Busy Week!

Wow! Is it really almost winter break??

Here are the important dates to be aware of this week:

Tuesday, December 15 ~
Reading Log & Math Due (No quick write due this week)

Wednesday, December 16th ~
Choice P.J. Day & 100 point party

Thursday, December 17th ~

Release the Salmon Field Trip Rain or Shine! Load Buses at 10:00, Arrive at Science Factory @ 10:20, Leave at 11:00, back by 11:20. Parent Volunteers Welcome!

Winter Art Festival
Thursday from 6-8:30 is the first annual Camas Ridge Arts Festival. From 6-7:00 will be the tour of the building art museum, this is a drop in time so families can walk around based on their needs. The choir will go from 7:00-7:30 and we will have a sing-along/stomp from 7:30-8:00. Then last, but not least, the marimba bands will perform from 8-8:30. The big question from parents is do we have to be there all night for everything and the answer is no. This is a celebration, and celebrations should not be locked into the requirement of having to participate in everything. Families can come and go depending on their needs.

Friday, December 18th
Last day of school before winter break. Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010!!!! (Happy New Year!)

Andy Warhol Links

Warhol's World Online Interactive ~ Learn more about Andy with this interactive quiz!

Warhol Silkscreen Factory ~ Explore Warhol's process with an interactive silkscreen simulator!

Warhol's Marilyn Prints ~ Experiment with color

Arts Block Begins!

For the next 3 weeks, all classrooms in our school will be focused on the Arts!! The 4th and 5th grade team decided to keep students in their core groups for the Arts session. In our class we are doing a study of Andy Warhol, and Pop Art. We are also reviewing the Elements and Principals of visual art.

Yesterday, we compiled our initial thoughts about what art is.
This is the resulting poem:

What is Art?

Acting

Culture Chords Coloring Colors,

Dots Drawing and Dancing,
Doing... what's inside you

Feelings and Food
Geometry

Imagination

Lines and Love
Movement and Music

Pastels Painting Photography
Pointillism

Spots Stripes and Shape...
A random shape that turns into a Masterpiece!


~Ms. D's Core Class, 2009

Important Dates

Mark Your Calendar!!

Nov. 30 - Dec. 3 Book Fair
Thursday, Dec. 10 Title I Math Night, 6:00 - 7:30
Friday, Dec. 11 No School ~ Staff Development
Thursday, Dec. 17 Arts Event, Time TBA
Monday, Dec. 21 - Jan. 4 No School ~ Winter Break
Tuesday, Jan. 5 Classes Resume

Welcome Back! November 30, 2009

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. Due to schedules, we are off one day on the homework. So, at this point homework is due each Tuesday. I think this works better for the students, as I can give them a reminder on Monday to bring their homework in the following day.
Here is the homework for this week:

Literacy

Reading Log (as usual)
Quick Write ~ NO Quick Write, students should use this time to work on their articles for their newspaper front page.

NOVEMBER BOOK REPORT: Each student is reading a Fantasy/Science Fiction book. Your child should complete the reading of his/her book by December 1. Newspaper front pages are due December 8th. (The due date has been extended one day.)

Here is the grading rubric:

* Book approved by the due date: 5 points
* Project handed in on or before December 8th: 5 points
* Two articles, one about an event in the story
and one about a made up event: 25 points
* Answer who, what, when where, why in each article: 20 points
* Writing is thoughtful and interesting: 10 points
* Headline is included for both articles: 10 points
* You have at least one picture and a caption for it: 10 points
* Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct: 10 points

Each student has brought home a template we began in class to complete their final copy on.

Ms. D's Math Class

Week 3 Mixed Practice
Week 3 Problem Solving
Practice Multiplication Facts ~ There is no worksheet for this. I do have some wonderful game links below to help with multiplication practice.


