Weekly News--October 28th

Benson/Cave News

News from the 4th Grade

October 28, 2016

Math News

We will be taking our Unit 4 test on Measuring on Wednesday, November 2nd.  Students can use their classwork sheets as a study guide.  The test will involve converting customary measurement, metric measurements, and elapsed time and money problems.  Our next unit will begin on Thursday and it will cover multi-digit multiplication.  Please encourage your child to study and know  their basic multiplication facts.

Don’t forget that the homework packet is given out each Monday and is due no later than Friday. These packets are full of review materials that will help students retain skills from week to week.  When a homework packet is not turned in by Friday, 5 points are deducted from the overall homework grade for the nine weeks.  (Each student starts out with 100 at the beginning of the nine weeks.)  Next week will begin our new nine weeks and everyone is starting over with a fresh slate.

Students have access to  ALEKS at home.  They have all logged in by now and know their usernames and passwords.  This is an excellent program to help review math skills and learn more skills to be ready to advance to 5th grade.  I would love to see more students progressing in ALEKS and will be offering rewards for students as they master topics this next nine weeks.

Science News

We will be taking the Weather and Climate test on Tuesday.  It will cover lessons 3-5 in chapter 2 of the science textbook.  Students can use their books to study over the weekend and Monday night.  We will go over practice questions on pages 87-89 on Monday.  Students will be allowed to correct their questions so that they will have the correct information to study with that night.  Students can use their textbooks for the test, but need to know where the information is located so that they do not waste time searching the book.

I would encourage students to review climate and factors that affect the climate--elevation, latitude, and being close to a large body of water.   They should be able to know about what latitude the different climate zones are found.  They will need to know about what temperature would be in the tropical zone and what temperature would the polar zone have.  Lastly, they need to know the clouds and severe weather (what to expect and how to stay safe).  We will review this on Monday, but it never hurts to have it reinforced at home.  

Language Arts News.  

Next Week in ELA students will read from level readers that go along with “Mighty Jackie”  in Treasures and focus on skills - singulars plural nouns, words with digraphs (sh, ph th) and the author’s purpose. There will be a  cold read on the skills later in the week.

Recently students were given their reading range,  There are many times during the ELA period and school day for students to read independently.  Students will be expected to read at least 2 books per week using  the Big Universe Online Reading Program with the following filters -quiz concept, key ideas and details’; then select a book to read with their reading range using the ATOS (on selected books).

Social Studies News

Next week in Social Studies we will begin to study Colonial America.  Students will examine early settlements in the America by the Spanish, French and English.  

Fourth Grade News

The next Spirit Store will be next Friday, November 4th.  It will be for all grades.

Make-up Pictures will be on Monday, November 7th.  If you want your child to take pictures that day, please send in a note.  

Tuesday, November 8th is Election day.  Election day = No School

BHE is having our annual Veterans Day program on Friday, November 11th.  Information along with RSVP forms went home today.  We look forward to seeing many of you.

The BHE Educational Foundation is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday, November 17th.  Tickets can be purchased in advance.  A flyer was sent home this week with the information you need.  Please help support our Ed Foundation--all money goes right back into the classrooms.

We are going on a field trip!  Fourth graders are going to Historic Brattonsville on November 30th.  Permission forms were sent home this week with your child.  The cost is $35.  Money and permission forms (both sides completed) are due no later than November 16th.  If you would like to chaperone, it is $35 per chaperone if you ride the bus or $12 per chaperone if you want to drive and follow the bus.  We are only able to take 2 chaperones per class on the bus but can gladly have more that follow us there.  

We are excited to be able to have this wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about life on a plantation and our country’s history that took place right here in SC.  Please note:  Your child will need to have transportation to school that morning because we will leave before all buses have arrived.  We will be back in time for regular dismissal.

Donuts for Dads will be held on Tuesday, November 22nd at 8:00am.  

No school on November 23-25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Ending Thoughts

We are very excited for this school year and to be able to teach your child.  You may email us anytime there is a concern.  Click on our name below for a direct link to our email.  

Thanks for sharing your children with us each day!

Mrs. Shannon Benson and Mrs. Janice Cave