Weather or Not!!

We are currently working on our 2nd common core unit. We will be focusing on answering the following essential questions:

1. How does factual knowledge about a topic increase your appreciation of literature?
2. How does the author's use of story elements affect the plot?
3. How does weather affect the decisions we make?

We will be referring to these questions during reading, writing, science, and social studies. Please check this blog weekly for new posts, information about what we are working on, and ways to work with your child at home. Feel free to comment. I'd love to hear from you! Below I am posting two links that relate to the social studies content we have been learning about. Ask you child to identify the five regions of the United States.

http://youtu.be/_E2CNZIlVIg

http://youtu.be/uLxLs-QhXs0

Welcome Back Parents and Students!

I am so excited to be starting this new school year with you! First, I'd like to tell you a little about myself. My name is Kari Spurlock. I earned my teaching degree at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR. This is my third year teaching in the Springdale School District and also at Sonora. This is my 12th year teaching. I started my teaching career in Rogers and taught there for nine years. I love being a teacher at Sonora Elementary and I can't wait to get to know each one of you. I have been married to my husband Harry for eight years and we have two daughters. Katelyn is five and will be starting kindergarten and Quinn is three and in preschool.

I hope to use this blog to communicate with you regularly about what is going on in class and also to show activities and examples of the learning we are doing in our classroom. I hope to make this one of many ways to communicate with you and your family. Please leave comments and questions. I would love to hear from you!

I want to hear from you!

I would love to hear from some of my 4th grade families. Is the blog helpful? What types of things would you like to see added? Is there a particular thing we do at school that you would like more information with to help your child? Please let me know. I'm also very curious to find out who is reading the blog and using the resources. Kspurlock@sdale.org   Thank You!!

Fractions

We are learning about fractions. We are reviewing what a fraction is as well as learning about equivalent fractions and adding fractions. I am posting some links to videos that you can watch with your child as a review or to further their understanding.

Introduction to Fractions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnFrOetuUKg&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A3VfV0oIBo&safe=active

Equivalent Fractions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtz32adSl1Q&safe=active

Adding Fractions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFDP_bbfW7s&safe=active

Reading Goals

Good Afternoon Families! We are on our last stretch of the school years. We have 25 days left of school. In order to keep students motivated to keep giving their best efforts and contiue to become better readers, we have set personal and a classroom goal. The class has set a goal of reading 200 books by May 17th. We started this on April 17th. Each student has set an individual goal to reach as well. If the class goal is met they will receive a reward from me. Mrs. Floyd and Coach Cole offered them a reward as well. Each student picked an individual reward if they meet their goal. I know they can do this! It isn't only about reading the books but they must also show comprehension for the book to be counted. We are keeping a chart outside of our classroom to track their progress. I will keep you posted on our progress. This will be their homework as well. Each night they are to read for at least 20 minutes. This has been the expectation all year. Please refer to the previous post of how important that 20 minutes is for the students. If your child is not bringing home books that are just right for them, please contact me and I will double check which books they are bringing home for homework. Thank you so much for your help!

Reading Homework

Hello 4th Grade Families!

I came across a very good visual this weekend while looking at Pinterest. The following picture is a great visual represntation of how reading nightly for 20 minutes is so powerful. I have had several conversations with parents over the years about homework. My class always has reading homework.  Even when they bring nothing else home, they should be reading for at least 20 minutes each night. Please take a look at the pictures below to see why this is so important. Happy Reading!

Benchmark Math Practice

Good Afternoon! We played a benchmark jeopardy game today to practice some math problems for the benchmark test that starts tomorrow. A student asked me if I would post the game to the blog so they could practice at home. That sounded like a great idea to me! Below is the link to the jeopardy game. It is titled Mrs. Worthy's Jeopardy. Mrs. Worthy made it for the 4th grade students.
 
www.jeopardylabs.com/play/mrs-worthys-benchmark-jeopardy

Try to work out this Open Response math problem with your child tonight. We will be doing this in class tomorrow. We are working on fractions this week as well as our open response strategies. Have your child bring their work to school if you complete it. I look forward to seeing them!

Spelling

Dear Families,
In order to better prepare for the writing portion of the Benchmark test we are going to work on the most frequently misspelled words for 4th graders for the next two week. One way you can practice these words with your child or have them practice individually is to use the link provided below to go  to the website Spelling City. There is a list of 30 words. Next week there will be another list of 30 words. Students will not be taking a traditional spelling test over these words. I just want them to practice using them and spelling them for homework for the next two weeks. Thank you for all your support and help!

https://www.spellingcity.com/kspurlock4/

Perimeter and Area

Today we reviewed perimeter and area. Please watch the teacher tube video with your child to review the information. I hope it's entertaining! :)

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=213301

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

Hello 4th Grade Families!

Below you will find the recipe that we used in class to make the slow cooker chocolate cake in the crock pot. Mnay students wanted me to post it so that they could try to make it at home with their families.

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake Utensils: Crockpot Measuring Cups Small mixing spoon Ingredients: 1 box chocolate cake mix 8 oz of sour cream 1 box of instant chocolate pudding 1 cup of chocolate chips 3/4 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 1 cup water Directions: Mix all the ingredients together. Pour into your slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Serve plain or with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Mathapalooza!!!!

Welcome Parents!

We are so excited to have you here to learn about some fun ways to practice math with your child at home. In this room we will be looking at interactive geometry activites that your child can do online to help build their skills in geometry.

Please find a laptop and take a look at some of these sites with your child. Have Fun!

http://mathcats.com/explore/polygons.html

http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/classrooms/amy/geometry/6-8/activities/quad_quest/quad_quest.html

http://www.haelmedia.com/OnlineActivities_txh/mc_txh4_001.html

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/maths/greg_morgan_symmetry/index.htm

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/symmetrizer/

 http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/icy_slides_flips_turns/

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mw/swfs/robopacker_grade4.html

Welcome to Tales of a 4th Grade Classroom!

Hello! I am excited to start this blog in an effort to keep parents and community members up to date on the happenings in my 4th grade classroom as well as Sonora Elementary. Please check back soon for new posts.