GIVING THANKS

This week our students and Mrs. Luebber and I are thankful that Parent-Student-Teacher conferences are behind us. It is important that we had the opportunity to meet with parents and update them on student progress or needs. Thank you to all of the parents, and other relatives who met with us during conference week. In reading we are over halfway through Theme 2: Be Satisfied with What You Have. This is a common fictional theme where greedy or too clever people get what is really due them, instead of what they want or envision. We also completed our first Reading Benchmark Assessment. Additionally, students have four independent reading projects due in 2nd Quarter. The 1st project is due on Friday, November 30 when they come to class. Each night students should be reading for 20 to 30 minutes and completing their other reading homework on Monday through Thursday. Checking your student's homework is one way you as a parent can help them be more successful. Our Science Unit on Columbia; The River of Power is wrapping up this week. Students will be able to transfer some of the knowledge they now have about the Columbia to their Social Studies Unit as they learn about Washington's Regions. Currently, in Social Studies students are completing their Washington Region Maps. Students have completed their first Math Benchmark assessment this week. They will be completing Unit 3 in Math; Multiplying double-digit by double-digit the week after Thanksgiving and taking their Unit Assessment then. If you stop in at the school, please come down to the 4th grade hallway and see our Giving Thanks Tree. Students from all 4th grade classes are contributing "Thankful Leaves".

CONFERENCES AND LEARNING GOALS

1st Quarter is finished. This coming week is conference week. Monday will be a normal Monday schedule. However, Tuesday through Friday will be half days. Conferences will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 12:00 to 3:30 PM. Also, Tuesday and Thursday nights conferences are from 4:30 to 7:30. Please, attend your scheduled conference. MATH Goals are: double digit by single digit multiplication, double digit by double digit multiplication, using elapsed time and metric measurements. Students are learning the multiplication algorithms and how to use a quick sketch to check their work. SOCIAL STUDIES: Students are beginning to learn about Washington's Five Regions. READING Goals: Learning to state Main Ideas and Supporting Details, Summarizing a selection, determining cause and effect relationships in a selection, continuing to use Narrative Elements, Sequence, Vocabulary, and Author's purpose. As we learn more reading skills students must remember all of the previous skills and still be able to use them to comprehend what they are reading. SCIENCE: Students have learned about magnets, circuits, electromagnets, and simple generators using Dynamo Flashlights. These systems will help students understand our work next week on Hydopower.

Where Are We With Our Learning?

This past week and a half has been busy in Mrs. McBride's and Luebber's classrooms. In math students completed Unit 2 and took their Unit 2 assessment. The math goalS still are LEARN MULTIPLICATION BASIC FACTS, and learn how to use quick sketches to solve multiplication problems. In Social Studies students are wrapping up their Civics Projects. Their next Social Studies Unit will be learning the Geography of Washington. In reading students completed their Theme 1 Assessment. They did well overall on the vocabulary and fiction sections of the assessment. However, non-fiction (a biography)is an area where a lot more skill building is needed. In science students are completing their learning about the dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries. As we finish up our "Why Dams?" lessons students will be able to discuss why the Grand Coulee Dam was built; the five major uses of the Columbia River due to the dams, and several of the major problems that the dams created. Additionally, last Friday both classes began the G.R.E.A.T. Program with Officer Fuller of the Quincy Police Department. Ask you child what they are learning every day. Ask your child what their homework is and check their planner. Ask you child if their homework is done and have them show it to you. Those three questions and checks will help your child be successful in school.

Reading & Science

Though not pictured a big SHOUT OUT of WAY TO GO!, to Norma Rodriguez for completing her Heraldic Shield Writing Project with excellence and on time!

On to October!

During the first week of October the Green Giants (Mrs. McBride's Homeroom students) and the Purple People Eaters (Mrs. Luebber's Homeroom students) continued learning their multiplication facts. Multiplication is the foundation form many math skills to come. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for students to work on memorizing their facts until they have them. Also, students are continuing work on factors and multiples. In Social Studies the Green Giants are now working on their Citizenship and Branches of Government Civics Project, while the Purple People Eaters are in Science learning about the Salmon of the Columbia River, the stakeholders on the river, and Washington State Water Rights. In reading students from both classes are still working on recognizing and using Narrative Elements to comprehend (understand) Realistic Fiction Selections. Students are completing their Heraldic Shields Writing Project in both classes. Their shields will be on display in the classrooms and in our halls. The 4th grade hallway also has the Completed Civics Projects of 4th Graders displayed. When you are in our building stop down and see what our students are learning. They truly are learning to S.O.A.R. to new heights!

September Wrap Up

4th Grade Students in Mrs. McBride's class have been learning about the life cycle of the Salmon. The pictures above show two groups after they completed a life cycle investigation where they decided the order of a Salmon's life cycle. In Reading students are continuing to develop their skills in learning Narrative Elements, Inferences, and Time Management during class. We are completing a short story, "My Name is Maria Isabel" and are halfway through the novel, SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES. In Social Studies with Mrs. Luebber students are finishing their Civics Unit. They completed their Rights and Responsibilities Scrolls as one of their Civic's Projects. The Unit One Math Assessment has been completed; Factors and Multiples and Liquid Measurements. Now students will be learning 1 digit by 2 digit multiplication. The GREEN GIANTS and PURPLE PEOPLE-EATERS are off to a great start!

