HOMEWORK FOR TONIGHT!

Homework for Thursday, February 26th

We are getting ready for the Smarter Balance Test at the end of fourth grade! 
Tonight, check out the website and the practice test for math 4th grade. Become familiar with the tools and try some Language Arts questions.

• Type http://caaspp.org/practice-and-training/ in the address or search bar or click here: Practice Test  and click on "Student Interface Practice and Training Tests"
• click on "sign in" (you are a guest)
• Select your grade and click "yes"
• Select ELA 3-5 Training Test

There is no other ELA homework tonight! You don't have to do the entire test but do some practice. About  1/2 hour is good!

Have fun!

Remember, your ADJUSTING A RECIPE PROJECT is due tomorrow!

We Ask, Hailey Answers!

Check out the answers to some questions we asked Hailey about Bele, Ethiopia!CLICK HERE to go to Hailey's Blog Post "From the Mouths of America's Future

The Week Ahead...

First of all, I'd like to take a minute to thank you all for making me feel so special and loved on Friday! I would also like to thank you for your donations to our "Minute to Win It, Valentine Edition" games! A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Keating, Mrs. Hahm Takelender, Mrs. Avellaneda, and Mr. Petersen for their help in making it such a memorable experience for our kids!

To see PHOTOS click on the PHOTO link above! Hysterical videos coming soon!

We are still in need of paper towels, tissues, white copy paper, and baby wipes in the classroom

Thank You!

Come watch your child BALLROOM DANCE! 

This Thursday, February19 from 12:20-1:10 come to the auditorium to be treated to a peek of their growing talent! Please sign in at the office before coming to the auditorium!

Curriculum This Week in:

Math: 

We will continue to focus on fractions. 
There will be a FRACTION KNOWLEDGE AND DECOMPOSING FRACTION QUIZ ON WEDNESDAY!
Please continue to refer to the link I sent last week to help you help your child. Here it is again: CLICK HERE. You can also refer to the Eureka Form that went home a few weeks ago and is highlighted on the JANUARY 25TH post.

English Language Arts:

Informational Writing and annotating text. Finish up work with Who Was Steve Jobs?

Science (Mrs. Dant):

Continuing to work on Earth Science

Social Studies:

Delving further into our unit on California Missions. Taking the perspective of BOTH the Spanish and the California Natives!

Health:

Informational Writing on various health topics

Canoga Park HS Art Show

One person from our class has submitted art to the Canoga Parks Art Show taking place on Saturday, February 21, 2015.  

All the other students who were interested in having their art displayed, remember please turn your work in to me by Wednesday.  I gave all the students who were interested in submitting their artwork a flyer with an application last week, but will send another slip home on Tuesday asking for your permission to submit the WARM AND COOL COLORS SUNSET piece we did in class. If you choose to ONLY submit the sunset piece from school. all that is needed is the signed application by WEDNESDAY!

Parents, you must fill out the application on the page 2.  Everything is due on Wednesday.  Please let me know you have any questions.  Here is the information on the art show.  Everyone is welcome to stay and enjoy the show and other activities on this day.  Thank you!

Minute to Win it

THANK YOU! And On To The Third and Final Phase!

We are the proud recipients of 4 Chromebooks and 6 colorful covers! 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Our 3rd and final phase (3 Chromebooks, 1 more cover, and a storage compartment) of our project is up!

If you have any friends or family who would like to help, we were lucky enough to get the opportunity for matching funds again. By entering SPARK in the promo code section, the donation will be DOUBLED!!

Here is the link Our Donation Page for TechYeslogy, Not TechNology, To Ethiopia and Beyond3

EXCITING NEWS

A journalist got wind of our request and may be writing a short article on us, our request, and our relationship with our new pen pals from Ethiopia!

