Mrs. Davis' 4th Grade Class Website

New Website!

2009-07-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

I've created a new website at mrsdavis9.weebly.com for the 2009-2010 school year...

Last Week of School!

2009-05-30T20:30:00.001-07:00

Wow!! We are officially into the last week of school... what a year it has been! Read ahead for a lot of important information regarding this final week.

* Monday we'll see a performance by the student band. Yearbooks will be handed out Monday. We will also have our Book Swap in the morning.

* Tuesday we will go to the local beach with our kindergarten reading buddies (weather permitting). Students need to bring appropriate clothing and a bag lunch. Parents who are joining us need to be in the classroom at 10:40.

* Wednesday is our big KOA trip. Parents who are driving need to be in the classroom by 9:25. Students need to bring a swimsuit, towel, change of clothes, and sunscreen. They are welcome to bring goggles, cameras, and outdoor toys (football, soccer ball, etc.)

* School is out at 10:50 on Friday! Be sure to have pick-up arranged for your child. Report cards will be sent home that day.

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

- It was great to see so many families at Open House last week! I know the kids loved the chance to show you all of their hard work! Thank you to Arlene for binding the poetry books for us.

- This Friday there will be a school-wide Mini Olympics event. A permission slip was sent home Friday. Please sign and return it as soon as possible.

- All late/absent work is due this Friday!!! This is also the last day for students to earn AR points.

This week we will...

...continue reading Number the Stars. This book takes place in Denmark during World War II, and it has brought up a lot of interesting questions and discussions around the subjects of war and prejudice.

...finish up BizWorld, with the "Sales Bazaar" toward the end of the week.

...take a district language arts assessment Thursday and Friday.

Week of May 18th

2009-05-16T14:01:00.001-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

- This Wednesday the 20th is Open House (6:30-8:30). This is a chance for your kids to show off all of the hard work they've been doing this year... I hope to see you all there!

- Anyone feel like binding?? I'm looking for a volunteer to bind our poetry books this Tuesday and/or Wednesday. If anyone is interested in helping out, just shoot me an email... it would be greatly appreciated!

- California Reports are due Monday! The presentation schedule is to the right. I'm looking forward to seeing what the kids have been working so hard on for the past few weeks!

This week we will...

...have a visit from a firefighter Friday morning (rescheduled from last week)

...finish up our poetry books

...start reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

...continue with "BizWorld" - ask your child about their friendship bracelet business!

...start a new science unit about Magnetism and Electricity

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

*Change of plans: No math homework Thursday, Math test postponed till next week*

It was wonderful to see so many room 9 parents at the dinner/auction Friday night! I hope you all had as much fun as I did!

Thank you to all of the parents who chaperoned/drove our fieldtrip last Wednesday... and thank you all for being so flexible with the pick-up time.

Notes/Reminders:

- California Reports are due next Monday, May 18th. Students may turn them in early if they wish. The presentation schedule is posted on the right. If a presentation requires any sort of technology (powerpoint, dvd, etc.) please let me know ahead of time.

- This Wednesday the 13th is the Parent Appreciation Tea (2:30 in the library). This is an opportunity for the staff to show our gratitude for all of the work the parents do.

- Next Wednesday the 20th is Open House (6:30-8:00). I hope to see you all there! Flyers are coming home Monday with information regarding the 4th grade bake sale that takes place during Open House.

- Anyone feel like binding?? I'm looking for a volunteer to bind our poetry books. This would be Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (the 19th or 20th). If anyone is interested in helping out, it would be greatly appreciated!

This week we will...

...continue working on our poetry books! We'll be wrapping up our rough drafts and starting the final drafts later this week.

...learn some geometry! This week we'll be learning about triangle classifications, angles, lines, and so much more. A test will be on Friday covering chapter 25.

...start "BizWorld", an interactive business simulation in which students will learn all about starting a business, finance, investments, selling a product, and more.

Week of May 4th

2009-05-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

- Monday and Tuesday morning we will work on the math portion of the STAR tests. Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest and a good breakfast, and that they get to school on time!

- Science projects are due Tuesday! Presentations will be spread out over the course of the week, but all projects must be turned in Tuesday. I will post the presentation schedule here on Monday (students have already been notified of their assigned day).

- The California reports are coming along nicely. Most students have completed their research, and several have begun writing their reports. They will bring home all of their work this Tuesday. From that point on, all work will be completed at home. Please assist your child in managing their time with this project, staying organized, and editing their reports.

- The online auction is ending Sunday night, so check it out while you still can! There are so many great things to bid on, including an art project by all of the Room 9 students!

http://auctions.readysetauction.com/riodelmarschool/home

I hope to see you all at the dinner/auction this Friday night!

- This Wednesday the 6th brings our fieldtrip to the New Brighton State Park. Students need to bring a sack lunch. Please arrange for pick-up for your child - it is a minimum day, but we will not be back till around 1:45.

This week we will...

...continue writing and reading poetry. The kids have learning how to write haikus, how to use figurative language in their poems, and how to format poetry.

...continue reading People of Sparks. There will be a quiz Friday covering chapters 14-21.

...have our last session of ceramics with Jenni on Thursday. All of the students have created some really wonderful ceramic pieces over the past several weeks.

...have a visit from the Aptos Fire Department on Friday. They'll be giving us a lesson on fire safety.

Week of April 27th

2009-04-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

- STAR testing begins this week. An email was sent to all parents with detailed information. This week we will take the Language Arts portion of the test on Tuesday and Wednesday. Homework will be very light during the next two weeks due to testing.

- Please check the "Upcoming Events" section on the right - there are several important dates to remember in the coming weeks.

- The online auction is up and running! Check it out at http://auctions.readysetauction.com/riodelmarschool/home

After you've had a chance to peruse the auction, sign your child's yellow flyer. Students who return the flyer Monday will earn a lollipop.

- Several students have yet to return their New Brighton fieldtrip permission slips. Please get these in as soon as possible.

This week we will...

...continue with our poetry unit

...work on our California reports (see last posting for more details- also info available in the Downloads section)

...have a school-wide Pajama Day this Friday, May 1st

California Report Update

2009-04-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Today students were assigned their California reports. We'll be working on the research and beginning stages of writing in class over the next couple of weeks. Students will complete their reports at home. The final drafts are due Monday, May 18th. Oral presentations will be given that week. In the Downloads section of this webpage, the main information for the report is available.

