Gold Dust or Bust: "Thank you!" to all the parents who were able to come to the play yesterday. The students loved having an audience! I was proud of their performance--their hard work and enthusiasm really showed! And, "Thanks!" to Abby for bringing all those mustaches. The students were very happy to feast on all the delicious food families so generously contributed--a great way to celebrate a wonderful performance. I also want to thank the parents who were able to stay and help serve the food, as well as my last minute technical assistant (music), Mrs. Obukhov. It was a wonderful day.
Classroom Books: I would love it if everyone would look at home for any books your child may have brought home that belong in my classroom library. I would really appreciate having them all back by Tuesday of next week Thanks.
Parent Science Survey: As I have mentioned previously, NUSD has been working with BaySci on a very generous grant related to science education in elementary schools. As part of the grant, parents are being asked to complete a short parent survey. The survey is in this week's Friday folder. We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill the survey out and return it to school by Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Science Test: Yes, it is true. Students have been studying magnetism and electricity, and they will take the test on Wed., June 9. The test will cover magnetic poles and magnetic fields and how they interact with each other, circuits (open, closed; series and parallel), and electromagnets. Here's the good news: no tests on the last day of school!
Last day celebration: All the 4th grade classes will be having a joint end-of-the-year ice cream sundae celebration on the last day of school. Everyone is welcome. Please contact Amy Sullivan or Kristin Van Weele if you'd like to contribute something.
Summer: I suspect we are all looking forward to summer, but I encourage everyone to continue the good habits practiced during the school year. Please help your child continue reading on a regular basis. Summer is a great time for book clubs for kids (having someone to talk to about what you are both reading enhances comprehension and is usually fun, especially when accompanied by food). In addition, it is great to find ways to help them use what they have learned--estimating, measurement, fractions, money, etc. And don't forget, you have a fabulous tool available all summer long, Study Island (http://www.studyisland.com). Your child knows their username and password. This is available to all Rancho students for their use at home, paid for by the Rancho PTA. Not only is Study Island a great learning and review tool, it is fun! My parting thought on this subject: it really is true that practice is important!
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
In my last newsletter, I announced that students would be doing MAP testing beginning on May 19. Since our time on May 19 conflicted with Career Day, we started MAP testing this week. Students took the Language Usage MAP test on Wednesday. The Reading MAP test and the Math MAP test will still be taken on May 21 and May 27, respectively.
We will begin our science unit on electricity next week. Should be fun. We will finish chapter 28 in the math book (solid figures, surface area, and volume) next week and take the test--the last math chapter test (but not the last math test)! We will continue to work on writing and grammar, and students will continue reading By the Great Horn Spoon. We spent time discussing Mexico's war for independence from Spain, Mexican-governed California (the time period of our read aloud book, Anita of Rancho del Mar, and are now focused on the Gold Rush. We had a wonderful presentation from an Oakland Museum docent today, and all the students got to see and hold a horn spoon, a pan like those used for finding gold in streams (link to geology: weathering, erosion, sediments, alluvial deposits...), a housewife (be sure to have your child tell you what that term would mean to a 49er), a poke, and so much more. If they didn't tell you all about it, be sure to ask!
We also had a wonderful presentation on Thursday by Mr. Wilcer. He brought rocks and minerals to share. Ask your child which rock floated in water and see if he/she can tell you why it did! We ended the day eating a replica of the earth--graham crackers on top representing the crust, with pudding below (the mantle and core). Yum!
We are continuing to work on the play--focusing now on learning all the songs. We'll start working on lines next week. As I mentioned last week, I would welcome some help. I am sending home a separate flier so please return the bottom portion if you are able to help. We now have a date: Thurs., June 3, in the morning, before the first recess. I will give you a firm time when I know. Please encourage your child to memorize the words to all the songs, as well as any lines he/she has.
It is wonderful weather and school is nearing an end, but it is not over yet! Students will continue to have lots of work each day and homework, so don't let them succumb to Spring Fever!
Have a great weekend!
We will begin our science unit on electricity next week. Should be fun. We will finish chapter 28 in the math book (solid figures, surface area, and volume) next week and take the test--the last math chapter test (but not the last math test)! We will continue to work on writing and grammar, and students will continue reading By the Great Horn Spoon. We spent time discussing Mexico's war for independence from Spain, Mexican-governed California (the time period of our read aloud book, Anita of Rancho del Mar, and are now focused on the Gold Rush. We had a wonderful presentation from an Oakland Museum docent today, and all the students got to see and hold a horn spoon, a pan like those used for finding gold in streams (link to geology: weathering, erosion, sediments, alluvial deposits...), a housewife (be sure to have your child tell you what that term would mean to a 49er), a poke, and so much more. If they didn't tell you all about it, be sure to ask!
We also had a wonderful presentation on Thursday by Mr. Wilcer. He brought rocks and minerals to share. Ask your child which rock floated in water and see if he/she can tell you why it did! We ended the day eating a replica of the earth--graham crackers on top representing the crust, with pudding below (the mantle and core). Yum!
We are continuing to work on the play--focusing now on learning all the songs. We'll start working on lines next week. As I mentioned last week, I would welcome some help. I am sending home a separate flier so please return the bottom portion if you are able to help. We now have a date: Thurs., June 3, in the morning, before the first recess. I will give you a firm time when I know. Please encourage your child to memorize the words to all the songs, as well as any lines he/she has.
It is wonderful weather and school is nearing an end, but it is not over yet! Students will continue to have lots of work each day and homework, so don't let them succumb to Spring Fever!
Have a great weekend!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thank you for all the wonderful Teacher Appreciation Day flowers, notes, and poems. The room still has that wonderful fragrance of fresh flowers!
STAR testing has been completed for another year. Students appeared to be working diligently and carefully, so what more can we ask? Our class will be doing MAP testing (reading, language, and math) on Wed., May 19; Friday, May 21; and Thursday, May 27. These are the tests they take using the computers in the computer lab.
We are just about done with our Solid Earth unit and students will be taking the science test for this unit on Friday, May 14. We'll finish up with our last investigation on Monday and do some review before we start the unit on electricity.
The Play! By now I hope you have heard about the play--Gold Dust or Bust. Most students have already memorized the first song. The play is part of our study of the California Gold Rush. The play, when performed, will take about 30-45 minutes. I still don't have a firm date for the performance, but it will most likely be a Monday or Thursday in June. We will perform for our kindergarten buddy class and for parents (and anyone else who is interested). I will let you know as soon as I can. I will also send home specific information about costumes--basically everyone needs to look like a pioneer. No one should have to buy anything. We should be just fine with what folks already have in their closets or perhaps can borrow. Sometimes all you need to feel the part is the right hat! Ways you can help:
Happy Mother's Day to everyone! Have a wonderful weekend.
STAR testing has been completed for another year. Students appeared to be working diligently and carefully, so what more can we ask? Our class will be doing MAP testing (reading, language, and math) on Wed., May 19; Friday, May 21; and Thursday, May 27. These are the tests they take using the computers in the computer lab.
We are just about done with our Solid Earth unit and students will be taking the science test for this unit on Friday, May 14. We'll finish up with our last investigation on Monday and do some review before we start the unit on electricity.
The Play! By now I hope you have heard about the play--Gold Dust or Bust. Most students have already memorized the first song. The play is part of our study of the California Gold Rush. The play, when performed, will take about 30-45 minutes. I still don't have a firm date for the performance, but it will most likely be a Monday or Thursday in June. We will perform for our kindergarten buddy class and for parents (and anyone else who is interested). I will let you know as soon as I can. I will also send home specific information about costumes--basically everyone needs to look like a pioneer. No one should have to buy anything. We should be just fine with what folks already have in their closets or perhaps can borrow. Sometimes all you need to feel the part is the right hat! Ways you can help:
- Create a program--I can copy it here at school.
- Sew some bonnets--I will provide the pattern.
- Collect some pioneer-type hats--felt hats, "beaver" hats, cowboy hats, bowlers, ...
- Help students create the scenery (paint on butcher paper) during school hours
- Help students practice (songs or lines) during school hours
- Help students create dances for some of the songs, during school hours
- Agree to be our "behind-the-scenes" music person (push the button at the right time)
- Help your child practice their dance, lines, and or songs at home
- Bake some treats for the after-party!
Happy Mother's Day to everyone! Have a wonderful weekend.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Students have completed the English-Language Arts section of the STAR tests. They will take the math portion next Thursday and Friday (May 6-7). It will be nice to have STAR testing done!
Eight families still need to return their science permission slips. I would really appreciate it of you all could return those as soon as possible. If you can't remember, please ask your child (they have been reminded). Mrs. Kawata (and everyone in the district, including me) appreciates families taking the time to complete the parent survey and return it. Although I don't know exactly how many have come back, clearly 29 have not, so if you could complete it and return it as soon as possible that would be great!
