Mrs. McCullough's Fourth Grade Classroom
Elms Road Elementary School Phone # (810) 591-1251
Swartz Creek, Michigan Classroom Phone (810) 591-1271
e-mail address Kay McCullough Scroll down and find my name under Elms staff listing.
Something to Toot About
Two of our students placed in the Elms Road Spelling Bee. That represents the top spellers out of about eighty-five children. Clayton took first place and Jacob P. took second place. They went on to compete against the other Swartz Creek Elementary Schools.
Neither one of the boys placed, but they both did very well. They were competing against the top spellers out of 300 children. We are very proud of them.
Neither one of the boys placed, but they both did very well. They were competing against the top spellers out of 300 children. We are very proud of them.
Valentine Party News
The party will be Wednesday, February 10 at 2:30.
Have your child bring a decorated box for the cards and contest. A list with student names lwill go home soon.
Have your child bring a decorated box for the cards and contest. A list with student names lwill go home soon.
Field Trip Information
The field trip date will be Wednesday, May 26. We are planning on going to Impressions Five Hands-on Science Museum and Potter Park Zoo. More information will be provided at a later date.
No spelling
We will not have spelling this week or next week. We will be doing vocabulary word study instead.
Fantastic Gains in Reading
The children took the DIBELS fluency reading test again this past week. This test measures the words per minute that the children read. In October, the average was 88 words per minute. The average went up to 122 words per minute. As a whole, the class gained 34 words per minute.
The children also did well on the STAR reading test. In September, the average grade level equivalent was 4.1. In January, the average grade level was 5.1. That represents a one year gain.
The comprehension test also showed some tremendous gains. I will share this information with parents at conference. Most all of the children are currently either at grade level or above grade level.
Some of these students do still have some gaps that we will be working on.
If we want to become better readers, we must read. Keep the home reading logs coming. Way to go Kids!
The children also did well on the STAR reading test. In September, the average grade level equivalent was 4.1. In January, the average grade level was 5.1. That represents a one year gain.
The comprehension test also showed some tremendous gains. I will share this information with parents at conference. Most all of the children are currently either at grade level or above grade level.
Some of these students do still have some gaps that we will be working on.
If we want to become better readers, we must read. Keep the home reading logs coming. Way to go Kids!
Science
We are still working on states of matter and energy.
Can we make a chemical change and turn a solid and liquid into a gas?
Parent Teacher Conference will be first week in March. The dates have been changed.
Math
We are working on double digit multiplication and then we will be working on long division. This is usually the most challenging math for the children. If the children do not know their basic facts well, there are many places in the problem that children might make mistakes.
Reading / Writing
We are working on identifying themes in literature. We will be working on author's craft: simile, metaphor, repetition, onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc.
Social Studies
Friday!
We are working on government in social studies. This is the most difficult unit for children because of all the abstract concepts. We are taking our time by reading different stories and doing simulation activities. Test will be next week. I will post a study sheet soon.
Does gas have mass?
Colloid - Is it a solid or a liquid?
Quick Links
In a Nut Shell,
What We Are Studying
Math
Estimating
Double digit multiplication
Review
Social Studies
Map Skills
Regions
Reading
biography /autobiography
Guided Reading Groups
Reading Strategy -visualization
Writing
Five Finger Detail (Character description,
character action, dialogue, thoughtshots,
developing setting)
Lead sentence
Grammar
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Capitalization
Sentence structure
Science
properties of matter
measurement
graphing
Word Study
plurals
prefixes
suffixes
No excuse words
Estimating
Double digit multiplication
Review
Social Studies
Map Skills
Regions
Reading
biography /autobiography
Guided Reading Groups
Reading Strategy -visualization
Writing
Five Finger Detail (Character description,
character action, dialogue, thoughtshots,
developing setting)
Lead sentence
Grammar
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Capitalization
Sentence structure
Science
properties of matter
measurement
graphing
Word Study
plurals
prefixes
suffixes
No excuse words
Home Reading Logs
Home reading logs are due every Monday. Read for twenty minutes a night. Reading is a skill that needs to be practiced.
Click this link for a list of books that boys might like to read. Guys Read
Click this link for a list of books that boys might like to read. Guys Read
Dates to Remember
Every Monday- Home Reading Log due
Friday- spelling test (words posted under more)
1-18-10 No school -Martin Luther King's birthday
1-29-10 1/2 day End of 1st semester
2-10-10 Velentine Party 2:30
2-12-10 No school - President's weekend
2-15-10 No school - President's weekend
3-?-10 1/2 day Parent teacher conferences
3-?-10 Parent teacher conferences
3-? No school
4-2-10 No school - Good Friday- spring break begins
5-26-10 Field Trip -all day
Every Monday- Home Reading Log due
Friday- spelling test (words posted under more)
1-18-10 No school -Martin Luther King's birthday
1-29-10 1/2 day End of 1st semester
2-10-10 Velentine Party 2:30
2-12-10 No school - President's weekend
2-15-10 No school - President's weekend
3-?-10 1/2 day Parent teacher conferences
3-?-10 Parent teacher conferences
3-? No school
4-2-10 No school - Good Friday- spring break begins
5-26-10 Field Trip -all day
Daily Schedule
Every day -11:50 recess
12:10 lunch
Monday-11:05-11:50-Art
Tuesday-9:35-10:20-
Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Wednesday-9:35-10:20-Art
Thursday-9:40-10:25-Techology
1:00 library –
Remember your library book
Friday-9:35-10:20-Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Every day -11:50 recess
12:10 lunch
Monday-11:05-11:50-Art
Tuesday-9:35-10:20-
Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Wednesday-9:35-10:20-Art
Thursday-9:40-10:25-Techology
1:00 library –
Remember your library book
Friday-9:35-10:20-Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Grade Level Content Expectations
Below are links to the fourth grade level content expectations provided by the Michigan Government specifically written for parents. Teachers commonly refer to these grade level content expectations as GLCE's pronounced "glicks."









