Wednesday, December 21, 2011

December Newsletter


Dear Parents,

Happy holiday wishes to one and all!

We've accomplished a lot in the last few months, and I'm looking forward to reporting more extraordinary accomplishments in the months to come.

Let's review the year so far:

August:  Classroom procedures and regulations posted and practiced (and practiced and practiced....).  Tests administered to collect information on our students and how they learn.

September:  Learning to write well, speaking with confidence, learning ways to be a better friend, reviewing math concepts, engaging in energy science in hands-on ways that make sense, learning about Argentina.

October:  Our poetry studies culminating with the Cider House, studying the history of our country, learning long division and multiple-digit multiplication, algebraic equations, how to write with more detail, how to have fun while learning, remembering that effort is crucial for the class to progress.

November:  Thanksgiving memories, history and projects that showed how our Native Americans lived in the 1600s.  Making pesto with basil from our garden.  Reading Walk Two Moons, a novel written by Sharon Creech, a famous children's book author and grandmother of student, Pearl.

December:  Lessons in history, mostly with our teacher assistant, Ms. Houston, who brings the birth of the United States to the students with her wonderful delivery.  She entices the students to discover the myriad influences of European countries in the making of our great country and how it was complicated and messy.
We also finished Walk Two Moons, and when it was done some students said it made them want to cry.  I was actually about to cry!  We'll spend some time digesting the themes and vocabulary in the weeks to come.

We also did an amazing job with our fundraiser and will receive a Veggie U kit in the next few weeks.  The children will grow vegetables in the classroom, get into worm culture and eat a lot of great food!  This is a nutrition and farming curriculum that ties into our schoolyard garden in a big way!

We had a party today in the afternoon.  Thank you parents for bringing and sending in all the treats.  I'm glad I scheduled the party for the end of the day because with the dancing, hooting and hollering, I don't know if we would have been able to do anything else otherwise!  Your kids were jamming to the music, singing the lyrics and having a great time.  I got a lot pleasure watching (and sometimes dancing) them!

Also, thank you for the gift card to Acacia Bistro and the $50 in cash.  You shouldn't have!  My job is to teach, guide and love.  Simple.  The love I get back from you and your children is priceless!

Ok, now we'll set our sights on the New Year.  We'll continue with fractions and decimals in January in preparation for the next paced assessment on January 22nd (I think).  We'll start literature circles where students will read various novels in small groups.  We'll get more active with our energy studies and continue our study of the human body.  We'll continue social studies with the making of the US with the American Revolution looming before too long.

I'd like to take a moment to say a hearty goodbye and godspeed to Emily and her family who were with us at John Eaton for only five weeks.  They hail from Australia and were in the US for four months teaching and learning at universities and elementary schools in the region.  Thanks so much for your presence and contribution to our global community.  We'll miss you.  Please stay in touch!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!  MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS FOR 2012 COME TRUE.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Thursday's Information

No Homework (Houston Math does have an assignment)  tonight except signed Thursday report cover sheets and an item for the classroom auction if contributing.

Goodbye Isabella.  Have fun in Miami!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Chipotle and Homework Post

Parents!

I know I sent an email, but I'm posting here too:  WE DID IT!  WE RAISED THE FUNDS FOR OUR VEGGIE U CURRICULUM KIT WITH EXTRA CASH TO BOOT!  THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT!

We raised $1,242.76, and Chipotle donated $621.31 for our curriculum kit with $171.36 left over to spend on a gardening initiative with the entire school.

Hooray!

It's so heartening to see what we can accomplish together.  I'll take lots of photos when we use the kit so you can see what you paid for!


Homework

Walk Two Moons packet

Coti Math:  Journal 2, page 195


Field Trip tomorrow to see The Nutcracker.  We have room on the bus for parents who would like to join us.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Homework, Fundraiser and a Field Trip!

Homework -- Monday, December 5, 2011

Unit 5 in Vocabulary Workshop.  Read article on chemistry and complete word study on the next two pages.

Coti Math:  Study Link 7.1

Houston Math:  handout.

