Important Dates:5/14 & 5/15 STAAR Tests 5/17 Reunion Ranch field trip 5/18 May Madness 5/25 Half Day End of School |
May 7-11 In math this week students will be reviewing and preparing for the upcoming math STAAR test taking place on May 14th. We will be reviewing all skills covered this year as well as important test taking strategies. In science, students will continue learning about life cycles, plant and animal adaptations, inherited traits, and learned behaviors. This week we are specifically focused on inherited traits, learned behaviors, and how they impact an organisms ability to survive. Please note there is a science test this Friday, May 11th. Also, both math and science extra credit assignments are due this Friday, May 11th and no late assignments will be accepted. May 1-4 May Madness is taking place this Friday from 12:25 - 2:45. May Madness is BPE's annual field day where students work with their classmates in a variety of individual and team challenges. It is one of the best days of the year and I can't wait to spend the afternoon cheering everyone on! If you are interested in volunteering that afternoon, you can still sign up on the Booster Club's website. In math this week students will be reviewing and preparing for the upcoming math STAAR test taking place on May 14th. We will be reviewing all skills covered this year as well as important test taking strategies. In science, students will continue learning about life cycles, plant and animal adaptations, inherited traits, and learned behaviors. This week we are specifically focused on inherited traits, learned behaviors, and how they impact an organisms ability to survive. April 23-27 Please note that payment for Reunion Ranch is now available on Skyward and was due Monday, April 9th. Payment may still be made if needed. Reunion Ranch is our final field trip and annual end of year celebration. Students are able to play, run, and climb to their hearts content at this beautiful outdoor facility. Tuesday is an early release day, meaning lunch will be earlier than normal and dismissal is at 12:55. In math this week, students will finish topic 16, which focuses on personal financial literacy. Students will learn about spending, saving, & sharing, various ways to save, fixed vs variable expenses, and banks & other financial institutions. They will take their test over this unit on Wednesday, April 25th. A study guide went home last week (click here for another copy) and the test review will go home Monday night. In science this week, students will continue learning about life cycles, plant and animal adaptations, inherited traits, and learned behaviors. This week we are specifically focused on animal and plant adaptations. Students will learn about special animal adaptations; such as camouflage, how a bird's beak and feet are adapted for their diets and environments, and how plant leaves and roots are adapted for their environment. April 16-20 Please note that payment for Reunion Ranch is now available on Skyward and was due last Monday, April 9th. Reunion Ranch is our final field trip and annual end of year celebration. Students are able to play, run, and climb to their hearts content at this beautiful outdoor facility. On Tuesday, April 17th, there will be a parent math meeting for anyone interested learning more about next year's various choices and what that means for students next year and beyond. Also, on Tuesday, students will enjoy a special shadow puppet presentation from a local performer. We have our field trip to the Alamo and ITC on Wednesday morning. We are leaving promptly at 7:30 and will return at 3:30. Please communicate all transportation methods via SMARTttag so I know how your child will be picked up when we return from the field trip on Wednesday. In math this week, students will being topic 16, which focuses on personal financial literacy. Students will learn about spending, saving, & sharing, various ways to save, fixed vs variable expenses, and banks & other financial institutions. In science this week, students will begin a new unit learning about life cycles, plant and animal adaptations, inherited traits, and learned behaviors. This week we are specifically focused on life cycles and the similarities and differences between various animals and plants. Students will learn about butterfly life cycles, mealworm life cycles, and compare life cycles between both plants and animals. April 9-13 Please note that payment for Reunion Ranch is now available on Skyward and is due by this Monday, April 9th. Reunion Ranch is our final field trip and annual end of year celebration. Students are able to play, run, and climb to their hearts content at this beautiful outdoor facility. In math this week, students will wrap up topic 15, which focuses on data analysis. Students will learn how to collect , record and analyze data using frequency tables, dot plots, and stem & leaf plots. A test over this topic will occur on Friday, April 13th. You can click here for an additional copy of the study guide. In science this week, students will be applying what they have learned about organisms and the environment. During this unit, students have specifically focused on how producers make their own food, how producers & consumers are dependent on each other for their food, and how energy flows through a food chain & food web. Students are working in small groups to create a mobile museum exhibit about an ecosystem they have researched. This project will be done primarily in class, but materials may need to be brought in to help create the exhibit. There will also be a test over this topic on Thurs, April 12th, click here for the study guide. The vocabulary for this unit can be found here . April 2-6 This Friday is BPE's annual Bobcat Fest from 5 pm - 8 pm. Golden tickets will be drawn during morning assembly on Friday! Reunion Ranch is our final field trip and annual end of year celebration. We will go on May 