Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

The Value of Play



Children learn though play.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 319-320
     3.  Describe your ideal playground.  Use as much detail as possible.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Drawing Skills


Drawing is a skill that can be learned and developed like any other skill.


Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 317-318.
     3.  What is your favorite thing to draw?  Why?  Draw a picture.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Winter Program Great Success!



Our students did a wonderful job singing last night.  Thank you to all the parents for coming out and supporting our program.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 315-316.
     3.  What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever gotten? Explain.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Show Tonight















Don't forget!  The Annual Rio Vista 4th-5th grade Winter Program, featuring the second year band students and singing by all fourth and fifth graders, is tonight.  The performance starts at 5:30.  Students who are performing should be here by 5:15.

Today's homework:
     1.  Come to the Winter Program.  Dress nicely.  Be ready to sing!  Families are invited.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Queen Emma's Bridge in Curaçao



The novel we are reading in fourth grade, The Cay, begins on the small island of Curaçao, a Dutch colony in the Caribbean.  There is a famous floating pontoon bridge there called Queen Emma's Bridge.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 309-310.
     3.  What is the most difficult thing you have ever done?  Explain.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Christmas Show This Week



Parents, please make time in your schedule this week to attend the annual Rio Vista Winter Program.  Fourth and fifth graders and second year band will perform this Wednesday starting at 5:30.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 303-304.
     3.  What is your favorite Christmas (or other holiday) song.  Why do you like it?

Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Cay



Fourth graders our beginning to read our next novel for the year, The Cay.  Written in 1969 by Theodore Taylor, it is considered a classic of children's literature.  It is an exciting tale of adventure, survival and friendship.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 297-298.
     3. If you could keep only one thing, out of everything you have, what would it be?  Explain.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

What to Do with Remainders

When you you divide numbers you often get a remainder .  But what should you do with the remainder?  Here are some ideas:




















Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 291-292..
     3. What is your favorite thing to study at school?  Explain.



















Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Organization Is the Key to Writing


Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 289-290.
     3.  Describe your favorite video or computer game.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Finished at Last!



We have finally finished reading our fourth grade novel, Wringer.  Our next book is called The Cay.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 283-284.
     3.  What is the most important thing you learned from Wringer?  Explain.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Mathematical Practices




Fourth graders are supposed to be learning mathematical practices as well as specific skills.  Students, for example, should develop the habit of working carefully and checking their work.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 267-268.
     3.  What is your favorite zoo animal?  Explain.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Reading Deeply



It is important for students to develop the habit of reading attentively, really getting absorbed in a text.  It's more fun, and you learn more!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 259-260.
     3. What is your favorite thing about yourself?  Explain.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Feeling Thankful (and full)



Welcome back from Thanksgiving!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 249-250.
     3.  Describe your Thanksgiving.




Monday, November 21, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 251-252.
     3.  What are you thankful for?  Explain.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Distributive Property



















Fourth graders are learning how to use the distributive property of multiplication over addition to solve problems.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 243-244.
     3.  What is the silliest thing you have ever done?  Explain.


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Super Heroes



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 245-246.
     3.  Would you rather be super strong or super fast?  Explain.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Turkey Trot



Our Annual Rio Vista School Turkey Trot is coming up this Friday.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 239-240.
     3.  What do you remember about kindergarten?

Monday, November 14, 2016

Parent/Teacher Conferences




















We have minimum days all this week for parent conferences.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 235-236.
     3.  Describe your idea of a perfect dinner.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

President of the United States




After a hard fought campaign we have a new president elect of the United States of America.
Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  No math
     3.  What would you do if you were president?


Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Regrouping in Multiplication

























Sometimes when you multiply you have to regroup.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 233-234.
     3.  If you could grow up to be famous, what would you want to be famous for?

Monday, November 7, 2016

Partial Products



Fourth graders are learning how to multiply using partial products.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 219-220.
     3.  Who do you think will be elected president?  Explain.



Thursday, November 3, 2016

Door Contest






































Congratulations to Room D4 students!  We won the fourth grade Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 209-210.
     3.  What is your favorite sport?  Explain.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Happy Halloween































Yes, Halloween was two days ago, but here is our class all dressed up in costumes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 213-214.
     3.  Describe a time when you were lucky.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Decisions Decisions Decisions



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 201-202.
     3.  What is the best decision you ever made?  Explain.


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Red Ribbon Week



This week is our annual Red Ribbon Week.  Our message is that all of us should live a healthy drug free lifestyle.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 191-192.
     3.  List five ways to live drug free.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Memory



Much of learning can be described as moving things from your short term memory to your long term memory.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 187-188.
     3.  Describe your earliest memory.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Favorite Fictional Characters

















Fourth graders should be able to discuss the elements of a story, including characters and their attributes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 185-186.
     3.  If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?  Explain.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Time of Day



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 183-184.
     3.  What is your favorite time of day?  Explain.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Food Webs



Fourth graders are learning about how energy is distributed throughout a food web.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 181-182.
     3.  If you had a time machine, when and where would you go?  Explain.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Welcome Back!



I hope everybody had a good vacation.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 159-160.
     3.  What did you do during fall break?



Wednesday, October 5, 2016

New Skills



















Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 157-158.
     3.  What is something you can do now that you couldn't do last year?  Explain.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Division Is Really Subtraction!



Did you know that division is really just repeated subtraction?

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 151-152.
     3.  Would you rather give up TV, chocolate or friends?  Explain.


Monday, October 3, 2016

Path to Success Chant



The Rio Vista Path to Success Chant

Roadrunners are
     prepared learners;
Who are
     always kind;
And we
     try hard,
So we
     have success!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 145-146.
     3.  What is the most important thing in life?  Explain.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Bored!



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 139-140.
     3.  What do you do when you are bored?

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Smile!



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 127-128.
     3.  Write about things that make you smile.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Photosynthesis




Fourth graders are learning how plants create food through the process of photosynthesis.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 121-122.
     3.  If you could have a super power, what would it be?  Explain.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Descriptive Writing



Fourth graders are learning how to create more effective descriptive writing.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 117-118.
     3.  Write a description of your bedroom.  Your description must be at least 100 words long.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Literary Elements


























Fourth graders are learning about literary elements, such as character, plot and theme.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 105-106.
     3.  Pick your favorite character from Wringer.  Write a description of him or her.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Small Moments



Fourth graders are continuing to learn about small moments stories.  Small moment stories zoom in on one moment in time.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 103-104.
     3.  Why would anyone want to be president?

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Subraction is Addition


Fourth graders have been deepening their understanding of subtraction.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 97-98.
     3.  What is the nicest thing you have ever done for someone else?

Monday, September 19, 2016

Rural, Suburban, Urban



Fourth graders are learning about how different communities in California can be categorized as rural, suburban or urban.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 91-92.
     3.  What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Estimating Sums and Differences



















Fourth graders are learning how to use estimation.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 83-84.
     3.  What is the most important invention?  Explain.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Mental Math


There are many different strategies you can use to make mental math easier.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 77-78.
     3.  Are you a good friend?  What makes you think so?

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Small Moments Stories

























Fourth graders are learning to write small moment stories.  In small moment story we focus on one specific moment in time.  For example, a small moment would be eating a ball park frank during a baseball game - not the baseball game as a whole.

* Note:  Band starts tomorrow.  Bring your instruments.

 Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 71-72.
     3. What does it mean to be a friend?


Monday, September 12, 2016

9-11



Yesterday was the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on our country.  In memory of the brave people who lost their lives that day, Rio Vista fourth graders are making a 9-11 Memorial Quilt.  Each students will draw one square of the quilt.  We will then put all the squares together.

 Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 65-66
     3.  Why is it important for us to remember 9-11?

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Chess



Chess is a great game.  Playing chess teaches you logic and attention to detail.  All the Rio 4th and 5th grade students who come to me for our daily rotation class have been learning how to play.  It's a fun way to learn!

 Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 55-56.
     3.  What is the best present you have ever gotten?  What made it the best?

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

What is a Coward?




 Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 49-50
     3.  Ask three people "what is a coward?" and record their answers.