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Middle School Updates

2008-10-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! How are you? I'm doing great. Still working at BrainPOP and having lots of fun. Do any of your middle school teachers use BrainPOP? Eli says hello (well, not really, but I know that's what he means when he makes his funny little sounds!), and is going to be 1 in a few weeks! I can hardly believe it!

Please share updates about how you are doing in middle school! What are your favorite classes? How many hours of homework do you have? What are your teachers like? What books are you reading? Tell us!

Miss you guys heaps**

**Allisyn

Graduation

2008-06-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I am SO proud of you! It was really amazing to see you graduate. Eli was very impressed. I'm sorry I didn't get to see all of you and give you big hugs and say hello to your families afterwards. Eli really, really needed a nap and got kind of cranky. You know how it is. But I would love to keep our blog going so we can always find each other and see what everyone is up to.

Hayat and Serina, thanks for the great blog comments! Keep writing:)

Have a super fabulous, fun-filled summer before... MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Love you guys!

**Allisyn

newest member of our class!

2008-01-09T18:56:00.001-08:00

SO good to see you guys yesterday! Even though Eli slept through it, he loved being around each and every one of you. I miss you terribly and am so impressed with how grown up you look. But I really love that you are still goofy and loving and fun. You are the best class EVER!

4th grade rockstars

2007-06-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today, we got to enjoy an assembly performed by Lloyd of the Deedle Deedle Dees, who writes amazing songs about American History. Afterwards, he came up to our classroom to work on writing a song with us abouhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gift spies from the American Revolution.

Check out our work in progress!

Also, be sure to check out The Deedle Deedle Dees website, where you can buy a cd and learn more about them!

Thanks, Lloyd.

update

2007-04-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

*Hey everyone! It's hard to believe we're almost into May already. I wanted to give you an update on what we're studying these days and what's to come!

In math, we just finished up a unit on DECIMALS. For the next month or so, we'll be getting into FRACTIONS -- a very fun concept to investigate! Please be sure to ask your child about what they've been doing in class.

We are working on Social Issues in book clubs. Students brainstormed a list of issues that affect 4th graders, and selected their top choices to read about and discuss in book clubs. We've got book clubs reading articles on bullies, parent problems, sibling problems, environmental issues... It's a fantastic unit! After we finish up, we'll be moving into Historical Fiction. This ties in perfectly with...

Social Studies! Our last two big SS units are Colonial Times and The American Revolution. We have many field trips planned in May that will help bring these topics to life. Please keep an eye out for the permission slips. We will also have a "Living Museum" that you'll be invited to in June so students can share their research with you. Hope you can join us!

The kids are dying to get back into cursive, so they will be adept at upper and lowercase letters by fifth grade! We have been publishing fabulous poems for the POETRY unit that we're in. This year, we're studying more sophisticated poetry techniques, like alliteration, metaphors, and similes. We have a very gifted group of writers!

That's it for now. We'll try to post some student work in the next few weeks. Enjoy this great weather!

**Allisyn + class

poetry

2007-03-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

*Please enjoy these poems our class has been studying and performing! Feel free to share any of your favorites with us too.

Clickbeetle

Clickbeetle
Clackbeetle
Snapjack black beetle
Glint glitter glare beetle
Pin it in your hair beetle
Tack it to your shawl beetle
Wear it at the ball beetle
Shine shimmer spark beetle
--Glisten in the dark beetle
Listen to it crack beetle
Click beetle
Clack beetle

Mary Ann Hoberman

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with Snow

by Langston Hughes

**SNEAK PEEK -- next week's poem!*
Where Do You Get the Idea for a Poem?

Where Do You Get the Idea for a Poem?
Pippety
Poppety
Peep.
Does it shake you awake?
Do you dream it asleep?
Deep into your tiny head does it creep
And pop from your pen when you are not aware
Or leap from your pocket
Or fall from your hair
Or is it just silently
Suddenly
There?
In a beat
In a breath
In a pause
In a cry
One unblinking eye
That stares from the dark
That is deep in your head
Demanding attention
Until it is written
Until it is rotten
Until it is anything else but forgotten
Until it is read.

