The month of February is flying by.  It is hard to believe that next week we will have our February break (Feb. 16-20.) Currently, we are getting a bit low on supplies.  Please check and see that your student has enough pencils, a glue stick, and a pair of scissors each day.  Thanks so much for your help.

If your child is participating in our Valentine’s Day exchange, please see the list of 21 names that was sent home last week.

Finally, we are very excited to see the boys and girls S.T.E.M. presentations which will be held in our classroom from 9:30-10:15 this Friday.  Come join us!

Here is what we plan on covering in our class this week-

Math My Math students will work on multiplying fractions this week.  (This includes multiplying fractions in word problems.) We will have a quiz by week’s end.

Language Arts   I am enjoying reading your student’s expert informational reports.  This week we will work on writing a summary after reading a given passage.  We will also review how to find the main idea of a text. And, we will look at the difference between main idea and theme. Lesson 8 Wordly Wise test is this Thursday, Feb. 14^th.

Science We have been studying the water cycle.  All students should have vocabulary in their Science journals along with a labeled illustration of a water cycle.  Students should study this material for a quiz on the Water Cycle this Tuesday, Feb. 12th.

I hope you all have a great week and a restful winter break.

Our class had a great week. The boys and girls did a wonderful job as we went westward all day last Thursday.  Each student participated going along the Oregon Trail.  It was great to see so many students cooperating with each other, helping others figure Math equations, writing journal entries, and solving problems similar to those brave men , women, and children who went along the Oregon Trail! 

February Calendar 

February 12 Student Banking 5 – 8pm  Zaxby Night
February 15 STEM Expo
February 18 – 22 Winter Break
February 26 Student Banking
February 28 School Store
and Papa John’s Night

Important Information  – Send in Box Tops!  PTA will be counting Tops at the end of the week.  Put your child’s grade level on the baggie to enter our school contents

Donate Supplies for our Enrichment Teachers.  All students go to PE, Art, Math Lab, Music and STEM Lab!  Our enrichment teachers are running low on tissues, and Clorox wipes, etc., and appreciate any donations.

Here is our curriculum focus this week–

Math  My Math students will add and subtract  mixed fractions. We will  practice identifying improper fractions (the numerator is larger than the denominator e.g., 25/5) and changing improper fractions to a mixed fraction.  To change an improper fraction to a mixed number fraction you must divide the denominator into the numerator.  So, 25/5 = 5.  (The answer is simply the whole number 5, no fraction.)   

Language Arts In Reading we will determine the theme of a story. We will examine the difference between theme and main idea.  Please look for notes in your students Reading IAN. In writing, we will be looking at how to write a lead. Students should be working to complete their expert stories this week. We will begin Lesson 8 in Wordly Wise (no test this week.)

Science  We will begin to look at the components that make up the Water Cycle this week.  Please look for vocabulary words that students should place in their Science IAN this week. ++The Water cycle has NO beginning or end- this is an important concept that should be noted in your student’s journal.

Social Studies Last week students were given a Westward Expansion Study guide,  These completed study guides should be returned tomorrow (Monday.) Students have notes in their Social Studies notebooks to answer questions from the study guide.  Westward Expansion test is this Thursday, February 7, 2019. Thank you for your help in advance in test preparation.

I hope you all have a great week.

The weather may be cold outside, but our students are on fire when it comes to listening and following directions. Our class received two complements during art class and during the library lesson last week.  It was great hearing this news.  Keep it up boys and girls! This week may be a little mixed up due to possible upcoming weather conditions, but I know we will be flexible, and the week will be just fine!  Also, this is kindness week  so let’s remember that one kind word can make all the difference… 

Here is our focus this week-

Math   My Math students will be taking a pretest on our upcoming standard which is learning about mixed fractions.  This week we will focus on adding and subtracting mixed fractions.

Language Arts During reading our class will review comparing and contrasting points of view.  We will have a quiz on this information by the end of the week.  In writing our students will examine subtopics. Subtopics allow students to reorganize their ideas that they are expert upon into a clearer and more coherent piece of work. WE will also look at topic sentences and determine the best way to begin with a topic sentence. Wordly Wise test this Thursday.  (I was so happy to see so many students take home their Wordly Wise book home over the weekend to study.)

