Shakespeare comes to Division 4!
Mapping Activity (M)
Sent from my iPhone
Skating at Karen Magnussen Arena
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Students received the following documents, but just in case I have posted them here. Please have a conversation with your child about what project they’re interested in. A google search of science fair projects will reveal thousands, but many are too complex for a Grade 4 or 5 student.
Reminder: No School for students tomorrow (Friday 18 January) as it is a Curriculum Implementation Day across the entire NVSD 44 School District.
Homework this weekend:
1) Continue to post comments on the Cooper’s Edge school blog in the UK.
2) We wrote a 9 x tables quiz today, and I’d like a parent signature on it and returned to me (M)
The next times tables quiz will officially be the 4 times tables in several weeks. If your child did not pass (22/25 or better to pass) the timed quiz for 9 times tables, they can ask me to retake the test any Thursday.
Homework:
Math:
Gr. 4: p. 116 from # 1 – 6 or 7 (Th) (with a quiz on the chapter to come next week)
Gr. 5: p. 94 # 1 and 3 (Th)
For both grades: a timed quiz on the 9 times tables (Th)
Science:
Water cycle write-up in good copy needs to be completed, including Questions 5 & 6 (Th)
Quadblogging:
This is a week “off” for us. No new posts need to be published, but our students are expected to read and comment on the student blogs here:
http://blogclubces.wordpress.com/
Math:
Gr. 4: p. 115 # 1-7
Gr. 5: p. 90 # 1-7
Science
We viewed several videos today, shot from underwater, or above rivers, showing the kinds of stream beds that salmon favour for spawning (rocky or gravel bottoms), and we watched as some salmon spawned.
Two videos we watched were here:
We then summarized our learning with three sections: new vocabulary, Needs, and obstacles. That was compiled into the attached doc.
The salmon are coming! The salmon are coming!
In Science we are studying Renewable and Non-renewable Resources of BC, and we will start with a study of the Pacific salmon. In less than two weeks we will receive over 100 wild salmon eggs which we will raise until they hatch and grow into strong little fry, in April, at which point we will release them back into the wild.
Our first handout was available today, and I’ve posted it here too.
Tomorrow we will have a short quiz on the life cycle of the Pacific salmon (F).
I’d also like the students to have their title page for the Salmon unit handed in too (F).
Reminder: Students should be preparing for a timed test on the 9 times tables (next week).
Also, if students haven’t posted a new blog today, they should do so tomorrow, for this is “our” week to shine. The next several weeks we will be reading and commenting on blogs from our other partner schools.
Finally, if there aren’t any last minute book orders, we’ll send the January Scholastic order in tomorrow (F).
Roman Numeral challlenge from yesterday:
Q: If you can only use I, V, X, L, and C, what is the largest number you can make?
A: 399 (CCCXCIX)
Today we worked on coming up with our own divisibility rules. Some are easy (like the rule to know if any number is divisible by 5 (it always ends with a 5 or a 0), some are harder (like the divisibility rule for 9: add the digits together; if they equal 9, then the number is divisible by 9. Eg: 54 = 5 + 4 which does = 9 so 54 is divisible by 9. Eg: 378 = (3+7+8) = 18 = (1+8) = 9 so 378 is also divisible by 9, but 4004 (4 + 4 ) = 8 is not divisible by 9.
Scholastic Book Order:
The January book order has been made available to students. If you’d like to take part, please have the orders (cheques only please, no cash) in to me by Thursday.
Salmon in the classroom:
As I have done for many years, I have signed our class up for the Salmonids in the Classroom program. In about 2 weeks we will receive over 100 wild salmon eggs which we will incubate until they are ready to be released back into the wild after the Spring Break. Accordingly we will get our tank set up about a week early (ie: next week) so our water for the salmon to live in will be properly conditioned for their arrival.
I hope you and your family had a restful, relaxing holiday, as I did. Mine was made doubly special because of the thoughtful cards and gifts you gave me. It is an honour teaching these lovely children, so those gifts and cards were like icing on the cake… very much appreciated!!