REMINDER:

TOMORROW IS THE CHIPOTLE FUNDRAISER FOR OUR SCIENCE KIT.  I PLAN TO BE THERE AT 5 TO MEET THE MANAGER.  THE FUNDRAISER WILL BE HELD FROM 5-8.  TRY TO GET OUT THERE IF YOU CAN AND BRING THE FLYER WITH YOU!

THURSDAY IS THE FIELD TRIP TO SEE THE NUTCRACKER.  WE'RE ASKING FOR $10 FOR THE BUS FEE PLUS A SIGNED FIELD TRIP FORM.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Homework-- Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Vocab. Workshop, page 43
Finish book reviews
Math handout on fractions.  Do four problems on page in math notebook.

The time frame for the Chipotle outing is 5-8, not 6-8 as previously stated.  Hope you can get over there (Tenleytown location) on December 6!

No school on Friday.  Teacher Professional Development

Monday, November 28, 2011

Homework and Fundraising for our Class!

Hello!

I'd like to welcome Emily McEvoy to our class.  Emily is from Australia and will return to her country in about five weeks.  We have her for a very short while, but it's great to have her with us!

Tonight's homework:

Math:  handout

Vocab. Workshop:  pages 41 and 42

Glyphs:  Those who didn't complete their glyphs today in school need to bring them in tomorrow.  Half the class did not participate in this activity since they were with the American Ballet Theatre.

NOTICE


OUR CLASS HAS PARTNERED WITH CHIPOTLE FOR A FUNDRAISER ON DECEMBER 6 FROM 6-8 PM.   FIFTY PERCENT OF PROCEEDS GO TO A GARDENING/NUTRITION INITIATIVE THAT MEETS OUR SCIENCE, MATH AND READING STANDARDS.  EVERYTHING OVER AND BEYOND $450 WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL!  


PLEASE COME OUT TO CHIPOTLE IN TENLEYTOWN ON DECEMBER 6 AND SUPPORT OUR CLASS!   FLYERS WILL BE DELIVERED TO BACKPACKS TOMORROW.  THANKS!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

American Indian Presentations










Hello!

These photos show a few groups who shared their American Indian projects this afternoon.  The students worked hard to get these projects finished before the break.  A couple of groups will have to present after the break, though, since they haven't quite finished.

The students were broken into groups that researched Indians in different regions of the U.S.:  Eastern, Southwest, Plains and Arctic.

Look for more photos next week after the remaining groups present!

Monday, November 21, 2011

NO HOMEWORK

No homework this week due to testing and Thanksgiving holiday.

Get lots of rest and eat a good breakfast in preparation for the math exam and have a wonderful time with family and friends during the Thanksgiving break!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Homework, Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Grammar:  Review and practice Unit 5.  Quiz on Friday.  Choose 3 items from each section on the last four pages.

Coti Math:  handout

Houston Math:  handout plus practice fact triangles

Sawyer:  handout

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Homework, November 15, 2011

Language Arts:  Handout on main and helping verbs.  Complete the even numbers from 10-20 on the Independent Practice section on page 2.  Quiz on main, helping and past, present, future verb forms on Friday.

Coti Math:  Choose 5 division problems and complete.  Please show your work.

Houston Math:   Handout.

Sawyer:   Handout.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Tonight's Homework: Monday, November 14, 2011

Reading/Writing:  Handout on Walk Two Moons.  Answer the three comprehension questions in full sentences from chapters 17 and 18.  Choose a discussion question for tomorrow from the "discussion section."

Coti Math:  Assignment on tenmarks.com.  Log in and go to your messages.  Click to find your assignment on divisibility.  Click on assignment.

Houston Math:  Studylinks, page 259.

Sawyer Math:  Handout

Some students need to finish their "trash" books.   We're reading them to the kindergarten and  first grade on Wednesday.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Today's Field Trip and Homework


















Today was a great day in so many ways:  beautiful weather, an interesting, educational and fun field trip to the Natural History Museum and a picnic on the Mall!  Oh, and it was Kaan's birthday!  His father came on the trip and when we returned to school, he brought in homemade cupcakes to celebrate.  Yum!

