Tuesday, January 31st

Good Evening, Room 36 Families!

Today we had Music with Mr. B!

Homework:
- 20 minutes Independent Reading (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 7, Lesson 7
- Close Reading: "My Shadow" (poem)

Monday, January 30th

Good Afternoon, Room 36 Families!

I was absent on Friday, so I missed a couple of days of updates here -- sorry about that!  

Hopefully your kids were excited to get to see Ms. Walker on Friday! I know she had several students from Room 36 in her 3rd grade class last year.  :-)

Please, please continue to have your students do the 20 minutes of independent reading each night.  I am doing mid-year reading comprehension testing, and it is very evident which students have been reading and which have not.

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 7, Lesson 6 (p. 449-450)
- FINISH: Independent Practice (p. 447-448) if necessary
- Spider readings: page 5 (writing)

Thursday (1/26) Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 7, Lesson 4
- Word Problem #2

Wednesday, January 25th

Good Afternoon, Room 36 Families!

Today we started Life Science with Mr. Eilber! Please ask your students what they learned!

Don't Forget: Friday is a Spirit Day at Brentwood! This week's theme: Dress like a movie character.

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 7, Lesson 3 (p. 429-430)
- Vocabulary Sentences: dismal, weary, flatter, cunning, parlor, cautious
- FINISH: Independent Practice Chapter 7, Lesson 3 (p. 427-428) if necessary

Tuesday, January 24th

Good Evening, Room 36 Families!

It was c-c-c-cold this morning, but it didn't rain! Yay for outside recess!

Today we had Music with Mr. Babinski! The kids are really enjoying learning about dynamics (forte and piano) and syncopated rhythms as we sing "Sir Duke"!  See if you can get them to sing a little for you.  ;-)

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 7, Lesson 2
- Word Problem #1
- Answer Spider Questions

Monday, January 23rd

Good Afternoon, Room 36 Families!

We went to the Library today! Several students were able to choose another book at their Lexile level, because they passed their Reading Counts test.  If you child has not finished their Lexile level book, and passed the short comprehension test, they will not need to check out a new Lexile level book.  

In the afternoon, most students had 4th Grade Chorus, and the rest played Multiplication BINGO.  The sun came out and we were even able to have a little bit of P.E. outside!

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 7, Lesson 1 (p. 417-418)
- MyMath: Am I Ready? (p. 407-408)
- Read: "Do You Have Arachnophobia?"

Happy Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, January 19th

Good Afternoon, Room 36 Families!

Today we had Art with Ms. Green! They really enjoyed starting our Mola inspired pieces.

Just a reminder: Brentwood's Annual Giving Drive is going on NOW!  In order to keep special programs like Art, Music, and YMCA P.E. we need support from all of our families. If you are able, please contribute at a level that is comfortable for your family.

We will have our Chapter 6 math test tomorrow. As I am sure you are aware, this chapter covered division.  We reviewed in class today but, if possible, please look over your child's review homework tonight.

We will also have a Language Arts test tomorrow on the Owl articles "Nocturnal Hunter" and "The Life of Barn Owls." Students are also responsible for the six vocabulary words for these readings: adaptation, carnivore, incubate, nocturnal, perch, and talon.  (We made vocabulary flash cards for all six words in class.)

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 6 Review (p. 401-403)
- Owl article VOCAB sentences. (One sentence each for: adaptation, carnivore, incubate, nocturnal, perch, and talon.)
- Re-read both Owl articles

Wednesday, January 18th

Good Afternoon, Room 36 Families!

We started the day with an assembly about money, presented by Wells Fargo.

The students also had their last Physical Science Lab with Mr. Wilcox today.  Please ask them about what they learned.

As we continue to reflect on the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., we had a great discussion about courage in our Restorative Justice circle with Ms. Clark.  Students shared stories about using the courage it took to come to a new school, stand up for a friend, repeat a grade, and speak out in class.  It takes a lot of strength to overcome fear. Great work!  :-)

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 6, Lesson 11 (p. 397-398)
- Figurative Language: "Dad's Barbecue" p. 10

Tuesday, January 17th

Good Evening, Room 36 Families!

We started our day with a guest speaker who happens to be one of our parents! Thanks so much to Michelle Bond for her fantastic presentation about physiology.

