Spring is in the Air!

Hello All,

     Welcome to the month of March!  Can you believe we are half way through the third quarter of the school year?  Spring Break is quickly approaching and the classes have so much to cover.  Students have started on their newest PBL project in which they will publish an encyclopedia on plants and animals.  Miss Grimm and Miss Saullo cannot wait to see what the students create.  
    In math, students are still working on fractions.  Miss Grimm and Miss Saullo decided to forego blended learning after observing students having some difficulty grasping the concept of fractions.  Students are now getting whole group instruction and small group instruction, so you may see more math homework being sent home so students are able to practice the skills covered in class.  Students are also continuing to work on multiplication fluency, so please practice multiplication facts nightly.  
    All fourth grade classes will be working on Trait Madness, which covers the components of writing in the Six Traits of Writing (word choice, sentence fluency, ideas-content, organization, conventions, and voice).  Students will be read different books that have emphasize one of these six traits, there are two books per trait and students will select which book they prefer and provide evidence to justify their reasoning.  In the end, fourth grade will have one winner out of the twelve books.  
     Next week, we have MAP Testing.  Please stress the importance of these test to your child.  Miss Saullo's students will be receiving a goal setting sheet that will need to be signed and returned to school.  It has also been shared as to what the state test will be this year, SC Ready.  The test dates are as follows, 26 April to 28 April, students will take a pencil and paper test covering writing, reading, and math.  Students will take PASS Testing on their computers 17 May and 18 May.  
    
REMINDERS:  

-  Fourth grade will be taking a field study to Congaree     
   National Park.  Please return the permission slip and money 
   by 18 March. 
             22 March:  Miss Saullo's class and Mrs. Young's class- 
                                 field study
             24 March:  Miss Grimm's class and Miss Lybrand's 
                                 class- field study

- Reading Response Notebook for Miss Saullo's class:  Students 
  are to read 20 minutes each night.  To receive full credit, 
  students need to log the book, number of pages, and the 
  amount of time they read on the reading log.  Once that has 
  been completed, students need to write a response about what 
  they read.  This does not need to be very long; if they are 
  having any trouble, sentence starters have been provided to 
  assist students.  

- Practice multiplication facts nightly.  

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
29 February Wear Stripes	01 March Crazy Sock Day CiCi’s Night 5:00 - 8:00	02 March Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Read Across America Twin Day	03 March Wear Green Text Dependent  Writing  Assessment PTO Meeting 6:30	04 March Dress Up As  Your Favorite  Dr. Seuss  Character
07 March MAP Testing	08 March AVID Site Visit?	09 March AVID Site Visit? Fractions Math Test	10 March MAP Testing	11 March College Colors  Day Science Safari  Day

~Loren Grimm and Ashley Saullo~

Pontiac Elementary:

"Where knowledge is nutured

and character blooms!"

Our Students are Such Sweethearts!

  

Hello All,

   2016 is flying by and the PBL classes are working hard.  Students will be starting a month long project called Expedition Maps with encompasses both science and social studies.  During this project, your child will learn about Lewis and Clark, the Zebulon Pike, and Manifest Destiny while studying plants and animals.  Mrs. Rodriguez, Reading Specialist, will be assisting the PBL classes with this project.  In Math, classes will start the next portion of the fractions blended learning unit, which will get more difficult.  In ELA, classes are working on becoming better writers by using the Step-Up to Writing concept.

   The PBL classes want to give a big SHOUT OUT to Ms. Rayner for setting up our latest field study to the Koger Center to watch the SC Philharmonic.  The classes had an absolutely wonderful time!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Valentine's Day is Approaching! 

Fourth grade will allow students to bring in Valentines to pass out to others. All Valentines will be placed in a bag and will be sent home for students to enjoy and open. Please be sure to have enough for each student in the class. Class lists have been provided in homework folders. 

We will not be having a party or having any type of refreshments on Friday, Feb. 12th!

Thank you for you support at home!