 Our students got their hands onto bones and teeth from a person who lived during colonial times and determined the gender, age and general health of the person by examining them.  We determined that the person was a female slave who most probably worked on a tobacco plantation.  She was between 25 and 29 years old and lived a hard life.

After our studies in the forensic lab, we toured the "Written in Bone" exhibit and filled in a study guide created by Michelle and Eileen (our enrichment coordinators) to try to find the answers to mystery people who died long, long ago.  Thank you Michelle and Eileen for all the background preparation you did to make this trip such a big success and thanks to all the parents who came on the trip to facilitate the learning/

Our homework this evening is to write a narrative essay about today's trip with a minimum of three paragraphs.  The students learned a lot.  I know I did!

There will not be a blog entry tomorrow due to the holiday weekend.  Enjoy!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Homework and More!

Hello Parents,

This is a short week, but it is filled with exciting activities.

Our field trip to the Natural History Museum is this Wednesday.  We are going to become forensic anthropologists and learn how to identify key characteristics from human bones such as age, any diseases and maybe cause of death.  The students will be in small groups of four with an adult facilitator as they explore the display area after they experience the lab portion of the trip.

On Thursday, award-winning author Sharon Creech will visit our classroom and talk about her book Walk Two Moons which we are currently reading.  We hope to also have the students participate in a Readers Theater.

Today we had our American Indian Celebration.  The students were wowed by the dances and stories, and the presentation ties in with our projects on Native Americans.  The students are working in groups or partnerships to show what they learn about different tribes in various regions of the country.  The projects have written, oral and construction components.  Please check with your students to see the rubric so you know what is expected.

Friday is a holiday, so I hope you all enjoy a long weekend that is relaxing and fun!

Tonight's Homework:

Finish paragraphs from 4-Square template.
If you have a computer, research your American Indian region and bring some information to share with your group.
Coti Math:  handout on long division
Houston Math:   page 154 in CM journal plus one story problem on long division.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Homework, Thursday, November 4th

Social Studies:  Finish questions 1-4 on page 87.
Finish typing any text for "trash" books.
Coti Math:  handout
Houston Math:  handout

Monday, October 31, 2011

Homework, Monday, October 31, 2011

Bring in 10 pieces of candy for an activity tomorrow morning if you go trick-or-treating or attend a party.
Houston Math:  worksheet
Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Cider House Photos

Hello Parents!







I'm so glad so many of you made it out to our Cider House for the poetry reading.  Didn't our students do an excellent job?  I am so proud of each and every student.   Hope you enjoyed the photos!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Cider House and Homework



Hello Parents!

I've changed the name of our poetry reading from coffee house to cider house since cider is what we'll drink!
I hope many of you will come out and listen to our children read their original works.  I took three of their poems to my book club last Friday night (poetry was the subject of the evening), and the members were amazed at the depth and wisdom in the students' poems.

We visited Politics and Prose today, braving light rain to walk there.  We listened to Linda Urban speak about her life as a writer starting from first grade when she wrote her first poem.  She inspired us!  We all pledged to take up her assignment to write down something we are burning to do with our lives and pretend it has already happened.  The idea is to put this paper behind a magic mirror or alarm clock or some object we see first thing in the morning and last before bedtime and grow into becoming that thing we most burn to be.
My hand was raised in the pledge as well!

Homework

Study for tomorrow morning's grammar quiz.
Work on recycling books or write a discussion question from The Kid Who Ran For President depending on which group you're in.




Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Homework--Monday and Tuesday, October 24 and 24, 2011 and Field Trips

Reminder:  Field Trips on Wednesday and Thursday to Shakespeare Theater and Politics and Prose
Poetry Reading in the CotiSweets Classroom on Friday at 11:15 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MS. HOUSTON AND MAXIM!

