I'll be honest, I think the two-hour delay will help us all out on Monday! Have your kids become accustomed to sleeping in like me? Thanks for all the snow day photos, I'm going to make a little presentation for the kids to watch when we get back, I know they'll enjoy it!
If you have not already sent me a photo of the "Object Self-Portrait", please do so! This will be another presentation I will share with the kids, I think they will really enjoy guessing who is who!
I will be collecting the Scholastic News Weekly Readers and accompanying questions on Monday, and will not be assigning new Word Study words this week. All the writing assignments are due as well!
The test on the American Revolution will be on Thursday, February 4th, this is the same day as the Character Parade, hopefully all the costumes are ready to go! We will be reviewing over the next three days, and I encourage students to use their VA Studies Notebooks and www.solpass.org to study!
Also, students do not have school on Friday, February 5th. Mrs. Higgins has been generous and scheduled us a time tomorrow afternoon for the kids to visit the library to get new books!
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Snow Week Update, January 26th, 2016
Thank you for sending all the fun photos, keep them coming! I know I gave your students work to last them through today, and I'm going to go ahead and say that Queen Akbar's Snow Day Work Policy is "Work for three, get one free!" This means that your lovely darling is not expected to do anything other than Reflex, reading for 30 minutes, and solpass.org tomorrow.
Work for Thursday and Friday:
1. Character Parade Costume
2. Valentine's Day Box
3. Writing Prompt: Students should write at least two paragraphs and use 10 adjectives to answer this prompt:
Let me tell you about my dream house...
4. Object-Collage Self-Portrait
On Tuesday I read the students a book called My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil, which featured a variety of "object-collages" of people in the main character's school. Essentially, what I'd like your child to do is create a self-portrait with various objects that can be found around the house. Please have them do this on a solid-color background, like a piece of construction paper. I've included some examples from the book. Please encourage them to be as creative as possible and all you have to do is send me a photo! Students do not need to bring this to school, I just need a photo of their masterpiece!
I hope you all are staying warm and safe, please let your kids know that I miss them!!!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Snow Days!
Are you thinking, "Ms. Akbar did WHAT?!"
Yes, I gave the students homework on their snow days.
No, it should not take them all day.
As I explained to students today, they are expected to complete the following on EVERY snow day:
1. 20 minutes of Reflex Math (Yes, even if they are fluent. After a certain period of time, students no longer show up as fluent, so a refresher session is important.)
2. Reading for 30 minutes
3. Play 3 games on solpass.org Reminder, the password is "pinebrook"
Regarding the other materials I sent home:
Day 1 additional expectations:
Day 2 additional expectations:
If your family is enjoying the day together and playing in the snow, or watching a movie, or doing something together - please make sure your child knows that THAT is more important than anything I am assigning. The main reason I am assigning work is 1) because I've been told that I am supposed to and 2) kids can get bored when they're cooped up inside and it's nice to keep their brains active. If your child is unable to complete any of the work, please email or send in a note. Also, if you have any suggestions for future snow days (take all the clothes out of your closet that are too small for you, organize all the Tupperware, bake cookies, a family snow day tradition, etc.) please feel free to share them with me so I can pass them along to the other parents!
My intentions with the Snow Day folder were good, I promise!!!
Yes, I gave the students homework on their snow days.
No, it should not take them all day.
As I explained to students today, they are expected to complete the following on EVERY snow day:
1. 20 minutes of Reflex Math (Yes, even if they are fluent. After a certain period of time, students no longer show up as fluent, so a refresher session is important.)
2. Reading for 30 minutes
3. Play 3 games on solpass.org Reminder, the password is "pinebrook"
Regarding the other materials I sent home:
Day 1 additional expectations:
- The reading passage and 6 questions on the back.
- Tell everyone in your family you love them and why.
- Clean something that your parents ask you to.
Day 2 additional expectations:
- The main idea and supporting details practice pages.
- Play with an old toy you haven't played with in a while.
- Cuddle with your mom or dad or both.
Day 3 additional expectations:
- The Scholastic News Weekly Reader - questions 1-10 on the back, highlight or underline where you find the answers
- The two-sided worksheet that goes with the Scholastic News.
- Call a relative who doesn't live close by and talk with them.
