http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

Students do amazing work.  This section will be devoted to acknowledging their efforts.  Bee on the look-out for some amazing things.

Congratulations to Emma and Quintin for receiving certificates for surpassing the 100 Bee Buck level.  They are heading up to the front of the class.

Congratulations to Quintin for Bee-ing our "Bee of the Week".  For his reward, he ousted Mr. Raboin from his chair for the day.  Don't feel bad though, Mr. Raboin has a back-up chair.

Students will need to practice their multiplication facts.

FACTOR GAME:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=12

http://www.math-play.com/one-digit-multiplication-game.html

Two digit multiplication game:

http://www.free-training-tutorial.com/math-games/long-multiplication-2x2.html

Practice with DIVISION

http://www.free-training-tutorial.com/math-games/long-division-snorks.html?1&

Fraction games:

http://www.mathplayground.com/hm_fractions.html

The students did awesome in the Metric Olympics!  We are now investigating Geometry.  We are identifying angles to include acute, obtuse and right.

The students currently took Unit 11 test.  I will get those back to students by Monday, May 20th.  There is one more unit left in 4th grade.  If we finish early we will be creating The Great Amusement Park Project which is filled with fun activities as well as problem solving skills.  Get ready for a THRILL!

Guided Reading groups will be established soon. We will be discussing literary devices and identifying literary elements. Students have response journals where they keep vocabulary and insightful thoughts in.

Students spend about twenty minutes in reading groups.  They are responsible for responding to text, by citing examples from what they read.  If you are reading with your child at night, it is beneficial to ask questions about the characters and/or predict what is going to happen.

Students are studying changes.  The girls will have a special talk with Mrs. Thibodeau.

Our Firld Trip to the State House is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th.  Your child should remember to bring in theor permission slip so we know that they will be attending.  Parents are also invited, but they must have already applied for a BCI check.  The cost for students is $5.  Parents are free.  Unfortunately, parents will have to meet us there or follow the bus.  The cost of the field trip includes a tour of the State House, a mock election with Representative Lisa Tomasso and pizza following with Representative Tomasso.  Students will also receive a book about the State House. It is important to establish a clear line of communication between school and home.  If for any reason that your child is having any difficulty, please contact me either through e-mail at school or at home.  I routinely check both on a daily basis, so feel free to let me know.

  Home (tommypickles60@aol.com) , School (raboinraymond@coventryschools.net). 

I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.  Phone calls during the day are difficult because of instructional time.  However, if you need to contact me, feel free to leave a message for me at the office and I will contact you as soon as possible.

I am very involved in what goes on here at Blackrock School, so I may have a meeting scheduled (usually Thursday and Friday mornings).  I am available before and after school if needed on the other days, unless I have an appointment.

If your child is having difficulty with the assignment, please indicate that on their paper.  Most of the assignments are review in nature and your child has already been exposed to the material previously.  Ask your child to bring home their notebook to help.  You can review your child's work for completion, but try not to correct it.  I know that the temptation is there, but a "perfect" paper is an indicator of mastery.  If your child is struggling, I will be able to identify that through their efforts.  Set a time for completion.  If your child doesn't complete, we will discuss this further at school.

I will also do my best to correct the work in a timely fashion.  In most cases, your child will receive their grade by the end of the day or the following day.  Unit tests take longer, but will be corrected by the next day.  It is important to receive the feedback as soon as possible.  Children want to know how well they did and its important to me as well when planning instruction.

Students have homework each night.  Although they may have started it at school. they should be able to show you their completed work.  Students should read each night.

When your child has a test, I will do my best to post the date on my website at least a week in advance.  Students will also have it written in their assignment books.

It is important that you initial or sign your child's assignment book each night.  The book is a great way to communicate as well.  It also helps me monitor your child's work habits and fosters responsibility and organization.

Students have Mr. Zammarelli  for music unless they are in band.  Band students have Mr. Rosenfield and Mrs. DiNitto.  All students have a schedule.  Music is on Wednesdays and Band is on Fridays in Room 8.

Mrs. Jacobs will be here for the rest of the school-year for Mr. Z. 

Here at Blackrock School, we do our best to create an environment that fosters positive behaviors which in turn create opportunities for success.

