Wow, Halloween...high energy day! Thanks to everyone who helped make our day festive, from the decorations to the yummy treats and fun activities! Children love Halloween!
Thanks to everyone who's let me know about their parent/teacher conference time. If you have not yet replied, or if you need to change your time, please let me know as soon as possible.
As you may have noticed, we have been focusing on algebra in math the last couple of weeks (and will continue to do so for a while). This can be very challenging for students who are still very concrete thinkers. We will continue to practice and discuss strategies so that eventually everyone will be more comfortable. Algebra can be so much fun; I think it is really important not to let children get discouraged. The most important concepts in these units are: 1) what a variable is and how a variable can be used, and 2) how you can use what you know about inverse operations (addition/subtraction, multiplication/division) to help you solve equations. We will continue to work on these concepts throughout the year.
Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help with our upcoming field trips. If you are willing to help and still have not contacted our field trip coordinator, Pam Allan, or me, please do so as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT CORRECTION FROM LAST WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
In the paragraph about reading and AR goals, I mentioned a monthly goal of 15 points. THAT IS INCORRECT, and I apologize for not catching it (Thanks, Mrs. Dalrymple, for calling it to my attention). The AR goal for each month, beginning with the month of October, is 10 points.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you read something that doesn't make sense or if you have any questions. Thanks!
Enjoy your Halloween weekend! Don't forget to turn back your clocks this weekend. Enjoy that extra hour!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thank you to all the parents who came to help out for our afternoon of Native American activities--it is wonderful to have extra hands! Hopefully your child came home and told you about the games and activities he or she participated in. We spent time at the end of the day last Friday using our rhythm sticks. Your children are wonderful percussionists!
Don't forget to get your paperwork in if you are planning to be a driver for one of our upcoming field trips: Dec. 3 to the Larkspur Ferry (community service--decorating the ferry) and Dec. 8 to the Barboni Ranch (watershed restoration project). I have a few parents signed up to drive to the ferry, but only one confirmed for the restoration project on Dec. 8. Please let me know, or contact our field trip coordinator, Pam Allan.
I'm sending home parent-teacher conference notices today. Please return the bottom portion by Wed., Oct. 28. Please let me know if your conference time doesn't work for you and we'll work together to find a better time.
As part of our environments unit in science, we've been learning about pollination and seed dispersal. Ask your child to sing the songs about pollination and seeds! (They will probably need the song sheet.) Our goldfish and pond snails are still keeping us company. We'll be trying to work with brine shrimp next.
Math facts--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Need I say more?
Students are required to read at least 120 minutes each week, outside of school hours. In addition, each month, starting this month, each student is expected to reach the goal of earning 15 AR points by reading AR books and taking the AR quiz for each AR book read (almost every book they read has an AR quiz). So far this month 25% of the class has already met or surpassed that goal. Students who are making good use of silent reading time in the classroom AND who are reading at least 120 minutes each week outside of class should be able to reach the monthly goal. The number of points each student has earned for the month is posted weekly in the classroom (by District number, to offer some anonymity), so students can keep track of how close or how far away they are from the goal. Please encourage your child to be reading!
Thanks for all you do to keep your child on track and moving forward! Have a great weekend.
Don't forget to get your paperwork in if you are planning to be a driver for one of our upcoming field trips: Dec. 3 to the Larkspur Ferry (community service--decorating the ferry) and Dec. 8 to the Barboni Ranch (watershed restoration project). I have a few parents signed up to drive to the ferry, but only one confirmed for the restoration project on Dec. 8. Please let me know, or contact our field trip coordinator, Pam Allan.
I'm sending home parent-teacher conference notices today. Please return the bottom portion by Wed., Oct. 28. Please let me know if your conference time doesn't work for you and we'll work together to find a better time.
As part of our environments unit in science, we've been learning about pollination and seed dispersal. Ask your child to sing the songs about pollination and seeds! (They will probably need the song sheet.) Our goldfish and pond snails are still keeping us company. We'll be trying to work with brine shrimp next.
