Weekly News--February 9th

Benson/Bodrick News

News from the 4th Grade

February 9, 2018

Math News

This week we worked hard with area and perimeter.  We also reviewed our polygons and symmetry.  We will take our math test on Tuesday morning before we go on our field trip.  We will review on Monday with many sample problems.  I went over a study guide with students this morning on types of information that will be included on the test.  I have posted it to Google Classroom so that students will check it out.  They can work out the problems I included on it.  I also mentioned to them that their classwork packets will be great study tools to help them as well.  They are supposed to check their packet with an answer key in the classroom so that when they are turned into me I can see what mistakes were made and know how to help them.  After review, I return to the students so that they can use them to study.

Our next unit is fractions--adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.  We will also be converting improper fractions into mixed numbers and mixed numbers into improper fractions.  We will spend a good portion of this nine weeks on fractions.  Zearn is a math program that students have access to.  There are some great videos on fractions in Zearn and some great learning activities.  Students are always welcome to work on lessons in Zearn to help their understanding.

Students did somewhat better on their homework packet this week.  Next week’s homework packet will be more questions similar to the ones they have done the last 2 weeks.  Hopefully by now, they have asked the questions at home or at school so that when I look over them next Friday, there will be few--if any--mistakes.

Students also need to make sure they are completing at least 5 topics each week in ALEKS.  They should be able to master a topic in 10-15 minutes.  If they are working longer on a topic, they need to ask for help so they can master that topic.  The more topics they complete, the better at their math skills they will become.  This is a great program that will help bump up their math scores and skills.  Please encourage your child to complete these topics--they can be done at school or at home.

Please have your child practice their multiplication facts.  There are many games on www.multiplication.com that they would love to play that will help them.

If you still need to join Seesaw, please click here and follow the directions.

Science News

This week we discussed life cycles of various plants and animals.  Students created their own life cycle drawings and will be posting them in Seesaw by Monday afternoon.  We will continue to discuss life cycles and compare the various stages of life with many more plants and animals next week.

ELA News

Last week, students thoroughly enjoyed our SUPER BOWL themed “learning experiences” with informational text and types of sentences - and I must say...so did I. I am still in the process of getting grades in for the sentence assessment students took Monday of this week.

Beginning on Tuesday, we started our first WRITING BOOT CAMP - as the time for middle of year writing benchmark assessments has approached. Students engaged in an intensive week long teacher-led Text Dependent Analysis (TDA) writing lesson with lots of modeling and practice. Monday, they will complete their actual benchmark (PAPER AND PENCIL) - assessment will only be ONE day just like testing at end of the year. Students will receive a new writing prompt (not a TDA) - “Someone I Admire” - in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Reading logs ON PAPER - NO submissions online as I am trying to get students back into the habit of writing (structurally and grammatically correct) well thought out responses. This shift comes with the news that students will test at the end of the using paper and pencil for the Reading/Writing portion. Parents, please take the time to read through your child’s responses from time to time! It will help both me and them out!

Special shout out the following Lexia Core 5 Completers!

• LaLonnie Mitchum
• Lily Calhoun

The following students are almost there! Keep pushing: Thomas Bozard, Daija Caldwell, Liana Adams, Caroline Goff, Jake Gonzales, Jeremy Harris, Emily Lancaster, Emerson Ramsdale, Darius Gatewood-White and Libby Lee

Social Studies News

Next Week: Causes of the American Revolution - Political and economic factors that ultimately led to the American Revolution started with the French and Indian War (discussed this week and assessed Thursday - cloze activity) and culminated with shots fired at Lexington and Concord. It is important that students understand the chronology of these events and how one event led to another. Students will learn about:

• The need for taxes as a result of the French and Indian War and the power of the colonists to boycott British goods.
• Stamp Act
• Tea Act
• Intolerable Acts

Fourth Grade News

Related Arts Schedule for next week

Our field trip to the Koger Center to see a performance of “Freedom Train” is this coming Tuesday, February 13th.  We will be leaving school about 10:30am and returning around 1:30pm.  We will eat lunch when we return.  We look forward to this wonderful learning experience.  

PTO is sponsoring a Mother/Son Bowling Night on Friday, February 23rd.  It will be at Royal Z Lanes on Two Notch Road.  The cost is $12 per person which covers bowling, shoes, a slice of pizza, and a drink.  Fliers were sent home so that you can fill out and return with your payment.  There are 2 sessions you can sign up for--4-6 or 6-8.  Time slots will fill up quickly so please return these soon.