Homework:
1) In art, Mrs. Martin asked the students to find out from parents who “JFK” was, and specifically who Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy was and what she represented to the American people.
2) In Math, I challenged the class to determine what the largest number would be if in Roman Numerals you only had 1 = I; 5=V; 10= X; 50 = L; and 100 = C to work with.
3) I’ve asked students to write another blog post today at <a href="http://www.kidblog.org/WestCoast.
http://www.kidblog.org/WestCoast.</p>
4) Scholastic book orders went home today. If you’d like to take part in the January order I would just remind you that I can’t send cash in the mail, cheques only please, made out to Scholastic Canada.
Wow. I’m so proud of our class. We went out collecting donated food during our Jingle Walk this afternoon, right during a cloudburst of wind/rain/hail. We got soaked, and we got cold, but we also collected a carload of donated goods, thanks to the generosity of our neighbours! A special thanks to Lucy and Penny for walking with us, and for Kathy who was our patient driver… we couldn’t have done it without them. I didn’t hear one whining or complaining voice, although there was lots to whine and complain about. Kudos to the whole class for their “can do” attitude!
Christmas Concert tomorrow (Tuesday 18 December at 7:00 pm) at Centennial Theatre.
Just a reminder that students need to be dressed appropriately for the concert. For boys a good white shirt (collar, not t-shirt)… and we have lots if your son needs to borrow one. Girls will be wearing tights or leggings underneath their red poodle skirt (which are being supplied). All students should be dropped off at the door by the loading entrance on the east side of the Theatre at 6:40 p.m. Parents are not allowed backstage. Your child will be met at the stage door by teachers and escorted inside. Parents will be able to wait inside in the lobby for the doors to open. Don’t forget to bring your tickets! The event is sold out, so it should be a great night!
Jingle Walk volunteer(s) needed.
Today we successfully distributed flyers to almost 150 homes, asking them to take part in our “Jingle Walk” by having non-perishable food ready for donation pick up Monday afternoon.
I’d like to have one parent who can drive beside us and another parent to walk with us this Monday, December 17, 2012 after lunch from 1:15 pm to about 2:15 or 2:30.
If you’re available, and are willing to help out, could you email me please?
p clarke at nvsd 44 dot bc dot ca
In the attached picture, our class is taking a much-needed break after the rigors of up hill and down dale. The good news is: no rain today! I’m not so sure about Monday though! ;-(
No homework this weekend.
Sent from my iPhone
Homework:
1) Blog post if not written one yesterday.
2) Math:
Gr. 4: p. 92 # 1-7 (Th)
Gr. 5: p. 86 # 1-4 (Th)
3) Students go to student blog page (www.kidblog.org/WestCoast) and take the survey.
4) If not done already, tennis and (optional) ski forms due asap.
5) Tomorrow (Thursday) we’ll be testing for the 11 times tables.
Homework:
Journal:
Students have been following Chris Hadfield as he prepares for another trip to space, to take command of the International Space Station for 6 months. They have started a journal entry (and in some cases finished it), but for many they will need to complete it tonight. (T)
Blog:
Unless students have blogged over the weekend, it is probably a good time to post another blog. Comments to the classes we follow in the USA, in the UK, or the UAE are always welcome.
Reminder: Ski trip forms should be handed in at the office asap. Similarly so with tennis forms.
TlhisThursday we will be testing for the 11 times tables.
Notices went home today for the tennis program in the New Year, and to announce an extracurricular ski program on Grouse Mountain in the New Year. Those noticies ought to be returned asap to the school.
In Math, the Gr. 5 students are working on multiplication (Unit 3 in the Gr. 5 Math textbook and on additional math handouts). Gr. 4 students are working on multiples and multiplying, which is also Unit 3 in their text, along with additional math handouts. As expected, everyone did well on their 10 times tables. Next Thursday students will be tested on their 11 times tables.
