Elliana

            I succeeded unexpectedly when I played soccer. How I succeeded was I practiced. Sam played soccer like me. My coach really made me practice. I really love soccer. I did not think I would be good at first. I thought I would be bad. First I stopped and prayed. Then I started to practice. Then I got the hang of it.

            I'm good at soccer because I practice. Practicing is the right thing to do. When you practice you get better and can be better than you expected to be. I was happy that I succeeded unexpectedly at soccer. I want to keep playing now.

Zaidee

When I first started gymnastics I wasn't that good. My mom is an ex-gymnast and ex-cheer leader. So it sort of runs in the family. My first gymnastics move was cartwheels. Since it took a while, I finally perfected it.

            I first started doing gymnastics when I was 5-6. One day, I was just outside and bored. So, I tried standing on my hands. My mom said I as a natural because she said that, I kept doing it.

Update from Ms. Luria

Dear Families,

Thank you for a wonderful week.

Here are some upcoming dates to be aware of:

Tuesday the 25th - Ms. Luria will be out for a district meeting
Thursday the 27th - Walking field trip to the Albina library
Sign up to walk with us: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-walking

Volunteer in the classroom:
Sign up for 8:45 - 9:45 math: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-volunteer1
Sign up for Thursday afternoon prep work: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-volunteer2
Sign up for Tuesday 2-3 writing: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-writing

Math: We are hard at work with fractions. Students are learning about putting fractions on number lines, finding equivalent fractions and adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. This is tough stuff! The students are working very well together to master all of the material and are making great progress.

Reading: Students are reading all sorts of novels in small groups. They are also working on reading non-fiction about record holders as connected with our current IB unit. In spelling and vocabulary we are learning about how to combine words that end in a consonant and a Y. Ask you child about how to combine these words and about the rule:

cry + ing

cry + ed

play + ing

play + ful

try + ed

Science: We just finished an extended experiment about decomposition. Ask your child about what they learned about the process of decomposers in our world. We put a banana in a test tube and a banana peel in the other test tube and then a balloon over the tube. We watched what happen with the balloon and it was quite fascinating! We are now starting a unit of gardening and working in the garden one time a week on Friday afternoons with our SUN garden coordinator.

Bridges: Our bridges unit starts on Tuesday of this coming week! We are excited that students will be learning all about the culture and history of Portland as well as about the bridges!

Thanks for all of your support,
Sacha

Classroom Volunteer Opportunities

I would love to have you help in the classroom. Here are most of the volunteer opportunities in the classroom for the rest of the year. Feel free to sign up for one time (or more if that works for you.) Grandparents and other friends are welcome to visit as well! 

If you would like to help during some other time, please feel free to email me and I'll find a time when you can help out.

Thank you for all of your support!

Tuesday and Thursday in the 8:45 - 9:45 AM for math: 
Math groups - Your help allows me to meet the needs of all students and have more review and challenge work available for all students! Work with 1-5 students at a time reviewing work and explaining missed problems. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-volunteer1



Thursday afternoons from 2:15 - 3 -
General prep - During general prep time, I could use help with making copies and other general tasks while students are not in the classroom. This might also include working on bulletin boards, organizing etc. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-volunteer2



Tuesday afternoon 2-3 writing help
Writing help - During writing time, you can listen to student writing, type up finished writing pieces, help post pieces to the blog and help students edit their writing. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-writing

Milan

     Once upon a time there was a “forbidden forest”.  There were elvs, fons, Cyclops, and a powerful tree.  The tree had a portal that could separate the light planet, and Venus dark trap.  It separated them because there were ghosts , bear mixed lions, and monkey vampires.  The tree, and the fons guarded the portal.

     If anyone from Venus dark  trap came they would have to get a scar on their face.  One of the elvs named Linx had a big scar on his leg.  It was from the monkey vampire. 

     One day the light side wanted to fight the Venus dark trap, and they did.  When they went through the portal it was cool.  They brought cannons, guns, knives and catapolts.

      After, they started to fight w hen they ran into a Cyclops. The Cyclops started to shoot monkey vampires. 

     Linx stabbed a bear mixed lion. 

     The Vikings from Venus dark trap got killed.  They all went back through the portal, and never worried again.  

Sample homework essay

Ms. Luria

February 17, 2014

(Indented, which I can not do on the blog) If I could nominate any book to win an award, I would nominate The Magic Treehouse books. The books have simple to understand stories that are also interesting.  In the first book, Jack and Annie learn that there is an enchanted tree house in their forest. They go up to the tree house and touch a book about dinosaurs. Then they both have an adventure in the time of the dinosaurs. 