17. The kids are able to play, run, and climb to their hearts content at this beautiful outdoor facility. Please note that payment for this field trip is due by April 9th on Skyward. In math this week, students will begin topic 15, which focuses on data analysis. Students will learn how to collect , record and analyze data using frequency tables, dot plots, and stem & leaf plots. A test over this topic will occur on Friday, April 13th. Keep an eye out for the study guide later this week. In science this week, students will be applying what they have learned about organisms and the environment. During this unit, students have specifically focused on how producers make their own food, how producers and consumers are dependent on each other for their food, and how energy flows through a food chain and food web. Students are working in small groups to create a mobile museum exhibit about an ecosystem they have researched. This project will be done solely in class, but materials may need to be brought in to help create the exhibit. There will also be a test over this topic on April 12th, click here for the study guide. The vocabulary for this unit can be found here or under the "Lessons & Homework" tab. March 26-30 Tuesday, March 27th is an early release day with the dismissal bell ringing at 12:45. Lunch will be served just at a little earlier time than the norm. On Thursday, March 29th we will take class pictures. Finally, this Friday, March 30th is a school holiday. In math this week, students will wrap up topic 13, which reviews numerous skills, including: elapsed time, perimeter, area, dealing with money, and measurement. Please note that there is a math test over topic 13 this Thursday, March 29th. A study guide was sent home last week, but you can download another copy by clicking here. In science this week, students will be continuing to learn about organisms and the environment. During this unit, students will be specifically focused on how producers make their own food, how producers & consumers are dependent on each other for their food, and how energy flows through a food chain & food web. The vocabulary for this unit can be found here or under the "Science Overview" tab. March 19-23 In math this week, students will begin topic 13, which reviews numerous skills, including: elapsed time, perimeter, area, dealing with money, and measurement. Please note math homework will start back up on Monday, 3/19. Also, there will be a quiz this Friday (3/23) over the material learned Monday - Thursday. In science this week, students will be starting a new unit on organisms and the environment. During this unit, students will be specifically focused on how producers make their own food, how producers & consumers are dependent on each other for their food, and how energy flows through a food chain & food web. The vocabulary for this unit can be found here March 5-9 Our class will have Kite Day on March 8th during students' PE time (8:55 - 9:45.) Once again, the Booster Club has generously provided a kite for every student. Thank you Booster Club! This is always a fun event, so come fly a kite Thursday morning with your child! In math this week, students will wrap up topic 12 with their test on Monday. The rest of the week, the kids will do an enrichment project about measurement. Please note there will be no math homework assigned this week. In science this week, students will continue learning about the properties of soil and natural resources. Students will explore various types of soil to notice the difference in texture, color, ability to retain water, and ability to support plant growth. They will also learn why soil is considered a natural resource and the importance of using soil wisely. Finally, students will review the difference between a renewable and nonrenewable resource as well as the importance of conservation. Please note there will be no science homework assigned this week. Feb 26-March 3 Tuesday, Feb 27 is an Early Release Day and a no Homework Night! In math this week, students will be continuing our new unit on measurement. Thus far, students have learned about the different units of measurement associated with length, capacity, weight, and mass. They will also learn to calculate elapsed time. The test over this Topic 12 will be on Monday, March 5. A study guide will go home this Monday. A copy can be found here. In science this week, students will begin a new unit on Soil and Natural Resources. Feb 19-23 On Wednesday the 4th graders will participate in the Typewriter Rodeo. This is a poetry event organized by our amazing librarian. This Friday is Open House from 7:30 - 8:45. Come check out our beautiful school, discover all the hard work your children have been doing, and sign up for a Westbank library card as well. In math this week, students will be continuing our new unit on measurement. On Friday we began our discussion on the metric vs customary system. This week we will continue to learn about the different units of measurement associated with length, capacity, weight, and mass. Students will also learn how to compare and convert these units as well. In science this week, students will continue to learn about how the Earth changes slowly over time through the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition. They will discover how wind, water, ice, animals, plants, and people can impact the landscape around them. Please note, that there is a test over this unit this Friday, the 23rd. A copy of the study guide can be found here. Feb 12-16 In class this week, students have three tests (science, math, and spelling) spanning Tuesday - Friday. Students have all of these important dates marked on their February calendar as well. Wednesday, February 14th is Valentine's day and our class party will be from 2:00 - 2:30. Thank you to the parent volunteers who are helping make the party special! Also on Thursday from 5:00 - 8:00 pm is BPE's annual Family