1) Plant or Animal of BC Presentation
It seems that many students are ready early to do their presentations about a BC plant or animal. Goodness! What a wonderful place to be in! I suggested that even though the deadline is Friday, they might want to pick a private due date a day or two in advance to relieve stress, and perhaps that has helped. In any case, if students want to present starting tomorrow (Thursday) I will make space and time in our day for that. Otherwise students must be ready by Friday morning.
For those who have chosen a digital presentation, I strongly suggest they bring in their files on a USB stick to see if your files will work on the school’s computers. Sure enough, we’ve had two that will not work. That’s the sort of thing we want to know early, not Friday. Partly for that reason, many students have elected to do a paper version… I consider that equally acceptable. The criteria remain the same for both kinds of presentations: speak for 1 to 2 minutes, focus on habitat, adaptations, life cycle, food, and include a few pictures. Presenters are welcome to jot down point form notes or topics on an index card and have that with them, but they should not be reading off the cards, or from the screen. They should be speaking to the class. I encouraged the class to practice out loud at home and to time themselves so they aren’t much too long nor too short.
2) Blogging
Wow! We have some very talented writers, and it is garnering a lot of attention from many parts of the world. We’ve had comments from sister schools in the U.K., from Saskatoon, from Wisconsin, and recently from Oklahoma. This week schools are reading our blogs, so I’ve asked that your child plan for and write one new post every day this week. Today should see the third post sent to me for approval. Next week we’ll be doing more reading and commenting of blogs (which is easier by far), but for now we keep the pressure on to produce great quality writing… one new piece each day till Friday. Students (and parents/grandparents, etc.,) are welcome to read and comment on our sister school’s blogs too, of course!
3) Multicultural Lunch
The multicultural lunch was a hit! Thanks so much for your support in helping with food contributions, clothing, etc. So many different kinds of food for lunch today, and it was so delicious!
Sent from my iPhone
Homework:
We don’t often have homework on the weekend, but in this case we do!
Social Studies:
Gr. 4 Mapping assignment of one room at home (M) See attached scanned doc
Gr. 5 Prepare point form notes (pfn) on right side of page with study questions facing on the left side of the page for p. 155-156 in the textbook (M)
Also, Gr. 4s are to have their most recent homework assignment signed by a parent. That way parents will see the quality of work I am getting on an average day. Please do have a conversation with your child around expectations, successes, and attention to detail! I’d like the signed homework assignment back at school for Monday morning so I know you’ve seen it.
Homework:
1) Donation for the Remembrance Day Poppy fund for those who wish to take part.
2) BC Animal or Plant Project:
· Choose a plant or an animal from BC to research.
· see p 181 of the Science text for content
· consider a digital slideshow
· show us what you know about that animal and its habitat.
· due Fri. 23 Nov.
Choose to do either a paper version or a digital version (not both).
Be prepared to talk to the class about your chosen plant or animal for 1 – 2 minutes… keep it brief!
If you choose the digital version, speak to me first to get the technical issues ironed out well before the due date.
Keep in mind, our focus is on habitat. You need to learn about the typical habitat that can support your chosen plant or animal.
No zoo animals, no farm animals, no pets. No plants introduced to our area, no garden plants, no farm plants. ONLY wild animals or wild plants found native to BC.
Use the internet or library to do your research.
Page 181 of the Science text “Organism Cards” project is written for both plants and animals. Light and water apply to plants only, not particularly to animals. Food and shelter, on the other hand, applies mostly to animals.Choos the organizing topics appropriate to your organism.
Find out what adaptations your plant or animal has made to survive in its habitat.
Students have no new homework, but…
Their Math test has been marked. Please review it with your child, sign it so I know you’ve seen it, and have it returned to me with your child on Tuesday.
Their Christmas card project should have come home today, with one sample Christmas card (which you are welcome to keep), along with an order form. If you wish to order boxes of 12 cards with your own child’s art, that order must be returned to the school by next Friday 16 November. You and another family can leverage your two orders for a cheaper unit price by going together and ordering some of your child’s cards, and some of the other family’s cards. Cheques are to be made out to The Card Project.