Columbia Fireflies Reading Logs

If students complete 4 books (appropriate reading level) by Feb 28th they will earn a ticket to the Columbia Fireflies game, free hot dog dinner, and a surprise gift at the game.  Completed reading logs should be sent to the Media Center.  Also, our own BHE Chorus will perform the National Anthem at the game.  Game day is Tuesday, April 10th at 7:05pm

Ending Thoughts

Thank you for sharing your children with us!  Please feel free to email us with any questions.  For those who signed up for Remind 101 with Ms. Bodrick, feel free to shoot a text if necessary.  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 Ms. Aubriaunna Bodrick

Weekly News--February 2nd

Benson/Bodrick News

News from the 4th Grade

February 2, 2018


Math News
For the 100th day, 4th grade math students are collecting small water bottles for BHE’s backpack program. We would love to see how many small water bottles we can collect to help this wonderful program to succeed. The 100th day of school is this coming Monday, February 5th. Please send any water bottles you wish to donate to school on Monday. You can read more about BHE’s 100th day Math project by clicking here.

We took a Geometry test this past Tuesday. It was given to students today so that they can bring it home and show you. We have started the next part of our Geometry studies. In this Geometry unit, we will take what we learned about lines, angles, and line segments and learn how to classify shapes--quadrilaterals, triangles, hexagons, and pentagons. We will also discuss lines of symmetry and area and perimeter formulas for rectangles. This unit shouldn’t take too long so I anticipate testing on it the week of February 12th. I will have a more definite date in next week’s newsletter.

There will be a homework packet sent home next week. Students will also need to make sure they are completing at least 5 topics each week in ALEKS. They should be able to master a topic in 10-15 minutes. If they are working longer on a topic, they need to ask for help so they can master that topic. Please have your child practice their multiplication facts. There are many games on www.multiplication.com that they would love to play that will help them.

If you still need to join Seesaw, please click here and follow the directions.

Science News

This week we continued to discuss animal and plant classification. We viewed many presentations and video or two discussing how animals and plants are classified. We specifically discussed how the vertebrate group was divided into 5 groups and how each group was different. We took an online quiz today about classification. Each student received their scores once they finished. I will update parent portal this weekend with their test scores.

Next week we will discuss the life cycles of several different plants and animals. We will plant some seeds in our classroom and watch them go through their life cycles. We will also do a mini project on life cycles. Students will be give this information on Monday or Tuesday with a due date.

Just a reminder--if work is turned in past the due date, points will be deducted in the gradebook when it is turned in. I will have it marked as late in the gradebook so that you can see in Parent Portal if they have turned it in or not. I also mark when assignments are missing so that if you log in and see there is missing work, you can remind your child to complete it. After a week or so of it being missing and/or late, I will put a zero in the gradebook.


ELA News
This week, students thoroughly enjoyed our SUPER BOWL themed “learning experiences” with informational text and types of sentences - and I must say...so did I (despite the extra chit-chat that I guess they couldn’t help)! To start the week, we reviewed simple, compound, and complex sentences and then shifted gears to punctuation specific sentence types - declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory. Of course after mini lesson, there was a football themed twist! As we began our discussion on informational text, we reviewed the difference between fact and opinion football style and beginning on Wednesday, we made some predictions about our reading before seeing the actual text - I posed the question, what do you already know about the Super Bowl? By the end of the day today, students were able to confirm and/or revise their predictions and gain new knowledge that I’m sure they will give you an ear-full of this weekend as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52!!!

NOTE: Students did not get to take the assessment planned for today on SENTENCES (so everything from subjects and predicates, fragments, run-ons, simple, compound and complex sentences, as well as declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory sentences they will see). We got carried away with memes! Notes for all of this has been provided! Test will be given on Monday, February 5, 2018.


Next week, we will have our first WRITING BOOT CAMP - as the time for middle of year writing benchmark assessments has approached. Students will engage in an intensive week long (Monday-Thursday) teacher-led writing lesson with lots of modeling, practice, and peer/teacher reviewing. Friday, they will complete their benchmark (PAPER AND PENCIL)


Reading logs will be on paper again next week - NO submissions online as I am trying to get students back into the habit of writing (structurally and grammatically correct) well thought out responses. This shift comes with the news that students will test at the end of the using paper and pencil for the Reading/Writing portion. Parents, please take the time to read through your child’s responses from time to time! It will help both me and them out!

