MRS. COHEN'S EARTH TREKKERS
Odyssey of the Mind Dates for January, 2009:
Tues. Jan. 6 - no practice
Fri. Jan 9 - 3:45 - 5:30
Tues. Jan. 13 - 3:45 - 5:30
Fri. Jan. 16 - 1:45 - 5:30 (1/2 day of school until 5:30 pm)
Tues. Jan. 20 - no practice
Fri. Jan. 23 - 3:45 - 5:30
SAT. JAN. 24: SPONTANEOUS WORKSHOP
Tues. Jan. 27 - no practice
Fri. Jan. 30 - 3:45 - 5:30
January 1, 2009:
Happy New Year to my Allen Park 4th Grade families! I feel so very blessed to have such a wonderful team of supportive parents this year. Thank you!
88% of Accelerated Reader goal is due by this Friday, January 9, 2009. Also, students should be keeping a daily journal at home since November and over the break for a journal grade at the end of the 2nd quarter. This journal should include at least 40 pages of dated, entry notes, quotes, thoughts, pictures with notes, etc. since November, 2008. The content is not as important as the commitment to put pencil/pen to paper within a certain time frame. Content and spelling will not be considered for a grade; just the commitment itself.
What does this journal look like? We made lined journals with covers and brass brads in class, but many students opted to purchase their own journal instead. Ask to see your child's journal and note the progress and contents...you may gain new insight into your 4th grader!
Got snacks? Please send in a box of microwave popcorn to share with the class.
This week's A.R. Goal: 88% of goal by Friday morning, January 9, at 10:45 a.m. Don't forget to challenge yourself with a variety of genres to make your BINGO goal for this quarter. (See chart below on this website for details.)
Math Skills Wanted! Timed Division tests are given daily. We are working for a Math test grade in division for the 2nd Quarter PLUS; we're building a delicious pizza, slice by slice, as we advance to celebrate with a party in January, 2009.
Agendas will be checked daily for nightly reading and notes from home.
Monday - 1/5- Day 3 - Music
1. Reading: 30+ minutes of an AR book (for 88% of goal, for Bingo and for fun to get ahead for next quarter!)
2. Writing: #1-5 Narrative Story Starters
Ex: One beautiful morning, my parents and I got locked out of our car while we were vacationing in Georgia. "Oh no! Now what will we do?"
Ex: Did you ever have an imaginary friend that nobody believed you had? One year in 4th grade, I had a best imaginary friend named Peter Koonz. The problem was, nobody could see him except for me!
Tuesday - 1/6 Day 4 - P.E.
1. Reading: 30+ minutes of an AR book
2. Writing #6-10 Expository Story Starters
Ex: One of my favorite places to visit in the United State is the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It's more beautiful than a painting and the Colorado River is exciting place to go white water rafting.
Ex: I can't stand it when my sister chews bubble gum. She not only chews like a cow, but she is constantly popping bubbles in my ear!
Wednesday - 1/7 Day 5 - Technology
1. Reading: 30+ minutes of an AR book
2. Writing: Choose your favorite #1-5 Narrative story starter and expand upon the main problem by drawing and planning an entire narrative outline. Include: problem, who, when, where, A, B, C, Climax, Solution and End.
Thursday - 1/8 Day 6 - P.E. Sneaky Feet
1. Reading: 30+ minutes of an AR book
2. Writing: Choose your favorite #6-10 Expository story starter and expand upon the main idea by drawing and planning an expository outline. Include: Main idea, 2 reasons with 2 details each, a "one time when" or "I remember when", and choose an onomatopoeia, simile, and quote to jazz up your writing. Don't forget to skate to your conclusion by restating your main idea and 2 reasons why. Hint: Expo the Robot!
Friday - 1/9 - Day 1 - Art - Character Ed. Assembly
All homework is due today! Please staple and hand it in as one assignment.
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Daily Schedule:
Day 1: Art
Day 2: P.E.
Day 3: Music
Day 4: P.E.
Day 5: Technology
Day 6: P.E.
Lunch Time (12:51 - 1:16)
Behavior Expectations:
Correlate with the intermediate report card (1-8) in Personal Development.
Behavior Expectations by #:
1. I pay attention.
2. I follow school rules.
3. I follow directions.
4. I complete tasks (on time).
5. I display positive attitudes.
6. I work well with others.
7. I work independently.
8. I work cooperatively with others.
Accelerated Reading and Motivation!
A.R. Bingo assists our students in making balanced genre choices at the media center. Check out our new A.R. Bingo board below for the 2nd quarter. Fill in a row across, down or on the diagonal. 80%+ marks the spot!
| Biography | Chapter book | Non-fiction | Animal non-fiction | Fairy tale |
| Chapter book | Non-fiction | Animal non-fiction | Mystery | Fiction |
| Mystery | Animal non-fiction | Chapter book | Non-fiction | Adventure |
| Animal non-fiction | Fantasy | Fiction | Biography | Chapter book |
| Non-fiction | Fiction | Fairy tale | Chapter book | Animal non-fiction. |
One row across OR One row d o w n OR One row on the d i a g o n a l for your BINGO goal! | | | | |
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Suggestions for A.R. reading at home:
30+ minutes each night
or
50 pages per night
or
.5 point book (non-fiction read 3x)
and success will be yours! Once the Bingo A.R. Bingo board is filled with one complete row, students may read any genre he/she would like to make up the rest of the point goal for the quarter.
I hope to hear “BINGO!” shouted often in my classroom this quarter.
Communication
Weekly Progress Reports will go home each Friday. Look inside the brown envelope on Friday for a yellow Communication Folder. The contents of the 2 pocket-folder are to be "kept home" or "signed and returned" on Monday. Information on the weekly progress report will include: reading progress and (Bingo), test scores for the week in academic subjects, behavior notations and comments/notes from me. Besides the daily communication we will share through the student's agenda, this is a weekly update that will keep our home-school connection on target.
Email me from this website! Sign up under "notify me" for weekly updates to your email address.
Homework
Your child is required to read for 30 minutes per evening (Monday through Thursday.) Additional assignments will be written by the student in their agendas. Homework is checked daily and all homework must be turned in by Friday to receive credit. Please make a note in your child's agenda if homework was not completed because of difficulty or family commitments. Also, it helps to know about early dismissal for doctor appointments, change in dismissal transportation, etc.
Let's have the BEST year, EVER!
Mrs. Cohen