Autumn Arrives - Learning Continues

Reading, 'Rithmetic, Social Studies, Science, & Writing Updates In Reading students are continuing to learn about narrative elements, inferences, summarizing, and genres. Students have completed two reading selections with assessments and the Fall Reading NWEA and Dibels Assessments. In Science students are learning about the water cycle and watersheds in our River of Power Science Unit. Students are truly engaged in our investigations and are building background for their Washington State Geography Social Studies Unit. In Math students are still learning their MULTIPLICATION FACTS. It is very important that they continue to practice to memorize their facts. Additionally, they are learning about factors and multiples (another reason to learn to multiply). The 3rd thing students are learning in math is "liquid capacity"; gallon, quart, pints, cups, and ounces. Students need to continue to do their homework practice to reinforce their skills. In Social Studies students have learned about the branches of government; legislative, judicial and executive. Also they have been discussing local governments and citizenship. Our writing program is also underway. We are working on students designing and writing about a personal heraldic shield. On their shield they place symbols that have meaning for them personally. Then students write an essay that explains their heraldic shield. This project connects students to our positive character traits. We are looking for to seeing and sharing their shields and essays in our classrooms and hallways.

Learning to S.O.A.R. in September

Another school week is behind us, and another one is before us. Luebber/McBride students have been working on learning to meet our school's S.O.A.R. expectations. They have practiced classroom transitions and walking respectfully in the hallway. On Friday they were showing marked improvement. Parents please continue to talk with your child to ask them how their school day went and what they did. Many students are turning in homework and participating well in classrooms. However, on Monday of this past week students who did not bring homework back to school completed had to go to the homework study room instead of out to recess. If your child is continually going to the homework room, please check out our afterschool tutoring program. Your child's successful learning is our goal. In reading we are learning more about narrative elements, text features, and summarizing. Also, students are working on learning more prefixes, root words, and suffixes. On Monday students will be learning about their Independent Reading Goals. In math students are reviewing 3rd grade math skills and practicing showing their work on story problems. They need to continue to work on their MULTIPLICATION FACTS! Ongoing is our school ASB fundraiser, selling butter braids. Parents and students who came to open house were treated to delicious samples. All students at Monument have a fund raising packet to sell Butter Braids. They are encouraged to try to sell 6 items. On Friday students were treated to a Mexican Dancers Assembly. The students really enjoyed seeing their peers and friends from Elementary through High School dancing. We are looking forward to another great week of learning at Monument Elementary!

Off and Learning in September

Students are now completing their 2nd week of school. We are off to an amazing start! Our 4th graders are eager learners and earning school rewards for great behavior. We have a busy week coming up, our first five day school week of the year. September 10th we have our first late start. September 11th we have our Butter Braids Fund Raiser Kick-Off Assembly. September 12th we have open house at Monument from 5 PM to 7 PM. September 13th it is picture day. September 14th we have a Dance Team Performance Assembly. In addition to an active week we are working on learning to identify NARRATIVE ELEMENTS IN READING; characters, setting, and plot, and MAKING INFERENCES OR PREDICTIONS when we read. In Science students are learning about the Columbia River; Our River of Power and the Water Cycle. In Math students are working on memorizing their multiplication facts. Mrs. Luebber would really appreciate it if they continued to work on this 4th grade foundational math skill. And finally, in Social Studies students are learning about citizenship and the rights and responsibilties of citizens. We are both looking forward to continued successful learning for all of our students. Mrs. McBride & Mrs. Luebber

Learning to Love Learning - A Student Note.

A new school year is beginning. It can be a bit frightening and exciting at the same time. All of you are in a new school. You have new teachers. Your classes are different because you are students of both Mrs. Luebber (Math and Social Studies) and Mrs. McBride (Reading and Science). You will have one of us as a homeroom teacher, but make no mistake you are all our students. We will encourage you, challenge you, and help you take your learning to new heights. Together we can help you SOAR to NEW HEIGHTS OF LEARNING. Don't be afraid of the new, leap into learning, and fly higher as you learn to love learning in 4th grade. So accept our 4th grade challenge; spread your wings and become a high achieving Monument Eagle!

Spring 2012

Spring Break! Hmm?

I hope all of my students are getting a nice rest and having fun. I have finished prepping a new science kit that we will be piloting; River of Power. In this section of Science we will be learning about the Columbia River, the dams on the river, the stakeholders, impact on environment, and postive advances. It is a lot of information, but it will accent our Social Studies Curriculum; The State of Washington. This will be a very interesting science unit!

Reading and Writing will also be high priorities when we return to school on the 9th of April. Students will be honing their comprehension and applictation skills so they will be ready to show what they know on the upcoming MSP and NWEA assessments.

The school year will fly by once we return to school. I want all my students to be ready to return to school ready to learn and willing to work diligently on the skills they need to succeed.

Here's hoping we SPRING INTO SPRING!