Week 2 Events...

This week has been a busy one. Here is a recap of the week:

• received spelling homework for the first time
• explained each spelling activity and how to successfully complete them
• established expectations for homework
• discussed the importance of reading at home and introduced Accelerated Reader
• annotated different examples as a class, in groups and individually
• learned how to make sure our annotations are effective
• began to understand the difference between annotating everything and annotating the important things
• Worked on a prewrite activity as a class, in a group and individually

Looking forward to next week we will learn how to:

• make use of our annotations
• complete a prewrite on our own
• begin learning about our social studies curriculum

Some important notes:

• the class website has every spelling list for the first nine-weeks; feel free to review these ahead of time if you feel your child could benefit
• the class website also has a resource that explains AR in depth

Sorry for only one post this week ~ I will get better at this!

Parent Homework!

You read that title correctly, all parents have homework this weekend. The students were sent home with a "Parent Questionnaire." The 4th grade team would like to know more about your child from your point-of-view. The kids thought it was a great idea until they read some of the questions..."Why are you asking my mom this?" "What if my dad tells you the truth??" Needless to say, I was laughing as they went through this emotional roller coaster. Thanks for filling this out for us. It is due by September 4!

We have officially started WRITING :)

With testing starting this week, Mrs. Scott and I decided to stick with writing lessons and start the more involved reading lessons next week. The kids in Ms. Gilbert's homeroom learned how to take a broad topic and narrow it down into three main writing points. They also learned how to make sure they can add details to those writing points. We discussed an "Epic adventure with my dad" and learned that although some writing points might be easy to come up with, they might not be that easy to add details about. The writing points we focus on must contain some details so it is easy to continue the writing process.

CGA testing did start today, as well. The district is focusing on making the sessions shorter so there is less testing. We have completed one day of testing and have five more. The sessions are only an hour long. Our switch times are a little off so that each homeroom gets the same amount of instruction time.

Gate A...

Alrighty, San Pablo Parents~ 

New dismissal procedures are in place and successfully working. "Gate A" is our latest addition. Gate A is the second black, locked gate that is located near the cafeteria. If you are physically walking to meet your child somewhere outside at the end of the day, your child is now a "Gate A" dismissal kid. Just to review the options for dismissal:

1. Bus Riders

2. Car Riders (you remain in your car, all the way around the car riders' line and the patrols escort your child to your car from the loading zone)

3. Gate A (you do not want to wait in the car riders' line and will walk to pick up your child at school. Meet Mr. Johnson at Gate A to pick up your child)

4. Boys' & Girls' Club

5. Walker/Biker

Also some more important information~ 

We took a walking field trip to Mrs. Scott's class to learn about narrative writing. Feel free to ask your child what kinds of topics he/she wrote about in his/her journal. Each child was expected to come up with 12 topics that he/she could easily write about.

First Week of School!

Wow, this week is flying by! As you might know, there are many papers that need to be signed, filled out and returned. Please have this completed ASAP as we are trying to get all our information together.

Some of you might be wondering about the dynamics of our team. I worked with Ms. Gilbert two years ago on the kindergarten team. We were a co-teach and it was so much fun to be working with a friend. As a matter of fact, Mariah and I have known each other since we were in diapers. That's right- our moms have always been friends and they met when they started teaching together at Fletcher High School. Now we have officially come full-circle and Ms. Gilbert and I are teaching together. One of the greatest values our team offers is teamwork. Mrs. Scott, Mr. Bernstein, Ms. Gilbert and I all work together seamlessly.