Just to let you all know what is going on in class for the rest of the week:
Thursday brings us our very last day of STAR testing! Yippee! Students will complete the math portion and breathe a sigh of relief. Make sure everyone is well-rested and to school on time.
Thursday also brings us additional poetry writing, more work with Pangea and further work / discussion with early California statehood.
Friday will be a very mellow day. Students are responsible for turning in their Sadako study packets. We will be previewing our next chapter book, "By the Great Horn Spoon", spending some time with math and watching a documentary on volcanoes and earthquakes.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Tuesday and thanks all
Alright, the kids tackled the first half of the STAR math assessment this morning and whipped right through it. I heard a few grumbles of "this is easy stuff". Those the words that dreams are made of, especially being that math has been a hurdle for a good number of students this year.
We spent some time mapping plate movements over the past few billion years and looked at the original supercontinent, Pangea. Students may have taken the mapping packet home to complete it, and then use the map to answer questions of page WB85 of their science packets.
As many students are actually procrastinating, I allowed computer time for research on WWII subject matter. These reports are due in less than two weeks, so it was a bummer to learn that many students are slacking with their responsibilities.
I do want to extend a very gracious thank you to the parents who contributed toward the purchase of a classroom copy of the recent PLANET EARTH series from the Discovery Channel. This is such an amazing series, and I am looking forward to implementing into the classroom curriculum.
Respectfully, Mr. B
We spent some time mapping plate movements over the past few billion years and looked at the original supercontinent, Pangea. Students may have taken the mapping packet home to complete it, and then use the map to answer questions of page WB85 of their science packets.
As many students are actually procrastinating, I allowed computer time for research on WWII subject matter. These reports are due in less than two weeks, so it was a bummer to learn that many students are slacking with their responsibilities.
I do want to extend a very gracious thank you to the parents who contributed toward the purchase of a classroom copy of the recent PLANET EARTH series from the Discovery Channel. This is such an amazing series, and I am looking forward to implementing into the classroom curriculum.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Monday, May 7, 2007
Monday and the week
Sorry all, but a family emergency dragged me away from school this morning all but one hour into the day. I am home and things are looking ok now. Mary Crandall helped the class through the day! Thanks Mary.
I will be assigning bits and pieces of homework this week as we continue our studies of plate tectonics, finish our discussion and work surrounding "Sadako", write some groovy poetry and discover exactly how and why California became a state.
The second week of STAR testing continues Tuesday and Thursday with the math portions. Again, please make sure that students are at school on time each day.
Red Folders went home this afternoon. Please take a moment to complete and resturn the enrollment form for the 2007 - 2008 school year by its due date of May 23rd.
The 4th annual school auction and golf tournament is this Friday. The class is working on a book of poetry to accompany the auction basket that the Eatons and Scotts are preparing. Thanks Eatons and Scotts! If you haven't had the chance to get tickets, it is my understanding that there are seats left. Get 'em while the gettin' is good. Remember, every dollar earned at the auction stays at Rio.
Respectfully, Mr. B
I will be assigning bits and pieces of homework this week as we continue our studies of plate tectonics, finish our discussion and work surrounding "Sadako", write some groovy poetry and discover exactly how and why California became a state.
The second week of STAR testing continues Tuesday and Thursday with the math portions. Again, please make sure that students are at school on time each day.
Red Folders went home this afternoon. Please take a moment to complete and resturn the enrollment form for the 2007 - 2008 school year by its due date of May 23rd.
The 4th annual school auction and golf tournament is this Friday. The class is working on a book of poetry to accompany the auction basket that the Eatons and Scotts are preparing. Thanks Eatons and Scotts! If you haven't had the chance to get tickets, it is my understanding that there are seats left. Get 'em while the gettin' is good. Remember, every dollar earned at the auction stays at Rio.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Thursday and counting
I am happy, happy, happy to report that we are officially half way through our STAR testing. We have put langauge arts behind us and will move on to math (gasp) on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.
Friday brings us a rather mellow day. We will be wrapping up our reading of "Sadako" and be working on an art project based on the subject matter.
We will be continuing to work with coordinate graphing while studying math.
Finally, we will be writing some unique poetry to include with our classroom auction basket for next week's dinner.
Good times, Mr. B
Friday brings us a rather mellow day. We will be wrapping up our reading of "Sadako" and be working on an art project based on the subject matter.
We will be continuing to work with coordinate graphing while studying math.
Finally, we will be writing some unique poetry to include with our classroom auction basket for next week's dinner.
Good times, Mr. B
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Wednesday and oragami
Howdy all, I know that a few of you have expressed a concern over the lack of homework this week. The kids have it, so please don't worry. It's the WWII report. The students really need to take advantage of the testing window for the next two weeks and get their research and writing done. These reports are due on Monday, May 21...no exceptions.
On the subject of WWII...
We are midway through our reading of "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes". Today we looked at the Sadako Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, as well as memorials that have been established elsewhere around the world to honor children lost during wartime. August 6th is set aside in both Japan and California as Sadako Peace Day. Even though we are not in school on August 6th, the class discussed participating in this event by making and sending paper cranes to the Sadako Peace Memorial and Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, Japan. Each paper crane folded is said to bring good luck and health to someone who needs it. While I have a small supply of oragami paper, I would appreciate it greatly if a few parents and students wouldn't mind sending in a packet of oragami paper for this project. (Available at Palace or Beverly's...coupons in the Metro and Weekly.) We will be displaying what we create in the classroom for the remainder of the school year, and then I will mail the completed cranes (with a photo and letter from the class) to Hisoshima in mid-June.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Tuesday and stuff
Ok, our first day of STAR testing was very interesting. The students were, for the most part, very involved and meticulous with their work. Again, testing times will be Tuesday and Thursday mornings, roughly 8:15 - 10:00, for two weeks.
We spent our math time today going over coordinate graphs.
We also continued writing poetry, reading and discussing "Sadako" and working with line graphs as a means of relaying historical data. All good fun.
Students are responsible for completing any work that was not completed in class from either the poetry, Sadako or graphing exercises.
Students can expect a "Yonwood" quiz on Thursday and a "Sadako" quiz on Friday as we wrap the book.
Respectfully, Mr. B
We spent our math time today going over coordinate graphs.
We also continued writing poetry, reading and discussing "Sadako" and working with line graphs as a means of relaying historical data. All good fun.
Students are responsible for completing any work that was not completed in class from either the poetry, Sadako or graphing exercises.
Students can expect a "Yonwood" quiz on Thursday and a "Sadako" quiz on Friday as we wrap the book.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday and weekly news
Howdy all and welcome to the first week of the 2007 STAR testing! Woohoo! (<-------There is a hint of sarcasm there, in case you weren't sure.) In the recognition of all the extra stress your children will go through this week and next proving their superior fourth grade knowledge, I will keep homework to an absolute minimum. Students will be responsible for maintaining a reading log. It is my hope that students will take advantage of their downtime to get the majority of their WWII research and writing done. It does not pay to procrastinate this late in the school year, as the report is due only three weeks from today, Monday, May 21st.
We transitioned into our second math text today and will continue to use it through the end of the school year.
We also began our reading of "Sadako and the Thosand Paper Cranes." The book looks at the effects on the civilian population of the US bombing of Hiroshima. We looked at information on the Manhattan Projet, Fat Man and Little Boy and the Enola Gay today in preparation of the reading.
We are continuing with our studies of earth layers, tectonics and earth movement this week. We are also diligently plugging away with the Gold Rush!
Watch for Red Folders today! They are chocked full of Rio goodness!
Respectfully, Mr. B
We transitioned into our second math text today and will continue to use it through the end of the school year.
We also began our reading of "Sadako and the Thosand Paper Cranes." The book looks at the effects on the civilian population of the US bombing of Hiroshima. We looked at information on the Manhattan Projet, Fat Man and Little Boy and the Enola Gay today in preparation of the reading.
We are continuing with our studies of earth layers, tectonics and earth movement this week. We are also diligently plugging away with the Gold Rush!
Watch for Red Folders today! They are chocked full of Rio goodness!
Respectfully, Mr. B
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