--Karla Kuskin

whogoslavia?

2007-03-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Talk about explorers! Our very own India is travelling to the Balkans. Please visit & comment on her family's blog as she documents her adventures and shares them with us.

www.whogoslavia.blogspot.com

Science Test

2007-03-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought testing was over... 4th graders are preparing to take the 4th grade science test, coming soon in April. We don't know the exact dates yet, but will let you know ASAP. For now, take a look at the science practice tests and packets your child brings home and talk through it together.

For additional practice and other questions, visit the link below:

http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/sciei/science4.html

This will give you a good idea of what the test is all about!

**Allisyn

Women's History Month Research Project!

2007-03-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Women’s History Month
Research Project

Photo from www.enchantedlearning.com/history/women

Since March is Women’s History Month, I’d like you to do a little bit of research over the next few weeks on a woman of your choice. Choose someone who has made some sort of great contribution to our society, someone who you admire, and someone you DON’T know that much about, but are curious to learn more.

At the end of the month, you will present your research to the class. You may use visual aids and get creative to share what you’ve learned. Be sure to practice your presentation so you are well prepared to present. Here are some ideas and resources to get you started:

* PRESENTATION IDEAS *
• write a song
• make a poster
• write an essay
• write a poem
• make a movie
• make a slideshow (PowerPoint)
• make an animation
• create a play
• make trading cards
• collect artifacts (photos, drawings,...)

* RESOURCES *http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

www.brainpop.com

www.enchantedlearning.com/history/women

www.distinguishedwomen.com

www.google.com

*be sure to give credit to all of your resources.

DUE Friday, March 30th

Math Resources

2007-02-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Slabic our math coach has complied some websites about the NYS Math Tests for me to pass on to you!

Your child should only do a few of their vacation homework problems a day and should mark any questions they find extra tricky.

*3-5 Testing Information*

New York State Pre and Post March Standards – Your children will NOT be tested on everything that is supposed to be taught in their particular grade. Because the tests are given in MARCH, there are many topics that will be covered afterwards, and thus will not be addressed on the test. This website shows you what standards are Pre- and Post-March.

Third Grade :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/gr3prepost.htm
Fourth Grade :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/gr4prepost.htm
Fifth Grade :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/gr5prepost.htm

2006 Exams - The following link is to the website that hosts downloads for each grade's 2006 exam. This is the actual exam that was administered last year and is a good indicator of what this year's test will be like. This is the practice test we are using in class.
http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/mathei/06exams/home.htm

2005 Sample Test - This is a SAMPLE test to look at with your child. There is also a scoring guide which tells you how your child's answers will be graded.
http://emsc32.nysed.gov/3-8/math-sample/home.htm

Archived Tests - Here are more examples of previous years' tests. If you download these tests for practice - be VERY careful. These tests were given in MAY of the schoolyear and contain many of the POST-MARCH standards that I mentioned earlier. Not every question on the archived tests will be covered on this year's test!
http://emsc32.nysed.gov/osa/arcelinmat.html

Math Games For Practice

NCTM Illuminations
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx
This website has many terrific games for all Pre-K through 12 Grade families. Just check the grade level you would like to work with, and scroll down to find the type of game is appropriate for your child. 3-5 Families - check out the Factor and Product Games!

National Library of Visual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
This is another website that allows you to choose grade level - then find a particular activity that addresses a standard. This is a great website Pre-K through 12th Grade!

Funbrain.com
http://www.funbrain.com
This website has a lot of fun "arcade" style games that give kids a chance to choose their grade level then complete many fun math problems.

NY Metro Parents Article on the 4th Grade Math Test
http://www.nymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=8311

Black History Month

2007-02-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

Today we had a special guest in honor of Black History Month named Mr. Steve Harris. He is a freelancer. Mr. Harris showed us some of the comics he made and he also showed us how to draw people flying and walking. When Mr. Harris came, we asked questions about what he drew and who he drew.

