Classroom News for the Week of September 16th

Notices and Reminders:

"PG" PERMISSION SLIP DUE BY WED 9/18

This Wednesday and Thursday I will be showing the film version of Bridge to Terabithia. We've finished the book and students will take the AR quiz at the beginning of the week. Because the film is rated PG, your child will need permission from you to view it. Please look for these slips coming home on Monday evening. Students without parent consent will be sent to another class on campus with independent work. After we see the film we will discuss it and create "Double Bubble" maps to compare the versions. 

CLASS GARDEN!

Thanks to a great group of volunteers (Krista, Christy, Gina, and Nicole) our class garden is underway. On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, the team worked with the students to use their math skills to plan our class garden. Please check out the bed closest to the ramp of room 17 to see the garden's progress.

DONORS CHOOSE Project Needs Funding:  Wow! Thanks to the support of the Zepeda, Harth and Staley-Thomas families our project on Donors Choose is almost halfway funded! Please click on this link: Donors Choose to read more about the project and to make a donation. It's fast, easy, and tax-deductible. Every little bit helps and will provide your child with some wonderful materials for this school year. Thank you!

REMINDERS: 

* Please make sure to check (and sign) your child's Homework Log each evening.  

* Please join the PTA!

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Topic 3: Quick review of Multiplication and Division concepts from 3rd grade.

We've begun "Multiplication Madness" (daily, 1 min. multiplication fact practice). Please work with your child to help him/her memorize facts x1-x12.

Writing:

Revising, editing, and publishing our fictional narratives.

Reading:

We will be reading out of the Treasures anthology. This week's selection is a nonfiction article, Kid Reporters. We will be identifying key features of informational text and selecting strategies to help us understand what we are reading. Comprehension skill: Compare and Contrast. We will be using the Depth and Complexity icons to dig deeper into the text.

NEW!!!

Wondering if that book your reading has an AR quiz? Wondering what level that book is?

Go to www.arbookfind.com to find out.  Remember, you can (and should!) be taking quizzes on the books you are reading at home.

Greek and Latin Roots Homework:

NEW!!

Here's a new way to practice your words: Visit www.spellingcity.com. From the blue bars at the top of the page, click on "Find A List". Search lists by Teacher's Name -> enter "Safini Convey". You will see a link to this week's word list. Use the many free games and puzzles (there is even a practice test you can take) to help you learn this week's list. Let me know if you have any problems. Have fun!

This week's prefix & root: pre = before, toward; graph, gram = write, writing

prehistoric

predict

prejudge

precaution

premier

autograph

biography

grammar

graphic

graphite

Students should turn in their completed work (between 70 and 100 points) on Friday this week. A quiz on the word spellings and meanings will also be on Friday.  If students choose to make crossword puzzle, they may use an online free puzzle maker such as www.puzzle-maker.com. Students must make a crossword puzzle (not a word search) and the must generate their own definitions of the word. Please have your child do his or her own typing.

Visual Art:

Drawing Skills: Using value/shading to create "3D" drawings.

Class/Team Building:

This week our focus will be on what it means to work together collaboratively: Listening to everyone's ideas, finding common ground, presenting ideas as a team. Also, using our time in class wisely.

Social Studies/Science:

Social Studies: Geography continued...Regions of California

Science:  Earth Sciences: Rocks and Minerals