We have been working on perimeter, area, congruent figures, and line and rotational symmetry in math. Some of these concepts are challenging, and extra practice will really help. Remember, your child can use Study Island at home to work on these concepts. We will be learning about volume and how to calculate the volume of rectangular prisms next week and many students will need extra practice. Sometimes when students realize how these concepts are used in everyday life, it makes the concepts less intimidating.
THANK YOU!! Several families brought in tissues, and, barring some major respiratory epidemic, I think we should have enough to last through the rest of the school year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy your weekend!
Eight families still need to return their science permission slips. I would really appreciate it of you all could return those as soon as possible. If you can't remember, please ask your child (they have been reminded). Mrs. Kawata (and everyone in the district, including me) appreciates families taking the time to complete the parent survey and return it. Although I don't know exactly how many have come back, clearly 29 have not, so if you could complete it and return it as soon as possible that would be great!
We have been working on perimeter, area, congruent figures, and line and rotational symmetry in math. Some of these concepts are challenging, and extra practice will really help. Remember, your child can use Study Island at home to work on these concepts. We will be learning about volume and how to calculate the volume of rectangular prisms next week and many students will need extra practice. Sometimes when students realize how these concepts are used in everyday life, it makes the concepts less intimidating.
THANK YOU!! Several families brought in tissues, and, barring some major respiratory epidemic, I think we should have enough to last through the rest of the school year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy your weekend!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Students have now turned in their 4th grade California History essays, for the essay contest, and their pioneer projects...time to move forward in California history!
We have been working in math on data analysis. Students should know about mode, median, outliers, and mean and how to find or calculate each. Additionally, they have been looking at ways to display data (and why to choose a particular way to display the data): line plots, bar graphs, double bar graphs, line graphs, and circle graphs (pie charts). Each time we discuss graphs, we also discuss everything needed to make a graph: title, labels, scale, interval, and keys (where needed). If you happen to find any kind of graph in the newspaper, or elsewhere, take a few minutes to share it with your child--what kind of graph is it, how effective is it in helping us understand the information, and what can we learn by carefully reading the graph?
Students have been doing a lot of writing, across the curriculum. In addition, we have been reviewing complete and simple subjects, complete and simple predicates, nouns, verbs (don't forget those "to be" verbs!), prepositions and prepositional phrases, adjectives, articles, and conjunctions. We are not ignoring adverbs...we will look at how they are used as well. Students have also been learning about compound sentences and how to punctuate them. We regularly review punctuating dialogue, as well as the 4 basic types of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
Be sure to check out Study Island! Our very generous PTA has paid for a wonderful standards-based, web-based software program that allows students to review grade level standards through lessons, tests, and games. You and your child can access this at home, at no cost. Each student knows their own username and password (username is the same as their AR username with @nusd added at the end, and the password is the same as their AR password). Students got to try the site yesterday in the computer lab. They seemed to enjoy it. It is a great supplement to the curriculum!
Just a reminder: 4th grade will be testing (State STAR testing) beginning Thursday, April 29 (4/29, 4/30, 5/6, and 5/7). Please help your child do his/her best by not stressing about the tests, by encouraging him/her to always do their best, and by making sure that your student is well-rested.
Special Surprise! Every student has been given a free ticket to the Aquarium of the Bay, by The Bay Institute and the STRAW Project. The tickets expire Dec. 30, 2010. Enjoy!
Have a wonderful vacation! Hopefully everyone will come back healthy and rested, although I would still love to have donations of tissues just in case!
We have been working in math on data analysis. Students should know about mode, median, outliers, and mean and how to find or calculate each. Additionally, they have been looking at ways to display data (and why to choose a particular way to display the data): line plots, bar graphs, double bar graphs, line graphs, and circle graphs (pie charts). Each time we discuss graphs, we also discuss everything needed to make a graph: title, labels, scale, interval, and keys (where needed). If you happen to find any kind of graph in the newspaper, or elsewhere, take a few minutes to share it with your child--what kind of graph is it, how effective is it in helping us understand the information, and what can we learn by carefully reading the graph?