-Lydia

Phantom of the Opera

2007-01-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

Wow. That was an unforgettable field trip! Share your thoughts with us! Highlights? Favorite characters? Best songs?

Test Talk

2007-01-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

How do you feel about taking tests? What kind of
experiences have you had?

For kids in 4-424, what did you think of the ELA test today?

Peking

2006-12-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

*Some highlights from our Explorers field trip to the South Street Seaport's ship, The Peking. What were your highlights from the trip? Please share!

F L Y

2006-12-19T12:38:00.000-08:00

*Yesterday, we had a very cool artist visit us as a special guest. Her name is Fly, and she creates amazing story portraits of people, zines (mini-magazines), and super cool comic books! We LOVED visiting with her. She showed us a lot of her work, which was really inspirational, and then taught us how to make our own zines. Check us out with Fly!

What did you think of Fly's visit? How did her artwork inspire you? Please post your comments.

testing info

2006-12-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

*We've officially started preparing for our fast-approaching ELA test coming up in January. I wanted to pass along these tips. Not to make too big a deal of it, but these are simple tips that 4th graders are expected to do in ALL of their work, and can make a difference for a HIGHER SCORE on the test, believe it or not!

ELA TIPS:

*Practice writing in answers (short answers, graphic organizers)

*Practice essays and essay structure (turn question into thesis statement, 3 pieces of evidence, introduction, conclusion - restate thesis statement)

*HANDWRITING MATTERS! Practice using the lines and ALWAYS using legible handwriting

*INDENTING PARAGRAPHS matters! Students may also skip lines, in addition to indenting, for each new paragraph. 4th graders at this point are EXPECTED to organize their writing into paragraphs! We work on this at school A LOT!

*Spell words that are given in the text/questions CORRECTLY!

*Length matters -- try to write long, reminding kids that REPETITION IS BETTER THAN RAMBLING (without overdoing it!)

*Practice reading many SHORT passages, and keeping kids to a time frame. Build stamina by building up the number of short passages over weeks. Remember there are 5 passage on the 4th grade test! There were only 4 last year.

We are working on ALL of these in school, but our kids are asked to do more than they needed to on the 3rd grade test, so please help by using the tips above to reinforce these at home. Your participation really matters & helps tremendously.

Check out the *LINKS* section of our blog for more testing info and practice resources. Thanks in advance for your support. Let me know if you have any questions**

**Allisyn

New SS Project -- supplies needed!

2006-11-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Families!
In case some of you do not know, I am Mellisha Culpepper, the student
teacher in Allisyn's class this semester. As you all know we have been researching Native Americans for the past few months! As part of my own school project, I have been working with the students to investigate and discover the amazing Iroquois Culture. We have
been researching many characteristics of what their lives were like 500
years ago here in the Northeast.

Our goal is to create a 3D model that replicates what an Iroquois Village may have looked like. After researching, reading,
brainstorming, and visiting Waterloo, we are finally ready to start
working on the 3D model!

We need your support in contributing art materials to our class. The
students organized a list of items they would like to use to construct this wonderful work of art. Many of these items can be found outside in nature, while others may be somewhere around your home. Anything you can contribute would be greatly appreciated:

Materials Needed:

small rocks
tiny rocks
dirt
clay ( earth tones)
popsicle sticks
yarn
beads
buttons
shells
leaves
toothpicks
paint
string
sticks/twigs (we need lots of these)
tissue paper
cardboard
brown paper bags
empty toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls
grass
moss

Thanks again!

Mellisha (and Allisyn)

Waterloo

2006-11-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

Check out photos from our amazing field trip. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Highlights from Waterloo? Please share!

children OR adults?

2006-10-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

*To continue a great discussion we had after reading a chapter in Charlotte's Web today, please respond to this quote:

"Children pay more attention than adults do."

Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Please don't forget to proofread & sign your name**

**Allisyn

Homework, Waterloo, + Curtains

2006-10-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

*Hello, everyone! I will be trying a new approach to homework this week. Basically, the idea is less homework, which should yield higher quality work. I know many of our kids aren't getting home until late, and people are questioning whether to pull kids out of after school programs. My feeling is, the kids are in school all day, and I hope for them to have at least a small break from school! Homework is an important element in building strong study habits, learning how to manage time, and reinforcing school work, however, when it is rushed, I don't believe it's really helping much at all. Let's see how this week goes! Please remind your child that because they are not getting homework in every subject each night this week, I expect to see BEST EFFORT put into every assignment. Thanks!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has been so incredibly generous in helping us achieve our goal of raising enough money to go to Waterloo. We did it! The kids are really excited. I want to especially thank Maureen and the parent volunteers who have been meeting and organizing our fund raising events. Thank you Scott! We are organizing a meeting about our field trip to Waterloo for all 4th graders & parents this THURSDAY, October 26, at 8:30 am. Please mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more info. Check out Waterloo Village to learn more!

Finally, I bought some fun fabric to make curtains with. Anyone interested in helping us turn a sheet into curtains? Please let me know. Thanks a bunch**

**Allisyn

Thoughts on Columbus

2006-10-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

We started a conversation in class that Allie brought up: Why do we celebrate Columbus Day? We have been learning about many different points of view on Christopher Columbus, which made us think more deeply about this question.

Thoughts? Please share! Be sure to sign your name and carefully proofread before you post. Thanks!

**Allisyn + class 424

Question of the Week

2006-10-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

If thoughts are invisible, how can we make them visible?

Please remember to carefully proofread your thoughts and take responsibility for your words by signing your name!

**Allisyn

Weekend Plans?

2006-10-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

*Jenny and Mo sent in a great recommendation for this weekend! There are some great tours, including in our neighbourhoods, a canoeing ecotour on the Gowanus Canal, and some sort of new green energy house on Pacific St.

Check it out at:
Open House NY Tours

Words of the Week

2006-10-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hello families! I wanted to clarify how this week's Words of the Week (WOW) should be working. After giving a math assessment last week, I saw that many students had trouble spelling the names of shapes. As fascinating as "ploygons" and "circels" sound, I figured that would be a good place for us to start!

Here are this week's 10 words:

triangle
quadrangle
pentagon
hexagon
heptagon *note: heptagon - a seven-sided polygon (not a "septagon!")
octagon
polygon
square
circle
rectangle
(diamond and rhombus are bonus words).

I expect all students to copy the words down CORRECTLY, and after checking last night's homework, I see that I will need your help to make sure students are not rushing through and learning the words incorrectly, as many kids did on their first attempts at this weeks' homework. PLEASE look over your child's WOW homework each night and check in to be sure they know how to spell the word and what it means.

I did a Dictionary lesson so kids are highly encouraged to use dictionaries at home regularly! They may borrow one from the class if needed.

TIPS FOR WOW:

*Encourage your child to look for the ROOT word, and examine how SUFFIXES and PREFIXES change the meaning of the root word.

*Turn WOW homework into a game. Family spelling bees, Hangman, Boggle, etc... are fun ways to practice.

*Your child has a two-sided sheet entitled "Examples of Word Study Homework" in their Take Home Folders. Please read through this, as this paper serves as a guide for their WOW homework each week. It gives very specific examples of the activity choices they have for each night, and exactly how I expect it to be organized and labeled. Please use this guide when checking homework! The words on the sheet are only examples (cat and now are not 4th grade spelling words!!!).

*Online dictionaries: www.dictionary.com, www.wordcentral.com, www.factmonster.com

Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks!

**Allisyn

Question of the Week

2006-10-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Why should we learn about Native Americans and the Hudson River?

Painting of the Hudson River Valley in New York in the Early 19th Century

Painting of Native Americans Fishing with Nets

Kakuro

2006-10-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't heard, our very own Mojique taught us a new math game on Friday during Parents as Learning Partners. It's called Kakuro, and it's kind of like a number crossword puzzle, similar to the very popular Sudoku. Mo's family passed along a few recommended websites if you are interested in learning how to play.

