Mrs. Brooks - 4th Grade - Room 48
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5/25/15 - Please go to the "End of Year Party" tab to see the information regarding our final party. 
       I am so sad to have to say good-bye to my 4th graders as they advance to 5th grade next year.  But, I am so happy to be able to keep most of my 3rd graders as I will be back to teaching just 4th grade next year.  I feel lucky to have gotten to know many of my students' parents this year, and I look forward to continuing to be able to work with the 3rd grade parents again next year so that we can help your child get the best 4th grade education possible.  There is a huge advantage to staying in the same class for a second year.  We will be able to get going right away next year without the usual lost time in the beginning of the year; the "getting to know you" stage.  I will certainly miss the 4th grade parents, especially those of you that I worked really close with.  Even though I won't have your child in my class next year, please feel free to keep in touch with me, and to keep me informed about your child's education.  And, to all the parents that worked closely with me, as a team to support your child's education, I just can't thank you enough.  In my opinion, a supportive parent is one of the most important elements in helping a child gain the most from their education.
9/15/14 - Parents, just a reminder that we are starting "Homework" today.  There will be spelling, vocabulary, and reading, with an occasional math sheet if work wasn't finished in class.  Please go to the "Homework" tab for details.  To date, I have only received notification that 12 students will be doing their Spelling City homework on the computer.  If your child plans to do their homework on the computer, then please fill out my computer "Survey", if you haven't done so yet, to let me know that your child will be doing their homework on the computer.  Please check the computer homework as you would if it was paper homework to see how your child is doing.  If I don't receive the computer survey notification from you, then I will send home daily paper homework.  Thank you!
10/15/14 - 3rd Grade Parents - It has just come to my attention that I have neglected to inform 3rd grade parents (I only told students) that the times table tests are not being used for grades for 3rd graders at this time.  Times tables are relatively new to 3rd graders, so I am just using this experience as exposure and practice, as well as teaching them timed test taking skills, until later in the year.  All students in my class are practicing all four operations of math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) on a regular basis with Reflex in the computer lab once per week, and Xtra Math in the classroom every day.  These timed tests won't be used for grades for 3rd graders until about midway through 2nd trimester.  I'm sorry I failed to notify you of this situation.
10/19/14 - Since my first post on 9/30/14 asking for help with the Fall Festival, I only have one parent willing to volunteer their time running the booth, and one parent that may have a table to loan.  The Fall Festival is this Saturday, Oct. 25th, so our time is running out.  I am not willing to do everything by myself.  We need more volunteers to run the booth, and we need witch hats and rings in order to even have a booth.  If we don't have parents willing to make this happen by this Thursday, then I will have no choice but to withdraw our classroom booth.  I hope that you decide to participate in an event that was created for your child/children to enjoy.  Please respond HERE to let me know that you will be volunteering to run the booth for an hour, and/or that you will supply witch hat(s) and/or rings for the booth.  Thank you.
10/23/14 - A big THANK YOU to Justin's mom for finding and purchasing six witch's hats for our ring toss.  I went and bought even more in case the rings destroy them, as well as table covers and misc. Halloween decorations.  I found eight rings in a toy box in my classroom that I think will be enough.  Also a big THANK YOU to Aedon's dad for loaning us a table for the booth and for offering to run the booth for an hour.  And, thanks go out to Cole's and Lauren's parents for also volunteering to run the booth for an hour.  
     Thank you to the four parents that were willing to participate in an event that will bring great pleasure to all the kids in our class, as well as all the students that attend this school.
11/28/14 - Report Cards went home the Tuesday before break, 11/18/14, for students I didn't feel a conference was necessary for at this time.  If you haven't done so already, please return the signed report card envelope on our first day back after Thanksgiving break.  If you have misplaced the envelope, then a short note telling me that you received the report card will be fine.  If you are one of the remaining parents that I did not send a report card to, then I sent you a note on Friday before break asking you to sign up for a conference time.  Please be sure to return that form on Monday, the first day back after break.  I will give you the report card when we meet for the conference to discuss it.
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9/2/13 - Please be sure to review the Calendar of Events page (tab on left) so that you will stay informed of upcoming school and classroom events.  The calendar also lists the holidays and minimum days.  This year ALL minimum days are on Thursday (the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month) and we will have one this Thursday.