Teacher managed forms are used to keep track of student behaviors.  When the classroom management system has not redirected the student's behavior, we try to reteach appropriate behavior and monitor its effect.  If the student does not respond after three attempts, an Administative form is created and sent to Mrs. Castle.

Many parents have voiced that they would like to see the Teacher-managed form go home.  Although it is used more for data collection, I will be glad to send home a copy to fascilitate better communication.

Mr. Hitte requires that your child keep a daily log of exercise and activities that affect your child's health. Students should have a three-ring binder and keep a copy of expectations and rubric.

The exercise log that Mr. Hitte uses will count as extra credit.

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Response to Intervention instructional groups will be determined based on math and ELA assessments and SWAT (School-wide Assessment Tasks) data. RtI information was sent home explaining the process. If your child is placed in an intervention, it simply means that we will be reviewing the information in a small group using a different teaching technique or modality. This is a Tier One intervention for your child to succeed. Once your child has mastered the skill, they will be exited out of the small group.

Students have created their own dinosaurs.  They will present them in the coming weeks.  Our new kit on Rocks and Minerals is in and we will be "Rocking It" in Room 8.  Here are some websites for kids:

http://www.geokids.com

http://www.rockhounds.com

http://www.kidsloverocks.com

Students are investigating minerals next week.  A big thanks to Rose Creek in North Carolina for helping us become sperlunkers!

Check out this video from Animoto.  This is a sample of our next project.

http://animoto.com/play/UX64DA61NasC5qwC8pFlEw

Students will be studying the continents and brushing up on their geography skills.

http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/continentNames/default.ht

I am aware that the Animoto projects will be due soon.  The students have been working at school on it.  Unfortunately, at times, the computers won't let them upload.  I have our tech person looking into that problem.  Sometimes it does actually work!

Our last major project will combine science, writing, reading and social studies.  Students will select a national monument from around the world.  The students will research their monument and write a 5 paragraph research paper at school.  Students will then create a model of their monument using recycled goods.  There is no need to purchase anything for this project.  In the past, students have made the monuments out of cardboard, soda bottles and milk cartons.  Students will present their project in a "World Showcase" in June.

Our field trip to the Rhode Island State House is planned for Tuesday, June 18th.  Parents who have a BCI check can join us on the field trip.  The only problem is that the bus is full, but feel free to follow the bus or meet us there.  We will be having a tour of the State House, a mock election with State Representative Lisa Tomasso and Pizza with Rep. Tomasso.  There is no charge for parents.  You are free to join us for the tour and the election.  If your child would like to bring a camera they can, but they will be responsible for its care.

There will not be a Spelling list the week of New Years since we will only be in school on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  I will do some activities to inspire our spelling.  Spelling will resume to usual followiing the short week.

We will be using the program this year.  In most weeks, students will receive the words on Monday and tested on Friday.  assignments are given throughout the week to reinforce patterns.  Students can practice their words on Spelling City. If students do not have access to a computer, a pencil and paper task is given. Parents should initial the agenda if students select Spelling City. 

If students do not have their agenda signed, they will need to do the written assignment.

Each student has received their first spelling list.  Each student was assessed using a Spelling Inventory.  Although students may be reviewing some of the lists from last year, they have not yet internalized patterns or rules focused in that sort list.

http://www.spellingcity.com

Create your own wordsearch:

http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch

All students have a Spelling Menu to select from when given Student Choice Night.

Spelling Choice Menu

Each week, I will post the clues for the contest.  The winner will go to the School Supply Box or Prize Box.  If there is no winner for the week, we will have two winners the following week.

 Our winner this week was Devin M.  He guessed "Virginia correctly.

Clue #1:  I am the birthplace of NASCAR.

Clue #2: 

Clue #3: 

Clue #4: 

Review rubric and parts of a letter to include date, heading, body, closing and signature. We will focus on paragraph formation,topic and transitional sentences.

Students are also responsible for their daily writing in their journal.  Each day students have a daily prompt to write on in their booklets.  These booklets are collected on a rotating schedule.  The entries are scored using a rubric.

Students recently took an assessment on writing.  I will be looking for growth throughout the year.  The assessment provides information for me to help with instruction. 

We will continue responding to text.  Students have a checklist to help them become proficient.  We all want them to move on to the next level.  Encourage your child to write, write, write!  Remember that your child needs to move onto the next level.  We will do plenty of practice.

Students are creating "I Poems" using adjectives and adverbs.