The students and I appreciate the parents who came to help with the California map activity on Thursday. It was great to have extra hands and encouraging words. The maps look great! We still have to label them, which we will do next week. I feel confident that the students are very clear about the four major regions of California!
Don't forget: Rancho's Family Dinner is Oct. 2. See you there!
Reminder: each student is required to read at least 120 minutes a week, outside of the school day. Starting in October, the Accelerated Reader (AR) goal for each student is to earn at least 10 points. Good reading comprehension skills are crucial to a student's success in school. Please help your child by making sure that they are reading and understanding what they are reading. If you would like another copy of the handout from Back to School Night with specific suggestions about discussing books with your child, please let me know.
Great news--we now have access online to the student math book! This means that if you have access to the internet, you no longer need the DVD in order to have access to the entire student textbook through your computer. You must use our class username and password, however, to access the book online. Our username is rancho411, and the password is ranchomath. If you have the DVD, feel free to keep it until the end of the year or return it earlier, whatever works best for your family.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, contact me. Hope to see folks out at Stafford on Saturday, supporting the District! Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thanks to everyone helping with our Coastal Cleanup effort today. As we learn about the environment in our science unit, it helps to have those hands-on experiences in the real world to make the learning meaningful.
Reminder: Picture Day is Tuesday, Sept. 22. If you plan to buy pictures, please send the selection/payment envelope to school on Tuesday.
Second reminder: Wednesday, Sept. 23 is a minimum day. Dismissal is at 12:30 P.M. This is a special staff development day for teachers (looking at the new math adoption).
Classroom help needed: thanks to Carson's dad (who graciously agreed to cut the wood for us), students will be making their California maps in class on Thursday, Sept. 24, right after lunch (1:05-2:30). I would love to have 3-4 parents come help. Students will be gluing different kinds/colors of beans onto their maps to illustrate the 4 different regions of California. They will also label the major rivers, mountains, and cities. No geography expertise is needed, just the willingness to help keep things flowing. Please let me know if you can help.
*Anyone willing to help paint the 28 pieces of wood blue, before Thursday, please let me know.
Now that students have taken the AR leveling test, we have talked some in class about my expectations for them with regard to taking AR quizzes. Each student must take at least one AR quiz in September (most students have already taken several), just so they understand the process. Starting in October, the goal for each student is to earn 10 AR points each month. (They cannot earn 100 points in October and be finished with AR quizzes for the year.) This is possible for all students if they are doing all the reading outside of class that they are required to do (at least 120 minutes per week) and if they are making good use of silent reading time in the classroom. Student performance with AR quizzes is part of their reading comprehension grade. I will post their weekly point totals (by their District student number, so unless they share their that number with others, their point total will be for their information only), and send home a report after the end of each month.
In addition, it is my expectation that in order to have passed an AR quiz, they must score 80% or higher. Any points earned and awarded by AR (which awards a portion of the total possible points for some scores lower than 80%) will be honored. If you have any questions, please contact me. Although the school library is not yet open (We hope it will be soon though!), I have an extensive classroom library. In addition, the Novato Public Library is a great place to visit on a regular basis! If you aren't sure whether a book your child wants to read has an AR quiz or not, simply check at AR Book Finder. If you google it, it will pop up or, go to http://www.arbookfind.com.
Have a great weekend!
Reminder: Picture Day is Tuesday, Sept. 22. If you plan to buy pictures, please send the selection/payment envelope to school on Tuesday.
Second reminder: Wednesday, Sept. 23 is a minimum day. Dismissal is at 12:30 P.M. This is a special staff development day for teachers (looking at the new math adoption).
Classroom help needed: thanks to Carson's dad (who graciously agreed to cut the wood for us), students will be making their California maps in class on Thursday, Sept. 24, right after lunch (1:05-2:30). I would love to have 3-4 parents come help. Students will be gluing different kinds/colors of beans onto their maps to illustrate the 4 different regions of California. They will also label the major rivers, mountains, and cities. No geography expertise is needed, just the willingness to help keep things flowing. Please let me know if you can help.
*Anyone willing to help paint the 28 pieces of wood blue, before Thursday, please let me know.
Now that students have taken the AR leveling test, we have talked some in class about my expectations for them with regard to taking AR quizzes. Each student must take at least one AR quiz in September (most students have already taken several), just so they understand the process. Starting in October, the goal for each student is to earn 10 AR points each month. (They cannot earn 100 points in October and be finished with AR quizzes for the year.) This is possible for all students if they are doing all the reading outside of class that they are required to do (at least 120 minutes per week) and if they are making good use of silent reading time in the classroom. Student performance with AR quizzes is part of their reading comprehension grade. I will post their weekly point totals (by their District student number, so unless they share their that number with others, their point total will be for their information only), and send home a report after the end of each month.
