Les Wilfong

February 28, 2008 Newsletter

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner  (Feb. 26)

Spelling-Spelling words this week.

warm               summer          gone                already            show

because           their                it’s                  piece               write
their J          example          finally             between           second

right                would              you’re             all ready        its

Watch for the word search on Tuesday.

Challenge words are on the back.

English-Study WEEK 23 of DOL!

Reading-

Wordly Wise Unit 12

Quiz will be on THURSDAY of next week.

Our new novel is Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare.  We will begin it this week. The books have been extremely used, so please have your child take great care of them.

Science- SPACE UNIT-

This unit is jam-packed full of material to be taught.  I hope your children are becoming enthusiastic about it so far, including the lunar eclipse, viewing the planets and constellations in the night sky.   The due date for the TRAVEL BROCHURES has been changed to Monday, March 10^th. I’ve delayed it because we have so much to discuss in class, and I desire for this project to be thorough and well-developed, so as to set the tone for future projects.  QUALITY! J

Social Studies-SOUTHERN COLONIES

Test on these will be Friday!

Math- Continue on the same unit.

Some difficult skills are putting decimals in order from least to greatest, + and – decimals, changing fractions to decimals and back, and adding and subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping (see example).

SPECIALS ROTATION

I AM SENDING HOME THE NEW SPECIALS SCHEDULE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TENNIS SHOES / RECORDERS ON THE APPROPRIATE DAYS.

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

March    3-PTSA Boosterthon Kickoff @ 12:45

                4-EARLY RELEASE DAY

                   Fun Run Kickoff

                   Chick-fil-A night

                6-PTA 2-3 grades (Original Artworks)

              10-TRAVEL BROCHURES DUE

               12-Fun Run 8:30-9:30

               14-END OF 4^TH 9 WEEKS                              

Newsletter February 11, 2008

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner  (Feb. 11)

Spelling-Spelling words this week.

Watch for the word search on Tuesday.

Challenge words are on the back.

English-Study WEEK 22 of DOL!

We WILL have a TEST this week.

Remember: The students can bring it home to study each night, or you can copy it so the students won’t leave it at home accidentally.

Reading-

Wordly Wise Unit 11

Quiz will be on THURSDAY of this week.

We will be finishing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this week. We still need to find three more LUCKY TICKETS. So far, Rebecca Gunn and Jacob Bristol have found the lucky two.  We sent letters to 5 candy companies and Hershey Chocolate has responded with a packet of info for that group which includes literature for each student. Look for that to come home soon.

Our class is going STRONG with the AR program. We met our 50% goal and will have our ice cream party on Thursday.  By Feb. 15 your child should be at 70% of their goal. Your child is at currently at______ %.   Many students are ahead of their goal and are helping the class earn extra points toward our 100% goal.

Don’t forget the Six Flags 6 hour reading club form if you are interested.  It is due to me by Feb. 22.  I will turn them in that day.

Science- We are beginning the SPACE unit. Hopefully, students will choose their planets this week. I will send home the information the students need to gather in their research.  The four-day weekend would be a great opportunity to get started. I will help the students calculate their weight and age on their chosen planet.  The “formula” will be sent home.  Remember the quality of the projects I showed you, and keep in mind, it needs to be in the student’s own words. No cut and paste from the internet. J

Social Studies- Middle Colonies

States include PA, DE, NY, and NJ.

Quiz will be Thursday, Feb. 21.

Math- Continuing the fraction/decimal unit. Keep studying basic skills also.  We are taking multiplication timed tests to ensure success for upcoming skills.

READING BOWL UPDATE

Congrats to Still’s first reading bowl team. They tied for first place in

Cobb

County

and competed this past Saturday in Jasper, GA. They placed 1^st in the North Georgia region, and Saturday, March 1^st, they will compete in

Athens

for #1 in the STATE! They are already in the top 4 in the state.

