Classroom News for the Week of April 29

Updates and Notices:

Elyria Canyon Nature Walk April 30th

On Tuesday (4/30) our class will take a walking trip to nearby Elyria Canyon.  We will be looking at native plants and discussing their uses in conjunction with completing Island of the Blue Dolphins. Students should wear shoes and clothing comfortable for walking. They will also need to carry a water bottle and light snack. We will leave school at approximately 9:00 and return by 11:30. Students will be on campus for lunch. I have the trip slips you signed at the beginning of the year allowing neighborhood walks. It would be great to have 2 more adults join myself and Mr. Flores. If you would like to come along, please email me at slc5001@lausd.net.

Scholastic Book Fair:

Our class will be visiting the book fair on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Students may bring money (secured in an envelope with your child's name and room # on it) if they wish to make purchases.

Save the Date: Open House is on May 2; This is an early dismissal day (12:50 p.m)

Interview Project

Please bring in your interview on a flash drive by Wed. 5/1. Please email me write away if there is a problem. Thank you all very much for efforts towards this project!

What's Going On In Class:

Math: 

Both Grades: Metric Measurements and Accelerated Math; Fraction review

Grade 4: Adding and Subtracting Negative Integers

Grade 5: Percents

Writing:

Poetry Writing

Reading:

This week students will begin literature circles.  Students will select a book they would like to read in small groups. Groups will be responsible for reading and discussing the book, as well as completing various comprehension exercises.

In addition, we will begin reading The Black Stallion.

Arts:

We are finishing up several projects in preparation for Open House. We hope to see you all Thursday evening.

Theater class with Ms. Beret (Wednesday).

Social Studies/ Science:

No rotations this week

Classroom News for the Week of April 22

Updates and Notices:

Elyria Canyon Nature Walk April 23rd

On Tuesday (4/23) our class will take a walking trip to nearby Elyria Canyon.  We will be looking at native plants and discussing their uses in conjunction with completing Island of the Blue Dolphins. Students should wear shoes and clothing comfortable for walking. They will also need to carry a water bottle and light snack. We will leave school at approximately 9:00 and return by 11:30. Students will be on campus for lunch. I have the trip slips you signed at the beginning of the year allowing neighborhood walks. It would be great to have 2 more adults join myself and Mr. Flores. If you would like to come along, please email me.

History Poster Project due April 26th

Save the Date: Open House is on May 2 

California standards testing is complete! Congratulations, Students! Thank you for your hard work!

Interview Project

Please see my letter for a more detailed description of the project.  Students should be setting up interview appointments with their subjects and completing the interview by April 29. 

What's Going On In Class:

Math: 

Both Grades: Metric Measurements and Accelerated Math

Statistics and Probability: Understanding when mean, mode, or median is the best representative of data.

Writing:

Drafting, peer revising,editing,and publishing biographies.

Reading:

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.  

Skills: summarizing, drawing conclusions, making inferences, supporting opinions based on the text.

We will finish Island this week. Students are answering questions using Depth and complexity icons.  Students may begin taking AR tests on the book this Wednesday.

Art:

Theater with Ms. Beret: Interviewing

Drawing portraits.

Science:

Grade 4: Life Science: Habitats and Ecosystems

Grade 5:  Life Science: Dissecting Owl Pellets

Classroom News for the Week of April 15th

Updates and Notices:

California Standards Testing continues this week.

The testing schedule for this week is as follows:

M - No testing except for make-ups

T -  Grade 4 & 5 CST Math

W & TH - Grade 5 CST Science

F - No testing except for make-ups.

Please make sure your child comes to school on time. Late students will not be admitted to the room once testing begins, and will have to take a make-up. Please make sure your child is well rested and has had a nutritious breakfast. No electronic devices will be allowed in the room during the testing session. Students may have silent reading book to read while they wait for their classmates to finish. Our voracious readers will need to plan accordingly. This might be a nice time to visit your public library for extra reading material. Thank you for your help!

History Poster Project due April 26th

Student Authored Books

Student authored books are finished and are being sent to the publisher this week! The students did a wonderful job. Reading through them, I was impressed by the students' understanding of story structure, their vocabulary, originality, and the LENGTH of their writing. I know these will be treasured keepsakes in the years to come. Thank you all for your assistance in typing and ensuring the flash drives were returned. Hopefully, we will receive the finished books mid-May.

What's Going On In Class:

Math: 

Both Grades: Review for CST

Statistics and Probability: Understanding when mean, mode, or median is the best representative of data.

While 5th graders are taking CST Science, 4th graders will begin working on 5th grade math skills: adding and subtracting negative integers.

Writing:

A few weeks ago, students selected a famous person as the subject of a biography they will write. Students have been using books and online resources to gather information about the person they chose. This week students will be using an essay map to plan out their own writing and will begin drafting their biographies.

Reading:

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.  

Skills: summarizing, drawing conclusions, making inferences, supporting opinions based on the text.

Art:

Theater with Ms. Beret: Interviewing

Drawing portraits.

Science:

Grade 4: Life Science: Habitats and Ecosystems

Grade 5:  Review for CST; Chemistry review

Classroom News for the Week of April 8th

Updates and Notices:

California Standards Testing begins this week.

The schedule is as follows:

M -  Grade 4 Practice Test

TWTH -  Grade 4 &5 CST Language Arts and Math

F - No testing except for make-ups.

Next Week:

M - No testing except for make-ups

T -  Grade 4 & 5 CST Math

W & TH - Grade 5 CST Science

F - No testing except for make-ups.

Please make sure your child comes to school on time. Late students will not be admitted to the room once testing begins, and will have to take a make-up. Please make sure your child is well rested and has had a nutritious breakfast. No electronic devices will be allowed in the room during the testing session. Students may have silent reading book to read while they wait for their classmates to finish. Our voracious readers will need to plan accordingly. This might be a nice time to visit your public library for extra reading material. Thank you for your help!

Class Garden

Thank you to our OUTSTANDING Garden Committee: Belinda, Robin, Reis, and Lisa! Last week students harvested our garden (garlic, beets, lotsa favas!, kale, nasturtiums, lettuce) and this Tuesday an incredible feast is being planned.  Our students are fortunate to have such knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers. Thank you!

Home Project

A final home project is being assigned. See "social studies" below and paperwork coming home this week for further details.

What's Going On In Class:

Math: 

Both Grades: Review for CST

Writing:

Writing autobiographies

Note-taking for upcoming biography project continued..

Writing Homework:  

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

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: Interviewing

Drawing illustrations for the book project.

Science:

Grade 4: Life Science: Habitats and Ecosystems

Grade 5:  Review for CST.

Social Studies: 

Both grades:

Students will be assigned a final social studies project this week. Please look for a detailed description of the project and a rubric coming home on Monday. No other social studies homework will be assigned while students finish the project. The project is due April 26th