Monday:  Vocabulary Workshop, pages 26-28
Coti Math:  Journal, page 66
Houston Math:  Study Links, page 103 plus one word problem
Sawyer Math:  Handout on long division


Tuesday:  Grammar Review Packet for Friday's Test
Coti Math:  Study Links 3.3 plus handout on division facts
Houston Math:  Handout
Sawyer Math:  Handout

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Be Water Wise DC plus today's Homework

Hello Parents!

Today NPR's Morning Edition came to Eaton and followed a small group of students around the school as they conducted water flow audits of our sinks.  We were interviewed and will appear on tomorrow morning's broadcast of Morning Edition on 88.5 FM during the morning rush hour.  Since this is a large window of time, it might be difficult to hear the segment.  If so, just listen online!

I've posted a few more photos of yesterday's field trip.  I was so busy with the students today that I completing forgot to take photos of today's water activities.   We'll continue to conduct our water audit throughout the school, so there is plenty of opportunity to take more photos of our young scientists in action.  Please check backpacks for the letter of introduction to the Be Water Wise program.  There is also a media release form and a water worksheet #1 for the students to complete tonight for homework.

Homework -- Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Vocab. Workshop, Page 23
Water Worksheet #1
Coti Math:  Graph DC annual rainfall on a line graph.  See the graphing activity we completed today on Argentina.
Houston Math:  Journal, page 131
Practice math triangles
Study for Friday's quiz





Hope some of you can join us for tomorrow's Recycling Assembly at 1:30!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Today's Field Trip and Homework




Vocabulary Workshop, page 22

Complete post-survey on Plants/Farming and write two paragraphs
on our field trip to Arcadia Farms.  The first paragraph should give
an overview of the trip and the second paragraph should describe
an activity you especially enjoyed.

Houston Math:  cut out your multiplication triangles and bring to class tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Homework-- Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Coti Math:  Study Links, 5.5

Vocabulary Workshop, page 21

Writing:  We're reading Walk Two Moons as a class. Each student has a copy to borrow for the duration of our book study.  In the beginning of the novel, Sal is about to leave on a cross-country trip with her grandparents.
Writing assignment:  write a short personal narrative (one page) about a grandparent or an older adult you have spent some time with.  Have you ever gone on a trip with grandparents or another older adult?  Write about that trip.  Do you have a fond memory (or not so fond) about a time you spent with a grandparent or other older adult?  Your memory can be funny, sad, happy or just plain weird.  Write about it!  Remember your four-square method for setting up your paragraphs.  Have fun!

Remember to submit the permission slip and $10 bus fee tomorrow or Monday at the latest.  We need to book the bus on Monday.  Thanks!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

News! Homework Posting

Hello Parents!

I'd like to let you know that I have a parent/teacher conference sheet posted on the classroom door.  If you can't make it on Monday, I can meet with you at another time after school.

The students have written some excellent poetry and would like to share it with you.  We are going to hold a poetry reading in our "Coffee House" on Friday, October 28 at 11:00.  This is a half-day, so you can take your child with you when you leave if that works for you.  We plan to serve hot apple cider and cookies while you listen to the wonderful words your children have woven together.  We've studied several literacy devices that they have used in their poetry including:  metaphor, simile, personification, rhythm and sensory details.  We hope you can join us on the 28th!

Homework:  Tuesday, October 11

Reading:  Read the article on bones.  Find three main ideas and write three supporting details for each.   Be ready to talk the similarities and differences between the animals you read about and our own bones.

No math homework tonight.

Looking forward to hearing about our students' White House experience!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hello Parents! Let's get this blog running!

It's about time to get this thing going since the Eaton site isn't ready yet.  I'm chomping at the bit to get news of what's happening in our classroom out to you and also posting homework so we're all on the same page (homework, however, will have to be posted tomorrow!).

So...what's happening in the CotiSweets classroom?  Lots of stuff!  Our Literacy Block of time in the morning has us reading about Alaska and reading folktales depending on the flexible groups.  We're studying setting, plot, characters and getting into the meat and bones of what makes a story interesting.  We're also sharing lots of questions and ideas that come from your children.  We're going to switch up in the next week or so to study the book Walk Two Moons as a class endeavor and then get organized into literature circles to read and study other great books in small groups.  We'll also get into informational text through our science studies of the human body and plugging into a site created by a DC teacher who has many articles about what's happening in our world for our students to explore and digest.

