Sunday, August 31, 2014

Classroom News for the Week of 9/1

News and Upcoming Events:

* Student Council: Congratulations to Room 17's representatives Allie and Colt! All of the candidates presented clear speeches and should be proud of their efforts.

* 9/1 Labor Day Holiday - School Closed

* 9/2 Early Dismissal Tuesdays begin. School ends at 1:30 p.m.

* 9/5 Please send in your $45 donation to cover this year's field trips by this date. Checks should be made payable to Mt. Washington Elementary. Thank you!

Reminders:
* Please check your child's Homework Log nightly and sign or initial after the work has been completed. Remind your child that completed homework and the HW log are due in class daily. We had many students receive "0"s last week for missing assignments.

* Finished and graded work will be sent home at the beginning of each week (large manilla envelope). Please review your child's work with him/her, sign the envelope, and return the envelope to school no later than Wednesday each week.


What's Going On This Week In Class:

Class-building:

The students have voted! Our class name is "Room 17: Home of the Radioactive Readers!"

 Learning Truths:
  • Everyone need time to think and learn.
  • We can do more and learn more when we are willing to take a risk.
  • It's intelligent to ask for help.
  • It's okay to make mistakes, that's one of the best ways we learn.

Math: 

Pre-assessment on rounding; Rounding Numbers Through the Ten millions Place

Multiplication Madness (Fact Practice) 

Reading: 

This week we will analyze high-quality fourth grade writing samples to identify writing strengths.

We will continue reading Chapters 11-15 of Scott O'Dell's Newbery-Award winning classic, Island of the Blue Dolphins. This week we will use Kaplan's Depth and Complexity Icons to help us dig deeper into the text. 

Writer's Workshop: Unit 1 Personal Narratives

This week's mini-lessons focus on setting writing goals, strategies for finding ideas, and "zooming in" on moments.

Greek and Latin Roots:
Prefixes: super, supr, sur = above, over, more and pre = before


Please study the meanings and spellings of these ten words. You will have a quiz on Friday. 

1. prehistoric
2. predict
3. prejudge
4. precaution
5. premier
6. superhuman
7. superabundant
8. superb
9. supervise
10. surplus

Social Studies/Science:

This Friday we will begin 4th grade social studies/science rotations. Ms. Paz will teach science and I will be teaching the social studies rotation. Your child will have each class (45min. each) on Friday.

This year's units:


Science Grade 4: 

  • Physical Science- Electricity and Magnetism
  • Earth Science- Rocks and Minerals 
  • Life Science - Habitats and Adaptations

Social Studies Grade 4 - History of California
  • The Geography of Our State
  • Native Californians
  • The Mission System
  • The Rancho Era
  • Gold Rush and Statehood

Arts:

Theater class with Ms. Beret Malmgren. Our class will have theater each week for the first semester.



Sunday, August 24, 2014

Classroom News for the Week of August 25

News and Upcoming Events:

* 8/26 Tuesday is a minimum day (not early dismissal as I previously posted. Sorry for the confusion). Students will be dismissed at 12:50 p.m. not 1:30 p.m. Regular early dismissal will begin 9/2.
*8/26 Back to School Night - This is an important evening which I hope you will all attend. A general PTA meeting will be held in the MPR at 5:30. Classroom presentations will be at 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. I look forward to seeing you!
*8/27 Items to decorate your child's Writer's Notebook are due Wednesday (8/27). Please keep in mind these items will taped over with clear plastic tape to your child's notebook. Precious, one of a kind photos, should not be submitted. More detailed instructions are coming home Monday.
* 8/29 Admissions Day (California admitted to the U.S.). School Closed.

Reminders:

Please check your child's Homework Log nightly and sign or initial after the work has been completed. Remind your child that completed homework and the HW log are due in class daily. We had many students receive "0"s last week for missing assignments.

What's Going On This Week In Class:
Class-building:
This week we will continue to learn the routines and procedures of room 17. We will think about our goals for the year and come up with a name for our class.
Learning Truths:
  • Everyone need time to think and learn.
  • We can do more and learn more when we are willing to take a risk.
  • It's intelligent to ask for help.
  • It's okay to make mistakes, that's one of the best ways we learn.

Math: 

Differentiated Instruction for Place Value; Rounding Numbers; Problem-solving Strategy: Make an Organized List

Multiplication Madness (Fact Practice) 

Reading: 
Continued Review of Comprehension Strategies: Predicting, Visualizing, Summarizing, Asking Questions, Rereading

We will continue reading Scott O'Dell's Newbery-Award winning classic, Island of the Blue Dolphins. This week we will use Kaplan's Depth and Complexity Icons to help us dig deeper into the text. 

