Posts

Showing posts from 2017

Winter Break!

-Ski Program: Our first trip will be on Tuesday January 9, 2018, our first day back to school. If we have a two hour delay or a snow day then ski club will be canceled and made up at the end of the five weeks. All skiers and snowboarders will meet at Taos Charter School at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5:00 p.m. Please be on time when picking up your children at the end of the day. Those riders who live on the north end of town can catch the bus at the Arroyo Seco community center at 8:10 and pick up your children at 4:20. Don’t be late because there will be no supervision after the bus leaves. Please make sure that you come with appropriate clothing: hat, gloves, snow pants, goggles, a warm jacket, and sunscreen. All riders must bring a lunch or bring money to buy a lunch. -Thank you for all the nice gifts. I really appreciate it. I wish you and all of your families a fun, safe winter break. Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

Friday!:

-History: Revolutionary Biography Reports are due. -Math: Practice long division for the Chapter 6 test. -Pizza!: 4th grade won an award of some pizzas from Mondo Italiano for their spooktacular Halloween art. So the class will be having pizza for lunch tomorrow. Parents, if possible, could you please send in some juice, maybe some cut fruit or veggies to go with it? -Secret Santa: Bring in your wrapped gift if you haven't already. We're planning to have our gift exchange in class after lunch. - Friday Bus Update : Parents, we just found out that on Friday, buses 7 & 14 will run at 11:30 due to 12:00 dismissal at the district elementary schools. This falls right into our pizza party/ Secret Santa time. If possible, could our 4th grade bus riders make other plans to get home so they don't miss out? Thanks!

For Thursday:

-History: Complete steps 4, 5, 7, and 8 on the green checklist - final draft, images, and the bibliography. Be ready to present and hand in your report. You can print, organize, and staple here in class on Thursday morning if you need to. Practice reading your final draft out loud at home a couple of times so you'll be ready to go. -If you aren't ready to hand in your history report on Thursday, you can take an extra day to finish everything up, and then hand it in on Friday. That's OK with me, but be sure to make the most of the 2 days you have left to write the BEST report you can. -Secret Santa: Please bring in your wrapped gifts on Thursday or Friday if you haven't already.

For Wednesday:

-History: Complete Step 3 (revise and edit your RD), and start Step 4 (writing the final draft in your best handwriting or on Google Drive).

For Tuesday:

-History: Complete Step 2 on the green checklist. Finish up your 5 paragraph rough draft. If your RD is complete, you can move on to Step 3: revise and edit.

Over the weekend:

-History: Begin Step 2 on the Green Checklist. Use your outline to write the first few paragraphs of your rough draft. Use the "Hamburger" model that you studied today in class to build your paragraphs.

For Wednesday and Thursday:

-History: 1. Keep on reading and taking notes for your biography report. Find more information in the website links. 2. Spend some time working on your outline. Use the "Outline Format" page to help. Outlines are due Thursday or Friday. -Our School-Level National Geographic Bee is on Thursday, December 14 at 1:00 in the cafeteria. Families are invited! -Secret Santa: Students drew names today for our gift exchange that will happen next Friday, December 22. Limit for gifts is around $10. You can start bringing presents in any day next week.

For Tuesday:

-History: Continue to find information, read, and take notes on the person you chose to study for the Revolutionary Biography Report. -Spelling Bee: Congratulations to Jonathan, Joaquin, and Mateo for winning our 4th grade level Bee today. They'll represent our class in the school-level Spelling Bee on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00. Families are invited!

Spelling and Vocabulary 12/11/17

1. outline 2. rough draft 3. paragraph 4. topic sentence 5. supporting details 6. conclusion 7. images 8. revise 9. edit 10. bibliography 11. biblioteca (library) 12. tarea (homework) 13. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. There is no assigned written spelling homework this week, so you'll have more time to work on your Revolutionary Biography Report.

Over the weekend:

-History: Find information, read, and take notes on the person you chose to study for the Revolutionary Biography Report. -GeoBee: Congrats to Theo, Mateo, Liana, Izzy, and Joaquin for winning our class-level Geography Bee on Friday. It was a tough one! Those 5 will move on to compete against the class winners from grades 5-8 at our School-Level Bee which will take place Thursday, December 14 at 1:00 in the school cafeteria. Families are invited! -Spelling Bee: The 13 pre-qualifiers should study their word lists this weekend. We'll finish the class bee on Monday, and announce our 3 top spellers. The School level spelling bee is Tuesday, December 12 at 1:00 in the cafeteria. Families are invited!

