I hope everyone gets some well-needed rest and is able to recharge for the quarter to come.

Over the break, 4th graders should work on their plant vocabulary book. They should write a definition and draw a picture for each entry. Some words may need to be researched in a dictionary, on line, or in their Science Fusion glossary. They should also do one question/assignment each day in their homework packet. It should not take more than five minutes a day to complete. If it takes longer, they should review the topic in Science Fusion, or look for help in StudyJams or other resources.

5th graders should be working on their Cell City! project. They should be working through their packet, drawing a preliminary map of their city, and collecting items to use for their 3D model. When they return they should be ready to correct and revise their work so they can get started on building and writing their final draft.

Upon return, 4th graders should expect to continue to learn about plants, specifically reproduction and adaptations, participate in an investigation about other pigments in leaves besides chlorophyll, work on measurement and measurement tools, and take a close look at benchmark tests. Next topic of study is ecosystems, which will include a project on their favorite animal, its place in the food web, its habitat, life cycle and adaptations developed in response to their environment.

5th graders will also review their benchmark tests, finalize their Cell City projects, work on measurement, estimation and measurement tools, look deeper into testable questions and hypotheses, and begin to learn about classification and traits of organisms before we move on to studying ocean environments.


Meanwhile, here is an interesting take on Sink or Float. It's a gif of Aluminium foil floating on sulphur hexafluoride gas with a much higher density than air. What do you observe and what can you infer from your observations? Can you come up with a testable question based on what you see? How about a hypothesis?

If you are interested in seeing what your child's grades are looking like before grades go out in October, please let me know and I'll email you. In your email please include your child’s name and a phone number with which I can reach you if your child is not in my homeroom.


I am sure you are tired of hearing this but please remember that I cannot take late Reading Summaries. I am willing to take other late work. It is better to get a late grade than no grade at all! Also, I cannot make any exceptions on the Reading Summary grading (except for absences), as it is unfair to those students who followed the policy. I would suggest that they still do them even if they don't get credit so they can use them to process what they have read and study for tests. I have dropped the lowest homework grade to help out those kids who have had a hard time with the homework policy transition. Don't forget to check their work and sign them at the bottom for full credit.


Another Science Notebook check (counting as a test grade) will be happening before the close of the marking period so it would be a good idea to get those in order asap. Days for Notebook Clinic can be found at the bottom of the Weekly Homework Sheet.


Also: I could definitely use some volunteer work. Classroom needs include copying, laminating, sorting papers, filing papers, etc. Please email me when you’d be able to come in and I’ll have work for you. THANK YOU!!!

Please make sure your child is completing their reading summaries for homework each night assigned. They should come to class prepared to ask questions and discuss the ideas in the readings so they can use their classroom time to explore concepts more deeply and participate in investigations to develop their skills.

Nightly reading and writing in the Science Fusion textbook should not take more than ten minutes to do, and the Reading Summary is only about seven sentences long and should not take more than five minutes to complete. Feel free to read with your child, ask questions to prompt thoughtful responses, and find out what they don't understand so they can get clarification in class.

Late Reading Summaries will not be accepted for a grade, as they will not be useful after the ideas and questions are already discussed in class.

As you know, RPS has recently changed the grading scale from an eight point grading scale to a ten point scale this year. Please note that this is different from what is posted in the Classroom Policies and Procedures information. 

Classroom management policies have changed as well. Reward cards have been introduced along side of the treasure box. Students will be able to spend their hard earned checkbook money on special privileges in the classroom. Students will be able to earn checkbook money by being extra helpful, by showing that they follow class rules, by working a class job, and by occasional homework and classwork incentives. Some ways students will earn fines are by not following class rules, being disruptive or disrespectful, and interrupting quick and quiet transitions between classes and activities. They will be given a verbal reminder for the first infraction, and after that, they will begin receiving increasing checkbook deductions.


Check back soon for a revision in the homework policy. There have been requests from parents to space the homework assignments out so that students receive a certain amount each day instead of have homework due at the next class meeting. Thank you to the parents for giving me this valuable feedback. Changing classes for different subjects and block scheduling are new to many of us, so any feedback from home is appreciated so we can find out what will work best for all.

Visit this page to find out what's going on in science class. I will be posting reminders, some important due dates and details of expectations for upcoming assignments. To find out what your child has for homework on a daily basis, please see their agenda. Homework is posted in the same place on the board every day. All homework assignments should be copied from there into their agenda. If it is recorded correctly, they should have a stamp for that day and subject. If they do not, it means it is incorrect or incomplete or illegible and I can't approve it.