Weekly News for the Week of October 1, 2012

Even Better News!

Our class project, Artful Artists At Work, posted on the Donor's Choose website, has been fully funded. Thank you to the Navidad Family, KIA Motors, and the anonymous donor who completely funded the remaining amount of the project. We should be receiving the requested art supplies within the next three weeks!

Tiling Update:
The new floor in room 17 is finished and it has been waxed to an incredible shine. The district uses non-toxic, plant-based products, although there is currently a strong smell. The room will be airing out this weekend and we should be able to resume our studies in our class this Monday, October 1. A huge thank you to all of the students for the great job they did adjusting to our temporary home, and to all our families for helping the project get completed.

In The Classroom:

Math Grades 4 and 5: Topic 5 Algebra: variables, expressions, solving inequalities, and order of operations. We will also be resuming Accelerated Math.

Reading: Wrapping up unit 1 of Treasures; Analyzing reading comprehension questions (Right There, Drawing Conclusions, Inference, and On My Own); "Beyond" activities for Bridge to Terabithia

Writing Topic: What themes did Katherine Patterson write about in Bridge to Terabithia? How did she portray those themes? Using an essay map to brainstorm; Revising for specific details; Subject and predicate review; Identifying and Writing compound sentences

Arts: No Master Chorale this week.

Grade 4 Social Studies: Landforms and economies of California's four regions.
The California Regions Poster Project is due 10/12. Please continue to work on it.

Grade 5 Social Studies: Students will continue their research for the U.S. State Project.

Grade 4 Science: Rocks and Minerals

Grade 5 Science: The Water Cycle

Garden: This week students will be planting new seeds in our class garden bed. Thank you to our parent volunteers for organizing and assisting the students in planting!

Weekly Root: miss, mit = send

admit
dismiss
emit
intermission
missile
mission
omit
remit
submit
transmit

Points due Friday 10/5. Quiz on 10/5

* Please return September's Reading calendar, signed by a parent, no later than 10/5. October calendars will be sent home Monday.

Classroom News for the Week of September 24th

.

Great News!

A project I have written has been posted on the Donors Choose website. This project would supply our students with some fantastic art supplies to use during upcoming units and lessons.

The great news is, our project has been selected by KIA motors as a matching project.  Basically, KIA is willing to put up half the money if other donors fund the remaining amount. That means there is only $230 left (down from $460) for this project to be funded.

To learn more about the project and/or to donate, you can access the project page here:
 Artful Artists at Work(857755)

Thank you in advance for your support!

 

 Field Trip: 

We will be going to the Leonis Adobe Museum in Calabasas on Monday (9/24). This trip is for 4th and 5th graders. All students should bring a sack lunch with water and a small snack. Please be at school on time as we will try to leave as close to 8:30 as possible.
Parent Chaperones: Lisa McGuiness and Belinda Babel.
Visit: www.leonisadobemuseum.org 

Tiling Update:

The new floor in room 17 is coming along and should be finished this Tuesday. After that, the floor will be waxed and sealed, and then it will dry out before the furniture is brought back in. It looks like we will remain in our temporary home through next week and hopefully be back in room 17 by Monday, October 1.

In The Classroom:

*Please note Wednesday, 9/26 is an unassigned day. School is closed.

Math: Students will be learning and reviewing how to multiply (4th) and divide (5th) with greater numbers and how to calculate averages. Later in the week we will begin Topic 5 Algebra: variables and expressions, and solving inequalities.

Reading: This week we will be finishing Bridge to Terabithia. Students will have some nightly reading to complete on Monday and Tuesday.  Please make sure your child has his or her book back at school the following day.  Students will continue their work in literal and inferential comprehension and character analysis.  We will also look at the author's use of foreshadowing.

Arts: Songwriting with Amy, Mark, and David continues. Students are using pitch and rhythm to create melodies for their songs. It's a very exciting process to see unfold!

Grade 4 Social Studies: The California Regions Poster Project was assigned Friday, September 21. Please ask your child about this assignment and return the parent sign-off on Monday 9/24. We will be exploring these regions in class as well over the next few weeks. The project is due 10/12.

Grade 5 Social Studies: Students will continue their research for the U.S. State Project.

Grade 4 Science: Rocks and Minerals
Grade 5 Science: The Water Cycle

Weekly Root: "port" means to carry

export
report
support
import
portfolio
portable
transport
portage
deport
porter


Points due Friday 9/28. Quiz on 9/28

Classroom News for September 18th

A huge thank you to the many parents who helped us with our move to the library! The move was completed so quickly, and the students have settled into our new, temporary home. Thank you!!!

Reading: We will be reading Bridge to Terabithia this week. The is realistic fiction and a Newbery Award-winning book. Students will be answering comprehension questions, writing responses to literature, discussing the author's use of figurative language, and analyzing character.

Writing: We will be continuing our interviews of our NBS creatures.

Math Grades 4 and 5 Topic 4: Review of multiplication and long division skills

Social Studies:
Grade 5  State Project: Researching Native American groups in your (assigned) state.

Grade 4 Social Studies: Regions of California; Writing a summary of your city research

Physical Education: "Clean Your Room" game; Throwing at a target.

Arts (Music): Collaborating on writing verses

Weekly Root: ject= throw

dejected
eject
injection
interjection
jettison
projectile
projector
reject
subject
trajectory

Root points are due on Friday. Quiz on Friday.

Reminders:

* If you are able, please send your donation for this year's field trip asap. Your $50 check should be made payable to "Mt. Washington El." Please write "Donation for Room 17" on the subject line. This donation covers admission and bus fess for all 8 field trips this year.

* Grade 4 parents, please turn in your child's trip slip for JPL as soon as possible.
Visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ for a virtual tour of JPL and to learn more about the Mars Rover, Curiosity.

* Ask your child about his or her progress in Accelerated Reader and our daily math facts practice, "Multiplication  Madness".

* Continue to read nightly for at least 30 minutes.