Fort Tejon Meeting Tonight at Six

There are many things we need to do to prepare for our upcoming trip to Fort Tejon.  The trip is planned for May 23-24.  The bus will leave Sespe Thursday morning, May 23rd.  It takes about an hour to get to the Fort, near Lebec on Highway 5.  We spend all day there involved in many exciting activities:  constructing wooden tool boxes in the carpenter's shop, making adobe bricks, cooking over hot coals, dipping candles, and even working with a forge to make small objects out of iron.  We spend the night at the Fort and return the next morning.  An exciting and educational trip!

Your can learn more about the Living History Progam at Fort Tejon at this website:   http://www.forttejon.org/student_history.html



Today's homework:
     1.  Bernarda Ruiz
     2.  Math Miss W:  More Probability
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW65
     3.  Read half hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Important Fort Tejon Meeting Tomorrow

Don't forget!  We have an important meeting to discuss our upcoming overnight fieldtrip to Fort Tejon.  Please plan to attend, starting at 6:00 P.M.

This week's story is an excerpt from Pearl S. Buck's The Big Wave.  Set in Japan, it is the story of a young boy whose family is washed away by tsunami, or tidal wave.

Today's homework:
     1.   Vocabulary Sort ben, bene, bon.
     2.  Math Miss W: Lollipop Lane
                   Mr. Spaulding: RW64
     3.  Read for half hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Breakfast Program Starts Today

Well, it's official.  Sespe's Breakfast in the Classroom program is finally underway.  Our five person class Breakfast Team is comprised of two Breakfast Monitors, who pick up the food from the cafeteria and set it up in the classroom; two Breakfast Cleanups to remove trash and return food to the cafeteria; and one Breakfast Sheriff to make sure food is removed ant the desks are clean.

This week's Academic Language words are:  structure and support.  Our Greek or Latin root for the week is ben, bene, bon meaning good or well in words such as benediction, benefactor, bonafide, and bonus.

Don't forget our Fort Tejon meeting for parents this Wednesday at 6:00 P.M.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 100-101
     2.  Math Miss W:  RW145
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW63
     3.  Read for half hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Sespe Band Concert Great Success

Our Sespe Elementary School Band performed last night to great effect.  Parents enjoyed seeing and hearing how much our students have learned about playing music.  Congratulations!

Multiple studies have shown benefits for students when they receive instruction in instrumental music.  Students improve in cognitive skills and functioning when they study and practice music.  And it's fun!

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 126-127, Similes.
     2.  Math:  J No math today.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Sign and return Acceptable Use Form.
     5.  Get parent signature. 

Band Concert Tonight

Many room 14 students are in the Sespe Band.  There will be a concert this evening for parents at 6:00.

Homework tonight:
     1.  The Gold Rush
     2.  Math Miss W: Multiplication worksheet
                    Mr. Spaulding:  Division worksheet
     3.  Read half hour.
     4.  Sign and return the Acceptable Use Policy
     5.  Get parent initials.

CST Mirrors

Students are working hard this week on CST mirror exams.  The CST mirror exams are designed to be very similar in content and format to the California Standards Tests students will take later this year.  Giving the mirror exam gives us some idea of how our students are progressing, and what skills they are still weak on.

Homework today:
     1.  Westward Ho!
     2.  Math Miss W: PW68
                   Mr. Spaulding:  Division worksheet
     3.  Read half hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Wagons West

In the 1840s thousands of people traveled the hard overland route to Califonia, to start new lives in a new land.  Today's homework is about this historical migration.


Homework today:
     1.  Wagons West
     2.  Math Miss W: RW66
                   Mr. Spaulding:  Division worksheet
     3.  Study Science Review sheet
     4.  Read half an hour.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Exciting Ending to a Great Spelling Bee!

Well, it is officially over and in the books.  The Sespe School 2013 Spelling Bee featured six fantastic fourth and fifth grade students.  Two of Room 14's students participated.  Daniela made it all the way to the tenth round, and Leslie came in second place overall and is the official alternate.  Way to go, girls!  We are all very proud of you.

Homework for today:
     1.  Vocabulary Sort: jur-jus-jud
     2.  Math Miss W:  Dividing Money
                   Mr. Spaulding: RW60
     3.  Study Science Review sheet 
     4.  Read for half hour.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Breakfast in the Classroom Coming Soon

Breakfast in the classroom starts Monday, January 28th.  Breakfast will be free for all students.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 88-89
     2.  Math Miss W: RW63
                   Mr. Spaulding: Division worksheet
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Study Science Review page.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Personification

Homework for today:
     1.  Practice spelling test (p. 96)
     2.  Math Miss W:  Division worksheet
                   Mr. Spaulding: RW58
     3.  Read for half hour.
     4.  Get parent signature.
6

Adaptations

"An adaptation is a special feature or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment."   

from California Science

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill



Fourth graders know that animals and plants are adapted to their environments.  This week we are learning about specialized adaptations, such as mimicry or camouflage.

Can you see the Indian Leaf Butterfly in this picture?  Mimicry helps it hide in plain sight.

Homework for today:
     1.  Vocabulary Sort: cred.
     2.  Math Miss W:  PW62.
                   Mr. Spaulding: PW56.
     3.  Read for half hour.
     4.  Get parent signature.

Tall Tales

This week's story is McBroom and the Big Wind by Sid Fleischman, a rollicking tall tale.  It is an important fourth grade standard for students to be able to recognize different genres of writing, including tall tales.

Our Greek or Latin root for the week is cred, meaning believe.  Our academic vocabulary words for the week are assemble and assembly.

Today's homework:

     1.  Spelling p. 96-97.

     2.  Math Miss W: RW62 & PW62

                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW56

     3.  Read for half an hour.

     4.  Get parent initials.