Identifying Characteristics of Personal Narratives

Writing:

This week we will begin Writer's Workshop. Our first unit of study will be Personal Narratives. Students will have brief assignment Monday evening to prepare of for the launch of Workshop.

Greek and Latin Roots:
Prefixes: re= again;  cir, circum = around
Please study the meanings and spellings of these ten words. You will have a quiz on Friday. This week's quiz will be on Thursday due to the Admissions Day holiday.
  1. circulate
  2. circulatory
  3. circumference
  4. circumstance
  5. circumscribe
  6. restrict
  7. reimburse
  8. reassure
  9. regain
  10. recede
Theater class with Ms. Beret Malmgren. Our class will have theater each week for the first semester


How to Donate to Upcoming Projects:
DONE!
Wow! I am so pleased that both of the posted projects were funded so quickly. A HUGE thank you to all the families who chipped in to get our Donor's Choose grant funded AND who purchased copies of Bridge to Terabithia for the class. I am very grateful and touched by your commitment to all of our students.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Classroom News for the Week of August 18th

News and Upcoming Events:
* 8/26 First Early Dismissal Tuesday begins (1:30 p.m.)
* 8/29 Admissions Day (California admitted to the U.S.). School Closed.

What's Going On This Week In Class:
Class-building:
This week we will continue to learn the routines and procedures of room 17. We will think about our goals for the year and come up with a name for our class.
Learning Truths:
  • Everyone need time to think and learn.
  • We can do more and learn more when we are willing to take a risk.
  • It's intelligent to ask for help.
  • It's okay to make mistakes, that's one of the best ways we learn.

Math: 

Place value review continues; Comparing and Ordering Numbers;
Quiz on Friday

Multiplication madness (Fact Practice) 

English /Language Arts 
Review of Comprehension Strategies: Predicting, Visualizing, Summarizing, Asking Questions, Rereading

Beginning- of -Year reading assessments continue

Identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence

We will continue reading Scott O'Dell's Newbery-Award winning classic, Island of the Blue Dolphins. This week we will use Kaplan's Depth and Complexity Icons to help us dig deeper into the text. 

Greek and Latin Roots:
Prefixes: trans = across; sub = under
Please study the meanings and spellings of these ten words. You will have a quiz on Friday.
  1. subject
  2. subway
  3. submerge
  4. subset
  5. subterranean
  6. translate
  7. transfer
  8. transform
  9. transparent
  10. transplant
Arts:
Theater class with Ms. Beret Malmgren begins this Tuesday. Our class will have theater each week for the first semester; Contour Drawing

How to Donate to Upcoming Projects:
* AMAZON-Our class needs individual student copies of Bridge to Terabithia. If you shop on Amazon, use this link "Ms. Convey's Wishlist" to purchase copies of the book for our class. You can also access the list by searching "Wish Lists" with my email address  (slc5001@lausd.net). We are hoping to have a class set (33 copies) in place by 9/12/14. Thank you!
* DONORS CHOOSE
I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed, so I created a request for my classroom at DonorsChoose.org:

Artists At Work

Give to my classroom by August 19, 2014 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code INSPIRE on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100).

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.

Thanks so much,
Ms. Convey

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along!
DonorsChoose.org

Monday, August 11, 2014

Classroom News for the Week of August 12th

Welcome Back to School!

News and Upcoming Events:

* 8/13 Emergency cards due
* 8/15 Please have School Supplies at school.
* 8/26 First Early Dismissal Tuesday begins (1:30 p.m.)
* 8/29 Admissions Day (California admitted to the U.S.). School Closed.


What's Going On This Week In Class:

Class-building:

This week we will learn the routines and procedures of room 17. We will engage in many activities to help us get to know one another better and built a classroom climate based on cooperation and mutual respect.

Math: 



Place value review

Multiplication madness (Fact Practice) begins

English /Language Arts 

Editing skills

Beginning- of -Year reading assessments

Identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence

We will begin reading Scott O'Dell's Newbery-Award winning classic, Island of the Blue Dolphins. This week we will analyze setting and character. We will examine how the author shows us who the characters are, rather than telling us (Show vs. Tell). 

Arts:

Element: Line - Using a variety of line in our artwork.

How to Donate to Upcoming Projects:

1. AMAZON-
Our class needs individual student copies of Bridge to Terabithia. If you shop on Amazon, use this link "Ms. Convey's Wishlist" to purchase copies of the book for our class. You can also access the list by searching "Wish Lists" with my email address  (slc5001@lausd.net). We are hoping to have a class set (33 copies) in place by 9/12/14. Thank you!

2. DONORS CHOOSE

I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed, so I just created a request for my classroom at DonorsChoose.org:

Artists At Work

Give to my classroom by August 19, 2014 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code INSPIRE on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100).

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.

Thanks so much,
Ms. Convey

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along!
DonorsChoose.org