(indented) I would nominate this book for an award for many reasons. First, I like how the siblings get along with each other. In too  many books siblings fight, but in these books they are kind to each other. Secondly, I like how the books combine fiction and non-fiction. I always learn something when I read these books. 

(indented) Finally, I love how the books are a series. Series books are the best way to become a better reader. My own children love reading this series. They are also always popular in the classroom. This is a great series to read and deserves an award. 

The green sentences are my main ideas and feel sentences or summary sentences.

The yellow sentences have my reasons and my transition words like first, next, finally.

The red setences are where I stop and explain my reasons and give details. 

The first paragraph should tell a bit about the book. The second/third paragraphs should give some reasons for why it should receive an award. 

Here are some videos on multiplying 2 digit by 2 digit

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fourth-grade-math/cc-4th-mult-div-topic/cc-4th-multiplication/v/multiplying-2-digit-numbers

Then you can do this practice exercise

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fourth-grade-math/cc-4th-mult-div-topic/cc-4th-multiplication/e/multiplication_3

Here is a different video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD3YsWbOeA8&safe=active

Julian

"The Not-So Simple Life"

If I lived in Antarctica, I would make a house from ice. My favorite food is spaghetti, and I can't get spaghetti in Antarctica, so I would need to get it shipped to me. It would not be a simple life.

I would like it because I like penguins. Also, getting food would cost a lot. How would I get money? That would be the hard part. But I would have fun with penguins and fishing. My penguin friends would say, "Welcome to Antarctica." I would love to play in the snot. While I might miss my family and friends in Portland, I will have a great adventure there.

The ice might melt due to global warming. I am very concerned about climate change and the threat it is to the earth. With temperatures getting warmer, the ice will melt and make it so that living on Antarctica would change every month.

Elliana

My life in Antarctica would be boring and cold. It would be boring because in Antarctica they have long nights. It would also be boring because they take short showers. They have short showers because they take the salt out the water. I feel happy to talk about this.

I would be cold because sometimes there is snow and ice. Sometimes it gets so cold it freezes the water so it turns into ice. Sometimes ships come and break the ice. Sometimes the ice covers the whole sea. I love the project so much.

Sometimes there is snow there. The snow is about 5 feet. There is snow and ice. It might be really slippery. I enjoy this project so much.

Elena

If I lived in Antarctica, my life would be very different. The weather, the nature, landscape and the food are not what I am used to. At the same time it would be cool because I could learn about a rare animal like the penguin. I could also discover new things about this part of the planet.

My life would be very different in Antarctica. I would have to wear special clothes each day for the cold. There would be no trees to climb on and have fun with. Because the cargo ships can't come during the winter, there would probably not be many choices of food during winter. I would not be able to shower everyday; only twice a week for 2 minutes.

It would be interesting to experience life in Antarctica. I could learn everything about penguins' lives in the extreme cold. I could learn ways to conserve water and reduce the waste because these are serious issues in Antarctica.

Jack E.

If I lived in Antarctica it would be freezing cold. In Antarctica life would be a lot different. For example, in Portland I can take 30 minute showers every day. In Antarctica you can only have two minute showers twice a week because the water purifier uses a lot of energy.

In Antarctica all the stuff you need gets packed in cargo ships from different countries. The cargo ship has food and luggage. Also you don't have as many options of food to eat. Your food wouldn't be fresh either. In Antarctica you have to be careful with food waste.

Violet

If I lived in Antarctica, life would be a lot different. It could be hard not to take anything for granted. You couldn't take anything for granted because people shipped it from other places. That is just one reason why life would be hard in the Arctic.

Another hard thing would be you would have to pick up all the trash every day. I would suggest you try not to make too much, although you would still have to pick up all of the other trash.

Everett

If I lived in Antarctica, I would have to have all my supplies shipped to me. I would not be able to walk down to Whole Foods and buy a pizza. I would not be able to buy Legos. It might be sort of a restricted environment. I would have to order stuff.

I think it would be costly to live in Antarctica. I hope they have libraries because I would be sad if they didn't. Reading helps me pass the time when I'm bored. I personally think it would be slightly boring. I don't think I would like living in Antarctica.

Eleanor

If I lived in Antarctica it would be very cold. I still would like seeing the penguins if I saw any. I do not know where I would stay, live or sleep if I lived in Antarctica. I would not like to live in the Antarctica.