This Sunday is November 11, Remembrance Day, and I would encourage all families to consider taking part in any of the several memorial services around the North Shore. If that is not possible, I would encourage all to at the very least, stop whatever you were doing at 11:00 a.m. and observe a moment of silence out of respect for those that have gone before us.
Monday is a national holiday, so students do not attend.
I look forward to seeing students on Tuesday 13 November.
Homework:
Gr. 5: Reading “The Taliban” (T)
Gr. 5: French: Days of the week.
Gr 4 & 5: Preparing for a math quiz any day this week! (Gr. 4: pp 76-77; Gr. 5: pp 66-67) I have not announced which day the quiz will be on, but that is to get the kids ready asap. If they can answer the kinds of questions on these “Show What You Know” pages, they will be well-prepared for the quiz. The quiz is exactly like these questions, just much briefer.
No new homework for the weekend, but studying should be a consideration.
Gr. 5s should be practicing for their French days of the week oral quiz next week.
Both grades should be studying the review pages prior to a math test next week. The Gr. 5 review pages are on p. 66-7; the Gr 4 pages are p. 76-7.
Reminder: Next week we have Parent/Teacher interviews on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from just after 2:00 p.m. for 2 or 3 hours. Sign-up sheets are available in the hall outside the office, or if you can’t make it in, in person, please call the school and Lisa or Toni will be able to slot you in.
No homework tonight. We’ve begun a writing assignment, and both Grade 4 and 5 are working through some review math questions prior to an upcoming test, but neither were assigned as homework tonight.
Grade 5s have begun to learn the days of the week in French. As has been the case so far, we are not learning the spelling, just the proper pronunciation.
Halloween:
Students are encouraged to bring their costume to school on Wednesday… with some cautions. No weapons are allowed, nor is make-up, even if that is an essential part of the costume. We’ll have a fairly “normal” morning, but will be taking part in a Halloween parade at 1:15, followed by a party in our room. Costumes, which are, of course, optional, won’t be put on until 1:00 pm.
As for the party, if your child would like to bring a little something, that would be appreciated. We do not need snacks for all 28, because if all students did that, we’d be inundated. Aim to provide baking or snacks for perhaps 12 people or so. I will provide plastic glasses and paper plates, and something to drink. We’ll have some Halloween activities, but given how much sugar they’ll be getting later that night, we won’t be going wild with our party.
If you can join us in the gym at 1:15 to witness the whole school in their Halloween parade finery, please do!
By the way, today is a bit unusual in that there were several posts put up today, so please scroll down to read the other information. Thanks!
Tomorrow (Wednesday 31 October 2012) schedules for parent/teacher interviews will go up in the hallway outside the office. You are encouraged to choose a time to meet with me by claiming a 15-minute slot in person, or you can call the Brooksbank Office (604) 903-3280 and make arrangements that way.
The interviews will be spread over three days next week:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (November 6, 7, 8).
These interviews are scheduled prior to the formal report card, so letter grades will not be prepared, but it will be an excellent opportunity for us to discuss goals/issues/accomplishments.
It seems odd that students in Gr. 4 or 5 need to know about copyright laws, but since we’ve begun blogging (see the student blogs here), it became an important topic.
Can you just copy/paste “facts” from Wikipedia? No, not without linking back to the page where the ideas exist, and even then only in moderation.
Should you place just any picture you like on your blog? No, not without making sure the picture has been licensed for anyone to use, and you’ve provided a link back to the owner of that image.
The same applies to text, pictures, video, etc.
Without getting into a Computer Help Desk format, I would like to suggest a few websites where students can easily fulfill the letter of the law. It will require making a couple of bookmarks.
First, I reccommend students and parents visit http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/ . Flickr is one of the largest photo-hosting websites, and Flickr/CreativeCommons is where pictures which are available for free non-commercial use are hosted. There are millions and millions of pictures to search amongst. I recommend this site is bookmarked for future use, so students can easily get back to it.
