Monday, December 3rd: Puffins to the Forest Grove Public Library
Wednesday, December 5th: Toy Take Apart Day! 12:20-2:30pm
Volunteers & Donations Needed! (see below)
Friday, December 7th: All School Meeting & Spirit Day: Theme is "Retro"
Wednesday, December 12th: Toy Reuse/Rebuild Day 12:20-2:30pm
Toy Take Apart Day:
We will continue our study of electricity with a Toy Take Apart Day on December 5th, and a Reuse/Rebuild Day on Dec. 12th. Students will work in small groups to safely dismantle and learn about the "guts" of their toys! Next, students will attempt to recreate and rebuild working sound, lights and motion from the materials.
DONATIONS NEEDED:
Volunteers: We will need parents to help with safe tool use in the classroom.
Electronic Toys Needed: donations of old/broken mechanical toys(stuffies with batteries or switches, dancing Santas, remote-control cars, etc).
Tools Needed: Smaller sizes of standard and Phillips head screwdrivers, pliers and wire cutters. Please label tools with your student's name so they can be returned.
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
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest...
This week, level 2 students started working in new science notebooks. During in-class science labs and while investigating on O&A’s, students will record their guiding question, make predictions, record their observations and data and then reflect and write a conclusion.
Writing Workshop: Opinion
Level 2 students are writing opinion pieces, and supporting their point of view with reasons and information. This week, students focused on editing and revision and had the opportunity to peer edit before publishing their "Favorite Season" essay. Students looked back at their writing goals and noticed where they have been making improvements and growing as young writers.
Our new topic: "My Favorite Read Aloud"
We are focusing 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?