Math facts--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Need I say more?
Students are required to read at least 120 minutes each week, outside of school hours. In addition, each month, starting this month, each student is expected to reach the goal of earning 15 AR points by reading AR books and taking the AR quiz for each AR book read (almost every book they read has an AR quiz). So far this month 25% of the class has already met or surpassed that goal. Students who are making good use of silent reading time in the classroom AND who are reading at least 120 minutes each week outside of class should be able to reach the monthly goal. The number of points each student has earned for the month is posted weekly in the classroom (by District number, to offer some anonymity), so students can keep track of how close or how far away they are from the goal. Please encourage your child to be reading!
Thanks for all you do to keep your child on track and moving forward! Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Sorry about the lack of a posting last week (and having to send a paper copy of the newsletter to everyone) but I was experiencing computer problems. I think the issue is now solved.
I have several dates to share with you--along with requests for your help:
1. Thursday, Oct. 15: Native American Afternoon. We'll be studying Indians of California, starting Monday. On Thursday we'll have some hands-on activities related to our studies. We'll be creating with colored sand, playing Native American games (including lacrosse), making "birdies" (a Native American hacky-sack made from cornhusks), creating our own petroglyphs, eating some foods California Indians might have eaten, and more! I need parents to help supervise the activities. We will be doing the activities from after lunch (1:05) until 2:30 P.M. Please let me know if you can help!
2. Thursday, Dec. 3: We have the opportunity to decorate one of the Larkspur ferries for winter holidays. We need parent drivers to get us to the Larkspur ferry by about 10:00. We'll decorate the ferry (with the other 4th grade classes) and then board the 11:10 A.M. ferry for San Francisco. We'll go to SF and come back (we don't have the opportunity to get off in SF), and then head back to Rancho. We can only do this if we have parent drivers, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are available and interested!
3. MOST IMPORTANT DATE! Tuesday, Dec. 8: This is the date for our watershed restoration project. We will be working on a creek on the Barboni Ranch (it is located out by the Cheese Factory, on the road out to Marshall). We'll be working with Mrs. Dees' fifth grade class. It will be an all-day trip. I need at least 7 parents who are willing to drive and stay for the entire day, to help supervise a work group for the day. It is great fun (although it can be tiring)! Anyone interested is welcome to come, but we must have at least 7 parent drivers. Please let me know if this is something you are willing to help with. See me if you have any questions.
Have a great weekend!
I have several dates to share with you--along with requests for your help:
1. Thursday, Oct. 15: Native American Afternoon. We'll be studying Indians of California, starting Monday. On Thursday we'll have some hands-on activities related to our studies. We'll be creating with colored sand, playing Native American games (including lacrosse), making "birdies" (a Native American hacky-sack made from cornhusks), creating our own petroglyphs, eating some foods California Indians might have eaten, and more! I need parents to help supervise the activities. We will be doing the activities from after lunch (1:05) until 2:30 P.M. Please let me know if you can help!
2. Thursday, Dec. 3: We have the opportunity to decorate one of the Larkspur ferries for winter holidays. We need parent drivers to get us to the Larkspur ferry by about 10:00. We'll decorate the ferry (with the other 4th grade classes) and then board the 11:10 A.M. ferry for San Francisco. We'll go to SF and come back (we don't have the opportunity to get off in SF), and then head back to Rancho. We can only do this if we have parent drivers, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are available and interested!
3. MOST IMPORTANT DATE! Tuesday, Dec. 8: This is the date for our watershed restoration project. We will be working on a creek on the Barboni Ranch (it is located out by the Cheese Factory, on the road out to Marshall). We'll be working with Mrs. Dees' fifth grade class. It will be an all-day trip. I need at least 7 parents who are willing to drive and stay for the entire day, to help supervise a work group for the day. It is great fun (although it can be tiring)! Anyone interested is welcome to come, but we must have at least 7 parent drivers. Please let me know if this is something you are willing to help with. See me if you have any questions.
Have a great weekend!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
