Classroom News for the Week of April 2nd

Updates and Notices:

* No school Monday, April 1 for Cesar Chavez Holiday. School resumes April 2nd.

* Students created flashcards before the break of key vocabulary and concepts to review. Please make sure your child studies a little each day. There will be a quiz on Wed. 4/3.

* April 4th is Spring Picture Day

* If you would like to see the types of questions asked on CST, you can view released test questions (from previous years' tests) at the following site: CST Test Released Questions.
CST begins the week of April 8th. Testing is is done in the morning over a period of 6 days. Typically, we do not test on Mondays or Fridays.

What's Going On In Class:

Math: 

Both Grades: Review for CST

Writing:

Writing autobiographies

Note-taking for upcoming biography project

Writing Homework:  

No additional writing homework will be assigned while we finish the book project.

Reading:

This week we will begin reading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.  
Skills: summarizing, drawing conclusions, making inferences, supporting opinions based on the text.

CST Test Prep

Reading biographies.

Art:

Theater with Ms. Beret: Improvisation

Drawing illustrations for the book project.

Science:

Grade 4: Life Science: Habitats and Ecosystems

Grade 5:  Review for CST.

Social Studies: 

Grade 4: No social studies this week

Grade 5: The Colonists in America

Classroom News for the Week of March 18th

Updates and Notices:

* Book Publishing Project Due Dates:

- Revised and final version due Wednesday 3/20. Please bring in both a hard copy and your story saved on the flash drive. See Ms. C's handout for formatting guidelines.

* 4th graders need two 9 volt batteries to complete their circuit boards. If your child has not brought in his/her pair, please send them as soon as possible. Thank you!

* This is the last week of Math Club (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 2:30-3:15).

* Yearbook Committee Students: We will continue working on class pages Friday 2:45-3:30.

* March 19th is the last day of early dismissal Tuesdays. Beginning April 2nd, school will be dismissed at the regular time (2:30) on Tuesdays.

* Spring Break 3/25-3/29. Have a great week off! Students should continue to read daily, and they will also have flashcards of mathematical terms to review over the break.

* No school Monday, April 1 for Cesar Chavez Holiday. School resumes April 2nd.

What's Going On In Class:

Math:

Grade 4:  Mean, Median, Mode, and Range; Congruent Shapes and Rotational Symmetry

Grade 5: Topic 17 - Ratios and Percents continued...

Both Grades: Review for CST

Writing:

Workshop continues: Each student will be reading his or her story aloud in front of the class this week to receive feedback from his/her classmates. Students will continue revising their work.

Review of prepositions and figurative language (personification, metaphors & similes, hyperbole, onomatoepia)

Writing Homework:  

No additional writing homework will be assigned while we finish the book project.

Reading:

Grade 4: CST Test Prep

Grade 5: Social Studies and CST test prep

Art:

We begin theater classes with Ms. Beret this week. We will have class every Wednesday until the end of the year. Check this page often to learn about the theater project we will be doing!

Drawing 3-D figures, shading

Designing eye-catching book covers!

Science:

Grade 4: No Science rotation this week

Grade 5:  No Science rotation this week

Social Studies: 

Grade 4: No social studies this week

Grade 5: The Colonists in America

Classroom News for the Week of March 11th

Updates and Notices:

* 4th, 5th, and 6th grade field trip to Gene Autry Museum on Wednesday, 3/13. Students should bring a lunch and a small snack.  Our class needs at least 3 parent chaperones, but we can take more. Please email Ms. Convey if you are able to attend. We will be leaving school at 8:30 and returning by 2:30.

* 4th graders need two 9 volt batteries to complete their circuit boards. Please have batteries here at school (apply masking tape and write your child's name on them) no later than Monday, March 11.

* This week, grade 5 students will continue Fitnessgram testing. Please make sure your child has had a nutritious breakfast and is well rested. Thank you!

* Book Publishing Project Due Dates:

- Hard copy of your typed story due to Ms. C by Friday 3/15.

- Revised and final version due Wednesday 3/20. Please bring in both a hard copy and your story saved on the flash drive.

- See Ms. C's handout for formatting guidelines.

* Selected Students: Math Club continues Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 2:30-3:15

* Yearbook Committee Students: We will continue working on class pages Friday 2:45-3:30

* March 19th is the last day of early dismissal Tuesdays. Beginning April 2nd, school will be dismissed at the regular time (2:30) on Tuesdays.

What's Going On In Class:

Math:

Grade 4: Topic 16 - Graphing; Statistics and Probability

Grade 5: Topic 17 - Ratios and Percents

Both Grades: Surface Area; Accelerated Math; Daily Fact Practice

Writing:

Workshop continues: Each student will be reading his or her story aloud in front of the class this week to receive feedback from his/her classmates. Students will continue revising their work.

Review of prepositions, figurative language

Writing Homework:  

No additional writing homework will be assigned while we finish the book project.

Reading:

Grade 4: CST Test Prep

Grade 5: Social Studies and CST test prep

Art:

Drawing 3-D figures, shading; Mime Assembly (Friday, 1p.m.)

Science:

Grade 4: Life Science: Habitats and Ecosystems

Grade 5:  Review for Grade 5 Science CST

Social Studies: 

Grade 4: Unit 4: The Growth of California from 1850.

Grade 5: The Colonists in America

Classroom News for Week of March 4th

Updates and Notices:

* 4th graders need two 9 volt batteries to complete their circuit boards. Please have batteries here at school (apply masking tape and write your child's name on them) no later than Monday, March 11.

* Report cards will be sent home Friday, March 8th.

* Grade 4 students will be taking the Writing portion of CST this Tuesday. Make-up tests will be given on Wednesday. There is no special preparation to make, but please make sure your child is well rested and has had a nutritious breakfast. Thank you!

* On Thursday, grade 5 students will begin Fitnessgram testing. Please make sure your child has had a nutritious breakfast and is well rested. Thank you!

* This week (likely on Thursday), students will be bringing home revised drafts of the story they have selected to publish for the annual book project, and a flash drive.  Your child should type his or her story at home, save it on the flashdrive, and return the flashdrive to school by Tuesday, March 19th. Specific instructions with regards to format will be attached to your child's draft. Books will be printed in our computer lab using the special paper the publisher requires. Illustrations will be completed in class.  If you have further questions about this assignment after receiving the details on Thursday, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you!

* Selected Students: Math Club continues Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 2:30-3:15

* Yearbook Committee Students: We will be gin working on class pages Friday 2:45-3:30

What's Going On In Class:

Math:

Grade 4: Topic 18 -Formulas and Graphing Equations

Grade 5: Topic 16 - Patterns and Equations with Integers

Both Grades: Surface Area; Accelerated Math; Daily Fact Practice

Writing:

Workshop: Each student will be reading his or her story aloud in front of the class this week to receive feedback from his/her classmates. Students will continue revising their work.

Writing Homework:  

Last week's three-paragraph essays will be revised. Next week, these will be expanded into 5 paragraph essays. For those students typing, be sure to save your work.

Reading:

This week we will be finishing, and taking AR Reading practice and Literacy Skills quizzes for :

Grade 4: By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischmann

Grade 5: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Art:

Thank you to Kai-ti Olsen for coming into our class and conducting an art class with room17's students! The finished products will be up for bid at this year's silent auction.

Science:

Grade 4: Life Science: Habitats and Ecosystems

Grade 5:  Review for Grade 5 Science CST

Social Studies: 

Grade 4: Unit 4: The Growth of California from 1850.

Grade 5: No Social Studies this week