Have a great week!
~Ms. D

MULTIPLICATION PRACTICE

Multiplication Eaters

Multiplication 4 in a Row

Factor Feeder

The Ants Go Marching

Puny Pet Shop


Pre Algebra:

Order of Operations Practice

Weekly Letter October 19-30

Hi All!

Welcome to conference week. All students will be released at 11:45 everyday this week. I am looking forward to meeting with each of you and setting goals for 4th grade.

MUSIC: We had a wonderful time at the symphony this week. I had two students tell me they had never been inside the Hult Center before. They were amazed! At the symphony we say Mozart! It was a very magical field trip.

SCIENCE: Salmon eggs are going to be delivered next week. Wish us luck, as all the 4th and 5th grade classrooms begin raising these babies!

ART: We had some extra time in CORE classes this week. In Ms. D's class we explored the art concept of crayon resist. If you are in the hall this week, be sure to view our 'Harvest of Art'. See you soon!

HOMEWORK UPDATE:

Literacy Block:

Monday October 26th students have a reading log, and a quick write due.

Also, students should be completing their mystery books this week. Setting maps are due November 2nd. We completed an example of this assignment in class, so students should be very clear as to what is expected.

I am NOT giving additional writing homework, to allow for students to complete their setting map. Reading logs will be assigned and due Monday, November 2nd.

I did not pass back the puppet report scores due to some students have not completed their presentations. I am planning to go over these scores with each of you during conferences.

Math Block:

Students are continuing an in depth study of multiplication. We are also reviewing subtraction with borrowing. This week, each student brought home a borrowing worksheet for homework. These are due Monday October 26th.

Weekly Letter October 12th - 16th

Good Evening All!

Can you believe we have been in school for an entire month? Time certainly flies when you are having fun. October is mystery month. Important dates to note include:

Tuesday, October 13th, Jog-a-Thon Grades 4/5 10:30 - 11:30
Thursday, October 15th, Picture Day
Friday, October 16th, NO SCHOOL

MATH BLOCK

We are expanding on our knowledge of place value this week, and beginning to work with arrays. This week students will use arrays to represent particular numbers in many different shapes. This work is leading up to more abstract concepts of multiplication. We will also continue to review place value concepts.

LITERACY BLOCK
All students have completed their puppet presentations. I am completing the grading process for this project. On Monday, October 19th, I will be sending home grade summaries for this project. On another note, nearly every student was able to give me the name of their mystery book for their October book report project. I was VERY impressed.

Homework includes:

Reading Log Due Monday, October 19th

Quick Write Due Monday, October 19th ~PROMPT:
This month you are reading a mystery book. Please use the problem, action,
action, action, and solution format and begin a mystery of your own.

Complete reading your October Mystery Book by Oct 26

Setting Map Project ~ Due Nov 2nd


Have a wonderful week, and I hope to see you in the halls! :-)
~Ms. D

Weekly Letter October 5 - 9th

Hi Everyone!

It was sooooooo nice to be back at school today. On Monday my daughter had a fever. She is feeling better. She was happy I was able to stay home and take care of her. Thanks to all my students for understanding Ms. D is a teacher and a mom.

Don't forget ~ NO SCHOOL Oct. 9th & 16th

LITERACY BLOCK:
I was very happy to see all the wonderful puppets today. I knew each of you had a creative side. Now I have proof! Five students presented their book reports and puppets. We will continue to share throughout the week. The October book report is a mystery book. Book selections are due Monday, October 12th. The project is to create a 'Setting Map'. Setting maps are due Monday, November 2nd. All students have a project description in their notebooks.

MATH BLOCK:
We are continuing our study of place value. You can support this skill by encouraging the reading of numbers up to one million. You can also ask your child questions such as, "If you add 30,000 to 245,600, what number do you have? Students should be able to express numbers to 1,000,000 in three different ways by the end of 4th grade. For example the number 245,467 can be expressed as a number, in words, and in expanded notation.

