Classroom News for the Week of January 30th

News and Upcoming Events: 

• Orchestra is on Monday. Please remember to bring your instruments.
• The students did an excellent job on their mission projects. Your child received his/her grade sheet on Friday. Mission Projects will be sent home on Tuesday this week.
• The Grade 4 Spelling Bee will be 2/14. Participation is voluntary and all students are strongly encouraged to participate. Students will receive a word list on Monday. It is a list of all the spelling words from this year's Greek and Latin roots. Students should study the list at home. We will also be doing mock bees in the classroom. 
• On Friday your child received a free family pass to Santa Cecilia Orchestra's performance on Feb. 12 at Occidental College.
• What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Our new unit is on Geometry. This week students will be learning and applying concepts related to angles and lines.
Key Vocabulary: Right, acute, and obtuse angles; perpendicular and parallel lines.

Reading:

 Bud, Not Buddy. - Chaps 11- 16 Skills: Summarizing, Vernacular language and Euphemisms

Non-fiction: Independent use of comprehension strategies

Genre Genius: Ask your child about his/her progress.

Spelling & Vocabulary:
Bee practice; Syllabication ("open syllables") practice.

Writing:

Writers' Workshop: Formative assessment on essay structure; Creating a strong thesis statement and distinct supporting details; Citing research

Arts:
Drama class with Ms. Beret

Social Studies/ Science:

SS: The end of the Rancho Era and the Bear Flag revolt
Science: Energy Transfer and intro to class project: Mousetrap 2.0

Reminders:

Tardies:

 Please make sure your child is at school and in line by the 8:06 bell. We try to start the school day at 8:11 promptly. Thank you for your help!

Homework:

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.

Classroom News for the Week of January 23rd

News and Upcoming Events: 

• Orchestra is on Monday. Please remember to bring your instruments.
• The students' mission projects look great! Thank you for your hard work! Please visit the hallway outside rooms 11 and 12 to see the projects.
• This week your child will be receiving a PG permission slip to watch "Akeelah and the Bee" in preparation for the upcoming grade 4 spelling bee.

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Standard algorithm for 2 digit x 2 digit multiplication; Review of long division, multiplication, prime and composite, multiples and factors; Unit assessment on Friday

Reading:

 Bud, Not Buddy. - Chaps 8-11 Skills: Metaphor and Similes; Problem/Solution; Cause and Effect.

Non-fiction: Independent use of comprehension strategies

Genre Genius: Ask your child about his/her progress.

Spelling & Vocabulary:
Review of all Greek and Latin prefixes and roots we have learned; Syllabication ("closed syllables") practice.

Writing:

Writers' Workshop: Collecting Ideas as an Essayist and Characteristics of Good Freewriting

Arts:
We begin weekly drama class with Ms. Beret on Wednesday. In preparation we will be reviewing the tools of an actor (body, voice, and imagination) and practicing pantomime, improvisation, tableau.

Students will have a free concert on Friday from the Santa Cecilia Orchestra.

Social Studies/ Science:
No Social studies/science rotation this week.

Reminders:

Tardies:

 Please make sure your child is at school and in line by the 8:06 bell. We try to start the school day at 8:11 promptly. Thank you for your help!

Homework:

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.

Classroom News for the Week of January 16

News and Upcoming Events: 

• Monday is the MLK Holiday. No school. No orchestra this week. 
• The students' mission projects look great! Thank you for your hard work! Please visit the hallway outside rooms 11 and 12 to see the projects.
• Students received a "Junior Fire Inspection Form" after last Friday's fire safety assembly. Please help your child complete the home inspection and return the form. 
• 1/19 Ms. Convey to training at UCLA. Mr. Simons will be teaching.
• 1/20 Field trip to Leonis Adobe Museum. Please wear your MWE t-shirt. Students need to bring a small snack that can be eaten quickly and a lunch from home. This trip is out doors, so please dress appropriately. Rain will cancel trip. Please check your email regularly for updates.
• This week your child will be receiving a PG permission slip to watch "Akeelah and the Bee" in preparation for the upcoming grade 4 spelling bee.

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Modeling long division with tape diagrams; 2 digit x digit multiplication using arrays.

Reading:

 Bud, Not Buddy. - Chaps 6-8 Skills: Metaphor and Similes; Summarizing, Writing to Explain.

Non-fiction: Life During the Rancho Period in CA.; Advertising and Kids (Scholastic News)

Genre Genius: Ask your child about his/her progress.

Spelling & Vocabulary:
Review of all Greek and Latin prefixes and roots we have learned; Syllabication (er, or) practice.

Writing:

This week we begin a unit on writing personal and persuasive essays. Students will learn and practice basic essay structure and how to collect ideas as an essayist.

Arts:

Visual Arts: Pop-art coloring

We begin weekly drama class with Ms. Beret next week. In preparation we will be reviewing the tools of an actor (body, voice, and imagination) and practicing pantomime, improvisation, tableau.

Social Studies/ Science:
End of the Mission Era and The Beginning of the Rancho Period in California; Gallery Walk of the Mission Projects

Reminders:

Tardies:

 Please make sure your child is at school and in line by the 8:06 bell. We try to start the school day at 8:11 promptly. Thank you for your help!

Homework:

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.