Viewing: Class Updates
November 25, 2009
THANKSgiving
After a lot of heard work sorting cans and bottles, I’m thrilled that we have now crossed the $200 mark in the funds we have raised for Gifts of Love. Special thanks to the parents who have helped to sort cans and bottles already, and to all the student volunteers who have given their time to help us with this worthy cause. We’re still working to raise more funds for Gifts of Love, so keep sending in those bottles and cans! I’ll send out the new check to Gifts of Love next week.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 23, 2009
Fire Safety Poster Contest
Posters for the Fire Safety Poster Contest must be turned in to the PGS office by Monday, November 30th. Students submitting posters must have their name, grade, school address, and classroom teacher’s name on the reverse side of the poster.
Thank you,
Ann Perrault
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 22, 2009
Car Sale! Half off!
Friday’s math lesson (part of it) and critical thought lesson came courtesy of Jay Leno’s headline bit from last Monday. He showed this (above) advertisement, and he and the audience got a laugh out of the misleading wording that implied that the cost of the cars is twice the amount listed. (“The price you see if half the price you pay!” = The price you pay is twice the price you see listed.) The kids spent quite some time trying to spot the error (the highlighting was hidden) and we discussed the mistake in the advertisement. Interestingly, as we discussed how the cost of cars have changed in the past 20 years, we noted the possibility that the ad is correct and that the advertisers did intend to charge twice the amount listed, and that the misleading advertisement was just intended to bring in buyers. (I wasn’t buying cars in 1990, so I don’t have a good frame of reference, sorry.) Given that my car is on its last legs, however, I’d be happy to pay any of those prices (or even double the prices) to get a new car!
After we discussed all the different possibilities, the kids responded to the following question: Explain what’s wrong with the ad, why it’s unclear, and how it could be fixed. Because we discussed all the possibilities, I was glad that the kids could focus on writing well-written responses, rather than focusing on finding the “right answer.” These responses are graded and will go home tomorrow or Tuesday.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 12, 2009
Can you hear me now?
Your child may have mentioned that I’ve been using a microphone and speaker in class lately. I wanted to let you know what’s happening and why. After having a flu a few weeks ago, I had a lingering cough that badly irritated my throat, leaving me without a voice. Although my voice is starting to come back, my job does require me to talk throughout the day, which usually means that my voice is gone again by day’s end. (Did you know that teachers are at the highest risk for voice disorders of all common professions? Professional singers are the only population to be at higher risk.) I have been advised to use a classroom amplification system to conserve my voice, so that’s why I’ve been joined at the hip with my microphone. (Plus, wearing a pop-singer-style microphone on your head is just so darn stylish!) Hopefully I’ll be able to part company with my microphone sometime soon.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 12, 2009
T-Shirt Orders
Tomorrow is the deadline for ordering fourth grade signature t-shirts. If you need an order form, you can download it here.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 11, 2009
Strings Tomorrow
Strings lessons WILL be held tomorrow. Students will be clustered into larger groups because of the early dismissal.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 10, 2009
Simple and Compound Sentences HOMEWORK
http://www.quia.com/quiz/242899.html
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 10, 2009
If x+(30/2y)-4=72, solve for z.
Does the title of this post send shivers up your spine? Are you breaking out in a cold sweat? Is steam coming out of your ears? If so, perhaps you were like me and had a hard time coming to love algebra. (I still have to fake it for the kids a bit, I admit.) But let’s be honest – algebra is neat. You have a variable that you need to identify by solving the rest of the problem. It’s a mystery! A challenge to be solved! Tonight may be a good time to start getting excited about algebra, because it’s here for your fourth grader! Yesterday, November 9th, 2009, at 9:19am (we noted the time) your child started learning about algebra! We are starting slow – just looking at solving equations like x+3=8 or n=20×3. But it will get more exciting from here!
(And to be clear, there is not adequate information to solve the equation in this post’s title, nor is there any “z” variable for which to solve.)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 9, 2009
A few important things!
- PGS is celebrating Veterans’ Day tomorrow morning. All students are encouraged to wear RED, WHITE, and BLUE!
- I will be out tomorrow morning for a district technology meeting at the Board of Education.
- Report cards will be distributed on WEDNESDAY.
- Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. Please check the schedule if you are not sure when your appointment is scheduled. Please make every effort to arrive on time for your child’s conference, and I will try to stay on schedule too! For more on conferences, click “Read the rest of this entry” (below). Please email me if you need the password for checking the schedule.
- School will be dismissed at 11:50 on Thursday and Friday this week. (more…)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
November 5, 2009
Fourth Grade Homework Policy
Please be advised that the fourth grade team has established the following standards for the homework grade on the report card for each marking period:
0, 1, or 2 late or incomplete assignments = SECURE
3 or 4 late or incomplete assignments = DEVELOPING
5 or more late or incomplete assignments = BEGINNING
The grade of N (not demonstrating skill) will be given (at the teacher’s discretion) in circumstances in which there are excessive late or incomplete homework assignments.
Because this policy wasn’t in place at the START of the year, I am not using it as a grading basis for the current report cards. (I am being a bit more forgiving.) But these standards will be in place for the March and June report cards. Please bear this in mind when you check your child’s homework.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss