WEEK 17-Last week of the year!

Dear Parents,
Did everybody enjoy the wet weekend? I wanted to fill you in on everything that is happening this last week before our break.
* A BIG THANKS goes out to Gina Wheeler for organizing the party on Friday and all of the parents who provided tasty treats for the class.
* I hope every 5th grader enjoyed their Family Heritage Reports. Many students have been coming up to me saying, "Guess what Mr. Sweet...I'm related to _____________, or, "My dad was stabbed in a peace rally!" I can't wait to hear a bunch more family stories this week.
* All of this week we will be learning about the holidays: Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Saturnalia and Christmas. The spelling words will all be about the holidays.
* This week our class will be finishing the Saxon Math Book and will be using the HM Book after our return from the break.
* On Thursday of this week I'll be sending home each student's progress report. Please check it over and return it on Friday. You may look online to see their progress in Accelerated Reader. Keep in mind that the trimester began on November 5th and it ends March 5th.
* On Friday our class will be having a "White Elephant" Gift Exchange. I do this every year and my classes love it. Make sure not to spend more than $15 and try to make the gifts something both boys and girls would like.
* If you haven't done so, please check the blog from last week because I have shared a Newspaper Book Project from last year. The link describing the project is on the blog on the lower right portion. Students will be learning how to type in columns like in a real newspaper. Also, they will be bringing home their favorite colored construction paper from class.These projects are not due until Friday, January 22nd. The reason I assigned it prior to the break is that many students get bored over the three weeks and it will give them a chance to get it done, if they wish.
* On Friday of this week the 5th graders will be turning in their Colony Museum Exhibit Projects. We have been working on these in class and they will be finishing them up at home. This creative project will take the place of a Social Studies Test. (The class was very happy about this!)
* Finally, on Monday I am sending home a Mission San Juan Bautista Field Trip form for the 4th graders along with an Ano Nuevo Field Trip for everybody. The Mission trip costs $1 and the Ano Nuevo trip costs $2. Please sign and return the form + $ and let me know if you would like to drive by signing the attached paper.

It should be a great last week. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Mr. Sweet

"Where kind hearts and open minds rule."

HOMEWORK MONDAY
READING-Optional
Math L116
Practice Heritage Speech
Social Studies Test on Thursday-4th Grade-Study Guide sent home Monday
Colony Museum Exhibits Due Friday-(Mostly done in class)

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading-Optional
Math L118
Practice Heritage Speech
4th Grade-Study for Social Studies Test
5th Grade-Finish Colony Museum Exhibits-Due Friday.

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Finish Colony Project
Practice Speech
Get White Elephant Gift
BRING BACK PROGRESS REPORT WITH PARENT SIGNATURE

WEEK 16

NEWSPAPER PROJECT EXAMPLE
Homework Monday
Reading-4th Grade-20-4-1-A.R. Book
5th Grade-Finish Crispin and write a summary about the end of the book
CHOOSE A BOOK by Friday for our exciting Newspaper Book Project (Click on link at the lower, right portion of the blog)
It is due on Friday, January 22nd.
MATH-L104
Coordinate Plane Graphing-Create four of your own designs (At least 5 sets of ordered pairs for each graph)
Due Thursday
FAMILY HERITAGE REPORT DUE NEXT MONDAY-DECEMBER 14th
No Spelling this week!
CANNED FOOD DRIVE

Homework Tuesday
Reading-4th Grade/5th Read 20 min.
CHOOSE A BOOK by Friday for our exciting Newspaper Book Project (Click on link at the lower, right portion of the blog)
It is due on Friday, January 22nd.
MATH-L106
Coordinate Plane Graphing-Create four of your own designs (At least 5 sets of ordered pairs for each graph)
Due Thursday
PRACTICE POETRY RECITATION-Memorize by Friday's recital
FAMILY HERITAGE REPORT DUE NEXT MONDAY-DECEMBER 14th
CANNED FOOD DRIVE

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
CHECK OUT PICTURE ABOVE OF NEWSPAPER PROJECT
NO READING OR MATH
Practice Poem
Heritage Report
Bring Canned Food
BRING $2 for class party on Friday

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Practice Poem-Recitals tomorrow + Heritage Report Due Monday
Bring $2 for party (13 students still haven't brought it)

