Bloom's Questions

Way back in 1956 Benjamin Bloom led a group of educators in devising a taxonomy of educational objectives.  Bloom's Taxonomy orders and ranks different levels of thinking.  Our students should be challenged to work on the higher levels of the Taxonomy, the levels of Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation.

We make sure to ask our fourth graders difficult, probing question at the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy for every story we read.  This week, students were asked to compare and contrast characters from two different stories, create a new title for a story and explain why they chose that title, and to make a prediction about what will happen to a character and why.

Homework for today:
     1.  Spelling practice test (words are on p. 60)
     2.  Math Miss W:  PW57
                   Mr. Spaulding:  PW88
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Students of the Trimester

We had our first Sespe Students of the Trimester Awards Ceremony this afternoon.  This is an opportunity for us to recognize some of the hard working students of our school.  In our class, the winners were Leslie, Jorge, Gavin, and Daniela.  Congratulations!

Homework for today:
     1.  Vitamins
     2.  Math Miss W: RW57
                   Mr. Spaulding:  RW88
     3.  Read for half an hour

Our Hearts Are Broken

All of us have been shaken up by the horrible and tragic events of this last week.  As a both a teacher and a father I can only imagine the pain of the community and families of Newtown. 

I think I speak for all the teachers of Sespe School when I say we are so very grateful for our wonderful Sespe students.  We will do our best to make sure they are always safe at school.

Homework for today:
     1.  Vocabulary Sort: mit, mis
     2.  Math Miss W:  RW56 & PW56
                   Mr. Spaulding:  PW87
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Shadow of a Bull

Our story in Reading this week is an excerpt from 1965's Newbery Award winning book Shadow of a Bull.  Manolo Olivar is the son of Spain's greatest matador, who was killed by a bull.  Everyone expects Manolo to follow his father's footsteps and became a bull fighter.  But he has a terrible secret.  Bull fighting scares him!

This week's Greek or Latin root is 'mit' or 'miss' meaning send in such words as emit, missile, and mission.

In math, fourth graders are learning about negative numbers.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 60-61.
     2.  Math Miss W:  No homework.
                    Mr. Spaulding: RW 87
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

Chin got cold feet when it was his turn to give a speech.
Sarah's got music in her blood.
Steve was down in the dumps after his soccer team lost in the finals.

Idioms!  Fourth graders are supposed to understand that sometimes we don't mean literally what we say.  When we say it's raining cats and dogs, we don't really mean it!  We call these expression 'idioms.'

Homework for today:
     1.  Practice Spelling Test.
     2.  Math Miss W: RW88
                    Mr. Spaulding: No homework.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Respond to Literature

Fourth graders learn to write for various purposes and audiences.  One important fourth grade standard is to be able to respond to literature.  Students read a selection, then write a response to literature essay.  They must briefly summarize the selection, and also interpret it.  What is the author trying to say?  What are the major themes?  What lesson about life can we learn from this selection?

Homework for today:
     1.  Genes.
     2.  Math Miss W: Temperature.
                   Mr. Spaulding:  Model Perimeter and Area.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

What Is an Ecosytem?

Fourth graders are learning about ecosystems.  An ecosystem is made up of biotic factors (living things, such as plants and animals) and abiotic factors (non-living things, such as water, rocks, and sunshine.)

A Pond Ecosystem


Homework for today:
     1.  Vocabulary Sort: port.
     2.  Math Miss W: RW87.
                   Mr. Spaulding: Same Area, Different Perimeter.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Irregular Verbs: Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

Fourth graders are learning about irregular verbs.  Most English verbs are regular, meaning that the past tense ends in -ed, but many common verbs are irregular.  Examples are:  grew, went, ran, saw, took, threw, wrote.  Almost all of these irregular verbs can be traced back to Old English.