Second, there is a great little bookmarklet here, called ImageCodr, which you add to your bookmark bar. When a student has found a creative commons image on Flickr, a single click on this bookmarklet and code is instantly created in a box. Students click in the box, select all the code and return to their new post on kidblog.org. Normally you write in what is called “Visual” mode, but students can also select HTML mode, where they can paste the HTML code they just copied. When that is viewed, the picture will appear on the child’s blog with a link to the owner of the image, and the creative commons logo, all neatly compiled for the student’s use on their blog.
Here’s an example of a picture with the proper attribution.
When we blog, students and adults alike need to observe copyrite laws when we use someone else’s picture.
Here’s an example of proper attribution.
Our class started blogging about 3 weeks ago, and already the results are impressive. You can see their blogs here. There is lots of enthusiasm, and some very good writing from our Gr. 4/5 students. But I can tell it’s time we had a little chat about copy/pasting from Wikipedia and also downloading other people’s pictures to add to their blogs.
The copy/paste from Wikipedia should be a simple and straightforward lesson. I think in moderation, and with quoting your source, it is fine. And it’s that last point, attributing ownership, that will bring us to the downloading of people’s pictures.
I can tell we need a little trip over to both Flickr: Creative Commons, and the Search Creative Commons page for a little look-see. We’ll need to talk about ownership, as well as attribution…such as the image above. I use (and pay for) Wylio.com to quickly find/resize/attribute images for my blog.
I don’t think students willfully take other people’s images… they just need to be made aware of the concept. After all, for this generation of up-and-coming digital citizens, the shoe will very soon be on the other foot!
Today we were visited by Christine, the “Bear Lady”, as she is affectionately known. This was a timely presentation given how active black bears are at this time of the year, feeding, as Christine says, as much as 20 out of 24 hours to fatten up prior to winter denning up and hibernation.
Homework:
Math:
Practice either the 3x or the 5x tables.
Gr. 5 have a reading assignment (“Smart Cars”) due Monday.
Students should update their blog this weekend if they haven’t done so recently. Generally, I require a new blog post every week, and since this is the second week, students should have at least 2 posts published, and several comments made to other blogs. Our student blogs are located at kidblog.org/WestCoast, but you can just click on the link at the top of this page as well to go there directly. Please feel free to read our blogs and leave comments to encourage the students!
Today we had some time to decorate small pumpkins with our younger buddies from Mrs. Batista’s grade one class.
Sent from my iPhone
We are in rehearsals for a small performance we will take part in during a November 21 assembly, and that is really exciting.
Our class blogs are well underway with all children having posted at least one blog and in some cases more than that. I would encourage parents to help proofread if you have the time since it makes for a much clearer blog post. Today’s pictures are from our DPA outside neighborhood walk.Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Just a reminder… the weather will continue to be cool and sometimes showery, and Intermediate students are expected to participate fully in Daily Physical Activity (DPA). Tuesday and Friday we’ll be outside getting 30 minutes of exercise, so please ensure your child will be able to stay warm and dry. Thanks!
Homework:
Reading:
Complete the “NHL” booklet including the questions on the last page (T)
Blog:
Please try to complete one blog entry and one or more comments (T)
Pumpkins:
Our “buddy class” is Mrs. Batista’s Grade 1 class, and this Wednesday 24 October we will be helping them decorate (not carve, but decorate) small or medium-sized pumpkins. We’ll have yarn, googly eyes, paper etc., to cut out and decorate the pumpkins, and I thought you child might like to bring a pumpkin of their own this Wednesday so they too can not only help the little ones, but also end up with their own. If you’d like that, please send a pumpkin (small- to medium-sized) to school with your child on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
I am not certain I’ll be staying with posterous given their problems and lack of customer support since being bought out by Twitter. I’m preparing Plan B!
I am not certain I’ll be staying with posterous given their problems and lack of customer support since being bought out by Twitter. I’m preparing Plan B!
Homework:
5 times tables for all; 3 times tables for those who need further practice.
Grade 5s: practice the numbers in French from 11-21
Take P.E. strip home this weekend for laundering, and return with it on Monday.
Write a blog post, and submit it for review, read the other blogs and comment where the interest strikes.