WEEK 15

Welcome back! Wasn't that wonderful to have a whole week off?! My family had a total of 5 Thanksgiving Celebrations with family and friends! Needless to say, I look forward to getting back into shape.
Here is what is afoot in Room 12 this week:
* Both grades will be continuing their books. In 4th grade we will be wrapping up James and the Giant Peach the next two weeks. 5th grades will also be finishing Crispin together.
* In Technology our class is learning to use Microsoft Powerpoint. In doing so, we are growing in our understanding of how to import images, the paraphrasing of research and creating a Bibliography. In 4th grade they are learning about the main characters of James and the Giant Peach while in 5th grade we are learning about the Middle Ages, Castles, Knights, Peasants, Weaponry etc.
* In Social Studies 4th grade will learn about the Land Grants in Alta California, which led to the ranchos. Each 4th grader will be writing their very own land grant letter along with a diseno of the land they wish to take over.
5th Graders will continue to learn about the original colonies. Each child will be designing a museum exhibit as a team. These exhibits will consist of diary entries, poems, mobiles, pictures, portraits, ceramic/clay structures and much more.
* In Math we will be finishing up our first book by the winter break.
* 5th graders should be about a half way through the Family Heritage Projects, which are due close to our break.

That's it for now!

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading-4th Grade Ch. 33-37 James + Summary
5th-Ch. 30-31 + Summary
Math L94
Learn Vocab-4th Grade-#21-30
5th Grade #1-20
Winter Food Drive
Heritage Report

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading-4th Grade Read A.R. Book for 20 minutes
5th-Ch. 34+35 + Summary
Math L96
Learn Vocab-4th Grade-#21-30
5th Grade #1-20
Winter Food Drive
Heritage Report

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Reading-4th 20-4-1
5th-Ch. 40-42+Summary
Math L98
Study Vocab
News Teams-Meaty Mammoths Choose Article-Due Thursday

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Reading-4th -20 min. AR
5th-Ch. 47-49
Math L100
Study Vocab/Spelling for tests
News Teams-Meaty Mammoths Choose Article-Summaries due Monday
Practice Poem recitation

WEEK 14

Dear Parents and Students of Room 12,

A special thanks goes out to all of our drivers last week when we went to the Tech Museum for an amazing trip. The students were very well behaved and applied a lot of their learning in Science with hands-on opportunities. Enjoy the pics and thank you Mary for such great photos!

Is everybody looking forward to a week off?! Well, this week we have some fun learning in Room 12. In Science we will be taking our assessments from our units of study in Electricity/Magnetism and Elements and Compounds. In writing our class is doing a 5-paragraph essay about the three things that they are most thankful for. Our focus in this assignment is transition words, details, and a solid conclusion. In reading we will continue our books James and the Giant Peach and Crispin.

On Friday our class will be having my annual "Giving Thanks Feast." Your child will have their feast item Monday night so you have time to go to the store together and make it by Thursday night. Parents are invited to come and experience this feast along with the class. At this time of the year our class is also collecting food for a local homeless non-profit. In addition, we will be collecting donations for our adopted school in Afghanistan and any toys/school supplies. It only costs $25 per month to pay for one child's education.

Mr. Sweet signing off!

THANKSGIVING QUOTES

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~H.U. Westermayer

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading 4th-Ch. 17+18 + Lit. Circle
5th - Ch. 9-11 + Lit. Circle
Math L86
THANKSGIVING SHOPPING FOR FOOD ITEM THAT YOU ARE BRINGING
Learn Vocabulary-Write each word in a sentence correctly-Due Friday
5th Grade-Heritage Report organizing timeline of work to complete project on time.
Food/School Supply and Donations to Afghanistan School
STUDY FOR SCIENCE TEST WEDNESDAY

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
SCIENCE TEST TOMORROW!
Reading-4th Ch. 20-22 + Lit. Circle
Math L88
FOOD Drive
Go to store for ingredients for feast

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Reading-4th - Ch. 24-26 + Lit. Circle
5th-Ch.20-23
Math L90
Spelling/Vocab-Type sentences using each word correctly
4th Grade-#21-30 5th grade-#1-20 DUE FRIDAY
Go shopping for ingredients