Indigo Puzzles

Kakuro-San

Homework: a class discussion

2006-09-27T19:31:00.001-07:00

"Add your two cents!" How is homework going for you? Any thoughts on time management? What has helped you this week?

Don't forget to take responsibility for what you
write! Sign you name:)

**Allisyn

Homework, Part II

2006-09-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

smart*ugh*wow*challenging*easy*sometimes hard*get it in on time!*medium*neat handwriting*effort*thinking*dumb*great

These are words your children used to describe homework from the homework survey that was sent home last week. For our range of learners, there are ranges of responses! Some students have a positive attitude towards homework, some negative, and others, indifferent.

Have a “grown up” conversation about how homework is going for your 4th grader. Take the time to firm up the following so that you can help your child get into an INDEPENDENT homework routine:

*Does he/she have a quiet place to do homework, with easy access to supplies (writing utensils, paper, ruler, dictionary, etc.)
*How long do they usually take to complete their homework? Is it a reasonable amount of time? If not, WHY?
*What could you both do to make homework go smoother? Make a list and write it out if you need to!

About Homework:
4th grade is an important year for children to become more independent students. One way the 4th grade teachers are working with students to practice and learn independence is through homework. Your children are in a time of transition with homework, moving away from receiving a packet that they complete over a week, and moving towards working on weekly assignments that they turn in once a week, and nightly assignments that they need to turn in the following school day.

I purposefully create certain assignments, which are open-ended, allowing for every student to demonstrate what their best effort looks like, even though it might not look the same as another students. Please emphasize that no matter what academic level your child is performing at, his/her best effort is expected on every assignment, whether it is a one-page homework assignment or a 3-page research project! My “Best Effort Expectations” have been made very clear in class, and include:

o Evidence of time management (doesn’t look rushed – you can tell that a reasonable amount of time was put into it)
o Legible handwriting
o Correct spelling of any words you have access to (title, author, word wall words)
o Correct punctuation
o Treat materials (notebooks, paper, etc...) properly and TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR WORK!

One hour to an hour and a half is what we deem to be a reasonable amount of time for 9 – 10 year olds in 4th grade to spend on school homework.

When you factor in after school activities, parent schedules, dinner, and hopefully the occasional shower or bath (!), we feel that one hour, give or take a bit, will help your child develop the strong study, organization, and time management skills they need to succeed as they progress through school, while allowing for time to play and just be a kid! Three hours of homework in 4th grade seems absurd – that might be the case in high school, but certainly not now! If students ever get stuck on a problem or assignment, and have put in their best effort, they know to circle the problem and move on, and to be sure to bring it in the following day to go over with me. We don’t want students doing that on tests, so let’s help them develop the habit of “moving on and coming back to it.”

We'll be talking about time management A LOT in class this week, and I've broken down some approximate times allotted for each subject area each night. Every kid is different and has different needs -- this is just a basic guide for what we feel is reasonable, taking into account after school activities, etc. The hour (give or take) can be broken up in whatever way works best for your family/4th grader.

Reading: 20 min./night, 7x/week

Writing: 10 min./night, 4 – 5x/week

Math: 10 – 15 min./night, 4-5x/week

Social Studies: 10 min./night as assigned

Words of the Week: 5 min./night, 4x/week

Business: 2-3 minutes as needed.
*PLEASE review and sign papers that need to be returned by the deadlines.

Tips:
*Start off the homework routine by checking in with your child to find out exactly what their homework is. They record their homework in a black & white composition book each day in class. If needed, ask them what a reasonable amount of time is to complete each task, and have them jot it down. For students who need extra time management support, break the assignments down into one thing at a time, and check in with them after 20 minutes of reading, and remind them to take 5 minutes to complete their reading log. Setting a timer is another way to foster independence.

*There’s nothing wrong with taking breaks! If a solid hour feels overwhelming to your child, then help them make a plan to work for 15 minutes on math, take a dinner break, work on writing, etc...

*Incorporate some homework into transitional times, like going to school. This is a great time to check in with your child’s automaticity of math facts or Words of the Week. Turn it into a game!

