Taos Charter School 4th Grade Class

-Math: complete multiplication or division fact practice packet. -Reading: read a chapter book of at least 150 pages. Bring it into school with you on Monday, January 5th to write a book review about it in class. -4th graders ski and snowboard for free at Sipapu! Just bring a copy of your progress report each time you go as verification to get your FREE LIFT TICKET. Call 1-800-587-2240 for more information. I hope you all have a fun, safe winter break! Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano Nuevo y nos vemos en 2009!

-Math: Study Links 5-2 (p.97) -Kindergarten to 4th grades will be Christmas caroling on Friday at 1:45 pm in the courtyard. Parents are invited! Afterward, we'll have the S e c r e t S a n t a G i f t E x c h a n g e in class. Students can bring in cookies or a treat to share if you'd like to.

-History: Revolutionary biographies are due Thursday.

-History: Continue working on your revolutionary biography reports. You should be on steps 3 and 4 today (revising, editing the rough draft, and starting to write the final draft, which is due Thursday). -Math: fix the problems you missed on the Unit 4 math test from Friday. -There's no spelling list this week.

-History: Students should work on step #3 of the report guidelines - revising and editing their rough drafts. - S e c r e t S a n t a G i f t E x c h a n g e : today students randomly drew names of the person whom they're buying for. Please keep those names secret, and there's a limit on the gifts of about $10. We'll do the gift exchange on Friday afternoon, December 19th.

-History: revolutionary biography rough drafts due -Spelling quiz

-Math Study Links 4-10 -Spelling written work -Practice spelling quiz

We just heard from the district that all Taos public schools, including TCS, will be closed on Tuesday in honor of the funeral of former Ranchos Elementary Principal, Mr. Robert Benavidez. -History: Biography report outlines due Wednesday (see Guidelines sheet for more info.) -Math: Study Links 4-9 -Parents, today I sent home a NMDOT brochure with safety information about driving through roundabouts. If the brochure gets lost, there's a link to the pdf posted here on the right. Spelling Words December 8, 2008 1. monarchy 2. democracy 3. loyalist 4. patriot 5. paragraph 6. outline 7. rough draft 8. edit 9. revise 10. final draft 11. luminaria (bonfire) 12. farolitos (candle bags) 13. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

-History: find information, read, and take notes for your Revolutionary Biography project.

-Math: Metric length practice sheet -Spelling: Study for quiz

-Math: Study Links 4-8 (p.85) -Spelling written work -Study for practice spelling quiz

1. Topic: Choose a person who was important or influential during the American Revolution who you’re interested in learning more about. Examples: Benjamin Franklin, Sam Adams, Deborah Sampson, Dolly Madison, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, King George III, James Madison, Paul Revere, Benedict Arnold, Thomas Paine, John Paul Jones, Marquis de Lafayette.. Start reading and doing research about that person’s life and role in the Revolution. Use books from the library, encyclopedias, the internet, Encarta, and magazines. Use at least 4 sources . Take notes on what you’ve read, and keep track of where you found the information. Keep all your notes and research materials in the folder that I gave you. **You’ll get more instructions on outlining and drafting your biography report next week when we begin writing the reports. You should finish researching and taking notes on your topic by Tuesday, December 9.

Spelling Words Fourth Grade December 1, 2008 1. legible 2. independent 3. division 4. quotient 5. revolution 6. disguise 7. petition 8. employer 9. employee 10. desayuno (breakfast) 11. almuerzo (lunch) 12. cena (dinner) 13. There was never a good war, or a bad peace. –Benjamin Franklin

-Math: complete the purple multiplication/division fact practice sheet. -Have a fun Thanksgiving Break! Safe travels, see you Monday. -Did you know that Sipapu Ski Resort offers FREE full-season passes for ALL 4th graders and 40 year-olds ? It's true! They also offer discounted season passes for students of all ages depending on their grades. It's a very fun, affordable place to ski and board. Call them for more info.: 1-800-587-2240.

-Math: Study Links 4-6, p.81 - Reminder: Ski Club forms and payment are due no later than Tuesday, November 25th.