HOMEWORK: (You can click on the assignment to download a pdf version)

Reading Log ~ Due Oct 12 Please read 20 minutes, 5 times per week.
Quick Write ~ Due Oct 12 Prompt ~ In class we discussed beginning every piece of writing with a great grabber. The grabber should pull the reader into your writing. In the space below please write 3 – 5 great grabbers.

Oct. Mystery Book Selection ~ Due Oct 12

Complete reading your October Mystery Book by Oct 26
Setting Map Project ~ Due Nov 2nd (pdf coming soon)


SCIENCE:

There have been some questions regarding the science curriculum. Traditionally, in the fourth grade students study Microworlds, Land & Water, and Motion & Design. Students are also exposed to science inquiry strategies and will complete a science work sample in the spring. As a team we are working to ensure all science state standards are met this year through a combination of projects offered, and through integrating science into the literacy block. At a state level, the science standards have been updated as of 2009. You can visit the Oregon Department of Education website to find out more. :-)

Have a wonderful week!
~Ms. D

Weekly Letter Sept 28 - Oct. 2, 2009

Curriculum night was a success! A big thank-you to everyone who was able to attend. It was a pleasure meeting some of you for the first time, and seeing a number of familiar faces. If you were unable to attend, I have extra copies of the handouts.

Monday is a big homework day for my CORE Literacy class. The following assignments are due on Monday:

Weekly Reading Log
Book Report
Main Character Puppet
Weekly Quick Write

GOOD NEWS! We have a Tumble Book subscription for the second year in a row. The link below will take you to the Tumble Book website. Here students can read books online! Students can even read books in French and Spanish! Students reading books online may count this as part of their weekly homework reading requirement. Enjoy!

http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp

Thank you for your patience with this weeks update!

Have a wonderful weekend,
~ Ms. D

Monday Letter September 21, 2009

Good Evening All!!

We had an amazing trip today. We traveled with nearly 100 4th and 5th graders! ALL the students behaved wonderfully, the weather was perfect, and we experienced salmon in a natural environment, as well as in the hatchery. This experience will give the students a great point of reference as we raise salmon in our classrooms over the next few months. A big thank you to Chris Evans for leading this trip! It was also an amazing way to kick off the school year.

On another note, the 4/5 curriculum night has been postponed until September 29th. This will allow parents who have primary and intermediate students the opportunity to visit both teachers. Also, be sure to mark October 9th and 16th as NO SCHOOL days.

Homework this week includes reading 20 minutes, 5 nights during the week. I handed out the new reading log today. Click here if your student didn't get one. This weeks reading log is DUE MONDAY, SEPT. 28, 2009. Students should be half way through their book report book. Don't forget, puppets are due October 5th.

We are beginning our formal reading program this week. Our theme this week is mysteries. Our vocabulary words include allergies, consideration, anxious, suspicious, consume, accuse, and assignment. If you would like to practice the words and definitions, click here and have fun! Try the voice recognition game, it is amazing!!! :-)

Have a wonderful week!

~Ms. D

Monday Letter September 14, 2009

Dear Parents & Students,

Welcome to our first full week of school. In Ms. D's class homework will be assigned on Monday. Assignments will be due the following Monday, unless otherwise stated. When there is no school on Monday, homework will be due on Tuesday. Students are encouraged to keep all homework in their binder.

This weeks homework:
You can click on the links below to download a PDF file of each assignment! :-)

Weekly Reading Log ~ Students must complete 20 minutes reading 5 nights per week
September Book Report Parent Permission ~ DUE Monday, September 14th
September Book Report ~ DUE Monday, October 5th
September Character Puppet ~ DUE Monday, October 5th

DATES to REMEMBER

10 Sept Site Council 3:00pm
17 Sept PTO Meeting 6:30pm
18 Sept Watermelon Feed, 1:45pm
22 Sept Curriculum Night, TBA
24 Sept Fall Family BBQ, During Student Lunch, 4/5 lunch @ 11:45am
9 Oct NO SCHOOL
16 Oct NO SCHOOL