Bingo night. You can check BPE's main page for more details. In math this week, students will be finishing their study on fractions. This week students will use benchmark fractions to help estimate sums and differences, as well as analyzing relationships to help solve problems. Students will take a test over all of topic 11 on Thursday. A study guide went home last week, but you can click here for additional copy. In science this week, students will finish learning about the water cycle and changing weather. Students will take the test over this unit on Tuesday, February 13th. A study guide went home last week, but you can find an additional copy here. In our next unit, students will learn about the Earth changes slowly over time through the process of weathering, erosion, and deposition. Feb 5-9 There are several exciting events happening this week for fourth graders. First, on Tuesday, February 6th we will be visited by a local weatherman to talk to the students about what it is like to be a meteorologist. Then, on Wednesday, February 7th, students will be participating in a Typewriter Rodeo. Check out this video to learn more about what a Typewriter Rodeo is; click here. In math this week, students will be learning more about fractions. This week students will learn how to add and subtract fractions with like denominators, decompose fractions, and use a number to help add or subtract fractions. In science this week, students will continue learning about the water cycle and changing weather. Students will specifically learn about weather maps, weather symbols, and what tools meteorologist use to help gather the data to put on weather maps. Please see the science overview tab for links to vocabulary, videos, and learning targets. Jan 29-Feb 2 In math this week, students will be finishing up our introductory unit learning about fractions. This week they will learn about how to compare fractions with unlike denominators and use reasoning to problem solve. Please note that a test for the unit is scheduled for this Thursday, February 2nd. A study guide for the test was sent home last week and another copy can be found on the homework tab. In science this week, students will begin a new unit learning about the water cycle and changing weather. Students will specifically learn about the main stages of the water cycle and what causes the water cycle. Then, students will begin learning about weather maps, weather symbols, and what tools meteorologist use to help gather the data to put on weather maps. Please see the science overview tab for links to vocabulary, videos, and learning targets. Jan 22-26 In math this week, students will begin Topic 10 which is an introduction to fractions. As this is one of the more challenging concepts in 4th grade math, we will study fractions for several weeks. In science this week, students will continue to focus on understanding the relationship between the Earth, moon, and sun. Students will discover more predictable patterns caused from this relationship: the seasons, phases of the moon, and the tides. The unit test is scheduled for Thursday, January 25 and a study guide was sent home last week. Copies of this guide and other resources are available under my "Lessons and Homework" tab. Jan 16-19 In math this week, students will continue to learn about input and output tables, finding the pattern, and writing the rule. The test for this unit is scheduled for this Friday, January 19th. Study guides were passed out last Friday, but if you need another copy click here. Previous topic homework pages and notes taken in math journals are great resources to review for the test. In science this week, students will continue to focus on understanding the relationship between the Earth, moon, and sun. Students will discover more predictable patterns caused from this relationship: the seasons, phases of the moon, and the tides. The unit test is scheduled for Thursday, January 25th and a study guide is going home this week. Jan 9-12 In math this week, we will begin a two week unit on basic algebra. We will focus on understanding equalities and solving equations to find a missing variable. In science this week, we will focus on understanding the relationship between the Earth, moon, and sun. Students will about how shadows are formed and how they change during the day and across the year. Also, we will review what causes day/night and the seasons. Dec 18-22 We have quite a line up of fun activities scheduled for this week to wrap up the fall semester. On Tuesday morning, a local weather reporter will be visiting us to talk to the students all about weather forecasting and what it is like to be a meteorologist. Thursday afternoon students will be listening to the African Children's Choir perform in the cafeteria from 1:45 - 2:15. Finally, on Friday morning students will be celebrating the end of the semester with our winter party. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers helping to bring in all the food and supplies needed for that morning! What a busy and fun week ahead! In math, this week we will be reviewing all of our skills with fun winter math activities. In science, we will finish our fifth unit learning about heat, thermal energy, and electricity with a test on Monday. Dec 11-15 We are traveling to the Alamo in April! Payment must be made through Skyward for this field trip and is due by Friday, December 22. In math, we will be continuing our discussion of long division these last two weeks before winter break. This week students will continue practicing the steps of long division and solving problems with remainders. Specifically, students will focus on how to draw a strip diagram, write an equation, and checking answers for reasonableness. The test over this unit has been bumped one day due to last Friday's snow day and is now this Friday, the 15th. A study guide went home last week. In science, we will finish our fifth unit learning