ANIMOTO celebration tomorrow!

We are confirmed with Cheryl @ 9 am in the library. You can arrive early if you like.
Thanks!

Coney Island Aquarium- next Mon.

We will be taking a trip to the Aquarium at Coney Island, next Monday. Permission slips will go home tomorrow...

Happy Birthday Njeri!

Njeri's birthday wish is "no homework" this weekend. Enjoy.

Today was bitter sweet. We said goodbye to our amazing teacher and friend, Sarah, and we also performed our great kente play! We look forward to sharing our play with others in the next couple of weeks. Details coming soon!
Special thanks to Dante and Lily for the cupcakes!They were a delicious treat.

xoL

Tomorrow is our amazing student teacher's last day!! We will miss Sarah soooooooo much!

Tonight's homework:
- write about your society
- read through the kente script and practice your parts! also, make sure you know what's happening and when so that our rehearsal will go smoothly
- costumes! for the play...

see you tomorrow! xo Lauren

Happy Birthday Martin

Martin's birthday wish was "no homework" so enjoy the long weekend!

Eric's Latest Animoto Project!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Save the Date!- Postponed

Unfortunately, we need to reschedule this event due to a time conflict. We are looking at Thursday June 16th, 8:30 a.m. instead. We will finalize tomorrow. Thanks!

We will be having our "Animoto" premiere/celebration in the library on Tuesday June 14th at 8:30 a.m. Hope you can make it!

Homework for Wednesday and Thursday- Due Friday

It was great to see families at SING this morning! Tomorrow, the 4th/5th grade teachers have a planning day for social studies. This means there will be a sub with the class for the day. Homework will be due on Friday. *Remember Friday is 1/2 day with 11:30 dismissal.

* Reading:
1- read at least 40 minutes each night.
2- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
3- write long about something that grabs your attention in the book. write @ least 4 sentences with your thinking S T R E T C H E D out in detail.
4- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, and spelling

* Writing entry:
- work on your independent project or collect an entry.
- parts of speech handout + handwriting practice

*Math: handout

*Social Studies:
read the Sojourner Truth handout + fill in the "Thinking Like a Historian" graphic organizer that we used in class- at least 2 of the boxes!

4th Grade Science Test Update

The written test remains on Monday June 9.

The performance test will be NEXT WEEK, ON WED AND THU.- June 1 and June 2

World Science Festival!

Here is a great link from Jonah's mom, Joanne:

http://worldsciencefestival.com/videos/world_science_festival_youth_and_family_highlight_reel

Google Art!

Check it out!

http://www.googleartproject.com/

Materials for Quilting Needed

 

One of the things we have been working on in social studies is looking at the role of art, specifically textile, in the lives of enslaved African Americans. We began by looking at West African kente cloth and have been working on a class project inspired by this study. More recently as we have learned more about enslaved people's lives, we have looked at a variety of books to give us a better understanding. Show Way and the Quilts of Gee's Bend are two books that we keep returning to. The quilts are so amazingly beautiful and engaging that we all have been inspired. Here is a link for more information: http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/

We have thought about creating a class quilt that will tell a story and be a part of our class kente project. In order to do this we need to collect materials. The quiltmakers of Gee's Bend used what they had- old clothing, fabric, etc. If you have any old or unused materials you could donate, we would greatly appreciate it. The more fabric pieces we have, the more of a "class" quilt it will truly be!

   
 

HOMEWORK for Monday and Tuesday

* Reading:
1- read at least 40 minutes each night.
2- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
3- write long about something that grabs your attention in the book. write @ least 4 sentences with your thinking S T R E T C H E D out in detail.
4- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, and spelling

* Writing entry:
work on your independent project or collect an entry.

*Social Studies:
read the handout that we started in class and fill out the handout with your thinking responses.

*Math:
finish the handout from today on floor tiles.

weekend homework

* Reading entry:
1- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
2- write long about something that grabs your attention in the book. write @ least 8 sentences with your thinking S T R E T C H E D out in detail. you can also do 2 entries that are 4 sentences each.
3- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, and spelling

* Writing entry:
work on your independent project or collect an entry. if you didn't give me your project proposal today you must finish it over the weekend and hand it to me on monday.


*Scholastic News + handout


*Math:
make sure you have finished your design of structures and buildings for your society with all arrays labelled. you can begin cutting out the arrays.

homework

* Reading entry:
1- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
2- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, spelling, book title, date


*Math packet + finish your design of structures and buildings for your society. Be sure to label the arrays.

homework

* Reading entry:
1- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
2- write long about something that grabs your attention in the book. write @ least 4 sentences with your thinking S T R E T C H E D out in detail
3- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, and spelling

* Writing entry:
make a list of writing project ideas + collect an entry 


*Math: packet

Homework

* Reading entry:
1- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
2- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, spelling, book title, date
IF YOU DID NOT write long about something last night, you must tonight. write @ least 4 sentences with your thinking S T R E T C H E D out in detail. Of course, you are welcome to do this even if you already did it last night!