This week's Latin root is port meaning to carry.  Our words are:

          deport, export, import, portable, portage,
          porter, portfolio, report, support, transport

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling page 76.
     2.  Math Miss W: no homework.
                   Mr. Spaulding: Area, Perimeter worksheet 15-6.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Social Studies Test Tomorrow

Be prepared!  We have a test on Social Studies Unit 2: Early People of California tomorrow.  Be sure to review the study sheet.  We also have a spelling test, and a quiz on academic vocabulary and the Greek and Latin root 'sect'.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling practice test.
     2.  Math Miss W: Same Area, Different Perimeter
                   Mr. Spaulding:  PW142
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Review Social Studies
     5.  Get parent initials.

Mexico Wins Independence! (In 1821)

As part of our study of California's history, fourth graders are learning how California was once part of Mexico.  Soon we will learn about the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, which led to that colorful and exciting period known as the California Gold Rush!

Today's homework:
     1.  Anesthesia
     2.  Math Miss W:  Area and Perimeter worksheets.
                   Mr. Spaulding:  RW142
     3.  Study Social Studies Unit 2 Review Sheet 
     4.  Read for half an hour.
     5.  Get parent initials.
    

The Bridge Dancers

This week's story is The Bridge Dancers by Carol Saller.  It is the story of two sisters who live in an isolated mountain community.  When Mama leaves them alone one stormy night, the girls must learn to deal with an emergency all by themselves.

This week's academic language words are responsible and responsibility.  Our Greek or Latin root for the week is sect meaning "to cut."  The words are:

     intersect         trisect          dissect          section          transect

     vivisection         insect          sectional          sector          bisect

In math we are focusing on the concepts of perimeter (measuring around a figure) and area (measuring inside a figure.)  Students often get these concepts mixed up, so it is a good idea to review math homework carefully every day.

Today's homework:
     1.  Vocabulary Sort: sect
     2.  Math Miss W: RW144
                    Mr. Spaulding:  PW139
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Study Unit 2 Social Studies Review Sheet.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Writing Summaries

Fourth grade students are expected to be able to summarize information.  This week, students are reading and summarizing an article about Henry Ford and the invention of mass produced automobiles.

Also this week, students take a test on Unit 2 of our Social Studies book.  Unit 2 is on the Early People of California:  Indians, European Explorers, Missionaries, Ranchers.

Today's homework:
     1.   Spelling p. 68
     2.  Study Social Studies Review sheet.
     3.  Math Miss W:  RW142
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW139
     4.  Read for half an hour.
     5.  Get parent initials. 

What Time Is It? Using Verb Tenses Correctly

Identifying and correctly using regular and irregular verbs is an important fourth grade standard.  Students need to understand the difference between past, present and future tenses, and know the correct forms of common irregular verbs.

Today's homework:
     1.  Around the World in 71 Days.
     2.  Math Miss W:  No homework.
                   Mr. Spaulding:  PW52.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Drawing Conclusions

What conclusion can we draw about what is happening in the picture?  An important fourth grade skill is the ability to draw logical conclusions.  Students should be able to use the clues in a reading passage to make well supported conclusions.

Today's homework:
     1.  Vocabulary Sort:  ject = throw
     2.  Math Miss W:  2 by 3 Digits
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW52
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Welcome Back From Turkey Day!

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving break.  This week fourth graders are starting a new reading unit:  From Mystery to Medicine.  The first story is about Daniel Hale Williams, an African-American surgeon who, in 1893 became one of the first doctors to ever open the human chest and operate on a living heart.

Our Latin root this week is 'ject' meaning to throw, in words such as reject and projectile.  Spelling words can be found on page 64 of our spelling workbook.  Academic vocabulary words for today are detect and detectable.

In math we are concentrating on multiplication.  Students should, of course, know all their single digit facts already.  We are now learning how to multiply bigger numbers.  Students should understand what an array is and how it can be used to model multiplication problems.

In writing we are continuing to work on how to write good summaries. This week we will summarize an article about koalas.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 64.
     2.  Math Miss W:  Two digit multiplication worksheet.
                   Mr. Spaulding:  RW51.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Story Elements

Fourth graders are supposed to learn about story elements.  Most stories contain these features:  plot, setting, characters, theme, conflict and resolution.