*Talk with other families and ask how the homework routine works in their home. Share ideas!

*If your child is breezing through homework assignments, encourage him/her to go above and beyond.
Suggest they take it to a higher level, which demonstrates a deep understanding of the assignment and above and beyond effort.

*If your child struggles with handwriting, let homework be a place that they concentrate on improving legibility. Homework that is handed in illegibly will not be graded or posted.

Making a promising homework plan with your child will be the foundation of your child’s homework routine for the rest of the year. Now is the time to establish a successful year of homework for your child!

Finally! Downloads Available!

2006-09-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out a place to store class files. Bookmark this link & feel free to download as needed:

http://www.geocities.com/allisynl/

**Allisyn

We're on the News!

2006-09-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Local cable news channel New York 1 News did a really fun
piece on the museum and the kids look great!!! Check it out!!
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=62810 (If you clickhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
on the blue/yellow logo you can watch the piece with Real Player. Real
Player can be downloaded for free at www.real.com).

-Trey Moynihan (Zora's mom who works for the museum & arranged this special field trip for us!)

Our Time Away From School

2006-09-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

September 21, 2006

When we got to the Museum of American Indians in the
Smithsonian Museum, we saw a performance of a hoop
dance. The dancing was creative. The dancers were
children like us and wore interesting clothes. We saw
2 kinds of dances – one was a hoop dance and the
second was an Eagle dance. Before we saw the Eagle
dance they said the Bald Eagle was the American
national bird. After the dancing, we saw and talked
about the clothing from different cultures, and what
they used, including beetle wings from the Amazon.

-Cole, Mo, Erica, India, Kameron, & Allie

Field Trip!

2006-09-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

This Thursday, September 21, is our first field trip of the year. We're headed to the museum of American Indians to launch our first Social Studies unit on Native Americans. Please check out their website for more info: www.americanindian.si.edu

We will leave promptly at 8:45am and return by lunchtime. No need to pack a special lunch.

**Allisyn

First 2 Weeks of School

2006-09-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Instead of the usual, introducing ourselves & sharing something we did over the summer, we did things a bit differently this year. Students picked a partner to interview. They had to ask one another a series of questions, and added on some of their own. Listening carefully and jotting down notes helped prepare for introducing one another's partners to the entire class.

Another activity we did involved me sticking a colored dot on each student's head! They had to figure out what color their dot was, find other classmates with the same colored dot, and find the table that matched their dot, all WITHOUT TALKING! We have very impressive problem solvers.

In math, we've been working on different ways to arrange cubes into groups to efficiently show 100. This helps build strong number sense. It also involves using Snap Cubes to show your thinking, which is way cool!

After planning, recording, and sharing our work, students worked with a partner to create something using 100 Snap Cubes. Their creations were so amazing, we decided to create a museum. Here is a sneak peek, but you'll have to come to Curriculum Night for the limited-run exhibit!

We've been working hard on getting back into the swing of writing. In 4th grade, it's no big deal to write a whole page in 1 sitting! We timed ourselves and realized we can write even more than that. Right now, we're working on Personal Narratives -- true stories about tiny moments in our lives. 4th graders write with focus and detail. We "SHOW, not tell." Showing means stretching your story out with details, including setting, dialogue, action, feelings, internal thinking, etc... Telling is more of a distanced commentary, listing what happened first, next, next, etc... For more information on writing, check out the Homework Tips section!

Once some new technology equipment arrives from a grant I received, the students will be taking over much more of the blog. We will be a technologically decked-out classroom! I think the blog will be a really powerful tool for teaching kids to take responsibility for their work, and for providing us with a broader audience to share our work with. Hopefully, we'll get lots of feedback so the kids can see how much their work matters and can impact others. In other words, please give us lots of feedback and spread the word on our class blog once it gets going! Thanks. For now, I leave you with these happy campers and look forward to seeing you tomorrow for Curriculum Night, from 6:00 - 8:00pm!