* Writing entry:
collect an entry

*social studies:
1- take notes on the handout "wow! I didn't know..." while reading your article (frederick douglas or the underground railroad)
2- pay attention to important and sophisticated vocabulary words and fill in the vocabulary handout

HOMEWORK

* Reading entry:
1- do at least 2 jots using the thinking prompts handout in your reading notebook from the beginning of the year
2- write long about something that grabs your attention in the book. write @ least 4 sentences with your thinking S T R E T C H E D out in detail
3- go back to check for clarity, neatness, punctuation, and spelling

* Writing entry:
collect an entry about what you shared in class + look over the notebook checklist

*social studies:
gather information about harriet tubman and/or the underground railroad- you can do this in a book, internet, or INTERVIEW an older sibling or adult about what they know

Back after a little hiatus

We can all breathe a deep sigh of relief that the ELA and math testing is over! 4th graders do still have the science test next month, June 6. They are doing science test prep with Emily 2x/week, in addition to our regularly scheduled science block. Here are a few dates of upcoming events, with more to follow I'm sure...
MAY
* tuesday may 24- lauren will be at the teaching historians workshop
* wednesday may 25- SING @ 8:45 am
* friday may 27- 1/2 day for students
* monday may 31- memorial day, no school

JUNE
* friday june 3- last day with our amazing student teacher sarah :(
* monday june 6- 4th graders take the science written test
* tuesday june 7- 1/2 day for students
* wednesday june 8 - FIELD DAY
* thursday june 9- no school for students
* monday june 13- 1/2 day for students
* wednesday june 22- graduation @ 1:30 with party to follow
* tuesday june 28 - last day of school: SUMMER BREAK!

One more day of testing!

Today was Day 1 of the math test- multiple choice. Tomorrow is day 2- showing work and short answer. The kids have been doing a super job. We are almost there - hang in!!

kente project

today the kente group is working hard making kente cloths, they made "TONS" of them! the writing
group is adding more stuff, they added a dragon! of cores the prop group is making the dragon fire,ash,weapons and other props. and the blogger group/this group finally got to blog again and it fells awesome!

HAPPY WEEKEND

This weekend you have 3 math handouts to do. *Remember next Wednesday and Thursday are the math testing days. You did super this week. Next week will be great, too!

A Glimpse into Project Time

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

And last day of ELA testing!

Congratulations on finishing. Everyone did a great job!

Tonight's homework is to work on the 2 math handouts.

-L

We are almost there!

Tomorrow is the last day of the ELA test for 4th and 5th graders.
Get a good night's sleep tonight! See you in the morning...L

Testing

Hi Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

Your kids have been doing a great job getting ready for this week's English Language Arts tests and successfully finished today. To help them be prepared to do their best on the tests make sure they go to bed early, eat a healthy breakfast in the morning, and arrive at school by 8:25. This morning everyone did a great job!

Here's a preview of what the test looks like:

Tuesday: Students read 5-7 passages and answered multiple choice questions.
Wednesday (tomorrow): Students will listen to a passage and answer several multiple choice and short answer questions. They will also answer 3-5 multiple choice questions about editing.
Thursday: Students will read 2 passages, answer 2-3 short answer questions, and write a comparative essay.

Looking ahead, next week is the math test:

Wednesday: Muliple choice questions
Thursday: Short and Extended response questions where kids show their strategies and then write about them

Looking even farther ahead, the 4th grade science test will come in two parts. The performance test will be scheduled between May 31st and June 3rd, and the written test will be on June 6th. Fourth graders will start test prep with Emily on Friday.

Keep up the great work!

Best,
Lauren

YOU DID WONDERFULLY TODAY!

Today was Day 1 of the ELA test. Congrats! Tomorrow is Day 2: Listening, Short Response and Editing. Tonight you can review if you like, but YOU MAY NOT stress out. NOT ALLOWED! You have worked very hard.

For homework, you should review your "Koala" short answers and make them better if you can. This should take about 10 minutes.

Next, you have your Editing packet to work on for 10 minutes.

And a math review handout on fractions and factors. If something doesn't make sense be sure to circle or * it so we can go over it tomorrow. Spend 10 minutes and see how far you get.


GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP! EAT BREAKFAST. You can bring sugar-free gum, if you like.
See you in the morning... L

kente project

Today the kente cloth team is making a cool kente cloth. It is sooooooo cool. it is painted blue and splattered all over with fabric paint! creative... too creative. The kente team is making their draft painting (real paint not fabric paint)

Tonight's homework:

- Read, look for a poem to read, fill out your reading log
- math handout: circle or * what is confusing and complete it your best

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP! EAT BREAKFAST. You can bring sugar-free gum, if you like. Tomorrow is Day 1 of the ELA test, multiple choice. You will all be brilliant!

Testing

ELA (English Language Arts):
this week- Tuesday May 3rd, Wednesday May 4th, and Thursday May 5th

Math:
next week- Wednesday May 11th and Thursday May 12th

No Homework!

Javian's birthday wish was no homework this weekend! Make sure you still read...Happy birthday Javian!

Yearbook/Graduation

From an earlier email sent by Susan (Rainer's mom):

Dear 4th / 5th Grade Families,


Just wanted to give you a Graduation / Yearbook update. The yearbook is coming along beautifully. The Yearbook Production Staff meet every Friday at 3 in the PTA room to work on collages from events and classrooms for the yearbook. Today, I sent home an envelope in backpack mail for all the 5th graders with a 1/2 page to create their personal 1/2 page contribution for the yearbook. They can use photos, writing, drawing, etc. to create a 1/2 page about themselves. Please return the 1/2 page in the envelope it went home in to the PTA room after Spring Break in the box marked "1/2 Pages for Yearbook".