This Friday will be a check-in day - students need to know their research topic and what type of visual aide they will be using. Please discuss this report with your child. Some students may need help pin-pointing a topic of interest. The topics must be related to California history (they must be referenced at least once in our social studies textbook). Students may choose to research an event, place, person, or era from California history. For example, a student may choose to learn about the Great Depression, but they must focus on its affects on California.

Homework over the next several weeks will be light due to the science project, California report, and the upcoming STAR testing. Students are welcome to begin research at home if they wish - please remind them to site their sources! There is a new section on the right, "California Report", with links to informational sites.

**Please read the previous posting as it contains a lot of important information for this school week**

Week of April 20th

2009-04-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! I hope you all enjoyed a restful, sunny spring break! We're down to the last 7 weeks of school... I can't believe how quickly this year is going! The next few weeks bring a lot of fun activities, both in our classroom and school-wide. Please remember to check the blog at least once a week, as there will be a lot of important information posted in the coming weeks.

Notes/Reminders:

* If you're looking to donate to the class, we are still in need of more pencils, pencil-top erasers, and kleenex.

* STAR testing will begin the week of April 27th

* May 6th brings our next fieldtrip to New Brighton State Park for an interactive history program. Please return the signed permission slip as soon as possible. There is not a fee for this trip, and all parents are welcome to join us.

* The annual golf tournament/dinner/auction is coming up on Friday, May 8th. Registration forms are available on the Rio school website.

* Open House will be Wednesday, May 20th. The time will be announced soon.

* June 3rd brings the end-of-year fourth-grade party at the local KOA. Permission slips will be sent home soon, along with more information about the event.

This week we will...

...begin our Poetry unit. For the next several weeks, we will be learning about, reading, and writing poetry.

...continue learning about the relationship between fractions and decimals. There will be a test covering chapter 19 this Friday.

...check in on the science projects. Tuesday I'll be checking students' hypotheses and procedures/steps.

...begin our California research reports. All of the fourth-grade classes will be doing this project. Students will choose an area of interest in California history. For the next week or two, we'll be using class time to research and write rough-drafts. Final-drafts and visual components will be completed at home. I'll have more information posted here soon.

...prepare for the upcoming California standardized tests (STAR).

...see a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream by "Shakespeare-to-go" Friday morning.

Week of April 6th

2009-04-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Remember: This Friday is a holiday! Spring Break is April 10th - April 17th (we return on the 20th)

* If you're looking to donate to the class, we are still in need of more pencils, pencil-top erasers, and kleenex.

* The end of the year is quickly approaching, and there are so many things happening!

-STAR testing will begin the week of April 27th

-May 6th brings our next fieldtrip to New Brighton State Park for an interactive history program

-The annual golf tournament/dinner/auction is coming up on Friday, May 8th

-Open House will be Wednesday, May 20th

-June 3rd brings the end-of-year fourth-grade party at the local KOA

This week we will...

...learn about the fourth-grade science project assignment. Look for a packet coming home Monday with more information (the guidelines are also available here in the "downloads" section). This project will be completed at home, and is due Tuesday, May 5th (there will be check-in dates over the next several weeks).

...take the district-wide language arts assessment Monday morning. This will cover what we've been learning since the beginning of the year in reading, writing, and grammar (think compound sentences, pronouns, main ideas, etc)

...finish up our Golden Gulch simulation game. The kids have been having a blast with this activity, and have really learned a lot about the California gold rush! We'll be working on it each day this week, so we can finish up by spring break.

...see the 1st grade performance of "The Ugly Duckling" Wednesday morning.

...visit the library on Wednesday this week, since there won't be school Friday.

...learn about the relationship between fractions and decimals in math.

Week of March 30th

2009-03-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Thank you for all of the donations of pencils, erasers, and "student store" goodies! If you're looking to donate to the class, we are still in need of more pencils, pencil-top erasers, and kleenex.

* The end of the year is quickly approaching, and there are so many things happening!

-Spring Break is April 10th-April 17th

-The week of April 27th will be the start of the annual STAR testing - I'll send more information with exact dates of our testing soon

-May 6th brings our next fieldtrip to New Brighton State Park for an interactive history program (permission slips will come home soon)

-The annual golf tournament/dinner/auction is coming up on Friday, May 8th

-Open House will be Wednesday, May 20th

-June 3rd brings the end-of-year fourth-grade party at the local KOA

* There will be 2 projects coming up for fourth-graders: A science fair project, and a California history project. More information will be provided soon.

This week we will...

...continue with our "Golden Gulch" gold rush simulation game.

...have a math test Wednesday covering chapter 18. If you go to the 'student links' section and click on the 'HM math' link, there are many opportunities to practice the new skills and concepts.

...learn about the scientific process in preparation for the fourth-grade science fair projects.

HOMEWORK

2009-03-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

There's a change to the homework tonight. Instead of the math practice book pages, the kids have a double-sided handout to complete, reviewing today's math lesson.

Week of March 23rd

2009-03-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Thank you all for your recent Scholastic book orders! This was one of our biggest orders this year.

* AR goal sheets must be signed and returned- there are still about 3 students who have yet to turn them in.

* Keep an eye out for a fieldtrip permission slip in the next couple of weeks. We will be going to New Brighton State Beach for an interactive history program on Wednesday, May 6th. We won't be returning till after dismissal because it's a minimum day, so pick-up will need to be arranged. All parents who wish to drive/chaperone are welcome.

This week we will...

...continue reading People of Sparks, the sequel to The City of Ember. We do not have a class set, so students are welcome to bring their own copies of the book.

...work more with fractions. This week we'll learn about improper fractions, mixed numbers, and adding and subtraction fractions with unlike denominators.

...practice for the 100 Second Club. We won't be having the regular 5-minute multiplication test for the next week or two while we practice this new multiplication activity.

...begin "Golden Gulch", a whole-class gold rush simulation. Students will be in teams working together to stake claims and mine gold. This is basically like a big board game that involves all students and lasts several days. Should be fun!

Week of March 16th

2009-03-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Report Card envelopes must be signed and returned as soon as possible. Students who return their envelope Monday will receive 2 Student Store tickets.

* AR goal sheets must be signed and returned.

* Keep an eye out for a fieldtrip permission slip in the next couple of weeks. We will be going to New Brighton State Beach for an interactive history program on Wednesday, May 6th.

This week we will...

