TCPS Fourth – Fifth Grades

Hey TCPS community! I can’t believe the 2010-2011 school year is just around the corner. All the teachers have been back at school this week working hard on their classrooms. As most of you know, my classroom moved to the other side of the building, so now I am with everyone else ! Needless to say, it was a lot of organizing, filing, throwing away, updating, and getting excited for a new setting. I am very excited to see my kiddos from last year again and to get a new batch of rug-rats .

Those that were in my classroom community last year know that I got married this summer. It was the most perfect day ever!!! I literally had the best day of my entire life. I spent a month back in the midwest getting ready and enjoying my family and friends. What a lucky girl I am !

Cheers,
Saree

Hey everyone! I had a really great time reading “Loser” by Jerry Spinelli with all of you. I am interested to find out a bit more about how you felt about the book. Below are some questions for you to think about. Make sure to edit your response to the best of your ability before posting back to me . Also, remember to be detailed so that I can tell exactly what you are trying to say. Cheers for now you brilliant students!

Although most of the kids around Zinkoff think he is a “loser” who just does not get things, Zinkoff actually has incredible strength. What are the ways in which you feel Zinkoff shows such incredible strength and personality?

Hey everyone! Well the kiddos are almost finished with their SAT testing week…Phew!!! They did a great job and will be happy to be back to normal class periods next week . Just a reminders that Step Off the Page book reports are coming up. The 5th grade presents theirs on May 5th at 10:00 am…parents are welcome. 4th grade presents the 7th of May at 10:00 am as well…again, parents are welcome.

As the school year starts to wind down, make sure that the learning does not stop! Kids, keep reading and trying your best to stay focused at school and in class…now is the time of the year where you can show all you’ve learned while completing final projects and papers. Parents, if your students say they have no homework, encourage them to read, write, or build something. Active minds will make for an active and successful end of the year!

This Friday’s barista team is Sophie, Johnny, Chloe, and Ben. Also, 4th grade has mini research reports due next week; the requirements for those can be seen on the “pages” link.

I hope everyone had a great week!

A heads up for the summer: If you have a daughter, or a friend who has a daughter, or are a daughter , grades 4-8, and would like to do Miss Z’s fitness camp this summer, please let her know. The camp consists of circuit training involving yoga, pilates, running, and lots of core work! Miss Z is also running mother-daughter fitness classes in August, so consider that as an option for getting back in shape before the busy fall begins !

Thanks all and have a great weekend!

Cheers,
Miss Z.

Hey there! I hope that everyone had a great spring break. We had a nice day today; went to North Park to see the musical, Beauty and the Beast. It was not the best remdition the kids and I have seen, but it was super fun to get out in to the community. Thanks so much to all the parents that drove! I heard lots of interesting stories about the trips and activities the kids participated in over break. A reminder that Step Off the Page book reports are happening the first week in May, so make sure the kids are reading those books ! Also, ask the kids about letters they were sent from our pen pals in England. We are going to be writing back to them this week. The class we are communicating with is a small private school (like us) located in the English countryside. My class was so excited to hear from the “Brits” and see a class picture. Another note…the kids have learned how to use Wikis with their new TCPS email addresses. Please encourage them to set up documents in their Wiki sites (they should know what you mean ! ). Well, that’s all for now, folks. Have a great finish to the week!

Cheers,
Miss Z.

Hey class! What word did you choose for your Acrostic Poem project? Why did you and your partner choose that word? What was your favorite part of doing this project?

Hey 5th grade geniuses! This question has two parts, to make sure to read carefully and answer both parts of the question. So, this morning we spent time talking about, and reading about, the Spanish American War, and one of our past presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. Prior to the war, Yellow Journalism caused the American people to view going to war a certain way. Why did the common American (because of Yellow Journalism) believe that we should go to war against Spain in Cuba? Although Theodore Roosevelt agreed with the American people, he believe America should also have another motive…what was that?

This week’s Barista team is:

- Whitley
- Sophie
- Johnny
- Ben
- Vivi

Please show up for your shift by 7:45 a.m. If you are going to be over 10 minutes late, please skip your shift for the morning because we will already have split jobs up and will be right in the heat of things ! Thanks for all of your hard work on your business 4/5 baristas!

These are some examples of poetry we were working on in class. The kids had to choose someone they were close with and describe the person’s thoughts, appearance, personality, and then two ideas of their choice. Although these are hard to read, they are so amazing. We had such a fun time sharing them with Ms. Price in class! Feel free to pop in and take a look !

Welcome back 4/5!!!  It was a great Feb. vacation, and I hope you all feel rested and ready to rock into the spring!  I had a lot of fun over break running a fitness camp and having friends come into town for a visit.  The week will be off and running with curriculum work right away.  The kids all have No Excuse List #2 spelling test this week.  A copy of that will be posted on my classroom pages.  Also, next week the kids are giving persuasive speeches, so after tomorrow (Wednesday Feb. 24) the kids will have more information on that.  Cheers everyone and have a great week!

Miss Z.

Hey everyone!  Phew!  It has been a whirlwind since we’ve been back from Christmas break…can’t believe it’s President’s Week already.  We have been very busy getting Big Event together, working on book reports, improving our writing skills (go thesis statements, go!), creating poetry, reading “A Friendship for Today” and Junior Great Book stories, journaling, studying the Industrial Revolution and colonization, and practicing our public speaking skills.  I can’t even believe how capable these kids are of multi-tasking and staying organized…a skill to CONTINUE to build upon.  The fifth graders are starting to receive assignment schedules that are very similar to what they need to expect for middle school, and the fourth graders are now being prepared for fifth grade level work.  On my pages I’m going to post the requirements for the Character Description Poems (due Feb. 23rd), as well as for the oral and written reports the fifth graders have due on Feb. 24th. 

Again, remeber you can respond to me on this blog anytime you feel…as well as provide your own insight and comments.  I hope you all have a fabulous President’s Week!  See you soon.

Cheers,

Miss Z.