This week the 5th graders voted on what color they would like their graduation caps to be. As soon as the total vote is in we will order the caps.


Soon, the parents organizing the graduation slideshow will send home a request for photos to be sent in for the slideshow.


Graduation will be held on Wed. June 22nd at 1:30 pm.


There will be a graduation meeting on the Friday after we get back from Spring Break after drop off on April 29th. Please come to this meeting if you would like to help out organizing the Graduation Ceremony, including music for the ceremony, decorations for the auditorium and the party after the ceremony which will be at Jules Bistro on St. Marks Place. 4th graders attend the party after the ceremony and 4th grade parents are asked to chaperone the party.


If you have photos that you would like to contribute to the Yearbook please upload them to the school's website. If you need help uploading them please come to the Yearbook meetings in the PTA room on a Friday and I can help you do this or I can copy them from a memory card or your camera.


If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions and are unable to make it to the meetings since they are in the am please email or call me.


Hope you have a great Spring Break,
thank you,
Susan (Rainer's mom in Stephanie's Class)
347.410.1841

Tonight's homework:

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Jot down your thinking ON POST-ITS and add it to your reading log.

WRITING: Editing packet pages 54, 55, 57, 59

ELA TEST PREP: "Koala" handout with short answers. Do this timed for 15 minutes.

SOCIAL STUDIES- due Friday: Scholastic News + handouts
*new handout: "what you read/ what it made you think or learn" about "debate" section on last page

Welcome Back!

Tonight's homework:

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Jot down your thinking and add it to your reading log.

WRITING: Write at least 2 sentences each for these homophones- 1. to 2. too 3. two 4. they're 5. their 6. there (a total of at least 12 sentences!)

MATH: 4th graders have a math packet

ELA TEST PREP: Revise your test using the rubric we went over together in class today

SOCIAL STUDIES- due Friday: Scholastic News + handouts

zombiekins: Animoto by Eric

zombiekins

This is a project we have been working on in class. Eric was so inspired he went home and has done some on his own. Here is one of them!

New Museum's Festival of Ideas for NYC- May 4-8

From Solar One:

Coming in May: The New Museum's Festival of Ideas for a New City

This spring, the New Museum is launching an experimental Conference and Streetfest called the Festival of Ideas for a New City, to be held on and around the Bowery on May 4-8, 2011. Hundreds of downtown organizations, including Solar One, will be participating and over 20,000 people are expected!

There are more exciting plans than I could possibly describe here, but you can check out the Festival website HERE. Solar One will be participating in a number of capacities: Creating garbage stations and graphics to help make the StreetFest on May 7 as sustainable as possible; presenting Volume III of our very popular NYC the Future Metropolis Series on Sunday May 8 from 5-7pm; running a solar-powered film tent, where we'll be screening short informational films about Solar One's programs; and, also on Sunday May 8, S1 Green Workforce Director Michael Johnson-Chase will be doing a presentation on the intersection of environmental and social justice as part of the Festival's Pecha Kucha marathon.

The StreetFest is free, while the Conference events are ticketed- again, you can get all the info at http://www.festivalofideasnyc.com/. We hope to see you all there!

Cool Book Resource

http://www.onemorestory.com/

This is a good digital reading resource. It is mostly lower level books right now, but should be adding more levels soon.

Earth Day Crafts & On-going Activities

These look like fun garden activities:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/craftapparent/2010/04/recycled-container-plant-pots.html?contactID=174426652&gwkey=HI7O59Z33A

Let us know if you try!

Earth Celebrations' 3rd Annual Hudson River Pageant

Earth Celebrations 3rd Annual Hudson River Pageant - 2011: An ecological art project engaging youth & community to restore the Hudson River's native species & habitats and addressing climate change in New York City.

Join us creating river species puppets and costumes for the Hudson River Pageant!

Hudson River Pageant Art & Ecology Workshops
March 2 -May 18 -- Free
In partnership with the Church Street School of Music & Art
Costume Workshops: Wednesday's, 6-9pm with artist - Soule Golden
Puppet Workshops: Saturday's, 12-4pm with artist - Lucrecia Novoa
@ Church Street School for Music and Art
74 Warren St. (btw West Broadway & Greenwich) in Tribeca.

Hudson River Pageant
Saturday May 21, 1-5 pm (Raindate: Sunday, May 22)
In the downtown section of the Hudson River Park
An ecological parade of spectacular costumes, giant puppets, and 13 site specific performances along the piers and significant sites, celebrating the history, current issues, and future restoration of the river.
Featuring: Oyster Planting, River Cleansing, Live Fish Release & Boat Dance

For more information, contact:
mail@earthcelebrations.com
www.earthcelebrations.com
212-777-7969

HAPPY BREAK

Homework over break:

READ, READ, READ!!!