Ann Wallace from our room is on the team, and we are so proud of her: J J J

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Feb.   13- WAMU banking day

          14-Valentine’s Day /  AR  Ice Cream Party

          18- Stevie B’s Night

     18-19- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

          19- Teacher Inservice Day

          20- Author Bettye Stroud visit

                 (4^th Grade—

9:15-10:15

)

          22- Six Flags form due / Cosmic Bowling         

January 25-29 NEWSLETTER

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner  January 25-28, 2008

Spelling-Spelling words this week.

Watch for the word search on Tuesday.

Challenge words are on the back.

English-Study WEEK 20 of DOL!

More focus placed on Wordly Wise.

Reading-

Wordly Wise Unit 10

Quiz will be on FRIDAY of this week.

Almost everyone loves chocolate. We are going strong on our latest novel:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!!

Students may have short reading assignments during the unit.  We mailed our letters to 5 major candy companies, and we are anxiously awaiting a reply.  The students did ask for samples, of course. 

Out of all the candy bars distributes, we’ve only had one winner; Rebecca Gunn.  Still awaiting the other four winners.  All students still enjoyed their candy bars.

Don’t forget the Six Flags 6 hour reading club form if you are interested.  It is due to me by Feb. 22.  I will turn them in that day.

Science- Concluding the simple machines mini-unit this week.  Our next focus will be on SPACE.  I discussed with you the research project regarding the TRAVEL BROCHURES. 

More info to come later. Students will need one more Pringle’s can with a lid for this unit.

Social Studies-

The focus of this unit will be on the COLONIZATION of American.

Math- PARENTS: continue to use the green outline I distributed at conferences to reinforce the skills being taught this 9 weeks.  We should begin working with decimals shortly.  One difficult skill is to add/subtract decimals such as 234  +  15.7 = ___  Students have difficulty adding the decimal after the 234. and then lining up the decimal points to be able to add.

CONFERENCE WEEK

Parents:  I truly enjoyed meeting with each and every one of you.  I hope you found our time together beneficial for you and our desire for your child to be successful. 

    Our class had a 100% turnout which shows me that your children are blessed to have such dedicated parents. Thank you!

EARLY DISMISSAL

Parents:  If you wish to check your child out before the dismissal bell, please go to the office and have them page the room.  Dr. Navarro spoke to the staff about how students being released to parents from the classroom can create a safety and security concern.

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Jan.  29-STUDENT COUNCIL MTG.

                Book orders for author Bettye Stroud               

                 due if you are interested.

           30-Washington Mutual banking day

Feb.      1--- Still Spirit Day—wear Still shirt OR

                 Blue/yellow (gold)

                 25c HAT DAY

              5-Author Bettye Stroud visits Still

                  Chick-fil-A Night---

5:00-8:00

              6-Early Release Day (2 hrs. early)

              7-Science Fair / PTA 1^st grade

            14-Valentine’s Day-Class list on the back

Please check the specials rotation. Move everything forward one day.

The students had a performance on January 22.   I sent home a new schedule (pink paper).          

Mr. Wilfong's Newsletter - December 17, 2007

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner  (Dec. 17)

Spelling-No spelling words this week.

English-Study WEEK 17 of DOL!

We will not have a TEST this week.

Reading-

Wordly Wise Unit 8

Quiz will be on Wednesday of this week.

We are concluding the book by

Laura Ingalls Wilder:  FARMER BOY

The students have enjoyed the stories of Almanzo’s childhood and how different his life is from their own. (Almanzo later became Laura Ingalls husband.)

So far we have made our own butter and eaten that on toast.  We have also made tin can lanterns like Nick Brown, the tin peddler, sold as he traveled from house to house.  On Wednesday, we plan to make “homemade” ice cream in our classroom.  

Students need to bring gloves.

Science- Concluding the light/sound unit.

TEST on Wednesday!! Study the notes pages on sound and the experiments using the ruler, tuning forks, and palm pipes. 

Social Studies-TEST on Thursday!!!

Study the Native Americans table, etc…

Students will use the Pringle’s cans to make totem poles on Tuesday. Thanks for sending those in. I’ve gained many pounds from students sharing theirs with me.