Students have been doing a lot of writing, across the curriculum. In addition, we have been reviewing complete and simple subjects, complete and simple predicates, nouns, verbs (don't forget those "to be" verbs!), prepositions and prepositional phrases, adjectives, articles, and conjunctions. We are not ignoring adverbs...we will look at how they are used as well. Students have also been learning about compound sentences and how to punctuate them. We regularly review punctuating dialogue, as well as the 4 basic types of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
Be sure to check out Study Island! Our very generous PTA has paid for a wonderful standards-based, web-based software program that allows students to review grade level standards through lessons, tests, and games. You and your child can access this at home, at no cost. Each student knows their own username and password (username is the same as their AR username with @nusd added at the end, and the password is the same as their AR password). Students got to try the site yesterday in the computer lab. They seemed to enjoy it. It is a great supplement to the curriculum!
Just a reminder: 4th grade will be testing (State STAR testing) beginning Thursday, April 29 (4/29, 4/30, 5/6, and 5/7). Please help your child do his/her best by not stressing about the tests, by encouraging him/her to always do their best, and by making sure that your student is well-rested.
Special Surprise! Every student has been given a free ticket to the Aquarium of the Bay, by The Bay Institute and the STRAW Project. The tickets expire Dec. 30, 2010. Enjoy!
Have a wonderful vacation! Hopefully everyone will come back healthy and rested, although I would still love to have donations of tissues just in case!
Friday, April 2, 2010
It was great to see so many families at Open House, despite the rain. Your children work very hard. Thank you for taking the time to honor their efforts.
Now that we have finished The Pioneers Go West, ...If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, and Patty Reed's Doll, students will finish the unit with the Pioneer Project. We spent a lot of time talking about it and going over the requirements yesterday in class. The project is due no later than Friday, April 9. This is a project that students should be working on every day. Please do not let your child wait until Thursday night to try to put everything together. They have already done the brainstorming part, making key decisions about what to include in their writing. Students are allowed to type the project (emphasis on student--let them do it), but they do not have to. The requirement is that the final copy must be neat and legible. Students are encouraged to include pictures, but the pictures must be created by them (no photographs or downloaded images). If you have any questions, please contact me.
A big "Thank you!" to all the families who donated books to our classroom. The classroom books get a lot of use, so it is wonderful to add to the collection and to replace some of the most worn-out copies of favorites. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. (Note: Not to appear greedy but for those families who don't have younger children, if you ever want to donate your child's already read books to the classroom, I am happy to take them!)
Between allergies, colds, and the flu, the class has completely wiped out our supply of tissues. If you are interested in donating tissues to the classroom, I would be grateful to have them. I still have plenty of hand sanitizer and paper towels. Thanks.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Now that we have finished The Pioneers Go West, ...If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, and Patty Reed's Doll, students will finish the unit with the Pioneer Project. We spent a lot of time talking about it and going over the requirements yesterday in class. The project is due no later than Friday, April 9. This is a project that students should be working on every day. Please do not let your child wait until Thursday night to try to put everything together. They have already done the brainstorming part, making key decisions about what to include in their writing. Students are allowed to type the project (emphasis on student--let them do it), but they do not have to. The requirement is that the final copy must be neat and legible. Students are encouraged to include pictures, but the pictures must be created by them (no photographs or downloaded images). If you have any questions, please contact me.
A big "Thank you!" to all the families who donated books to our classroom. The classroom books get a lot of use, so it is wonderful to add to the collection and to replace some of the most worn-out copies of favorites. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. (Note: Not to appear greedy but for those families who don't have younger children, if you ever want to donate your child's already read books to the classroom, I am happy to take them!)
Between allergies, colds, and the flu, the class has completely wiped out our supply of tissues. If you are interested in donating tissues to the classroom, I would be grateful to have them. I still have plenty of hand sanitizer and paper towels. Thanks.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A big "Thank you!" to the parents who helped on the Sacramento field trip: Cal Dalrymple, Cris Daugbjerg, Lisa Gala, Sue Leonard, Amy Sullivan, and Kristin Van Weele. We could not have managed without you! Once in Sacramento students started out at the California State Capitol, where they got to tour the building and then listen to lobbyist (and former Novato resident) Chris Tjernell talk about his job. Then it was on to the California Museum of History, Women, and the Arts where students got to see many different things related to people in California, including Native American baskets and one of General Chuck Yeager's flight suits. We got back on the buses and headed to Sutter's Fort to eat lunch and then look around the fort. All in all a fun and productive day.
Open House: Wed., March 31, 6-7 P.M. I hope to see everyone! Don't forget to visit the Book Fair during Open House. The Book Fair opens on Monday, Mar. 29. Our class visit is Monday, Mar. 29, from 2:30-2:45 P.M.