We also had our first Music class with Mr. Babinski! 

Ask your students what they learned today!

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (Lexile level)
- MyMath: Chapter 6, Lesson 10
- Close Reading: "Mr. Nobody" (poem)

Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day!

Volunteer opportunities: HERE.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday, Room 36 Families!

This has been a long, rainy first week back -- and your kids have been working hard. Please know that the workload will be a little more intense for the second half of the year -- and my expectations will be higher.

The kids were so excited to have YMCA P.E. today! Ask them about their new racket skills.

We have talked a lot about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over the past couple of days.  I hope that you all take some time on Monday to think what YOU can do to make the world a better place.  

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 Happy Friday!

 

Thursday, January 12th

Good Afternoon, Room 36 Families!

All of this rain is GREAT for Southern California, but not very much fun for kids stuck in the classroom for indoor recess AND lunch all week!  If at all possible, your kids need to move around after school today.

 Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (independent reading at Lexile level)
- MyMath: Check My Progress p. 365-366 & p. 385-386)
- Vocabulary Squares (nocturnal, talon, adaptation, carnivore, incubate, perch) : 1) definition, 2) use it in a sentence, 3) define it in your own words, 4) draw it

Wednesday, January 11th

Good afternoon, Room 36 families!

Today we had Physical Science with Mr. Wilcox. Please ask the students what they learned!

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes (independent reading at Lexile level)
- MyMath: Chapter 6, Lesson 9
- ELA: Owl article questions #1-7
- FINISH: Any unfinished work (Science: p. 40-42 & 50-53, plus questions; Winter Break writing)

Tuesday, January 10th

Happy Tuesday!

Don't forget: If your student did not have a chance to turn in the OPTIONAL Winter Break Packet on Monday, tomorrow is the last day to turn it in to get a prize from the Treasure Chest.

Please make sure that students are reading their Lexile level book for 20 minutes each night.  Several students were not able to take their Reading Counts test in the Computer Lab today because they had not finished the book they selected before Winter Break. This program has been shown to have an immense impact on students' independent reading levels -- but only if they do the reading!  ;-)

Homework:
- Read 20 minutes -- independent reading (Lexile level book)
- MyMath: Chapter 6, Lesson 8 (If necessary, FINISH Independent Practice)
- Read: "The Life of the Barn Owl". Underline important facts.
- Science: Read p. 40-42 + questions
- Complete any unfinished work from Monday

Happy New Year!

Welcome Back, Room 36 Families! And Happy New Year!

I was so happy that so many of the students completed the OPTIONAL Winter Break Packet! This made it much easier to jump back into our work today. Each student who brought in the completed packet(s) was able to choose a prize from the Treasure Box today. (Several students said that they had left theirs at home, so I am allowing them to turn it in by Wednesday morning for a prize.)

I am planning to take the students to the computer lab tomorrow so that they can take their first Reading Counts (independent reading) quiz.  Most students said that they were able to finish their Lexile level book over the vacation. If your child was not able to, please try to help them get this done as soon as possible.

We will also be logging on to Reflex Math.  If possible, please encourage students to log on at home at least once a week, and work to a green light.  The students who did not go to 4th Grade Chorus this afternoon played Multiplication BINGO, and a surprising number of them were relying heavily on their "cheat sheet" multiplication charts.

The Top "10" Class Dojo Party for December will be on Wednesday (1/11) during lunch. (Please see my last post from December for a list of students.)

You may notice that your students are working pretty hard this week. Winter Break usually marks a period of growth and maturation for students, and they come back to school in January ready to do more.  I have MUCH more for them.  ;-)  

A quick reminder about my homework policy: 

1) Homework is assigned every day, Monday-Thursday.

2) All homework for the week is due by Friday.

4) Homework is a separate grade on your child's report card -- It counts.

3) *NEW* Students who have not turned in their homework by Friday will be benched Friday during Recess.

Homework:

- Independent reading for 20 minutes (No reading log -- they will be tested on their independent reading every two weeks.)

- MyMath: Chapter 6, Lesson 7 (p. 371-372) Finish: Independent Practice (p. 369-370) if necessary.

- Science: Read pages 30-34 from science book. Answer questions on page 35.

- Finish: Winter Break writing (rough draft) if necessary. We will be typing this tomorrow.