(To get to the student blogs, point your browser to: kidblog.org/WestCoast
Parents, grandparents, family friends are encourage to have a look and leave a comment. Students love it when adults take the time and trouble to comment.)
Reminder: if you need to contact me for support, email me here: pclarke at nvsd44 dot bc dot ca (but replace the “at” with @; use a period instead of “dot” and eliminate all spaces).
Reminder: Teachers have a Professional Development day tomorrow; students do not attend school.
Today we had two Bee Keepers, Ric and Sharon, lead our class (and Ms. Reichert’s class) in the first of our monthly learning/making sessions where we learn the importance of bees for fruits & flowers, the drastic loss of habitat in North America, and what we as a class can do about it! We are lucky, because we get to be Bee Guardians!
Today we checked progress on the 3 times tables. Your child should have brought home the results of this quiz for your signature. If they know their times tables so well they can answer 22 or more questions on the 3 times tables in 2 minutes, they are considered to have “passed” this challenge. If not, students will need to re-write the quiz at their convenience once they have mastered the 3 times tables, but not before next week. Indeed, it may take several weeks before they can give the answers rapid fire.
Meanwhile, the class will start to prepare for the 5 times tables, which will be the next one to be time-tested.
French:
Gr 5 are in the process of learning numbers from 11-21, which builds on their knowledge of the numbers from 1-10 we did recently.
Blogging:
I have set up an online weblog (“blog”) for my self and each of the students. Everything they post can be read by anyone in the world, including our Principal, me, you, a grandparent, or the students of a Gr. 4/5 class half way around the world. The wider audience demands a high level of spelling, grammar, and punctuation skill, but it is also gratifying as a young writer to receive comments about their writing… which is where you might come in. We’d love it if you could periodically check out our blogs and perhaps leave a comment.
For your information, all posts and comments go through me first, so it is strictly moderated, and safe for all kids. No email address is required. They’ve all been taught by me how to select a secure password that is easy to remember, and so one of their first tasks is to change the generic password they were given into their own personal, secure, but easy-to-remember password. Then they should be ready to upload their first post tonight.
I was able to give students who had brought a memory stick a digital copy of their first post, to save typing time tonight. If they didn’t bring a memory stick, they’ll have to type it at home tonight.
We’ll be posting weekly or so, but students are encourage to read and comment as much and as often as they like (you too!).
There are many many other Grade 4 and Grade 5 classes in North America who also blog, and I hope to connect with some of them, but for now, our students are busy posting their first blog entry. Exciting times!
1) Students shoud be practicing their 3 x tables for a timed test this week.
2) We have outside DPA tomorrow (Tuesday), so students need to dress for the weather.
3) An orange notice went home belatedly, today, with a turn-around time of this Wednesday if your family would like to take part in the Brooksbank Family Halloween and Movie Night on October 25… drinks & treats are available but must be ordered by Wed 17 October.
Although there is no new homework for the weekend, students have been told to work on their 3 times tables in preparation for a timed test sometime next week. This is a pass/fail test, where in 2 minutes they need to be able to correctly answer on paper at least 22 out of 25 questions. The questions come in a random order but would look like this:
1) 3 x 7
2) 6 x 3
3) 3 x 10
4) 12 x 3
etc., etc.
These uploaded pictures are more from our Paper blog activity.
Today students learned the correct etiquette for commenting on someone else’s blog. We used our paper blogs for practice.
Sent from my iPhone
Homework:
Math:
Gr. 4 p. 44 # 2 (F)
Gr. 5 p. 56 # 6-10 (F)
Social Studies:
Gr. 5 p. 46 Mapping Booklet (F)
Paper Blog (F)
Homework:
Math:
Both grades need to practice 3 x tables from 3 x 0 up to 3 x 12. Also…
Gr 4: p. 44 # 1 a) & b). (the whole point here is to be able to draw neat and lovely-looking Venn diagrams) (due Th)
GR. 5: p. 55 # 3, 4, 4 (Th)
Students need to be prepared with their rough draft of their first blog entry written in pencil (Th)