- math test prep packet: correct your work and keep working on it

- ela (english language arts) test prep packets: correct your work

- new test prep packet: you should time yourself working for 1 hour (60 minutes) and then on a different day review your work for 30 minutes

have a wonderful break!

xo lauren

HOMEWORK

Tonight's homework:

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

WRITING: Edit your test work and your Writer's Notebook

MATH: Read through my comments in your math test prep packet and work on it.

ELA TEST PREP: look over your multiple choice answers and fix the ones that are incorrect. Remember to go back to the passage and find the answers.

MATH PACKETS missing

You were supposed to turn in your HUGE test prep math packet today. I did not receive packets from the following people:

4th grade- Niigaunii, Keith, Japhy, Cecelia

5th grade- Njeri, Anette, Sammy,
Siu Loong and Jonah (missing part of the packet)

YOU MUST GIVE IT TO ME TOMORROW MORNING first thing! I will be making comments so that you can work on it and finish over break. It is your responsibility to make sure that I have your packet.

NEW ROOM!

I visited P.S. 29 yesterday for a Literacy Study Group with Milo. It was really refreshing to see different classrooms and talk to others in our network. It inspired me to make some changes to our room! So, we spent some time this morning rearranging furniture and cleaning. Thank you to everyone for all of your help and patience today. It is starting to come together. The library book shelves got moved around and mixed up a bit so it would be great to have parents sort the books at Community Day. We want to make sure books are in the right bins so they are easy to find.

-L

HOMEWORK

Tonight's homework:

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your new reading log.

WRITING: Collect an entry + edit your work

MATH:
4th graders have a review packet.
5th graders need to make the following angles using a protractor:
65 degrees, 125 degrees, 40 degrees, 90 degrees, 160 degrees
*What do the angle measurements of a triangle add up to?
*What do the angle measurements of a quadrilateral add up to?

*5th graders have a test prep packet for ELA

Homework

SING IS TOMORROW MORNING @ 8:45...

Tonight's homework:

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your new reading log.

WRITING: Collect an entry

MATH: 2 handouts- Division & Estimation. Be sure to show your work clearly for the division problems. Estimate to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand.
Ex. 1,795 x 58 = (2000 x 60) = 120,000

SOCIAL STUDIES- due Wednesday:
- Scholastic News + handout
- Indy Kids + vocabulary handout

check this out:

great article...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/garden/31kids.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=juliescelfo

WEEKEND HOMEWORK

Hi Families!

Tomorrow I will be at Professional Development for a "Teaching American History" grant. Our wonderful student teacher, Sarah, will be here along with Nick. Below is the homework DUE MONDAY. Have a super weekend!

-L

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to connections and theories and jot them down!

WRITING: Write 2 news articles about your society

Test Prep: Cause and Effect handout You must have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. *Essay sandwich!

MATH: Data packet + King Tut handout

SOCIAL STUDIES: INDY KIDS newspaper + vocabulary handout
*(kids will get a new one tomorrow)

Tonight's Homework

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to connections and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your new reading log.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Energy handout for your society (we started this in class this morning). What type of energy will your society use? What things does your society need energy for?

WRITING: Collect an entry! Your choice.

Test Prep: Revise your Death Valley essay. You must have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. *Essay sandwich!

MATH: Algebra Handout- missing numbers! Just like we did in class. There are some tricky ones, so do the best you can and we'll review tomorrow.

prop update

This blog post is for props...what we are doing and just an update. So far we have made one spear and over half of our second. We need some more tin foil though. Please comment and give us some ideas for a trident!

Thanks,
Isabell, prop specialist

kente: we need...

today we are doing the Kente project again. It will be great if you can donate these supplies. KENTE TEAM NEEDS... Blue fabric paint, sharpie poster paint colors silver, gold, red and blue. We could also use some plain, white or beige fabric.

Thanks!

by: Seth and Eric.

Homework

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to connections and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your new reading log.
*Think about the comments your partner gave you today.

Test Prep: Character handout (10 minutes)

SOCIAL STUDIES: If your constitution handout is incomplete, you MUST FULLY COMPLETE IT TONIGHT

WRITING: Collect an entry! Your choice.

MATH: Multiplication handout- you must attach a separate sheet of paper showing your work for each problem. You need a clear strategy.
Notebook work: Write a short answer to this question (First, Next, Last, Finally)-
(62 x 3) x 9 = (3 x 9) x 63

Are these 2 equations equal? Why or why not?

HAPPY WEEKEND

THIS weekend's homework is...

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
READING LOG IS DUE ON MONDAY

WRITING: Write your essay "sandwich" about Death Valley. Use your handout of sentence starters to help with the introduction, middle/body, and conclusion. YOU MUST ANSWER THE ENTIRE QUESTION.

MATH: 2 handouts

SOCIAL STUDIES: Read the constitution handout + note taking handout

*Remember the Multi-Cultural Celebration on Sunday!

Have a great weekend!

fabric paint needed!

Hey parents! 405 here! We need FABRIC PAINT! It is for our kente project!

-Sammy

Wednesday 3.30.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

SCHOLASTIC NEWS: Revolutionary War handout

WRITING: Write your essay "sandwich" about Spaghetti. Use your theme/big idea handout and essay "sandwich" outline.

Editing handout

MATH: 2 handouts

Tuesday 3.29.11- Late Breaking!

