Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Field Trip Info and Forms
I hope this message finds you in good health. It has been a fun couple of weeks. Our class really enjoyed the Halloween parade and party. I was happy to see so many parents and family members in attendance.
I have some administrative information to share with you about our upcoming field trips:
Permission Slips
We are going on two field trips very soon. The San Juan Bautista trip is November 16 and the Peralta Adobe trip is December 9. Here are links to the permission slips for those trips. Please send them back as soon as possible.
Peralta Adobe Permission Slip
San Juan Bautista Permission Slip
Fees
A total of $13.00 is required for each student to attend these field trips. Please feel free to include additional funds as a scholarship to assist our struggling families.
Drivers
We need volunteer drivers for both these field trips. I know it can be a big imposition on all of your busy work schedules, but I hope you can volunteer to drive for at least one field trip. Your child will enjoy having you there and best of all, you get to eavesdrop on the conversation during the drive!
If you can drive for either trip, please email me and please include the number of students you will be able to accommodate. The school district has strict insurance guidelines for volunteer drivers. Below is a link to the form you will need to have on file in the school office if you want to drive on field trips for Briones students.
Private Driver Form
Two pieces of paper are necessary – your proof of insurance and this form (field trip private vehicle form). Maria keeps careful track and can help with any details and paperwork. Please check with her if you need help.
If you have a form on file already, you should check to see that it will still be current on the date you want to drive – insurance expires at odd times.
Following are the directions from the school district about the paperwork involved in being a field trip driver:
When school buses are not used for a field trip and volunteer drivers are utilized, each driver must give evidence of the following:
Thank you for you attention to these forms. These field trips are not possible without your assistance, or your signature.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
I have some administrative information to share with you about our upcoming field trips:
Permission Slips
We are going on two field trips very soon. The San Juan Bautista trip is November 16 and the Peralta Adobe trip is December 9. Here are links to the permission slips for those trips. Please send them back as soon as possible.
Peralta Adobe Permission Slip
San Juan Bautista Permission Slip
Fees
A total of $13.00 is required for each student to attend these field trips. Please feel free to include additional funds as a scholarship to assist our struggling families.
Drivers
We need volunteer drivers for both these field trips. I know it can be a big imposition on all of your busy work schedules, but I hope you can volunteer to drive for at least one field trip. Your child will enjoy having you there and best of all, you get to eavesdrop on the conversation during the drive!
If you can drive for either trip, please email me and please include the number of students you will be able to accommodate. The school district has strict insurance guidelines for volunteer drivers. Below is a link to the form you will need to have on file in the school office if you want to drive on field trips for Briones students.
Private Driver Form
Two pieces of paper are necessary – your proof of insurance and this form (field trip private vehicle form). Maria keeps careful track and can help with any details and paperwork. Please check with her if you need help.
If you have a form on file already, you should check to see that it will still be current on the date you want to drive – insurance expires at odd times.
Following are the directions from the school district about the paperwork involved in being a field trip driver:
When school buses are not used for a field trip and volunteer drivers are utilized, each driver must give evidence of the following:
- Valid California Driver’s License
- Proof of Insurance ($5,000 medical, $300,000 per occurrence – bodily injury / $100,000 per occurrence - property damage)
- Automobile Safety Check (Automobile is current in its maintenance according to manufacturers guidelines and in safe working condition)
- Seat belts for each passenger
- Car Seats for each student under the age of six and weighing less than 60 lbs.
- Driving Record (No DUI or suspension of driving privilege during the last three years)
Thank you for you attention to these forms. These field trips are not possible without your assistance, or your signature.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Math Unit 4 Home Letter
Here's a preview of what we'll be covering in Unit 4. The Unit 3 test is tomorrow and we will begin Unit 4 on Friday.
LINK
LINK
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Room 10 News - Halloween Edition
Hello Room 10 Families,
I hope you all are well. I'm looking forward to another week of learning and fun here in Room 10.
Halloween
We are looking forward to some fun activities on Friday in anticipation of Halloween. We will have our traditional Halloween parade at 8:45 on Friday. Here's a quote from Principal Nagle's most recent newsletter concerning the festivities:
Students may wear their costumes to school in the morning, and should bring regular school clothes to change into right after the parade. As you plan what costume your child will wear to school that morning, please remember that we do not allow costumes that portray or encourage violence in any way. Children may not bring any toys or props that represent weapons. We encourage positive, child-appropriate costumes that are simple or homemade: animals, book characters, objects, historical figures, and so on. Remember that children of all ages will see these costumes. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of a particular costume, please talk with your child’s teacher. Parents and younger siblings are welcome to join us on this festive day! However, please leave the family dog at home because dogs are not allowed at Juana Briones.
I would like to add that the Kindergarten teachers have also asked us to make sure that no costume blood is used either. It scares the little ones.
On Friday, we are also having a party and movie in the afternoon. Students have earned this party by earning classroom points by working as a team, working diligently, and following classroom norms. We will have drinks, popcorn and a screening of "Goosebumps - Attack of the Jack o' Lanterns". Students worked hard to earn this party, I'm sure it will be a fun time.