Students should practice recognizing these elements in every story they read.

Today's homework:
    1.  Word sort for "dict = speak"
    2.  Math Miss W:  PW52
                  Mr. Spaulding:  RW44
    3.  Read for half an hour.
    4.  Get parent initials.

Parent Conferences Week

We have minimum days all this week for parent/teacher conferences.

This week's story in language arts is a Russian folktale called "Salt."  Fourth graders are expected to learn about different literary genres, including folktales.

In math, fourth graders are working hard at multiplying big numbers.  This is much easier if students have all their multiplication facts memorized.  Students should practice times tables at home every day until the have complete automaticity in recalling basic multiplication facts.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 52.
     2.  Math Miss W: RW52
                   Mr. Spaulding: PW43
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Fort Tejon Trip Planned

Good news!  Room 14 has received confirmation for our upcoming trip to Fort Tejon.  This overnight trip is scheduled for May 23rd and 24th.  We will need parent volunteers for this fun, exciting, and highly educational field trip.  Look for more information to follow throughout the school year.



Please send back your conference notification forms as soon as possible.  We will have parent conferences all next week to go over the first trimester report cards.

Homework for today:
     1.  Spelling practice test (words are on p. 36.)
     2.  Math Miss W:  SR2
                   Mr. Spaulding: SR11
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Minimum Days

We will have a minimum day this coming Friday.  Monday is a vacation day - no school.  The rest of next week we have minimum days every day for conferences.  Please be sure to return your child's conference notification form.

Today's homework:

     1.  "Conquering Mount Everest" worksheets.

     2.  Math:  no homework (we tested today.)

     3.  Read for half an hour.

     4.  Get parent initials.

Blue Whales Are Enormous!

Fourth graders are learning to summarize.  Today we worked on summarizing an article about blue whales.  To summarize, students first read an article, then go back and highlight the most important ideas.  Next, they rewrite the principal ideas using their own words, and then finish by carefully reading over and proofreading their work.  Summarizing is an important fourth grade skill.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 37.
     2.  Math Miss W:  RW45
                   Mr. Spaulding:  RW43
     3.  Read for half an hour.  Some students need to get caught up on AR.
     4.  Get a parent initial.

First Trimester Is Rapidly Coming to a Close

We are wrapping up the first trimester of instruction and getting ready for parent conferences next week.  Students are busy reviewing and testing this week.

Today's Homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 36
     2.  Math Miss W:  RW43
                    Mr. Spaulding: PW41
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Back to Normal

After a day of ballerinas, cowboys, werewolves and ghouls, things are settling down at Sespe School...


Modern English has borrowed words from many different languages around the world.  Fourth graders are particularly learning about English words that come from either Greek or Latin.  Roots from these languages are used to form many important academic and scientific words, and a knowledge of common Greek and Latin roots helps students learn and remember new words.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling Practice Test.
     2.  Math Miss W:  5-4
                   Mr. Spaulding:  No homework (we had a test today.)
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Quotable Quotes

"To be or not to be, that is the question."  This is probably the most famous quote in the English language.

Fourth graders are learning how to use quotation marks correctly.  Quotation marks are used to show the exact words that someone says.  They are also used for certain types of titles - poems, short stories, newspaper or magazine articles, chapters in books, and songs.

Homework today:

     1.  Spelling:  copy spelling words neatly in cursive.

     2.  Math Miss W:  5-3

                   Mr. Spaulding:  RW39

     3.  Read for half an hour.

     4.  Get parent initials

It's Spooky Halloween Week at Sespe!

Welcome back to another fun-filled and exciting week of learning at Sespe School!  This Wednesday students who wish to participate are invited to wear a safe and appropriate costume to school.  We will have a brief parade at 8:30 A.M. to show off and enjoy each other's costumes.

