Ambulance Demo., Katherine B. Visits Kinder, & 4th Grade Authors

Ambulance Demonstration
Last Friday, AMR Ambulance Service visited the kinder class.  We learned how a paramedic and EMT help others when they're injured or sick.  It was a great experience!

Katherine B. Visits Kinder

Katherine, Southside Class of '08, came to help in the kinder class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday while she was home for spring break.  The kids loved her immediately!

Katherine reads to the kids...

leads a center about nutrition...

 and teaches a math lesson!

4th Grade Authors

It's been a couple weeks since the kids started their narrative/historical fiction stories.  Today they got to share their writing with a peer to get come positive feedback and constructive criticism!  

Kimberly is all ears while Sydney reads her story.

Andrew was excited to finally share his story.

Jake and Rian

Frida and Hannah

Chase reading his story aloud.

Emma really likes writing.  Look at that smile!

Sofia shares her story with some shoes.

Michael reading his story.

ELA Story for 3/25-4/5: Magnetism (4th)

Word Analysis:

Grammar:

Vocabulary:

Class News, March 25-28 (Kinder)

Photo Release Form
Today a photo release form was sent home.  By signing this form, you are giving me permission to post pictures of your child on the classroom blog.  Please return this form ASAP. Thank you!

Math

Today I introduced Topic 10- Patterns.  During this unit, well learn about color, number, and shape patterns.  We will also learn about patterns that increase.  Encourage your child to find patterns outside and around the house!

English Language Arts (ELA)

This week we will learn about Willie Worm and Edna Elephant. Willie says /w/ and Edna says /e/ (short).  We will also practice the sight word play. 

Sounds Learned: /s/, /m/, /r/, /t/, /b/, /n/, /h/, /a/ (short), /v/, /p/, /g/, /f/, /l/, /i/ (short), /k/, /kw/ (sound for q), /d/, /z/, /o/ (short), /ks/ (sound for x), /w/, /e/ (short) 

Sight Words Learned: I, see, my, like, a, and, to, is, go, here, for, said, the, play

Important Dates

Spring Break: March 29-April 5 (No School)

Book Report Documents (4th)

I learned how to use Google Drive, so you now have online access to documents I may hand out in class!  

Mrs. Radon :-)

In & Around L.A. Study Guide (4th), Chick Update, Twitter Questions

4th Grade

The In and Around L.A. reading test is this Friday.  Make sure your child brings home their reading text book and Language Arts journal to study!

Today I assigned a 4th quarter book report.  The kids received a sheet describing in detail the components of the report, which is due April 30th. This is not an "in class" assignment.  It must be completed at home.  Students have until March 27th to show me the book they intend to read.  A sheet describing how to choose an appropriate book was also sent home today.  I'll try to post links to these assignment documents when I figure out how to do it!

Chick Update

As you probably heard, the sixth chick born Monday afternoon (some 4th graders got to see it hatch) died Tuesday morning.  It appeared that the chick strained too much to get out of the shell.  The kids were sad, but understood that these things happen.  I turned off the incubator today, so we'll only have five chicks this year.

    The five chicks are growing quickly!

These are the names the kindergartners suggested.

After a lengthy voting process, these are the five names that won (Diamond, Chirpy, Zar, Hope, and Necklace).  

*I've spoken to some parents who have tried to "follow" me on Twitter and weren't sure which account to follow.  I've been a Twitter user for several years and have a "personal" profile page (@sarahradon).  I do not use my personal profile for classroom related updates/information.  Please follow my "teacher" profile page to get blog post updates and other school related information!    

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Mrs. Radon

Reading Notes, March 18-22 (4th grade)

In and Around Los Angeles

Word Analysis

1. Inflectional ending (-ing): running, preventing, stretching, transforming 
2. Latin root prim: primary, primate, primal, primitive
3. Contractions: I'm, didn't, there's, they'd
4. Greek root hydra: dehydrate, hydropower, hydroplane, hydrous

Grammar

• Comparative- Brian is taller than James. 
• Superlative- Amber is the youngest girl in her class.

Vocabulary 

Expedition, reliable, irresistibly, boasts, flanked, clichés, distill, lure, virtual, beacon, descendants, magnitude 

Study, study, study! 

We've Added 5 Fluffy Members to Our Class!

When I came into the classroom before school this morning, I started prepping for the day as I usually do. After about fifteen minutes, I figured I should check on our eggs. I got quite a shock to see five little chicks toddling around the incubator!

Mrs. Matthews taking the newly hatched chicks out of the incubator.

Three of the chicks in their new home.

M, N, and M looking at the chicks.

A, B, B, and C looking at the chicks.

A, A, M, and J looking at the chicks.

We observed the shells and discussed what we saw: 

• blood
• yucky stuff
• broken shells
• blood vessels 

It has been an exciting day!  I'll post more pictures in the coming days!

Class News For March 18-22

Mrs. Radon's Class News

March 18, 2013

Classroom Blog

I learned so many things at the conference I attended in Palm Springs. It focused on how to use technology in the classroom; so naturally, I've started a blog, (sarahradon.blogspot.com). I'll post weekly to inform you of what we've been up to in kindergarten. Since I also teach 4th grade with Mr. Glass, I'll use the blog for that class as well. On top of starting a blog, I've also created a Twitter feed! If you have a Twitter account, you can follow me @MrsRadon (twitter.com/mrsradon). You do not need a Twitter account to view my Twitter posts. With that being said, this will be my last "hard copy" Class News. I'm going to save a lot of paper!

Baby Chicks

Today is Day 20 of "Chick Watch 2013"! They're scheduled to begin hatching tomorrow. I'll try to post pictures on the blog this week.

Ambulance Visit

The ambulance service is scheduled to visit us Friday. Thank you Mrs. Vijverberg for organizing another event!

3rd Quarter Report Cards

The 3rd quarter ended last Friday. Report cards will be sent home at the beginning of next week. If you would like to meet and discuss your child's report card, please contact me so we can schedule a conference.

English Language Arts (ELA)

This week we will review Sammy Seal, Hattie Horse, and Fifi Fish. We will also review the sight words the and said.  

Sounds Learned: /s/, /m/, /r/, /t/, /b/, /n/, /h/, /a/ (short), /v/, /p/, /g/, /f/, /l/, /i/ (short), /k/, /kw/ (sound for q), /d/, /z/, /o/ (short), /ks/ 

Sight Words Learned: I, see, my, like, a, and, to, is, go, here, for, said, the

Important Dates

Ambulance Visit: March 22

Spring Break: March 29-April 5 (No School)    

IFTTT

I learned about If Then Than That, ifttt.com, today. It's an easy way to manage how and where you post information online. Saves so much time!

CUE 2013

I'm having so much fun at the CUE conference in Palm Springs! I've been busy: I now have a "teacher Twitter" (@MrsRadon) and I started a blog. I know I've just scratched the surface, and haven't really processed all that I've learned, but I'm excited to share the new goodies with the kids next week!