Benson/Cave News
News from the 4th Grade
February 10, 2017
Math News
We will continue our fraction unit next week. We are going to review on Monday and Tuesday and then take the Unit 9: equivalent fractions test on Wednesday. Thursday we will be doing some fun activities with fractions and then moving on with more fraction fun the week after. We will be adding and subtracting fractions next.
Remember to have your child do their ALEKS every week. (This is preparing them for 5th grade when they are required to do 10 a week.) Students are still required to complete 5 topics in ALEKS each week, however if they complete up to 10, they will receive up to 5 bonus points. So for example, if they complete 8 topics, they will have 3 extra credit points. If they complete 10 topics they will have 5 extra credit points. No more than 5 extra credit points will be awarded in a week.
Science News
We had fun learning about the life cycles of a plant this week. We are watching a radish and a lima bean sprout. They are hanging in ziploc bags in our window and we are charting their growth. We also created new plants, named them, described them, and illustrated them. We are finishing up putting them into our Google slideshow. If your child has not finished, please have them finish over the weekend so that we can all enjoy their new plant.
We have been using a program called “See Saw” lately with both math and science. Students are able to draw and even use the audio feature to explain things. It is almost like a facebook for kids because they can also “like” their friends posts and comment on them. We are still working on our comment etiquetter The great thing is that I have to approve anything put on the class wall so that nothing gets on their that is inappropriate. If you would like to have access to your child’s work, follow the below steps.
2. Choose your child from the class list and create an account.
3. After you’ve been approved by your child’s teacher, you’ll get access to their journal
Language Arts News.
We will be finishing the story, “The Life and Times of the Ant”. We will have the test on Wednesday or Thursday. Make sure your child is reading a book on their reading level each night. This can count towards their Fireflies reading log to earn a free ticket. (See below for details.)
Social Studies News
We will start Unit 6, Lesson 2 next week. Please ask for signed papers that went home today.
Fourth Grade News
Valentine’s Day is next week. We do not have any type of party to celebrate, but we know that students still like to share valentine’s with their friends. If your child wants to bring valentine’s to share, they must bring one for each person in the class. (There are 20 students in Mrs. Benson’s class and 21 students in Mrs. Cave’s class.) They can simply put who the valentine is from and this will make it easier to pass out. We will let them pass them out at the end of the day.
We have been having some issues with water bottles lately. They have leaked in backpacks and ruined brand new library books, spilled on floors and caused people to fall, and turned over on desks spilling near chromebooks. Please try and send in water bottles that have no spill spouts. Do not send in cups or anything that does not close. Students should only be bringing in water to drink--no gatorade, soft drinks, or juices. We have sticky messes on our floors from non water drinks. Thanks for helping in these issues. 
With it being cold season, we have had a lot of absences. If your child is absent from school, it is their responsibility to complete any missing work. They will be given an extra day or two, but after that the work will be considered late. Too many times lately, we have had students that are absent and they are making no effort to complete the work they missed while being absent. Our daily classwork is important and is graded for completion. Please encourage your child to get missing assignments and to complete them in a timely manner. Also, don’t forget those excuses so that they can be turned into the office. 
Friday, February 17th is an early dismissal day. School will be dismissed at 11:30am. Make sure we know if your child has a different form of transportation.
National Engineering Week is coming up soon! There is a fun, family-friendly activity on USC’s campus on Saturday, February 18th to show how much fun math and science can be in engineering. Click here for more information.
Do you ever wonder what it is that your child is learning at school each year? Click here for the family friendly standards that will help you know what students are learning each year.
The Book Fair is coming to BHE! The Scholastic Book Fair will be here the week of February 20th. There will be an early shopping day on Saturday, February 18th. Look for more information to come home soon. 
Mother/Son Bowling fliers went home this week. More information can be found on the blog or click here for a direct link. 
Does your family like to go to the Columbia Fireflies games? Wouldn’t it be great if your child could go for free! If your child reads 4 books on their grade level by March 2nd, they can earn a ticket to any Fireflies home game. You can get it for the Sunday, April 28th game (which is the designated BHE day at the Fireflies), or you can use it for another game. Have your child write their books on their baseball reading log and you initial after each book. Bring the reading log to the media center and Mrs. Jeffers will give you the information on how you can get that free ticket. (Adults will have to buy their own ticket.)
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!
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