In my list of "thank yous" last week I forgot some very important people and I apologize--our hot chocolate makers! We really enjoyed having that nice warm cup of hot chocolate before heading out into the cold. Thanks go to Mrs. Dial, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mrs. Dalton for bringing or sending in thermoses ready to go. I feel so fortunate to have such supportive parents for our classroom.
The December break is here! I hope everyone has an opportunity to relax, spend time with family and friends, have some fun, and do some reading! The students are certainly in the mood and are looking forward to this afternoon's party. We appreciate all the parents who have worked to make the party a success. Thank you!
Although students have finished reading Island of the Blue Dolphins, they still have one final project to complete before we are done. They received the assignment sheet in class today. They may work on it over the break, but they do not have to. The assignment is not due until Monday, January 11 (one week after we get back).
We will be starting our Solid Earth unit in January: rocks, minerals, erosion, weathering, volcanoes, earthquakes. As with our Environments unit, there will be lots of connections with this unit and our restoration project.
And so...thank you for a wonderful first (nearly) half of a year. Enjoy the break, and don't forget to encourage your child to do some reading!
Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 11, 2009
To Pam Allan (our awesome field trip driver coordinator), Wendy Buscaglia, Cal Dalrymple, Cathy Dial, Leesa Gendel, and Marina Obukhov: Thank you! Not only did you make sure we got out to the Barboni Ranch and back to Rancho, you did a wonderful job of helping and supervising students as they planted trees. We could not have done it without you. Despite a cold start (What water there was in the creek was covered by a layer of ice when we arrived!), the students, with Mrs. Dees' class, planted 65 native trees! The Bay Institute's S.T.R.A.W. staff, as always, were so organized and helpful that students were trained and hard at work right away. It was wonderful to see how seriously the students took the work. Students were enthusiastic and wonderfully diligent and energetic. They cooperated well in their teams, and carefully followed directions for planting each plant. They also got to experience water in a new way--I hope you got to hear about it! Not only will their work help prevent soil erosion and improve water quality in and around the creek, it will also help provide habitat for the wildlife in this ecosystem. I am very proud of the work that they did. This was the perfect culminating activity for our science unit on the environment.
Our wonderful room parents, Amy Sullivan and Kristin Van Weele, have sent out an email about our December holiday party (Friday, Dec. 18 1:45-2:50 P.M.). I'm hoping that everyone will be able to tap into the spirit of the season and contribute something that we can donate to Homeward Bound. The list of appropriate/requested items is in their email. It would be great if each student brought in a new pair of socks (or package of new socks), or any other item from the list that fits for your family. This is an entirely optional activity.
There have been reports that some of the students of room 11 have been using inappropriate language. I have not personally witnessed it, but I consider this a serious issue and would love for each family to have a chat about what is appropriate language and what is not. Swearing, of course, is always inappropriate. Saying hurtful things or teasing others is also inappropriate. The consequences for inappropriate language can be severe and can include suspension. At this point, I do not think it is a big problem, but the fact that it may be happening at all is disturbing. I know I can count on all the families of room 11 to help students understand what is acceptable and the consequences for unacceptable behavior. If you have any specific concerns, please contact me.
I know December can be a busy month (With children, is there ever a month that doesn't seem busy?), but it is still very important for students to get a good night's sleep every night. When students can hardly keep their eyes open and yawn throughout the day, it is hard for them to do their best work or learn effectively. Please help your child make the most of each school day by giving them the gift of enough sleep.
Enjoy the weekend!
Our wonderful room parents, Amy Sullivan and Kristin Van Weele, have sent out an email about our December holiday party (Friday, Dec. 18 1:45-2:50 P.M.). I'm hoping that everyone will be able to tap into the spirit of the season and contribute something that we can donate to Homeward Bound. The list of appropriate/requested items is in their email. It would be great if each student brought in a new pair of socks (or package of new socks), or any other item from the list that fits for your family. This is an entirely optional activity.
There have been reports that some of the students of room 11 have been using inappropriate language. I have not personally witnessed it, but I consider this a serious issue and would love for each family to have a chat about what is appropriate language and what is not. Swearing, of course, is always inappropriate. Saying hurtful things or teasing others is also inappropriate. The consequences for inappropriate language can be severe and can include suspension. At this point, I do not think it is a big problem, but the fact that it may be happening at all is disturbing. I know I can count on all the families of room 11 to help students understand what is acceptable and the consequences for unacceptable behavior. If you have any specific concerns, please contact me.
I know December can be a busy month (With children, is there ever a month that doesn't seem busy?), but it is still very important for students to get a good night's sleep every night. When students can hardly keep their eyes open and yawn throughout the day, it is hard for them to do their best work or learn effectively. Please help your child make the most of each school day by giving them the gift of enough sleep.
Enjoy the weekend!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Hopefully you heard about the ferry field trip yesterday. The students did a wonderful job of decorating the ferry, and then seemed to enjoy the trip to San Francisco and back. A map activity gave them the opportunity to locate such things as Angel Island. Students also got to write 2 descriptions of things they saw. All in all, a productive and fun day. We could not have done it without our drivers. Thanks to Mrs. Van Weele, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Gendel, Mrs. Heard-Zeryny, Mr. Dalrymple, Mr. Flores, and Mrs. Obokhov. Thanks also to Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Gala for coming along to help. The ferry the students decorated is the weekend ferry. It will begin running on weekends, beginning the weekend of Dec. 12-13, if you want to take the family for a ferry ride!
Our next field trip is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 8. There is rain predicted for most of next week, so it is possible that the field trip will be postponed. If there are only occasional sprinkles, we will more than likely still go. I will let you know as soon as I know. We will plan on going, and hope for the best. We need the rain, but I'd love to have a rain-free day on Dec. 8th!
Students took the chapter 11 math test yesterday, and now it is on to division in greater depth. I appreciate all the hard work that many students have put into learning math facts, but do not let up if your child has not yet mastered them all!
Students are working on writing dialogue, especially on how to correctly punctuate dialogue. One of the many benefits of reading is that students get opportunities to see how different authors use dialogue to move the story in interesting ways. We will be working on how students can include dialogue in their own stories.
The holidays are close, but school goes on as usual. Thank you for continuing to make sure that your child gets enough sleep and is ready to learn every day when they come to school.
Have a great weekend!
Our next field trip is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 8. There is rain predicted for most of next week, so it is possible that the field trip will be postponed. If there are only occasional sprinkles, we will more than likely still go. I will let you know as soon as I know. We will plan on going, and hope for the best. We need the rain, but I'd love to have a rain-free day on Dec. 8th!
Students took the chapter 11 math test yesterday, and now it is on to division in greater depth. I appreciate all the hard work that many students have put into learning math facts, but do not let up if your child has not yet mastered them all!
Students are working on writing dialogue, especially on how to correctly punctuate dialogue. One of the many benefits of reading is that students get opportunities to see how different authors use dialogue to move the story in interesting ways. We will be working on how students can include dialogue in their own stories.
The holidays are close, but school goes on as usual. Thank you for continuing to make sure that your child gets enough sleep and is ready to learn every day when they come to school.
Have a great weekend!
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