No internet and no photo copier, but we made it through the day! Alas, this post is just going up. Hopefully, it is a reference for some of the work we've been doing together. We are deep in test prep at this point and the kids are working really hard. The biggest thing we need to keep working on is carefully reading questions and understanding what they are asking. Often, kids are missing questions not because of the skill, but because they are misreading or not fully understanding what is being asked. This is an important skill, test prep or not. I'll write more later about all of the other cool things happening in curriculum- kente project, societies....

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

SCHOLASTIC NEWS: Redo/rewrite the sentences on your handout for the short answer questions. Use words from the questions in your answers (just like we did together in class for the short answer questions about Death Valley).

WRITING: Read Spaghetti and complete the handout about cause/effect and main idea/detail.

MATH: Packet

Welcome back Sarah!

See you tomorrow at SING!

Monday 3.28.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

SCHOLASTIC NEWS: Read through your copy and fill out the handout (front and back).

WRITING: Revising handout
Draft your best folktale if you did not already

MATH: Packet

SOCIAL STUDIES: What makes you want to be part of a community? How do you like people to work together?

Is what is happening in Egypt and Libya similar to what was happening at the beginning of our country? Hmmmm...

*Tomorrow Sarah is back!!

WEEKEND HOMEWORK

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
READING LOG IS DUE ON MONDAY

TEST PACKET

WRITING: Draft your best folktale and practice reading it aloud

MATH: Packet

Due Monday- SOCIAL STUDIES: Preview Egypt article + find important vocabulary

*Search for important dates and events for your time period! You need at least 1 important date/event

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Seth is a big brother!! His new sister, Skye, was born Tuesday. All the best to Mom, Dad, Seth, and Skye!

Thursday 3.24.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.

TEST PREP character handout

MATH: Packet

Due Monday- SOCIAL STUDIES: Preview Egypt article + find important vocabulary

*search for important dates and events for your time period!

kente Design props needed!

We need props and recycled items for the kente play! We need news papers,aluminum foil,cardboard, and cloth.

Kente Design

Today is are 2nd day on are kente story. Our kente is still in development and we are now starting our draft. The story is about two boys named Atticus and Leonardo. They are on a journey to test their true identity and to test there wiseness. There will be more info
about the story later.




Bloggers,
Courtney,Eric,Eron and Isabell

Wed. 3.23.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
*Partnership handout

WRITING- Editing handout

MATH: Packet + 5th graders: handout

SOCIAL STUDIES: Libya article + handout (main idea + detail/ cause & effect)

*search for important dates and events for your time period!

HOMEWORK- DUE WEDNESDAY!!

Hi Families:
Below is the homework for tonight and tomorrow night (Mon. and Tues.). I will be at a social studies workshop tomorrow, so that's why this is early :) This homework is due on Wednesday.
Thanks,
Lauren

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
*Partnership handout

WRITING- Collect a new folktale that is at least 2 pages or 2 folktales that are 1 page each. *Use the lists we created together to get an idea
Edit 2 pages using a colored pen to show your corrections

MATH: Packet (due Wednesday) + math article (M.C. Escher)

SOCIAL STUDIES: Scholastic News + handout (main idea + detail)

WEEKEND HOMEWORK

Hi Families!

Apologies for the late homework posting. Friday was my birthday and my partner, Leslie, had planned a full day/weekend of fun. This meant I left right at 3pm Friday and have been busy celebrating! This is the first chance I've had to sit down at the computer. Thanks for understanding and I hope your weekend has been wonderful! xo Lauren


READING: Read for at least 40 minutes each day. Reading log is due Monday!

WRITING- Collect a 2 page entry (either add 2 pages to an entry you started or start a new entry that is at least 2 pages).
*If you did not turn in your folktales, you MUST GIVE ME YOUR 2 FOLKTALES ON LOOSE- LEAF PAPER MONDAY MORNING!

MATH: 2 handouts

SOCIAL STUDIES: Read Scholastic News + complete the packet that goes with it
*If your current events packet was not revised or acceptable, make sure it is fixed by Monday morning

*NOTE: All homework due the next day, unless otherwise noted

NEW BLOGGERS

Today Lauren's class is doing our first blog on our kente inspired play/movie and the theme is right and wrong. We have 4 groups.
Group 1 is the writing team and they write the story.
Group 2 is the kente team and they make the kente cloth.
Group 3 is costume team and they make the costumes.
And last but not least group 4 is the AV/bloggers/brochures. The AV are the camera
people,the blogger people blog what is happening, and the brochure person makes the brochures.

- Isabell & Eric

HOMEWORK- Due Tomorrow!

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.

WRITING- On loose-leaf paper copy 2 folktales you have written. Use your folktale handout to make sure you have used all of the elements of folktale in your writing.

MATH: Packet (fractions) + look for 2 examples of a right angle (90 degrees).

SOCIAL STUDIES: Revise your current events packet from last night. You need to add more information to the graphic organizers.

*Bonus: look for other forms of government or find out which countries have a monarchy and which countries have a democracy

HOMEWORK- lots of good stuff!

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.