...begin our next Writer's Workshop project. We'll be focusing on "strong verbs" in our writing. Students will be choosing a piece from their own journals to turn into a Writer's Workshop project.

...continue learning all about the Gold Rush and its effects on California. Next week we'll begin a whole-class simulation activity, where students will be working in teams to mine gold and claim land.

...work more with fractions! I have to say I am very impressed with this group's ability to grasp the fraction concepts so quickly! These can be difficult concepts to understand, and these kids are doing a great job. This week we'll be learning how to add and subtract fractions with like denominators, and how to reduce fractions to their simplest form. Friday will bring a test covering chapter 17.

Pajama Day!

2009-03-11T13:38:00.001-07:00

This Friday will be Pajama Day for our class! We'll also be joined by Ms. Sillavo's class, our kindergarten reading buddies!

Week of March 9th

2009-03-06T18:24:00.001-08:00

We are now beginning the 3rd and final trimester! This is always my favorite time of year because the kids really start to mature and shine and grow into soon-to-be 5th graders... it's fun to watch!

I will be out of the classroom for a few days this week - the kids are in good hands with Mrs. Abelar. You can reach me by email if needed.

Notes/Reminders:

- Report cards will be sent home this Friday - please sign and return the envelope after reviewing the report card with your child. Please note that it is common to see a decline in grades from the 1st trimester to the 2nd. The 1st trimester begins with a lot of review, and when we reach the 2nd trimester, we are fully involved in new skills and concepts, and a lot of organization and responsibility is required of the students. If you happen to notice a decline in your child's grades, take the opportunity to discuss with them what they can do differently during the 3rd trimester to raise their grades and make the most of their time in the fourth grade.

- Please sign and return your child's new AR goal sheet.

This week we will...

...continue learning all about the California Gold Rush!

...learn more about fractions. I know this can be a confusing concept for students to grasp. Please take the opportunity to point out fractions in everday life (for example: what fraction of the pizza slices are left in the box after a sleepover?)

...take a district math assessment Tuesday.

AR Update

2009-03-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

The kids asked if I could post the instructions for adding up AR points so that they can check from home, so here they are: (please read the previous post for more info. for this week)
1) Access AR from this site or the Rio site
2) Log in as 'student' using your personal username and password (you should know these by now!)
3) Click "View Quizzes Taken"
4) Select "Reading Practice" from the drop-down menu
5) Click "By Date Taken"
6) Click "Select Marking Period" and highlight "Trimester 2"
7) Click "Next"
8) Add up all of your "Points Earned" (not including anything from before November 8th) Remember to line up your decimals, or better yet, use a calculator!
There is an error in the system, so it is including November 7th, which was from the 1st Trimester. Do not include any points in your calculations from Nov. 7th or earlier.

Week of March 2nd

2009-02-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

Notes/Reminders:

* The last day of the 2nd trimester is March 6th. All old work from the 2nd trimester must be turned in by Thursday, March 5th. Students have till Friday the 6th to complete their AR quizzes and any current work. Report Cards will be sent home the following Friday.

* PVUSD board meetings this week are Wednesday (7pm at Ann Soldo) and Thursday (5pm at Aptos High). Come show your support for teachers, schools, librarians, school nurses, etc.

* Please practice the multiplication facts with your child every day! There is a link to printable flashcards in the Student Links section.

* Please check your homes for Social Studies and Science textbooks! We began the year with one for every child, and we are now missing a few. We need all the textbooks in the classroom for daily use.

This week we will...

...take the state-wide fourth-grade writing assessment Tuesday. Please send your child to class on time, well-fed, and well-rested.

...wrap up negative numbers with a math test Wednesday. Then we'll be diving into everyone's favorite... fractions!

...hopefully complete our reading of By the Great Horn Spoon! Our goal is to complete the book by Thursday so that everyone has a chance to take the AR test before the end of the trimester. The book is worth 6 points! Students who have already reached their AR goal can "save" the quiz till next trimester if they wish.

...start our weekly classes of ceramics (through the SPECTRA program) - Thursday mornings from 7:55 - 8:55. Please make sure students are in class on-time!

Week of February 23rd

2009-02-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

*Check out some of the new links in the Student Link section! The HM Math Site (correlated with our text) is a great place to review for math tests, look up math vocab, or just play some fun games. The Flashcards site has printable flashcards - perfect for multiplication practice.*

I must say how proud I am of all of the students for their dedication to the Bully Skits! They performed the skits for the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes last week, and I have heard nothing but praise from those teachers! Great job! The skits are also being typed and printed for the rest of the Rio teachers to use in their classrooms.

Notes/Reminders:

* Monday brings our fieldtrip to see a performance by the Santa Cruz Symphony. We'll be leaving (by bus) at 10:00 and returning by 1:00. Students need to bring a lunch (no hot lunch) since we'll be returning after our regular lunch time. There are still a few students who have not yet returned the permission slip and $4 fee - they will have to stay behind if not turned in first thing Monday morning.

* The last day of the 2nd trimester is March 6th. All work for the 2nd trimester must be turned in by Thursday, March 5th. Report Cards will be sent home the following Friday.

* PVUSD wants to hear from parents regarding the budget crisis! Go to the PVUSD website and take the parent survey. You can also show your support by joining us Friday afternoons (3:30-5) on the freeway overpass on Rio del Mar Blvd, and by attending the Board meetings. The next one is this Wednesday the 25th. Bring the kids!

* Please practice the multiplication facts with your child every day - Just 5 minutes in the car on the way to school is all it takes. Mastery of these facts will be a huge help in many other math concepts.

* Please check your homes for Social Studies and Science textbooks! We began the year with one for every child, and we are now missing a few. We need all the textbooks in the classroom for daily use.

This week we will...

...finish up Chapter 5 in our Social Studies curriculum. We've been learning all about the Mexican-American War and how California became a state. There will be a test Friday.

...continue reading By the Great Horn Spoon! Thursday brings a quiz covering chapters 5-8.

...learn about negative numbers and how they are used in "real life" .

Week of February 16th

2009-02-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

Thank you for a great Valentine's Day party! The kids had a great time, and we still somehow managed to squeeze in some work! Remember - Monday is a holiday!

Notes/Reminders:

* Our next fieldtrip will be to the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium to see a performance by the Santa Cruz Youth Symphony. This is coming up very soon (Monday, February 23rd). Permission slips are coming home Tuesday. Please send these back with your signature and $4.00 as soon as possible!

