Math Fact Challenge

Below is a sample from last week's Math Facts Challenge.  These challenges are conducted on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  All four classes are virtually tied at 2 wins apiece.  Practice those facts at home, and help our class win.



http://youtu.be/kguoiKvKKJY

1st iMovie Project

iMovie is a key program in our digital toolkit in Classroom 317.  This project was designed to introduce all the elements of iMovie that we will be using over the next two years.  The assignment had four steps:

1. Pick a season
2. Find five images (using appropriate Creative Commons licenses)
3. Write a poem about the season / pictures
4. Publish in an iMovie video

Michael is the first student to fully complete this project, and he did a fantastic job.  Check out his video below.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Igh4zAQG6w
More videos and projects to come over the next two years.  If you signed the sheet giving me permission to showcase your child's work here, you'll see your kid's work before too long.

Field Trip from Ms. Ritter

Dear Parents and Friends of 4th and 5th graders—

I hope this message finds you well! I want to inform you about an upcoming music field trip opportunity for our 4th and 5th grade students. On Friday November 11th, students will go to Ann Arbor to see a live performance by the “Rebirth Brass Jazz Band” from New Orleans! This dynamic group is both known for their traditional brass sound, as well as their combination of funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop, while celebrating the traditional New Orleans music traditions and heritage. Prior to the field trip, students will be learning about the origins of jazz, and the importance of New Orleans in the birth of this musical style.

The cost to attend this field trip is $10, which includes bussing to Ann Arbor, and concert ticket. Students will leave UPA at 9:30 to attend the 11:00 performance.

If your student will be attending, please send them with $10 to their classroom teacher by Monday, October 31st. Also, if you are willing to be a parent chaperone on the trip, please email me at kritter@uprep.com.

Thanks and I look forward to sharing this fantastic musical experience with your students!

--Ms. Ritter

Feedburner Test

Although many of you have been following the blog through Feedburner, several new people joined today.  If you receive this post in your email, you will receive all other updates/changes to the main page of the blog (mrwetherbee.blogspot.com) in your email.  I hope this helps you stay up to date.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Milestone 1

In students' mailboxes on Oct. 12.

Milestone 1-Due Thursday, October 20, 2011

• Resources (books, websites, questions for interviews, etc.) for Interest Project

*You MUST have at least 5 resources to have a full project

*You MUST complete the worksheet and sign at the bottom

Milestone 2-Due Thursday, November 17, 2011

• Notes from all resources, note cards, an outline, etc. of the information you will present.

*To get credit for this Milestone, notes must be in the student’s own words.

*I WILL NOT accept printed off resources from the Internet (this would have been for Milestone 1).

Milestone 3-Due Thursday, December 8, 2011

• Visual aids for Interest Project

*Visual aids must be completely put together.

*Your exhibition should be done at this point.  This gives you at least four days to practice.

Exhibitions Start-Monday, December 12th, 2011



FUN FRIDAYS

As you can see, Milestones are due on Thursdays.  As a floor, we have decided to do “Fun Fridays” after each Milestone date.  We will have fun activities planned for those students who turn in the Milestone ON TIME AND COMPLETE.  Students who do not, will be working on their Milestones during that time.

Student’s Name___________________________________________

Driving Question: ______________________________________

Milestone 1: Resources- Thursday, October 20, 2011

You must have at least 5 different resources.

Books: Please list all of the books/magazine articles that you HAVE AT HOME right now that relate to your driving question.  If you can’t fit everything on this side, please put the rest on the back.  You may also type and/or email Milestone 1.

TITLE	AUTHOR

Websites: Please list all of the websites that you have visited that relate to your driving question. Be specific! Just writing www.wilkepedia.com is not enough! If you can’t fit everything on this side, please put the rest on the back.

WEB ADDRESSES For example: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/growing_plants.shtml

Interviews/Letters: If you have to write letters or interview someone for your project, you need to bring copies of the interview questions and copies of the letters that you have sent out already.  

PLEASE DO NOT TEAR APART!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I verify that my child has all of these resources at home right now.

____________________________________________
Parent Signature Date

READ 180

Hello Parents,

Many students throughout the 4th grade received READ 180 letters from me recently. If you didn't, you can disregard this post. If you did receive a letter, or are just curious, here is a link to Scholastic's READ 180 Family Portal. Please keep in mind that this is the Next Generation version, and we are running the Enterprise Edition. Much of it is the same, but there may be a few differences. Here's the link: http://read180.scholastic.com/familyportal/ .  Please let me know if you have any further questions regarding READ 180 or your child's reading.

TenMarks

Dear Families,

I am happy to inform you that we will be using a new online supplemental math program – TenMarks, which will help students refresh what was covered in the class, learning at the same time.

TenMarks is an online program that enables students to practice and master math concepts - one topic at a time.  They can work on direction from the teacher, or choose to practice on their own, anytime.  While they are practicing, TenMarks helps them with hints on every problem if they get stuck, and gives them short video tutorials to view if they need an explanation - really helping them grasp the concept they are working on.

I have set up each student with their own individual account, and loaded the math curriculum for their grade into TenMarks. From the teacher account, I can monitor and review their progress, and assign work and give them feedback.

There is also a reward zone for some extra motivation where they earn certificates to print out when they master a concept, and some educational computer games they can play after they complete work.

ACCESSING TENMARKS

To log in to their account, students should go to http://www.tenmarks.com and click on the red "Log In" button on the upper right corner of the page.

I just wanted to let you know that we're using this new program, which I believe will really help students improve their math skills and confidence.

1st Semester Driving Questions

• Samantha - What makes New Mexico special?
• Genise - Who is Megan McDonald (the author of Judy Moody)?
• Javan - How is football equipment made?
• Delontez - What is my family history?
• Darien - Why was George Washington our first president?
• Ryan - How are cars made?
• Michael - How do pro soccer players train?
• Lindsey - What is the history of Dunkin' Donuts?
• Nautia - What are the different breeds of dogs and how are they different?
• Blest - How are dogs different than wolves?
• Paige - What makes each planet unique?
• Sierra - What is the history of school?
• Soli - How do cameras work?
• Jamela - What is life like for turtles?
• Korey - What is a piranha?
• Namiah - How are movies made?
• Morgan - What is the history of the Internet?

Should be some excellent exhibitions. I can't wait to see what the students create.