Hello,

Here is an update about what's happening in Room 17!

SCIENCE:  For the next few weeks, up until MEA Testing, the 4th grade will be going to Miss Miller's class to do three mini units:  Astronomy, Energy, and Cycles (Rock, Water, etc.).  We have found that these areas commonly come up on the MEA and we want our students to be familiar with each subject.  Since we have new science kits this year, we are no longer studying these mini units in depth anymore. The 5th grade will remain with me working with levers, taking notes, and writing up lab reports and making conclusions.  I also hope to do a mini science fair project with the 5th grade as well.... to give them a sense about what is to come next year.

 MATH:  Math is going very well for both grades.  4th grade has just started work in the new journal, and 5th grade will be starting their new journal this week.

READING:  Students should continue to read their chapter book at home until the end of this week.  We won't do a FULL book report on the book, but I will have them answer some questions in class that will be homework to finish.  In class, we are reading short biographies and we will be doing a small project with them.

WRITING:  We are doing a creative story this week and we will continue to do many writing assignments leading up to Writers' Showcase which is coming up sooner than we think! 

LANDMARKS:  We have been having fun with Landmarks ands gearing up for the Civic Oration Contest.  Everyone has chosen a National Landmark and their brochures and Landmark Cartoons will soon be in the hallway to marvel at!  

 GO PATS!!

 Have a great day,

MR. C.
 

    Hello Everyone! 

    Thanks again to all who sent in cereal boxes. We now have enough.

    Here is what's going on in room 17 this week:

    We have finished Maniac Magee and now we will be doing some "heavy thinking and writing with the book."  If your child is in my reading group, then part of this week's homework won't be due until the end of next week, but should be done extremely well! No slop and no one or two sentence answers. 

    Here are the four questions we will talk about and start writing in class.  It will be up to the students to take the work home and finish it.  Typing the answers is absolutely allowed; it's actually preferred.

    1.  Compare Maniac to yourself.  What qualities do you and he have in common?  What are two of your differences?  Give examples from the book and from your own life.

    2.  Do you think that Jerry Spinelli was trying to send a message that people shouldn't judge others by the color of their skin?  Give at least two specific examples from the book to support your answer.  

    3.  Pick one place in the book.  Describe how you saw that place in your mind's eye.  What did it look like?  What did it sound like?  Did it have a smell? 

    4.  Re-read the Maniac Chant in the beginning of the book.  Write a chant of your own.  You may copy the rhythm of this one, but change the words.  Maniac Magee should be the subject of your chant.

    NALD CELEBRATION:  Our first Nald celebration will be the afternoon of December 19th.  Students may want to wear their team colors.  Hopefully, the crown will have been found and returned to the Orange King by then! If you would like to make (or buy) a celebration treat, that would be fantastic.  If you could send in a note explaining what you'll send, I will keep track so that we don't end up with 60 cupcakes!

      That's about all for now!

      Thanks,

       Mr. Chapman

       p.s.  If you know of anyone who is in need of a tutor, please let them know that I will be available after the Christmas Break.    I will be tutoring on Wednesdays and Fridays. Thanks.

 

This is going to be a busy week in room 17.

Important things to remember:  

    1.  BOOK REPORT:  Due on Friday, November 16th

    2.  SUPER HERO DRESS UP:  Friday, November 16th everyone is going to dress up as their superhero and we are filming our commercials that the heroes have "endorsed."  Each student should dress up as best as possible in their HERO uniform.  Have no fear, Adjective Man will be there throwing EXCITING and FUN into the day.

    3.  1/2 day:  Wednesday is a half day! (well, for the students at least) 

    4.  Friday Showcase:  HOPEFULLY, we will be performing a short little song at morning meeting this week... it's a Math Fact/ Non sequitur skit (we have learned what a non sequitur is) and.  we don't think the math facts and fruit get enough attention. ..... if you didn't understand that last statement, ask your child to explain!