* The last day of the 2nd trimester is coming up soon (March 6th). Report Cards will be sent home the following Friday. Keep an eye out for Missing Work notes (coming home this week). Please sign and return these notes!

* PVUSD wants to hear from parents regarding the budget crisis! Go to the PVUSD website and take the parent survey.

* Please check your homes for Social Studies and Science textbooks! We began the year with one for every child, and we are now missing a few. We need all the textbooks in the classroom for daily use.

This week we will...

...perform our Bully Skits for the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes.

...have a visit from a Santa Cruz Symphony docent, who will be teaching us all about the symphony for our upcoming fieldtrip.

...continue learning about the different systems of measurement. There will be a Chapter 15 test Friday the 20th.

...read more of By the Great Horn Spoon! There will be a quiz Thursday covering chapters 1-4.

...begin our next Writer's Workshop project: "How I Can Make A Difference". We'll be using this topic to practice writing a 5-paragraph essay.

Week of February 9th

2009-02-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Please respond to the poll if you haven't already *

* We will be celebrating Valentine's Day as a class this Friday the 13th. An email was sent to all Room 9 families with more information. You can contact Michelle Guzman if you have any questions. There is a class list on the right side of this page. Students are not required to bring Valentines, but if they do, they need to bring one for every student in the class.

* PVUSD wants to hear from parents regarding the budget crisis! Go to the PVUSD website and take the parent survey. If you can make it, there will be a board meeting this Wednesday the 11th.

* As a staff, we are working on improving students' mastery of multiplication. We need your help at home, too! Please practice the multiplication facts with your child every day - Just 5 minutes in the car on the way to school is all it takes. Mastery of these facts will be a huge help in many other math concepts.

Also, please help your child learn to tie his or her shoes if that hasn't already been accomplished. We would like to be able to teach our little kindergarten reading buddies to tie their own shoes, and I was surprised to hear that several fourth-graders do not know how (or have forgotten due to always wearing slip-ons). Once they've mastered this skill, they can pass on their knowledge to their little buddies.

* Please check your homes for Social Studies and Science textbooks! We began the year with one for every child, and we are now missing a few. We need all the textbooks in the classroom for daily use.

* Check out the changes to the right side of the page. I have combined the Homework and Tests sections. There are also now two Links sections, one for students and one for parents. The Student Links section contains several links to sites the kids can use at home to practice their math facts, learn to type, or study for social studies or science.

* Keep an eye out for information and a permission slip for our next fieldtrip. We'll be going to the Santa Cruz Youth Symphony performance at the Civic Auditorium on Monday, February 23rd. The fee is $4 per student.

This week we will...

...learn about the different methods and systems of measurement.

...have our first 5-minute multiplication test - this is the same timed test the class has been taking all year, just with one less minute.

...learn more about how California became a part of the United States. We'll also be starting our next novel, By the Great Horn Spoon, by Sid Fleischman, which is a fun and adventurous tale about a boy and his butler who travel to California in search of gold.

...continue working on the Bully Skits. We are now in the process of typing the final drafts, and rehearsing the skits that will be performed for the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes.

2009-02-03T17:17:00.001-08:00

Thank you drivers and chaperones for joining us on the fieldtrip today! That is one of my favorite trips of the year - so much to see and learn, and it's all so beautiful! - I hope you all enjoyed it as well.

Students have an optional extra-credit opportunity due this Friday - to write about what they learned and enjoyed about today's fieldtrip.

* Join me in welcoming a new student to our class - Kimberley has just moved here from Auburn, and chose a great day to start at Rio!

* Please read the previous posting for more information about this week *

Week of February 2nd

2009-02-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

* Please respond to the poll to the right *

Notes/Reminders:

* This Tuesday brings our fieldtrip to the San Juan Bautista Mission! Everyone has turned in their permission slip, but there are a few students who have not turned in the $1. This must be turned in by Monday! We will be leaving at 9am and returning by 2pm. Students (and parents) need to bring a bag lunch, comfortable shoes, and a jacket. We have several parents chaperoning, so parents will be able to carpool together if they wish. Parents - please be in the classroom by 9am. Let me know ASAP if you can no longer join us on this trip.

* We will have a Valentine's Day class party on Friday, February 13th. Please keep an eye out for a flyer or email from the parents who are coordinating this party. In an effort to save paper in these crazy budget times, I have posted the class list for Valentines here instead of sending them home on paper (on the right).

* The next two Mondays are holidays (9th and 16th).

This week we will...

...continue working on our Bullying Skits. I am very impressed with the teamwork and sincerity that is being put into these skits by all of the Room 9 students.

...move from science to social studies and begin a unit on the Mexican-American War. We'll then move on to the California Gold Rush in the coming weeks. Check the Links section on the right for websites.

...finish reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. There will be a quiz on Friday.

Spelling Bee Winners!

2009-01-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Macie and Grace for being the Room 9 spelling champs! They will be competing against other 4th, 5th and 6th grade students this Friday.

Week of January 26th

2009-01-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Please respond to the poll to the right - thank you! *

* Back to a five-day week! We have a lot going on this week, so please read the entire posting so you are aware of all of the happenings in Room 9.

* San Juan Bautista Mission Fieldtrip is coming up Tuesday, Feb. 3rd. Please return the signed permission slip and the $1 fee per student as soon as possible. I'll be sending home confirmations to parent drivers/chaperones later this week.

* District Surveys, Yearbook Order Forms, and Dismissal Forms were all sent home - please return them if you haven't already done so. The Dismissal Form will assist us in keeping the dismissal process running smoothly, and is for the safety of your children.

* Rio is looking for parent volunteers to assist in the lunch-time recycling program. Please contact Mrs. Dorney if you are interested.

This week we will...

...have a class Spelling Bee on Monday. The top two spellers from each 4th, 5th, and 6th grade class will move on to the Rio Spelling Bee this Friday. This takes place in a 6th grade classroom during the school day, without an audience. The top two spellers from that round will compete in the North Zone Spelling Bee on February 5th, as well as the Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee. I'll post our 2 class winners Monday evening.

...work on the Anti-Bullying skits that our class is writing and performing for the school. We'll be writing several skits for the 2nd-6th grade teachers to use in their own classes. We'll also be writing and performing skits for the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes.