Room 11's Music Performance (with Ms. DeBenedict): May 25, 11:20-12:20, in the multi-use room.
Have a great weekend.
Open House: Wed., March 31, 6-7 P.M. I hope to see everyone! Don't forget to visit the Book Fair during Open House. The Book Fair opens on Monday, Mar. 29. Our class visit is Monday, Mar. 29, from 2:30-2:45 P.M.
Room 11's Music Performance (with Ms. DeBenedict): May 25, 11:20-12:20, in the multi-use room.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Field Trip Update
- Students will be walking to Scottsdale Pond on Monday (8:45-10:35) to release the trout. Feel free to join us!
- Permission slips for our March 23 trip to Sacramento are in the Friday folders this week. Please return the signed permission slips by Wed., March 17. Remember, students need to get to Rancho early (6:50 would be good, but absolutely no later than 7A.M.), and will be back around 4:00 P.M. (possibly as early as 3:30 P.M.)
- Today is the last day of the second trimester, and report cards will go home Fri., Mar.19.
- Open House is Wed., March 31--I hope everyone will come and see what we have done so far this year.
- Spring break, April 12-16
- Spring Fling, April 24
- State STAR testing dates for 4th grade are: Thursday, April 29; Friday, April 30; Thursday, May 6; and Friday, May 7.
- http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle
- http://www.uky.edu/AS/Geology/howell/goodies/elearning (Students looked at the "Rock Cycle" section, but there are several other interesting sections!)
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mark your calendars--students will be releasing the trout on Monday, March 15. We will walk to Scottsdale Pond first thing in the morning, release the trout, and walk back. I would love to have at least 2 parents to join us on the walk. If you can join us, please let me know. Everyone is welcome to come! We'll leave Rancho at 8:45 A.M. and be back by 10:35 A.M.
The end of the second trimester is March 12. Report cards will go home on March 19. It is hard to believe that nearly two-thirds of the year has gone by, but we still have lots to do! With all the activities that springtime brings, I hope that you will continue to encourage your child to keep working hard and doing the best job he/she can.
Sacramento Trip: As mentioned before, all three 4th grade classes will be going to Sacramento on Tuesday, March 23. We will tour the Capitol, visit a history museum, and visit Sutter's Fort. Everyone will need to be at school by 6:50 A.M.--the buses are scheduled to leave at 7:00 A.M. (NO KIDDING!) We will return to Rancho no later than 4:00 P.M. We need chaperons, but parents who come along will have to drive (although I would happily give up my seat on the bus...). A few parents have already agreed to help out--THANK YOU! If you are interested and willing, please contact our trip organizer, Pam Allan, or me.
4th Grade Bike Rally: Friday, March 12: I don't have any specific information about this activity, but students will get information from Mr. Gardner today at PE. In the past, 4th grade students have been encouraged to bring their bikes to school on the Bike Rally Day, and get to ride a special course set up by the Safe Routes to School organization (all on campus). If your child brings a bike on March 12, please make sure they also bring their bike helmet!
Your child's monthly AR record, for February, is in this week's Friday folder. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. To date, students in Room 11 have taken 786 AR quizzes, reading 18,819,241 words! Five students have already read more than 1,000,000 words, as measured by AR quizzes taken. I am very proud of all the readers in Room 11!
Have a great weekend!
The end of the second trimester is March 12. Report cards will go home on March 19. It is hard to believe that nearly two-thirds of the year has gone by, but we still have lots to do! With all the activities that springtime brings, I hope that you will continue to encourage your child to keep working hard and doing the best job he/she can.
Sacramento Trip: As mentioned before, all three 4th grade classes will be going to Sacramento on Tuesday, March 23. We will tour the Capitol, visit a history museum, and visit Sutter's Fort. Everyone will need to be at school by 6:50 A.M.--the buses are scheduled to leave at 7:00 A.M. (NO KIDDING!) We will return to Rancho no later than 4:00 P.M. We need chaperons, but parents who come along will have to drive (although I would happily give up my seat on the bus...). A few parents have already agreed to help out--THANK YOU! If you are interested and willing, please contact our trip organizer, Pam Allan, or me.
4th Grade Bike Rally: Friday, March 12: I don't have any specific information about this activity, but students will get information from Mr. Gardner today at PE. In the past, 4th grade students have been encouraged to bring their bikes to school on the Bike Rally Day, and get to ride a special course set up by the Safe Routes to School organization (all on campus). If your child brings a bike on March 12, please make sure they also bring their bike helmet!