First Day of School

We had a wonderful day today! I was excited to see EVERYONE made it to school this morning. We spent time today meeting each other, and learning names. We even had a surprise visit from Principal Wally. All the students passed the 'boing ball', and we completed 10 class graphs! It was quite a day in 4th grade, & we are going to have another awesome day tomorrow.
Parents, please remember to AVOID the bus area if you are picking up your student by car. Students, please remember to use the cross walk ONLY to cross the street. Today we nearly had a tragedy because a student ran in front of a bus to cross 29th street. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our Camas Ridge students safe. See you in the morning! ~Ms. D

Parent Homework

Your child is bringing home a sheet entitled "Parent Homework". Please respond to the questions and return the paper, in the envelope provided, on or before Monday, Sept. 14th. Below I have listed the questions in case you don't receive the original. Thank you for your help! ~Ms. D

Parent Homework
Due Monday, September 14th

1. What is your child’s name?

2. Has school been a positive learning experience for your child?
Please Explain:

3. Is your child developing a good self-image?
Please Explain:


4. What are your child’s special strengths? (art, music, humor, etc.)


5. What limitations must your child overcome? (moods, temper, lack of coordination, etc.)


6. Please write a paragraph describing your son or daughter. Why is he or she a very special person?

Welcome Back to School Letter September 9, 2009

Dear Parents,
I am very pleased to officially welcome you to Camas Ridge Community School! I am truly excited to be teaching at this amazing school. It is my pleasure to tell you fourth grade will be an exciting year for your child.
Those of you who have returning students in my class, will not be surprised when I say, my goal is to discover the unique gifts and talents of each child who enters my classroom. I strive to help your child build on their talents, and I also strive to discover what will help your child overcome any difficulties they may have.
I believe in creating a safe, warm, and caring learning environment that will provide many opportunities for your child to interact with a variety of materials, ideas, and people. This will be accomplished with the use of learning stations, group meetings, individual, partner, small group, and large group activities.
A strong partnership between home and school will help your child greatly. I am trying something new this year to facilitate this partnership. I have started a class blog. You can find it at http://classroomlink.blogspot.com
Please check this blog weekly for announcements, important dates, homework information, and classroom happenings.
I hope your child is ready for a great school year, and is eager to learn. I want to provide the students with skills and a feeling of self worth. If you have any questions or would like to visit our class, please do so. Just come in! Students like sharing what they are learning with their parents.

Ms. DuBois
Room 6
790-8800
dubois_d@4j.lane.edu

Our Schedule
8:20 Students Enter the Class
8:30-9:30 Math
9:30-10:00 Language Arts
10:00-10:15 Recess
10:15-11:45 Language Arts
11:45-12:25 Lunch
12:25-2:00 Projects / Arts Block
2:00-2:40 Community time

P.E.
11:15 – 11:45 Monday & Thursday
Music
11:15-11:45 Tuesday

Important Dates

Sept. 10 Site Council 3:00
Sept. 11 1:45 Assembly
Sept. 17 PTO Meeting 6:30
Sept. 18 Watermelon Feed 1:45
Sept. 22 Curriculum Night TBA

Back to School Student Survey

Hi 4th & 5th graders! Please click the link below and take the survey so I can get to know you.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN STUDENT SURVEY


Thank you!

Ms. D

Open House

Tuesday, September 8th is open house. At 2:00 p.m. students are invited to come and visit their new classrooms. I look forward to seeing each of you in room 6! Have a wonderful Labor Day.

~Ms. D

Welcome to Ms. D's Camas Ridge Class!

School is just around the corner. This year I am forwarding my commitment to the environment by cutting down on classroom paper usage. The purpose of this blog will be to keep interested parties updated on classroom happenings and homework assignments. This is intended to be the primary communication tool between myself, the students, and each of you. I am looking forward to a fantastic year full of fun and learning. See you in the fall! :-)