If your family is enjoying the day together and playing in the snow, or watching a movie, or doing something together - please make sure your child knows that THAT is more important than anything I am assigning. The main reason I am assigning work is 1) because I've been told that I am supposed to and 2) kids can get bored when they're cooped up inside and it's nice to keep their brains active. If your child is unable to complete any of the work, please email or send in a note. Also, if you have any suggestions for future snow days (take all the clothes out of your closet that are too small for you, organize all the Tupperware, bake cookies, a family snow day tradition, etc.) please feel free to share them with me so I can pass them along to the other parents!
My intentions with the Snow Day folder were good, I promise!!!
Monday, January 18, 2016
Weekly Update, January 18th, 2016
There is A LOT of information in this post, please read to the very end!
This week in...
Science: Students loved learning about force, motion, and energy with the Hot Wheels this week. On Friday they were even responsible for teaching their first grade buddies the difference between kinetic and potential energy. Ask them how that went! As I mentioned to the class last week, the unit test on Force and Motion will be tomorrow, January 19th. I made sure students brought home their science notebooks, and encouraged them to use their science textbook and solpass.org to study.
Virginia Studies: After taxing students for the past two weeks and taking the role of the British government, I almost forgot... I should start preparing my own taxes! Is your child a patriot, loyalist, or a neutralist? We will be completing our Revolutionary War foldable this week and the unit test for the American Revolution will be Wednesday, January 27th. There will be no VA Studies Weekly newspaper this week.
Language Arts: Due to both the MLK holiday today and the LCPS planning day next Friday, I will not be assigning Word Study for the next two weeks. Students will receive short writing prompts nightly that use and apply what we learned in class that day. These assignments will be glued into their writing notebooks. The expectations for these assignments are as follows:
Writing homework must include:
*A topic sentencec
*Capitalization
*Punctuation
*At least one paragraph unless told otherwise
*Correct spelling
*Complete sentences
Reading: Students practiced summarizing fiction last week and will focus on interpreting characters in their fiction books this week. As always, students are expected to read 20 minutes nightly and record their reading in their reading log. Please have your child read for at least 5 of these 20 minutes out loud! Additionally, as reading assignments come home in Thursday folders, please review missed questions with your child so he or she understands his or her mistakes.
Math: Reflex Math is expected at least TWICE weekly for all students who are not as yet 100% fluent unless told otherwise by your child's math teacher!
OTHER SUPER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
WILLIAMSBURG PAYMENTS: I will begin accepting payments and permission slips for the Williamsburg field trip TOMORROW! There are three payment windows as specified on the back of the information sent home last Thursday. Chaperones: please send in your payment during these windows as well!
SNOW DAYS: In the next coming days I will be putting together a "Snow Day" packet for students to complete in the event we have a snow day! (Don't worry, it isn't anything overwhelming - One session of Reflex, some review work, reading, and some silly activities!)
CHARACTER BOOK PARADE: On February 4th, your student will participate in the Book Parade around the school building. He or she is to choose a character from a book they read this year and dress up like that character, as well as carry the book. (If you no longer have the book, the student can carry a print out of the book cover.) If you have not already, please send in the bottom portion of the paper sent home last week.
VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY: On Friday I will be sending home two things (on one sheet of paper) 1) A class list of names for Valentine's Day cards 2) Information about the Valentine's Day Box Creating Contest. As you begin shopping for or creating Valentine's Day cards for students, please ensure that each student receive a Valentine if you are participating. Treats and candy are not allowed to be distributed, however pencils, markers, stickers, erasers, and other non-edibles are great! Thank you!
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, January 20th: Monday Schedule, Spelling Bee @ 8:30
Thursday, January 28th: End of 2nd Quarter
Friday, January 29th: LCPS Planning Day, No School
Thursday, February 4th: Character Parade
Monday, February 8th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30
Wednesday, February 10th: Valentine's Day Party, 10:30 - 12:00
Monday, February 15th: President's Day, No School
This week in...
Science: Students loved learning about force, motion, and energy with the Hot Wheels this week. On Friday they were even responsible for teaching their first grade buddies the difference between kinetic and potential energy. Ask them how that went! As I mentioned to the class last week, the unit test on Force and Motion will be tomorrow, January 19th. I made sure students brought home their science notebooks, and encouraged them to use their science textbook and solpass.org to study.
Virginia Studies: After taxing students for the past two weeks and taking the role of the British government, I almost forgot... I should start preparing my own taxes! Is your child a patriot, loyalist, or a neutralist? We will be completing our Revolutionary War foldable this week and the unit test for the American Revolution will be Wednesday, January 27th. There will be no VA Studies Weekly newspaper this week.