        Also, the reading homework starts this week.  Please make sure that your child reads for AT LEAST 20-30 minutes everyday (Mon-Thur for homework, but every day is better for your child).  I am leaving the reading homework responsibility role up to the parents, with no reading log to sign and turn in.  Your child will have 2 school library AR books to take home.  When they finish one, they should bring it back to school the next day so they can exchange it for another book.  It's good to have 2 books at home at all times in case they finish one of them before the 30 minutes of homework is met.  Students will have plenty to read in class by using my classroom library, as well as their audiobooks and whole class reading.
9/14/13 - PARENTS, our school counselor, Miss Jenny, is forming a couple of counseling groups.  One group is for students of divorce.  If you are divorced and feel your child could benefit from this type of group counseling, please let me know so I can get them enrolled.  She will also have a "Friends" group for those that have a hard time making, or keeping, friends.  Groups are starting soon, so please let me now right away by sending me an email using the contact form at the bottom of the "Home/Contact Mrs. Brooks" page tab on the left.
10/6/13 - Parents, if you haven't yet completed the surveys on the "Classroom Surveys" tab to the left, then please do so now.  Also, if you have a computer and internet, or a smart phone, please be sure to get signed up for Renaissance Home Connect by clicking on this link:
https://hosted44.renlearn.com/271468/HomeConnect

Information about this invaluable service that Renaissance provides can be found by hovering on the "Educational Websites" tab on the left, then choosing the Renaissance Place (AR & AM) tab.  Every time your child takes an AR test (reading), or a math test (AM), you will be notified and sent the results.

10/19/13 - IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ - It has come to my attention that MANY students are not doing ANY reading at home for their ASSIGNED 20-30 minutes of reading homework.  This Monday I will start sending home reading logs each week for the students that have made it clear that they are not doing their assigned reading homework.  Parents will be required to sign the log daily, and the log must be turned in each Friday to receive credit for completing their weekly homework.  Fun Friday is only awarded to those that did all of their homework for the week.  If any homework is owed on Friday, then your child will go to detention instead of Fun Friday.  Also, each day that homework is not turned in on time will also mean that your child will lose their homework pyramid piece and be on the Red Team for that day, and the piece will stay down until the homework is completed and turned in.
       On Monday I will also start sending home multiplication math facts (times table) practice sheets for students that have been scoring only 1's and 2's on the weekly math facts tests.  I included the math facts tests with the Progress Reports so you would be able to see how your child was doing on them.  The district requirement for Mastery is a 4 on the scale found at the bottom of each test.  If your child is scoring below a 3, then please work with them at home by using flash cards, quiz them while driving, quiz them while sitting in waiting rooms, etc.  If you have a computer and internet, then your child should be practicing using the XtraMath and Reflex websites that we also use at school.  I sent home an information sheet for both of these websites so you could get signed in and use them at home.  Please let me know if you need an additional copy of these sheets.

       Also, many students still don't have an Mp3 player for audiobooks.  If your child does not have one, then please purchase one ASAP.  They are very inexpensive these days (less than $20), and can be found online through Amazon, ebay (I bought 3 for only $7.00 each with FREE shipping), NoMoreRack.com, and Walmart; or in stores such as Sears and Kmart.  To learn more about Mp3 players, please click on the Mp3 tab that shows up when hovering over the "Audiobooks" tab on the upper left side of this page.  To learn about the advantages of audiobooks, please read the "Audiobooks" page by clicking on the tab of the same name on the upper left. 
       Due to a student's Mp3 player carrying a virus that was then given to my classroom computer this year, your child's Mp3 player will only be allowed to contain audiobooks that I have copied to their Mp3 player.  The virus that was given to my classroom computer destroyed it and caused me to be without a teaching computer for 2 weeks, and I use my computer for teaching everyday.  I had to purchase a new computer that was very costly (the district supplies inferior computers for my needs in computer technology), so I will do whatever is necessary to protect this computer.  Please do not allow anything to be loaded onto your child's Mp3 player during this school year except the audiobooks that I will load on it.  If you are loaning your child an Mp3 player from home, then please be sure to delete everything currently on it before sending it in, or send me a letter that gives me your permission to delete everything on the Mp3 player.  I will not work with any Mp3 players that have anything loaded on them except the audiobooks that I loaded.  Thank you for your cooperation.
11/3/13 - Parents, I sent home another copy of the directions to get your child enrolled in Xtra Math and Reflex Math at home.  I gave one to the students that told me they were not yet enrolled at home and needed another copy of the directions.  If you have a computer and internet access, then please be sure to get your child enrolled so that s/he can practice their times tables at home.  If your child has been receiving the times tables homework sheets, then s/he can do 10 minutes of Reflex Math each day instead of the paper sheets.  Only the Reflex Math can be used in place of the paper homework due to Xtra Math's inability to differentiate between the students' classwork that is done every day, and the homework.  However, the Xtra Math is still great for extra practice.  Thank you.