Special shout out the following Lexia Core 5 Completers! 

LaLonnie Mitchum

Lily Calhoun

The following students are almost there! Keep pushing: Thomas Bozard, Daija Caldwell, Liana Adams, Caroline Goff, Jake Gonzales, Jeremy Harris, Emily Lancaster, and Libby Lee


What you can do at home to help your child be successful:

Discuss What Your Child is Reading and help them complete weekly Reading Responses

Find Reasons to Write outside of the Classroom

Play Educational Games/Watch Educational Videos - LEXIA and STUDY ISLAND can be used at home and is strongly encouraged for students who are pulled out during class time/not meeting weekly requirement.


Social Studies News

Next Week: Cooperation and Conflict between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans and its influence on life in America - students will present the memes they created! Many already submitted and received grade, but some have to work on over the weekend. Please check with your child so they can receive full credit.







The Assignment: Create two content-related memes using appropriate pictures and wording for social studies indicator 4-2.4: Summarize the relationship among the Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans, including the French and Indian War, the slave revolts, and the conduct of trade. Utilize the note page provided/presentation in Google Classroom that has examples of memes (may not use same ones). You may use the Meme Generator (a lot easier for some) - https://imgflip.com/memegenerator


Remember:

Students (and now parents) can access Google Classroom at home. All presentations and special links are posted there as references. Students may use these references when studying and completing weekly RAP questions. Some links are interactive games and videos!

A parent study guide has been issued for your personal use (so you can help your child if for some reason they are missing information or you aren’t exactly abreast on your history!)


Fourth Grade News
Related Arts Schedule for next week






Our field trip to the Koger Center to see a performance of “Freedom Train” is on Tuesday, February 13th. We will be leaving school about 10:30am and returning around 1:30pm. We will eat lunch when we return. If you have not turned in a permission form and money, please do so no later than Monday, February 5th. If your child is not attending the field trip, please send us an email or note letting us know. Also please let us know if they will be at school that day or if they are going to be absent.







Ending Thoughts


Thank you for sharing your children with us! Please feel free to email us with any questions. For those who signed up for Remind 101 with Ms. Bodrick, feel free to shoot a text if necessary. 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 Ms. Aubriaunna Bodrick

100th Day Math Project

Weekly News--January 26th

Benson/Bodrick News

News from the 4th Grade

January 26, 2018

Math News

Students have been working hard this week on constructing geometric shapes.  We have also learned how to use a protractor correctly not only to measure an angle, but to construct an angle with a given measurement.  We will be taking this test on Tuesday, January 30th.  Students will need to be able to do the following:

• Identify (in a geometric shape) and construct a ray, line, line segment, angle (acute, right, and obtuse), perpendicular lines, parallel lines, and intersecting lines.
• Construct an angle using a protractor with a given measurement.
• Measure an angle properly (with a few degrees) using a protractor.
• Understand the relationship of an angle measurement to a circle. (For example, if a circle is divided into 6 equal wedges, each wedge’s angle measurement is 60 degrees because 360 degrees divided by 6 equal wedges equals 60 degrees.)
• Solve addition and subtraction problems to find unknown angles.  They need to know that a line or straight angle is 180 degrees.  (diagram below with an example.

There will be a homework packet sent home next week.  Students will also need to make sure they are completing at least 5 topics each week in ALEKS.  They should be able to master a topic in 10-15 minutes.  If they are working longer on a topic, they need to ask for help so they can master that topic.  Please have your child practice their multiplication facts.  There are many games on www.multiplication.com that they would love to play that will help them.

If you still need to join Seesaw, please click here and follow the directions.

Science News

We have been learning about the different groups of organisms and how they are sorted according to their structures and physical characteristics.  We began to creating a dichotomous key showing organisms being divided into plants and animals.  We then divided our plants into flowering and nonflowering plants and our animals into vertebrates and invertebrates.  Your child will be uploading their work into Seesaw for you to see their understanding of this organization of organisms.  

