Online Grades

SO, I've been trying to set up a system for posting grades online.  After looking into it, I realized that there's nothing in place for me (yet) to successfully post grades.  HOWEVER, I can e-mail grades weekly (or bi-weekly) to those families who are interested in receiving grade reports.

If you would like to receive your student's grades on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, please, e-mail me at my school address (nwalker@greeleyschools.org), and I will do my best to keep you updated on your student's grades.

Halloween Homework Packet

We've got a spoooooky (and hopefully fun AND educational) homework packet for the kids this week.  Here are some hints and tips:

Gray Wizard:  Students will solve the simple multiplication problems and color in the squares according to the key.  If they don't have a certain color available (tan, for example), then they may substitute that color for another color of their choice.  This page shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to finish.

Reading Log:  Same old, same old.  We're just doing summaries this week.

Halloween Night poem and questions:  This is a fairly tricky poem.  We also haven't gone over poetry in depth yet, so students may struggle with some of the questions.  Not to worry, though.  We will be doing some poetry this coming week, and I will be instructing the kids on how to answer many of these questions.  We'll even do some of these questions together in class.

Halloween Night: Math:  Students need to solve the story problems.  They may show their work below, or they may attach a separate piece of paper to show their work.

Halloween Analogies and Pet Monster Manual:  Because the other pages are a little harder than I normally give for homework, these last two pages are extra credit activities.

If students (or their families) have questions for me, don't hesitate to ask!  This packet is due Friday, October 31-- Halloween!

Halloween Party

In case you haven't noticed (or just in case your student hasn't reminded at least 50 times a day), Halloween is just around the corner.  As always, my own mother and classroom volunteers have been busy getting everything just right for our party.  If you would like to help with the party, please, e-mail me so that I can put you in touch with our party planners.

Our party will be on Friday, October 31.  Usually, our parties start around 2:15 and end when school gets out.  Families are invited to attend, but--please--let me know if you intend to do so.  That way, we'll have enough refreshments for everyone.

Hope to see you there!

Homework Packet 8

Fluency Practice:  Remember the fluency practice on our other packets?  This is like that.  Except you get to choose what to read.  How many words can you read in a minute?  Notice how the directions were written by Mrs. Sallee and Ms. Tappy?  Yeah... this first page was written five years ago!

Reading Log:  See the directions from homework packet 7 if you need help doing this page.

Prepositions:  Follow the directions on the page.  When I first looked at this page, I got confused and thought that I had to underline, draw a circle, and draw an arrow for each question.  This isn't the case.  You ONLY need to circle the preposition.  If you get stuck, refer to the list of prepositions in the box at the top of the page.

Parts of Speech:  Noun-- person, place, thing, or idea
Verb-- action word, also includes words like "is," "was," and "are."
Article-- the, my
Adjective-- a word that describes

Ending Sentences:  Circle the best ending for each story.

Review:  Time to be creative!  Using the given titles, create me the BEST story you can think of!  It can be fiction or nonfiction.  If you need more space, you may write it on a separate sheet of paper.

Multiplication:  Straight-forward.  This page should take students about 3 minutes to complete.

Multiples:  We went over these directions in class.  If students get stuck, ask them to do the "Multiples Macarena!"

Here are some examples of multiples:
twos:  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24
threes:  3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36
fours:  4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48

These packets are due Friday, October 24.

Culture Web Sites

http://www.timeforkids.com/around-the-world

http://kids.usa.gov/social-studies/countries-and-cultures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkHLL_GxG68

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/cultures.htm

http://www.mamasmiles.com/exploring-geography/

We won!

Have you heard?  Our class FINALLY reached 100 points on our "Good Behavior" game board!  This means that, within the next couple of weeks, we will be welcoming a new addition (or additions) to our classroom.  We will be getting a fish (or multiple fish) for our classroom aquarium!  Great job, class!  You earned it!

Fall Break-- October 17-- No School!!!!

This is all!  Hope you enjoy some time outside!  Maybe do a corn maze or something.  :)

Homework Packet 7

You do not need to worry about doing anything on the front page--that has a picture of a bison on it.  That's only for the kids' use if they feel they need to keep track of their work and assignments.

Reading Log:  Over the weekend, kids will write a summary of what they read.  Here's what the other stuff means:

Evaluate:  Give an overall opinion of the reading.  Is it interesting?  Did the author do a good job?  Is it important information, or is it more for entertainment?  What would you change about it if you could?  Or is it perfect as it is?  Why or why not?

Question:  Write down a question or two about the reading.

Predict and Infer:  Write a prediction of what you think will happen next in your story.

Monitor and Clarify:  What parts of the reading were tricky?  Did you have to go back and reread any parts?  Did you have to use the pictures to help you?  Did you use your phonics decoding strategy or word learning strategy anywhere?