Language Arts: Due to both the MLK holiday today and the LCPS planning day next Friday, I will not be assigning Word Study for the next two weeks. Students will receive short writing prompts nightly that use and apply what we learned in class that day. These assignments will be glued into their writing notebooks. The expectations for these assignments are as follows:
Writing homework must include:
*A topic sentencec
*Capitalization
*Punctuation
*At least one paragraph unless told otherwise
*Correct spelling
*Complete sentences
Reading: Students practiced summarizing fiction last week and will focus on interpreting characters in their fiction books this week. As always, students are expected to read 20 minutes nightly and record their reading in their reading log. Please have your child read for at least 5 of these 20 minutes out loud! Additionally, as reading assignments come home in Thursday folders, please review missed questions with your child so he or she understands his or her mistakes.
Math: Reflex Math is expected at least TWICE weekly for all students who are not as yet 100% fluent unless told otherwise by your child's math teacher!
OTHER SUPER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
WILLIAMSBURG PAYMENTS: I will begin accepting payments and permission slips for the Williamsburg field trip TOMORROW! There are three payment windows as specified on the back of the information sent home last Thursday. Chaperones: please send in your payment during these windows as well!
SNOW DAYS: In the next coming days I will be putting together a "Snow Day" packet for students to complete in the event we have a snow day! (Don't worry, it isn't anything overwhelming - One session of Reflex, some review work, reading, and some silly activities!)
CHARACTER BOOK PARADE: On February 4th, your student will participate in the Book Parade around the school building. He or she is to choose a character from a book they read this year and dress up like that character, as well as carry the book. (If you no longer have the book, the student can carry a print out of the book cover.) If you have not already, please send in the bottom portion of the paper sent home last week.
VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY: On Friday I will be sending home two things (on one sheet of paper) 1) A class list of names for Valentine's Day cards 2) Information about the Valentine's Day Box Creating Contest. As you begin shopping for or creating Valentine's Day cards for students, please ensure that each student receive a Valentine if you are participating. Treats and candy are not allowed to be distributed, however pencils, markers, stickers, erasers, and other non-edibles are great! Thank you!
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, January 20th: Monday Schedule, Spelling Bee @ 8:30
Thursday, January 28th: End of 2nd Quarter
Friday, January 29th: LCPS Planning Day, No School
Thursday, February 4th: Character Parade
Monday, February 8th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30
Wednesday, February 10th: Valentine's Day Party, 10:30 - 12:00
Monday, February 15th: President's Day, No School
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me at aakbar@lcps.org.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Reminder!
Please make sure your child turns in the Williamsburg Interest Form and Character Parade form if he or she hasn't turned it in yet!!!
If you have any questions, please email me at aakbar@lcps.org
If you have any questions, please email me at aakbar@lcps.org
Weekly Update, January 10th, 2016
What a surprising afternoon of nice weather! If we aren't getting snow, at least we're getting some sunshine and 60 degree weather :)
This week in...
Virginia Studies: Queen Akbar will continue to tax her colonists this week as we continue to learn about the American Revolution, the roles of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James Lafayette, the three groups that the colonists became part of, and the roles of various groups during this time. The VA Studies Weekly Newspaper #17 is due Wednesday, January 13th, and there will be an open-note quiz that day as well.
Science: Students enjoyed playing with the Hot Wheels cars and tracks on Friday! As we learn about force and motion, students will be experimenting with Hot Wheels to discover the properties of force and motion. Students will have a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, January 12th. Students are expected to know the following terms and be able to use them in sentences that demonstrate they understand them: force, motion, acceleration, speed, position, direction, friction, mass
Writing: Students completed typing their New Year's Resolutions essays this week! I'm almost finished grading them, and they should go home on Thursday. Students will have their Word Study test in on Friday, and have 200 total points due!
Reading: Students worked very well last week to demonstrate their understanding of sensory words. This week they will continue to review their understanding of various reading concepts in both fiction and non-fiction texts. As always, students are expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes nightly and record their reading in their reading log. Please encourage your child to read aloud a few minutes nightly.
Math: Please make sure your child is on Reflex Math at least two nights a week unless he or she is already fluent, or unless his or her math teacher has instructed otherwise.
