Practicing Math Facts

I have been pleased to see some students are going on to xtramath.org to practice their math facts regularly.  I have noticed these students seem to be moving through the mad minutes and using this math fact practice daily in class and for their homework.  I know some students don't like to practice their math facts, but it is a very important skill for them to have mastered.  During our recent fraction unit students who knew their facts well were able to focus on the new skills rather than figuring out what the math facts were when solving these more complex problems.

I wanted to remind students and parents that I would like them to go on to xtramath.org at least two afternoons a week and one day over the weekend.

Thanks for your help with the math facts!

Homework for Week of April 1-5

*Students should be going on xtramath.org at least two afternoons during the week and one day over the weekend.

Monday:
Math- Study Link 8-3
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Friday
Electricity Quiz Tuesday (review sheet should be in binder)

Tuesday:
Math- Study Link 8-4
Read for 15 minutes
Vocabulary Sheet - Quiz Friday

Wednesday:
Math-Study Link 8-5
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Friday

Thursday:
Math- Study Link 8-6
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz tomorrow

Friday:
Math- go on xtramath once
           ixl.com is optional
Read for 30 minutes

Lowell Mills

Wow, we had an awesome day today at the Lowell Mills.  The students learned so much about how the mills were powered by turbines and how important the Merrimack River was to the factories.  I was impressed with their great questions and behavior today.  Here are some pictures of our day:

We road a trolley to our first mill.

We were able to see the canals which were dug by hand. 

 Here are some pictures of the huge turbines.

We saw how quick the looms could weave a piece of cloth.  The students were surprised how loud one loom could be.  The next picture is another room which had 10 looms working.  We could not even hear the person standing right next to us.  Students were able to see how quick the shuttles moved back and forth and have a better understanding of how dangerous it would have been to work in the textile mills.  

After lunch students were broken into groups and were given the role of being a scientist or an engineer.  Some students built a canal system and other students tested water wheels to see which style would move the quickest.  

Thank you to all of our great chaperones today!!!

Homework for March 26-29

Sorry for the late update on homework this week.

*Students should be going on xtramath.org at least two afternoons during the week and one day over the weekend.

Tuesday:
Math- Review sheet for Chapter 7 - Due Thursday
Read for 15 minutes
Vocabulary Sheet - due Thursday
BE AT SCHOOL AT 8:00 WEDNESDAY FOR OUR FIELD TRIP

Wednesday:
Finish anything from last night

Thursday:
Math- Review Sheet #2
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary -  Quiz tomorrow

Friday:
Math- Go on xtramath.org
Read for 30 minutes

Homework for March 18-22

*Students should be going on xtramath.org at least two afternoons during the week and one day over the weekend.

Monday:
Math- Study Link 7-10
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Review Week Quiz Friday

Tuesday:
Math- Study Link 7-11
Read for 15 minutes
Vocabulary Sheet - Quiz Friday

Wednesday:
Math-Study Link 7-12
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Friday

Thursday:
Math- Study Link 7-12a
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Review Quiz tomorrow

Friday:
Math- Go on xtramath.org
Read for 30 minutes

St. Jude's Math-a-thon

I want to thank everyone who helped their child participate in the math-a-thon for St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.

The kids were so excited this morning to see in our morning message that the fourth graders had raised over $3000.  Well I stayed after school tonight to add in more money which came in today and I am pleased to announce that we have raised $3996.85!!!!!!  I know this money will help so many families.

Thank you for all your continued support!

More Pictures of our Concord Field Trip

Here are some pictures of the second group for our Concord field trip.  Thank you to Mrs. VanderWoude for taking pictures of the group.
                                     

Supreme Court Law Library

 

State House -  See the golden dome and eagle on the top

House of Representatives 

 

Senate

 The room where the Senate now meets used to be used for the Supreme Court.  

Thanks for a great day with lots of learning about our state government!

Onomatopoeia Video

We are reading poetry in class and have been talking about how poets choose their words wisely.  This short video is on onomatopoeia.

Homework for Week of March 11-15

*Students should be going on xtramath.org at least two afternoons during the week and one day over the weekend.

*If you want to dress like your favorite book character you can on Tuesday for Read Across America Day.

*St. Jude's Math-a-Thon sponsor envelopes are due Wednesday.

* Remember NO SCHOOL FRIDAY  for students.

Monday:
Math- Study Link 7-7
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Thursday
Study for Government Quiz - Thursday

Tuesday:
Math- Study Link 7-8
Read for 15 minutes
Vocabulary Sheet - Quiz Thursday
Study for Government Quiz - Thursday

Wednesday:
Math-Study Link 7-9
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Thursday
Study for Government Quiz - Thursday

Thursday:
Math- Study Link 7-10
Read for 30 minutes

Friday:
No School - Teacher Day

Concord Field Trip

We had a great day on Friday visiting the State House and the Supreme Court in Concord.  The kids did a great job asking questions and learning about our state government.  Did you know New Hampshire has the oldest State House still in operation in the whole United States?  We also have the largest House of Representatives in the whole United States.

Our class was split in half, so I will update when I get pictures from the other half.

We saw moon rocks and a NH flag which was brought back from the moon by Neil Armstrong.

We went to the House of Representative sand sat in the representatives chairs. 

Then we learned about how they vote and were very surprised to hear the representatives only get $100 a year for doing their job.

Next, we moved onto the Senate and saw how this room works.  

The Supreme Court was very interesting too.  

Unfortunately, Governor Hassan was visiting President Obama on Friday, so we were unable to meet her.  We did get to meet Associate Justice James Bassett at the Supreme Court.  He explained his background and how he became Justice #5 at the Supreme Court last July.  

Thank you to all of my great parent chaperones which helped make this day such a success.  

Homework for Week of March 4-8

*Students should be going on xtramath.org at least two afternoons during the week and one day over the weekend.

Monday:
Math- Study Link 7-5
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Friday

Tuesday:
Math- Study Link 7-6
Read for 15 minutes
Vocabulary Sheet - Quiz Friday

Wednesday:
Math-Study Link 7-7
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Friday

Thursday:
Math- Study Link 7-8
Read for 15 minutes
Study Vocabulary - Quiz Friday

Friday:
Math- Choose one day to go on xtramath.org
ixl.com (optional)
Look over NH Government Review sheet - quiz next Wednesday
Read for 30 minutes

Iditarod Beginning

I hope you are all enjoying your last couple of days of vacation!  

On the Thursday before vacation each student chose a musher who is competing in the Iditarod Dog Sled Race across Alaska.  Each year my class learns about the Iditarod as we read the book Black Star, Bright Dawn.  We will be starting to read the book on Monday.  The students will be tracking their musher and doing activities related to the race.  The race actually starts on March 2nd, so I wanted to list the mushers each of the students have chosen in case they want to check how they are doing before Monday on www.iditarod.com .  We will check our mushers to see who wins for our class in about a week.  

Student #                 Musher Chosen

1                               Jeff King

2                               Gerry Willomitzer

3                               Ken Anderson

4                               Scott Jenssen

5                               David Sawatzky

6                               Allen Moore

7                               Kristy Berrington

8                               Kelley Griffin

9                               Anna Berrington

10                             Travis Beals

11                             Matt Giblin

12                             Karen Henderickson

13                             Richie Diehl

14                             Dallas Seavey

15                             Newton Marshall

16                             Dee Dee Jonrowe

17                             Matt Failor

18                             Jessica Henrik

19  needs to choose on Monday

20                             James Volek