Saturday, February 27, 2010

March 1-5, 2010

This week Mr. Harris will begin his solo teaching assignment with the class. Over the past 6 weeks he has made a connection with the students and looks forward to having them for the next 2 weeks. Mrs. Sandman and I will pop in to help, but he will be teaching all lessons from the beginning of the day to the end. We will be available on campus, so if you have any questions, you will be able to reach us at school.

A new spelling packet for Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip will go home Monday (due on Friday). We will continue to practice long division, but have started a new chapter on fractions. Equivalent fractions are always tough, so students may need extra time and support to complete math homework this week. Also, a March reading log will be sent home on Monday as well. Can't believe it's March already.

A reminder that Lit. Circles are due on Tuesday. Several students forgot to bring their job and book last week, so please try to finish over the weekend and bring to school on Monday so they're ready to go. Most of the Lit. Circle books are from the leveled book room, and when they are not turned in, we lose out on the sets. If you find any at home, please send them in with your child.

Biographies are under way. Most students finished their outline last week and began writing their rough draft. Our goal was to have the first 2 paragraphs written out. Students will continue to write on Monday. Again, we will keep you posted on when they are due and when the speeches will be held. We're thinking if the rough draft can be finished this week in class, then next week they can begin their final copy either hand written or typed. Once the final draft is complete, then students can focus on their speech at home.

Again, if you have any questions don't hesitate to email: athena_maraldo@pvusd.net or mary_sandman@pvusd.net

Enjoy your weekend!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Feb. 22-26, 2010

Good morning! The blog is usually updated over the weekend, but I caught that nasty bug that has been going around. I apologize!

Spelling packets for Across the Wide Dark Sea will go home today and are due this Friday. We are wrapping up division in math this week and moving onto fractions. Chapter 14 math test will be given today. Our weekly timed tests are improving and many students are beating their time. Congrats to those who continue to work hard on memorizing their multiplication facts.

Students will begin writing their biography report in CLASS today. There seems to be a lot of confusion around the directions of this project. We would like students to begin and hopefully finish the written part in class. They have the option of typing out the final report or having a nicely written copy. We will also make a cover page as well as a poster for those who finish their writing. After the report is written, students will practice their speech at home. Students are to pretend THEY are the famous American and present to the class either in a costume or with props. Before we begin the speeches, a sign up sheet will be passed around for students to pick a day and time. Parents are welcome to come in at this time to watch their child. A list of times will be sent home a week prior to the presentations. We won't begin presentations for a few weeks, so students have plenty of time to finish their report and practice. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Feb. 16-20, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day and thank you for the yummy chocolates. Our favorite! Plus another 3 day weekend to enjoy with beautiful weather to top it off.

When we return on Tuesday, Literature Circles are due. Some students are neglecting to read the assigned pages and fudging through their job. Since this assignment will be done mainly as homework from this point on, please be sure your child is reading ALL of the assigned pages as well as completing their job. Assignments turned is sloppily will be sent home to correct. Again, Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday.

In lieu of a spelling packet, students are to find a book about a famous American as well as a kid friendly internet article. Each student must turn in the Bibliography homework by Friday, February 20 and bring in their 2 resources to class. It is important to have the information readily available. Mr. Harris will give a lesson on note-taking and tell the students what information needs to be included in the report. Once their report is completed in class (typed or written), students will then prepare their speech at home. We know students are eager to begin, but for now, please just have your child read the book and internet article about their chosen American. As we move forward another letter will be sent home with the due date. We'll keep you posted.

Thank you for the handi wipes. If you have any more, please send them in.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Feb. 9-12, 2010

Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful 3 day weekend!

We will begin Tuesday morning with Literature Circles. As I mentioned in last weeks post, this assignment is assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Students are given only a short amount of time to work on this in class now, so most should finish as homework. If you have not seen this come home, inquire with your child. Please edit your child's work and be sure that they are writing in complete sentences. The reading from this assignment can be used for the reading log too.

We are taking a 2 week break from the usual spelling homework packet. Instead, students will be assigned to look for a book on a famous American and a grade appropriate internet article. A letter will be sent home on Tuesday to give more information about this project. Mr. Harris will begin teaching students about biographies over the next 2 weeks. Most of the written work will be completed in class (this is not a homework assignment). We'll begin with note taking and then transfer into a report. So again, NO spelling packet for the next 2 weeks.

On a side note, if anyone has any handy wipes to donate to the class, it would be much appreciated. Since we have clay once a week, we are using them more often to clean our desks and hands.

That's all for now! Have a great weekend!