Going For The Gold!

Look out Sochi Winter Olympic Games! Fourth graders at Caddo Grove are "Going for the Gold" with their writing! Students began on February 19th, a 12 day focus on their Revising and Editing skills through their scheduled RTI (In School Tutoring) time. Students began their Olympic Journey by taking the released STAAR Writing test from April 2013. The scores they received on their tests were used as their Olympic "Time Trials". Those who scored a 70% or higher on their time trials got to decorate their own flag for display. Over the course of the program, students will strive for first mastering at least 70% of the content to earn them their flag. From that point on they will be competing for Bronze (80% mastery), Silver (90% mastery) and Gold (100% mastery) medals. Just like Olympic athletes our students are focused and training for their goal! Lets go Fourth Grade!!!

Spelling Challenge- Week 26

Spelling Challenge- Week 26

Secret Code Spelling

Have your student write each spelling word then draw the picture for each letter next to the word to make a code. For a variation, you can mix up their spelling words and write the code only, then give it to your child to "break the code".  No matter how you do it it will be a favorite. 

1.	robin
2.	button
3.	bacon
4.	reason
5.	cotton
6.	sunken
7.	eleven
8.	cousin
9.	woven
10.	raisin
11.	wagon
12.	muffin
13.	widen
14.	wooden
15.	ridden
16.	common
17.	proven
18.	often
19.	penguin
20.	skeleton

Spelling Challenge- Week 25

Spelling Challenge- Week 25

Word Search Fun

Create your own word search. You can visit sites like PuzzleMaker, plug in your child's spelling list and create a word search that you can print. Then have your child search for the correctly spelled spelling words and circle them. Let them use different colored highlighters for some added visual fun. If you don't have access to a computer or printer, simple take a piece of paper and make lines like a grid- similar to the grid above. Write in the spelling words on the blank grid first, then when finished, fill in any remaining blanks with random letters. Have fun searching!

1.	uncle
2.	turtle
3.	total
4.	pencil
5.	oral
6.	pebble
7.	channel
8.	local
9.	paddle
10.	pupil
11.	symbol
12.	medal
13.	bubble
14.	settle
15.	vessel
16.	bugle
17.	pedal
18.	special
19.	ankle
20.	docile

Spelling Challenge- Week 24

Spelling Challenge- Week 24

Hop and Spell

This is a great exercise mentally and physically. Hop on one foot as you spell words, this is a great exercise in balance especially with longer words. Hop, hop, hop!

1.	grocer
2.	pepper
3.	barber
4.	grader
5.	polar
6.	tanker
7.	singer
8.	enter
9.	odor
10.	collar
11.	zipper
12.	powder
13.	danger
14.	cheddar
15.	popular
16.	harbor
17.	anchor
18.	elevator
19.	daughter
20.	victor

Show Don't Tell

In class lately we have been practicing our "Show Don't Tell" techniques. I read to the students the book, "Go Away, Big Green Monster" by Ed Emberley. As I was reading, I made it a point to not show the pictures on the pages so the students could not see. Students had a blank piece of manila construction paper and crayons/markers/colored pencils. As I read a page I instructed the students to draw how they thought, based on the book's description, the monster looked. At the end of the book I showed the monster to the students and they showed me their pictures. We then discussed ways that the author could have been a little more descriptive in his wording to make it easier to visualize. The students really seemed to get a kick out of this and hopefully the technique sticks with them of using elaborative detail in their writing!!

Spelling Challenge- Week 23

Spelling Challenge- Week 23

Money Spelling!

Use the above chart to figure out how much money your word is worth! Write down your spelling word, then write down the coin values beside the word. At the end add up your coin value. Which word was worth the most? Which word was worth the least? Do any of the words have the same value? Be sure to record all of the information on your sheet.

1.	airfare
2.	staircase
3.	between
4.	persuade
5.	discount
6.	compound
7.	beneath
8.	sleepless
9.	oatmeal
10.	eighteen
11.	baboon
12.	mermaid
13.	trainer
14.	repeat
15.	approach
16.	afloat
17.	defeat
18.	reveal
19.	increase
20.	domain

Spelling Challenge- Week 22

Spelling Challenge- Week 22

Snack Spelling

Grab a box of Cheerios, Fruit Loops or Apple Jacks (or all three to mix up the taste) and get to work. Use the loops to create spelling words and when you are finished you will have a yummy snack.

1.	river
2.	level
3.	never
4.	talent
5.	radar
6.	limit
7.	diver
8.	finish
9.	famous
10.	spoken
11.	cabin
12.	wiper
13.	habit
14.	bison
15.	cider
16.	stolen
17.	promise
18.	razor
19.	pity
20.	easel