By the Shores of Silver Lake:  You know the drill!  (Ignore the directions on the page.  Keep doing it the way we've been doing it.)

Adjectives:  The directions are fairly straight-forward.  On the paragraph at the bottom of the page (called "My Cat"), students may insert ANY adjective (so long as it is appropriate).  These adjectives can be silly or serious.  Be creative!

And and But:  Follow the page directions.  If students have questions, I would be more than happy to help them do a few questions here in class.

Topic Sentences:  Students do not have to do this page.

Middle Sentences:  Students do not have to do this page.

Problem Solving:  Students are to solve the math problems.  THEY WILL PROBABLY NEED TO DO THEIR WORK ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER AND ATTACH IT TO THE PACKET.  We have been struggling with story problems in class.  Hopefully, this isn't too much of a struggle to accomplish.

Subtraction Facts:  Complete the simple subtraction facts.

This packet will be due THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, as it is only a four day week next week.

Picture Make-up Day

We will be doing individual photo make-ups (or redo's) on Wednesday, October 15.

October Parent Teacher Group Meeting

SO, I just found out that we will be having a Parent-Teacher Group meeting TONIGHT (Tuesday, October 7) here at Dos Rios.  I apologize for the late notice.  If you have any concerns or ideas that you would like to have brought up at the meeting, please, e-mail me before the meeting.  I would love to pass along your thoughts if you are unable to attend.

Thanks!

Homework Packet 6

Don't forget to complete all of your homework before you turn it in!

Here are some helpful hints for this week's packet:

Finding the Titanic:  Same directions as always!  At this point in the year, students should be reading between 90 and 100 words on their FIRST try!

Reading Log:  Same, old stuff.  Nothing new here.

Irregular Verbs (page 1):  The directions say to circle the verb that completes each sentence.  For example, the answer to number 6 would be:  Mitzi has swum in that pool before.  You would circle "swum," because "Mitzi has swims..." would not make sense.

Irregular Verbs (page 2):  This is a lot like the last page.  However, in this case, we have to 1) find the verb, and 2) change the verb from future tense to past tense.  Here are some hints (fill in the blanks):

1.  will probably grow -----  probably ___________
2.  will blow out ----- _________ out
3.  will give ------- __________
4.  will wear ------ __________
5.  will come ------ _________
6.  will take -----  __________
7.  will fly in ----- _________ in
8.  will sing ------- __________

Main Idea:  We've been working on this concept a lot this year.  Students should understand "main idea" and "detail" without much help.  Read the text and answer the questions.  Normally, in class, students need to answer questions in complete sentences.  However, because there isn't enough space given, they do not have to do that this time.

Parts of a Paragraph:  In writing, we've been talking about making sure our story goes in the right order.  Follow the example on the page to put short stories in the correct order-- identify what goes at the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Subtraction and Addition Pages:  These pages should be a piece of cake!  Solve the math problems.  Don't forget to borrow (in subtraction) if you need to!

These packets are due next Friday, October 10.  E-mail, call, or stop by if there are any questions!

iPad Apps

Here are the lists of iPad Apps we use in class:

Math

• Khan Academy*
• Math Zombies*
• Sushi Monster*
• Monster Math
• Deep Sea Duel
• Pick a Path
• Concentration
• Equivalent Fractions
• Virtual Manipulatives
• Oh No Fractions
• Reading the Ruler
• Pizza Fractions
• Coop Fractions*
• 4th Grade Common Core Math*
• Math Dojo*
• Lobster Diver*

Reading/Writing

• Dictionary.com
• Common Core 4*
• Jungle Journey*
• Chicktionary
• Grammaropolis
• iThesaurus
• Spelling City
• BrainPOP*
• BrainPop Jr.*
• Mash Puns
• Mad Libs
• subscription to TIME for kids magazine (on the Newstand)*

Other

• Learn States
• This Day in History*
• 50 State Info
• Draw
• Kids Doodle*

*I highly recommend these applications.

Sub Report

Good morning!

First of all, thank you to those of you (and your students) who have offered kind words regarding my grandma.  She is now settling into hospice care, and she's hopeful for what her future will hold.  Thank you for your patience with my schedule at this time.

Unfortunately, I didn't receive a very good substitute report.  Her words are, "This was probably the class whom I've had the most problems with this year!  You have some good students, but other kids took a lot of redirection, just took a lot from the group."

Today, I'll be taking some instructional time to teach smaller groups how to behave when we have substitute teachers.  Those who did well yesterday will be rewarded with iPad time.  You may also want to touch base with your student at home and see if you can encourage them to behave well for substitute teachers.

Those who behave well for the sub will also be rewarded with extra snack time.  Hopefully this will encourage others to behave well next time!