Online Technology Support

Please allow your child to visit the websites that we use in the classroom. They are located on the left side of the blog. This will reinforce many of the online activities that they do in class.

Thank You!

Dear Parents:

At the end of February, your child will be taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Writing assessment.  FCAT Writing is a statewide assessment that measures students’ writing skills in grades 4, 8, and 10.

The FCAT Writing testing date is February 28, 2012 for all students in grades 4, 8, and 10.  It is important for your child to be present for the testing session.  Therefore, this notice is being sent home so that you can note this date and avoid making appointments for your child that might conflict with testing.

I know we are all working together towards the same goal of seeing your child succeed.  I am asking for your continued help and support at home to ensure we reach our goal for FCAT Writes.  Attached is a rubric used to score the FCAT Writes papers.  Your child is very familiar with this rubric, as we use it often in class.  Please look over the rubric when you are helping/reviewing your child’s writing with them.  This tool can assist you in providing effective feedback to your child.

It is also important you encourage your child to write.  The main objective is to encourage your child to write as often as possible. Try to help them see the fun in writing.  Here are some ways they can write on a daily basis:

Make it real. Your child needs to do real writing. It's more important for the child to write a letter to a relative than it is to write a one-line note on a greeting card. Encourage the child to write to relatives and friends. Perhaps your child would enjoy corresponding with a pen pal.

Suggest note-taking. Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings and to describe what (s)he saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.

Brainstorm. Talk with your child as much as possible about his/her impressions and encourage the child to describe people and events to you. If the child's description is especially accurate and colorful, say so.

Encourage keeping a journal. This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people (s)he likes or dislikes and why, things to remember or things the child wants to do. Especially encourage your child to write about personal feelings--pleasures as well as disappointments. If the child wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them--especially the child's ideas and perceptions.

Write together. Have your child help you with letters, even such routine ones as ordering items from an advertisement or writing to a business firm. This helps the child to see firsthand that writing is important to adults and truly useful.

Use games. There are numerous games and puzzles that help a child to increase vocabulary and make the child more fluent in speaking and writing. Remember, building a vocabulary builds confidence. Many of these educational games can be .

Suggest making lists. Most children like to make lists just as they like to count. Encourage this. Making lists is good practice and helps a child to become more organized. Boys and girls might make lists of their records, tapes, baseball cards, dolls, furniture in a room, etc. They could include items they want. It's also good practice to make lists of things to do, schoolwork, dates for tests, social events, and other reminders

I understand it can sometimes be challenging to explain the areas of writing to our children. I have attached other ways to help guide your child to better writing using the Six Trait Writing Model. You will also be reinforcing what they are learning at school.

Working together, we can ensure your child experiences success!

Six Trait Writing Model

Ideas and Content

• Know your topic, and when someone else reads it, they'll find out some information.
• Show what was happening ("The wildly spiraling tornado aimed straight for our barn") rather than telling what happened. ("It was scary”).  We refer to this as “Show, Don’t Tell in the classroom.
• Fill the paper with interesting information that make reading it fun and lively. Can you easily answer the question, "What is the point of this paper?"

Organization

• Get the reader's attention and give clues about what is coming.
• Add details to build on the main idea or story.
• Put details in the right place; everything fits like a puzzle.
• End at a good spot and don't drag on too long. Leave your reader with something to think about.

Word Choice

• The words are appropriate for the paper and each one seems just right.
• Try to use colorful, snappy, vital, brisk, and fresh words. 
• Don't over do your words. 
• Use energetic/strong verbs. 
• Some of the words and phrases are so vivid that the reader won't be able to forget them.

Sentence Fluency

• Keep your paper easy to read. You should love the sound of it.
• Sentence beginnings vary; they show how ideas connect.
• Try to use good "sentence sense" by letting your paper flow.
• Cut all the excess baggage.

Voice

• Use your personal stamp in your writing. It should sound like you.
• Write with confidence and sincerity.
• Fill your paper full of feelings and let your reader feel what you feel.
• You can tell that you wrote this. No one else sounds like this.