WRITING- collect a new folktale + read a folktale

MATH: Packet (place value)

SOCIAL STUDIES: Current Events packet (Egypt, Libya, Cause/Effect, World Map)

*Bonus: look for other forms of government or find out which countries have a monarchy and which countries have a democracy

new LICE CASES reported!

There are 3 new lice cases! Please check your child's head carefully for nits and lice. I will spray the room with a Home Lice Control Spray and we will stay off the rug for today. Thanks for your help!

For an online lice removal tutorial, you can visit the website:
http://www.hairfairies.com/do-it-yourself-guide/

Spring Family Conference Schedule for Wed. 3.16

Wednesday March 16th
4:30 SIU LOONG
4:45 KAI
5:00 MARTIN
5:15
5:30 SETH
5:45 COURTNEY
6:00 ISABELL
6:15 DANTE
6:30 KEITH
6:45 SAMMY
7:00
7:15
7:30

HOMEWORK

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. You must write a short summary of what you read (2-3 sentence retell) and then questions/wonderings you have for the book. We are working on questioning this week.

READ ALOUD- Write your reactions, questions, theories, etc. on the side of the pages. Underline at least 2 lines that grab your attention!

MATH- 2 handouts: make new polygons out of power polygons (or "classic" polygons as Niigaunii said) + division practice

SOCIAL STUDIES- Tsunami article + taking notes handout

WRITING- Collect a new folktale. Look at your handout on the characteristics of folktales and use it.

HOMEWORK

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. You must write a short summary of what you read (2-3 sentence retell) and then questions/wonderings you have for the book. We are working on questioning this week.

READ ALOUD- Write your reactions, questions, theories, etc. on the side of the pages. Underline at least 2 lines that grab your attention!

MATH- handout: make new polygons out of power polygons (or "classic" polygons as Niigaunii said) + division practice

SOCIAL STUDIES- Tsunami article + taking notes handout

WRITING- Collect a new folktale. Look at your handout on the characteristics of folktales and use it.

COMING SOON: *Special* Animoto Project with Cheryl

Spring Family Conference Schedule for Wed. 3.16

Wednesday March 16th
4:30 SIU LOONG
4:45 KAI
5:00 MARTIN
5:15
5:30
5:45 SETH
6:00 ISABELL
6:15
6:30 KEITH
6:45 SAMMY
7:00
7:15
7:30

CAMP!!

We had a great experience at camp! Despite the cold, rainy weather there were many good times to be had...



A born blacksmither, Siu Loong




















Kei hammering the metal with Maddie


















Dante keeps the fire going for blacksmithing
























Keeping our toes warm was tricky! This is a "mini foot shower" Courtney and Njeri partook in between activities

















Eric's ready for a hike!

















Kai gets ready to search for animal tracks

Family Conferences

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15th and March 16th, are conference days. Tuesday will be a half-day for students and conferences will be from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Wednesday is a regular schedule day with evening conferences, 4:30-7:30 pm.
If you would like to have a meeting, please "comment" with the day and time. This will allow everyone to see what days and times are taken. Thanks

MEDICATION FOR ASHOKAN

*Please note:
If your student takes medication, you need to make sure that the prescription is written and signed by the doctor, and the original bottle is put in a ziplock baggie with student's name on the outside. Wed. morning, please give me the medication. Thanks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERON!

Last Thursday was Eron's birthday. His birthday "wish" is no homework tonight!
As always, reading is expected! And, the social studies handout from the weekend is due.

2 more days to Ashokan...

CAMP Ashokan this Wed.-Fri.

For those of you looking for more info on camp, here is the website for the Ashokan Center where we will be this Wednesday through Friday!

http://www.ashokancenter.org

Some logistics for now:
- We are leaving Wednesday morning, around 8:45 am
- We will meet in the courtyard in front of school, no need to come upstairs!
- Students should not bring any electronics of any kind- books and notebook are great
- It is about a 2.5 hr. drive upstate, so students can bring a non-messy snack and water (no juices, sodas, etc.)
- There should be a DVD player on the bus, so students may bring G or PG movies only
- Please make sure students have WATERPROOF shoes and a raincoat! It is expected to be MUDDY and RAINY
- We will aim to be back on Friday around 3pm. It is dependent on traffic, so we will keep in touch

That's it for now. I'll be sure add more in the next couple of days!

Artifacts from NY Historical Society Visit

FRIDAY! New York Historical Society Visits!

Thanks to everyone for being on time this morning! We had a great visit with Jen from the New York Historical Society. We looked at artifacts from the United States during the 1800's in order to gather information about the time and people, specifically issues of race and slavery. We analyzed the artifacts, sharing ideas and learning new facts in a rich discussion. We will continue building on this in our social studies curriculum. This weekend, students have a handout reflecting on today's work and also pushing them to consider researching other artifacts from the time period. Next week we will work in partnerships and small groups reading of historical texts which will allow us to deepen our understanding. The artifact handout is due Tuesday in observation of Julien's birthday wish for "no homework" this weekend!Reading is always expected, so be sure to add onto your log and fill up all the boxes with smart thinking and theories.

Camp is next week! We are all very excited. Be sure to look over the packing list this weekend. If your Dr. has filled out the medication release please make sure your child's name is on the bottle and place all medicine in a ziplock baggie with your child's name on that, as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. We will be having a few conversations next week about expectations for the trip.