I do not understand why people would live in Antarctica. I don't think people would smell good after taking a 2 minute shower twice a week. It is strange that supplies are only delivered in the summer. 

I still think Antarctica would be very interesting if I lived there.

Finneas

If I lived in Antarctica, I would have a hard life. It would be as cold as a freezer even on the warm days. When I wanted a drink, I would have to melt the snow and ice for water. Also the basics like food would have to be shipped to me because it would be too cold to grow garden. Because it's so isolated, I wouldn't be able to just go to the store.

Since conservation is important in Antarctica, I would have to save my trash and water. To conserve water I would only be able to take two minute showers. For energy I would have to use wind or a generator. The conservation used in Antarctica should be used all over the world.

I think it would be neat to see the animals. Out of all the animals I would see my favorite would be a penguin. Penguins have smooth black and white feathers, allowing them to glide through the water. Although many parts are hard, life in Antarctica would be cool as a blizzard.

Alma

If I lived in Antarctica life would be difficult. Food and fuel would have to be transported. You probably could not play soccer or go to school. It would affect me because I could not be outside for long. You could not have waffles or pizza everyday because the ingredients take a long time to ship.

Both garbage and fuel only come and go from Antarctica in the summer. For garbage there is a big barn for one community. The ships that deliver the fuel would only come in the summer because nothing comes or goes in the water. The fuel would take 40 hours to unload.

I am glad that I live here instead of Antarctica because it is more convenient here.

Rakyah

If I lived in Antarctica I wouldn't take any food. I might have to sleep in an igloo. If I were to bring food it would be shipped away. I also would have to take salt out of the water and make it usable. That would be a not so simple life.

One reason I would live in Antarctica is because water melts ice and snow. In the story it says "People take 2 minute showers twice a week." It takes two days to reload and unload the cargo. The cargo goes to the continent. The last reason I would go to Antarctica is to learn about it.

Olivia

Antarctica is a cold place. Because it is so cold, there are no farms, cows, pigs or chickens. I like to cook with lots of ingredients. If everything come on a boat it would be hard to get good food.

Since I am already good at recycling that wouldn't be much different. I like to use a lot of water in Antarctica, I couldn't do that. For drinking water they have a special plant where salt is removed from sea water. IN some areas they melt snow to drink. They use about 45,000 gallons of water a day.

It is an icy continent that is far away from Portland. I would get really cold living there. I would like the different animals there. In order to live in Antarctica you have to work hard.

Julian

Creepy Story

Chapter  1

                One day I rode my scooter in the street.  I turned around and someone was following me.  That person wore a big black cloak, with a skull for a face.  I rode faster and faster, but he was catching up!  When I got inside I was safe.

Chapter 2

                It was night time, my heart went bump, bump, bump.  It began to rain.  Thunder struck  “clack” , the lights went out.  I walked upstairs and went to bed.

Chapter 3

                At 6:00am it was still raining.  Lightning struck “bam”.  I thought I saw him.  My parents were no where to be seen. Then I went outside to see if he was there.  I saw nothing but a big puddle.

Chapter  4

                I went over to the puddle.  I looked in the puddle.  I saw my face, then I saw his face too.  After that everything went black! When I woke up, I was in bed!

Chapter 5

                Then I went down stairs and there he was then he ripped off his head and then he vanished.  I was shivering so much I was shaking.

Chapter 6

                I went outside and he was my dad.  I saw my dad holding the mask and wearing the cloak.  I was mad my dad scared me so much.  Then my dad said “Julian, it’s so close to Halloween”.  That’s why he scared me!

Chapter 7

                The next day it was Halloween.  My dad was the scary guy.  I was a ninja it was weird.  My mom was a zombie mom!  My brother was a banana.  I got so much candy.

Chapter 8

                I got 11 pounds of candy.  My brother got 10 pounds of candy.  My mom got 5 pounds of candy.  My dad got 7 pounds of candy.  Altogether, we had 33 pounds of candy and many scared neighbors.

Valentine's Day Party

If you are available for Valentine's Day on the 14th, we would love to have you in the classroom for the afternoon.

Here is a link to the invitation for families: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAFAA2BA5FB6-third

The first grade will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Friday, February 14, from 1:35 to 2:45.  We are going to create 5 activity stations and the kids will rotate through all of them at their leisure.  If you sign up for a station, you will be in charge of that activity as well as gathering all the supplies, setting up, and cleaning up.  If you have an idea for a station that is not on the list, please sign up for one that is similar and simply make it your own.  

