Classroom News for the Week of January 8th

Welcome Back, and Happy New Year!

News and Upcoming Events: 

1/8  Please sign and return PG permission slip for students to watch "Akeelah and the Bee" in preparation for upcoming grade 4 Spelling Bee. Details about the Bee will be in next week's blog.

1/11 - Mission Project due. Outline of project requirements can be found under "Class Handouts" in the Link tab at right.

1/15 - MLK Holiday. School closed.

1/18 Greek and Latin Affix Quiz (see Spelling below).

1/19 Field Trip to Leonis Adobe Museum. http://www.leonisadobemuseum.org/ We are still in need of 3 chaperones. If you are willing and able to supervise a small group of students on the trip and at the park, please email me at slc5001@lausd.net. Chaperones will be assigned on a first come/first serve basis. Please know, this trip will last the entire school day and involves lots of walking and standing. Thank you!

2/15 Field Trip to JPL. We can take 3 adult chaperones. If you are willing and able to supervise a small group of students on the trip, please email me at slc5001@lausd.net. Please include:

1. Your full legal name as it appear on your ID
2. Citizenship status

JPL requires me to submit this information 3 weeks in advance. All chaperones must bring a valid CA Drivers License or US Passport or Green Card to enter JPL. Chaperones will be assigned on a first come/first serve basis. Please know, this trip will last 8:30 to 1pm and involves lots of walking and standing. Thank you!

NEEDS: We are in need of: paper towels, kleenex, and Swiffer duster refills. Thank you for your donations!

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Long division review; Prime and Composite numbers; Determining Factors and Multiples

Reading:

This week we will begin reading Christopher Paul Curtis's Newbery Award Winning novel, Bud, Not Buddy. This week we will build background on the Great Depression and Segregation in the 1920s and read Chapters 1-4. Skills: Story Elements, Summarizing, Inferring, Writing to Explain.

We will be reading about the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi and his influence on Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Specifically, we will be discussing 3 methods of non-violent change making: boycotts, speeches, and civil disobedience.

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.

Spelling & Vocabulary:

On Tuesday, students will be receiving a list of all the Latin and Greek prefixes, roots, and suffixes we have learned this year. Students should be able to match each affix to its meaning. Quiz on Thursday, January 18th.

Social Studies/Science -

Social Studies - Mission Project Gallery Walk and End of the Mission Era
Science - Energy

Arts:

Mural making

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 his/her 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!