Ms. Tovey's Blog

English
I was unable to cover as much material as I had hoped to last week. So this week I will introduce the children to imperative and exclamatory sentences. I also hope to begin the section on complete subjects and complete predicates. If all goes as planned we will cover pages 6 - 9 this week.
The terminology for the four types of sentences is quite difficult for some fourth graders. If you get a free moment, can you please review the words: declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and imperative with your child.
Writing
There will not be a formal writing assignment this week. Instead the children will be creating a comic strip that tells a short story and uses one of each of the four types of sentences.
The Summer Fun papers will not be passed back this week; instead they will be hung for open house. Overall, the papers were very good.

Science
On Tuesday, we will finish up with bar graphs. The rest of the week will be spent on line graphs. The test on graphing will be sometime next week. Each child has one page of notes in their notebook on graphing. These will be on the test. Each child will also have to make one bar and one line graph for the test. The most common mistake made on the test is that the children forget to label the x and y axis. Again, if you get a free moment, please review the notes and how to make a graph correctly with your child.

English
This week I will cover pages 10 - 13 in the book. I will wrap up the chapter next week. The English Test is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 24th.

Writing
The children will use Monday to finish up their comics and on Tuesday I will introduce the next writing assignment. This assignment is based on The Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians. Last Thursday, Father Bob gave an excellent homily based on this reading. The kids will now use what they learned from him and what we discuss as a class to write a seven paragraph paper that shows their interpretation of the reading.
Science
The science test is scheduled for Friday, September 18th. It is a two part test. The first part comes directly from your child's science notebook and the second part requires the children to make one bar graph and one line graph. The most common mistake made in the past on part two is that the kids forget to label the x and y axis. I have gone over how important this is many times, but one more reminder form you cannot hurt.

English
My original plan was to wrap up the chapter on Tuesday and test on Thursday. However, this is not going to happen, so the test will be next Tuesday. We will finish up the chapter this week, and review on Monday for the test. A review sheet should come home with each child on Monday to help him/her study for the test.
Writing
The children will continue to work on their papers pertaining to St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians. The papers are excellent so far. If you get a chance, please ask your child to read his/her rough draft to date. The final copy of this paper will be due on Friday, September 25th.
Science
On Monday, I have one more graphing lesson prepared. This lesson is on double bar graphs. the children will not be tested on this topic, but they will complete a fun activity that has to do with M&M's and making a double bar graph.
On Tuesday, I will begin The Animal Kingdom. For this unit we will not be using the science book. Each child will be given a booklet on the topic. These booklets may go home for you to look at, but I ask that they come back the next day for we will be using them in class. The only thing your son/daughter will need to study for the test is the notes from their notebook. Please remind your child how important it is to put all the notes from the board into their notebook.

English
The English test on Chapter 1 will be on Wednesday due to the Social Studies and Math tests that will be given this week. On Tuesday a review sheet should come home with each child. The test will be very similar to the review.
On Thursday we will begin Chapter 3: Nouns.

Writing
The St. Paul paper was due today, Monday. These papers were very good, so please be sure to ask your child to read his/hers when I am finished grading them.
The week will be spent working on idioms and writing good topic sentences.

Science
The children will continue their study of the animal kingdom this week. We will cover invertebrates, warm and cold- blooded animal, and I hope to begin the section of fish. If you would like to see the booklet that we will be using for this unit your child may bring it home at any time. Please make sure it comes back to school because we will use it daily.
The children will once again be taking notes for this unit. The notes are what each child will use to study for the test. Please check your child's notebook regularly to make sure he/she is keeping up with the notes and review periodically any notes in the notebook with your child.