Your child's monthly AR record, for February, is in this week's Friday folder. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. To date, students in Room 11 have taken 786 AR quizzes, reading 18,819,241 words! Five students have already read more than 1,000,000 words, as measured by AR quizzes taken. I am very proud of all the readers in Room 11!
Have a great weekend!
Friday, February 26, 2010
A huge "THANK YOU!" to everyone who helped make our Valentine's Day Party/Prairie Picnic a success. The food was wonderful and plentiful, and the students enjoyed the activities. The day could not have happened as it did without parent support, and I am very grateful. We ended the day with a fun art lesson with Mrs. Buscaglia--it was a great way to transition to vacation! Thank you.
Students had the opportunity to participate in Rancho's annual Multicultural Day yesterday. As usual, the volunteers did a wonderful job of presenting information about many different countries and cultures throughout the world. Our class got to hear U.S. Olympic marathon runner Magdalena Boulet speak, and it was great. Many thanks to everyone who made this engaging and informative day happen!
Our trout are growing and changing. We will be releasing them before the end of March. Once we have a specific date, I will let you know. We'll walk to Scottsdale Pond to release the fish, and it would be very helpful to have a few parents join us.
We are moving forward in math, to decimals and some geometry. State testing will take place for 4th graders during the last week in April and the first week in May (Thursdays and Fridays). There is a lot to do before then!
We are still exploring earth science. Your child should be able to explain the difference between a rock and a mineral, and tell you about the usefulness of the "scratch test." We will be working on other ways to identify rocks, and then move into exploring weathering, erosion, and various kinds of land movement. Great stuff!
Students will begin reading about the Donner Party next week. They will have the opportunity to see Patty Reed's actual doll when we visit Sacramento on March 23, so we want to learn all about Patty Reed before we go. We'll also be learning a bit about California government before visiting the capital. Anyone interested in joining us on March 23 should let Pam Allan (our trip coordinator) or me know. Thanks.
We have been exploring setting this week. It would be good practice if, when talking to your child about what they are reading, you could ask them about the various settings in their book(s).
For anyone interested, the new Scholastic book orders are in this week's Friday folder. For those who like to do things online, go to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our username is spry4 and the password is room11. If you choose to purchase books, the orders are due by Saturday, March 6.
Have a great weekend!
Students had the opportunity to participate in Rancho's annual Multicultural Day yesterday. As usual, the volunteers did a wonderful job of presenting information about many different countries and cultures throughout the world. Our class got to hear U.S. Olympic marathon runner Magdalena Boulet speak, and it was great. Many thanks to everyone who made this engaging and informative day happen!
Our trout are growing and changing. We will be releasing them before the end of March. Once we have a specific date, I will let you know. We'll walk to Scottsdale Pond to release the fish, and it would be very helpful to have a few parents join us.
We are moving forward in math, to decimals and some geometry. State testing will take place for 4th graders during the last week in April and the first week in May (Thursdays and Fridays). There is a lot to do before then!
We are still exploring earth science. Your child should be able to explain the difference between a rock and a mineral, and tell you about the usefulness of the "scratch test." We will be working on other ways to identify rocks, and then move into exploring weathering, erosion, and various kinds of land movement. Great stuff!
Students will begin reading about the Donner Party next week. They will have the opportunity to see Patty Reed's actual doll when we visit Sacramento on March 23, so we want to learn all about Patty Reed before we go. We'll also be learning a bit about California government before visiting the capital. Anyone interested in joining us on March 23 should let Pam Allan (our trip coordinator) or me know. Thanks.
We have been exploring setting this week. It would be good practice if, when talking to your child about what they are reading, you could ask them about the various settings in their book(s).
For anyone interested, the new Scholastic book orders are in this week's Friday folder. For those who like to do things online, go to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our username is spry4 and the password is room11. If you choose to purchase books, the orders are due by Saturday, March 6.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, February 5, 2010
This week I'm just going to ask everyone to make sure they read the handout about our "Prairie Picnic" and Valentine's Day party in this week's Friday folder. Our Valentine's Day party will be a "Prairie Picnic." Students will have activity centers before lunch (starting at 10:50), making pioneer-related items and distributing Valentine's Day cards to their classmates, and then at lunch we will join the other 4th grade classes in the multi-use room for our picnic. We will need parent volunteers and food contributions, so I hope everyone will consider helping in some way. I think it will be a wonderful day! Please contact me if you have any questions. Our room parents will be contacting folks about the day--or feel free to contact them about how your family would like to help. Thanks!
