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.
Monday, February 22, 2010
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.
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!
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!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Feb. 1-5, 2010
Tomorrow the day will begin with the Monday morning assembly in the upper grade playground. If your child is late to school, please remind them to look for the class there. It will be a nice way to kick off the week and beginning of February. Where has the time gone? We really only have 4 months of school to go until summer break.
The spelling packet for Two Days in May will go home tomorrow and will be due on Friday. A new reading log for February will also go home. You may begin to see Literature Circles come home for homework. Students get most of the work done in class, but will be given less time during the school day as we need to focus on writing. Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Each child receives a book to read with a specific job to do (summarizer, discussion director, illustrator, passage picker, connector, and word watcher). If your child completes their job at home, please check and edit for them to correct. It should be neatly done and free of errors. It is important for each child to complete this assignment as it can impact their group when it is not complete.
In math, we began Chapter 12 (division) last week and will continue practicing this skill for the next 2 weeks. Please be sure to work on multiplication facts at home. As we know, there needs to be a strong understanding this year because it gets more complex in 4th grade.
Last, but not least, a big THANK YOU to the drivers who came on the field trip to the Aptos Museum on Friday. Remember that the next two Mondays (Feb. 8 and 15) are holidays, so we will not have school.
The spelling packet for Two Days in May will go home tomorrow and will be due on Friday. A new reading log for February will also go home. You may begin to see Literature Circles come home for homework. Students get most of the work done in class, but will be given less time during the school day as we need to focus on writing. Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Each child receives a book to read with a specific job to do (summarizer, discussion director, illustrator, passage picker, connector, and word watcher). If your child completes their job at home, please check and edit for them to correct. It should be neatly done and free of errors. It is important for each child to complete this assignment as it can impact their group when it is not complete.
In math, we began Chapter 12 (division) last week and will continue practicing this skill for the next 2 weeks. Please be sure to work on multiplication facts at home. As we know, there needs to be a strong understanding this year because it gets more complex in 4th grade.
Last, but not least, a big THANK YOU to the drivers who came on the field trip to the Aptos Museum on Friday. Remember that the next two Mondays (Feb. 8 and 15) are holidays, so we will not have school.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Jan. 25-29, 2010
What a week! Lots and lots of rain and a power outage on Tuesday. Kudos to the parents who helped in the classroom and brought in light for us to see. We had flashlights, lanterns, headlamps... When situations like this arise, it reminds us of what a wonderful community of families we have at Rio del Mar. THANK YOU!
We're back to our regular homework schedule this week. A new spelling packet for Seal Surfer will go home Monday and is due Friday. We are finishing off Chapter 11 in math (solid figures and volume) and will have the test Monday. Chapter 12 will focus on division. Field trip permission forms are due this week with our field trip on Friday. We're still waiting for a few more and need 1-2 more drivers. The Aptos Museum asks for a $1.00 donation per student.
The Spectra Art teacher, Jenni Ward, will begin ceramics on Tuesday. She planned on beginning last Tuesday, but postponed her start time due to the weather. Mr. Harris also stepped into an unusual start to his student teaching assignment. I told him that as a teacher, you have to stay flexible because sometimes unexpected things like this happen. He is enjoying the students and learning their names and personalities. He will observe for 1 more week, then begin teaching a few lessons. In a few weeks, he will launch the 3rd grade Biography project. This is our Famous American project where the students are required to write a report and give an oral presentation. A letter explaining this project will go out in the next 2-3 weeks.
That's all for now! Enjoy the dry weekend.
We're back to our regular homework schedule this week. A new spelling packet for Seal Surfer will go home Monday and is due Friday. We are finishing off Chapter 11 in math (solid figures and volume) and will have the test Monday. Chapter 12 will focus on division. Field trip permission forms are due this week with our field trip on Friday. We're still waiting for a few more and need 1-2 more drivers. The Aptos Museum asks for a $1.00 donation per student.
The Spectra Art teacher, Jenni Ward, will begin ceramics on Tuesday. She planned on beginning last Tuesday, but postponed her start time due to the weather. Mr. Harris also stepped into an unusual start to his student teaching assignment. I told him that as a teacher, you have to stay flexible because sometimes unexpected things like this happen. He is enjoying the students and learning their names and personalities. He will observe for 1 more week, then begin teaching a few lessons. In a few weeks, he will launch the 3rd grade Biography project. This is our Famous American project where the students are required to write a report and give an oral presentation. A letter explaining this project will go out in the next 2-3 weeks.
That's all for now! Enjoy the dry weekend.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
January 19-22, 2010
What a great way to ease back into school with a 3 day weekend. It was nice to see many cheery faces this past week as school resumed. We have a few changes beginning this Tuesday. We will have a student teacher named Mr. Harris in our class for the next 9 weeks. He is working on his credential through CSUMB and will help in our class everyday, all day. It will be nice to have the extra help and students will surely benefit from another adult in the room. Also, Jenni Ward(the Spectra Arts teacher)will begin ceramics with our class for the next 4 weeks. Students will work on a few different pieces which will be painted and glazed.
A reminder that our field trip to the Aptos Museum is scheduled for Friday, January 29th. Each child needs to bring in $1.00 to contribute towards the cost. We forgot to mention this on the permission form. So far, we only have a few drivers. If anyone else is able to drive, please let us know. It's a fairly short field trip, and will be done by 11:30, if not earlier.
The spelling packet for Nights of the Pufflings will be due this Friday. Some students already turned it in. Be sure to study the words as the test will be on Friday. A one- minute timed multiplication test(40 problems, 38 to pass) was given the other day and only 1 student passed. Please take the time each day to quiz your child on their facts. It is necessary that students learn the facts THIS year.
Have a great weekend and thank you to those whose donated pencils!
A reminder that our field trip to the Aptos Museum is scheduled for Friday, January 29th. Each child needs to bring in $1.00 to contribute towards the cost. We forgot to mention this on the permission form. So far, we only have a few drivers. If anyone else is able to drive, please let us know. It's a fairly short field trip, and will be done by 11:30, if not earlier.
The spelling packet for Nights of the Pufflings will be due this Friday. Some students already turned it in. Be sure to study the words as the test will be on Friday. A one- minute timed multiplication test(40 problems, 38 to pass) was given the other day and only 1 student passed. Please take the time each day to quiz your child on their facts. It is necessary that students learn the facts THIS year.
Have a great weekend and thank you to those whose donated pencils!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
January 12-15, 2010
Happy New Year 2010! Thank you all for the wonderful Christmas gifts, especially the certificate to Caress Day Spa. Just what we needed, some relaxation. We hope you all had a fantastic break and look forward to seeing some smiling (yet tired) faces Tuesday morning. Since we have 2 short weeks back to back, the spelling packet for Nights of the Pufflings won't be due until Friday, January 22. Math will resume as usual with a new chapter in 3 dimensional figures. Field Trip permission forms to the Aptos Museum will go home on Tuesday. If you are interested in driving, mark your calendars for Friday, January 29.
Thank you all for your help and support in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have such a supportive parent community. See you soon!
WISH LIST- We are running low on the following items:
Antibacterial wipes
pencils
prizes for the reward box
raffle tickets (does anyone have a roll they aren't using?)
Thank you all for your help and support in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have such a supportive parent community. See you soon!
WISH LIST- We are running low on the following items:
Antibacterial wipes
pencils
prizes for the reward box
raffle tickets (does anyone have a roll they aren't using?)
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