Mrs. Crist's Corner
Are you ready for some Fourth Grade?!
Our Class Mission
2011-2012
We, the students of 4C, are here to become educated, have fun, and get a job. In order to accomplish our class mission, we will work hard, follow the Eagle Way and pay attention to all our teachers. By being good role models and working together, we can accomplish anything!
Keep scrolling down for recently updated information!
My name is Mrs. Julie Crist and I teach fourth grade at Pleasantdale Elementary. This is my sixteenth year teaching and my ninth year at Pleasantdale. I have also taught second grade for 6 years and in a multiage second/third grade class for Lyons School District #103. I graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana and I have a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University.
I am looking forward to helping each and every student thrive in this classroom. I look forward to all the “firsts” that they will experience this year—the first time they read a book that really sparks their thinking, the first time I get to see wonder, awe and excitement in their eyes, the first time they share about their dreams, strengths, challenges and goals. I strive to get to know your child as an individual and help them to identify his/her passions. Our classroom is structured to be an inviting place where we are not afraid to take risks and open the door to learning.
As many of you know, I too, am a parent. I have an eight year old son, Brian, a 6 year old daughter, Ellie, and a 4 year old daughter, Emma. I know what it means to want the world for them. I also know that as a teacher I simply cannot know everything there is to know about what makes them “tick.” I need you. Together, with your kids, we are partners in this educational adventure. Please know that an active role in your child’s education is vital to his/her success. I welcome visitors, helpers, ideas, advice and just about anything else you have to offer! Thank you in advance for your help and cooperation. I know that we will be fabulous partners for your child’s educational journey through fourth grade.
A Note from Mrs. Crist 
- In computer lab we will be practicing our typing skills. Please encourage your child to perfect this skill. It will help them tremendously in future endeavors.
In lab I dictate this to them:
asdfjkl; a;sldkfj
a aq az s sw sx d de dc f fr ft fg fb fv
; ;p ;' ;/ l lo l. k ki k, j ju jy jh jn jm
If students were to complete this exercise nightly, they would gradually see improvement in their typing skills.
click here for a typing website that might help
What's Happening in 4C?
Science: Get ready for states of matter and forms of energy!
Login for science book:
www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
Social Studies: It's all about maps skills--compass rose, legends, scale, latitude and longitude. District Assessment will be Thursday, October 20. Students are also hard at work on creating their own island map. Ask them about this fun project.
Language Arts: We are writing summaries of each chapter in Stone Fox and are talking all about the story elements--characters, setting, rising action, climax, and falling action/resolution. We will also be talking about cause and effect and practicing it using various reading passages, including Stone Fox.
Stone Fox: Get ready for Chapter 5!
Writing: Do you know your address? What are the parts of a friendly letter? Can you use commas appropriately in dates, cities and states and when mentioning more than one thing? You will when we are done covering this new topic!
Spelling for week of 10/17-10/21: knock, listen, love, mother, odd
READING CHAMP of the Week: Austin!!!!
Math (5th grade): Ready, Set, Divide! Students should be able to estimate quotients and divide with 1 and 2 digit divisors. We are combining Topic 4 and 5 for a District Assessment. The strategy that we are using for estimation is finding the nearest fact. Your child has a packet with notes on how to use this strategy. Ask them to see it! It is in a packet called Division Estimation. There are other strategies, but this is the one we want the kids to learn, practice, and show their knowlegde of.
Login for math book: www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
Below are some handy links to some great websites for math.
Click here math links!
updated 10/21/11