, 2009

TGIF! We had a great Friday. Everyone was enjoying the warm weather, or at least warm by Wisconsin standards. In Language Arts we read 'Big Words for Little People' by Jamie Lee Curtis. We were focusing on expanding our vocabularies to help have better words in the research papers, other writing, and our daily language. We then decided which words were $5.00 words, $10.00 words, and $20.00 words. Tell your parents or ask your child to use some of the words we discussed today (discussed would probably be a $20.00 :).

Students had Math as usual, but no homework was assigned. In place of Science today students who had all of their homework complete and did not need to do correctives on outcomes were able to watch a Cover to Cover video and draw. We came to conclusion that students in the 21st Century have truly outgrown Cover to Cover and we will need to find an alternative. Other students had to meet with the teacher he/she was missing homework from and attempt to complete it in a half hour. This will continue throughout the remainder of the year on Friday afternoons.

Later we had Fish Bowl Friday where many students recited poems they had memorized for the class. Our goal is to have every student put a fish in the bowl by February 23rd. Please help your child memorize a poem!

Everyone should read this weekend and fill out the time portion of his/her reading log. Stay warm!

Mrs. Hedstrom :)

Reading Logs

Reading logs were handed out today (January 21). No questions this week, but students should still be reading for at least 30 minutes each night. Read with your child! Both of you will grow!

Mrs. Hedstrom :)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I hope everyone is having a good middle of the week. Today students continued to make progress on their research papers. Everyone is scattered with where they are at; some are still researching (today was their last day - so some may have homework tonight), some are working on their note cards, and some are already beginning their rough draft. It has been fun seeing how each student tackles such an undertaking. Everyone is doing a fantastic job and is learning a lot about Wisconsin animals! Please tell your parent or ask your child about one fact about your Wisconsin animal.

Students had math today as usual, but no homework was assigned. We also had Science (no homework) and guidance class in the afternoon.

Chorus is beginning again next week and it's not too late to join! If you want to join chorus, but were previously not a member, please let Mrs. Kinney know and she can get you a permission slip. Go and sing!

Mrs. Hedstrom :)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Hello! It seems like we just experienced another Winter Vacation. I hope everyone enjoyed their five day break and kept warm.

We had an exciting day leading up to the inauguration at 11:00am this morning. In Language Arts class students read about different defenders of justice and we will be conducting a follow-up lesson on Friday. Please tell your parents something new you learned today about the person you read about. We then watched the inauguration and snacked on yummy cupcakes for Davis' birthday. Happy 10th birthday Davis and thanks for the cupcakes!

Students had math as usual and science with Miss Killerlain. The only homework is to read tonight, but there wasn't a chance to hand out the reading logs at the end of the day. We will not have any spelling words this week as we have a blue block every day. Students will take their spelling test from last week before lunch on Thursday/Friday so they have one more day to restudy.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in school tomorrow! Mrs. Hedstrom

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Greetings! Students are clipping along with their research on their Wisconsin animal. Research is being mainly done at school, but some students may want or need to complete some research at home on the Internet. Please ask you parents for help if you need it or show them what sites you have been checking out here at school. Research is going to be coming to a close at the end of the week!

Students have math homework tonight, a Spanish packet they received yesterday and is due tomorrow, and of course, reading and filling out their reading logs. Spelling words also went home today in assignment notebooks. It's a fairly easy week for spelling words, but they still need to be studied at home!

Orchestra students were able to pick out new music today and new groups. Tell your parents what new songs you'll be playing and also who is now in your group.

Have a great night and stay warm! Mrs. Hedstrom :)

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Today we went to world language and gym. We had math and we played a math game called wrestle with math. It was SO fun! Then Language Arts. We made a file on the animals we are researching!

The girls got a great start on the blog, but didn't have enough time to finish. They are learning about Simple Machines in Science class with Mrs. Anderson. Later on in the day they worked on completing their spelling sentences.

Mrs. Hedstrom :)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Good luck to all of you in orchestra! I'm sure it will be a fantastic concert and all of your effort will have paid off.

Students in Miss Killerlain's class have math homework and most other students in other math classes have homework as well. I apologize for not handing out the reading logs, but all students should still be reading tonight; try to fit it in either before or after the concert!

Today in Language Arts students practiced their new comprehension strategy of Determining Importance with the book Snowflake Bentley. We decided what to mark as VIP's (very important points) and then gave reasons to our thoughts. Students then practiced checking out books for our research project and brainstormed ideas for narrowing down our research. We will continue the slow beginnings of our research again tomorrow.

We did not have any science today due to most students being absent for the orchestra rehearsal. Spelling continued today so please show your parents your spelling words in your assignment notebook (the test will be this Friday).

Get ready to move desks tomorrow!
Mrs. Hedstrom :)

January 5, 2009

Welcome back after a long Winter Break! I hope everyone enjoyed the vacation and are ready to come back to school. Today students had PE/WL for a special and library at the end of the day. During library time Mr. Lee went over the process of a Bibliography page. Students will be expected to fill out their Bibliography page in the correct MLA format during our research project this month. Speaking of research project, tell your parents what you picked for your Wisconsin animal. All students picked out an animal today and we will begin conducting our research in the next few days. Most research, note taking, and writing will be done here in school. However, some students may need to complete some work at home if they fall behind.

Please tell your parents what you did in math and science today. Only one week left of science with Mrs. Anderson and then it's off to Animal Adaptations with Miss Killerlain.

Happy Monday! Mrs. Hedstrom