For Thursday:

-Math: Finish up the 2-sided long division practice page that you started today in class. Mistakes are OK, just do the best you can. We just started learning this algorithm today, and it takes some time. -Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz. -History: Review the Revolutionary Biography page you got today. Start thinking about 2 or 3 of the people from that list who you are interested in learning more about. Use the links to find more information. You may also choose interesting/ influential people of that era who are not in the list, as long as you can find enough information about them (2 books and 2 websites minimum). Write the names of your top 3 choices on the sheet, and bring it into class with you on Thursday.

For Tuesday:

-Math: Finish p. 345-346 of My Math. -Tuesday is our final swim lesson from 1:30-2:30. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. Coach Alfredo will have a short awards ceremony to congratulate the class on completing the swim program. Parents are invited to attend. We will dismiss to parents and busses at 2:50 at the TYFC.

Spell and Vocabulary 12/4/17

1. empire 2. liberty 3. monarchy 4. democracy 5. repeal 6. assembly 7. propaganda 8. research 9. biography 10. library 11. libertad (freedom, liberty) 12. listo/ lista (ready or smart) 13. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

For Thursday:

-Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due, either via Google Drive or in your Spelling Journal. Study for the practice quiz.

For Tuesday:

-Swim lessons continue on Tuesday afternoon. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. We will dismiss to parents and busses at 2:50 at the TYFC. -Tuesday is the deadline for Ski/ Snowboard Program paperwork and payments. -Math: Complete p. 315-316 in My Math.

Spelling and Vocabulary 11/27/17

1. tyrant 2. taxation 3. representation 4. boycott 5. independent 6. revolution 7. petition 8. intolerable 9. rights 10. desayuno (breakfast) 11. almuerzo (lunch) 12. cena (dinner) 13. No taxation without representation!

Happy Thanksgiving!

-I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving break with family and friends. Safe travels. See you Monday. -Reminder: Ski and Snowboard Program paperwork and payment are due on Tuesday, November 28.

For Tuesday:

-Math: Finish the back side (rows 5-8) of the purple 2x2 digit multiplication practice page. -Swim lessons continue on Tuesday afternoon. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. We will dismiss to parents at 2:50 at the TYFC.

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete p. 283-284 in My Math. -Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. You are encouraged to share this work with me via Google Docs like you did last week. You may also complete it the old-fashioned way in your spelling journal. Study for the practice quiz.

Swim Lessons Tuesday:

-Swim lessons continue on Tuesday afternoon. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. We will dismiss to parents and busses at 2:50 at the TYFC.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 11/13/17

1. sanctuary 2. attentive 3. ally 4. French and Indian War 5. quarrel 6. capture 7. victory 8. defeat 9. colony 10. immigrant 11. equation 12. grande (large) 13. pequeño (small) 14. Birds of a feather flock together.

Over the weekend:

-Science: Finish up the quiz on the circulatory system that you started today in class. You may use your notes and hand-outs in the science folder to help with your answers. This is due Monday. -Have a great weekend!

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete the items you missed or skipped on the yellow multiplication fact quiz we took today. Then, finish the table on the back side for practice due Thursday. Time yourself to see how long it takes you. We're looking for improvement with practice. So, again if you're getting lower scores on these quizzes, go for accuracy. If you're getting high scores, go for speed! -Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due Thursday via Google Docs. Study for the practice quiz. The list is now uploaded at Spelling City. -Happy's recipe for delicious, heart-healthy hummus: One 8 ounce can of drained garbanzo beans, the juice from 1/2 a lemon, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup tahini, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 cup olive oil. Puree in a blender for a minute, stir, then puree another 30 seconds if needed. Serve with fresh veggies, carrots, pita bread, or tortilla chips.

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 245-246 in My Math. -Swim lessons continue on Tuesday afternoon. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. We will dismiss to parents and busses at 2:50 at the TYFC.

Spelling and Vocabulary 11/6/17

1. crisis 2. crucial 3. colonist 4. slavery 5. ascend 6. descend 7. devastate 8. veteran 9. remedy 10. Great Britain 11. venado (deer) 12. nadir (to swim) 13. On the warpath This week, students will be using Google Docs to do their written spelling work online! Share it with me at mbonner@taoscharterschool.org

Over the weekend:

-Math: Complete the items you missed or skipped on the multiplication fact quiz we took on Friday. Then, finish the tables on the back side of the quiz for practice due Monday. If you're getting low scores on these quizzes, go for accuracy. If you're getting high scores, go for speed! -Ski Club!: Coach sent out the Ski and Snowboard Program info and paperwork packets today. These should be in students' Take-Home folders. Completed forms and payments are due Tuesday, November 28. -Fall Back: Remember to move your clocks back 1 hour Saturday night or Sunday morning. Enjoy your extra hour this weekend!

