Early September ’10: Topics-of-Study...

Thanks for staying up to date with Room 36! Please use the following videos, notes, and review exercises for regular at-home practice. By mid-September, students should be able to understand and internalize the majority of the following information. If you can’t find the login information for BrainPopJr (the site with all the “video” tags below), please send me a quick e-mail or note, and I can give you the details. The videos are well worth watching!

Language Arts: Sentence Types, Complete Sentences, Expanding Sentences, Finding Information in Books

• Types of Sentences (video), Four Types of Sentences (notes), Four Types of Sentences, Sentence Clubhouse (review practice)
• Complete Sentences: Subjects and Predicates (notes), Complete, Subject, or Predicate? (review practice), Expanding Sentences (practice page that is similar to, but not exactly what we’re doing in class)
• Parts of a Book (notes), Reading Nonfiction (video), Parts of a Book, How to Locate Parts of a Book (review practice), Using a Dictionary (review practice and notes)

Mathematics: Place Value, Standard/Written/Expanded Forms of Numbers, Multiplication Facts

• Place Value and Number Forms (notes), Place Value Pirates, Everything in Its Place, Place Value Puzzler (review practice)
• What’s Your Name?, Mystery Picture, Really Big Numbers, Cookie Dough (review practice)
• Multiplication Chart (notes), Fact Families, Save the Clown Fish, Around the World in 80 Seconds, Dude’s Dilemma (review practice)
• Trimester One Math Helper (front), Trimester One Math Helper (back)

Social Studies: General Global Geography; Begin Chapter One — California’s Geography

• The Continents and Oceans, Name the Continents, World Continents Quizzes, Test Your Geography Knowledge
• Latitude and Longitude (video), Latitude and Longitude Game, Basic Geography: The Equator and the Prime Meridian
• Water and Land (song we’ll practice in class)
• California Geography (notes), CA’s Location/Regions of CA (vocabulary practice)

School Supply List...

During the school day, our students have what they need to succeed. Paper, scissors, coloring supplies, notebooks, folders, pencils, Sharpies, glue, etc. are all provided. The only items your child needs to bring to school are a backpack and recess snack.

At home, however, it is recommended that your child have the following supplies on hand: pencils and sharpener, binder paper (writing and math homework), colored pencils, a glue stick, and most importantly, a consistent, quiet place to work and read. Thank you for helping your child in this essential way!

Welcome Back!...

The first day of school begins in  I hope you’ve all received your welcome postcards and are as excited as I am for the first day of school! How did you spend your summer? If you want to know what some of your teachers did during the last few months, simply scroll down to our first Wallwisher wall and take a look! The most exciting part of my summer was when I jumped out of a plane!

Parents, please take a moment to browse our site and familiarize yourself with all the links you’ll be using during the course of the school year. This may include AR BookFind (to look up Accelerated Reading book levels), Spelling Lists with links for review and games at SpellingCity, Multiplication help (fourth graders must know those facts right away if they’re not yet memorized!), Nightly Homework tweets (check daily if you’re child is having homework struggles!), our Calendar, and of course, Contact and Guestbook! If you’ve come by the site and want to say hello, ask a question before school begins, or leave a comment, please send a quick note using our contact form! Can’t wait to meet you!

Twitter: Room36Homework...

Room 36 Flags...

So, after a very unnecessary delay, I was finally able to take the remaining school year photos off of my phone and transfer them to my computer. In doing so, I found the Room 36 Flags we created this past school year!  After reading about the CA Bear Flag Revolt and discussing the value of state and country flags, we decided to create a flag that exemplified the uniqueness of our classroom. All students drew things they felt were the most accurate representation of our class or things unique to our classroom that they enjoyed most: morning yoga, Pinwheels for Peace, interactive science notebooks, VIP Club, music, our class website, recycling, nature journals, and more! As they were drawn in May, many of them were up for display during Open House!

Your Summer Vacation...

MeeGenius...

When I was a child, my mother ordered two personalized books as Christmas gifts for my brother and I. I no longer know where mine is, but I’ve kept my brother’s safe for quite some time. It was a wonderful Christmas tale that incorporated the names of our pets, my brother’s friend, and the two of us. I still think it was an amazing gift.

Today, while prepping for the new school year, I stumbled across MeeGenius. This is a new beta site that, in mere minutes, replicates the gift my mother gave us. Choose a free book from their list, add in your own names and a few choice details, and you’ve got a personalized book in seconds. I had to make one myself, just for fun! What a great way to engage your reluctant reader!

NWF Green Hour — Get Outside!...

After reading many books in recent years about environmental education and the need to get our kids outdoors, I have been itching to begin an environmental club here at Wilson. I even created EarthSaversClub.org in order to get the ball rolling and have a means of collaboration for club members and their parents! Unfortunately, due to numerous time constraints, it may just have to wait a little while longer!

Why do I mention this? Just because I can’t involve students in a club format quite yet, I still understand the importance of children experiencing the natural world! Aside from statistical data (children experience less symptoms of ADD/ADHD, have lower stress levels, play more creatively, have more active imaginations, etc.), it is plainly obvious that children who experience nature have a greater respect for themselves, for others, and for the environment!

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has a program called “Green Hour” in order to help combat what Richard Louv cleverly coined as nature deficit disorder. It’s concept is very simple: get children outdoors for at least one hour a day! Their website includes a discovery journal and simple activities, parents’ guides, data, and many other features to help jumpstart you and your child’s natural play. This is such an essential part of our lives!

If you would like more help, feel free to visit the “For Parents” page at EarthSaversClub.org.

Box Tops for Education: My Class Essentials...

Wilson Elementary has been collecting Box Tops for Education box tops for quite some time now. In addition to our school’s collection, there is now an option of teacher registries! These are similar to bridal or wedding registries, where those requesting products can create lists that are easy for a potential purchaser to view. I’ve added a few items to our new class registry, so click on My Class Essentials and take a look! Thanks for your support!

2010 Teachers vs. Fifth Graders Kickball Game...

We had a blast at the third annual Teachers vs. Fifth Graders Kickball Game! This year, we decided to be the school’s official cheerleaders and root for, … well, … everyone!