Social Studies This week we hope to recreate a simulation along the Oregon Trail.  If time permits, students will also write a letter to Andrew Jackson explaining their experiences along the trail.  We will also discuss the Gold Rush of San Francisco.  Students will discover that it was not the gold miners who struck it rich!

I hope you all have a safe and happy week.

January is a great month for many people to make resolutions.  I ask my students to try and complete one task that allows them to be kind to themselves and in the process, help others.  During the last week of this month, our goal is to work on a kindness challenge.  Here are some details from Mrs. Kotarba that we will work on here as part of our Kincaid community.

 We will show kindness in our community by hosting a toiletries drive to benefit The Center for Children and Young Adults AND Safe Path Children’s Advocacy Center. With the help of our Student Council, we will be collecting items such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, etc. These items will go to children in our community.  A flyer with more information will come home about this. 

We will also have some fun by dressing up to the following themes each day.

Monday (1/28)-Hats off to kindness (wear hats)

Tuesday (1/29)-Being kind is groovy (wear 70s clothes)

Wednesday (1/30)-Kindness Rocks (wear rock star clothes)

Thursday (1/31)-Cougars are Kind (wear Cougar Pride or school colors)

Friday (2/1)-Cheer for Kindness (wear sports clothes)

Our calendar next week

Monday, January 21 – MLK Day – No School

Friday, January 25th – Foundation Friday Snowball Fight – $2

Here is our curriculum focus next week

Math My Math students have been working very hard learning different strategies to compare and make equivalent fractions. So far we have examined models, used a number line and a benchmark fraction (such as ½)  and created common denominators.  We will review these strategies this week.  A test on comparing fractions will be held before the end of the week.  We will then begin to look at fractions that are mixed numbers.

Language Arts Our students have begun to devise paragraphs to write to inform.  This week creating and writing subtopics is the focus in writing.  We will begin lesson 7 from the Wordly Wise text (no quiz this week.) In reading we will compare and contrast point of view. The boys and girls will practice crossing out dialogue and circling pronouns to determine the point of view from given passages.

Social Studies We will delve into a sad time in our country’s history by learning about the Indian Removal Act.  A discussion from reading about the Alamo and the Trail of Tears is also a part of this week’s focus.  Please look for this information in your student’s Social Studies IAN notebook.

I want to wish you all a happy and healthy week.

++Thank you to Emeya’s family for your donation of sanitizing wipes.  Our classroom could use a few additional canisters if you can donate – thank you!

I want to let you know that students who are in the Wordly Wise program will have a quiz this Friday.  I asked the boys and girls to write this information in their daily agendas today.

Regards,

Ms. Thompson

The month of January has gotten off to a great start.  Just a reminder to please have an absence note within three days of your child returning to school.  Also, if your child has a transportation change, or if your student does not usually attend the after-school program but will be attending the program, please have a written note brought to school.  (Sometimes my e-mail may not be working, or I may not get to check my mail until the end of the day.)  Many thanks.

Also, if you have any sanitizing wipes that you can donate to our class, I would appreciate it.

The Kincaid Calendar this week-

• Tuesday, January 15 – Chick-fil-A Night 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, January 16– Science Fair 5:30 pm

Here is our focus this week-

Math   My Math students will be learning to create equivalent fractions by finding the least common multiple.  The children will learn how to compare fractions by finding common denominators. If time permits, we will also compare fractions by using a benchmark fraction e.g., ½ is considered a benchmark fraction.

Language Arts- We will continue to focus on evidence -based research strategies.  This week we will finding the theme and details to support it.  Seaman’s Journal is a wonderful story about a dog who traveled on the Oregon trail. Our students will find out the point of view of this story and answer comprehension questions from this text. In Writing we will begin to learn how to write to inform.  Please look in your child’s writing IAN notebook for details about the differences between narrative and informational writing. Key points about how to write to inform will also be introduced.

Science   We will go to the Science lab Tuesday to learn about weather instruments.