WEEK 13

Dear Parents,
This week our class begins its 2nd trimester together and it's amazing that it has gone by that fast! This week our class will begin new books in 4th and 5th grades. In 4th grade we will start my favorite book as a child: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. In 5th grade we will start a Newbery Award winning book entitled Crispin by Avi. In Science our class will be wrapping up our studies of Electricity/Magnetism and the Periodic Table and Physical/Chemical Properties and Changes. On Wednesday there will be no school in observance of Veteran's Day. On Friday our class will be going on our field trip to The Tech Museum. We will be leaving at 8:00 a.m. sharp to make it in time for our Chemical Properties Lab that starts at 9:00 a.m. I will post the drivers for this trip on Monday and send an e-mail reminder too. Our Report Cards will be going home on Friday of this week, as well. The following Friday, November 20th, will be the Big Spin and Awards for the 1st Trimester. That's it for now...
Mr. Sweet

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading-4th James and the Giant Peach-Ch.2-5 + Summary
5th-Crispin-Ch. 2+3-Summary
Math L80
Science-4th-Wkbk p. 46-51-Due Friday
5th-p.36-47-Due Friday
TEST NEXT WEDNESDAY-November 18th.

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading-4th James and the Giant Peach-Ch.8-12 + Summary
5th-Crispin-Ch. 4-6-Summary
Math L82
AR Contract Signed by Parent
See Blog to learn words for vocab.
Science-4th-Wkbk p. 46-51-Due Friday
5th-p.36-47-Due Friday
TEST NEXT WEDNESDAY-November 18th.
5th Grade-Heritage Report Due-Thursday, December 17th (SEE BLOG FOR DOCUMENT LINK TO DOWNLOAD)

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
FIELD TRIP TOMORROW
Read Ch. 14-16-4th grade
Read Ch. 8-5th grade
Math L84 odds
Finish Science Wkbk pages see Monday
THANKSGIVING MEAL SIGN UP

WEEK 12-Last week of 1st Trimester

Dear Parents,
I wanted to thank all of you who made our Halloween Party a smashing success. Gina Wheeler did an amazing job putting together a great team of parents to provide great snacks and fun activities. I was mummified and donuted like no other year! Enjoy the pics and video!

A huge thanks goes out to Laura and Mark Junod who donated Staples gift certificates. I was able to purchase some compasses, protractors, popcorn, colored pencils, prizes and "brain vitamins." Furthermore, I deeply appreciate the parents who have been volunteering in class. Your support helping teach, grade, organize and copy has been a big help. I was very pleased with the quality of the Pizza Book Projects. Your support and time at home each night has made a significant difference in the growth and progress of each child.

Also, my paper filers today inadvertantly forgot to include the retake picture form. If you wanted retakes they are tomorrow. I have the forms in my class and you can fill them out here. Sorry for the inconvenience.

This is the last week of the 1st trimester. Our class will be finishing A Wrinkle in Time together and this means that students may take an A.R. quiz on this book this week, or next week. A lot of students like to save it so they can start the next trimester with some points already in their bank! In class we will be sharing our book project speeches. I highly recommend that your child practices their speech at home in front of the mirror with their speech outline cards. We will practice in class, as well. In writing we are learning a couple simple forms of poetry...Diamantes and Opinion Poems. Look for some of these on our Room 12 Writer's Blog next week.

That's it for now. See you at the school where kind hearts and open minds rule.

Mr. Sweet

P.S. Our field trip to the Tech Museum is next Friday, November 13th. I'll send an e-mail w/the drivers who signed up next Monday.

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading-Finish Ch.11 + Lit. Circle
Math-Finish L72
Speech-Practice at home
Rad Rifles-Get a newsteam article by Wednesday. Summaries due: Friday
Spelling-p.83,85 due Friday in cursive

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading-Read 1st half of Ch.12+Lit. Circle
Math L74
Speech practice
Spelling-p.83,85 due Friday in cursive

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Math L78
Science-4th grade-p.29,37,38
5th Grade-33,37,39
Learn Vocab Words-Check spelling blog at:http://mrsweetspelling.blogspot.com
Spelling p83,85 in cursive due Friday

HALLOWEEN WEEK 11

Dear Parents,
This is an exciting week for the students at Rio Del Mar. Our school is starting our Monday morning assemblies this week and our student leaders from room 12 will be leading the school in the flag salute. Friday is certainly the craziest day of the year in class and throughout the school. Please try to make it to our annual school parade on the intermediate playground from 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. Our class will be marching around with our 1st grade reading buddies. Rumor has it that there are some outrageous costumes this year... Our class party will be from 12:40-2pm. You are invited to come by and celebrate with us. Thank you to the parents who are helping make this a special party.

