Friday, December 15, 2017

Week of December 18-22nd


HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading-Newsela - History of Christmas Newsela + Quiz
Writing-Finish Rough Drafts of Acrostic Poems
Poetry-Memorize and practice reciting your two poems(record yourself
on iPhone)

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading-AR 20 min. (Take quizzes by Friday) 
Writing-Finish Rough Drafts of Haikus + Edit
Poetry-Memorize and practice reciting your two poems(record yourself
on iPhone)
Heritage Project-Read through project. Plan out interviews
Pick out your clothes for your Recital
Get white elephant gift for Friday!

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Reading-AR 20 min. (Take quizzes by Friday) 
Poetry-Memorize and practice reciting your two poems(record yourself
on iPhone) Recital tomorrow at 8:00 am. 
DRESS UP FANCY
Study Spelling Words
Fill out Poetry Cafe Sheet
Get white elephant gift for Friday!

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Finish AR Book Before Break!
Study Wordly Wise + Spelling
Study History of Holidays for test
BRING WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT
Wear Red and Green/Ugly Sweaters

Dear Parents and Students,

* Last week we learned about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. This week we will be learning more Winter Holiday History including: Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Saturnalia. On Friday we will take a History Quiz from the notes we took in class.

* The Heritage Report project will be sent home this week our homework is to simply schedule/plan interviews during the break. Also, choose and write the questions you would like to add to the interviews...         
* Extra Credit-Go to a local retirement housing establishment and interview          somebody there. People LOVE to tell there stories and these communities are often forgotten.

* Our main focus this week will be memorizing our two poems. This Thursday students will dress up and recite their winter poem and free verse poem. Parents are invited! 8:00-9:00am. (I had to change the time due to a staff training workshop) Students will be graded on their memorization, volume, expression, eye contact, style, and pacing. I will take pictures and we will have treats. A big thank you to Rachel Nigh for organizing what people will bring.

* I will send home a progress report on Thursday. (You can just go to iGrade to see 

* On Friday we will have our annual sing-a-long together as a school so join us if you you want to share in the holiday cheer! White Elephant gift exchange. Please purchase a gift that is appropriate for a boy or a girl for $10 and under. 


THIS IS FROM MRS. DORNEY regarding the Science Fair Project opportunity. (This is not required, but students from my class who participate will be given a lot of extra credit!)

Dear 4th 5th & 6th Grade Rio Families,

This year we are excited to open up our Rio del Mar Science Fair to include 4th, 5th and 6th grade students.  This is an optional, at-home activity for our most inquisitive and self-motivated students.  Most of this project will need to be done during winter break. This voluntary science fair project is designed for students who are highly motivated and interested in engaging in the science and engineering investigative process.  As many as ten students who participate in the Rio del Mar Science Fair on Thursday, February 1st, where they will be judged by the RDM science team, could qualify to go to the County Science Fair on Saturday, March 10th. 
Parents are invited and welcome to come on Thursday, evening (2/1) from 6:30 -7:30 to view students’ projects.  Students’ projects will need to be brought to school on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018.  

If your child is interested in participating, please log into this google doc to sign your child up.

Included in this email and on our school website are attachments and links for your convenience:
  1. Science Fair Guidelines & Student Self Pacing Guide
  2. Inquiry Boards (Process to narrow your project ideas.)
  3. Links for Science Fair project ideas & investigative questions http://science.santacruz.k12.ca.us/

Resource Links:




Monday, December 11, 2017

WEEK OF DECEMBER 11-15th

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading - Do American Revolution Newsela + Quiz
Math - Finish/Go over Math Pre Test
Writing - Finish Rough Drafts of Food Poems

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading -Newsela - iPhone Challenge + Quiz
Math - Moby Max Math 15 min.

Writing - Finish Food Poem Final Drafts + Pictures and Color

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Reading - 20 Min. AR
Writing - Finish Rough Drafts of Free Verse (Make it your best yet!)
Wordly Wise- Study words, spelling and their meanings for test on Friday

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Reading - 20 Min. AR
Writing - Finish Final Draft of Free Verse (Begin memorizing/reciting Free Verse and Winter Poems)
Due next Thursday, December 21st (Work on Volume, annunciation, pacing, eye contact, expression and style!)
Finish Wordly Wise- Study words, spelling and their meanings for test on Friday

Monday, December 4, 2017

WEEK OF DECEMBER 4-8th

MONDAY HOMEWORK
Read Newsela + Quiz:
"Scientists have names for four new elements that they discovered"
Math p. 53+54 in Home Connections Wkbk
Science-Do Study Guide for Thursday's Test
Writing - Finish Final Drafts of "Couplet" poem
"Stick it to Hunger"

TUESDAY HOMEWORK
Read 20 MIN.
Math 10 MARKS Metric Conversions
Writing - Finish 2 Cinquain Rough Drafts
Science-Do Study Guide for Thursday's Test
Report Card Envelopes Signed and Return

WEDNESDAY HOMEWORK

Math - Home Connections Wkbk p. 55+56
Writing-Finish Cinquain Final Drafts
Science Study Guide-Test tomorrow!
Report Card Envelopes Signed and Return
"Stick it to Hunger"

THURSDAY HOMEWORK
Read 20 min. AR
Math - p. 105 in Student Wkbk (Dividing and Rounding)
Science Wkbk due tomorrow. Finish UNIT 1 p. 1 through page 47
(It should be finished already)
Report Card Envelopes Signed and Return

"Stick it to Hunger"