Academic vocabulary words this week are: select, selection, section, passage, and segment.  Students are learning to use these words in both their spoken and written language.

Our Greek or Latin root this week comes from the Latin word manu, meaning 'hand.'  There are several words in English related to this root:  emancipate, manacles, manager, mandate, maneuver, manicure, manual, manufacture, and manuscript.

In math we are continuing our study of the basic algebra concepts of expressions, equations and variables.  Students should practice single digit multiplication facts every day at home, and also review the order of operations used when solving equations.

Our spelling words this week all feature vowels in two syllable words:
1.  product
2.  credit
3.  napkin
4.  dentist
5.  comment
6.  cannot
7.  suggest
8.  within
9.  glacier
10.  infect
11.  progress
12.  topsoil
13.  princess
14.  rewind
15.  joyful
16.  echo
17.  expert
18.  bargain
19.  stencil
20.  predict

Homework for today:
     1.  Spelling p. 48-49
     2.  Math  Miss W:  Worksheet 5-2
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW37
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Fall Carnival This Evening

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling practice test.
     2.  Math  Miss W:  RW37 and PW37
                    Mr. Spaulding: RW36
     3.  Study science review sheet.
     4.  Read half hour.
     5,  Get parent initial.

Sports Jersey Day

Today Sespe School was visited by the Alternative Governance Board, or AGB.  They are here to observe our school and make helpful suggestions for improvement.  We are always seeking ways to make Sespe even better!

Today was also Sports Jersey Day, as part of our Red Ribbon Week activities.  Its fun to see all the different sports our students are involved in.

Tomorrow is music at lunch day, and tomorrow evening we will have our annual Fall Carnival at San Cayetano, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Today's homework:
     1.  Study Science Review Sheet.
     2.  Math Miss W:  RW37
                   Mr. Spaulding:  RW35
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Wear Red Day

Today students wore red to show their support for healthy drug-free life styles.  Tomorrow is Sports Day, so wear a sports jersey to school.

Fall Carnival will be at San Cayetano this Thursday, October 25th, from 5:00 to 8:00.  Fun, food and prizes!  Bring the whole family to enjoy a Fillmore tradition.

This week fourth graders are learning how to identify main ideas and how to summarize.  We are also learning about the order of operations in math.  We are finishing our science unit on Living Things, and starting our social studies unit on Early People in California.


Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling p. 45.
     2.  Math  Miss W:  RW36
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW34
     3.  Study Science Review sheet.
     4.  "A Risky Sea Journey" worksheets.
     5.  Read half hour.
     6.  Get parent signature.

Red Ribbon Week

This is Red Ribbon Week!  The following activites are planned to encourage Sespe students to live drug free and healthy lifestyles.

1.  Monday:  Wristband Day
2.  Tuesday:  Wear Red Day
3.  Wednesday:  Sports Day - wear any sports jersey, shirt, or uniform
4.  Thursday:  Music at Lunch
5.  Friday:  Pajama Day

Our Greek or Latin root this week is 'ped', meaning 'foot', as in pedal or pedicure.  Our Academic Vocabulary words for the week are identify, identical, and identification.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling workbook p. 44.
     2.  Study Science Chapter 1 Review Sheet
     3.  Math  Miss W: RW35
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW33
     4.  Read half hour.
     5.  Get parent signature

What is a Compound Sentence?

Fourth graders are learning about sentence structure.

Key vocabulary includes: subject, predicate, complete subject, complete predicate, simple subject, simple predicate, comound subject, compound predicate, simple sentence, compound  sentence, and complex sentence.  That's a lot to learn about!

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling practice test.  Copy misspelled words correctly three times.
     2.  Math  Miss W:  RW33
                    Mr. Spaulding: RW32
     3.  Read for half hour.
     4.  Get parent signature.

Don't Get Caught in the Food Web!

Fourth graders are learning about food webs in an environment.  Key vocabulary words are:  food chain, food web, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, producers, consumers, and decomposers.