I am implementing a new policy in my classroom about late work.  Students will be given a set time to complete an assignment.  If it is not completed by that given time, points will be deducted.  For example, the above work should be completed by the end of the day on Monday.  If it is not completed by Monday afternoon, it will be considered late and they will have points deducted for each day it is late.  We will not have much time in class on Monday.  They will have to use their time wisely in order to complete it.  They may work on it over the weekend if they wish.

ELA News

This week, we focused our attention on informational text features that help make navigating through informational text easier. Over the course of the week, students created mini books and their own scavenger hunts for peers to complete. They completed an assessment Friday which I am very excited to score and see how well they did.

Next week, we will continue to use informational text features as we divulge more into informational text selections to determine main idea. We will also focus our attention on the writing of complete sentences - simple, compound, and complex; as well as declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.

Reading logs will be on paper again next week - NO submissions online as I am trying to get students back into the habit of writing (structurally and grammatically correct) well thought out responses. This shift comes with the news that students will test at the end of the using paper and pencil for the Reading/Writing portion.

Special shout out to the newest completer who finished Lexia Core 5 after only a few months of hard work (both at school and home):

• LaLonnie Mitchum

The following students are almost there! Keep pushing: Lily Calhoun, Thomas Bozard, Daija Caldwell, Liana Adams, Caroline Goff, Jake Gonzales, Jeremy Harris, Emily Lancaster, and Libby Lee

What you can do at home to help your child be successful:

• Discuss What Your Child is Reading and help them complete weekly Reading Responses
• Find Reasons to Write outside of the Classroom
• Play Educational Games/Watch Educational Videos - LEXIA and STUDY ISLAND can be used at home and is strongly encouraged for students who are pulled out during class time/not meeting weekly requirement.

Social Studies News

Next Week: Cooperation and Conflict between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans and its influence on life in America - students will learn through note-taking about the three groups of people and how initial cooperation that turned to conflict helped shape American life during this time period. Please refer to Google Classroom by Wednesday for uploaded presentation and additional resources. By the end of the week, students should begin thinking about these relationships in order to create their very own memes!!!

Remember:

• Students (and now parents) can access Google Classroom at home. All presentations and special links are posted there as references. Students may use these references when studying and completing weekly RAP questions. Some links are interactive games and videos!
• RAP Questions are assigned every Thursday and it is highly encouraged that students use notes to complete. Social Studies journals will come home on Thursday.
• A parent study guide has been issued for your personal use (so you can help your child if for some reason they are missing information or you aren’t exactly abreast on your history!)

Fourth Grade News

Related Arts Schedule for next week

We are going to the Koger Center on Tuesday, February 13th to see a performance of “Freedom Train.” Information was sent home.  The cost is $13 per student and the money and permission forms are due by Friday, February 2nd.

BHE is having a Salsarita’s Night on Thursday, February 1st.  A portion of all sales between 4 and 8 pm will be donated back to BHE.  Fore more information, click here.

Ending Thoughts

Thank you for sharing your children with us!  Please feel free to email us with any questions.  For those who signed up for Remind 101 with Ms. Bodrick, feel free to shoot a text if necessary.  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 Ms. Aubriaunna Bodrick

Math and Science News--Week of January 19th

January 19, 2018

Math News

We began our new unit this week--Geometry.  This unit will involve learning the difference between points, lines, line segments, rays, and angles.  They will need to know the difference between an obtuse, acute, and right angle.  It will also involve learning how to measure an angle with a protractor.  We have plenty of protractors here at school and I will send a paper copy home next week.  We should finish this unit up by the end of next week and test on it the following Tuesday, January 30th.

There will be a homework packet sent home next week.  Students will also need to make sure they are completing at least 5 topics each week in ALEKS.  They should be able to master a topic in 10-15 minutes.  If they are working longer on a topic, they need to ask for help so they can master that topic.  Please have your child practice their multiplication facts.  There are many games on www.multiplication.com that they would love to play that will help them.

If you still need to join Seesaw, please click here and follow the directions.

Science News

We finished our astronomy unit!  Tests were given today online and students were able to immediately see their score.  This test was worth 200 points.  I am very pleased with scores for most students.  

We will begin the next unit on plants and animals next week.  This is always a fun unit!  As it gets a little warmer, we will be hatching chickens.   If you or someone you know has chickens that have fertilized eggs, please let me know.  We will need at least 2 dozen eggs at that time.  Whoever we get them from can have any chicks hatched as well. ; )

Fourth Grade News

Related Arts Schedule for next week

We are going to the Koger Center on Tuesday, February 13th to see a performance of “Freedom Train.” Information was sent home.  The cost is $13 per student and the money and permission forms are due by Friday, February 2nd.