For Monday: -Finish the last two questions #8 and #9 (back side) of the science quiz at home over the weekend. You can use your notes, but don't just copy your notes onto the quiz. Put it in your own words. Be creative! You may NOT change or correct any of your answers from the front side. - Reminder: Ski Club forms and payment are due no later than Tuesday, November 25th. Please make sure you fill out all forms completely, and include two separate checks for the TSV fee and the bus fee.

-Math: SL 4-5 (p.79) -Study for science quiz (circulatory system) -Study for Friday spelling quiz (Take a practice quiz at home tonight because we didn't have time to take one today in class.) - On Friday, November 21 st the fourth grade class will walk down to the Youth and Family Center to go swimming. S tudents should bring a swimsuit, towel, and $2 for pool admission . Parents are invited to come along and help chaperone if you’d like to join us. You can walk with us or meet us down there. We’ll leave TCS at about 9:50 a.m. , and arrive at the pool at around 10:15 . Parents should fill out and sign the Town of Taos waiver form if there’s not already one on file for your child at the pool. - Reminder: Ski Club forms and payment are due no later than Tuesday, November 25th. Please make sure you fill out all forms completely, and include two separate checks for the TSV fee and the bus fee.

-Spelling written work. -Study for Science Quiz (circulatory system) on Friday. - Congratulations 4th Grade! Today the class surpassed their goal and scored an 86% classroom average on Test 14, a timed 50 fact multiplication quiz! That's over a fifty point gain from their original score of 35% back in early October. Way to go! As a reward , the class will have a Friday Fun-Day this week: swimming at the Youth and Family Center in the morning, popcorn and a movie in the afternoon (Wall-E, just out on dvd). I'll send home information and permission slips on Thursday.

-Math: Study Links 4-4 (p. 75) -Practice multiplication facts up to 12x12 for Test 14 on Wednesday! -History: Finish up the 5 short answer questions from ch. 3-4 if you didn't complete them in class. -Science: See new links about heart health >>>>>>

-Math Study Links 4-3 (p. 75)

Spelling Words Fourth Grade November 17, 2008 1. sanctuary 2. decimal 3. tenth 4. hundredth 5. thousandth 6. taxation 7. quarrel 8. boycott 9. repeal 10. jury 11. canine 12. feline 13. corazon (heart) 14. nieve (snow) 15. Beauty is only skin deep.

-Math: Study Links 4-2 (p. 73) -Keep practicing those multiplication facts up through 12 x 12 (lucky test# 13 will be on Monday!) -Pump 5 liters of blood through your circulatory system every 5 minutes throughout the ENTIRE weekend. -Make sure your heart beats at least 200,000 times by Monday morning.

-Math: 2 sided multiplication practice sheet. Time yourself for the Test H side. -Spelling written work due Thursday. -Spelling practice quiz on Thursday. - SKI CLUB! Coach sent home the Ski Club packet with everyone in the class. The total cost is $160 for five days of skiing or boarding at TSV, which includes transportation, lift tickets, equipment rentals, and lessons! Paperwork and payment are due no later than Tuesday, November 25 th .

-Math: Study Links 4-1 (p.71). Parents, please ask your son or daughter for the math unit 4 family letter that went home today. -Science: watch the YouTube videos about the circulatory system (see top 4 links).

Spelling Words Fourth Grade November 10, 2008 1. heart 2. atrium 3. ventricle 4. valves 5. lungs 6. alveoli 7. red blood cells 8. white blood cells 9. plasma 10. platelets 11. exercise 12. sangre (blood) 13. grande (large) 14. pequeno (small) 15. Birds of a feather flock together.

-Practice multiplication facts and Math Masters multiple strands. -On Monday, we'll be starting a science unit on the human respiratory and circulatory systems, and a history/reading unit on the American Revolution.

-Spelling written work. -Practice multiplication facts.