Today's homework:
     1.  Copy spelling words in cursive.
     2.  Math  Miss W:  RW32
                    Mr. Spaulding:  RW31
     3.  Read for half hour.
     4.  Get parent initial.



Here is an example of a multi-paragraph essay about My Favorite Season:

Back In School Again

All good things must come to an end!  Fall break is over and we are back in school.

The academic vocabulary for this week are the words effect, affect, and impact.

Our Greek or Latin root for this week is tele meaning far or distant, as in telephone or telescope.

Today's homework:

     1.  Spelling workbook p. 33.
     2.   Math  Miss W RW31
                     Mr. Spaulding PW31
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get a parent initial.

Venn Diagrams

Today we worked on making Venn diagrams to compare and contrast three different trickster tales.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling practice test.  Copy misspelled words correctly three times each.
     2.  Math Miss W:  SR3
                   Mr.Spaulding:  RW9
     3.  Read half hour.
     4.  Memorize poem.
     5.  Get parent initial.

Food Chains and Food Webs

Food chains show how energy flows from one organism to another in the form of food.  Food webs show how food chains are linked in an environment.  Fourth grade students are learning a lot about life science!

Today's homework is:

     1.  Race to the South Pole worksheet.
     2.  Math  Miss W:  RW12
                    Mr. Spaulding: RW8
     3.  Work on memorizing "An Autumn Day" poem.
     4.  Read half an hour.
     5.  Get parent initial.

Trickster Tales

This week we are concentrating on trickster tales from different cultures.  We read the Aesop's fable the "Fox and the Crow" yesterday, and the Native American tale "How Bear Lost His Tail" today.

We are also working on memorizing and reciting the short poem "An Autumn Day."

An Autumn Day

Pumpkins in the cornfield,
gold among the brown,

Leaves of rust and scarlet,
trembling slowly down;

Birds that travel southward,
lovely time to play;

Nothing is as pleasant
as an autumn day.

Homework for today:
     1.  Copy spelling words in cursive.
     2.  Math  Miss W:  RW10 and PW10
                    Mr. Spaulding:  Round to the Nearest Hundred worksheet.
     3.  Work on memorizing the poem "An Autumn Day."
     4.  Read for half an hour.
     5.  Get a parent signature.

Here is an example of a graphic organizer for an essay on "My Favorite Season" by Daniela:

Another Science Lab Monday

The academic vocabulary word for this week is "outline" in all its senses:

     outline:  (noun) a line or shape that shows the outer edge of something

     outline:  (verb) to draw the edge or shape of something

     outline:  (noun) a written summary that shows the main points or ideas of something

     outline:  (verb) to give the main points or ideas of something

Our Greek or Latin root this week is "trans" in words such as transport, transfer and transform.

Today's homework is:

    1.  Spelling workbook p. 40.
    2.  Math:  Miss W's group:  RW9
                    Mr. Spaulding's group:  Rounding worksheet
    3.  Read half an hour.
    4.  Get parent initial

Homework today:
     1.  The Klondike Gold Rush
     2.  Math:  Miss W  RW8
                     Mr. Spaulding Times Table Test
     3.  Read half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initial.

Testing This Week

This week we have tests in language arts, math, and writing.  Whew!

Today's homework:
     1.  Prepositions and adverbs worksheet, both sides.
     2.  Math:  Miss W:  RW7
                      Mr. Spaulding:  no math
     3.  Read half hour.
     4.  Parent signature.

Conjunction Junction

Students continue working on the different parts of speech.  This week we are focusing on the coordinating conjunctions and, but and or.  In science, we are learning about photosynthesis and food chains.  Students also have a multi-paragraph essay to write this week on their favorite season of the year.

Homework for today:
     1.  Conjunctions worksheet.
     2.  Math:   Miss W:  no homework
                      Mr. Spaulding:  PW5
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initial.

