j0107586[1] Weekly Newsletter/Classroom Information

NEWS FROM MRS. JACKSON’S CLASS

November 14, 2008

IMPORTANT DATES

November 17-21, 2008 – Palos West Book Fair in Media Center

November 20, 2008 – Parent Visitation 1:15-2:30 for 4^th grade

November 26-30, 2008 – Thanksgiving Break

December 1, 2008 – Classes resume

December 2, 2008 – PFA Hot Dog Day (Pizza)

E-mail address: djackson@palos118.org

School web site: http://www.palos118.org/West/

School Office: (708) 448-6888

Classroom: (708) 761-3869

2nd Quarter Book Club requirements due by January 16, 2009

3 books - A

2 books – B

1 book – C

Remember homework assignments are listed daily on

my classroom website.

READING

· Week of November 17-21

Story: How to Babysit an Orangutan

Focus Skill: Summarizing

Vocabulary: displeasure, jealous, endangered, smuggled, facial,

coordination

SPELLING:

Week of November 17-21

List Words: Words “ou” like in pound

Challenge Words: orangutan, primate, rain forest, banana, species

Contract due November 20

Test given on November 20

* Remember to use spellingcity.com to practice list words at home.

ENGLISH:

Week of November 17-21

Grammar Skill: Complex sentences

Writer’s Workshop – Expository Writing

SCIENCE/HEALTH:

2^nd Quarter Units

Scientific Method – The test for this unit is in the Friday Folder and needs to be signed and returned.

Plant and Animal Survival – We have planted the Wisconsin Fast Plant and will be gathering data as the plants grow. Our goal is to find out if full light and fertilizer are needed for the optimum growth of the plant. We are using the steps of the scientific method to conduct our experiment.

3^rd Quarter Units

Rocks and Minerals

Electricity

SOCIAL STUDIES:

1st Quarter Units

Regions of the U.S.

4^th Quarter Units

Economics Unit

Government Unit

CLASSROOM INFORMATION:

MCj04247880000[1] E-mail address: djackson@palos118.org

My website has the current newsletter and the spelling and vocabulary list for the coming week. You will also find links to educational sites that relate to our units of study in 4^th grade. I have also added a homework link. I update this everyday unless I am unable to do so for some reason. Always check your child’s assignment notebook.

MCj04343830000[1] You may leave me a voice mail during the day, and I will return your call as soon as possible. My number is 761-3869. However, if you need to talk to someone directly, please call the office at 448-6888. Also, if there is a change in your child’s dismissal for the day, please call the office rather than leaving a voice mail.

ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK: Starting August 20^th and continuing each day throughout the year, your child will fill out an assignment notebook at the end of the school day. He or she should record the assignments for the day and any other important information they need to remember. Please be sure to ask for this notebook each day so that together you can go over the information to make sure everything is completed on time. Your child should also bring home their pocket folder each day.

(REMINDER: Be sure your child has purchased a Palos West assignment notebook. Every 4^th grader is expected to have one.)

SNACK BREAK: The morning seems like a very long wait for lunchtime to arrive. Therefore, our class will be having a “healthy” snack break every morning. The students may bring such foods as fresh fruit or vegetables, cheese, yogurt, crackers, pretzels, or a granola bar to eat during this break.

DISMISSAL: If your child is not riding the bus home on a certain day, you will need to send a note stating that your child is not to ride the bus that day. Please let me know if they will be picked up or if they will be a walker that day. Please remember that students are not allowed to ride a different bus home. I will also need a note if there is a change in pick up for car riders and walkers. If you call the school about a change in dismissal, be sure to call the school office and not my voice mail. The office will let me know about the change.
FRIDAY FOLDER: A red folder will be sent home every Friday. It will contain a weekly newsletter informing you of what was accomplished during the week as well as what will be coming up the next week. The folder will also contain work completed by your child. The first Friday Folder will be sent home August 22, 2008.
CARDINAL COURIER: This year the Cardinal Courier flyers will be sent home every Friday with the youngest child in the family. The flyers will contain information from the school, district, and community. You will find the flyers in the Friday Folder.
NOTES FROM HOME: In order to facilitate communication, please have your child bring all messages to school in an envelope clearly marked with the contents, child’s name, and teacher’s name.
GYM SHOES: Our class will be having gym class on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of every week. Please be sure your child has gym shoes with non-marking soles to wear on those days.

teacher

Mrs. Jackson

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Spelling and Vocabulary Lists

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Calendar

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Specials

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