   5.  We will now be together for science and will be starting a new program and unit: Matter.

    UNEXPECTED SMASH HIT:  If your child has come home in the past week, and has been talking about a game called Heroscape (MAYBE they have been begging you to get it), it is all my fault.  I got the starter set for the class to play during snack and lunch.  I figured a few kids would find it interesting; what I DIDN'T expect is that most of my class loved it.  Even the girls!  No offense Hayley, Heather, Shae and everyone else, but I figured it would mostly be a "boys" game!  That's what I get for assuming.  In fact, it's been so popular that I am going to use it to integrate into the curriculum.  Pat gave me the idea when he made a new character for the game using POLLY POCKET with a BOOMERANG PURSE attack and SHOPPING SPREE ability-- I didn't see that one coming, let alone from a boy! (no offense, Pat, I think it's awesome).

         We, the 4th grade, are now going to be using our math skills to make some new characters for the game-- POLLY POCKET SPECIAL FORCES-  A big Thanks goes out to Shae for bringing in her Polly Pockets to help us in this endeavor. 

         I guess the point I am trying to make is that the game is taking on a life of its own.  If  your child puts it on their Christmas/Hanukkah/Birthday list, it is because they have played it in class.  

Mathematically speaking, it's great to help teach addition, probability, logical thinking, measurement, and scale.

 REMINDER:  Please send in the permission slips for our two field trips.  Thank you to those of you who have signed up to chaperone!

Have a great day,

Mr. Chapman 

TRICK OR TREAT!

         The treat?  How about instead of giving you all candy, I give you a week of NO HOMEWORK>>>>> NO SPELLILNG TEST, NO STATES to MEMORIZE, no WRITING, NO MATH.. you get the idea. 

         The trick?  Ummm, there isn't one.  I am serious. Enjoy your week

         Check out Miss Miller's blog for a slideshow on the smokehouse.

         Also, the school is continuing with their food drive!  Bring in those canned items. The box is in the lobby.

         GO  SOX!!

         Have a good day,

         Mr. Chapman
 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered last week at our trip to Laudholm Farms.     What a perfect day it was!  Remember to send in cereal boxes this week if you can. Thanks! 

Here is the homework for this week:

spelling words this week are idioms:

1. break a leg                  5.  hold the phone

2. put the brakes on         6.  step up to the plate

3. hit the lights                 7.  under the weather

4. in the doghouse            8.  don't count your chickens until they're hatched

9. take a seat                  10. the big cheese

challenge: next to each word during Friday's test, write down the meanings of the idioms... and yes, your explanations need to spelled correctly!

Spelling:  Idiom story.  Using at least 5 idioms, write a short, creative story.  The idioms can be PRINTED, but the short story needs to be in cursive.  Points for every idiom used.

READING:  Work on the book report at home (everyone in my reading group got a sheet which has the questions and expectations) 

HISTORY:  Know the locations of the southeastern states for Friday's quiz.

SCIENCE;  5th grade needs to type their paragraph for their Circulatory System analogy.

Writing:  What have you done in Nald?  Write a first draft (sloppy copy) and include 1) topic sentence, 3 Transition Words, and a Concluding sentence.

              Remember:  4th grade try to bury ONE transition word and 5th grade bury TWO of the three.

             It is a first draft, so don't worry about spelling, etc.

 Have a great day,

Mr. Chapman 

 Here is a quick rundown of what's going on in room 17 this week:

HOMEWORK:

    Spelling:  Make two new spells using any word on the sheet. (does NOT need to be in cursive)

                  Use your SPELLING words to make a short story.  Underline your spelling words, please.

                   Test on Friday, as usual

     MATH:  Study 6s, 7s, 8s. We have been having daily multiplication quizzes to help reinforce our times table's facts.

     VOCABULARY:   Study and know the science words (handout).  Test on Friday.

      READING:  PLEASE bring your reading book EVERY day.  We will start our first official book report this week (the report will be on the chapter book you are currently reading for reading class). If you have finished more than one book, choose your favorite from those.  The majority of this report will be done at home. 