Social Studies Merriweather Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea are a few of the characters that will be discussed.  These individuals were pivotal leaders in the United States expansion westward.

I hope you all have a wonderful and healthy week.

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday.  Blessings to you in 2019!  I am looking forward to getting back to a routine and seeing the boys and girls. Many thanks go to Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Gonzalez for a wonderful holiday party.  The children loved creating a gingerbread man ornament and the snowball tower knockdown game was fun! I also want to thank everyone for the class gift.  I appreciate your generosity.  I have also enjoyed the special treats and other thoughtful personal gifts.  I am so grateful for a wonderful class!

Here is what we are focusing on the first week back.

Math   We will begin our study of fractions.  A good understanding of prime and composite numbers, as well as being fluent in basic multiplication facts will really help your child with finding equivalent fractions this week (and ultimately simplifying them.)

Language Arts An evidence- based strategy that our students will learn this week in both Reading and Writing is the R.A.C.E. method.  This acronym stands for Restate the question, Answer the question. Cite evidence (from the text) and Explain the answer.  As the boys and girls will practice this strategy, please look for notes in the Writing IAN notebooks this week, along with a graphic organizer that will be used.

Social Studies We will begin our study of the Westward movement by reading about the Louisiana Purchase this week.  Students will discover the lives of the great explorers, Lewis and Clark, as well as their guide, Sacagawea.

Have a wonderful week.

Hi Parents,

As you know, this is the last week before tour holiday break.  Excitement has already begun to build up here at Kincaid.  I sincerely appreciate your help keeping routines at home, and I want to thank you in advance for reminding your son or daughter to continue to remain focused this week! (Believe, I know that this can be difficult for all of us!)

Our holiday celebration is this Wednesday from 12:30-1:30 P.M. If you get a chance, please stop by!

Reminder: Early dismissal this Thursday and Friday at 12:15 P.M. If your child has a transportation change this week, please send in a written note.

I want to wish you a very joyous Holiday filled with family and friends.

Kind regards,

Sally Thompson

Here is our curriculum focus this week-

Math My Math students are wrapping up division this week.  WE will have a test this Wednesday. All Fourth-grade students will be completing a post test which will consist of material from quarter two (multiplication, perimeter, rectilinear figures, and division.)

Language Arts Our students will be working on a final opinion piece of writing.  Theme: SNOW!  We will also create lovely polish snowflakes to add to the writing.  No Wordly Wise this week. In Reading, we will wrap up text structures.

Science   Students received information about the Ecosystem project last week.  Last Friday, the boys and girls received an explanation about the Ecosystem rubric which contains details on this required project. Please ask your child to review this rubric. Ecosystem diorama presentations are due this Thursday. (Rubrics should be returned please.) Projects that are turned in late will have a deduction in points.

I want to wish you safe travels and a very blessed Christmas.

The holidays are in full swing now.  Please encourage your student to continue to stay focused on class instructions, read to prepare for Accelerated Reading quizzes, complete homework in a timely manner, and study for tests.  Thank you so much for your continued support.  This Friday, the Sprayberry ROTC students will join our Fourth grade to provide instruction to our students.  It will be a fun day. 

Here is what we are covering in class this week.

Math My Math students will work on the partial quotient strategy.  For students who may be struggling, please refer to the notes in the Math IAN.  Additional examples will be provided this week.  Our students will work on dividing three- and four-digit dividends into one-digit divisors.  Mr. Bridges has also been providing division strategies for all Fourth-grade students.

Language Arts Our class is continuing to focus on text structures.  We are going to finish main idea.  A review of problem and solution will also take place this week. Wordly Wise Lesson 5 quiz is this Thursday.  In writing, students will continue to look at different kinds of opinion writing.

Science   Terms to know this week include:  biome, producer, consumer, decomposer, chlorophyll, and photosynthesis, biotic, and abiotic.  We will look at the relationship of living things in a food chain and a food web.

I hope you all have a great week.

I am so thrilled to announce that Emeya is Kincaid ‘s Spelling  Bee winner!  Brendz did a great job representing our class too.

Way to go!!!!

Congratulations Emeya!