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.