In addition, it is my expectation that in order to have passed an AR quiz, they must score 80% or higher. Any points earned and awarded by AR (which awards a portion of the total possible points for some scores lower than 80%) will be honored. If you have any questions, please contact me. Although the school library is not yet open (We hope it will be soon though!), I have an extensive classroom library. In addition, the Novato Public Library is a great place to visit on a regular basis! If you aren't sure whether a book your child wants to read has an AR quiz or not, simply check at AR Book Finder. If you google it, it will pop up or, go to http://www.arbookfind.com.
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Our afternoon (1:30-2:30) of cleaning the Rancho campus and Arroyo Avichi Creek is only a week away (Friday, Sept. 18). I am still hoping to find 5-7 parents to help supervise groups. Please let me know if you can join us. Thanks!
Although we couldn't watch President Obama give his speech to students on Tuesday (something to do with the TV not being digital and how that affects what cable can deliver to my classroom), students did hear it. I had printed out the speech beforehand and read it to the students--not nearly as good as hearing the President himself deliver the speech! I think the students were able to understand and appreciate his message, and we used the speech as a springboard for writing goals for this trimester. We will continue to set goals throughout the school year.
We celebrated Admissions Day on Sept. 9, with "golden" orange slices served on blue napkins (California's colors are blue and gold--Go Cal!). Happy Birthday California! Your child can tell you the year California became the 31st state to join the Union. We also recognized Constitution Day on Thursday, marking the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. We are very fortunate to live in this wonderful (although currently budget-challenged) state, and this amazing country!
Please send in your pink directory forms as soon as possible. Lots have come back already, so thank you! And, speaking of recent flyers, I hope everyone is planning to come to the Family Dinner on Oct. 2. It is a very fun evening! We have received a few contributions for our classroom basket, but need more. Any donations will be happily accepted.
We are marching along academically. Chapter 3 in the math book covers estimating--a very useful skill. The key concept for estimating is that it involves 2 steps: first, round the numbers and second, do the calculation. The answer to the calculation is the estimate. The goal is to understand the process, and to use the correct terminology in a mathematics context, understanding that rounding is not the same as estimating but a step in the process. It would be great to talk to your child about ways in which you use estimating in your daily life.
I will begin giving math facts timed tests next week, covering addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts (I'll add in division later). Each timed test will cover only one operation. The 3rd grade standard is that all students have mastered addition and subtraction facts, as well as multiplication facts to the 10s. In 4th grade, they are expected to master multiplication and division facts to the 12s.
Students took the Accelerated Reader leveling test this week, and the results for your child are in this week's Friday folder. Now that everyone has their baseline reading level, we'll talk in class about what the AR goals will be for each student for each month. This will be part of their reading comprehension grade. I'll give you more information after we have discussed it in class.
Mr. Ceresa has graciously volunteered to help with preparing the wood for our California maps. Thank you! Once the wood is ready, I'll schedule our "California Map Day." I'll need volunteers to help, as students glue on different colored beans to create a map showing the regions, major rivers, and largest cities of California.
Have a great weekend!
Although we couldn't watch President Obama give his speech to students on Tuesday (something to do with the TV not being digital and how that affects what cable can deliver to my classroom), students did hear it. I had printed out the speech beforehand and read it to the students--not nearly as good as hearing the President himself deliver the speech! I think the students were able to understand and appreciate his message, and we used the speech as a springboard for writing goals for this trimester. We will continue to set goals throughout the school year.
We celebrated Admissions Day on Sept. 9, with "golden" orange slices served on blue napkins (California's colors are blue and gold--Go Cal!). Happy Birthday California! Your child can tell you the year California became the 31st state to join the Union. We also recognized Constitution Day on Thursday, marking the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. We are very fortunate to live in this wonderful (although currently budget-challenged) state, and this amazing country!
Please send in your pink directory forms as soon as possible. Lots have come back already, so thank you! And, speaking of recent flyers, I hope everyone is planning to come to the Family Dinner on Oct. 2. It is a very fun evening! We have received a few contributions for our classroom basket, but need more. Any donations will be happily accepted.
We are marching along academically. Chapter 3 in the math book covers estimating--a very useful skill. The key concept for estimating is that it involves 2 steps: first, round the numbers and second, do the calculation. The answer to the calculation is the estimate. The goal is to understand the process, and to use the correct terminology in a mathematics context, understanding that rounding is not the same as estimating but a step in the process. It would be great to talk to your child about ways in which you use estimating in your daily life.
I will begin giving math facts timed tests next week, covering addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts (I'll add in division later). Each timed test will cover only one operation. The 3rd grade standard is that all students have mastered addition and subtraction facts, as well as multiplication facts to the 10s. In 4th grade, they are expected to master multiplication and division facts to the 12s.
