Text Structure

Parents and Students,

Good Morning! I hope your day is off to a great start. We have been working on text structure in our class. Students are identifying if text is written in one of the five ways listed below.

• Order/Sequence
• Compare Contrast
• Cause and Effect
• Description
• Problem Solution

I am posting an anchor chart below as an example. I am also posting a link for students to play a fun interactive game that allows them to practice identifying structure. 

Text Structure Basketball

More Practice!!!

Here is a link to some more online interactive geometry games. :)
Geometry Practice

Polygons

Hello Sonora 4th Grade Families!

I hope you are enjoying the weather we have been having. I know I have! I wanted to take a moment to communicate to you a few things we are learning about and some things your child can work on at home to help them in class. We have been studying geometry during our math block of time. Much of what we are doing builds upon what the students have learned in previous grades. We are currently working with polygons. In order to be successful the students need to be able to identify and describe polygons. For some additional practice I am posting some links to interactive games that can help students to review the names and properties of these figures. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit our class blog.


                                                                                          Kari Spurlock :)

Polygon Game

Polygon or Not?

Homework

Hello Sonora 4th Grade Families!

I wanted to take a moment to talk about homework. Many of you and your children have been asking about it. Just as we discussed earlier in the year reading 20 minutes each night is their homework. They can do it alone or with someone. It is very beneficial if someone can discuss their book with them or ask questions to see if they understood what they read. I'm going to post below a couple pictures to show the importance of reading every night and a few examples of questions you can ask. Please contact me or comment below if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you at parent teacher conferences next week. Notes have been delayed due to snow days, so look for them coming home this week. Can't wait to be back at school!

Hello. I would like to take a moment and introduce myself. My name is Brianna Head. I am a student from Harding University and I am majoring in Early Childhood Education. This semster I will be completeing my intership through Sonora Elementary. For the next few months, I will be helping out in Mrs. Spurlocks classroom. She will be guiding me through observations, planning, and teaching. Before my internship ends, I will teach her class for two weeks, again with the guidance and support of Mrs. Spurlock, the school, and my teachers at Harding.  My teaching responsibilities are the same as the other staff here at Sonora Elementary. I look forward to getting to know and learning from her and her students! Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions on the blog for additional information. Thank you!

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!