Have a wonderful weekend! See you Monday...xo Lauren

Thursday March 3, 2011

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Reading logs are due tomorrow. Look over the comments I wrote today and answer them...

WRITING- Collect an entry- 2 pages. *Think of more ideas for folktales- ask someone...

MATH- Order of operations handout

WORD STUDY- handout

CAMP FORM- choose students you'd like to be in a group with. This MUST be turned in tomorrow

* Jen from the New York Historical Society will be coming for a special program on slavery tomorrow. We are starting at 8:30 a.m., so please make sure you are on time for school!!

Wednesday 3.2.11

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include the strategies we tried out in class, like paying attention to parts that are confusing and developing theories.

WRITING- Collect an entry- 2 pages. *Think of more ideas for folktales- ask someone...

MATH- handout

SOCIAL STUDIES- handout: Laws Affecting Blacks in Manhattan
*Friday Jen from the New York Historical Society will be coming for a special program on slavery

Tuesday March 1, 2011

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include we tried out in class. You should use the strategies we talked about.

WRITING- Collect an entry- 2 pages.

MATH- handout + find examples of symmetry and polygons in the real world

CURRENT EVENTS- look for something that grabs your attention!

Thank you Siu Loong for sharing the fabrics with us today. We learned a lot.

Please remember your camp forms. They are due at the end of this week. Camp is next Wed.-Fri.

Monday February 28, 2011

Welcome Back!!! I hope everyone had a restful week. It was nice seeing you all today. Can you believe it's the last day of February? Wow, I can't. Tomorrow when I see you it will be March :)

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include some of your questions like we tried out in class. You should use the strategies we talked about.

WRITING- Folktales are here! Find a folktale to share, if you can. Collect an entry- 2 pages.

SOCIAL STUDIES- Publish your kente cloth story *neatly*


xo
Lauren

FEBRUARY SNOW STORM!

Should there have been school on February 2nd or should school have been cancelled? That was the big question. We looked at both sides of the argument and decided to weigh in on it ourselves. Listen in on our debate...

HAPPY BREAK!!

Enjoy the week off! Read lots, find things that grab your attention in the world, have fun!

I will post a few times over the week, so check back!

xo
Lauren

Thursday Feb. 17, 2011

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include some of your thinking and theory. IT IS DUE TOMORROW.

WRITING- Final Draft: Re-copy your revised and edited draft in pen or typed

SOCIAL STUDIES- map study of West Africa

*Reports

We Visited West Africa!

Today in Social Studies we talked about what we know about West African culture through our study of fabric, specifically kente cloth and folktales.




Today we took a ride around the coast of West Africa! We used a close-up map of West Africa and followed the countries around the west coast. We began thinking about why West Africa was where most of the slaves were taken from and brought to America. We looked at a timeline and used what we already knew to construct our own understanding, thinking about people and events. We will be continuing to build onto our timeline.



Tonight for homework, we are thinking about questions and reactions we have to slavery in America.

Wednesday 2.16.11

Tonight's Homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include some of your thinking, about YOUR THEORY

WRITING- EDIT your realistic fiction drafts using your organizers. Make sure you have 3-5 examples of each craft. Use the color code to underline or circle your examples in marker or colored pencil if you didn't do this last night!-
RED- comparisons
BLUE- alliteration
*BLACK-onomatopoeia (look at the list we came up with today)
YELLOW-sophisticated/fancy words
GREEN- descriptive/sensory language
CHOOSE YOUR OWN COLOR- dialogue

SOCIAL STUDIES- Complete the "Slavery in America" web in your Social Studies notebook. Write down all questions you have or reactions you have. If you do research about anything we talked about today, please share it with us tomorrow.

Tuesday Feb. 15, 2011

Tonight's Homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include some of your thinking, such as I'm wondering... or I'm thinking...I can't believe...I have a theory...

WRITING- last night to revise your realistic fiction drafts using your craft organizer. Make sure you have 3-5 examples of each craft. Use the color code to underline or circle your examples in marker or colored pencil-
RED- comparisons
BLUE- alliteration
*BLACK-onomatopoeia (we will do more work with this tomorrow)
YELLOW-sophisticated/fancy words
GREEN- descriptive/sensory language
CHOOSE YOUR OWN COLOR- dialogue

MATH HANDOuT- You did this work yesterday, so tonight you need to "publish" it on the handout. Be sure your work is clear. Attach paper if you need to.


Tomorrow is SING!

Monday February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tonight's homework is to read and fill out the new reading log.
Keith's birthday wish is for no homework, so there's nothing else! Happy Birthday Keith!

MATH CHARTS

Here are some charts from our unit on Fractions, Decimals, and Percents. I hope these shed some more light on our class work in math. Students can refer to these when doing homework.

Film Canisters Needed

We need small film canisters for a science project I'd like to do this week. I know these are hard to come by these days, but if you have some you can donate it would be greatly appreciated! I'm hoping to do this experiment Monday or Tuesday. THANK YOU!

Friday Feb. 11, 2011

Happy Weekend!!

WEEKEND HOMEWORK:

- Revise and edit writing draft (*remember craft! look at the blog post from yesterday). Use a different color pen and attach more paper if needed. I should be able to see your revision work and editing. We will do partner editing Monday and get ready for publishing.