**Allisyn

424 Schedule

2006-09-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

Mondays -> Computers w/Chris 11:15 - 12:05

Tuesdays --> Science w/Carmello 9:25 - 10:15

*Wednesdays --> Dance w/Karyn 10:20 - 11:10

*Thursdays --> Gym w/Donald 10:20 - 11:10

Fridays --> Art w/Stephanie

*Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
for Dance & Gym (sneakers!).

Welcome!

2006-09-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hello! Welcome to our class blog. This is a website you can visit to communicate with our class, find out what we've been up to, and even participate in some special projects. You will also be able to download school documents you might need at home.

Homework Tips

2006-09-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

Fourth grade is all about choices. I want to create opportunities for students to make decisions for themselves, both as a means to customize their learning and to foster responsibility. I am trying out a different homework format this year that allows for students to take more ownership of their learning, and challenges each student to work to his/her potential. We will talk more thoroughly about homework at Curriculum Night, and I will update the blog with tips as needed.

Homework Basics for 424:
Homework should not be a nightmare! 1 hour of homework each night seems like a reasonable amount for 4th grade. 2 hours or more does not! Please always encourage your child to write me a note and move on if they are stuck on something that they put their best effort into trying and you aren't sure how to help them. I expect that they will see me the next day about it so we can go over it, and not wait until the end of the week when homework is due to ask for help. It is your child's responsibility to make sure he/she has all of the materials needed to complete assignments. If materials are needed, please ask! I will provide students with everything they need, as long as they ask.

Reading:
Each night your child is expected to read for at least 20 minutes (this can be silent reading or have your child read aloud to someone). They are also expected to fill out a nightly reading log. The reading log will be handed in each day this week to help develop this routine. Once this routine is established, reading logs will be due on Fridays.

Writing:
Monday night students will decorate their Writer’s Notebook and bring it into school on Tuesday. Other writing homework this week will be making jots in their Writer’s Notebook. Writing Notebooks travel to and from school each night there is writing homework.
4th graders should be developing the ability to hone their writing skills to focus in on a small moment. We are working on "showing, not telling." It is very common to see students write stories that tell action after action, and lack other elements of writing such as dialogue, setting, internal thinking, etc. We will be starting off in our Writers Notebooks by discussing the difference between a "seed idea," (a small moment), and bigger ideas. Please use the following chart as an example, which we'll be discussing in class, to help your child choose small, seed moments to gather and write about at home:

Generic Big Idea Seed
Important People My Grandma The time my Grandma Julia taught me how to cook cream of wheat

We are spending a lot of time discussing how to REVISE your writing to ensure it includes a balance of elements that SHOW, not tell your story.
An example of telling and not zooming in on the seed/small moment:
My New Bike
One morning I woke up and got dressed. I was so excited I was getting a new bike today. I brushed my teeth and waited around for Jason to wake up. Finally we left to go to the bike shop. I looked around and picked out a red bike. I rode it around the street. It felt good. I bought it!

An example of SHOWING and ZOOMING IN on a small moment (this is what we're going for!):
Super Schwinn Deluxe
I knew it the moment I laid my eyes on it. It was perfect. Maroon with black handlebars. Cool lettering. Just the right size. I gulped and looked over at Jason. "This is it," I whispered. I had found my new bike.
"Would you like to take it for a spin?" the shop owner asked me. I nodded as he wheeled it out the front doors of the dusty shop on Union Street. The sun was strong and I had to adjust my eyes. The bike looked even better outside! I carefully got on and looked both ways. I was a tiny bit nervous about riding in the street. I gripped the handlebars tightly and pushed off.

Math:
This is our first Math Challenge of the Week – your child will have a couple of problems to choose from and do at home. They must do the problem, show and write how they did it with words and a drawing (or graph, etc.), and write a reflection. This is due on Thursday. I attached a Grading Rubric with the homework. This Rubric is to show how the math homework will be graded. You should keep this at home, as it will be helpful to use throughout the year. I will be filling them out in class each week so keep an eye out after they are returned to your child.