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, January 11th: After School Enrichment Programs (ASEP) Begins, PTA Meeting @ 6:30
Thursday, January 14th: Geography Bee @ 8:30
Monday, January 18th: Martin Luther King Jr., Day Holiday, No School
Wednesday, January 20th: Monday Schedule, Spelling Bee @ 8:30
Thursday, January 28th: End of 2nd Quarter
Friday, January 29th: LCPS Planning Day, No School
Thursday, February 4th: Character Parade
Monday, February 8th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30
Wednesday, February 10th: Valentine's Day Party, 10:30 - 12:00
Monday, February 15th: President's Day, No School
This week in...
Virginia Studies: Queen Akbar will continue to tax her colonists this week as we continue to learn about the American Revolution, the roles of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James Lafayette, the three groups that the colonists became part of, and the roles of various groups during this time. The VA Studies Weekly Newspaper #17 is due Wednesday, January 13th, and there will be an open-note quiz that day as well.
Science: Students enjoyed playing with the Hot Wheels cars and tracks on Friday! As we learn about force and motion, students will be experimenting with Hot Wheels to discover the properties of force and motion. Students will have a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, January 12th. Students are expected to know the following terms and be able to use them in sentences that demonstrate they understand them: force, motion, acceleration, speed, position, direction, friction, mass
Writing: Students completed typing their New Year's Resolutions essays this week! I'm almost finished grading them, and they should go home on Thursday. Students will have their Word Study test in on Friday, and have 200 total points due!
Reading: Students worked very well last week to demonstrate their understanding of sensory words. This week they will continue to review their understanding of various reading concepts in both fiction and non-fiction texts. As always, students are expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes nightly and record their reading in their reading log. Please encourage your child to read aloud a few minutes nightly.
Math: Please make sure your child is on Reflex Math at least two nights a week unless he or she is already fluent, or unless his or her math teacher has instructed otherwise.
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, January 11th: After School Enrichment Programs (ASEP) Begins, PTA Meeting @ 6:30
Thursday, January 14th: Geography Bee @ 8:30
Monday, January 18th: Martin Luther King Jr., Day Holiday, No School
Wednesday, January 20th: Monday Schedule, Spelling Bee @ 8:30
Thursday, January 28th: End of 2nd Quarter
Friday, January 29th: LCPS Planning Day, No School
Thursday, February 4th: Character Parade
Monday, February 8th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30
Wednesday, February 10th: Valentine's Day Party, 10:30 - 12:00
Monday, February 15th: President's Day, No School
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Weekly Update, Sunday, January 3, 2016
"Hold on, you're telling me we have to go back tomorrow?!"
"I don't know how I feel about waking up before the sunrise again."
Happy New Year, I've missed your kids! I had spending time with my nephew (above), but look forward to seeing my fourth graders tomorrow!!! I hope the past two weeks have been relaxing, fun, silly, filled with yummy food, and just plain wonderful! Thank you all for the generous gifts and cards, if you child didn't receive a thank you card before break, he or she will tomorrow :) I'd love to share any fun memories you made with your fourth grader over the last two weeks. Please email me with a photo so I can post it on the morning message!
This week in...
Reading: Time got away from us the week prior to break so we'll be finishing the Extreme Weather research project tomorrow and Tuesday. The rest of the week we'll be reviewing reading skills and strategies that we learned earlier in the year. (author's purpose, main idea, supporting details, problem and solution, cause and effect, fact and opinion, predictions, making conclusions, etc.) I will give out new reading logs tomorrow for the month of January. Reading homework as always includes reading for a minimum of twenty minutes nightly and recording it on the reading log.
Writing: Students will receive new Word Study words tomorrow, 100 points are due on Friday and the Word Study test will be Friday, January 15th. Students will type or write their final copy of their resolutions essay this week as well.
Virginia Studies: The queen arrives tomorrow! Ask your child what that means tomorrow after school!!! Students will receive a new VA Studies Weekly newspaper tomorrow and we will begin our American Revolution unit. Students will have an open-newspaper quiz on Thursday, January 7th.
Science: We will begin our Force and Motion unit tomorrow!
Upcoming School Dates (I haven't received an update since December, so more events may be added this week, I'll send out a revised list if anything else pops up!
Mon. Jan. 11th: ASEP begins
Mon. Jan. 11th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30 pm
Thurs. Jan. 14th: Geography Bee @ 8:30 am
Mon. Jan. 18th: MLK Jr. Day, NO SCHOOL
Thurs. Jan. 28th: 2nd Quarter Grading Period Ends
Friday. Jan. 29th: Teacher Planning/ Workday, Movable Student Holiday
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)