We've welcomed Cara Houston to our school as a classroom assistant for both fourth grades.  Cara comes from Vermont where she obtained her degree in Elementary Education,  She supports both classrooms in reading and math and is a godsend to our classroom community. She already has a handle on how to manage a classroom with firmness and kindness, and the students love her. Go Cara!  We've also welcomed Ms. Adam, a student intern from Howard University who will be with us until December.  She arrived today and got into the mix immediately with a math group who were exploring place value.  I know she'll love her stay at Eaton.  My motto is:  "throw 'em into the mix and let them learn by experience."  I think she gets it!  Welcome Semina!

In math, we're reviewing a lot of concepts that will be tested in early October.  At least the test is aligned now, and the students should absolutely Ace It!   We also bring more sophisticated topics into the mix where your children can expand their knowledge.  For example, I've introduced the game, Rodringo, where algebraic equations are picked out of a bag, and the students have to discern their meanings and place rods onto rod mats.  We also use the laptops to practice concepts.  Feedback is immediate which helps the students to rethink problems and try again.  www.ixlmath.com is a wonderful website.  Check it out at home!  I am going to write a small grant in order to get a classroom account.  Wish me luck! The students need work on word problems.  They need to know what question the problem poses and work out a plan to solve it.  We've been working on a four-step plan for problem solving that includes: read the problem, work out a plan, solve the problem and then look back to see if the solution makes sense.  The last step is critical because many times, a student rushes through a problem and doesn't check to make sure the answer is correct.  Please work with your child to go back to the problem to make sure they've covered every step when homework includes word problems and actually any problem! I've seen children shake their heads over thoughtless mistakes. They NEED TO CHECK BACK!

In social studies, we're connecting the early people of North America with South America since Argentina is our country of study in 4th grade.  Thanks to Benji's mother, Laura, we were fortunate to have a guest speaker from Argentina come to our school to give a presentation on the country.  Marina is Under-Secretary for Intervention and Risk Control in the Ministry of Health of Argentina.  She gave us a beautiful montage of images of Argentina with her savvy commentary, left us with many beautiful photos with captions that the students can fit together, flags, chocolates, mate, and wonderful brochures that provide us with a pile of information about the country.  Thank you Laura and Marina for taking the time to provide us with a rich introduction to Argentina!

Science has us studying the human body through nutrition and exercise.  We've used a great internet site that gets kids excited about healthy foods and exercise, the nutrients that good foods contain and the steps to greater health.  We've also just recently started our bone studies.  We've jumped rope to observe which parts of the body moving, counted our bones and then looked at pictures of bones in order to determine how many bones are in the human skeleton.  We worked in groups on a certain area of the body and then came back together to share our results.  I have to tell you that your very observant and careful students counted 206!  This is exact number of bones in the typical human skeleton after infancy.  Today, we dissected owl pellets in order to find the similarities and differences between our bones and the bones of a vole.  I have uploaded some pictures from our math and science classes today.

Tomorrow we are going to harvest all the remaining basil in our school garden and make pesto to celebrate School Gardens Week.  We plan to share our dish with the other fourth grade.

Be on the lookout next month for exciting news about the DC School Recycling Initiative!

All is well in the CotiSweets classroom.  Please check on homework and PLEASE get those Thursday report cover sheets returned to school on Friday.  I take a lot of time to get them out to you with classwork, homework return rates and behaviour feedback.  I want to know you've seen this report, and the only way I can is the signed copy that comes back on Friday.  This way, I know the home/school connection is complete for the week.  Also, if you haven't sent in the $15 for the cursive and vocabulary books, I'd be happy to receive it.  If it's a hardship, send what you can.  Thanks!

Thank you, parents, for being such supportive champions of your child's progress through fourth grade.  Let's give a cheer for a GREAT BEGINNING!