Mrs. McCullough's Fourth Grade Classroom
Elms Road Elementary Room 141 School Phone # (810) 591-1251
Swartz Creek, Michigan Classroom Phone (810) 591-1271.
The Aliens Have Landed
Play practice starts Tuesday after school. This is a musical play about Aliens landing and looking for a home in the United States. I am sure that we will have a good time!
We will practice every Tuesday after school and will have a dress rehearsal on Thursday. There will be an evening performance for friends and family. Practices Tuesday, January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21 Thursday dress rehearsal February 23 Play Performance February 28 at 6:00 
School Board Meeting
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Do you know how it feels to find out that what you are wearing is out of style? Well, I attended a workshop on Saturday. One of the speakers talked about the direction of education. We are not far from schools having i-pods (or something like that) as an educational tool. PowerPoints are going out of style to be replaced by Glogster and Prezi. Cassettes and CD's are going out of style in place of MP3 players. VHS players and overhead projectors are out of style. Some day when we say the word book will children say, "What's that?"
Spelling Bee Information
Elms Road Spelling Bee 4th Grade – Thursday, January 19 at 1:30 5th Grade – Friday, January 20 at 1:30 *The top three places in each grade level will compete in the District Spelling Bee. The fourth place student in each grade level will serve as the alternate. On Thursday afternoon, six of our best spellers will go against Mrs. McCormick's best spellers in a spelling bee to find out who will compete in the District spelling bee. Spellers Representing
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Double Digit
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Downloads or Links
| parentvolunteerletter1.doc |
Science
What lives in a 1 foot by 1 foot ecosystem?
The children had fun investigating the ecosystem of a one foot by one foot area. They found worms, ants, grubs, centipedes and spiders. The children practiced following some of the scientific method steps -asking a question, develop a hypothesis, investigating, and drawing a conclusion. Then the children wrote about it in their learning logs. They all seemed to enjoy this experiment.
Click for more science experiment pictures.
Click for more science experiment pictures.
Technology
Certainly is Changing Our World
We were able to put one of the grubs that we found under the document camera and enlarge if for everyone to see. We also looked at a centipede and some worms. We need to thank PTA for the document cameras. I have many plans on how I can use this in my classroom.
Real World Connection
Question- Why do we have to go to school?
Answer- We go to school to learn about our world, and we use the information and skills that we learn in school.
I think homework can be a nasty word to some. Maybe it is because it has the word "work" in it. I would really like the children to make connections to what we learn in school and the real world. Can we do that without calling it homework? Can we make it fun or motivating? I hope so. I will let you know what we are working on in class and give some suggestions that children may do at home. Participating in Real World Connections may help students earn a 4 on the report card (beyond expectations.) This is not mandatory, but it would help children to make a connection to school and the real world. The students would also have to pass the assessments at school to receive a 4 on their report card.
Answer- We go to school to learn about our world, and we use the information and skills that we learn in school.
I think homework can be a nasty word to some. Maybe it is because it has the word "work" in it. I would really like the children to make connections to what we learn in school and the real world. Can we do that without calling it homework? Can we make it fun or motivating? I hope so. I will let you know what we are working on in class and give some suggestions that children may do at home. Participating in Real World Connections may help students earn a 4 on the report card (beyond expectations.) This is not mandatory, but it would help children to make a connection to school and the real world. The students would also have to pass the assessments at school to receive a 4 on their report card.
Real World Math Connection
We are going to be working on learning place value to the million's place. Have your child look for numbers in newspapers, magazines, old encyclopedias, an almanac, on the internet. Try to find the largest number possible. Write down what the numbers represent. Put the numbers in order from least to greatest.
The homes for sale magazines work wonderfully. Where is the most expensive home located? Where is the least expensive home located? Find three homes from the same area. Put the price in order from least to greatest.
The homes for sale magazines work wonderfully. Where is the most expensive home located? Where is the least expensive home located? Find three homes from the same area. Put the price in order from least to greatest.
Real World Social Studies
We are going to be studying maps in social studies. If you have a computer, go on Google Map. Look up locations of different relatives or friends. Do a Map Quest and find out how far away they live. Have your child read a map while you go on a trip. Have your child jot down a note telling what he or she did.
Real World Science
We are going to be working on using the scientific method and collecting data. Have your child look for different graphs in the newspaper and cut them out and bring them in. Make sure your child puts his or her name on them.
Did you know Elms Road Elementary is North Central Association (NCA) Accredited?
That means that our school is always striving to be the best that we can be. We received this accreditation in November, 2010 after a Quality Assurance Team spent two days evaluating our school. The team interviewed staff, students and community members. They toured the school and examined data. It was a rigorous process, but we made it.
Now we will take their findings to give ourselves a pat on the back. We will also use their suggestions to work on areas of weakness. Three staff members (Jamie Wood, Val Tylus, Sandy Cook) and I attended a workshop over spring break on the next steps that we need to take to improve our school even more. We continuously work to be the best that we can be!