Conventions

• Use capitals correctly.
• Periods, commas, exclamation marks, and quotation marks are in the right places.
• Spelling is accurate. (Use spell check, dictionary, etc...)
• Every paragraph is indented to show where a new ideas begins.
• Grammar/usage is consistent and shows control.

November 14-18

Reading:

We are reading Tanya's Reunion by Stephen Currie this week.  This story can be found on pages 187 - 211 in your Houghton Mifflin reading books.   As we read this story, we will be working on evaluating how the author helps us understand how Tanya is feeling.

Our Focus Skill for this week is LA.4.1.7.2 - Author's Purpose.  The student will identify the authors purpose (e.g., to inform, entertain, explain) in text and how an author's perspective influences text. 

FCAT Reading Specifications pages 66-67

Writing:

This week in Language Arts we are working on incorporating metaphors and idioms into our writing to make it come alive.  We have some fun activities planned this week and are looking forward to seeing our young writers adapt what we are doing in the classroom to their own writing!

November 7-11

Our Focus Skill for this week is LA.4.1.7.4 Cause and Effect.  The student will identify cause and effect relationships in text.  Information on this topic can be found on our blog under FCAT Benchmark Websites and also in the FCAT Specifications on pages 71-72.

This week we are continuing to strengthen our writing skills by focusing on using strong verbs and transition words.  I can really start to see some improvements in the students writing, which is very encouraging!

Parents, please continue to work with your children on their homework.  We are all working together towards the same goal of seeing your child succeed!

October 31 - November 4

Reading:

We are reading Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora this week.  This story can be found on pages 159 - 175 in the Houghton Mifflin reading books. 



This story is about the childhood experiences of Tomas Rivera, who was a famous writer of stories, poems and a book.  He later became a teacher and  head of a university.  In addition, he traveled around the world to talk about Mexican American writers in the United States. The strategy we are going to work on to guide our comprehension through this story is drawing conclusions.

Our Focus Skill is LA.4.1.7.3 Main Idea The student will determine explicit ideas and information in grade-level text, including but not limited to main idea, relevant supporting details, implied message, inferences, chronological order of events, summarizing, and paraphrasing.

FCAT Reading Specifications pages 68-70

October 10 - 14

Reading:

In Reading this week, we are reading Chester Cricket's Pigeon Ride by George Selden on pages 134B-134H. This fictional selection is about a cricket's amazing journey through New York City, riding on a pigeon. The strategies to revisit while reading are Predict & Infer and Monitor & Clarify.

We're also reading The Parcel Post Kid by Michael O. Tunnell on pages 134I-134L. This nonfiction text is a true story about a girl who makes an incredible trip to visit her grandmother-- as a package! The strategy to revisit while reading are Questioning and Summarizing.

Our Focus Skill is Text Structure, pages 73-74 on FCAT Reading Specifications.
LA.4.1.7.5 The student will identify the text structure an author uses (e.g., comparison/contrast, cause/effect, sequence of events) and explain how it impacts meaning in text.

Social Studies:In Social Studies this week we continued studying the geography of Florida. We finished working in chapter one lesson one and completed the accompanying workbook pages. We also, reviewed our map skills studied in previous weeks.

Writing:

In Writing this week, we continued working with narrative stories with a focus on precise word choice.

Every student is going to receive the opportunity to publish their own book. The students will work through the process of writing a book, visiting all stages of writing: planning, prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading/editing, publishing, and illustrating and their stories. The books the students are writing can be on any topic and in any format. We began planning for the book writing this week. The students created writing folders with pages similar to that of the final draft. Every student published masterpiece will be available for purchase.

Lesson of the Week October 3 - 7

Story of the Week Oct 3 - Oct 7 

The story of the week is By the Shores of Silver Lake. This story is on pages 110-126 in the reading textbook. The strategy focus of the week is questioning. As students read, they should ask questions about what they see and think to help them better understand the story. The comprehension skill for the week is noting details. Understanding the major and minor details of a story allows the reader to better understand the theme or main idea of a story or selection.