- Find a current events article that interests you (see if there is anything that connects to your society or First Light) and complete the "In the News" handout
*read the directions carefully and fill out everything

- Math handout + write and solve a multiplication problem using 2 strategies

******BONUS: add onto our list with more sophisticated ways to say...
walk: stroll, march, glide...
said: yapped, chattered...
brown hair: chestnut waves, brownie curls, chocolate brunette, curly doodles...
like(d):: adore, addicted, enjoyed...
bad: sinister...
cry: sob, weep...
playing:
want:


*Thanks to all the families for visiting our very student-run Project Time Celebration!
And thank you Donna for all of the popcorn. It was very generous and exciting!

Independence is a large part of 4th and 5th grade, especially as students are transitioning into upper grades and middle school. This means that things are sometimes a little "messy" while they figure out and negotiate how to work together and solve problems that arise. Kids need to have this experience before they can move forward to a "clean" independence. It gives us lots of rich things to talk together about such as sharing the "spotlight", presenting work, engaging and thinking of an audience, and of course supporting one another.

Students have been working very hard on their projects and had really cool things to share. We look forward to celebrating together again!

Writing Like Our Mentor Authors, Karen Hesse and Christopher Myers

We have been working on a Realistic Fiction unit in writing. We have done a lot of work around craft, looking as writers as Karen Hesse's "Come On, Rain!" and Christopher Myers, "FLY!" Some of the craft moves we have looked closely at include, comparisons, alliteration, onomatopoeia, sophisticated words, and descriptive/sensory language. Some of the reasons we thought a writer might use these craft moves are...
comparisons to help the reader create an image in their mind,
alliteration (words that begin with the same letter or sound) to create rhythm,
onomatopoeia (words that sound like their meaning) to create rhythm and sound that captures attention and allows the reader to hear what you are writing,
sophisticated/ fancy words to turn ordinary language into extraordinary language and make the writing more interesting
descriptive language to really allow a reader to create a clear picture of the setting or character and really connect with your story.
Below are some examples from the texts that have served as mentors.

comparisons
COME ON, RAIN! - "I am sizzling like a hot potato." "Her long legs, like two brown string beans."
FLY - "His head swims in circles, his hips jump, his wrists twist. The pigeons are floating, swimming, jumping, and twisting with him."

alliteration
COME ON, RAIN! - "I aim a spoonful of sugar into my mouth, then a second into the drink."
FLY - " 'Newk's got bebop in his blood. He be bobbin' his head up and down when he walks."

sophisticated/ fancy words
COME ON, RAIN! - "And that's when I see it coming, clouds rolling in, gray clouds, bunched and bulging under a purple sky."
"Wet slicking arms and legs, we splash up the block, squealing and whopping in the streaming rain."
FLY - "He is flying, swooping, soaring"

onomatopoeia
COME ON, RAIN! - "...while the music from Mrs. Glick's phonograph shimmies and sparkles and streaks like night lightening."
FLY - "I can hear the warm twittering of pigeons in the sun."

descriptive/sensory language
COME ON, RAIN! - "Mamma lifts a listless vine and sighs. 'Three weeks and not a drop," she says, sagging over parched plants.
FLY - "A bird with a little tuft of feathers jutting from his head dips and struts in a circle, puffs out his chest, and whistles a twisty tune."
"I creak up the stairs, toward the door to the roof, nervous as the light that falls into the hallway where the bulb has been burned out for a month."

Thursday February 10, 2011

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include some of your thinking, such as I'm wondering... or I'm thinking...I can't believe...I have a theory...IT IS DUE TOMORROW.

WRITING- revise your realistic fiction drafts using your list of sophisticated/fancy words to replace the ordinary ones + find at least 2 new places to use descriptive language (for setting or character description) using our mentor authors Karen Hesse and Christopher Myers. You should have the mentor stories (Come On, Rain! and FLY!) to look at to help you.

SOCIAL STUDIES- How will your society get energy? And how will your society use energy? Draw and Write about it.

PROJECT TIME CELEBRATION tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm. You may bring refreshments/food if you like.

Project Time Celebration Tomorrow Afternoon!

We will be having a Project Time Celebration tomorrow at 2:00 pm. You are welcome to come anytime between 2:00 and 2:45. Students will have their projects out on display. You may bring refreshments if you would like. For those who cannot make it tomorrow, we will have another Project Time Celebration in the next few weeks.

Celebration of Work...This Friday!

Students Talk About Kente Designs

Wednesday 2.9.11

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include some of your thinking, such as I'm wondering... or I'm thinking...I can't believe...I have a theory...

WRITING- revise your realistic fiction drafts using the comments your partner wrote to you

SOCIAL STUDIES- read p.36 and answer the questions on the handout

*Stay tuned for videos on our kente designs...

First Light and HOME

Yesterday, we talked about how the documentary HOME connected to our understanding of our read aloud book, First Light. First we thought about how the images of Greenland we saw in HOME to help us better understand and imagine what the setting looks like in the book, since it takes place in Greenland. We had an interesting conversation that brought up many ideas and theories about the book. Stay tuned to see some of our thinking...