Now we will take their findings to give ourselves a pat on the back. We will also use their suggestions to work on areas of weakness. Three staff members (Jamie Wood, Val Tylus, Sandy Cook) and I attended a workshop over spring break on the next steps that we need to take to improve our school even more. We continuously work to be the best that we can be!
In a Nut Shell,
What We Are Studying
Math
Multiplication
long Division
Range Median Mode
symmetry
Social Studies
immigration Unit 3 interactive Powerpoints
Geography
Map Skills
Reading
Themes in stories
Story elements
Using reading Strategies
Fluency
Making inferences
Informational text features
Informational text structure
linking (transitional words)
Persuasive argument
Writing
Writing summaries
Descriptive writing
Response writing
persuasive writing
Writing introduction, body, and conclusion
Grammar
Subjects Predicates
Expanding sentences
common and proper nouns
capitalization
apostrophes
Verbs -linking and helping verbs
Science
Sun, Moon, Earth
Scientific Method
States of Matter
Measurement
Word Study
Spelling
Suffixes
homophones
Vocabulary
content vocabulary words
Character Traits
Words to replace said
Movement words
Multiplication
long Division
Range Median Mode
symmetry
Social Studies
immigration Unit 3 interactive Powerpoints
Geography
Map Skills
Reading
Themes in stories
Story elements
Using reading Strategies
Fluency
Making inferences
Informational text features
Informational text structure
linking (transitional words)
Persuasive argument
Writing
Writing summaries
Descriptive writing
Response writing
persuasive writing
Writing introduction, body, and conclusion
Grammar
Subjects Predicates
Expanding sentences
common and proper nouns
capitalization
apostrophes
Verbs -linking and helping verbs
Science
Sun, Moon, Earth
Scientific Method
States of Matter
Measurement
Word Study
Spelling
Suffixes
homophones
Vocabulary
content vocabulary words
Character Traits
Words to replace said
Movement words
Can You Help Our School?
A Message from the Elms Road PTA
Friday, January 6, 2012
This weekend, January 8th, there will be a special Labels
for Education insert in the coupon section of most major newspapers. We need
as many of these 100 Bonus Point Collection Sheets as possible and they cannot
be photocopied. If you could, please consider turning in your extra sheets to
the office as soon as possible. Empty, unfilled sheets are fine - we will take
care of filling up the sheets with the appropriate Labels from the regular
submissions. Also, if you know of someone who coupons, please ask for their
extras, as well. Anything will help us help our
school!
We
are also collecting pop cans to make up for some budget deficits as this year’s
fund raisers were not as successful as we had originally hoped.
If you can send in any pop cans or plastic bottles it would be greatly
appreciated!
A Message from the Elms Road PTA
Friday, January 6, 2012
This weekend, January 8th, there will be a special Labels
for Education insert in the coupon section of most major newspapers. We need
as many of these 100 Bonus Point Collection Sheets as possible and they cannot
be photocopied. If you could, please consider turning in your extra sheets to
the office as soon as possible. Empty, unfilled sheets are fine - we will take
care of filling up the sheets with the appropriate Labels from the regular
submissions. Also, if you know of someone who coupons, please ask for their
extras, as well. Anything will help us help our
school!
We
are also collecting pop cans to make up for some budget deficits as this year’s
fund raisers were not as successful as we had originally hoped.
If you can send in any pop cans or plastic bottles it would be greatly
appreciated!
Decorations or
School Work, Hmm?
Are the students making decorations or are the students doing school work? How about both! The students are making sentences with apostrophes and then making it into a chain. Sometimes school can be fun!
Monday Math Club
Sixteen children have been staying after school on Monday nights to play math games. Are they having a good time? You decide. LAST DAY December 18
Practice Please!
Please have your child practice multiplication and division facts. We will be working on double digit and triple digit multiplication soon. Then we swiftly move to long division. Then fractions are just around the corner.
Download multiplication flashcards by clicking here.
Math Facts Basketball Link
Math Man Multiply
Math Match
Math Bingo
Download multiplication flashcards by clicking here.
Math Facts Basketball Link
Math Man Multiply
Math Match
Math Bingo
Popcorn Sale
Every Friday we have a popcorn sale for twenty-five cents a bag. The proceeds go to a different classroom to spend on supplies.
Wow Writing
You will see writing that impresses you. You will see writing that you will think famous author's wrote. These children have a real talent. So far we have been working on word choice and adding "Show! Don't tell."
Here is one wonderful example:
Here is one wonderful example:
Victoria Uses Dialogue
(my little sister) "She's like the witch on Halloween, the monster under my bed, the bad hair day," Jackie said.
"What do you want me to do about her?" asked her mother/
"What do you want me to do about her?" asked her mother/
Jacob Uses Show Don't Tell
Bill wobbled into the classroom. He looked dreadful - his face red as an apple, snot drooled out of his nose, face hot as fire. He could barely keep his eyes open. He wailed and cried so much his eyes were practically like a broken dam. There was no doubt he was sick.