Math
We are completing Unit 3 tomorrow. We will have a review of the unit on Tuesday. We will have the test on Wednesday or Thursday. Later this week I will email you the Unit 4 letter produced by the publishers of Everyday Math which outlines what we will cover on the next chapter.
Second Step
We continue to cover the Second Step lessons, which will help students navigate their social and emotional development. If you have any questions about this curriculum, feel free to contact me.
Core Literature: Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
We completed this novel last week. Students are completing a written project which is composed of a set of postcards which show what they thought were some of the most important parts of each chapter of the novel. With the help of a Room 10 parent, we will explore some of the Chinese traditions depicted in the novel. We will take a short break from core literature while we look at other genres and types of literature. I will be introducing a Reader's Notebook where students will begin to respond to the works they are reading in a systematic fashion.
Science
Science lab begins this Tuesday and Thursday. We will have an intensive look at Electricity and Magnetism over the next several weeks.
Absence
I will be away from class on Thursday. I have a training on future units of our Science curriculum.
Parent Conferences
I will be meeting with my fourth grade teacher colleagues this week to discuss parent conferences. The dates for the conferences will be in 2-3 weeks.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
I hope you all are well. I'm looking forward to another week of learning and fun here in Room 10.
Halloween
We are looking forward to some fun activities on Friday in anticipation of Halloween. We will have our traditional Halloween parade at 8:45 on Friday. Here's a quote from Principal Nagle's most recent newsletter concerning the festivities:
Students may wear their costumes to school in the morning, and should bring regular school clothes to change into right after the parade. As you plan what costume your child will wear to school that morning, please remember that we do not allow costumes that portray or encourage violence in any way. Children may not bring any toys or props that represent weapons. We encourage positive, child-appropriate costumes that are simple or homemade: animals, book characters, objects, historical figures, and so on. Remember that children of all ages will see these costumes. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of a particular costume, please talk with your child’s teacher. Parents and younger siblings are welcome to join us on this festive day! However, please leave the family dog at home because dogs are not allowed at Juana Briones.
I would like to add that the Kindergarten teachers have also asked us to make sure that no costume blood is used either. It scares the little ones.
On Friday, we are also having a party and movie in the afternoon. Students have earned this party by earning classroom points by working as a team, working diligently, and following classroom norms. We will have drinks, popcorn and a screening of "Goosebumps - Attack of the Jack o' Lanterns". Students worked hard to earn this party, I'm sure it will be a fun time.
Math
We are completing Unit 3 tomorrow. We will have a review of the unit on Tuesday. We will have the test on Wednesday or Thursday. Later this week I will email you the Unit 4 letter produced by the publishers of Everyday Math which outlines what we will cover on the next chapter.
Second Step
We continue to cover the Second Step lessons, which will help students navigate their social and emotional development. If you have any questions about this curriculum, feel free to contact me.
Core Literature: Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
We completed this novel last week. Students are completing a written project which is composed of a set of postcards which show what they thought were some of the most important parts of each chapter of the novel. With the help of a Room 10 parent, we will explore some of the Chinese traditions depicted in the novel. We will take a short break from core literature while we look at other genres and types of literature. I will be introducing a Reader's Notebook where students will begin to respond to the works they are reading in a systematic fashion.
Science
Science lab begins this Tuesday and Thursday. We will have an intensive look at Electricity and Magnetism over the next several weeks.
Absence
I will be away from class on Thursday. I have a training on future units of our Science curriculum.
Parent Conferences
I will be meeting with my fourth grade teacher colleagues this week to discuss parent conferences. The dates for the conferences will be in 2-3 weeks.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Room 10 News
Hello Room 10 Families,
First, I want to thank you all for the great turnout at our Suitcase Presentations last Friday. It was a fantastic event and a great party afterward. I enjoyed chatting with all of you. Thank you also to Sandra Su and Joan Semeria for helping make the event a success. Also, thank you Joan and Sandra for stepping forward to be our room parents.
Communication
I want to encourage you to give me feedback about the amount and quality of communication you are receiving from me. I am hoping to keep things relevant and brief, but I want to make sure that you all are comfortable. Please feel free to email me with any comments or suggestions.
Parent Conferences
I anticipate that I will be offering Parent Conference appointments in about 3 weeks. Alternatively, I am happy to have an email dialogue with you about how things are progressing with your child.
Second Step
On Wednesday we started working on Second Step. This is a curriculum that aims to improve students' social and emotional well-being. I've taught these materials before while working at Barron Park, and I saw positive results. We will be discussing issues such as conflict resolution, empathy and emotion management. Our first lesson elicited a lively discussion and I'm looking forward many more. If you are interested, you can find more information about the program at http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/elem/.
Science
Our first Science Lab will be on October 26. The first unit will be on Magnetism and Electricity. Next week we will begin to preview concepts and vocabulary in preparation for Science Lab.
Math
Today I attended some excellent training provided by PAUSD on the Everyday Math Program. I've learned about some differentiation strategies that will help me meet the needs of your child. As a result, math homework will be changing a bit. Homework will be shorter and more focused on reinforcing new skills. I will be challenging some students in new ways.