Weekly News--January 12th

Benson/Bodrick News

News from the 4th Grade

January 12, 2018

Math News

Today we took our Unit 7 division test.  There were a lot of word problems on the test.  I will have it graded soon and the grades put into PowerSchool.  I will send it home next week also so you can see how your child did on these problems.  

Next week we will start our Geometry unit.  We will be describing and drawing lines, angles, and rays.  We will also practice using a protractor and measuring angles.  You do not have to provide a protractor--I have plenty to use in class and I will provide a paper protractor for everyone to take home with them.

There will be one more ALEKS grade for this nine weeks also.  I will be counting all topics mastered between January 3rd and January 18th.  I have encouraged students to master as many as they can so that they can get some extra credit points for extra topics.  I’m not telling them a number, but they should master at least 10-15 topics and any over than amount will count as extra points.

No homework packet will be sent home next week.  Please have your child practice their multiplication facts.  There are many games on www.multiplication.com that they would love to play that will help them. The better they know their facts, the easier this unit will be for them to complete.

If you still need to join Seesaw, please click here and follow the directions.

Science News

This week we focused on the moon and its phases.  Fun fact:  Did you know we never see the backside of the moon?  Next week we will review for our big astronomy unit test.  Tuesday I will give each student a study guide.  I will post the correct answers in Google classroom that afternoon so that they can check their study guides and study the correct information.  The test will be on Thursday.

ELA News

This week, we focused our attention on informational text features and visual aids that help make navigating through informational text easier. Students received a colorful note-page with all features and their purpose. Please make sure they study it because they will need to be familiar with when they TEST at the end of next week!  Students will also conduct research to create their own informational magazines. They will have all week to work on both at school and at home. Guidelines will be sent Monday and finished product will be due on Monday, January 22, 2018.

Additionally, I would like to continue to shine a light on my Lexia completers so special shout out to the following students who finished Lexia Core 5:

• Jack Dalrymple
• Aiden Grant
• Brooke Blanding
• Aaron Fonce
• Austin Jeffcoat
• Harris McLean

The following students are almost there! Keep pushing: Lily Calhoun, Thomas Bozard, Daija Caldwell, Liana Adams, Caroline Goff, Jake Gonzales, Jeremy Harris, Emily Lancaster LaLonnie Mitchum, and Libby Lee

What you can do at home to help your child be successful:

• Discuss What Your Child is Reading and help them complete weekly Reading Responses which will now be checked as they are submitted via Seesaw
• Find Reasons to Write outside of the Classroom
• Play Educational Games/Watch Educational Videos - LEXIA and STUDY ISLAND can be used at home and is strongly encouraged for students who are pulled out during class time/not meeting weekly requirement.

Social Studies News

Next Week: The Triangular Trade and Early Slavery in the Colonies - TEST Wednesday

This week students made a Paper bag Book on the Triangular Trade. Please ask them about it and have a conversation with them about what they learned to prepare for test. They also have a map that they completed in class today that shows what was exported and imported along the three routes. (Some students left at school which was not supposed to happen!)

Remember:

• Students (and now parents) can access Google Classroom at home. All presentations and special links are posted there as references. Students may use these references when studying and completing weekly RAP questions. Some links are interactive games and videos!
• RAP Questions are assigned every Thursday and it is highly encouraged that students use notes to complete. Social Studies journals will come home on Thursday.
• A parent study guide has been issued for your personal use (so you can help your child if for some reason they are missing information or you aren’t exactly abreast on your history!)

Fourth Grade News

Related Arts Schedule for next week

We are going to the Koger Center on Tuesday, February 13th to see a performance of “Freedom Train.” Information was sent home last week.  The cost is $13 per student and the money and permission forms are due by Friday, February 2nd.

We took class picture this week.  You can still order pictures.  The cost is $12 and the money is due no later than Wednesday, January 17th.  

Ending Thoughts

Thank you for sharing your children with us!  Please feel free to email us with any questions.  For those who signed up for Remind 101 with Ms. Bodrick, feel free to shoot a text if necessary.  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 Ms. Aubriaunna Bodrick