Learning Update
* This week in class we are continuing our book, A Wrinkle in Time.
* In writing we are finishing up our Spooky Stories. In this story our class is learning to use dialogue and begin new paragraphs when a new speaker says something. In addition, students are using two similes in their exciting stories.
* During Spanish time we will be learning about Dia De Los Muertos
* Our 4th/5th graders will be learning to use Garage Band in the Computer Lab. Each student will be typing their spooky stories. After this, they will record their voices reading the story. Finally, they will create the musical score to go along with it and convert the file to Itunes to put on their Ipod. It should be fun!
* There are new and exciting explorations in Science this week when we learn more about electricity and magnetism and their similarities. In 5th grade we continue to learn about the Periodic Table and its uses.
* From now on we will be doing one group of News Teams each week. This week we have the "Choco Tacos" presenting their current events.
* Our class will also be writing a brief speech outline to share our Pizza Book Projects this coming Friday.
* As a reminder, next Monday, November 2nd, will be the last day to take an Accelerated Reader Quiz.

See you at the school where kind hearts and open minds rule!
Mr. Sweet

Weekly Quotes
"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title." ~From Scooby-Doo

"When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween."
~Author Unknown

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY-
Write a brief history of where the holiday Halloween (DUE THURSDAY) comes from. What do the symbols mean? You may do a poster instead of a report, or a powerpoint.

HOMEWORK MONDAY
FINISH CH. 5 + Lit. Circle
Math L62
Writing-Finish final draft
of Spooky Story
PIZZA BOOK PROJECT DUE FRIDAY
Extra Credit due Friday

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
FINISH READING CH.6
Math L65-4th, L64-5th
Pizza Book Project
Extra Credit Due Friday

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Finish Ch. 7
Math L68
Spelling-p.73, 75 in cursive
Pizza Book Project Due Friday

THURSDAY
Finish Ch.8
Math L70
Pizza Projects Due
HALLOWEEN PARTY!

WEEK 10

Riddle of the Week
From wood it's made,
From string it's made,
It floats upon the wind.
It's made by one,
It's made by many,
From hands and mouths it spins.
A score without a game.
A staff not for the lame.
With seven letters tamed.
With five letters named

What is it?

Quote from our Word of the Week
“Never mistake knowledge for WISDOM. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.”

Sandra Carey

Dear Parents,
It has been encouraging meeting with each of you for our conference time together. During this time I received some good feedback that helps inform my instruction. If there is anything else that you forgot to share with me in that brief 20-minute session, please feel free to e-mail me and we can follow up on these matters. For those of you who had your time canceled last Wednesday, we will be meeting this week. I believe I scheduled each of you, but let me know if you have not been given a time yet.
In class this week we are kicking off our Science Units in both 4th and 5th grade. 4th grade will be learning about Electricity and Magnetism. In 5th grade we will study Chemical Properties and learn about the Periodic Table of Elements. This week we will also begin a new book together as a whole class that is entitled A Wrinkle in Time, which is one of my favorites. Along with this book we will be starting Literature Circle Jobs that we will do Monday - Wednesdays for the next three weeks. Our Spelling words will consist of 20 words with a pattern along with 10 new vocabulary words from the book. As always, in class on Mondays and Tuesdays we will learn the meanings of the words so they can take them home and study them.

Enjoy the sunshine and I'll see you at school!
Mr. Sweet

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Finish Ch.1 + do Lit. Circle Job-Due Tuesday
Math-Finish L56
For behavior issue today, extra math homework, 4th-p.162+163
5th Grade-p.59-60 (HM Workbook)
Spelling-Missed words from pre-test-x3 in cursive


HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Finish Ch.2 + do Lit. Circle Job-Due Tuesday
Math-Finish L57
Spelling-Write a sentence with each word used correctly in the sentence


HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Finish Ch.3 + do Lit. Circle Job-Due Tuesday
Math-Finish L59
Spelling-Write a sentence with each word used correctly in the sentence-Due Wednesday
Finish Spooky Story Rough Draft...Dialogue, 2 similes.