October 3-14, 2011

Focus Calendar Standard: LA.4.1.7.5 Text Structure/ Organizational Patterns

Parents and students, you can go to the FCAT Reading Specifiations to learn more about this standard. You will also have the opportunity to view similar styled questions that will asked on the FCAT Reading Assessment. Please, contact me if you need further assistance.

Lesson of the Week - September 26 - 30, 2011

This week we will be reading the story Finding the Titanic. This story can be found on pages 82-101 in the reading textbook. The strategy focus throughout the story is monitory/carify. As the students read the story they should monitor their understanding by re-reading and carification of events and ideas. The comprehension skill of the week is text organization. We will focus on the use of outlines to help organize facts and events from the story to increase student understanding of the story structure.



Week of 9/12 - 9/16

Reading Story 9/12 - 9/16

This week in reading class we will be reading the story, Grandfather's Journey. The story can be found in the reading textbook on pages 63-74. Parents can check out a reading book from the media center to keep at home. There will be a reading test on Friday 9/16/11.

August 22-26

Reading & Writing:

Students were taught the rituals and routines of Readers and WritersWorkshop.

Opening: (reading) Teachers teach a reading skill or a strategy. Students are actively listening and participating in discussions. (writing) The teacher teaches a particular writer's craft utilizing authentic literature and other resources.

Work Time: (reading) The teacher is observing students, conferencing, and doing guided reading with a small group of students. The students are practicing the skill or strategy that was taught by the teacher, at learning centers, or on computer interactive learning sites. (writing) The students utilizing the writer'scraft in their writing.

Closing: The teacher is actively listening to the students and clarifying any misconceptions the students may have. The students are sharing what they've learned verbally as well as in their reflection response journal.

Welcome to 4th Grade

I'm so proud of all of you. This week has been awesome. I look forward to numerous adventurous events and learning activities throughout the year. Please, remember to study hard, read and write daily.

Love,
Mrs. Bridges

Math & Reading Assistance

Students: Please don't forget to log onto IXL.com and FCATexplorer.com. I can see that only four students has logged on since Spring Break. Remember, you should exercise your brain by doing daily academic instruction whether it be online interactive activities or your FCAT Spring Ramp Up package.

You are headed for success. Just stay on the right path!

Mrs. Bridges

Spring Break & FCAT Ramp Up

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you all are enjoying your break and relaxing from the day to day school activities. However, let's keep in mind that FCAT Reading and Mathematics are only five school days away. We begin testing on April 11-14, 2011. Therefore, you must exercise your brain daily so that you will retain all of the standards that you've been taught. Please work on completing your FCAT RAMP UP package daily. There is no work assigned for next Saturday or Sunday. Remember that you must do your part in order for you to achieve success.

If you need further assistance, be sure to ask your parents for help. Ask them to give you samples of the problems so that you will understand what to do. YOU CAN DO IT! You can also call me if you need more assistance.

NEW FCAT Materials:

I have added new FCAT materials. To add on, I've posted online FCAT-Like tests that you can take. You will get your score right after you take the test. You can take it online or someone can print it for you. GOOD LUCK! Also, there are several new reading links added. Check them out! Leave me a comment to let me know what you think of the new items.

Love always,
Mrs. Bridges

FCAT Assistance

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am reaching out to you for your support and assistance in helping to ensure your child is successful. On April 11-14, 2011 your child will take the Reading and Mathematics portions of the FCAT. Your child must score a level 3 or higher, equivalent to 70% - 100%.

In the classroom, I am teaching the children several standards that will be tested in Reading and numerous standards that are tested in Mathematics. In addition, I’m reviewing for some and teaching to others, several skills that the children should have learned in previous grades (telling time, simple addition, simple subtraction, simple fractions) and so on. To add on, I’m teaching the students Reading and Math test taking strategies. For instance, how to find their answers in the reading stories, how to determine which information is necessary for them to solve their math problems and so much more. Even with everything that I’m doing to help them, they require additional assistance. Therefore, from me and your child, I’m asking for your help. FCAT links are also posted on the left of this blog.