Have a great weekend!
Have a great weekend!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Just a few thoughts...I am sending home a Scholastic book order form. As last time, you may order online instead of having your child return the form to school--choose the method that works best for you! If you'd like to order online, go to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our class username is spry 4 and the class password is room 11. One additional benefit for our classroom of ordering online is that it earns us extra books :)
Although students have taken the chapter 15 math test, please continue helping them hone their measurement skills (estimating distances, quantities, etc.). They will see these kinds of problems again, and knowing measurement units and being able to appropriately compare them are very useful life skills. We are now studying negative and positive integers. Students love the relative novelty of negative numbers!
If you have any ideas about a Spring Fling project for our class, please let our room moms, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Van Weele, know. We don't want to wait until the last minute!
We will be joining the other 4th grade classes for a "Pioneer Picnic" for our Valentine's Day party, on Thursday, Feb. 11. Students will still exchange cards, and we will do some pioneer-related activities at different stations in the morning--probably starting after morning recess, 10:50 A.M.--and then have pioneer-appropriate food for lunch. More information will be sent home next week. I'm hoping to get several parent volunteers to help with the activities and the lunch, so check your schedule and if you can help, please contact Kristin, Amy, or me. Thanks!
Enjoy another 3-day weekend!
Although students have taken the chapter 15 math test, please continue helping them hone their measurement skills (estimating distances, quantities, etc.). They will see these kinds of problems again, and knowing measurement units and being able to appropriately compare them are very useful life skills. We are now studying negative and positive integers. Students love the relative novelty of negative numbers!
If you have any ideas about a Spring Fling project for our class, please let our room moms, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Van Weele, know. We don't want to wait until the last minute!
We will be joining the other 4th grade classes for a "Pioneer Picnic" for our Valentine's Day party, on Thursday, Feb. 11. Students will still exchange cards, and we will do some pioneer-related activities at different stations in the morning--probably starting after morning recess, 10:50 A.M.--and then have pioneer-appropriate food for lunch. More information will be sent home next week. I'm hoping to get several parent volunteers to help with the activities and the lunch, so check your schedule and if you can help, please contact Kristin, Amy, or me. Thanks!
Enjoy another 3-day weekend!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Happy Friday! The class has had a wonderful start to the new year, working diligently, as before. Thank you for helping them set their new goal or goals for the second trimester. By reflecting on strengths and weaknesses, as well as interest, and then setting goals accordingly, students can help themselves stay focused and better judge for themselves how much progress they are making.
IMPORTANT DATE! All fourth grade students will be going to on a field trip to Sacramento on March 23. Students will be traveling by bus. We will need parent chaperons, who, unfortunately will have to drive (We wish there was enough room on the buses!). Students must be at Rancho on March 23 by 7 A.M. We will return from Sacramento about 4 P.M. Students will be visiting the State Capitol, a history museum, and Sutter's Fort. It will be a wonderful trip! Contact me or our field trip coordinator, Pam Allan, if you can help chaperons the trip. If you have any questions, please ask!
In math, students have been working this week on measurement, both customary (inches, feet, yards, miles, cups, pints, quarts, gallons, etc.) and metric (millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, kilometers, milligrams, grams, liters, etc.). We have also spent a lot of time practicing how to most accurately read a ruler (Have you correctly lined up the ruler? Can you figure out how to determine what the measurement is? Can you determine what the measurement is, rounded to the nearest 1/2 inch or to the nearest centimeter?). In addition, we have practiced measuring common items and estimating distance and capacity. For example, students have spent time measuring or trying to estimate the length/distance, capacity, or weight of things that they encounter regularly in their daily lives. Being able to readily visualize how much liquid we have if we have 1 cup or 1 pint or 1 gallon or 1 liter is an important skill. Being able to realistically estimate length and distance (What are the dimensions of our classroom? How tall is the bookcase? How far is my house from Rancho School?) is an important skill. I hope you will find time to help your child continue to practice throughout the school year. Of course they have also spent time practicing converting measurements from smaller units to larger units (divide) and from larger units to smaller units (multiply).
We have started reading The Pioneers Go West, to start us thinking about the westward movement. We will be reading this book over time, just as we did Island of the Blue Dolphins. Pioneers is a wonderful book, and we are very fortunate to have a full class set since this book is now out of print. Have your child tell you about how the Stevens party crossed the Big Muddy (and have them tell you what river the Big Muddy actually is!).