...complete our Rocks & Minerals science unit. There will be a test on Friday, with review homework on Thursday night.

...have a math test Tuesday covering Chapter 13.

....begin our next class novel: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. This is a short but important novel about a young girl affected by the atomic bomb in Japan. We do have a class set, but students are welcome to bring in their own copies (please write their name inside).

...learn how to write a summary. The fourth-grade state writing assessment is coming up in March, and 'summary' is one of the possible options. The other three are narrative, expository, and response-to-literature, which we'll be practicing along with summary over the next several weeks.

Week of January 19th

2009-01-18T21:08:00.001-08:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Scholastic book orders are due Tuesday

* $2 for the California Bat Conservation Fund presentation due Tuesday

* District surveys were sent home last week - please complete and return as soon as possible

* Yearbook order forms were sent home last week - if you need another, ask in the office

* San Juan Bautista Fieldtrip permission slips were sent home last week. We'll be visiting the Mission on February 3rd. Please return the signed permission slip, along with $1 per student.

* Afternoon Dismissal forms were sent home last week. Please return this form as soon as possible if you haven't already. The students' safety is at the heart of these new procedures, and I appreciate your patience and understanding as we work out the bugs in the new dismissal process.

This week we will...

...delve deeper into long-division with 3-digit division.

...see a presentation from the California Bat Conservation Fund on Tuesday morning.

...take the Summative Assessment in Language Arts for the District, which includes a writing assessment. We'll spend Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning working on the assessment.

...continue learning about Rocks and Minerals. Each student needs to bring in rock by Thursday (no bigger than a fist, please).

Welcome Back!

2009-01-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Reminder: School resumes Tuesday, January 13th

I hope you all had a refreshing and relaxing Winter Break! We'll be jumping back into school-mode Tuesday. I know it's difficult to get back on track, but please be sure to get students to class on time and ready to learn!

Take a look at the Class Wishlist on the right side of the page - we are in need of some school supplies. Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

Optional Extra-Credit assignments are due Tuesday. Check the previous post for more information.

Keep an eye out for a fieldtrip permission slip (San Juan Bautista Mission - February 3rd) and a new Scholastic book order.

This week we will...

...begin a unit on Rocks and Minerals. For the next few weeks we'll be learning all about the different types of rocks and minerals and the rock cycle. Check out the Links section for some kid-friendly websites.

...review for the next Language Arts district assessment, which we'll be taking next week. We'll also practice writing descriptive essays, which will also be a part of the assessment in coming weeks.

...continue with Long-Division! It is essential that students have memorized the multiplication facts - please practice these at home!

...have our first session in the new Computer Lab! Before break we had an orientation session, and now we are ready to start using the computers. Our regular time will be Thursdays from 1:00-2:00. If any parents are interested in volunteering their time to help out in the computer lab during that time, let me know. On the Rio home page in the Classroom Blog section there is a link to Diane Sampson's page, where you can learn more about the Computer Lab.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-22T15:06:00.001-08:00

A huge thank you to Caryn and Kelly for organizing our class party, and to all of the parents who were able to help out in various ways. The food was delicious, the craft was adorable, and the game was a huge hit!

School resumes Tuesday, January 13th.

Students have the option of completing an extra-credit assignment over the break. They are due the day we return from break and will not be accepted late.

They may:

* complete the "You be the Judge" page from the James packet

* complete the "Giant Creatures" page from the James packet

* write a conversation (using the "Conversations" page in the James packet as a guide) - performing the conversation is optional

* memorize and perform one of the poems/songs from the book

* Please Note: The Tech Museum fieldtrip has been cancelled. Our next fieldtrip will be February 3rd to the San Juan Bautista Mission

Please check the Class Wish List to the right (scroll down). At this point in the year we are beginning to run short on necessary supplies, such as pencils and erasers. Any donations are truly appreciated.

Week of December 15th

2008-12-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

* Parents: Please respond to the poll to the right if you haven't already done so!*

* Please Note: The Tech Museum fieldtrip has been cancelled. Our next fieldtrip will be February 3rd to the San Juan Bautista Mission *

We have a lot going on this week! Please take the time to read the full blog.

* Please check the Class Wish List to the right (scroll down). At this point in the year we are beginning to run short on necessary supplies, such as pencils and erasers. Any donations are truly appreciated.

* This Wednesday is NOT a restructured day. Release time is 2:05. There will only be Homework Club on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

* The Biography book report packet is due this Wednesday the 17th and will not be accepted late.

* We will be putting on the Living Wax Museum this Thursday at 1:10 in the cafeteria. Students need to have their first-person speeches written and memorized. They also need to have a costume prepared. They can change into the costume before 1:00, they do not need to wear it to school. All parents are welcome to visit the museum.

* Caryn and Kelly have put together a holiday party for our class this Friday. An email was sent to all parents with information. We will be having a breakfast potluck, making a craft, and playing a "White Elephant" gift exchange game. Please be sure to bring in a wrapped, unisex gift that is UNDER $5.00!!!

* Friday we had a school-wide lice check. Hopefully this will help combat the spread of lice we've recently had in the school. If your child has had any evidence of lice, please get them checked by the school nurse before sending them back to class.

* A notice went home last week regarding a mountain lion in the area. Please read through the information and discuss this with your children.

* There is a class photo album in the classroom for parents to add photos to throughout the year. This will be used to assist in the making of our yearbook page.

* This week we are finishing up the Super Hero Picture Books for our reading buddies. These are turning out wonderful! The class will have ample time Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings to finish up their books. They must be completed by recess on Wednesday. We have a parent coming in to bind the books that afternoon (Thank you Jeaneen!).

* Students will have an opportunity to earn extra-credit over the winter break. It will be related to James and the Giant Peach. The students will learn more about this Friday.

* Thursday at 9:15 we'll be going to an assembly to see the "Rock Band" from the afterschool program perform, along with a holiday sing-a-long.

Week of December 8th

2008-12-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

**Please respond to the poll to the right if you haven't already**

Notes/Reminders:

* Biography Book Report packets are due December 17th. They will not be accepted late. On Thursday the 18th we'll be putting on a "Living Wax Museum". Students need to dress up as the person they read about and memorize a first-person speech. We'll start the speeches in class this week. Check the link in the Downloads section for more information.

* The optional California mission extra-credit assignments are due this Friday, December 12th. They will not be accepted late.