      Writing:  Pam Taylor from our writing program will be here Tuesday to do a demonstration lesson in our class.  Beware...she's from Denver and an Rockie's fan.  But we'll forgive her.

Writing homework will be to work on the questions for the book report.

      FIELD TRIP ALERT!!!!!!!!!  Please pack a large lunch and snack on Thursday; the kids will carry a snack on the trail, so something easy and compactl make for a good snack.  We will be leaving at 8:30 and  returning at 1:30ish.

       Mini Progress Reports: I know we don't "officially" do progress reports, but I will be doing one for each child, mainly for behavior and responsibility.  After 6 weeks of school, the amount of homework turned in on time is not up to par.  Last week, we had 6 students complete all  assignments on time. I don't feel I am demanding too much, but if you disagree, PLEASE let me know.  It's not my intent to torture your child with homework. I know this year is a BiG adjustment for fourth grade and if parents could help their child manage their (homework) time through the week, that might help. Ask your child what the homework is and when it's due.  It SHOULD be written in their planner.
 

  
Head's Up:  The next reading book we will be doing as a class in Maniac McGee.  It's one of my all time favorite kids' books.    We will be doing a cereal box book report for it, so if you finish cereal anytime in the next few weeks, send the empty box in.

That's about it for now....   in meantime, GO SOX!!!!!!

 Mr. Chapman

 Hello Everyone.... If you wish to join us, we will be at the Graves Library on Tuesday, Oct 2 at 12:45 for a book talk!

HOMEWORK for week of October 1st is:

Spelling:  Write the words in ABC order;  then find 5 other words (ie or ei) that are not on the sheet and add them below your ABC list.

Reading:  Bring your chapter book everyday to class and read for 15 minutes a night and write the total minutes for each day in  your planner  (in the box you made).  Due  TH

WRITING:  FInish your Hero ABC page... add color and anything you want to make it "hallway quality!"  due TUESDAY, OCT 9th... THIS IS A CHANGE FROM EARLIER

math:  Daily sheets..........and practice times tables

 history:  know the location of the westwern states on your map....this replaces vocabularty again this week.  Quiz on Friday.

science: 5th grade is to finish page 40

GO  SOX!!!!!!!!!!!

WELCOME to the first blog of the 2007-2008 school year.

First, thank you to all who came to Parent night.  

Things are running smoothly as we enter the 4th week of school.  Here is what's going on:

MATH:  5th grade has started unit 2 in Mr. B's room.

           4th grade has started unit 2 with me, but we have also built Crimeville and will be using its measurements to do some math (minimum, median, etc.).  Be looking fr unit 1 test to come home soon. 

            Everyone needs to study their times tables (only the 6s, 7s, 8s).  If kids can learn those, the rest will be easy.

READING: We are reading Lost on a Mountain in Maine and will be finishing it within the next 2 weeks.  Be looking for the book to come home for homework reading and/or questions.  The students will be making Jeopardy Questions based on the book.  Then, we will play Classroom Jeopardy!!  It' a blast.

WRITING:  We have done a mix of creative writing and expository writing.  All assingments so far have been integreated with our Super Hero Unit.  The students will be asked a serious question pretty soon for a writing prompt:  "What Makes a Hero?"

SCIENCE:  4th graders go to either Miss Miller or Mrs. P for Ecology while the 5th graders stay with me to study the Heart and Lungs.  5th grade Parents!!  Starting next week, October 1-5, your child will be challenged to eat SUPER HEALTHY.... details are forthcoming (yes, this goes for me, too). 

HISTORY:  I am starting with basic USA geography.  For the kiddos that ace this right away, they will be challenged to know the capitals and some other information.  Will will start having quizzes on the location of the states next Friday.  We will start with the North East sectionEvery child mapped the states already.  This sheet should be used as a study guide.  Spelling won't count.

I hope everyone had a great summer because as of Saturday, it's officially over.  Welome Fall! 

Have a groovy day,

Mr. C

CLUE:  If you can come to class and tell me what the following scrambled letters can spell  when unscrambled, you will get some points and something for Nald. 

                                     N  E  R  I  W  N