Math- POSTTEST ON THURSDAY!!!

Study the following:

Double digit multiplication/division

Distributive property of multiplication

Slides, flips, and turns   Measuring angles

Types of angles: acute, obtuse, right

Types of triangles: scalene, isosceles, equilateral

Geometry: lines, segments, rays, points

Perpendicular and parallel lines

Quadrilaterals: parallelograms, trapezoids

Special thanks to all the moms and dads who have helped in the classroom, especially since Thanksgiving. We have had many activities going on and the help is greatly appreciated.  Special thanks to Amy Cranshaw, Cecilia Estep, and Donna Bristol: our room moms for organizing ornament day.  Thank you Ms. Bristol for donating a Christmas tree for our classroom.  Thanks to Debbie Mottern and Jackie Cooley for being our AR moms on a weekly basis. You do a lot for the students.

Science Night was a HUGE success. Thanks to all the students who helped out with the experiments. I was very proud of you for not only volunteering, but for doing such a great job! J J J

Another thank you for all the students who donated to the stockings in the classroom. I believe we filled 8-9 stockings. Dr. Navarro and Ms. Smith told me they were very proud of your generosity.

                   IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Dec.  17-Stevie B’s Night -AR update in the class

           18-Totem Pole making in Social Studies

           19-Science test—ice cream making @

9:15

          20-math posttest/social studies posttest

                 Sing-a-long in the cafeteria @

9:30

                 Wear RED this day.

           21-Christmas Party from

10:00-11:00

                 end of the second nine weeks

Mr. Wilfong’s

Mr. Wilfong’s

 

4th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner

Spelling-

Check the agenda for misspelled from the pretest.

Word search Tuesday

Test on Friday!

English

-Study WEEK 13 of DOL!

Reading

Quiz may be on Friday of THIS week.

- Wordly Wise Unit 6

Students need to be able to choose the sentence in which each of the words belong based on context clues.

We are beginning the book by

Laura Ingalls Wilder: FARMER BOY

Students will have a little nightly reading to do. That

’

s the only way we can finish the book on a timely basis. There will also be a few activities with this unit. Our room moms may be calling for assistance.

I was so proud of the students. They were fantastic, and they didn

’

t even make any negative comments on my ability to play an instrument. Thank you.

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Nov. 13----Youth Museum field trip.

Chick-fil-A night!

14----Washington Mutual banking

19

—-Grandparent’

s Day for 4th grade

21-25------------NO SCHOOL-----------------

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Dec. 7----High Museum of Art field trip

11----Family Science Night at Still

Science

Take great notes/illustrations from lesson.

Comprehensive quizzes on these notes.

Social Studies

Math

Skills to study: Double digit multiplication and DOUBLE DIGIT DIVISION. The main focus on this unit will be on geometry. Study notes, terms, and illustrations.

PLEASE-STUDY MULT. FACTS!!!!

FIELD TRIP-TUESDAY

After talking to the Youth Museum, I found out they have a capacity level of 50, so we are only able to take 3 chaperones. We drew names and the chareones are:

Ms. Law---Ms. Weider----Ms. Cooley

Thanks to all that volunteered.

We have other trips available.

Hopefully more can attend.

Chaperones need to pay $7 at the door.

We will be eating at the school after returning from the trip.

PLEASE PACK A HEARTY SNACK TO EAT BEFORE WE LEAVE!!!

4TH GRADE PTA PROGRAM

- The new math unit has begun.-EXPLORERS UNIT. - Continuing the LIGHT unit.

NEWSLETTER-OCTOBER 16, 2007

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner

Spelling-  There will be NO spelling words this week. Our focus will be in other areas.

English-Study WEEK 10 of DOL!

Focus-common/proper nouns.

Reading-

Wordly Wise Unit 4

Quiz on Thursday of NEXT week.

Students need to be able to choose the sentence in which each of the words belong based on context clues. This is much more difficult than just matching the words and definitions!

