We are working hard to fix old habits and brush up on previously learned cursive strokes. I have reminded the students we begin cursive full time on Monday.

Literature Circles

We are now starting, this week, literature circles in class. This will be a time when students will sit down with other students to discuss what they have read and share assignments. Each student will have a calendar with page numbers, meeting dates, and assignments he or she needs to complete. This is something most students in the classroom will participate in, but not all. One group chose their book today with the other groups to follow. They will need to stay on top of their reading in order to participate. Please ask your child questions about literature circles when he or she receives his or her notebook and calendar.

Field Trip Canceled

Our field trip has been canceled for our room. We are very disappointed that this didn't work out for us, but we get to start something new and exciting in its place. Project SEED has been scheduled to start in our room the same day as the field trip. So after all the mix-up with buses and such, we will be refunding any student who has already paid. Look for that money to be with your child today.

A+ Spellers

Anna Mc.
Maytal
Elisabeth
Christian M.
Amaya
Alex
Terry
Zach

Congratulations to these students!!!

Tuesday will be our Chapter 2 math test. It will have plenty of addition and subtraction along with some estimating. Monday will be a review day.

Each student should be working on his/her basic math facts. Keep working on those addition and subtraction facts.

Most of the class is working on a comic strip using five of this week's vocabulary words. Some of the students have been able to show their creative side.

New Look

As you noticed, our classroom website got a makeover. I needed to have it updated and more functional. I created a poll on the left side of the blog for parents or students to vote. The goal is to have every parent check this place out once a week. I do realize most people might not have time to use the Internet each day or even every other day, but it will definitely keep you informed on the classroom activities and notes to parents. I appreciate the feedback I have gotten both good and, what I like to call constructive, criticism. I am always trying to make this place better, so any input is GREATLY appreciated (I want to hear the need for improving it to make it better, as well).

Thank you,
Mr. Burgette

Progress Reports

Reports were sent home on Tuesday, September 21, for parents to see and return. Once I have seen them, I will send them home with the students to keep. Please feel free to send comments or questions. I have answered the questions from parents, so look for my comments to come home tomorrow.

Scholastic book orders have been placed, so parents can expect the books early next week.

A+ Spellers

Berenice
Carter
Anna Mo.
Tayten
Alex
Sam
Caleb
Elisabeth
Zuzu
Terry
Zach

Field Trip Update

The field trip to the Fork of the Wabash has been postponed due to bus issues. We will still make the trip it just might be a week or two later. Stay tuned.


If you have sent money in, we will keep it safe and consider your child already paid.

Math

As most of you know, we are beginning to work on addition and subtraction in the classroom. I would like to see students working on their simple facts (3+4=7, 4-3=1) at home for at least 5 minutes a night. This will help them with the bigger numbers we will be working to solve.

Cursive Practice

As a class we are practicing our cursive handwriting. I told the class that by October 4th, 2 weeks, everyone will be writing strictly in cursive for the rest of the school year. Parents, don't be alarmed, I have done this for the last 5 school years and the students always pick up on it and begin writing in cursive like it is second nature. Cursive writing is a 4th grade standard, so we teach them to master it this year.

Celebrate Success

Every three weeks we recognize 3 students for their excellence. This ceremony is called Celebrate Success. It is a time when students get to be recognized in front of their peers.

I have recognized the following students for an outstanding job this school year:

Amaya - She has done extremely well helping in the classroom and adapting to classroom procedures.

Christian M. - He has performed well and displayed a great attitude in class.

Zuzu - She is always on task with the rest of the class and is really a leader with her actions.

Scholastic book order forms went home today. If students would like to order a book their money and orders are due Friday, September 17th.

Read Aloud

Our new classroom read aloud has begun. Yesterday, we started reading "Holes". It is a great novel full of adventure and mischief. The first few chapters just build a little background information to the characters. The best is yet to come. Ask your child about the book to this point.

Field Trip

We have a field trip planned for the end of September. There will be a field trip permission form coming home with the students in the next couple days. Each student will need to bring in $4.00 for the field trip. We are taking a trip to the Forks of the Wabash to learn all about Indiana history and the building of the Wabash Canal. The students will get a chance to see things first hand that they will learn about later in the school year. More information will being coming home.

Parent Reports

Parent Reports went home today with each student. Parents should look for those to sign them and return to school. They are the child's responsibility to show you and bring the next day. If you ever have a question about grades on them, feel free to email or call.

Math Test

Yesterday we completed Unit 1 by taking our math test. I was very disappointed that some of the students didn't read all the directions to each question which caused them to miss a few. We did have one A+. Congratulations to Alex for a perfect score.

Classroom Read Aloud

We will be finishing our first book of the year as a class this week. The title of the book is "4th Grade Rats". It is very relevant to our fourth graders and they have enjoyed the ups and downs of Suds' life as a fourth grader. Ask your child to tell you about a few of the characters.

Game and Celebration

On Friday we played Jeopardy as part of the math review. Most of the students did very well and showed they are ready for the chapter 1 test. We will review for a few minutes and then take our test. The students are well prepared to get great scores. If they have questions, they will get a chance to ask them on Monday.

We also had a classroom celebration because we finished our first writing piece of the school year. The students picked one memory from their home map and told the class the story in written form. We had some great stories! You will see the grades listed on the writing piece as Apps (Applications: How well they got their ideas across using details and description, among other things) and Conv (Conventions: Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Grammar). As the year goes on and we get more involved with each topic, the grading will become more difficult. One of the games we played was music freeze. I think the students were excited to move around the room. Keep up the good work room 209.

Note about Spelling Tests

You will notice at the top of each test there is a date above the child's name. That date represents the day we took our Friday Spelling Test. The students should have a list that has a date at the top that represents the day we took the pretest and they got their words for the week.

A+ Spellers

Elisabeth
Sam
Amaya
Zach
Conner
Terry
Christian M.
Zuzu
Anna Mo.
Maytal
Berenice
Anna Mc.
Carter
Tayten


Great job this week with studying and knowing how to spell some challenging words!

MONDAY, September 13th

We will have our Unit 1 Math Test on Monday. There is a link towards the bottom of this page that gives you a review of things that will or could be on the test. Good luck and you all should do well!

Math Today

We had a good day learning how to round numbers to specific places. By the end of the lesson, we had students giving me numbers and telling the class what to round those numbers to. Great learning took place, so homework should be very straight-forward.

Homework in Room 209

Students will have homework Monday-Thursday night. Math will dominate the homework, but expect to see other items. Everyday the students are to write their homework for the evening in their assignment book, so they remember what to do for that night. I have found a few students not doing this. It is mandatory for every student, so check their assignment books and ask questions.

Also, if a student has to put his or her name on the board that will be written down in his/her assignment book, as well. Parents should initial or sign, telling me they have seen it.

A+ Spellers

Maytal
James J.
Cristian O.
Anna Mc.
Elisabeth
Amaya
Tayten
Mykemma

Great job spellers!

A Success!

Thanks to the parents and kids for coming out and visiting with me. It was great to see all the faces and to talk with parents. Congratulations to the prize winners and use them wisely.

Assignment Book Signatures

Students are only required to get a parent signature when they have gotten a name on the board or a specific homework assignment I have given to them--they will know about those assignments. Otherwise, students aren't required to have parent signatures, but can still have them if parents wish to sign.

Every afternoon the students are to write homework down into their assignment books. They will also write spelling words on Monday in their assignment books, so look for those.