Science Lab Monday

Both Mr. Spaulding's and Miss W's math groups this week are finishing up the chapter on place value concepts.  Students are learning how the position of a digit determines its value.  Students should be able to read, write and identify the place value of numbers through millions.  Students must be able to compare whole numbers and put a set of whole numbers into order from least to greatest or greatest to least.  Many fourth graders still stuggle with reading large numbers correctly.  This is a good thing to practice at home.

In language arts we are learning this week about another part of speech: the conjunction.  The most common coordinating conjunctions are the words and, or and but.  They are used to join words or parts of a sentence.  This week in writing students are continuing work on the multi-paragraph expository writing format.

Every Monday Room 14 students get to go to the Science Lab.  Today they used microscopes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Spelling workbook p. 20.
     2.  Math   Miss W's group:  SR1
                     Mr. Spaulding's group:  RW5
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get a parent initial.

Social Studies Test Tomorrow

Be sure to study carefully for tomorrow's Social Studies test.

Today's homework:
     1.   Spelling practice test.  Copy correctly misspelled words three times each.
     2.  Math:  Miss W:  RW5
                     Spaulding:  PW4
     3.  Review Social Studies Study Sheet
     4.  Read for half an hour.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Computer Problems at School

Our school district has been dealing with a serious computer virus problem in our network.  It may be difficult to keep this blog updated until our tech people can sort out the problem.  I apologize for any inconvenience.  In the meantime, students should continue writing their daily assignments down in their homework logs.  Don't forget to read at least half an hour every day, in addition to any other homework.  It is also a good idea to practice and review multiplication facts.

New Band Schedule

Band is every Wednesday.  Students are responsible for going to band at the right time.

Homework today:
     1.  Read "Wild Ride Down the Colorado" and answer questions.
     2.  Math
                 Miss W's Group:  RW4
                 Mr. Spaulding's group:  RW4
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Library Today

Today we went to the library to get books for the Accelerated Reader program.  Your child should read at home for at least half an hour daily.  Students can take tests on the computer when the get to school the next day.  Fourth graders should get at least five AR points a month.  They should take AR tests every day or two for short books.  Even for most longer books, students should be able to test about once a week.  Only the really long Harry Potter type books might take over a week between tests.  Even then, the most diligent fourth grade readers can finish a Harry Potter book in one week.

We are continuing our work with place value concepts.  Fourth graders should be able to read and write numbers  correctly into the hundred millions.  In Social Studies we are studying the differences between urban, suburban, and rural communities in California.

Today's Homework:
     1.  Write spelling words in cursive.  See page 12 of spelling workbook for the words.
     2.  Math:  Miss W's group:  RW3
                     Mr. Spaulding's group:  PW3
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get a parent signature.

Read Every Day!

Every Monday we introduce the new spelling list for the week.  This week's list concentrates on the long 'e' sound, and the spelling patterns e, e_e, ee, ea. _ie, and _y.  Here are this week's words:
1.  steel
2.  fleet
3.  seaweed
4.  wreath
5.  measles
6.  scream
7.  least
8.  yield
9.  shield
10.  shriek
11.  thief
12.  donkey
13.  hockey
14.  trolley
15.  niece
16.  prairie
17.  eager
18.  seals
19.  married
20.  sneak

For Greek and Latin roots this week we are concentrating on words containing the root 'graph':  autobiography, autograph, bibliography, biography, cartography, homograph, paragraph, phonograph, photography, and seismograph.  In writing we are working on multi-paragraph form.

Our story this week is from Greek mythology, the story of Daedalus and Icarus.  In math we are concentrating on place value concepts.  Students should know place values up to the millions.  Ther should also know the difference between standard form, word form and expanded form for a given number.  For example, for the number 213 we would have:

     a.  Standard form:  213
     b.  Word form:  two hundred thirteen
     c.   Expanded form:  200 + 10 + 3

Homework for tonight:
     1.  Spelling workbook p. 12
     2.  Math:   Miss W's group:  RW2
                      Mr. Spaulding's group:  RW3
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get a parent initial.

Here is a picture of Daedalus falling out of the sky:

Picture Day Tomorrow!