We have started reading a

Beverly Cleary novel: Dear Mr. Henshaw.

The students were given a website to research and list their 3 favorite authors. They will choose their favorite author to write a letter to from this site. If you can find another address of someone different, that is fine. The students need to bring this address to class.  It’s so rewarding to formulate questions and then get a response from these authors.

Math- Number Sense test THIS WEEK!!!

We will begin the 2^nd 9 weeks unit on Monday of next week.  Your child will be placed based on the pretest given last week. There is a possibility of being assigned a new teacher.

PLEASE-STUDY MULT. FACTS!!!!

Science- Our focus this 9 weeks will be on Forces/Motion, Light, and Sound. Students should be taking notes from class discussions. Study these notes along with handouts and the science text.

Social Studies-TEST on regions Oct. 18^th !!

A study guide was given on Oct. 15^th. 

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS

An explanation of 2 upcoming field trips will be sent home on Monday, Oct. 22. Attached will be a donation envelope. Please paperclip/staple the envelope to the form. I need to keep the form and send the envelope to the office. Thank you. Chaperones welcome on Nov. 13 to the

Youth

Museum

. You will need to pay $7 at the door.

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Oct.   17---Early Release Day 

          22---Report cards sent home

                  Return the envelope/sign. card

          30---Walk-to-School Day cancelled

                   FIRE SAFETY

Nov.    1----FIRE SAFETY

           5-6—NO SCHOOL

                   Teacher Professional Dev. Day

            8----4^th Grade PTA

                    FIRE SAFETY

            9----FALL FESTIVAL

                   Please send in Cake Walk forms

                   Last Day of FIRE SAFETY

           12-Adams/Rademacher/Earnest to

Youth

Museum

           13-McCracken/Wilfong to Museum

                                    

Mr. Wilfong's October 9th Newsletter

Mr. Wilfong’s

Class Newsletter

Curriculum Corner

Spelling-Study words this week.

Some students have challenge words.

Look for word search today.

English-DOL—week 9

Quiz on Friday.

Reading- Wordly Wise quiz on Thursday!!

The AR program is in full swing. Please check  with your child about their reading points goal and their percentage.  Ask them about their passports, etc…Students should be nearing 20% of their goal.

Math- Continue number sense unit

Skills to be learned by the posttest:

Place value, value of a number, rounding, expanded form, long division w/ remainders, 1 & 2 digit multiplication, decimals, tables and charts, line graphs, communitive property of mult., and < > and =.

The posttest designated for the first 9 weeks covers a multitude of skills.

POSTTEST NEXT WEEK!!!!!

Science- Weather Unit

We are concluding the weather unit. The students seem to have learned a lot about it. Look for them to be meteorologists one day.

Social Studies-concluding REGIONS

POSTTEST ON OCTOBER 18^TH

Next unit of study will be EXPLORERS!

FIRE SAFTEY

The firefighters are extremely pleased with the class’ progress and diligence in their work.  Due Thursday-read lesson 4 in book!

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

OCT. 11-fire safety

          15-end of 1^st 9 weeks

              Stevie B’s night

          17-Early Release – 2 hrs. early

          18-Social Studies test

          22-Report Cards sent home

               Field trip info to come home

          30-Walk-to-School Day

                Fire Safety Day

NOV. 5-6-student holiday

          13-Field trip to

Youth

Museum

                info to come on home on Oct. 22

Newsletters should be signed/returned by Thursday, Oct. 11th.

Newsletter for September 24, 2007

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner

Spelling-  There will be NO spelling words this week.

Our focus will be in other areas.

English-Study WEEK 7 of DOL!

Focus-simple subject and predicate!

Review types of sentences.

"I'm also going to cover quotations."

Last week’s grades didn’t meet our expectations.

Reading-

Wordly Wise Unit 3

Quiz on Thursday of this week.

Students have set their AR points

goal for the year.  Students should

meet or exceed this goal. It affects

the class goal if their goal isn’t met.

I know everyone can do it.

We continue to improve each day!J

We’re reading another one

of Roald Dahl’s books.  George's Marvelous Medicine

Don’t forget to earn your 10 reading stickers for the 9 weeks. These books can be AR or other reading books.

If they are AR, I’ll assign the stickers.

If they are non-AR, your child should bring home a reading slip for you to sign verifying that they have read the book.

Math- Number Sense Unit continued!!

Study place value, value, rounding, single digit multiplication and division.

Must know multiplication times tables!

Science- Our focus will be on air pressure, fronts,

and weather instruments.

Social Studies-concluding map skills

Starting soon-Regions of the

United States

PICTURE RETAKE DAY

OCTOBER 9

Let me know if you need a form.

FIRE SAFETY BEGINS

The fire safety program for fourth grade only begins next week. Here are the dates:

OCT. 2, 4, 9, 11, 30    NOV. 1, 8, 9

The firefighters will have assignments for the class. Everyone is expected to meet the requirements of the firefighters.

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Oct.  2---Chick-fil-A night J

           4---5^th grade PTA @

6:30

         15—End of  1^st 9 weeks grading

                 Stevie B’s night!             

         17—EARLY RELEASE DAY

              22—Report cards are distributed

                  School Bus Safety Week

                 Stevie B’s night!

                  Red Ribbon Week

        30---Walk-to-School Day!!!

                  Rescheduled from Oct. 2 to 30

Parents: If your child is absent but still feels well enough to do some schoolwork, you may pick up their work from the classroom. Just call the front office and let me know.

September 10, 2007

Mr. Wilfong’s

Class Newsletter

Curriculum Corner

Spelling-Study words this week.

Some students have challenge words.

Look for word search on Tuesday.

English-DOL—week 5

Also study types of sentences, subject/predicate, and nouns

Reading- No Wordly Wise this week.

We’re starting a new novel and creating a mini-booklet for it. Focus on Main idea, characters, setting, problem, and solution.

REMEMBER-keep reading in your spare time. Your child needs 10 reading stickers by October 15!!!

Math- Continue number sense unit

Skills to be learned by the posttest:

Place value, value of a number, rounding, expanded form, long division w/ remainders, 1 & 2 digit multiplication, decimals, tables and charts, line graphs, communitive property of mult., and < > and =.

The posttest designated for the first 9 weeks covers a multitude of skills.

Science- Weather Unit

The students are completing a weather table and bar graph comparing forecasted high temps for

Atlanta

and

Buckhannon

,

WV

. I gave them the chart to complete. They do need to gather the info on the weekends. This will be due Sept. 17. We discussed all the criteria in class.

This project will count for two grades.

Social Studies-concluding Map Skills

Students map projects are due Thursday!!!

Fine tune them-neatness-colorful-organized

We have officially started AR this year. The students are able to take AR tests. Please review the books with them so they can score well. Ask your child all the details.

Ms. Cooley and Ms. Mottern are our AR moms. They will be visiting our classroom on Mondays. Read over the weekendJ

IMPORTANT DATES/TIMES

Sept. 11—PATRIOTIC DAY!!!

           WEAR RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

         12—Channel 46 visits 4^th grade

         14---Sally Foster orders due!!!

          17---Stevie B night

          19---

Washington

Mutual Banking

                      begins for the students

                   Ident-A-Kid Program

                    - more info to come

          21—Reflections project deadline

      

Mr. Wilfong's Newsletter

Mr. Wilfong’s

4^th Grade Class

Curriculum Corner

Spelling-  See the word search for a list.

Missed words should also be in the agenda.

Some students have the challenge words which are the first 10 Wordly Wise words.

English-We’ll be studying DOL! Study the “correct these sentences” part of DOL.

Review the 4 types of sentences.

Reading- Wordly Wise Unit 1 this week.

                 Quiz will be early next week.

Students need to be able to choose the sentence in which each of the words belong.

This is much more difficult than just matching the words and definitions!!!!!

                

We finished the novel 

SHILOH

.