Students will begin sharing their final assignment for Island of the Blue Dolphins today. They wrote some very interesting chapters!
We are continuing to work on punctuating dialogue. If your child needs more practice or review, have them use Writers Express (each child has one in their desk). We are also beginning to focus on writing summaries. You can help by talking to your child about their reading and asking them to identify the main idea and the important details that help us understand that main idea.
We have been investigating mock rocks to start our Solid Earth unit. We will complete the first series of investigations next week. Students were quite enthusiastic about making observations and taking apart their "rocks."
Thanks to the State, the District, and the PTA, we now have a document camera in the classroom. Every classroom at Rancho will have one by the end of the school year. The first classrooms to receive them are the 4th and 5th grade classrooms. I just received mine yesterday after school (Many thanks to Alex Obukhov for helping me!). I have a lot to learn, but I already love it! There are still things that need to be connected (like the DVD/VCR player), but the beauty of the document camera is that you can easily project the image of any material so that the entire class can view it at the same time (a bit like an overhead projector, but without having to make copies or pictures). For instance, I will be able to project the image of a page in a book by just placing the book under the document camera. I will be able to show websites, student work, etc. It will be interesting to see how it works out.
And lastly, thank you again for the generous class gift. Your thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend!
IMPORTANT DATE! All fourth grade students will be going to on a field trip to Sacramento on March 23. Students will be traveling by bus. We will need parent chaperons, who, unfortunately will have to drive (We wish there was enough room on the buses!). Students must be at Rancho on March 23 by 7 A.M. We will return from Sacramento about 4 P.M. Students will be visiting the State Capitol, a history museum, and Sutter's Fort. It will be a wonderful trip! Contact me or our field trip coordinator, Pam Allan, if you can help chaperons the trip. If you have any questions, please ask!
In math, students have been working this week on measurement, both customary (inches, feet, yards, miles, cups, pints, quarts, gallons, etc.) and metric (millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, kilometers, milligrams, grams, liters, etc.). We have also spent a lot of time practicing how to most accurately read a ruler (Have you correctly lined up the ruler? Can you figure out how to determine what the measurement is? Can you determine what the measurement is, rounded to the nearest 1/2 inch or to the nearest centimeter?). In addition, we have practiced measuring common items and estimating distance and capacity. For example, students have spent time measuring or trying to estimate the length/distance, capacity, or weight of things that they encounter regularly in their daily lives. Being able to readily visualize how much liquid we have if we have 1 cup or 1 pint or 1 gallon or 1 liter is an important skill. Being able to realistically estimate length and distance (What are the dimensions of our classroom? How tall is the bookcase? How far is my house from Rancho School?) is an important skill. I hope you will find time to help your child continue to practice throughout the school year. Of course they have also spent time practicing converting measurements from smaller units to larger units (divide) and from larger units to smaller units (multiply).
We have started reading The Pioneers Go West, to start us thinking about the westward movement. We will be reading this book over time, just as we did Island of the Blue Dolphins. Pioneers is a wonderful book, and we are very fortunate to have a full class set since this book is now out of print. Have your child tell you about how the Stevens party crossed the Big Muddy (and have them tell you what river the Big Muddy actually is!).
Students will begin sharing their final assignment for Island of the Blue Dolphins today. They wrote some very interesting chapters!
We are continuing to work on punctuating dialogue. If your child needs more practice or review, have them use Writers Express (each child has one in their desk). We are also beginning to focus on writing summaries. You can help by talking to your child about their reading and asking them to identify the main idea and the important details that help us understand that main idea.
We have been investigating mock rocks to start our Solid Earth unit. We will complete the first series of investigations next week. Students were quite enthusiastic about making observations and taking apart their "rocks."
Thanks to the State, the District, and the PTA, we now have a document camera in the classroom. Every classroom at Rancho will have one by the end of the school year. The first classrooms to receive them are the 4th and 5th grade classrooms. I just received mine yesterday after school (Many thanks to Alex Obukhov for helping me!). I have a lot to learn, but I already love it! There are still things that need to be connected (like the DVD/VCR player), but the beauty of the document camera is that you can easily project the image of any material so that the entire class can view it at the same time (a bit like an overhead projector, but without having to make copies or pictures). For instance, I will be able to project the image of a page in a book by just placing the book under the document camera. I will be able to show websites, student work, etc. It will be interesting to see how it works out.
And lastly, thank you again for the generous class gift. Your thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend!
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