Students took the Accelerated Reader leveling test this week, and the results for your child are in this week's Friday folder. Now that everyone has their baseline reading level, we'll talk in class about what the AR goals will be for each student for each month. This will be part of their reading comprehension grade. I'll give you more information after we have discussed it in class.
Mr. Ceresa has graciously volunteered to help with preparing the wood for our California maps. Thank you! Once the wood is ready, I'll schedule our "California Map Day." I'll need volunteers to help, as students glue on different colored beans to create a map showing the regions, major rivers, and largest cities of California.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 4, 2009
We are beginning to settle into our routines in class. I have, however, already changed one classroom policy. We will no longer be using bathroom passes. Instead of giving me a bathroom pass when a student needs to use the restroom, he/she will simply sign out on the list by the door. I think it was just too fun for some students to use them (2-4 times a day--clearly not working as they were only given 12 for the entire trimester). On a related note, some students seem to be having a very hard time remembering to get drinks and to use the restroom during recesses. My expectation is that no one should need to use the restroom within the first 20-30 minutes after a recess (several students have been going within 5-10 minutes). Please help your child understand that the best time to use the restroom is during recess. Students who leave during the first 20-30 minutes back after recess are typically missing key instructional time.
As I mentioned last week, the class will be participating in the Coastal Cleanup effort on Friday, Sept. 18, after lunch (1:30-2:30). If you can help by joining us that day (I'd love to have 5-7 parents), please let me know, either by sending me an email (sspry@nusd.org) or sending in a note. Thanks!
I have sent home the DVD-ROM of the math book to everyone who requested one. If you change your mind some time later in the year and decide that you would like one, just let me know. And, if you received one and find that you aren't using it, feel free to return it to me at any time.
Students took their first Accelerated Reader tests this week. The District is still in the process of setting a few things up, however, so students cannot yet take the leveling test. As soon as we can take it we will, and I will send home the results. At this point I am not asking students to focus their efforts on any particular kind of book or any specific reading level, but each student should be taking AR tests regularly on the books they are reading independently. (Remember, at least 120 minutes each week at home!)
Students will take the chapter 2 math test next week. They took their first "official" math quiz (the first one that counts for a grade) today, as well as the first language quiz. We finished Stone Fox, and they did a wonderful job of writing their own next chapter. We read the first story in the reading textbook and worked on writing a summary. We have also been using quick writes in their writing journals to focus on descriptive writing. We are continuing to work on latitude (the lines run east to west but measure distance north or south of the equator) and longitude (the lines run north to south but measure distance east or west of the prime meridian). We'll continue to work on general geography concepts and then turn our focus to California. As part of our science unit, students will begin setting up classroom terrariums next week.
Parents with table saws: I'm hoping to find a parent willing to cut up thin plywood into smaller pieces that students can use to create maps of California. I will pay for the plywood with my classroom funds, and give you the dimensions I need. If you are willing to help, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!
As I mentioned last week, the class will be participating in the Coastal Cleanup effort on Friday, Sept. 18, after lunch (1:30-2:30). If you can help by joining us that day (I'd love to have 5-7 parents), please let me know, either by sending me an email (sspry@nusd.org) or sending in a note. Thanks!
I have sent home the DVD-ROM of the math book to everyone who requested one. If you change your mind some time later in the year and decide that you would like one, just let me know. And, if you received one and find that you aren't using it, feel free to return it to me at any time.
Students took their first Accelerated Reader tests this week. The District is still in the process of setting a few things up, however, so students cannot yet take the leveling test. As soon as we can take it we will, and I will send home the results. At this point I am not asking students to focus their efforts on any particular kind of book or any specific reading level, but each student should be taking AR tests regularly on the books they are reading independently. (Remember, at least 120 minutes each week at home!)
Students will take the chapter 2 math test next week. They took their first "official" math quiz (the first one that counts for a grade) today, as well as the first language quiz. We finished Stone Fox, and they did a wonderful job of writing their own next chapter. We read the first story in the reading textbook and worked on writing a summary. We have also been using quick writes in their writing journals to focus on descriptive writing. We are continuing to work on latitude (the lines run east to west but measure distance north or south of the equator) and longitude (the lines run north to south but measure distance east or west of the prime meridian). We'll continue to work on general geography concepts and then turn our focus to California. As part of our science unit, students will begin setting up classroom terrariums next week.
Parents with table saws: I'm hoping to find a parent willing to cut up thin plywood into smaller pieces that students can use to create maps of California. I will pay for the plywood with my classroom funds, and give you the dimensions I need. If you are willing to help, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!
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