Thank you,

Mrs. Bridges

New FCAT Narrative Writing Anchor Papers

Click on the heading above, "New FCAT Narrative Writing Anchor Papers" to view last year's writing prompt and samples. Show your child what a score of 6 looks like. Your child's writing should have an engaging beginning that grabs the reader's attention. It should include numerous, SPECIFIC details with transitional phrases. Additionally, it has to be written in an organizational pattern that flows smoothly.The conclusion should show a thorough ending to the story. The paper must have a sense of completeness, providing full details about everything each step of the way and keep the reader engaged the entire time. Most importantly, the story must be ON TOPIC!

Please contact me if you need my assistance with anything.
Mrs. Bridges

New FCAT Information

I have added a link for you to assess FCAT Reading Task Cards to help your child prepare for the FCAT Reading test. The task cards list FCAT-like questions that you can use to ask your child questions about what they have read.

Click on the heading above "New FCAT Information."

As always, thank you for your assistance in preparing your child for a bright future.


Mrs. Bridges

Spelling Test Tomorrow

Spelling Words

1. first
2. second
3. third
4. fourth
5. fifth
6. basically
7. least
8. summary
9. conclusion
10. analysis
11. event
12. finally
13. savor
14. favor
15. desire
16. admire
17. fond of
18. have a soft spot for
19. get weak in the knees
20. take pleasure in

Only Eight Planets?

                                   Only Eight Planets?

Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde W. Tombaugh. It was thought to be the ninth planet in our solar system. However, the term planet had never been defined. Many people wondered if Pluto should be called a planet. In 2006, scientists finally agreed on what makes a planet a planet. Planets must now pass three tests.

Pluto did not pass all of the tests. Pluto is now called a dwarf planet. Many other dwarf planets have been discovered in our solar system.

Solve It

Pluto is very small compared to the planets. it is even smaller than our moon.
Round each of these measurements to the nearest 100 km to make it easier to compare.

1.    Distance through the center of Pluto: 2,274 km                       __________________________

2.    Distance through the center of Earth's moon: 3,476 km           __________________________

3.   Distance through the center of Mercury: 4,487 km                   __________________________

4.   Distance through the center of Mars: 6,794 km                        __________________________

Taken from: MonsterMathBlogger

FCAT Writing Workshop

Your child will take the State FCAT Writes on March 1, 2011. It's quickly approaching. There will be an engaging Writing Workshop held at Biltmore on Thursday, January 13, 2011. Please plan to attend so that you will be able to help your child prepare for FCAT Writes.

Saturday School is Coming SOON!!!

Biltmore will have Saturday School beginning Saturday, February 5, 2011. Students will take the new version of FCAT this year, FCAT 2.0. This FCAT test is created by the new standards for reading and mathematics. I can't stress enough how important it is that you make sure your child attends. Parents, it is not up to the child. Do NOT leave the decision on whether to attend Saturday School or not, up to them. YOU are in control and know what is best for them. This year we will have intensive 5 week Saturday sessions for only 3 hours.

Saturday School is scheduled to begin at 8:30am to 12 noon. Classes will begin promptly at 9:00am. Students are expected to attend all sessions. The students that attend all sessions will be invited to an after school party with a DJ on the last Saturday School session on April 9, 2011.

Saturday School Dates:
February 5, 2011 & February 26, 2011
March 12, 2011 & March 19, 2011
April 9, 2011

Attendance

Attendance in school is vital to your education. New learning standards are taught and reinforced daily. It's extremely important for each student to come to school on time. Therefore, I'm challenging all parents and students to take the Attendance Pledge and sign it by adding your name in the comment box.

Attendance Pledge
(Student)

I pledge today to do my best
To go to sleep and get plenty of rest
I'll get up early and come to school
So that I'll get good grades and be real cool!

Attendance Pledge
(Parent)

I pledge today to do my best
To send (your child's name) to bed to get some rest
I'll wake (your child's name) up early and send them to school
I love my child and good parents RULE!