Students are responsible for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log is due completed and signed Friday
-Math Lesson 91 (15-30)
-Study for spelling quiz
We began our studies of World War II today by viewing a Discovery Channel documentary that covered the fall of Hiltler and the economy of the United States before our involvement in the war. It was interesting to hear the class' understanding of why wars take place and who we consider heroes, etc. We also began our reading of "Number the Stars", a story of a Jewish family attempting to deal with and leave Nazi occupied Denmark.
We also spent a groovy afternoon reviewing the properties of minerals. The kids had a chance to classify minerals based upon the properties of luster, color and streak. We will review the properties of hardness and cleavage tomorrow.
Friday brings report cards. Have a great time with them, and remember that there is still a full grading period left to create positive change.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Eleanor Roosevelt was a great woman
"No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." Mrs. Roosevelt said those words more than a half a century ago and they are amazing and powerful. The class as of late has had a very difficult time socially. Students are returning from recess and lunch breaks in tears becuase of the words that are being exchanged. They are learning, albeit painfully, that friendships are hit or miss and are capable of bringing about great joy and extreme discomfort. The students have reached that age where crushes develop, mash notes are commonplace and friends come and go as suddenly as a change of the weather. And we had hoped that fourth grade would just be difficult academically, eh? We spent some time this afternoon, and will again Friday morning, discussing how to deal with those around us who choose poorly to instigate situations or torment their peers for the friends they have, the people they like or dislike, the clothes they wear, the music they like, etcetra. Honestly, they are a vicious group and we will continue to facilitate open and honest discussions about how we can better ourselves as indiviuals, a classroom and a community.
Students are responisble for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log (due completed and signed on Friday)
-Math Lesson 90 (16-30)
-Reading Practice Book pages 291-293
-Library books need to be returned to school.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Students are responisble for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log (due completed and signed on Friday)
-Math Lesson 90 (16-30)
-Reading Practice Book pages 291-293
-Library books need to be returned to school.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Tuesday & Wednesday
Today was a writing heavy day. The class completed their yearly State Writing assessment. The topic this year was a fictional narrative and the kids seemed to enjoy the process.
Tomorrow brings us an assembly first thing in the morning from local musician Bob Weir (not the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir because that would incite the kids to jam for hours in a wandering haze), but a folk musician. Again, the assembly runs from 8:15 - 9 in the MPR and everyone is welcome to attend.
Tonight's HW is as follows:
-Reading Log
-Math 89, 1 - 15
- California Practice Book pages 48 & 49
Respectfully, Mr. B
Tomorrow brings us an assembly first thing in the morning from local musician Bob Weir (not the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir because that would incite the kids to jam for hours in a wandering haze), but a folk musician. Again, the assembly runs from 8:15 - 9 in the MPR and everyone is welcome to attend.
Tonight's HW is as follows:
-Reading Log
-Math 89, 1 - 15
- California Practice Book pages 48 & 49
Respectfully, Mr. B
Monday, March 5, 2007
Monday's HW & lots 'o notes
Wow, what a beautiful weekend, eh? I spent Friday and Saturday nights in SF for the Noise Pop Festival and saw 6 amazing bands. I got to check out the new deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. And I even made time to collect sand dollars near the Cliff House. It was awesome to get away from school and not worry about the grades that will make or break your fourth graders' day on Friday as report cards are sent home. (Insert evil laughing sounds here.)
Report cards are rough. As a class, we are excelling in the areas of math and writing, but are struggling with language and its applications. Comprehension has been the most difficult for the class to work with, especially as the material that we engage with becomes more complex and open to interpretation. Please do not freak out when your child gets their report cards. It is completely normal for grades to dip mid-year, especially with the reacclimation process of returning to class after an extended Winter Break. Remember my spider web analogy from Back-to-School Night and realise that this last trimester might have been the one that constantly knocked your kid down. This final semester of the year is the one where they will learn to refine and hone their web building skills to make them successful in the fifth grade and beyond.
The class and I reviewed grading requirements for the Acclerated Reader Program, and students know that they will need a minimum of 45 - 50 points this grading period to earn an 'A'. I reviewed with them that 21 points can come strictly from the 4 books that we will finish this year with, which leaves them responsible for them to read 4 - 5 age appropriate books in the next twelve weeks. Each student will receive an AR progress report with their grades this Friday. Accellerated Reader will constitute 25% of their overall language/reading grade in this final grading period.
We reviewed the entire Biography packet in class today and the students know that it is due on Friday, March 30. Late work will be marked down.
Tuesday brings us our Statewide Spring Writing sample. The prompt is a fun one and I expect the class to have a nice time working on this material tomorrow morning. Tuesday also brings us our second visit from our SPECTRA artist.
Wednesday morning brings us a visit from a local musician. He will be performing at a school-wide assembly from 8-9am. All are welcome to attend.
Before I list the homework that everyone is responisble for tonight I would like to officially let everyone know that I will be taking March 15 - 23 off to have my tonsils removed. I have prolonged this surgery from the beginning of the school year and my health has taken a beating. Eileen Buron, one of the class' favorite subs, has agreed to spend the week with the kids and I am confident that she will be fantastic while I am out. My last day in the class will be next Wednesday, so if you have pressing issues, please contact me prior to that date.
Finally, the class is responsible for the following tonight:
- Reading log
- Red Folders (lots of goodies to look over)
- Reading Practice book pages 296 - 297
(spelling words from the week are on these pages)
- California study guide page 47
Respectfully, Mr. B
Report cards are rough. As a class, we are excelling in the areas of math and writing, but are struggling with language and its applications. Comprehension has been the most difficult for the class to work with, especially as the material that we engage with becomes more complex and open to interpretation. Please do not freak out when your child gets their report cards. It is completely normal for grades to dip mid-year, especially with the reacclimation process of returning to class after an extended Winter Break. Remember my spider web analogy from Back-to-School Night and realise that this last trimester might have been the one that constantly knocked your kid down. This final semester of the year is the one where they will learn to refine and hone their web building skills to make them successful in the fifth grade and beyond.
The class and I reviewed grading requirements for the Acclerated Reader Program, and students know that they will need a minimum of 45 - 50 points this grading period to earn an 'A'. I reviewed with them that 21 points can come strictly from the 4 books that we will finish this year with, which leaves them responsible for them to read 4 - 5 age appropriate books in the next twelve weeks. Each student will receive an AR progress report with their grades this Friday. Accellerated Reader will constitute 25% of their overall language/reading grade in this final grading period.
We reviewed the entire Biography packet in class today and the students know that it is due on Friday, March 30. Late work will be marked down.
Tuesday brings us our Statewide Spring Writing sample. The prompt is a fun one and I expect the class to have a nice time working on this material tomorrow morning. Tuesday also brings us our second visit from our SPECTRA artist.
Wednesday morning brings us a visit from a local musician. He will be performing at a school-wide assembly from 8-9am. All are welcome to attend.
Before I list the homework that everyone is responisble for tonight I would like to officially let everyone know that I will be taking March 15 - 23 off to have my tonsils removed. I have prolonged this surgery from the beginning of the school year and my health has taken a beating. Eileen Buron, one of the class' favorite subs, has agreed to spend the week with the kids and I am confident that she will be fantastic while I am out. My last day in the class will be next Wednesday, so if you have pressing issues, please contact me prior to that date.
Finally, the class is responsible for the following tonight:
- Reading log
- Red Folders (lots of goodies to look over)
- Reading Practice book pages 296 - 297
(spelling words from the week are on these pages)
- California study guide page 47
Respectfully, Mr. B
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