We have taken several timed math facts tests this week. I have asked that students who are still not automatic with their multiplication facts to 12 start reviewing every night. Although I am not a fan of rote learning, facility with math facts is vitally important for future success. 5 minutes per day of review over the course of a few months should be sufficient. Ask your child how they did on the last timed test!
826 Valencia
I'm in early discussions with the group 826 Valencia (http://826valencia.org/), in San Francisco, about a field trip and writing workshop in the Spring. I'm hoping 826 Valencia will help us partner with an inner city San Francisco elementary school for some interesting writing projects. More details will be coming soon.
As always, thanks for your support and feedback. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions, comments or concerns. My phone number is
Regards,
Tom
First, I want to thank you all for the great turnout at our Suitcase Presentations last Friday. It was a fantastic event and a great party afterward. I enjoyed chatting with all of you. Thank you also to Sandra Su and Joan Semeria for helping make the event a success. Also, thank you Joan and Sandra for stepping forward to be our room parents.
Communication
I want to encourage you to give me feedback about the amount and quality of communication you are receiving from me. I am hoping to keep things relevant and brief, but I want to make sure that you all are comfortable. Please feel free to email me with any comments or suggestions.
Parent Conferences
I anticipate that I will be offering Parent Conference appointments in about 3 weeks. Alternatively, I am happy to have an email dialogue with you about how things are progressing with your child.
Second Step
On Wednesday we started working on Second Step. This is a curriculum that aims to improve students' social and emotional well-being. I've taught these materials before while working at Barron Park, and I saw positive results. We will be discussing issues such as conflict resolution, empathy and emotion management. Our first lesson elicited a lively discussion and I'm looking forward many more. If you are interested, you can find more information about the program at http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/elem/.
Science
Our first Science Lab will be on October 26. The first unit will be on Magnetism and Electricity. Next week we will begin to preview concepts and vocabulary in preparation for Science Lab.
Math
Today I attended some excellent training provided by PAUSD on the Everyday Math Program. I've learned about some differentiation strategies that will help me meet the needs of your child. As a result, math homework will be changing a bit. Homework will be shorter and more focused on reinforcing new skills. I will be challenging some students in new ways.
We have taken several timed math facts tests this week. I have asked that students who are still not automatic with their multiplication facts to 12 start reviewing every night. Although I am not a fan of rote learning, facility with math facts is vitally important for future success. 5 minutes per day of review over the course of a few months should be sufficient. Ask your child how they did on the last timed test!
826 Valencia
I'm in early discussions with the group 826 Valencia (http://826valencia.org/), in San Francisco, about a field trip and writing workshop in the Spring. I'm hoping 826 Valencia will help us partner with an inner city San Francisco elementary school for some interesting writing projects. More details will be coming soon.
As always, thanks for your support and feedback. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions, comments or concerns. My phone number is
Regards,
Tom
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Posting Homework
It's been my intention to post the homework slides immediately after school so that you can access that information while working with your child. I've had meetings the past two days. I hope that this hasn't caused too much inconvenience.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
September 7, 2010 Classroom Slides
Link to PowerPoint Slides from Today
Today was a productive day. We explored how the brain works and students started thinking about how they learn content. We had an impromptu quiz in Social Studies which revealed some interesting things about how students retain information.
We have a Math Test Tomorrow on Unit 1. We reviewed much of the unit today.
Are any parents willing to be the class Scholastic Book person? It involves collecting order forms, some data entry, collecting payment and placing orders for books. This can all be done at home online and your child can collect all the forms here at school.
New York Times Article: Forget what you know about good study habits
Today was a productive day. We explored how the brain works and students started thinking about how they learn content. We had an impromptu quiz in Social Studies which revealed some interesting things about how students retain information.
We have a Math Test Tomorrow on Unit 1. We reviewed much of the unit today.
Are any parents willing to be the class Scholastic Book person? It involves collecting order forms, some data entry, collecting payment and placing orders for books. This can all be done at home online and your child can collect all the forms here at school.
New York Times Article: Forget what you know about good study habits
Monday, September 6, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Colonial Day Trades
Printer
Chandler - Candlemaker
Baker
Tailor
Silversmith
Apothecary - pharmacist
Miller
Whitesmith - makes luminaria
Brick Smith
Tavern
Chandler - Candlemaker
Baker
Tailor
Silversmith
Apothecary - pharmacist
Miller
Whitesmith - makes luminaria
Brick Smith
Tavern
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Feedback on Homework Load
I would like to give parents this space to comment if they wish on the subject of homework load. I am happy to receive any and all feedback. Perhaps the interactive nature of a comments section will lend itself to some give and take on this issue. As I stated in my email, I will be meeting early this week with my 5th grade colleagues, so that we can hopefully harmonize the homework requirements across the board. Feel free to comment here and stay tuned for more details.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Coffee With Tom - Wednesday February 3, 8:00 am to 8:45 am.
Having received a good number of replies, I have decided to hold a coffee session before school in my room. Students, Parents, and anyone who considers themselves part of the room 15 community is welcome. If you haven't contacted me to let know you are coming, please let me know soon so I can buy enough supplies. I wouldn't want to run out of coffee!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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