-Study Links 3-11 (p. 65) -Complete the bottom half of the green multiplication practice sheet. Time yourself. -No school on Tuesday, Nov. 4th (Election Day/ Teacher In-Service)

Spelling Words Fourth Grade November 3, 2008 1. crisis 2. frontier 3. crucial 4. terminate 5. French and Indian War 6. colonists 7. capture 8. veteran 9. precipitation 10. buoyant 11. venado (deer) 12. Hace frio (it’s cold) 13. On the warpath

-Study for spelling quiz. -Practice multiplication facts (as you should be doing every evening). -Halloween: Kids' Costume Parade at 2:00. Parents are invited. Send in a non-candy treat to share afterwards if you'd like to.

-Spelling written work -Math: green multiplication practice sheet

Study Links 3-9 (p.63) Secret Code: Always do the work inside the parentheses FIRST. Example: 4 x (4-1) = 12

-Saturday, November 1st, at TCS from 11:00 a.m. until the soup is all gone. -Student and artist-made hand-painted soup bowls, $15 and up -- includes soups made by Joseph's Table, Lambert's, Trading Post Cafe', and Brett House Catering! (YUM!!) -Music by Jimmy Stadler! - Call Whitney for more information: 741-0335.

Spelling Words Fourth Grade October 27, 2008 1. Halloween 2. which 3. witch 4. election 5. electoral votes 6. president 7. vice president 8. circulatory system 9. arteries 10. veins 11. capillaries 12. oxygen 13. carbon dioxide 14. brujo/bruja (witch) 15. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) 16. Blood is thicker than water.

-Math: Study Links 3-8 (p. 59) -Spelling Quiz -1st quarter report cards will be sent home Friday. -Explore the Mt. Everest Project link! -Secret code word: Destination

-Spelling written work (5x each and creative sentences) -Get ready for the spelling practice quiz on Thursday. -Practice multiples for Math Masters. -Secret Code Word: Admonition .

Spelling Words Fourth Grade October 20, 2008 1. destination 2. cooperate 3. biography 4. library 5. ally 6. immigrant 7. catch 8. caught 9. buy 10. bought 11. bring 12. brought 13. calle (street) 14. listo/ lista (ready or smart) 15. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

-Spend 10-15 minutes each day practicing your multiplication facts (flash cards, reciting the chart, using a math website). -Read a book of at least 100 pages. It can be fiction or non-fiction. Remember to bring it to school with you on Monday, October 20th to write a Book Review about it in class. -Wear your seatbelt wherever you go, and have a really fun break!

Museum Adventures in Art: -October 11: Traveling Shrines w/ Olga Torres-Reid -October 18: Painted Furniture w/ Susan Eichner -October 25: Celebrating Santeros w/ Gustavo Victor Goler Saturdays 10-11:30 a.m. Ages 6 & up Free! Call 758-9862, ext. 105 for more info

-Math: SL 3-5 (p. 53) -Weekly spelling written work due Thursday -Weekly practice spelling quiz on Thursday

Spelling Words Fourth Grade October 6, 2008 1. factor 2. product 3. homophone 4. clothes/ close 5. break/ brake 6. buy/ by 7. hear/ here 8. right/ write 9. sum/ some 10. whole/ hole 11. would/ wood 12. there/ their/ they’re 13. peek/ peak 14. mail/ male 15. (your own pair of homophones) _________ / ________ 16. Money burning a hole in your pocket Math Homework: Practice your multiplication facts for 10 minutes each night this week. Use flash cards, games at www.multiplication.com (see links>>), and your green multiplication chart to practice memorizing and saying each strand to the 12th multiple forward and backward.

You've found it, Mr. Bonner's Blog! This is my very first foray into this realm of communication, so check back for more soon as I start to figure it all out. It's my plan to use this space to post weekly spelling lists, math assignments, project information, announcements, and educational links. Students, if you read this post, tell me the secret code: "Prime Meridian," in a whisper the next time you see me in class. That way I'll know you were here. Parents, if you're able to find this, please post a comment to let me know i'ts working. And I'm always looking for worthwhile educational links for kids. Share your links with me and I'll post them here. Also, bookmark this link into your computer so you can check back. If students and parents are using this blog, I'll update the posts on a weekly basis. Como siempre, Mr. Michael Bonner