12/1/13 - Parents, if your child had an "I" (Insufficient Progress Toward Mastery) on their recent report card for their Math Facts (times tables 0-12), then please spend time quizzing him/her as well as having her/him write them out to study them.  If your child has access to a computer with internet, then please have him/her use Reflex and XtraMath DAILY.  I will also send home a times table chart that your child can fill out and use to study their facts in the Take-Home folder.  Knowing their math facts fluently (3 seconds, or less, per fact) is a critical foundation for all future Math skills and objectives.
2/22/14 - We will be having a read-a-thon on Friday, 2/28/14, in conjunction with the annual AR event called "Read the Most, Coast to Coast".  Our class will be reading all day in various formats; reading independently, reading an audiobook, reading an audiobook with a friend, reading along with a book on the big screen, etc.  This is during the first week of 3rd trimester and is a good way to jump-start your child's reading points, so please make sure they are at school that day, and on time.  For the read-a-thon, your child is allowed to bring a sleeping bag, or blanket, and a pillow to lay on for comfort, and to help pad the hard classroom floor .  And, I'm even allowing ONE appropriately sized stuffed animal to cuddle up with during their reading.  This should be a very fun and rewarding day for your child!
3/3/14 - We had our Science Guy Assembly today, and the PTA has now supplied us with the science project step-by-step information packets.  The info packet that I sent home last week included a few pages taken from this larger packet from last year so that you could get some idea of what was expected.  If your child decided to choose a project from one of the project books that I have offered up instead of finding something outside of the classroom, then copies of their chosen project will be going home tomorrow in the Take-Home Folders along with the science project info packet.  If your child found a project to do on their own, then I will need to approve it before they get started on it.  Demonstrations like a volcano are not allowed.   It needs to be a science experiment using the scientific method as apposed to a model and/or demonstration.  There needs to be a question that the experiment can supply an answer to.  
         Please keep in mind that at this point your child will have three weeks to complete this project which includes a week of Spring Break (projects are due 3/24/14, the first day back from Spring Break).  Many students take the most time in deciding what project to do (as this class has certainly done), so most of them are finally over this bump.  I told them today that they have been given more than enough time to look through my books and select a project to do, so if they didn't choose one by the end of school today, then they were on their own because the copies need to be made for the students that already picked theirs.
3/16/14 - If you haven't purchased your science board yet, I just learned from a classroom parent that JoAnn Fabric next to the Super Target has them for a good price.  She said they were also available in many different colors so you wouldn't have to paint them if you had planned to.  I looked on the JoAnn website and found the white ones on sale for only $2.99/$3.99 (great deal), but no mention of the colored ones there.  Click HERE to go to their website.  You can call them in advance at (760)244-2918 to find out exactly what they have in stock, and at what price, before driving there. 
       Reminder - the science projects are due the first day back after break, Monday, March 24th, but I will allow them to be turned in, without a deduction in grade, if turned in by Wednesday morning, March 26th.  After March 26th there will be a daily deduction in grade.  If the project is not turned in by Thursday morning, March 27th, the projects will not be there in time to be presented to our class and then entered in the Science Fair.  The PTA has a Thursday after school deadline for entering your projects in the Science Fair.  Keep in mind that the Science Project will be a MAJORITY of your child's 3rd trimester science grade, without the project your child will receive a failing grade.
       Your child can choose to reproduce the experiment for the class (if it's quickly reproducible, not too messy, smelly, or dangerous), or just bring in the board and present the experiment to the class.  If your child chooses to enter their project in the school Science Fair, then it would be good to bring some of the objects that were used in the experiment for display (with the exception of things that stink, or are not appropriate for displaying where young children can reach them).  I hope you have been enjoying sharing this process with your child.  I remember having a great time helping my son, Jesse, with his science projects.
  I hope you and your child make this experiment a happy memory for you both. 
**Please go to the "Science Project" tab to get ALL the Science Project information.
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       Below is a copy of the Riley's Farm field trip parent information letter, and below that letter is a copy of the permission slip in case you need another.  On the copies that went home, please return the COMPLETED permission slip (your child can not attend without it), and the bottom ONLY of the info letter (keep the top part for your info), along with the $14.00 CASH (WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT CASH, NO CHECKS PLEASE).