This evening is our Back-to-School Night Potluck Dinner from 6:00 to 7:00.  Since we had a math quiz today there is no math homework

Today's homework:
     1.  No math.
     2.  Spelling Practice Test.  Copy misspelled words correctly three times each.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Come to Back-to-School Night with food to share.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Don't Forget! Potluck Tomorrow!

Today's math lesson concentrated on the idea of finding a rule to fit a pattern.  Students learned about input/output tables.  Fourth graders are expected to be able to find a rule for a number relationship and write an equation for the rule.

We also did more writing and more work with the regions of California.

Today's homework:
     1.  "Journey That Proved the Earth Was Round."  Read and answer questions.
     2.  Math RW23
     3.  Read half hour.
     4.  Get parent intitials. 

Fund Raiser Drive Starts Today

Today is the start of our Kids Are First fundraiser.  Your child should be bringing home a packet of materials.

In school today, we started our leveled English Language Development groups.  At Sespe we are fortunate to have a talented and experienced group of fourth and fifth grade teachers.  For forty-five minutes a day, students are divided up among these teachers for leveled language instruction.

Today we learned more about adverbs, studied the academic vocabulary words 'rare', 'frequent', and 'frequently', and worked on the math strategy of working backward.  We read the story "Escape".  We also worked on posters showing the different geographic regions of California: the coast, valley, desert and mountains.

Todays homework:
     1.  Spelling:  copy each spelling word in cursive.
     2.  Math RW22.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get a parent signature.

Don't forget:  Back-to-School Night Potluck Dinner this Thursday, Sepember 13, from 6:00 to 7:00 in Room 14.

Back-to-School Night This Week!

In Language Arts today, students were introduced to the idea of adverbs; learned about the Latin root 'scrib' or 'script' meaning to write, in words such as describe or prescription; and studied different spelling patterns for the long 'o' sound.  Our story this week is an exerpt from the classic children's book Charlotte's Web.

Today's math topic dealt with the concept of equations.  The idea is that equals added to equals are equal.  That sounds complicated but here is an example:

Since 2 + 2 = 4, then ( 2 + 2) + 3 = 4 + 3.

In 2 + 2 = 4, both sides of the equation are equal.  If we add 3 to both sides they stay equal, and we get
(2 + 2) + 3 = 2 + 4.  Simple!

In writing, we are working on multi-paragraph form.  Students are learning to extend one paragraph essays into a longer three paragraph form.  In social studies this week we are continuing work on the four major regions of California.  Students also went to the Science Lab today and did experiments showing capillary action in celery.

Homework:
     1.  Spelling workbook p. 16.
     2.  Math RW21.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Think about what you want to bring for the potluck on Thursday.

Our Sespe Back-to-School Night is scheduled for this Thursday, September 13th.  We will have a Room 14 potluck dinner from 6:00 to 7:00.   Please bring something to share - rice, chicken, bread, fruit, chips, dessert, whatever!  I will supply drinks, plates, cups, napkins, and eating utensils.

Band Today

Today we reviewed how to write and evaluate mathematical expressions, and we learned how to use variables.  We also worked some more on the idea of helping verbs, and did more work with the Latin root 'spec' meaning "to look or see,' as in the words spectator or spectacles.

Homework today:
     1.  Study continents and oceans for geography test tomorrow (see Eileene's map above.)
     2.  Take a practice spelling test.  Correct the test.  Copy over missed words correctly 3 times     each.
     3.  Math RW19
     4.  Read for half hour.
     5.  Get parent initials.

Another Busy Day

Today we read the story "Toto" in our readers; we learned about writing and evaluating mathematical expressions; and we also worked on recognizing helping verbs in a sentence.  Students continued working on their world map projects as well, and wrote drafts of favorite food essays.  We also learned about the different regions of California:  the desert, valley, mountain and coast regions.  A busy day!

Parents:  you are very welcome to leave comments or questions on this blog.  Please make sure that your child is reading for at least half an hour every day.

