No Talking

We are currently reading No Talking by Andrew Clements for our read aloud. In the story the boys take on the girls to see who can talk less over 48 hours. Of course, the students in the room want to try it as well.

On Wednesday, Sept. 30 our class is going to have the same no talking rules in the afternoon. In the book they can say three words to adults, but no words to other students. We are going to do this for the last hour of the day and the only teacher they will be working with is me.

This is just something we are trying for fun to see how difficult it is for students to not talk for an hour. There won't be a reward or punishment and we aren't doing boys against the girls like the book.

I have never tried this before, so I am interested to see if it works!

Lego Club

Where: Cobb Public Library

When: Saturday, October 3

             1:00pm - 2:00pm

Who: LEGO builders of all ages

~ LEGOs provided

~ FREE

~ Children 6 and under must be  accompanied by an adult.

Science Project

Here are some pictures of the science project that the class was working on with Miss Hrubes. They will be back in science on Wednesday to turn in their group work.

Kindergarten Buddies!

The fourth graders are always excited for their first day of kindergarten buddies. Here are a few pictures from our afternoon.

Every Kid In A Park

The Every Kid in a Park program is brand new and is GREAT timing for your fourth graders. The program allows fourth grade students to get a pass for them and their family to get in free.  It includes all children under 16 and up to 3 adults! Many parks throughout the U.S. Many very famous parks are free such as: Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and the Grand Canyons. There are not as many local destinations, but Effigy Mounds is another free Park. If you spend some time looking, there are some really cool places besides national parks too. The Henry Ford-Greenfield Village near Detroit is awesome, but I wouldn't consider it a National Park.

To see a map of the parks that offer free admission to fourth graders go HERE!

I have printed a pass for every student that I'll send home. The park pass is valid until August 31, 2016, which may also make for great summer vacation plans. If you lose the ticket you can print another at the webpage below.

Here is the homepage if you want more information: Every Kid in a Park

I am super excited for the year that my own kids are 4th graders!

Subject and Predicate Review

We are reviewing sentences and subjects and predicates in language arts. Since we are reviewing these it seemed necessary to pull out a classic Schoolhouse Rock, Mr. Morton. Warning: The song can get in your head.

Later this week we'll spend more time working on compound subjects and predicates.

Homecoming Parade

Treats or Time

This year when students have their birthday they have the option of bring in treats or having time to do a game or extra recess. I am hoping to give kids an option and choose one. If you bring in treats please avoid treats with tree nuts. I am hoping that the birthday games or recess will give the kids the option to do something fun and active as well. It is your choice though.

Also, just so you know, birthday activities and birthdays are never posted on the blog. This private information is in the classroom though, but you won't find a birthday list or birthdates on the calendar for privacy reasons.

Weekend Notes

Join the Blog

I am printing the blog this week, but if you would like to follow it via e-mail just insert your e-mail address at the right of the blog (vanclanblog.blogspot.com). You need to type in some randomly generated letters to prove your a real person. Then you'll get an e-mail from FeedBurner. Open that e-mail and click on the link. From then on you will get the updates straight to you e-mail.

Pictures

If your child got their pictures taken at Open House they should have pictures coming home tonight!

Name Homework

We are doing a short project about each child's name. I sent home a little bit of homework for that which is due on Tuesday, September 8. If you haven't seen that yet you may want to ask. The kids just need to ask you how they got their name. We'll look up the origins of their name at school.

Spelling and Math Homework

Starting next week we'll have a normal spelling list and you'll start to see math homework coming home. Besides the name sheet we haven't had homework yet this first week.

Have a Great Weekend!

Updated Schedule

Our schedule has changed just a little bit from open house. The lunch and lunch recess got pushed back 10 minutes to accommodate supervision schedules. We are going to use the extra 10 minutes in before lunch for our read aloud time. We are starting the year with a classic, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

Here is the updated schedule. I am sending one with the students today too, but this schedule has a little more detail.

8:00-8:10       Get Ready For the Day (unpack, sharpen pencils, find reading book, bathroom, etc.)
8:10-8:25       Morning Meeting (get to know you, reviewing rules, highlight of the weekend, etc.)
8:25-8:55       RtI
9:00-9:30       Art (Days A & D) or P.E. (Days B, C, E, & F)
9:35-10:10     Computers (Days A & B), Science (C & D), or Social Studies (E & F)
10:10-11:35   Language Arts (Reading, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, and Vocabulary)
11:35-11:50   Read Aloud
11:55-12:15   Lunch
12:15-12:45   Recess
12:50-1:50     Math
1:50-2:10       Silent Reading
2:10-2:30       Recess
2:30-2:45       Milk, Snacks, and Clean Up
2:45-3:20       Specials (Library - A, Music - A & E, and Guidance - D)
3:25                Dismiss

Homecoming T-Shirts

The homecoming t-shirt form is coming home tonight. If you are ordering a t-shirt the forms are due by Thursday, Sept. 3 at 3:00 p.m. Homecoming this year is on September 11, so it is a really quick turn around. If your child loses their form I have extras in the classroom.

Go Panthers!