Summit Hill School District 161

Indian Trail School

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Ms. Wassell - Gr. 4 (Send e-mail)

Newsletter Week of December 1, 2008

Reading
Students will be reading ''Stealing Home'' by Mary Stolz. In this story, a young boy becomes upset and angry when a relative moves in with him and his grandfather, leading to the boy’s loss of his room, less attention from his cat, and changes in the household routines. His grandfather helps him lean to adapt.

Vocabulary
1) pastimes 2) tutor 3) impose 4) glumly 5) irritably 6) disposition 7) bicker 8) grudge

Spelling
1) shelves 2) sheep 3) teeth 4) elves 5) mice 6) calves 7) spacecraft 8) jeans 9) feet 10) women 11) men 12) geese 13) salmon 14) series 15) scissors 16) halves 17) oxen 18) crises 19) knives 20) thieves

Bonus
1) acceptance 2) cooperation 3) endure 4) allowances 5) sympathy

English
Students will continue to review verbs as we practice correctly spelling past and future tenses of verbs. In addition, students will continue to practice their writing skills. We will begin working on our young authors after we return from the long weekend. Please help your child brainstorm and come up with possible topics or plots to create their stories.

Math
We are finishing up chapter 7. We have spent a few extra days reviewing multiplying by 2 digit numbers. The best way to help your child with this skill is to have him/her do additional practice at home. Have him/her explain the steps to you as they go through the problems out loud. This helps children form good habits of not skipping or mixing up numbers. The test is tentatively scheduled for next Thursday.

Science
Students will begin a chapter on the physical properties of matter. Ask your child to define matter for you and to describe some of the things he or she has learned about matter. Talk about ways you measure matter every day, for example when cooking, when weighing a package to send in the mail, and when reading the temperature of the outside air.

Social Studies
Students will be focusing on the government and the way it affects our lives. We will discuss the three branches of government and what their roles and responsibilities are. In addition, we will discuss how the three branches work together and why checks and balances are important. We will be finishing up the chapter and the test is scheduled for the following week.

Messages
I have sent home three different scholastic book order forms with students. These book orders include many levels of books from K through 8, along with interactive games for your computer and other game systems. I am going to keep the book orders open for a full two weeks in case you would like to order anything as holiday gifts. Books can be a great stocking stuffer and scholastic tends to have less expensive prices on the same items you can find in the store. If you would like to have the items you purchase sent home in a sealed, brown bag, I would be happy to do so. Please just attach a note when you submit your order. All orders will be due December 12th to ensure everything arrives before break.

This week in class

Monday
Homework

*Reading: Reading log - 15 minutes, reflection, "gist." Finish vocabulary.

*Spelling: WB Pgs. 47 & 48. Test Thurs.

*Math: Practice WB Pg. 47. Test Thursday.

*Messages: Book Orders due Dec. 12th.

Tuesday
Homework

*Reading: WB Pg. 52.

*English: Worksheet.

*Spelling: WB Pg. 49. Test Thursday.

*Math: Test Thursday.

*Science: Worksheet.

*Messages: Book orders due next Friday. Santa's Workshop tomorrow.

Wednesday
Homework

*Spelling: 5 times each. Test tomorrow.

*Math: Worksheet. Test tomorrow.

*Social Studies: Study Guide.

*Messages: Book orders due next Friday.

Thursday
Homework

*Reading: WB Pg. 53. Reading Log - 15 minutes, reflection, ''gist''

*Spelling: Pre-test Monday.

*Science: Worksheet.

*Social Studies: Chapter 2 Test next Thursday.

*Messages: Book orders due next Friday.

Downloads List

Book Club Response Suggestions [9/5/2008]
NWEA Parent Toolkit [11/8/2007]
Reading Log [8/31/2007]

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