Mrs. Lovingood's Helpful Resources to Survive Fourth Grade

Social Studies

4th GRADE NORTH CAROLINA SYMBOLS PROJECT
Dates January 25, 2010 - February 22, 2010

    Each 4th grade student will be responsible for a NC Symbols Project and Presentation for 3rd quarter.  While at school, the teachers, along with our Media Specialist, will gather information for 6 of the 15 symbols.  The student are responsible for finding 9 other NC symbols.
    The following 6 symbols will be completed at school and will help satisfy part of our technology curriculum:    Flag, Seal, Motto, Bird, Tree, and Flower
*The final project 9 symbols of their choice will be continued in the same format, however the students will be responsible for the symbols on their own. Time will be given during the school day and two days after school will be offered. Wed. Feb. 10th and 17th, students will be allowed to stay after school and work in the computer lab with me till 4 pm. This is optional. They will also need to have a signed note to stay after school each day they choose to stay.
    The project will have 15 symbols total. Each symbol will have a summary written in the students words. The summary is not to be copied word for word from any resource. The pictures used will also be cited properly.
THE PROJECT WILL BE GRADED AS FOLLOWS:
15 Symbol pictures - 6 completed at school and 9 completed on own.
15 Summaries - Will include: facts, reasons why it was chosen etc.
 Neatness****Make your project “Eye Catching and Appealing”****
Classroom Presentation - Knowledge of symbols, clear voice  

Make sure you cite which site you get your information from. They may research at home and write their paragraphs. They must complete the project at school because we are using technology to create our project.

Symbols Research Using the Secretary of State Website

Symbols Research Using the State Library Website

Symbol Research Using State Symbols USA

Reading

You may click on the current story to go to a website that your child can use to study vocabulary from the story, learn about the author or get more background on the story.

Spelling City - A great way to study your spelling words a fun way! Just click on the link and FIND A LIST by typing my last name. You will see the list for each story and the High Frequency Words for K-5. Even if you have another child in another grade you can use my site to let them practice their HFW for their age level.

The Last Dragon - Jan. 5 - Jan. 15
     Test on 13th
Marven of the Great North Woods & Akiak (Two stories) - Jan. 18 - Jan. 29
     Test on 29th

Have you tried RAZ-KIDS.com? Ihave sent home the website and user names already.  Remember your childshould read 30 minutes 4 out of 7 nights a week.  I accept any type ofreading logged into their agenda, ie. newspaper, magazine, book orinternet. Please try to question them after they read to checkfor understanding.

Writing

I have added some websites that may help you with your current writing project. So what animal or part of nature do you want to explain with a tale? As the days pass please check back for more sites.

http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/loreindx.html

http://www.ocbtracker.com/ladypixel/legend.html

Math

Our math book is available online to get that extra help you may need. Just log in and use the online tools. Pearsonsuccessnet.com
Please remember that I am available Wednesday mornings from 7:20 - 7:45 for FREE math tutoring. If your child would like to come in early on Wednesdays just let me know. They will come straight to the room and we will work on math strategies that they need extra help on.  If your child misbehaves during this time they will be asked not to return.

Science

We will begin our study on rocks and minerals. We will learn in the classroom, with Mrs. Drye and in the computer lab. Our class is also going to get our feet wet with a rock science experiment to better prepare them for fifth grade.

Grades

I amusing an online system to keep track of the students grades in additionto a standard grade book.  You received your password already,so I willencourage you to sign into the site anytime you wish to checkup on yourchild's grades.  Here is the link for that site: ENGRADE

If youhave any questions about your student's learning please do not hesitateto call me. If there is anything else that you would like to see addedto this site please let me know. I want this to be a tool that you canuse at least monthly.  It takes time to set it up and Iwant to makesure it is useful to the parents and students!

12 Powerful Words - By Larry Bell

Ourschoolwill be learning about 12 powerful words that can help studentsachievebetter results on test and in school work.  The students willbepracticing these words from K-12 in our county by learning a songandmotions that go along with the words.  The teachers will also showhowthese words can teach the kids skills needed to be successful.

Word	Short Student Friendly Phrases
1.  Trace	Follow, track outline, list in steps
2.  Analyze	Think through, break apart, break into pieces
3.  Infer	Figure out, read between the lines, predict, what are they trying to say
4.  Evaluate	Judge, value of, meaning, examine, solve, test for the truth of, tell one good and one bad
5.  Formulate	Come up with, make a plan, develop, make, create
6.  Describe	Tell about, show me, list details
7.  Support	Provide reasons, tell reasons, give examples, back it up
8.  Explain	Tell all about, tell what and why, tell how, teach to someone else
9.  Summarize	Tell main parts, bottom line, main ideas
10. Compare	List sames, all the ways they are alike
11. Contrast	List differences, all the ways they are different
12. Predict	Educated guess, tell what could or may happen, look into the future