Homework Thursday
Read the rest of Ch. 4
Math L60
4th Grade-p. 87, 88 in wkbk
5th Grade-p.63,64 in wkbk
Spelling/Vocab-Study for Tests
HAT DAY TOMORROW!

WEEK 9-Conference Week

HOMEWORK MONDAY
20-4-1
Math L51
Social Studies Review pages-4th p. 32-34
5th Grade-Hand out Ch.4 Review

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
20-4-1
Math L52
Social Studies Review pages-4th p. 32-34
5th Grade-Hand out Ch.4 Review
STUDY FOR TEST!

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Read 20 min.
Math l54
Finish Social Studies packet 5th grade
Study for spelling/dlr
PIZZA PROJECT

I look forward to seeing all of you at our scheduled conference time this week!

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Monday-10/12
12:20-Marie-Phone
12:40-Faith
1:00 – Liam
1:20-Timmy
1:40-Genevieve
2:00-Alistar
2:20-Open
2:40-Keala
3:00- Maggie

Tuesday-10/13
12:40-Tyler F.
1:00-Conference w/my children
1:20-Confrerence w/my children
1:40-Evan
2:00-Danner
2:20-Donovan
2:40-Mary C.
3:00- Open

Wednesday-10/14
12:40-Kacey
1:00-Cooper
1:20-Kassandra
1:40-Mary A.
2:00-Ella
2:20-Kira H.
2:40- Jack W.
3:00- Conner M.

Thursday-10/15
12:40-Open
1:00- Tatiana
1:20-Open
1:40-Jesse
2:00-Open
2:20-Morgan
2:40-Mary C.
3:00- Open

Friday-10/16
12:20-Isabella
12:40-Christopher
1:00-Jackson
1:20-Lucas
UNAVAILABLE-
Rio Rocker/The Exceeders
BAND REHEARSALS

WEEK 8

Parents and Students of Room 12,
Last Friday we had a wonderful learning experience at NASA Ames in Mountain View. A special thanks goes out to all of the parent chaperones and drivers who accompanied us on this trip. We will also be writing thank you notes to the docents who taught us all so many new things.
This week our class will be reviewing how to write friendly letters by writing letters to our new 5th grade pen pals at Mar Vista! On Thursday our class will be going to the Aptos Jr. High School to the Midsummer Night's Dream. Here are the drivers who have signed up thus far:
Michelle C. (5)
Laura J. (4)
Jamie (5)
Gina (5)
Ella (3)

We need a couple more drivers, if possible.

Quote on Humbleness:
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norman Vincent Peale

WEEKLY RIDDLE
Four men were in a boat on the lake. The boat turns over, and all four men sink to the bottom of the lake, yet not a single man got wet! Why?

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Read 20 minutes
Math L46 odds
Spelling Contract Due Friday
Book Orders due Friday

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Read 20 minutes
Math L47
Spelling Contract Due Friday
Practice News Team Summary Speech
Begin Study Guide...Social Studies Test: Wednesday, October 14th

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
20-4-1
Math L48
Spelling Due Friday
Field Trip tomorrow
Study Guide

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
20-4-1
Math L50
Spelling Due Friday-Study for tests
Pizza Book Project-Choose book by Monday
Project is due-Friday, October 30th-Paper
sent home Thursday, October 8th.
Study Guide

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Monday-10/12
12:20-Marie-Phone
12:40-Faith
1:00 – Liam
1:20-Timmy
1:40-Genevieve
2:00-Alistar
2:20-Open
2:40-Keala
3:00- Maggie

Tuesday-10/13
12:40-Tyler F.
1:00-Conference w/my children
1:20-Confrerence w/my children
1:40-Evan
2:00-Danner
2:20-Donovan
2:40-Mary C.
3:00- Open

Wednesday-10/14
12:40-Kacey
1:00-Cooper
1:20-Kassandra
1:40-Mary A.
2:00-Open
2:20-Kira H.
2:40- Jack W.
3:00- Conner M.

Thursday-10/15
12:40-Open
1:00- Tatiana
1:20-Open
1:40-Jesse
2:00-Open
2:20-Morgan
2:40-Mary C.
3:00- Open

Friday-10/16
12:20-Isabella
12:40-Christopher
1:00-Jackson
1:20-Lucas
UNAVAILABLE-
Rio Rocker/The Exceeders
BAND REHEARSALS