Reminder:  Back-to-School Night is scheduled for next Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00.  We are planning on having a potluck dinner in Room 14.  Come see you child's classroom and show your support for Sespe School.

Homework:
     1.   Study continents map for test Friday.
     2.  Math RW18
     3.  Copy spelling words in cursive
     4.  Read for half hour
     5.  Get parent initials

Back From a Long Weekend

Students came back from Labor Day Weekend rested and ready to learn.  Today we explored the Latin root 'spec' meaning to look or see, and the academic vocabulary "organize" and "organization."

In math we learned the Properties of Addition:  the Commutative Property, the Identity Property, and the Associative Property.

Today's homework:
     1.   Study for continents test on Friday.
     2.   Spelling p. 8
     3.   Math RW17
     4.  Read for half hour.
     5.   Get parent initials.

Band Starts at Sespe

Today was the first day of band.  Mrs. Resor met with all first year band students.  She explained how to rent instruments.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math RW16
     2.  Spelling Practice Test.  Have someone give you a practice test.  Correct the test.  Copy over correctly the words you miss three times each.  If you can't find anybody to give you the test, copy all spelling words three times each
     3.   Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Another Day of Learning in Room 14

Wow!  Each day seems busier than the last.  Today we reviewed odd and even numbers, factors, and prime and composite numbers.  We also continued working on adding and subtracting large numbers with regrouping.  In language arts we reread this week's story, looked at the difference between fact and opinion, made and confirmed predictions, and learned more about action verbs,

In Social Studies, we are studying world geography.  Students have a map project they are working on, and they will take a test on continents, oceans, and geographic terms.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math RW15
     2.  Language Arts:  "Determined to Go Home" worksheet
     3.  Read for 1/2 an hour
     4.  Get parent initials.

Another Good Day at Sespe

We had a  busy day! Students worked on academic vocabulary, read the first story of our reading book, practiced subtracting across zeros, and worked on paragraph form.  We also did some warm ups and strteches, then ran two laps.  In the afternoon Mr. Carroll presided over a brief assembly to discuss good behavior in school and set some goals for the year.

     Homework:  1.  Math RW14
                         2.  Spelling:  Write each Spelling word carefully in cursive.
                         3.  Get parent intitials.  (This is a standing assignment for everyday.

Some parents have asked about reading at home.  Students should read at home every day, but since we haven't had access to the library yet, I haven't asked students to write it down as part of the homework yet.  Soon, it will be added to the daily list of assignments.

It is important that students write down exactly what they have for homework.  Some students forget to write it down, or only write one or two words, rather than the whole assignment.

Sespe Happenings

Today we had a band assembly.  Many students are interested in joining the Sespe Band.  There is good research evidence that instrumental music instruction improves brain function.  Not only that, it's fun!

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  PW13, problems 1-20 subtraction
     2.  Spelling p. 5

School is well under way.  Our students are getting back into the swing of school and are learning the daily procedures of fourth grade.   Today we began work in our math book.  The first topic is adding and subtracting up to five digit numbers.  We reviewed some basic place value concepts  and also introduced the idea of factors, products and prime numbers in connection with the calendar.  We also began work on a poetry project.

Today's homework.
     1.    Math workbook page PW13, problems 1-20, but only the addition problems.
     2.    Neatly copy today's handwriting sentence two more times.
     3.    Show your parents your homework and have them initial today's date in your agenda book.
   

First day of school

We had a fantastic first day of school!  Room 14 is full of creative enthusiastic learners.

The homework for today is:
         1.   Read over and discuss the classroom rules with your parents.
         2.  Complete both sides of the Locate California Cities worksheet.
         3.  Get your parents' initials for Wed. 8/22.

School Starting

Welcome to Room 14!

The first day of the new school year is Wednesday, August 22.  We have lots of exciting things planned for the year.  Good news!  Fort Tejon will remain open for at least another year.  Our overnight field trip to the fort will be coming up next spring.  Details to follow.