October 27, 2005

Dear 4B Parents~

 

The 4B students worked diligently this week to finish their personification paragraphs.  The class has been studying similes, metaphors and personification.  They incorporated these figurative language devices into paragraphs about a California region of their choice. 

 

In Social Studies we have begun talking about the first nomadic tribes of settlers, hunters and wanderers into North America & California.  The class is making preparations to embark on an in depth study of Californian Native Americans.  Students will use their prior knowledge of California regions to help them understand how California Native Americans tribes which scattered throughout California, used the resources available to them, to live and exist in their natural environment. 

 

The ERB tests are next week.  They begin Wednesday.  These standardized tests are given across the country to both public and private schools.  The tests allow us to measure each child’s progress on skills and concept areas and are a gauge of the effectiveness of our programs.  However, they are not a replacement for teacher evaluations, which remain the most predictable and accurate measure of future success in school.   

The ERB’s consist of eight sub-tests, which will be given over the course of five days.  They focus on concepts that the students learned over the past year. The students will be taking practice tests next Monday & Tuesday, which will help our students become acquainted with the format of the tests.  In addition, we have been discussing test taking strategies.

Tests will be given between the hours of 8:45 and 10:30 am. Please ensure that your child has a good night’s sleep and eats a good breakfast before the tests.  In addition, punctuality is crucial on each of these days.  Please plan to have your child arrive at school by 8:25 am. Arriving late may result in your child making up the test with the learning specialist during regular teaching time. We want our children to be at their best for the tests.

If you have any questions regarding the tests or the test-taking period, please do not hesitate to ask.

The 4B students will be presenting their Independent Reading projects on November 9, 10, & 11.  This consists of a brief book talk and sharing their projects.  The book talk is not a scripted, rehearsed speech, but should be a discussion of the book and their feelings toward it.  Note cards with the basic facts and a brief summary are recommended.  You are welcome to join us for these presentations.

Dates and times are as follows:

November 9:  @ 1:45 - Rowan, Avi, Sophia, Lauren

November 10: @ 11:30 - Natalie, Cori, Jacob, Danya

November 11: @ 1:00 -  Brandon, Rachel, Vanessa, Shiri, Eliana

Thank you, everybody has returned their permission forms for the November 8th field trip.   We have enough drivers!!  We will leave a few minutes after our last ERB exam of the day.  Thank you all!

Parent / Teacher conference sign-up sheets are available in the school lobby right now.  I hope all of you sign up for times for us to meet.  This is the perfect opportunity for us to set goals, evaluate your child’s progress so far, and discuss any concerns you (or I) may have.  I look forward to seeing you all at the conferences.

 

Thank you everybody for bringing in Children's books for Tristen Sturm.  Wow!!  It was a warm, loving scene watching Tristen walk in and see all the books for her and her future baby.  The 4th graders just glowed with warmth and affection.

 

Take Care!

-Steve

Gift for Ms. Sturm

4B Parents~

As you know, Mrs. Sturm is about to leave on maternity leave.  As former students, both 4th grade classes expressed their desire to celebrate this time in her life and to share their feelings of joy with her.  To that end, we have decided to present her with children’s books to start her own, personal library.  We have asked that the students bring either a new or gently used children's book, or a poem or letter that they would like to share with Mrs. Sturm.  We plan to present her with the books this Friday, and then keep the books in a safe place for her until after the baby is born.  We hope that you will join us in this not-so-random act of kindness.

~Steve B.

field trip permission form

Dear 4B families~

 

Next week we will begin our unit on Native Californians.  As part of this unit we will be visiting Coyote Hills Recreational Center in Fremont where we will be touring an Ohlone shell mound.  This trip will take place on Tuesday, November 8.  We will leave the school at 11:15am and will eat lunch at the park.  Our tour is from 12:30 – 2:30. We will be back at school by 3:20 (I hope).  

Please consider driving on this very interesting trip.   
 
Please fill out the fieldtrip form below and send it in with your child by Friday, October 21.  
 
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
 
All our best,
 
Steve Blatteis & Debbi Seligman
 
 
 
I give permission for my child, ____________________________, to join the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School Fourth Grade on the field trip to Coyote Hills in Fremont on Tuesday, November 8.
 
 
_____ YES!!! I CAN DRIVE!!!
and ______YES!!! My insurance information is on file in the office.
 
I can take __________ children.  (Please give the TOTAL number of children your car can hold.) REMEMBER, children under 12 years are not allowed in the front seat.
 
 
Parent Signature:_________________________________
 

October 16, 2005

Dear 4B Families~

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIFT!!! I greatly appreciated the Barnes
& Noble gift card. Stacey Horowitz brought us some greeaaaaat oatmeal and
chocolate CHUNK cookies. Thanks Stacey! Thanks Brenda for the coffee!
The kids made me some great cards, too! Thanks everybody!

The next two weeks will be short, as have the previous two. Homework
assignments are given approximately 1-2 weeks in advance, so that students
may plan to complete them on days when they are not involved in family
celebrations. A homework assignment was given out on Friday that will be due
October 28th. It involves reading a few chapters in IBD and completing
some 'checking comprehension' type assignments. These tasks include
vocabulary, cause and effect, and character traits.

The class has been studying the poetry of Diana Siebert. I believe the class
has found her style of personifying desert regions both interesting and
expressive. Our task now is to try our hand at personifying.
After choosing a region of California to focus on, students will attempt to
create a personification poem of their own.
If you have an extra minute or two today, could you ask your son or daughter
to explain what is meant by personifying and how Diana Siebert went about
personifying a desert region.

The class has finished their Georgia O’Keefe pastel and water color art
projects. Their artwork is on display in the 2nd floor
hallway adjacent to our room. Come up and see!

Fall reading benchmarking is taking place this week and next. Our 4th grade
writing benchmark will take place prior to Thanksgiving. ERBs are coming in
early November. This round of ERBs at the beginning of 4th grade, is testing
and assessing knowledge of 3rd grade curriculum.

How about those 4th graders!!??!! They did a great job performing at these
past two Kabbalat Shabbats!!! Buz Olian captured the kids in prayer, joy and
laughter with some beautiful photos!

Have a restful day!
-Steve

October 16, 2005

Dear 4B Families~

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIFT!!! I greatly appreciated the Barnes
& Noble gift card. Stacey Horowitz brought us some greeaaaaat oatmeal and
chocolate CHUNK cookies. Thanks Stacey! Thanks Brenda for the coffee!
The kids made me some great cards, too! Thanks everybody!

The next two weeks will be short, as have the previous two. Homework
assignments are given approximately 1-2 weeks in advance, so that students
may plan to complete them on days when they are not involved in family
celebrations. A homework assignment was given out on Friday that will be due
October 28th. It involves reading a few chapters in IBD and completing
some 'checking comprehension' type assignments. These tasks include
vocabulary, cause and effect, and character traits.

The class has been studying the poetry of Diana Siebert. I believe the class
has found her style of personifying desert regions both interesting and
expressive. Our task now is to try our hand at personifying.
After choosing a region of California to focus on, students will attempt to
create a personification poem of their own.
If you have an extra minute or two today, could you ask your son or daughter
to explain what is meant by personifying and how Diana Siebert went about
personifying a desert region.

The class has finished their Georgia O’Keefe pastel and water color art
projects. Their artwork is on display in the 2nd floor
hallway adjacent to our room. Come up and see!

Fall reading benchmarking is taking place this week and next. Our 4th grade
writing benchmark will take place prior to Thanksgiving. ERBs are coming in
early November. This round of ERBs at the beginning of 4th grade, is testing
and assessing knowledge of 3rd grade curriculum.

How about those 4th graders!!??!! They did a great job performing at these
past two Kabbalat Shabbats!!! Buz Olian captured the kids in prayer, joy and
laughter with some beautiful photos!

Have a restful day!
-Steve

October 9, 2005

Deadlines for 4B students:

 

Complete Geography map assignment and define climate vocabulary, due October 11th.

Complete one of each, 'three types of questions' discussed in class for IBD, due October 12th.

Science packet is due October 12th.

 

4B Kabbalat Shabbat performance this Friday.

Class pictures are coming up in two weeks.

First book project is due November 7th.  Presentation sign up sheet coming soon.

 

-Steve Blatteis

 

 

 

October 4, 2005

Dear 4B Parents and Students,

Students need to bring in their Library cards by Friday October 7th.

Also due on Friday is your reading project book choice.

 

We will be performing this Friday for Kabbalat Shabbat.  And back by popular demand, the 4B class will bring their world class stage presence back to the Kabbalat Shabbat stage on October 14th.

-Steve