Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli is an award winning author of children's books.  He wrote the novel we have been reading in fourth grade, Wringer.  It is about a boy growing up in a small town, and the moral choices he has to make.  It deals with themes of peer pressure and bullying.  It was a Newbery Honor Book in 1998.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p.103-104.
              Miss W: p. 92.
              Mrs. Thompson:  p. 82-83.
2.  Draw four things the bird does in Wringer.
3.  Read for half an hour.

Organization: The Key to Good Writing

Fourth graders are learning to organize their writing.  For essays we expect clear topic sentences supported by relevant details and examples, wrapped up with a conclusion.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Miss W:  p. 83-84
              Mr. Spaulding: p. 83-84.
              Mrs. Thompson: p. 77.
2.  Writing:  In Wringer, where did the pigeon come from?
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Close Reading

Fourth graders are learning to read texts carefully.  We do that through close reading of a text or portion of a text multiple times for different purposes.  Above is an example of a typical way to do close reading.

Homework for today.
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  p. 77-78.
              Miss W:  p. 69-70.
              Mrs. Thompson:  p. 65-66.
2.  Who do you think was at the door when the doorbell rang?  (Wringer p. 64)
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Producers, Consumers and Decomposers

Fourth graders are learning about the science concepts of producers, consumers and decomposers

Today's homework:

1.  Math Miss W: p. 65-66.
              Mr. Spaulding:  p. 71-72.
              Mrs. Thompson:  no homework.
2.  Consumers worksheet.
3.  Read for half and hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Class Dojo

Dojo is a Japanese word meaning a room or hall in which judo and other martial arts are practiced.  But Class Dojo is different.  Class Dojo is a way for teachers, students, and parents to communicate, and to reinforce appropriate classroom behavior.  Please look for the Class Dojo information you child should be bringing home today, showing you how to access your account.


Today's homework:

1.  Math Miss W:  Practice test
               Mr. Spaulding: Practice test
               Mrs. Thomspon:  p. 50-51
2.  Similes.  Make up at least five new similes.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Sensory Details

Fourth graders are learning to recognize and use sensory details.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Miss W: worksheet.
              Mrs. Thompson:  no homework
              Mr. Spaulding:  p. 65-66.
2.  Write a description of some event in your life.  Use lots of sensory details.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Similes

It is a fourth grade standard for students to be able to recognize and use similes.  A simile is a figure of speech comparing one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more interesting or memorable.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  p. 47-48
              Miss W: worksheet
              Mrs. Thompson: p. 47-48.
2.  Write about your group of friends.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.