* Keep an eye out for information regarding our next fieldtrip (January 16th - Tech Museum), as well as information about our upcoming holiday class party, December 19th.

This week we will...

...continue working on our Mission Brochures. They are turning out really nice - the kids have been putting a lot of energy and time into this project.

...start the art portion of the Super Hero picture books for reading buddies. We'll have a guest art teacher come in Tuesday to teach the class the basics of cartooning.

...read James and the Giant Peach. There will be a quiz Friday. Students need to be sure to take the book home to catch up on any missed chapters if they've been absent.

...have a math test Tuesday covering Chapter 11. Please help your child practice the multiplication facts!!!

...watch the 2nd grade play Wednesday morning.

Week of December 1st (can you believe it?)

2008-11-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

**Parents: Please respond to the poll to the right!!**

Notes/Reminders:

* Please return any social studies textbooks that may be floating around your child's bedroom somewhere! We are missing a few, and need them all for in-class lessons. They will only be sent home to use with occasional homework assignments or for make-up work. Students do have access to a CD-Rom version so they do not have to deal with the textbook at home.

* If you haven't already done so, please return your child's report card envelope with a parent signature. Also, a few students still need to return their AR charts and old work folders with parent signatures.

* Biography Book Report packets were sent home last week. Several students have not yet picked a biography. All books need to be cleared by me. These packets are due December 17th. More information regarding the presentation portion of the project will be sent home later this week. Check the Downloads section for information.

This week we will...

...begin reading James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. We do have a class set, but students are welcome to bring their own copies if they wish.

...continue work on the mission brochures. Information was sent home last week regarding the optional extra-credit portion of this activity.

...begin work on our picture books for our reading buddies in Ms. Sillavo's kindergarten class.

...learn double-digit multiplication! Please spend at least five minutes a day practicing the multiplication facts with your child.

Week of November 24th

2008-11-23T18:04:00.001-08:00

**Parents: Please respond to the poll to the right!!**

Notes/Reminders:

* Wednesday - Friday: No School. Happy Thanksgiving!

* Biography Book Report packets were sent home last week. Several students have not yet picked a biography. All books need to be cleared by me.

This week we will...

...share some of our Writer's Workshop pieces from the first trimester with the rest of the class.

...go to the Big Spin Tuesday afternoon! This is a super fun and energetic assembly for the 4th-6th grade students. All students (with the exception of those with a pink slip during the 1st trimester) have the chance of having their name drawn to spin the wheel to win a variety of prizes, like movie passes or a pizza party. This is also an opportunity to celebrate the 5th and 6th grade students who made honor roll.

...have a math test Tuesday covering Chapter 10.

...begin our in-class Mission Projects on Tuesday. Students will be creating brochures for the California missions. There will be an optional extra-credit opportunity that students may choose to complete at home. More information will be sent home Tuesday.

Week of November 17th

2008-11-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

**Tuesday Update: The class has one small additional social studies homework assignment tonight that was not completed in class today. Also, the Biography Book Report packets were sent home today. Students need to choose a book by Thursday, and they must be approved by me.**

Notes/Reminders:

* Report Cards were sent home Friday the 14th. Please sign and return the envelopes as soon as possible.

* We are in the second trimester now! Just as in the first trimester, I will accept late work (unless otherwise noted), but it will be marked down a full letter grade.

* Check the Links section on the right side of the page. There are new links to helpful and fun sites that your kids can use at home to practice their math facts, language skills, and typing skills.

This week we will...

...begin the next unit in our social studies curriculum. We'll be learning all about the explorers and early settlers in California, as well as the mission system. February 3rd we'll be taking a fieldtrip to the San Juan Bautista mission.

...start a Biography Book Report. Students will choose a biography to read and will complete an accompanying book report packet with a variety of activities. This will be done at home, and is due December 17th. Look for the packet Tuesday of this week.

...learn about compound words and verbs in language arts, and multi-digit multiplication in math.

...write a Thanksgiving story from the point-of-view of the turkey!

Week of November 10th

2008-11-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

Notes/Reminders:

* Monday and Tuesday are holidays.

* Wednesday and Thursday students will be taking the Language Arts district assessment.

* The Current Events and Reading Log links have been moved further down the right side of the page.

* Check the Links section on the right side of the page. There are new links to helpful and fun sites that your kids can use at home to practice their math facts and language skills.

* This week we begin the second trimester. Report Cards will be sent home this Friday. Please return the envelopes with a parent signature. Students will have new AR goals for the trimester. They will bring home their goal sheet for you to review, sign, and return.

* Jogging for the Arts is this Friday the 14th. Our class is scheduled to jog at 9:30. Parents are welcome to cheer on students. If you would like to help with this event, please contact one of our room parents - Michelle Chapa or Jeaneen Clayton.

Week of November 3rd

2008-11-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to Jeaneen and Michelle for organizing such a great Halloween party, and thank you to all of the parents who donated food and supplies, and who helped out during the day.

** Animal Reports are due Wednesday!! Again, they WILL NOT be accepted late.

Animal Report Presentation Schedule:

Wednesday, Nov. 5^th: Desiree, Joshua, Justin, Kyrsta, Luke, Marie, Mary A., Morgan

Thursday, Nov. 6^th: Ben, Christopher, Daniel, Grace, Kassandra, Katie, Macie, Tessa, Tyler, Timmy

Friday, Nov. 7^th: Alex, Dakota, Elizabeth, Jessica, Mary C., Matthew, Max, Sam, Calvin, Lauren

** This Friday, November 7th, is the last day of the first trimester. Any late work must be turned in by Friday. Report Cards will be sent home the following Friday, November 14th.

** The annual Jogging for the Arts fundraiser will be held on Friday, November 14th. Forms will be sent home with students this Monday.

This week we will...

...review/study for the district assessments. There will be a math assessment later this week (most likely Thursday), and a language arts assessment next week.

...study for a science test. We'll be combining Units 2 and 3 (Energy of Living Things and Ecosystems) for a test this Friday. Because of the animal reports, the test will be pretty mellow, nothing to stress about!

...elect our classroom representatives for Student Leadership on Tuesday.

...give our animal report presentations Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

...complete The City of Ember by Thurday. All students will take the AR test by the end of the trimester. The next book we'll be reading is James and the Giant Peach, and we do have a full class set, so students do not need to bring their own copy unless they want to.