Fourth Grade Team! 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
15 February Inclement Weather Make-Up Day	16 February	17 February Digital Learning Day Math:  Fractions Test	18 February Skate Night 5:00 - 8:00 P.M.	19 February College Colors Day PTO Dance
22 February Military Monday	23 February	24 February	25 February	26 February Interims Black History Month Assembly

 
A LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON:

PBL Class Executive Branch

PBL Class Judicial Branch

PBL Class Legislative Branch

PBL Class Legislative Branch

Waiting for the SC Philharmonic to start playing

The SC Philharmonic

~Loren Grimm & Ashley Saullo~

Pontiac Elementary School:

"Where knowledge is nurtured

and character blooms!"

Another Great Week in the PBL Classrooms

Hello, 

     It has been another great week in the PBL classrooms!  There are many exciting things coming up.  We will begin a three day project in which students will learn about the different branches of government, which will then lead into our What Kind of Voter Are You? project.  We cannot see what our students learn and how they will excel in these upcoming assignments.  In math we will begin our blended unit on fractions.  We will be hard at work so that students are able to understand the concepts involved with fractions.  This unit will take some time, so when we have a test date, we will be sure to make students aware.  In ELA, the classes are working on editing and revising.  Students are in the process if becoming stronger writers who utilize figurative language and vivid sentences.  


Upcoming Events:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
25 January Military Monday District Writing Assessment	26 January	27 January American Revolution Informational Text Due	28 January Project Courtroom	29 January Class Picture Day Topic 9 & 10 Math Test
01 February Project Courtroom Due	02 February What Kind of Voter Are You? Project Kickoff	03 February	04 February PTO Meeting 6:30 P.M.	05 February 100th Day of School Movie Night: 6:30 - 8:30 P.M.
08 February Jump Rope for Heart Assembly: Wear Red!	09 February	10 February Music Field Study: Please Dress Up	11 February	12 February 11:30 Dismissal

Pontiac Newsletter

- Please have your child practice their multiplication facts each night.

~Loren Grimm & Ashley Saullo~

Pontiac Elementary: 

"Where knowledge is nurtured

and character blooms."

Welcome to 2016!

     We are extremely excited to have students back after our extended break!  There is a lot going on in fourth grade and students have been keeping busy.  In Social Studies, students have started working on their next PBL project, American Revolution Informational Text.  With this project, students will be creating a newspaper in which they will share information about the causes of the Revolution and key battles.  So far, students have been hard at work collecting information from primary resources for their articles.  In Math, students will begin working on division with another blended learning unit.  The students, as well as the fourth grade teachers have greatly enjoyed blended learning because it allows students to work at their pace and for one-on-one instruction with the teacher.  In ELA, the difference between editing and revising is being explored so that writing skills can be developed and enhanced.  

    Pontiac Elementary is collecting Box Tops!  As as school, we are trying to reach our goal of 2,000 Box Tops by the end of January.  In one week, our goal of 1,000 had been reached, so we have increased our goal.  Please send in any Box Tops, each one is worth $0.10 for the school.  We are also participating in "Read with the Gamecocks."  This program provides students an opportunity to ear tickets to a Carolina Gamecocks basketball game!  A form has been given to students to track the number of pages they read, all that is needed is a parent signature.  The forms are due Friday, January 22.  Miss Saullo's class was the top fourth grade class for "Read with the Gamecocks" with over 6,000 pages.  The top reader for fourth grade was Ben with over 2,000 pages, way to go!

Calendar of Events:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
18 January District Holiday No School	19 January NED Show	20 January Saullo: Library Books Due	21 January Report Cards Issued Skate Night 6 - 8 P.M.	22 January Art’s Day
25 January Military Monday	26 January	27 January American Revolution Informational Text Due	28 January	29 January Class Picture Day

Upcoming Field Trip:

    10 February-  Fourth grade will  be traveling to the Koger Center for the SC Philharmonic Orchestra           Children's Concert with Ms. Rayner.  Please be on the lookout for the permission slip and return to 

    school.

Pontiac Newsletter

~ Loren Grimm & Ashley Saullo~

Pontiac Elementary:

"Where knowledge is nurtured

and character blooms!"