Language Arts

Students continue to work on their Literature Circle study of Sid Fleishman’s, By the Great Horn Spoon. We are also working on reading comprehension with Reader’s Workshop mini-lessons using the novel, Samurai of Gold Hill, by Yoshiko Uchida.

Research shows that one of the best ways to improve your child’s reading is for him/her to read books at his/her independent reading level. To read independently, your child should read at a 99% accuracy rate. This means that he/she should only come across an unknown word ONE time out of every 100 words! Please remember that part of your child’s homework is to read 30 minutes on Monday through Thursday nights. When you sign the planner each night, I know that your child has done their reading.

Mathematics

Fourth graders continue to explore multiplication concepts. Fifth graders will start a new unit on Monday entitled, “Seeing and Understanding Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division”.

Expedition – Treasure Hunters

The students are finishing up their first case study about the various routes that the 49ers took to California for the Gold Rush. Ask your child which route he/she studied and the details that he/she has learned through research.

Our crew was outraged when we learned of the closing of Malakoff Diggins and 69 other California state parks. The students wrote letters to Assemblyman Dan Logue and Senator Doug La Malfa asking for these parks to be re-opened.

Upcoming Dates

9/30 Yosemite fieldwork fundraising meeting

10/3 Board Meeting from 5:30 to 8:30. It is in our room.

10/17 and 11/7 – Sierra Nevada Journeys will come in for a hands on experience focusing on the solar system and gold mining. We are lucky to be able to participate in such a great program.

10/31 – Bear Walk – PTC fundraiser. Children can come to school in costume.