Week of October 27th

2008-10-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

Notes/Reminders:

**Monday is the last day I will be editing the Animal Report rough drafts. Students who have not completed their rough drafts by then will need a parent to edit for them, before moving on to the final draft. Students will be presenting their reports on November 5th, 6th, and 7th, but all reports are due on the 5th.

Presentation Schedule:

Wednesday, Nov. 5^th: Desiree, Joshua, Justin, Kyrsta, Luke, Marie, Mary A., Morgan

Thursday, Nov. 6^th: Ben, Christopher, Daniel, Grace, Kassandra, Katie, Macie, Tessa, Tyler, Timmy

Friday, Nov. 7^th: Alex, Dakota, Elizabeth, Jessica, Mary C., Matthew, Max, Sam, Calvin, Lauren

**Friday, October 31st, is an SBC day, so we will be celebrating Halloween this Thursday. Students are welcome to wear their costumes. The school parade will begin right around 8am, and parents are certainly welcome to join us. Michelle Chapa and Jeaneen Clayton have organized a fabulous class party, with a breakfast potluck following the parade and activity centers after recess.

**Homework is light this week due to the short week and the Animal Reports. There will not be a spelling packet or current events. There will be math homework Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday brings a math test covering Chapter 8. Reading Logs will be due Thursday this week.

Week of October 22nd

2008-10-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for attending the Parent/Teacher Conferences this past week! We are back to a regular school week, with Wednesday being a restructured day.

Check out the links to the right!! It took a while, but I finally figured out a way to link important forms to the blog so that you can download and print them from home.

Endangered Animal Reports: We are continuing to work on the rough-drafts in class this week, then they will be sent home to be completed. Some students may benefit from some additional research time at home this weekend, whether it's at the public library or on the computer. Final drafts may be typed or hand-written. There is a creative component as well, or "Special Addition", that needs to be completed at home. Students will also be expected to present their project/report to the class. I will send home more information regarding presentations this week. Homework will be light next week so that students may focus on their reports. Reports are due November 5th and will NOT be accepted late.

This week we will...

...learn about adjectives and adverbs and how they can enhance our writing. "Spooky Stories" is our next Writer's Workshop project, and I hope to have them completed by the Halloween Party for parents to read.

...continue in our science unit, learning all about ecosystems, resources, competition in nature, and animal adaptations.

...dive into algebra in our math curriculum.

...have a substitute Thursday and Friday (Ms. Marhenke)

Conference Week!

2008-10-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

Parents: Please check the conference schedule to the right. Each conference is scheduled for only 20 minutes, so please be on time!

Reminder: School ends at 12:05 every day this week, and there will not be Homework Club, so please remember to make other arrangements.

This week we will...

...visit the Book Fair in the library Tuesday morning. The Book Fair will be open all week until 3:30. We will visit as a class Tuesday, at which time students can browse and purchase books.

...wrap up Chapter 7 in our math books. The test will be given on Friday.

...continue learning about plant and animal habitats and resources, and discover how these new concepts tie in with our animal reports.

...research our endangered animals for our reports. Most students have been able to find a lot of information through library books and the internet. Please check with your child to see if they could benefit from a trip to the public library for some additional resources. Endangered Animal Reports are due November 5th, and will not be accepted late, to ensure that they are included in the first trimester report cards.

Week of October 6th

2008-10-05T14:28:00.001-07:00

Thank you to all of the parents who chaperoned the fieldtrip last Thursday - we couldn't have done it without all of your help! The kids had a blast and everything went so smoothly! The class was given an optional extra-credit assignment - due tomorrow - to write a reflection on the fieldtrip.

Notes/Reminders:

*Check out the "Book Wish List" on the right side of the page just above the "Class Wish List". Any donations of used or new books are greatly appreciated. I've compiled a list of desired books and will continue to update it throughout the year. Thank you!

*This Wednesday, October 8th, is NOT a restructured day. School will end at 2:05.

*Next week (October 13th - 17th) we have Parent Conferences. I will post the schedule on the blog later this week. Notes were sent home last week for you to confirm your conference time. Some parents have not returned these forms. Please do so as soon as possible.

Every day that week is a restructured day - school will end at 12:05. There will NOT be Homework Club at all that week, so remember to make other arrangements.

This week we will...

...be very busy! We will be starting the Endangered Animal Reports. Students were asked to think over the weekend about which animal they would like to research. Check out the list of websites to the right. These animal reports will be mostly done in class (research and rough drafts), but the final drafts will be mostly completed at home. All information regarding requirements and expectations will be given in class tomorrow. Students are encouraged to visit the public library for books about their animal. We will be visiting the school library tomorrow, as well as using the computers for research in class.

...continue our science unit on the Energy of Living Things. We are learning all about decomposers, consumers, and producers, and how they all interact and survive together. These concepts will be incorporated into the Endangered Animal Reports.

...read The City of Ember. Some students have brought in their own copies of the book, which is great! The first quiz will be this Friday.

FIELDTRIP REMINDER!!

2008-10-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we are going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for our first fieldtrip. Parent drivers/chaperones need to be in the classroom at 9:45. We will return by 1:45.

Students must bring a lunch and comfortable walking shoes. There is no need for students to bring any money since they are not allowed to buy anything at the gift shop.

Parent chaperones who have Memberships need to bring their Membership Card.

Students are welcome to bring cameras.

See you tomorrow!

Week of September 29th

2008-09-28T14:41:00.001-07:00

Parents: Please respond to the poll on the right side of this page if you haven't already. Thank you!

Check out the "Book Wish List" on the right side of the page just above the "Class Wish List". Any donations of used or new books are greatly appreciated. I've compiled a list of desired books and will continue to update it throughout the year. Thank you!

This week we will...

...finish up our Native American unit and begin our first science unit. We will be learning all about how plants and animals live and grow together. Next week we will begin our Endangered Animal Reports.

...start reading The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. We do not have a class set of these books. Students are welcome to bring their own copies to read along.

...go on our first fieldtrip! This Thursday we will be going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A reminder note with important information will be sent home Tuesday.

...have the Harvest Festival Friday evening!

Week of September 22nd

2008-09-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

Parents: Please respond to the poll on the right side of this page. Thank you!

A few notes/reminders...

- This Tuesday, September 23rd, is Picture Day!!

- Scholastic Book Orders are due Tuesday.

- There will be a substitute this Thursday.

This week we will...

