Our first field trip!

Our first field trip is upon us!  Please make sure to return the signed permission slip as soon as possible.  The cost is $10.  If you are interested in chaperoning there are forms that MUST be filled out before the five parents can be selected.  Remember we will be having other field trips so if you don't come along this time, maybe next time! : )

Are crayfish are hungry!!

Help us experiment with our crayfish by sending in SMALL amounts of cooked corn or other vegetables, live earthworms or fish food.  :) Thanks for your continued support!

September Newsletter

Reminders

ü Sept. 12^th – bus drill

ü Sept. 13^th – first day of orchestra practice ( Mon. and Thurs. depending on instrument)

ü Sept. 24^th – Open House 6-8

o   We will begin in the gym

ü Sept. 26^th – NO SCHOOL

ü Sept. 28^th – Book orders due

ELA

Reading:

Ø  Students will learn about narrative elements. Setting, characters, plot, theme, point of view

Ø  We will be taking an in depth look into each element and using the information as we read throughout the year. We will also begin learning reading strategies from our reading CAFÉ !

 

Writing:

Ø  We’ll review the writing process and the 6 traits of good writing.

 

Grammar:

Ø  How to use nouns and pronouns effectively to make writing better.

Spelling Patterns: All tests are Thursdays!!!

Ø  Sight word list

Ø  List 1 – long and short a

Ø  List 2 – long and short e

Math

Third Grade review and Chapter 1

Concepts:

o   Place value, expanded, written and standard form in number writing, comparing, ordering and rounding numbers. We’ll also begin word problem strategies and skills.

Vocabulary:

o   Place value, standard form, expanded form, greater than, less than

Assessments:

o   Each unit of study will have a pre and posttest.  You will see how much your child has grown with each concept!

o   Math fact tests will be every other week.  All students will begin with additions facts.

Social Studies

Concepts:

v  Geography of NYS

v  Various maps

o   How to use legends

o   How to use a compass rose

o   What type of map is this?

Vocabulary:

v  Physical map

v  Political map

v  Labels

v  Compass rose

v  Latitude

v  Longitude

v  Continent

**We are awaiting live crayfish!  When they come we’ll begin our first animal unit!

 

Important Classroom Info

In Case You Were Wondering…

Contact Information

Classroom Teacher:  Mrs. Cushman

Grade Level Aide:  Mrs. Michelle Garabedian

Shatekon: 881-0580 ext. 48348

E-mail: cushkati@shenet.org

Blog: http://mrscushmansclass.blogspot.com/

Birthday Treats

We have 23 students in our classroom.  For this occasion sweet or healthy treats are welcome.  Please be sure to send in napkins.  Please do not send in any items that need to be cut.

Book Orders

I will send home book and software orders every month.  If you decide to order please either order online at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs, using activation code: J2LVC or write a check payable to Scholastic.  Please do not send cash.

Physical Education

Please have you child wear sneakers and comfortable clothes to school on Monday and Tuesday.

Newsletters

Expect to find a classroom newsletter in your child’s take-home folder every month.  The newsletter will also be posted on our class blog.

Daily Routines

Your child should bring his/her agenda and silver take home folder home each night and back to school each morning.  All assignments will be recorded in agenda book. 

 

Regular Assignments

You can expect nightly homework for spelling, math, and reading.  Please make sure students are working independently but an adult is checking that work is completed and correct.  You are invaluable to your student’s academic success!

 

J Mrs. Cushman

June Newsletter

Reminders

6/7 – Albany Field Trip

6/8 – Half day of school 11:00 dismissal

6/11 – Public Librarian presentation

6/13 - Mabee Farms Trip

6/14 – Fourth Grade Class picnic

6/15 – Flag Day assembly

6/15 – Half day of school 11:00 dismissal

6/21 – Last day of school ~ 11:00 dismissal

ELA

Reading:

Ø  Students are finishing novels begun and completing a comprehension check.

Ø  Our last TFK is here as well as another conservationist magazine!

Writing:

Ø  All students are working on their autobiographies. Please make sure to help find pictures of family to include.

Grammar:

Ø  We are wrapping up all parts of speech using MADLIBS!

Spelling Patterns:

Ø  List 28 -Vowel consonant, consonant, vowel

Ø  List 29 - Vowel consonant, vowel

Ø  List 29 is the last list!

Math

Chapter 3 Collect and Organize Data

Concepts:

ü Students will interpret data after displaying information in different ways.

ü Students will  use pictures to find possible outcomes

ü Students will describe probability with words and numbers

Vocabulary:

ü Median, mode, outlier, tree diagram, outcome, probability

Assessments:

ü June 6, 2012

Social Studies

Chapter 6 NYS Government

Concepts:

v Students will find out how New Yorkers take part in their local and state government

v Students will find out what it means to be a US citizen

Vocabulary:

v  Democracy, budget, bill, veto, appeal, justice, county seat, board of supervisors, trustee, borough, special district, immigrant, naturalized citizen, register, patriotism

Newsletter 5-21-12

Reminders:

5/23 Science performance test

5/24 Kindergarten registration

5/25 – No school

5/30 Field Day

Please make sure to return permission slip and fee for upcoming field trips ASAP!

This week’s ELA topics:

·         Writing – begin writing our autobiographies

·         Grammar – homophones to, too, two, there, their, and they’re

·         ELA – I will be reading with students one on one and assessing their progress as 4^th graders so far J

·         Spelling – homophones

This week’s Math topics:

·         We’ll review our math multiplication test

·         Triangles

o   Classify by angles

o   Classify by sides

o   Quiz Thursday!

This week’s Science topics:

·         We’ll begin reviewing for the NYS 4^th grade science test.  The test can include topics taught K-4.

·         This week we’ll review electricity and magnetism and see how it relates.

·       Please note that our testing time this week is not only during the morning.  It is imperative that your student is here all day and ready to learn. J

This week’s Social Studies topics:

·         The Albany Congress

·         New York and the French and Indian War

·         Chapter 4 test Thursday!!

Newsletter 5-14-12

Reminders:

5/15 Celebrate Reading Night and Budget Vote

5/23 Science performance test

5/24 Kindergarten registration

5/25 – No school

5/30 Field Day

Please make sure to return permission slip and fee for upcoming field trips ASAP!

This week’s ELA topics:

·         Writing – Final copy of our animal poem, special topic paragraphs and begin autobiography

·         Grammar – prepositions and contractions

·         ELA – TFK Olympics, reading to Mrs. Rosmarin’s first grade class, readers theater “Moon Poem”

·         Spelling – contractions

This week’s Math topics:

·         We’ll review our math money test

·         Review multiplication

o   Multiplying across zeros

o   Multiply three-digit numbers by two-digit numbers

o   Quiz Friday!

This week’s Science topics:

·         We’ll begin reviewing for the NYS 4^th grade science test.  The test can include topics taught K-4.

·         Our Earth Science study took longer than expected because the students were so interested!  We’ll finish up the food pyramid this week and move on to weather and the water cycle.

This week’s Social Studies topics:

·         We’ll discuss primary sources as artifacts.

·         We’ll also begin exploring what is was like in colonial New York

o   Vocabulary – economy, industry, manufacturing, manor, tenant farmer