Classroom News for the Week of October 9th

News and Upcoming Events: 

10/9 - Return empty Friday Folders; Orchestra students: Bring your instruments

If you haven't done so already, please be sure to return your donation envelope for our class booth at the Pumpkin Festival. Thank you!

10/13 - Our class starts 5 weeks of instruction in the school garden.

10/17 - Picture Day

10/26 - Science Quiz - Study notes come home 10/20.

Volunteer Opportunities:

1. Do you sew? Ms. Beret and I are looking for someone who would be willing to help sew very basic costumes for our upcoming play based on a Norse myth. This would involve very basic sewing skills (making long tunics/caftans out of muslin). If your are interested, please email me at slc5001@lausd.net.

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Perimeter and Area

Fluency with Math Facts

Reading:

Chapters 6-10 of Scott O'Dell's Newbery-Award winning book, Island of the Blue Dolphins. We will be using Depth and Complexity icons to help us dig deeper into the text.

Genre Blackout: Students are challenged to read books from 9 different genres in the first reporting period. Ask your child about his or her progress.

Accelerated Reader: Students have reflected on their AR points and habits from grade 3 and have made a new, individualized goals. Ask your child about his/her yearlong goal.

Writing:

Writer's Workshop: The Arc of A Story. This week we will finish revising, editing, and publishing their stories.

Spelling & Vocabulary:

This week's words are -

• century
• decade
• decimal
• milligram
• million
• triplet
• trilogy
• triathlon
• quadrangle
• quadruple

Tip: Spend 10 minutes verbally studying the words each day. Research suggests that studying for small periods regularly is more effective than cramming. In addition to having your child spell the word aloud, ask your child to use the word in an imaginative sentence. You can pick a "theme" for the sentences, such as Halloween or the Desert…"Give me a sentence with 'collide' that has to do with Halloween." This can provide some challenge and novelty to a routine task.

Social Studies/ Science:

California regions; Rock Formation and Layers 

Project-Based Learning:
Student teams will be working on a weeks-long project in class. Our driving question is: What makes our state special? Students have received a letter from the California Director of Tourism asking them to research a particular region of California and create a 2 to 3 minute presentation designed to encourage visitors to visit that region. Ask your child about the project and check the blog frequently for presentation dates. This interdisciplinary project addresses state standards for research and inquiry, speaking, reading, writing, visual literacy, social studies, and science.

Lesson Focus: Note-taking vs. Plagiarizing; Finding Appropriate Sources

Arts:

Drama with Ms. Beret on Wednesday- Workshopping ideas for our class play; Tableau. 

Dance: Rehearsing the Giant's dance

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.

Birthday Celebrations: If you would like to send treats to celebrate your child's birthday, please email me a day or 2 in advance so that I can make time in our schedule for it. Treats must be something small and easy to pass out. Donuts, cookies, muffins, and mini cupcakes all work great. We currently have 30 students in our class. Your child will distribute them at the end of the day as their classmates are leaving the room.

Donations: If you would like to make a donation to our class (this allows me to turn in receipts for purchases I have made for the students), you can write a check to "Mt. Washington El." In the subject line write, "Donation to Room 12". Any amount is appreciated! Thank you!