As the holiday season approaches, we would like to take this opportunity to tell you how truly thankful we are for all that we have been blessed with this school year. We are so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful learning community. Thank you for making Frostwood such a warm and friendly place. We appreciate your friendly smiles, kind words, and positive comments. Thank you for everything that you so generously contribute to our school. All of the volunteer time, popcorn, books, delicious meals, and sweet treats are greatly appreciated. Above all, thank you so much for the encouragement and support that you give to us and your children everyday. The life lessons that you teach them is reflected daily in their sweet personalities and giving nature. We truly love our job and we feel so thankful to work with your wonderful children.

We wish you all a very safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Ms. White and Ms. Howe

Texas Indians

In social studies, we are learning about the Karankawa, Lipan Apache, Jumano, Caddo, and Commanche tribes.

Visualization
Students are learning how visualization (making mental images while reading) can improve comprehension. Today students wrote what they could see, hear, taste, smell, and feel as I read Cheyenne Again. We will continue working on visualization this week.

Don't Forget your MYSTERY MADNESS project is due October 30th

After reading your mystery book, complete the following activities:
1. Create a mystery box! You may use a shoe box, hat box, cereal box, or a box of you choice. Cover and decorate your box with “strange” pictures or words from the book. Be Creative!
2. Make or collect at least 4 clues that relate to your mystery box.
3. Write a one page summary of the book. It may be typed or written in cursive.
4. Put your clues and summary into your mystery box.
5. Bring your box to school on Friday, October 30th completed and ready for presentation. Bring a flashlight to school if you have one!!!!!!!!!

We have been learning about non-fiction text features for the last two weeks. We will have a quiz Friday. Students have this inforamtion in their reading journals.

ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES OF NONFICTION TEXTS

Headings
Usually found at the top of the page or paragraph; usually
printed in a larger or colored font; describes the topic or
paragraph in a one- or two-word phrase
Font
Can be different styles or sizes; used to highlight important or
key information; adds variety to the page
Sidebars
Boxed information on the side of the page; usually has a border
or colored background; often provides text or illustrations that
add to the information in the main text
Borders
Designs or lines of color that surround the two-page spread;
adds visual appeal and often fits the topic
Backgrounds
Blocks of color or illustrations behind the text or photographs;
adds visual appeal and usually supports the text
Captions
One to two sentences that describe an illustration or
photograph; usually appears underneath the picture, but
sometimes above or to the side of it
Labels
Often added to photographs or illustrations to provide more
information to the reader
Diagrams, charts, graphs, tables
Used to show written or additional information in a different
and simple way; provides visual appeal to a two-page spread
Did You Know facts
One to two sentences that provide a hook to the two-page
spread; usually provides interesting or fascinating facts that
will grab the reader's attention
Photographs and illustrations
Adds visual appeal to the page; provides support for the
written text

Quiz this Friday, October 16th

Texas Symbols Study Guide

State dish – Chili
Amphibian – Texas Toad
Motto – Friendship
Fruit – Red Grapefruit
Flower – Bluebonnet
Bird – Mockingbird
Song – “Texas, Our Texas”
Vegetable – Sweet Onion
Gemstone – Blue Topaz
Insect – Monarch Butterfly
Tree – Pecan
Pepper – Jalapeno
Fish – Guadalupe Bass
Small Mammal – Armadillo
Large Mammal – Longhorn
Flying Mammal – Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Dance – Square Dance
Grass – Sideoats Grama
Symbol of the Lone Star State – Lone Star Texas Flag

This week.....

Texas Poetry and Texas Symbols

We are writing cinquain poems about the Texas regions. Students are also researching Texas symbols online on Texas Online and Texas Senate Kids.

Building on prior knowledge

This week in reading groups, students are reading nonfiction texts. Before reading, students wrote information they already knew about the topic on post-it notes. As they read, they are checking to see if their prior knowledge was correct or not. They are moving their prior knowledge post-it notes to a "confirmed" or a “misconception" category. Students are also recording new information and questions they have about their topic.

Calling all 4th Grade Artists

The Fourth Grade Musical, On the Radio will be presented on November 19th, and Mrs. Sykes is requesting that any students who wish to design the printed program submit black ink only artwork on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch white piece of paper. The artwork should reflect anything about our play or the songs in the play which are:

Salute to Texas Medley, On the Radio, Ain’t we got fun, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Hound Dog, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Footloose, Play my Music.

Non-Fiction Text Features

Click to Enlarge

Today we studied non-fiction text features. Students listed features and the purpose for each.

We read Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges. Ruby's greatest wish was to go to a university. Her grandfather helped her wish come true at a time when most girls in China never even learned to read or write. We wrote about our wishes, times our wishes came true and important moments in our lives.

Reading Writing Connection

We are learning to use books as a way to get ideas for our writing. Yesterday we read The Realtives Came by Cynthia Rylant. This book recounts one of the author's memories when relatives visit from Virginia. We used this book to get ideas to write. We wrote about our relatives and/or friends, including their visits to us and our visits to where they live.

Reading Strategies
Reading Should Make Sense!If it doesn't:
Read it again.
Read it out loud.
Use prior knowledge and make connections.
Use punctuation to understand the author's meaning or the character's feelings.
Read the chapter name and look for clues.
Break the unknown word into parts - smaller words, prefix, suffix or base word.
Use a similar word to help figure out the unknown word.
Skip the word. Look for context clues as you read. Reread.
Make a guess at the word meaning and see if the guess makes sense.
Use resources - a dictionary, a glossary, a friend, or the teacher.

This week:

Sept. 23: Curriculum Night 6-7 pm in the Cafeteria
Sept. 25: Progress Reports
Remember to sign agendas each week night and behavior folders on the weekend.

Spelling

Students are in spelling groups based on their spelling needs. There are several groups in our class, so your child's list may be different from a classmate's list. Your child's words are in an envelope in their binder. Please keep the words in their binder, so we can use them in class.We are beginning our spelling contracts this week. Students should complete and turn in 3 items on the spelling contract by Friday. Spelling tests will be given every other Friday.

Study for Landforms Quiz

There will be a quiz on landforms on Friday, September 25. Students have a glossary of the landforms in their social studies spiral and illustrations of the landforms in their binders. Please study the following landforms:
1. Canyon
2. Coast
3. Continent
4. Delta
5. Gulf
6. Harbor
7. Island
8. Lake
9. Mountain
10. Ocean
11. Peninsula
12. Plain
13. Plateau
14. Sea
15. Valley

Captain Troy

He swung his lantern

three times and slowly the schooner appeared.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Just Desert

She lowered the knife and

it grew even brighter.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

A Strange Day in July

He threw with all his might, but the third stone came skipping back.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Under the Rug

Two weeks passed and it happened again.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Archie Smith, Boy Wonder

A tiny voice asked, "Is he the one?"

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Another Place, Another Time

If there was an answer, he'd find it there.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Uninvited Guests

His heart was pounding.

He was sure he had seen the doorknob turn.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

The Harp

So it's true he thought, it's really true.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Mr. Linden's Library

He had warned her about the book.
Now it was too late.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Seven Chairs

The fifth one ended up in France.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

The Third-Floor Bedroom

It all began when someone left
the window open.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

The House on Maple Street

It was a perfect lift-off.

From The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg