Wednesday, December 12th: Toy Reuse/Rebuild Day 12:20-2:30pm
Volunteers welcome! If you are able to join us, email Ginny.
Toy Take Apart Day:
We will continue our study of electricity with a Reuse/Rebuild Day on Dec. 12th. Students will attempt to recreate and rebuild working lights and motion from the materials before making new "Puffin" toys!
December 24th - Jan 4th: WINTER BREAK
Monday, January 7th: School is Back in Session!
Monday, January 7th: Puffins to Forest Grove Public Library 2pm-3pm
Students should bring their library books to return, library card and a tote bag.
Chaperones Needed!
Community School Calendar 2018-2019
Forest Grove Public Library November Calendar of Events
A little note about comfort: As our weather is getting cooler and rain is often in the forecast, please make sure that your kiddo is properly outfitted with warm (waterproof) layers and appropriate footwear on Monday and Wednesdays when they will be outside for at least part of their day.
How's your homework routine going?
Suggested Weekly Homework:
Reading Homework
Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
Reading is on the "honor system" and we ask that you help your kiddo to develop a daily reading routine with good-fit books and a well-lit, comfy reading spot away from distractions. At fall conferences, your kiddo brought home the Tower of Books wall poster, which is a fun (and optional) reading genre challenge.
Typing Homework
Level 2 students have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills. Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
Passwords were sent home at family visits. Please email Ginny if you need help getting into your child's account.
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
Our Dreambox math program for homework has started. Passwords and account information were sent home with your kiddo this week.
If you are interested in exploring other ways to practice math at home, take a look at these ideas:
Ideas for math practice:
- 4th graders can get valuable math practice with Khan Academy. Current 4th grade math topics are listed below.
- Online Math Game Sites: ZapZap Math or Prodigy- create your own account!
- Multiplication Facts Practice with a simple dice game. How to Play: Each player takes turns rolling 3 dice. First to break 200 (or 500, etc.) wins. On your turn, you get to choose two dice to add together, then you multiply the sum by the final die. That’s your score for that turn.
- Facts Practice with Free Math Apps: Sushi Monster & Math Hero
- Facts Practice with Purchased Math Apps: Operation Math & Math Vs. Zombies
- Place Value and Rounding
- Multi-digit Adding and Subtracting
- Factors & Multiples
- Prime and Composite Numbers
- Multi-digit Multiplication
- Division with Remainder
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest...
On Wednesday, level 2 students continued their study of electricity with a "Toy Take Apart" day! Students worked with partners to open up and learn about the "guts" of their toys.
Students discussed why they were doing this, and came up with the following reasons:
- We want to learn how circuits work inside toys
- We want to see how designers and inventors put things together
- We want to find out what controls the sound, light and motion
Before dismantling the toys and electronic devices, students drew a diagram, labeling what they could observe from the outside, and making predictions about what was inside. Next, they began carefully removing parts so that they could see the circuits in action. Students added their findings to their diagrams and later, reflected about what they learned.
Writing Workshop: Opinion
Level 2 students are writing opinion pieces, and supporting their point of view with reasons and information. This week we focused on elaboration!
Our topic: "My Favorite Read Aloud"
We are working on the following:
- Introducing a topic, “hooking” the reader, and stating an opinion
- Providing at least 3 reasons that are supported by details
- Ending with a concluding statement
- Sentences have correct capitalization and punctuation
- Neat handwriting and proper spacing between words
Reading Workshop: Book Clubs
These small group "Literature Circles" engage students in vocabulary study and rich conversations about shared readings. Students can express their opinions, predictions, and questions about a text in a productive, structured way while developing their reading, speaking, and thinking abilities.Ask your kiddo to tell you about the book they are reading!
Read Aloud
We are exploring a new genre: Science Fiction! Students are creating their own bulletin board with a map of the "City of Ember", important vocabulary, a time-line, character portraits, and predictions.
The City of Ember
Lights shine in the city of Ember—but at the city limits the light ends, and darkness takes over. Out there in the Unknown Regions, the darkness goes on forever in all directions. Ember—so its people believe—is the only light in the dark world.
And now the lights are going out...Is there a way to save the people of Ember?