...start our next Writer's Workshop project - a fictional story based on an illustration from Chris Van Allsburg's book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Check out this website:

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/harrisburdick/introduction.html

...finish up Island of the Blue Dolphins by Friday. Next week we will begin reading The City of Ember.

...have a math test Thursday. This will cover Chapter 5.

...complete our Native Californian Centers.

Week of September 15th

2008-09-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

A letter from Mrs. Dorney was sent home on Friday regarding the death of a Rio student. Sofia Wardle was a second-grader who had battled cancer for many years. Friday was a difficult day, but I was very impressed with the way your children handled it. We talked as a class about Sofia and about our feelings and experiences with losing loved ones. One of the first concerns from the class was how the little kindergarteners would handle it. There were some tears throughout the day, and they were all very sympathetic and respectful of each other's feelings. It was wonderful to see them all come together to support one another in such a mature, compassionate way. Sofia will certainly be missed by all of the Rio students, staff, and families.

*************************************************************************************

This week we will...

...learn about common nouns, compound sentences, and using commas.

...continue with our Native Californian Tribe centers and flipbooks.

...have a math test on Tuesday which will cover chapters 3 and 4.

...go to an assembly Thursday morning - a performance by the Banana Slug String Band.

...have a Language Arts test Thursday. This will cover all of the reading and grammar skills we've been learning about through the Language Arts program (subject/predicate, common nouns, compound sentences, etc.)

Week of September 8th

2008-09-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

Parent Volunteers are welcome to start coming in this week. If they'd rather not start till next week, that is fine too. A notice was sent home last week with an updated schedule. Please remember to coordinate with those who share your volunteer time so that you can alternate weeks.

Starting this week the class will have a new regular homework assignment - Current Events. Students will be asked to find and read news articles, write a summary and reflection, and present them to the class. We will be practicing this process as a class on Monday. The class will be divided into two groups (A and B) so that each student is given the assignment every other week.

This week we will...

...begin our Native Californians learning centers (Chapter 2 of Social Studies). Over the next few weeks we will be learning all about the Native American tribes throughout California.

...continue reading Island of the Blue Dolphins. We should be completing the novel in the next two weeks, then moving on to The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. We do not have a class set of this book so students are welcome to bring their own copy.

...read a story about the Titanic. This is the third story of the "Journeys" theme in our Language Arts reader.

...have our first lesson from Senora Murray! She will be here Wednesday mornings for the first half of the year to teach the class Spanish!

...visit the library on Friday morning. Last week the students were able to check out books for the first time, so they are due back this Friday.

Week of September 1st

2008-08-31T12:48:00.000-07:00

Reminder: Monday is Labor Day... No School!

I want to thank all of the parents who were able to make it to Back-to-School Night last Wednesday. If you have any further questions about what I covered, or forgot to cover as the case may be, feel free to email me at mrs.davis9@gmail.com

Thank you to all who signed up to volunteer in the classroom! I have some scheduling issues to work out so I will be contacting you all this week, and volunteers can start coming in next week, Monday, September 8th. Look for an updated volunteer schedule coming home Tuesday.

Week of August 25th

2008-08-24T15:48:00.001-07:00

I can't believe we are already starting the third week of school!! So far our year has been great - the kids have been so sweet and eager to learn!

This week we will...

...continue reading Island of the Blue Dolphins. The class will have their first quiz on chapters 1-10 this Wednesday.

...continue Chapter 1 in our Social Studies unit. We're learning all about the regions of California and working on our map-reading skills.

...start our first Writer's Workshop project. Students will be writing about a "Memorable Moment" from their own life. We'll be focusing on the writing process, as well as writing a clear beginning, middle, and end to their stories.

...have our first visit to the school library. Our library time this year will be Fridays at 9:15.

...get ready for Back-to-School Night!! I'm looking forward to seeing all of you parents this Wednesday at 6:30. Remember, this is a Parents-Only event. It is an opportunity for me to explain how our classroom runs and to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Please email me at mrs.davis9@gmail.com with any questions!

Mid-Week Update

2008-08-20T14:07:00.001-07:00

There has been a change in the homework schedule for tonight and tomorrow night. On the schedule for tonight was a worksheet on the "Iditarod", related to the story we've been reading in class. This will now be Thursday night's homework. Tonight I have assigned Lesson 3, Problems 9-25 in their math textbook. We just received our textbooks today and wanted to give the students an opportunity to get acquainted with them. The other assignment for tonight is to practice multiplication facts. The class will be given their first timed-multiplication test tomorrow.

If you have any questions, please email me at mrs.davis9@gmail.com Unfortunately my classroom computer is being difficult and not letting me check email, so I won't be checking it until I am home this evening.

I look forward to seeing you all at Back-to-School Night next Wednesday, the 27th, at 6:30.

On to week two...

2008-08-17T18:07:00.001-07:00

Our first week went really well, and the kids seem excited about starting a new year in the fourth grade!

This week we will dive into the curriculum. The social studies unit we're starting with is all about the geography of California. We've begun reading Island of the Blue Dolphins as a class, and we've also started into the reading textbook with a story about the Iditarod titled "Akiak".

Homework will start this week. I'll be sending home a letter explaining the homework routines and what to expect over the year. The weekly homework will be posted on this blog, along with a lot of other important information, so it's a good idea to bookmark the site and check it often.

Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th.

Monday, September 1st, is a holiday - No School!

If you have any questions, please email me at mrs.davis9@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Welcome!!

2008-07-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Room 9 students and families!

Some of you may know me from the last 2 years as Ms. Street, but I am now Mrs. Davis after getting married over the summer.

Don't forget, the first day of school is Wednesday, August 13th. School begins at 7:49. I know it's difficult to get back on schedule after the lazy days of summer, but it is important to get to school on time, well-rested and well-fed. All parents are invited to the Back-To-School Coffee hosted by the Parent Alliance. This will be held at the picnic tables in the park first thing in the morning. Head on over there after dropping off your child!

I am excited to get the year started and to meet you all! If you have any questions, shoot me an email at mrs.davis9@gmail.com.

Here is a list of school supplies that I would like each student to bring (Please label all personal belongings):

* several sharpened #2 pencils

* a 2-subject spiral notebook (with or without pockets)

* a set of colored pencils

* a personal pencil sharpener

* a pencil case

* 2 dry-erase markers (any color)

* a sock or rag

* a homework folder (2-pocket "portfolio" folder)

* a personal re-usable water bottle