Word Study
Spelling / Vocabulary
Spelling
Every year I always try to figure out how to teach a subject better and meet the needs of all of the students in my class. Research supports that children learn to spell better if they focus on patterns. We use Words Their Way in our district, but I have felt that it did not always fit the needs of all my students. The highest spelling pattern list had words like "trigonometry" on the list. To me, it did not make sense to have the students learn spelling words that they would not use in their writing. I also found that there were students who tested high on the spelling inventory, but did not always spell high frequency words correctly. The lower level spellers always seemed to stay at the one syllable word level. The report card states that the children need to be able to spell "grade level words correctly." Fourth graders need to be able to spell basic sight words correctly in their every day writing. They should also know how to spell common prefixes and common suffixes in words: Common suffixes: s. ing. ed. er. ly. est, tion, sion, ment ble. prefixes: re, un, pre, de
Based on my feelings and observations about spelling, I felt that there was a need to change. I found Beth Newingham's spelling program that uses Words Their Way, but it is tweaked to fit the needs of students. So this is how I am going to do spelling.
First couple weeks of school- Assess the children on patterns and assess the children on high frequency words.
The children will highlight the high frequency words that they spell correctly from a long list. Students will choose five words from the missed high frequency words to use for their individualized words
Thursday -Give a pretest for the following week's focus spelling pattern. Students who pass this test with 90% or better will be given a list of more challenging words with the same pattern.
Monday- The children will be given their list of words to study. The list will contain 10 pattern words, 5 high frequency words, 2-3 homophone words, and 2-3 challenge words. There will be a total of twenty words. The students will be given a lesson over the pattern.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - The children will do word study activities.
Friday - test
Based on my feelings and observations about spelling, I felt that there was a need to change. I found Beth Newingham's spelling program that uses Words Their Way, but it is tweaked to fit the needs of students. So this is how I am going to do spelling.
First couple weeks of school- Assess the children on patterns and assess the children on high frequency words.
The children will highlight the high frequency words that they spell correctly from a long list. Students will choose five words from the missed high frequency words to use for their individualized words
Thursday -Give a pretest for the following week's focus spelling pattern. Students who pass this test with 90% or better will be given a list of more challenging words with the same pattern.
Monday- The children will be given their list of words to study. The list will contain 10 pattern words, 5 high frequency words, 2-3 homophone words, and 2-3 challenge words. There will be a total of twenty words. The students will be given a lesson over the pattern.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - The children will do word study activities.
Friday - test
In social studies, we use a curriculum developed by Oakland Intermediate School District. The site is www.micitizeshipcurriculum.org. Under teacher resources above, you may find the powerpoint that I will be using for the lessons. This might be helpful if your child is absent from school. It is very difficult to make up social studies work because much of the time we learn through discussion. I will be using this powerpoint for several days. The students will frequently stop to do an activity related to the lesson. We will be using our text book more as a resource rather than a main tool of learning.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is very important to understanding our world. So I want to focus heavily on vocabulary this year. I plan on working on vocabulary during a word study period during the afternoon. The children will be doing many activities sometimes in pairs or small groups. Each week the students will be introduced to words in different subject contents.
 People to Know at ElmsMr. Kitchen - principal
Mrs. McGrady - secretary Mr. Davis - art and music Mr. Dutcher - physical education Mrs. Holderbaum - technology Mrs. Weaver - librarian Mrs. Richardson - special education teacher Mrs. Schultz - speech and language teacher Mrs. Svinerich - special education teacher Mrs. Wood- student success coordinator | Super Kid is how we reward children at Elms for responsible behavior. At the end of each month, children participate in a fun activity. Most children will participate in Super Kid every month. Sometimes children make too many wrong choices in a month and do not make Super Kid.
Children will receive a check for not turning in homework, disturbing others, and not following classroom rules. 6 checks –out of super kid Students will automatically be out of super kid for fighting, using profanity, and destroying school property. Practice Makes Perfect
Have your child practice multiplication facts at home. We will start double digit multiplication in a couple of months. Some children may have forgotten them over the summer. Thank you for your support!
Click here to print some flash cards. More printable flash cards |
Practice Makes Perfect
|  Units of Study
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 Home reading responses are due every Monday.
Twenty Ways to Make Reading Fun How to Help with Reading Reader's Workshop Guys Read - a list of books boys might like Read Kiddo Read Looking for a good book to read? |
 Dates to Remember
Every Monday- Home Reading Log due Friday- spelling test School Calendar
Dates to Remember
| Daily Schedule
Every day -11:50 recess 12:10 lunch Monday- Art 11:05-11:50 Tuesday- Physical Education-9:35-10:20 Remember your gym shoes Wednesday- Art - 9:35-10:20 Thursday- Technology 9:40-10:25 Library – 1:00 Remember your library book Friday- Physical Education 9:35-10:20 Remember your gym shoes Grade Level
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