about heat, thermal energy, and electricity. This week students will learn about how to make working electrical circuits, classifying items as conductors or insulators, and how to make an electromagnet. A test for this unit has also been bumped one day due to last week's snow day, and is now scheduled for Monday, December 18th. A study guide will be going home Monday, and another copy can be found here. Dec 4-8 In math, we will be diving into the topic of long division for the next few weeks. This week students will continue practicing the steps of long division and solving problems with remainders. Specifically spending time on dividing numbers with zero in the quotient and four digits by one digit. We will also be learning about how to check our work using inverse operations and estimation. Please check the "lessons and homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will continue our fifth unit learning about heat, thermal energy, and electricity. This week students will learn about how heat travels (radiation, conduction, and convection) and review thermal conductors and insulators. We are also beginning to learn about electricity and making our own electrical circuits. Finally, remember to check the "lessons and homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Nov 27-Dec 1 In math, we will be diving into the topic of long division for the next few weeks. This week students will learn all about the steps of long division and solving problems with remainders. Please check the "lessons and homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will begin our fourth unit learning about light and sound energy. This week students will begin their discovery into light energy, focusing on what is light and how light interacts with objects. Important vocabulary terms this week include: transparent, translucent, opaque, reflection, and refraction. Please check the "lessons and homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Nov 13-17 In math, we will continue our focus on multiplication, multiplication and more multiplication! This week students will learn how to multiply two digits by two digits. We will begin the week focusing on estimating to check answers for reasonableness, then practice the traditional method for a couple of days, before wrapping up the week with arrays, partial products, and equation writing. Please check the "lessons and homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will begin our fourth unit learning about light and sound energy. This week students will begin their discovery into light energy, focusing on what is light and how light interacts with objects. Important vocabulary terms this week include: transparent, translucent, opaque, reflection, and refraction. Please check the "lessons and homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Nov 6-10 In math, we will cover Topic 4, which is an extension of multi-digit multiplication. Students should continue to practice their multiplication facts for five to ten minutes each night to build fluency. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will continue our third unit which is about force and motion. The test over this unit is on Wed, Nov 8. The "Balloon Racer" project is due on Fri, Nov 10. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Oct 30-Nov 3 In math, we will conclude Topic 3, which is an introduction to single digit and multi-digit multiplication. The test will be on Friday, Nov 3. Students should continue to practice their multiplication facts for five to ten minutes each night to build fluency. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will continue our third unit which is about force and motion. Students should spend time working on the "Balloon Racer" project at home. It is due on Fri, Nov 10. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Oct 23-27 In math, we will continue Topic 3, which is an introduction to multi-digit multiplication. Students should practice their multiplication facts for five to ten minutes each night to build fluency. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will continue our third unit which is about force and motion. This week students will learn about what a force is and review some familiar forces like gravity and friction. Students will work together in a lab where they will learn about how force, gravity, and friction can impact the movement of a toy car. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Oct 16-20 On Tuesday, October 17th, we are going on first field trip of the year! We are visiting the Bob Bullock Museum. Thank you to all the parents that offered to chaperone this trip, we have many others planned so keep an eye out for those opportunities! We will leave BPE around 9:00 am and return around 2:00 pm. Students will be having a picnic lunch on that day, so please pack a sack lunch. In our morning meetings this week, our social-emotional topic will be learning to be assertive. Students will watch videos, discuss the topic, and complete activities in class. Keep an eye out for the activity and home link page as a way to continue the conversation. In math, we will begin topic three, which is an introduction to multi-digit multiplication. Students should practice their multiplication facts for five to ten minutes each night to build fluency. This week students will learn about the properties of multiplication, multiplying by 10 & 100, and multiplying by multiples of ten & 100. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will begin our third unit which is about force and motion. This week students will learn about what a force is and review some familiar forces like gravity and friction. Students will work together in a lab where they will learn about how force, gravity, and friction can impact the movement of a toy car. Please check "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. Oct 10-13 I hope you all enjoyed this long weekend! I wanted to let you know that we are finishing units this week in both science and math, and so there will be a test in each on Friday. The science test will cover the lessons we have had on Matter (physical properties, states of matter, mixtures, solutions, and physical and chemical changes). It will be comprised of multiple choice questions, matching, and short answer. Study guides and vocabulary lists went home on Friday, but you can find additional copies on my website under the "lessons and homework” tab. The math test will cover Topic 2 (addition and subtraction of whole numbers and decimals.) It will be comprised of multiple choice and open response questions, for which students will have to provide the answer. The study guide went home Friday, but you can find additional copies and review opportunities on my website under the "lessons and homework" tab. Students have been working hard learning about all of these concepts and I know they will do well on their tests this upcoming week. If you have any questions please let me know! October 2-6 In math, we will continue our third unit (topic 2 in Pearson) that reviews and builds upon students' knowledge of addition and subtractions. We are learning about adding and subtracting across zeros, finding missing adjacent angles; we well as the importance of lining up decimal places when adding or subtracting decimals. Please check the "math overview" tab under the "math/science homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will continue our second unit, which focuses on the physical properties of matter. Students this week will learn the differences between mixtures and solutions. Also, students will learn about how matter can change: either a physical change (such as melting, freezing, or being cut) or a chemical change (such as rusting or when cooking.) Students will continue working on note taking, observing, classifying, collaboration, and problem solving. Please check the "science overview" tab under the "math/science homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. September 25-29 In math, we will wrap up our second unit of the year, which focuses on place value for whole numbers and decimals, different ways to write numbers (expanded form, standard notation, and word form,) and rounding. Students will review for their test on Monday and take the unit two test on Tuesday. A study guide was sent home last week and a review with practice problems will be sent home on Monday. Please check the "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit. In science, we will continue our second unit, which focuses on the physical properties of matter. Students this week will learn about two more physical properties: density and magnetism. Also, students will learn about how matter can change: either a physical change (such as melting, freezing, or being cut) or a chemical change (such as rusting or when cooking.) Students will continue working on note taking, observing, classifying, collaboration, and problem solving. Please check the "Lessons and Homework" tab for additional information regarding this unit. September 18-22 I hope everyone had a nice weekend and is ready to continue the exciting learning we started last week! In math this week, we will continue our study of decimals. This is a new concept for many 4th graders. Our pacing will depend on the kids mastery of these important lessons. In science, we will continue our unit on matter with a fun lab involving measure mass and volume of unusual objects. September 11-15 In math, we will begin our second unit of the year, which focuses on place value for whole numbers and decimals, different ways to write numbers (expanded form, standard notation, and word form,) and rounding. This week in particular, we are focused on: writing numbers through one billion, comparing and ordering whole numbers, rounding whole numbers, using money to understand decimals, and decimal place value. Please check the "Lessons and Homework" tab above for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. In science, we will begin our second unit, which focuses on the physical properties of matter. Students this week will learn what is and is NOT matter, some of the properties of matter (states, mass, & volume,) and learn how to find the mass and volume of different types of objects. Students will continue working on note taking, observing, classifying, collaboration, and problem solving. Please check the "Lessons and Homework" tab above for additional information regarding this unit, including learning targets and vocabulary lists. September 1-8 We are off and running in Math and Science! In Math, we are well into our first unit of study: Geometry. Students have learned many new vocabulary terms including point, line segment, ray, parallel, perpendicular, angle, acute, obtuse, right, equilateral, isosceles, scalene. You can access more vocabulary on the "lessons and homework" tab on this page. Students also used protractors to measure angles, which was a first for many of them. In Science, we began with hands-on experiences to learn about safety and procedures. The kids loved the "Paper Chain Challenge" and the "Water Drops on a Coin" experiment. They also rotated as teams through eight different lab stations where they were able to experience actual lab tools. Welcome to 4th grade Math and Science! It's going to be a great year! I look forward to seeing many of you at Bobcat Welcome on Friday, August 18 at 8:00-10:00. If you ordered school supplies, they will be delivered to our classroom. If you did not yet buy them, a limited number of sets are available through the office. Otherwise, please purchase them on your own and bring them to our classroom at Bobcat Welcome. Enjoy these last days of summer! I'll see you very soon. Please feel free to email me any questions: [email protected] -Mrs. Smith a |
Mrs. Smith’s Homeroom Schedule 2017-18
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