Beverly Cleary School

Update for the week of February 21st
Spelling list at the bottom of this page...

Due to our student enrollment increase, we now have a half-time art teacher and a half-time basics skills teacher. If your student attended Hollyrood, then he or she will know our new art teacher, Brooke. I stopped by art last week and was so happy to see our students getting an authentic art class experience. I will continue to use clay in the classroom to combine art and literature, but I will no longer dedicate all of Wednesday PM to art. This opens up much needed time for writing.

After this week your student will be able to:

Unit and lesson taught is indicated after each subject... See PPS curriculum website for more info.
(Differentiated pieces in parentheses after learning objective)

Reading (Unit 4 week 5)
Add to the classes concept web or mind map
Use the skill and strategy of graphic sources and asking questions
Use and identify possessive pronouns
Spell and understand the pattern of words of /j/, /ks/, and /kw/
Discuss and write about the JGB story
Participate in a discuss question for Jr Great Books
Build vocabulary with Wordly Wise and Junior Great Books
Read to complete a task with art and text

Writing (Writing sample/Test Prep)
Write topic sentences for each body paragraph
Write supporting details for topic sentences
Identify the components of a well written research paper
Begin to answer S developed questions with cited sources
ID the structure of a research paper
ID appropriate citations and for a source to cite


Math Unit 6
ID fractions of a whole
Combine fractions (common and uncommon)
Compare fractions
Relate fractions to decimals as portions

Art


Science
Identify the change in erosion and deposition as water flow increases

Social Studies


Typing

Publish a paper
Use SS knowledge to complete the Oregon Trail game and ID aspects of life on the trail

Begin typing program on sense-lang.org

Spelling Test 2/24

1.		village	11.	excited
2.		except*	12.	expect
3.		explain	13.	Texas
4.		quick	14.	fudge
5.		charge	15.	excellent
6.		bridge	16.	exercise
7.		knowledge*	17.	quart
8.		question	18.	liquid
9.		equal	19.	quilt
10.		queen	20.	expert
21.		expedition	24.	frequent
22.		aquarium	25.	advantage
23.		inquire

Spelling Test 2/24

September 6, 2011       

Dear fourth grade parents,

    The first day of school is here! That means the first newsletter is as well. I know that it is going to be a terrific year! This newsletter will be available online weekly and it will include what is going on in the classroom. Let me know if you need a hard copy sent home in your student’s bag.
   Please be sure to completely read through all ‘back to school packet’ information. Please return any requested information/signatures (registration) with your student as quickly as possible.  If you have and questions about the packet please let me know.

Curriculum

    It is my goal as a teacher to deliver the content to our students in a meaningful way that best allows them to learn. The fourth-grade year is an extremely important time in their academic career. Students will learn strategies and skills to increase vocabulary and comprehension in reading. Fourth grade introduces students to operations using fractions while strengthening multiplication skills. The true excitement in mathematics this year is the adoption of a discussion and interactive curriculum, Bridges.
This year students will become better writers through narrative and expository pieces. While there is no direct writing assessment through the state this year, students will build their independent writing skills.
    As scientists, their inquiry skills will blossom in units on  the skeletal system, land and water, and electricity. And of course there is social studies (Oregon history). Finally, students will receive art (in-class), library skills, music (with Ralph Nelson), physical education, and health (in-class) instruction as well. Each day your student will receive 90 minutes of differentiated reading instruction, 60 minutes of math instruction, and 45 minutes of writing instruction. Your student will also receive 60 minutes of science a week, 90-minutes of art a week, and 60 minutes a week of physical education.

Expectations

    As you can see the days are packed. It is important that class will start at 8:45 each day. Therefore, it is crucial that all students are in class when the bell rings. School ends at 3:00. Parents can pick up their children from me at the front of the school, yes the front. Students not picked up after 3:05 will be waiting in the office for a parent. I cannot let a student leave me (i.e. to the back of the school) without previous written permission. Lunch for third graders is at 12:30, so please send a healthy snack each day with your student if possible. If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.
     We will rehearse all classroom procedures and there will be time for practicing these procedures throughout the year. However, occasionally students forget the expectations in class. The first warning in class is verbal warning and a re-teaching of the class procedure. The second time the behavior is repeated the student documents it (what happened and how it will be corrected) and the paper is sent home to be signed and returned (I will email you as well). The third time the behavior occurs the student receives a timeout. He or she is then put on a goal sheet (for one-week) that targets the behavior. I will of course call you at this point.
    I hope that students in room 220B will always strive to be responsible, empathetic, active learners, and learning community members. I will encourage students using correct procedures and demonstrating great behavior through my weekly progress report with you and with opportunities for science centers during recess. However, I also need your help as parents. Please help me in celebrating our student’s academic and social successes.
Communication
    I am committed to making communication as easy as possible. I will communicate to you through your child weekly with a sheet that reports your student’s work and behavior. Any homework or class assignments that are incomplete will be on this sheet. I hope that you will sign and return this sheet. I am always available through email and by phone. The website will also serve as a great way for you to stay up to date on what is occurring in the classroom. You can find the newsletter there. Please feel free to call, too.

Special Projects

    We will have some great projects this year! We will have some service learning projects in science with Clean Rivers and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. Our students will also participate in the Oregon Trail overnight. The science fair will take place this spring and be another great opportunity for students to showcase their inquiry skills. We are also going to be part of a postcard exchange. We will receive a postcard from a third grade class in each state. We will have to send 49 postcards as well! So, each student will need to bring two Oregon postcards by the second week of school! We will also be raising salmon and trout in the library this year and working in the garden. We are also the school “Green Team.”
Parent Involvement
    I welcome and would greatly appreciate all parents of students to volunteer in the classroom and school. Please fill out a volunteer form if you have not and return it to the office. I will have several opportunities throughout the year (chaperoning, class celebrations, etc.) to help in the classroom and I hope to see you there. Contact me and I will let you know where you can help.
    Back to school night (parents only due to space) is on September 14th from 6:30 PM to 7:30PM. I hope to see each of you there. I will go into more detail about class procedures/expectations at that time, discuss state assessments, differentiation, and answer any other questions you may have. Remember you can always contact me before then if you would like. I am looking forward to working with you with the goal of supporting our students in every way they need.

Best Regards,
Blake Robertson
Beverly Cleary School   
1915 NE 33rd AVE       
Portland, OR 97212       
804-832-4290 (cell)       
brobertson@pps.net