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Dear Parent(s),                                                                                                            

    This is the structure of what the daily times-table homework should look like.  I will be removing the 2’s & 3’s after a while to add the 11’s & 12’s.   If your child does not improve much on low scores of times-table tests, then I will increase the number of columns required.  Likewise, if your child scores very high on the tests, then I will decrease the amount of columns required.  This math facts homework will be turned in on a daily basis.  The Reading Log and the Spelling Packet will be turned in on Fridays.


Thank you,


Mrs. Brooks

 

Monday – 2’s & 3’s       
Tuesday – 4’s & 5’s        
Wednesday – 6’s & 7’s        
Thursday 8’s & 9’s

Please have your child do 2 sets of each number, per day, using the column format below.

This is an example of what Monday’s times-table homework should look like.

 

2’s

1 X 2 = 2

2 X 2 = 4

3 X 2 = 6

4 X 2 = 8

5 X 2 = 10

6 X 2 = 12

7 X 2 = 14

8 X 2 = 16

9 X 2 = 18

10 X 2 = 20

11 X 2 = 22

12 X 2 = 24

2’s

1 X 2 = 2

2 X 2 = 4

3 X 2 = 6

4 X 2 = 8

5 X 2 = 10

6 X 2 = 12

7 X 2 = 14

8 X 2 = 16

9 X 2 = 18

10 X 2 = 20

11 X 2 = 22

12 X 2 = 24

3’s

1 X 3 = 3

2 X 3 = 6

3 X 3 = 9

4 X 3 = 12

5 X 3 = 15

6 X 3 = 18

7 X 3 = 21

8 X 3 = 24

9 X 3 = 27

10 X 3 = 30

11 X 3 = 33

12 X 3 = 36

3’s

1 X 3 = 3

2 X 3 = 6

3 X 3 = 9

4 X 3 = 12

5 X 3 = 15

6 X 3 = 18

7 X 3 = 21

8 X 3 = 24

9 X 3 = 27

10 X 3 = 30

11 X 3 = 33

12 X 3 = 36

SCHEDULE OF ALL DAILY HOMEWORK (Mon. - Thur.)
1)  Read for 30 minutes (Parents please sign AR log DAILY.   The completed form is due 
         on Friday)

THE READING IS STILL REQUIRED, BUT THE LOG IS NO LONGER BEING USED.
2)  Do Times Table homework as shown below (turn in daily),
         or do Reflex Math for 10-15 minutes PER DAY.
3)  Do one SpellingCity.com daily worksheet per day, or do the assignments listed on 
        SpellingCity.com (2 assignments PER DAY Mon-Thur).  Choose the daily worksheet, or

         do the SpellingCity.com activities.  You must choose one and stick to it for that week,
         you cannot do part of one and part of the other in the same week unless there's a
         good reason to do so, such as losing your internet or computer problems.
4/28/13 - The homework for the rest of the year will be:
                            (except there will be NO homework
the last week of school)

1.  Word games with our 25 weekly spelling/vocabulary words on SpellingCity.com
2.  30 minutes of daily reading
3.  Math worksheet(s) (it may be a new math concept, review of a prior taught concept, or both). 

This will cover the district's 45-60 minutes per day, Mon-Thur, homework mandate.

However, if your child is behind on their reading (the recent progress report will tell you this), then you really should have your child read EVERY day of the week, as well as to increase the reading time per day.  This will also help them to better help their reading team in our classroom reading point competition, as well as to help our class in our grade level reading point competition.
TIMES TABLE DAILY HOMEWORK FORMAT
5/1/13 -  I have an addendum to the reading homework based on an email I received today from our school library.  The last day to check out a school library book will be Friday, May 10th, and ALL books must be turned in by Thursday, May 23rd at the LATEST.  This means that the last week for reading as homework will be May 13-16; so the reading homework will stop a week earlier than the rest of the homework. 

4/28/13 - The homework for the rest of the year will be:
                           (except there will be NO homework
the last week of school)

1.  Word games with our 25 weekly spelling/vocabulary words on SpellingCity.com
2.  30 minutes of daily reading (last day of reading homework will be Thursday, May 16th)
3.  Math worksheet(s) (it may be a new math concept, review of a prior taught concept, or both). 

This will cover the district's 45-60 minutes per day, Mon-Thur, homework mandate.

However, if your child is behind on their reading (the recent progress report will tell you this), then you really should have your child read EVERY day of the week, as well as to increase the reading time per day.  This will also help them to better help their reading team in our classroom reading point competition, as well as to help our class in our grade level reading point competition.
5/14/13 - Next Wednesday, May 22nd, is Pioneer Day (aka-California History Day).  It will be from approx. 8:30-10:00am.  Students are encouraged to wear western/pioneer clothing, but it is NOT required.  Please let me know if you would like to help by volunteering in a classroom/station.
5/27/13 - This is the last week of school, and I have some announcements and reminders. 
1.  The Presidential Awards and Attendance Awards assembly will be held on Tuesday, May 28th at 9:30am.  If your child was a recipient, then you should have received written notice, a phone call, email and/or text.  
2.  We will be having our classroom end-of-year party on Thursday, May 30th.  I'm asking for a $2-$3 donation for the pizza, and for each student to bring something (please see the party tab for details on what to bring).  We will be eating and watching movies all day after the morning softball game between the staff vs. the 5th graders.
3.  Bus riders please remember that Snowline District has a strict policy of NO BACKPACKS on the bus the last two days of school (this Thursday and Friday), so make sure you take home all your stuff by Wednesday.
4.  Please make sure ALL school library books are turned in, and that you are paid up in the cafeteria in order for your child's report card to be released on Thursday.
5.  Friday, the last day of school, is a regular minimum day with dismissal of 12:45.  If you also have a 5th grader, it is fine for you to take your 4th grader out early after the 5th grade Promotion Ceremony.  In fact, this is the one day that we don't mind releasing anybody early if it helps you with your daily schedule (LOL).

4/14/13 - This week (week of April 15-19) we will be reviewing for State Testing which is next week (week of April 22-26), so it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that your child has as close to perfect attendance as possible for the next two weeks.  Please be sure your child is on time to school everyday, and doesn't leave early.  If your child is sick, then I expect them to be absent, but please do your best for the next two weeks to insure that they don't miss any more school than absolutely necessary.  There will be modified homework this week, no SpellingCity.com.  Instead I will be sending home worksheets covering concepts that they need to practice the most along with the usual reteach & practice math sheets.  During testing week it is school policy to not have homework, so there will be NO HOMEWORK during the week of April 22-26.

There are several important things you can do to help your child during the next two weeks:
1.  Please be sure that your child has at least 9-10 hours of sleep each school night.
2.  Make sure your child eats breakfast every day.
3.  Have your child in class all day, everyday.
4.  Make sure your child does their homework every night this week, and go over it with

       them to be sure they did it correctly.
5.  Let them know that these tests are important, and that they should do their best.
These 5 things will go a long way in helping your child do their best on the State Tests.  Thank you!


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