I'd like to limit sweets and candy as much as possible. On that note, please do not attach candy to cards that are handed out!

Parent volunteers are encouraged to come dressed in red and covered in hearts.  

I also need volunteers to bring in healthy snacks and Valentine's-Day-themed plates, napkins, and cups.  Things like fruit, pretzels, cheese/crackers, and cut-up veggies would be wonderful.  Please drop them off in the classroom that morning. 

Here is a brief description of each station:

Cupid Mask/Wand Station: Students will create magic wands or fun masks to wear.  The wands can be made of red/pink pipe cleaner wrapped around long wooden dowels, for example, while the masks can be made out of paper plates.  Beads, paint, and different objects can be glued on to create something unique.  You decide how to make this project your own!

Valentine Creation Station: Help first graders make Valentine's to give to their families after school.  This station will need red, pink, and white paper, white doilies, glitter, glue sticks...you get the picture.  Kids can also cut out pictures from child-friendly magazines to make a Valentine collage. 

Heart Toss: Line up some buckets (or just decorate one bucket) and collect three items to toss in.  For example, you could decorate a bucket with hearts and the kids could try to toss in three rubber hearts or pink balls from a few feet away.

Valentine Bookmarks: Use stickers or cut out items and decorate a bookmark to take home.

Face Painting/Valentine's Tattoos: Paint simple hearts on cheeks, gather up some fun temporary tattoos and help the kids apply them.  This does not have to be elaborate, just something small and easy.

 If you have questions, please ask.  Thanks for volunteering for this classroom celebration of Valentine's Day!

DATE: 2/14/2014 (Fri 1:35PM - 2:45PM)

Small Math group videos

Please watch some of these division videos to understand long division.

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fourth-grade-math/cc-4th-mult-div-topic/cc-4th-division/v/long-division-without-remainder

Here is a second video that also might be helpful: http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=fhNea5i 

Link for science

Here is a link for the science article for today.

http://www.kidsgardening.org/node/85113

1. After reading write 3 facts that you learned.
2. Then make a drawing of the plant on your paper. Here are some images to help with drawing your plant.

Eleanor

If I had a 3D printer I would build a model of a horse.  The horse would have clear plastic around it.  You would be able to take it apart and put it back together.  There would be a guide to help you if you couldn’t put it back together.

I would build a model of a horse because I like horses.  If I built it, I would not have to use the guide.  I still might challenge myself not to use the guide.  I would like it very much.

Lily

If I had a 3D printer I would make a pen that writes for me.  In art class, I would have it draw for me.  In writing class, if my hand got tired it could write for me.  To control it you think and it will do what you think.

What if everyone had a pen [like this]?  Would we be allowed to use them?  Mr. Lamp would be mad because we aren’t drawing.  You could still use them at home.

The pen can write with crayon, pencil, pen etc.  The colors are red, blue and white.  It can write in different colors and different fonts.

Finneas

Leon was born without fingers on his left hand.  He had to grow up with this disability until age 12, but then buying prosthesis cost $30,000, so his dad used a 3D printer to make his son a prosthetic hand.  Leon’s prosthesis has cords attaching his wrist to his hand.  Now he can pick up things with both hands.  Maybe one day they will make prosthesis for him to tie his shoe laces.

His hand looks homemade like it was made from store-bought materials.  It has duct tape, string and plastic, which are things I see in my house and at stores.  It’s cool that the dad was able to make prosthesis for his son with only a 3D printer and some materials.  I wonder how he got the fingers to move, and how long it took him to get Leon’s muscles used to moving the fingers on his prosthesis.

If I had a 3D printer, I would make lots of Minecraft stuff.  The first things I would make would be figurines of Creepers, Steves, and other things from Minecraft.  Next I would create gold, diamond, iron and leather armor.  Once I was done, I would make toy tools and weapons including picks, torches, TNT and more.  When you use a 3D printer you can make many things.

Elena

If I had a 3D printer, I would build a car. I would like a car that would transform into an airplane or a boat. The car would be able to travel to travel to different places in less than one minute. I would make my car invisible so no one can see how fast it is going.  Someday I wish that I could have a car like that.

I would build this car so it could travel to anyplace in the world. With the car I could also get to any place soon.  Another reason I would build this car is to visit other planets. Since this car can transform I can chose how I want to travel.  I it be awesome to have that car because it can do cool things.