To help your child get used to a weekly Math assignment, he or she can follow a weekly Math Challenge Schedule:

Monday: Review the problems. Pick one problem you would like to do, think about what supplies you will need, and bring any questions you have about the problem to share with Maureen and the class on Tuesday.

Tuesday: Start working on the problem

Wednesday: Continue working and revise your work

Thursday: Hand in your work

Math Facts: Your child should practice math facts every night. They should know their times tables up to 10 automatically at this point (as well as they know how to spell their names!). I am counting on you to help your child master these basic facts, as I must cover fourth grade math curriculum, which assumes that students' basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts are solid and automatic. Just from observing some math games in our classroom from the first week, I can see that many students have lost a bit of their basics over the summer. I will do my best to give them a boost at school, but I expect you will commit to working on these at home EVERY NIGHT! I don't suggest spending more thant 10 - 15 minutes (less if your child has got it down!) each night. It's the consistency of practicing that will ensure improvement, not cramming it all into one night! If you child already knows their tables up to 10 – then move them up to the 12’s or focus on division – or see me for other math supplemental homework ideas. Instead of sending home worksheets, I encourage you and your child to choose the best way to practice and review for your child. If flashcards work well, use flashcards. If there are websites your child enjoys using, that's fine too. Turn practice into a game whenever possible. I highly encourage you to mix up practice strategies so no one gets burned out. I am happy to send home any materials needed to create practice materials (i.e., index cards to make flashcards), just let me know. If you need help with establishing a way to review math facts at home come see me.

Social Studies:
We have our first Social Studies project homework this week. It is to generate excitement about the topics we will study this year, and to get an assessment on what the children already know and wish to learn about. It is designed to be an open-ended and fun project. There are many choices here for your child to choose from. If there is any confusion about the assignment bring your questions in. I also have construction paper, books on our topics and other supplies if you need them.

To help your child get used to a weekly assignment, he or she can follow this weekly Social Studies Project Schedule:

Monday: Review the project. Pick one topic, question, and project you would like to do. Think about what supplies you will need, and bring any questions you have about the project to share with Allisyn and the class on Tuesday.

Tuesday: Start working on your project

Wednesday: Continue working on your project

Thursday: Revise and Edit your work

Friday: Hand in your work

Word Work:
Each week I will send home a few words to learn. These will be a mix of high frequency spelling words, vocabulary words, and spelling patterns we are studying. We will have a short spelling quiz each Friday. Your child should study these words for a few minutes each night.

Hope this is helpful! As always, please contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments**

**Allisyn
allisynl@yahoo.com

allisyn wonderland

blog

Middle School Updates

*Graduation*

*newest member of our class!*

*4th grade rockstars*

*update*

*poetry*

*whogoslavia?*

*Science Test*

*Women's History Month Research Project!*

*Math Resources*

*Black History Month*

*Phantom of the Opera*

*Test Talk*

*Peking*

*F L Y*

*testing info*

*New SS Project -- supplies needed!*

*Waterloo*

*children OR adults?*

*Homework, Waterloo, + Curtains*

*Thoughts on Columbus*

*Question of the Week*

*Weekend Plans?*

*Words of the Week*

*Question of the Week*

*Kakuro*

*Homework: a class discussion*

*Homework, Part II*

*Finally! Downloads Available!*

*We're on the News!*

*Our Time Away From School*

*Field Trip!*

*First 2 Weeks of School*

*424 Schedule*

*Welcome!*

*Homework Tips*

Graduation

newest member of our class!

4th grade rockstars

update

poetry

whogoslavia?

Science Test

Women's History Month Research Project!

Math Resources

Black History Month

Phantom of the Opera

Test Talk

Peking

F L Y

testing info

New SS Project -- supplies needed!

Waterloo

children OR adults?

Homework, Waterloo, + Curtains

Thoughts on Columbus

Question of the Week

Weekend Plans?

Words of the Week

Question of the Week

Kakuro

Homework: a class discussion

Homework, Part II

Finally! Downloads Available!

We're on the News!

Our Time Away From School

Field Trip!

First 2 Weeks of School

424 Schedule

Welcome!

Homework Tips