Updates and Other Points of Interest

This week we will be studying:

In Math: Finishing up our division unit and moving on to fractions
Click HERE for an EXCELLENT overview of fractions the COMMON CORE way

In ELA: Continuing Who Was Steve Jobs, along with informative writing and text structure

In Science: Mrs. Dant continues instruction in Earth Science

In Social Studies: Finishing up Explorers and moving on to California Missions. There will be a quiz on Explorers this Wednesday. Use the link in the upper right hand corner to log on to your  Pearson OLE Social Studies  page (using the same username and password as Pearson Realize-Math) for assignments to help you study

In Art: Continue our study on creating texture using lines to create Power Hands!

Thank you for contributing to our Donors Choose project. 

We have secured 4 Chromebooks and 6 iPearl covers!

You are the best!

We are SO grateful and appreciative!

The 3rd and final phase will include 2 more Chromebook and a storage center! That will be coming soon!

GLOBAL THINKING

Ethiopian Pen Pals

We are in the process of writing back our Ethiopian Pen Pals and creating a video to show our life in West Hills. We are even learning how to write some Amharic phrases in Fidel! Pretty impressive!

Students are brainstorming ideas and we may need your help in capturing photos and very short videos of your child engaged in their everyday activities like dance and sports.

A video they shared with us of their Wolitic traditional dance

We are in need of tissues, paper towels, and white copy paper in the classroom

Thank You!

Our New Way to Divide

Today we learned a really cool way to divide. Here are examples for students who need help remembering, and for their parents!

Click HERE for Division Homework Help Video Explanation (This uses a 2 digit divisor and we are only using a one digit divisor) 

Steve Jobs

Meet Our Pen Pals from Bele, Ethiopia!

We received letters from our pen pals in Bele, Ethiopia! My daughter, Hailey is serving in the Peace Corps since July, 2013 and will return in September, 2015.

The Third Goal of the Peace Corps is to promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.

I made this video to introduce you to your pen pals from Bele, Ethiopia and to give you a glimpse into life in this rural town, including photos from our visit last summer!

Feel free to share it!

Click on the YouTube icon to view in regular size!!

Thankful to Be Back to School!

Student Led Conferences

It was fabulous to meet and talk with all of you last week during our student led conferences and I am thankful for our team! I enjoyed talking with parents and students together.  I also learned a lot about my students and I hope the process was beneficial for you as well.  When we get back from the Thanksgiving vacation we will continue to work on our goals.  Thank you for your support and interest.

Why is this new math so different?

Many parents asked me about the common core math we are doing right now.  Our classroom is using a combination of Pearson/Envision Math for CCCS and Engage NY.  Both programs are aligned to the Common Core standards and will prepare your child for future learning in math, as well as the Smarter Balance testing.  I think this video explains it well.  If you have 10 minutes to spare and are interested in learning some reasons why the "new way" of doing math has many benefits, please check it out...

Why Is Math Different Now? VIDEO

What can I do to help my child become a better reader?  

• Consistent daily reading helps increase your child's comprehension and builds confidence.  Read with your child as often as possible.  Or at the least, check in with he/she daily.
• Ask questions about the story or non fiction book.  Here is a document Mrs. Hauser gave to some parents at her conference last week to use as a guide. I liked it, so I wanted to share it! Click on this link to download it.  Have a discussion using these questions.
• Read a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.  The Common Core Standards consist of a  balance of the two types.  

If you have any more questions please let me know.  Thank you again for attending the conference and I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

This Week in:

Math, 

we will be continuing multiplication, focusing on problem solving

There are some FABULOUS math games on Pearson Realize

Click here:

Pearson Realize Math Games

You will need to use your Pearson Realize username and password

Language Arts, 

we will be continuing to work on figurative language, preparing to create a resource book. We will have a test on Chapters 6-10, Winn Dixie on Wednesday. Vocabulary to focus can be accessed by clicking on the VOCABULARY tab above

Science, 

we will learn about electricity conductors and insulators

California Location Movies are DUE ON 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH