Howdy all. Thanks for checking in at the beginning of what is sure to be an interesting week. We begin some serious exploration of biomes starting Tuesday. Kids got a sample of the Planet Earth series that we'll be using as a resource for our studies on Friday, and they are pumped up for science! It makes me happy.
Math will be business as usual.
Social studies has us wrapping expeditions to California and changing our focus to the Gold Rush and statehood. The kids know that I go all out for the Gold Rush. We'll be playing a three-week long interactive Gold Rush simulation, reading By the Great Horn Spoon and studying some documentaries. All-in-all, the GR will last us through the middle of March.
We are back into our language arts book this week. The kids have spelling to study for "My name is Maria Isabel.." for Friday's quiz.
Will will have a district writing assessment on Thursday as well.
I need permission slips and $1 from the following five students: Aleks, Mick, Navid, Annika and Jalen. Parents who have offered to chaperone or drive have been listed on events / field trips section of this blog. If your availability changes, please let me know.
Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:
-reading log
-orange folder
-math 68
-reading practice book pages 220 & 221
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday & Friday
Howdy all, and thanks for checkin' in today. The rain had the kids in a tizzy, so the day was not an easy one. Still, we managed to get some computer research in at the lab, explored picture graphs, and attempted to determine fact from fiction. Quite the workload.
Tomorrow brings us the beginning of an interesting science experiment. We'll be growing grass in a terrarium, and then slowly adding consumers to the environment to see how they interact with each other. We are using native species, so it should reflect our immediate surroundings. Next week brings us in-depth work with biomes around the globe. We'll be utilizing the Planet Earth series and a great website called Enchanted Learning.
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading logs
-math 10a
-complete the biome research page (most turned in)
-science vocabulary should be completed, and is due before the quiz tomorrow
-final cursive packet is also due tomorrow
Thanks to those of you who have returned school paperwork in a timely manner. Parent surveys, permission slips, yearbook forms and book orders are out there if you have yet to send them back in! Take a moment or two to look them over and send me questions if you have 'em.
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Tomorrow brings us the beginning of an interesting science experiment. We'll be growing grass in a terrarium, and then slowly adding consumers to the environment to see how they interact with each other. We are using native species, so it should reflect our immediate surroundings. Next week brings us in-depth work with biomes around the globe. We'll be utilizing the Planet Earth series and a great website called Enchanted Learning.
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading logs
-math 10a
-complete the biome research page (most turned in)
-science vocabulary should be completed, and is due before the quiz tomorrow
-final cursive packet is also due tomorrow
Thanks to those of you who have returned school paperwork in a timely manner. Parent surveys, permission slips, yearbook forms and book orders are out there if you have yet to send them back in! Take a moment or two to look them over and send me questions if you have 'em.
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Wednesday
Howdy all. The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading log
-math 65 (all)
-completed draft of amazing story
-continue studying for Friday's science vocabulary quiz
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
-reading log
-math 65 (all)
-completed draft of amazing story
-continue studying for Friday's science vocabulary quiz
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, and too many notes
Howdy all and Happy Inauguration Day. We have an awesome day. We were able to see much leading up to the Inaugural address, but broke away for our visitor from the Bat Conservation group. So cool. We had two native recovery bats in the room and Monique, the BatLady, was great with the kids. We were able to watch President Obama's speech on YouTube after the fact, and the kids made some insightful observations about the state of our country and where they see us headed. We need more days like this to talk about the world.
The Orange Folders that made their way home this afternoon are chocked full of goodies. First, I am sure that progress reports have already been mulled over by the kids, but be sure to look them over. We are exactly half way through the school year, and half way through this second grading period. As I explained to the kids, these reports are meant to inform and in no way reflect or guarantee what they will see on their next report card. The reports are meant to point out what is working and what might need improving. No more, and no less. Grades are not a contest for me, and I stress that message with the kids whenever possible.
Also in the Orange Folder is a permission slip for our Mission San Juan Bautista field trip on February 3rd. Please return the signed slip in a timely manner.
The Parent Survey is optional, but has the ability to be filled out on-line as well.
The Book Order is one I am going to stress. Once a year Scholastic offers crazy incentives for teachers to submit large orders. This is the time!! So, if you can, any book orders would be appreciated. I am trying to get together $200 worth of orders by next Friday, January 30th, which will in turn allow me to get a nice selection of free books for the classroom library!
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading log
-math 64 (all)
-Reflections review, page 211, questions 1 - 4 and practice book page 53
-continue studying for Friday's science vocabulary quiz
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
The Orange Folders that made their way home this afternoon are chocked full of goodies. First, I am sure that progress reports have already been mulled over by the kids, but be sure to look them over. We are exactly half way through the school year, and half way through this second grading period. As I explained to the kids, these reports are meant to inform and in no way reflect or guarantee what they will see on their next report card. The reports are meant to point out what is working and what might need improving. No more, and no less. Grades are not a contest for me, and I stress that message with the kids whenever possible.
Also in the Orange Folder is a permission slip for our Mission San Juan Bautista field trip on February 3rd. Please return the signed slip in a timely manner.
The Parent Survey is optional, but has the ability to be filled out on-line as well.
The Book Order is one I am going to stress. Once a year Scholastic offers crazy incentives for teachers to submit large orders. This is the time!! So, if you can, any book orders would be appreciated. I am trying to get together $200 worth of orders by next Friday, January 30th, which will in turn allow me to get a nice selection of free books for the classroom library!
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading log
-math 64 (all)
-Reflections review, page 211, questions 1 - 4 and practice book page 53
-continue studying for Friday's science vocabulary quiz
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday
Howdy all. We're keeping it simple tonight, and the kids are responsible for the following:
-reading log
-math 63 (all)
-continue with both science vocabulary and cursive packet, both of which are due a week from tomorrow.
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
-reading log
-math 63 (all)
-continue with both science vocabulary and cursive packet, both of which are due a week from tomorrow.
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday
Howdy all. The kids were sent home with a memo from the principal regarding dismissal procedures. Please review the material with your child and send it back to school no later than Friday of this week. We are trying to streamline the end of the day for families leaving campus.
Thanks to those of you who have returned their California Bat Conservation Fund money. The kids are very excited about the upcoming visit. Those of you who have not returned slips and $, please do so by Friday.
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading log
-math 62, all
-science practice book, pages 86 - 89
-dismissal procedure form
-bat money and slip (if needed)
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Thanks to those of you who have returned their California Bat Conservation Fund money. The kids are very excited about the upcoming visit. Those of you who have not returned slips and $, please do so by Friday.
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-reading log
-math 62, all
-science practice book, pages 86 - 89
-dismissal procedure form
-bat money and slip (if needed)
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Welcome back...
Howdy all, and I hope this finds you having a wonderful 2009! It was refreshing to be back in the classroom today after the long winter break. It seems like everyone has fully recharged their batteries!
I won't make this too painfully long, but I wanted to make folks aware of what we are getting into in these next few weeks:
-We began a expository writing today about "something amazing". The kids were more than excited to pick their subject matter. We'll be writing these through next Friday, after several edits with peers and myself.
-We are starting our research into ecosystems and biomes. We will be utilizing the "Planet Earth" from the Discovery Channel extensive in our research. The kids will be making books, much like we did with the native Californian tribes, to help them in summarizing the research and in creating study guides.
-Two new novels were cracked today. We are reading Patty Reed's Doll (coincides with our American explorers unit for social studies) and The Diamond of Darkhold (the conclusion of the Ember series).
-Math is business as usual.
-We are taking a break from our language book during the next two weeks. Vocabulary from science has replaced spelling.
-Orange Folders made their way home today with a slew of corrected work. Please review material with the kids, should you have questions.
-Next Tuesday is Inauguration Day, but we were also fortunate enough to book a guest from the California Bat Conservation Fund. A flier went home in today's folders and I would as folks to return them as soon as possible.
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
- reading log (new in orange folders)
- math lesson 61 (all)
- begin science vocabulary (due 1/23)
- begin last cursive pack (also due 1/23)
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
I won't make this too painfully long, but I wanted to make folks aware of what we are getting into in these next few weeks:
-We began a expository writing today about "something amazing". The kids were more than excited to pick their subject matter. We'll be writing these through next Friday, after several edits with peers and myself.
-We are starting our research into ecosystems and biomes. We will be utilizing the "Planet Earth" from the Discovery Channel extensive in our research. The kids will be making books, much like we did with the native Californian tribes, to help them in summarizing the research and in creating study guides.
-Two new novels were cracked today. We are reading Patty Reed's Doll (coincides with our American explorers unit for social studies) and The Diamond of Darkhold (the conclusion of the Ember series).
-Math is business as usual.
-We are taking a break from our language book during the next two weeks. Vocabulary from science has replaced spelling.
-Orange Folders made their way home today with a slew of corrected work. Please review material with the kids, should you have questions.
-Next Tuesday is Inauguration Day, but we were also fortunate enough to book a guest from the California Bat Conservation Fund. A flier went home in today's folders and I would as folks to return them as soon as possible.
The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
- reading log (new in orange folders)
- math lesson 61 (all)
- begin science vocabulary (due 1/23)
- begin last cursive pack (also due 1/23)
Respectfully, Mr. Bryant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)