Spelling and Vocabulary List 10/30/17

1. aorta 2. red blood cells 3. white blood cells 4. plasma 5. platelets 6. valve 7. alveoli 8. deoxygenated 9. exchange 10. plaque 11. viento (wind) 12. nieve (snow) 13. Have a heart.

Over the long weekend:

-Math: Complete p. 219-222 in My Math for Monday. -PT Conferences: My schedule for Friday is now full. If you'd like to meet, but didn't set an appointment for Friday, please email me mbonner@taoscharterschool.org and we can plan a time to talk after school from 3-4 in the coming weeks. -Halloween!: Costumes are welcome on Tuesday. No weapons, please. Parents are invited to come check out our K-5 costume parade at 2:00 . Afterward, we'll have a little party in the classroom. Students may bring in a healthy snack to share. No candy or soda - I'm sure they'll be getting their fair share of sweets after school! -The pool is closed on Tuesday for Halloween, so there are no swim lessons for our class this week.

For Thursday:

-Field Trip: The bus will leave for Mesa Prieta at 8:20. Remember to dress for the weather (cool in the morning, warmer in the afternoon), wear sturdy sneakers, and bring a lunch and a water bottle. -New After School Program: Starting November 2nd, we'll be offering an after-school program for TCS students from 3:00-5:00 Mon-Thurs and 1:00-5:00 on Fridays with the Field Institute of Taos. The cost is $5 per hour. Students have a flyer with more information in their take-home folder. -Parents, a new lunch-ordering process will begin in November. Please see the information that went home with students today.

For Wednesday:

-Math: Complete both sides of the 5 Minute Frenzy multiplication practice page. -Our giant elk heart dissection went really well today. Many thanks to Dr. Happy Carmona-Yong for leading the lesson, and to Iris and Jeff Quintana for donating the heart for science!

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 213-214 in My Math. -Spelling: No list this week. -Swim lessons continue on Tuesday afternoon. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. We will dismiss to parents and busses at 2:50 at the TYFC, like we did last Tuesday. -Field Trip!: Our re-scheduled field trip to Mesa Prieta, an archaeological preserve near Velarde, will be this Thursday, October 26. We'll leave school at about 8:20 and return by 2:30 for a normal dismissal. Permission slips have already been collected, and thanks to generous support from the Taos Archaeological Society, there is no charge for this trip.

Progress Reports

-Parents, first marking period report cards went home with students today. Please sign the yellow slip to verify that you received the report. -Conferences: There's no school on Friday, October 27th for Parent-Teacher Conferences. I’ll be scheduling meetings with many of you, and I meet with some parents fairly regularly, so conferences are not mandatory for all students at this time. If I haven’t contacted you and you’d like to meet, please email me at mbonner@taoscharterschool.org to make an appointment. I’m also available to meet after school from 3-4 pm in the coming weeks, if that works better for your schedule. -Have a great weekend!

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete both sides of the multiplication fact practice page. -Spelling/Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz.

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 183-184 in My Math. -Swim lessons continue on Tuesday afternoon. Remember to bring in your suit, a towel, and goggles. We will dismiss to parents and busses at 2:50 at the TYFC , like we did last Tuesday.

Spelling and Vocabulary 10/16/17

1. specific 2. vague 3. percent 4. circulatory system 5. arteries 6. veins 7. capillaries 8. oxygen 9. carbon dioxide 10. heart 11. lungs 12. corazon (heart) 13. sangre (blood) 14. Blood is thicker than water.

Have a great Fall Break!

-Reading: Read 20 minutes or more each day of break, and keep track of what you've covered on the Fall Break Reading Log. -Math: Practice your fluency and speed in multiplication and division facts up to the 12's. Use flash cards, websites like Moby Max and Math Fact Genius, and printable sheets. See the Links>>> -Have really fun break! See you October 23.

Friday's Field Trip is POSTPONED

-Unfortunately, our Friday field trip to Mesa Prieta has been postponed due to rain. The trails are just too muddy right now for a large group, and the Mesa Prieta staff called to say that we need to reschedule for another, drier day. Sorry guys! We'll get down there soon. On Friday we'll have a regular school day, dismissing at 1:00 as usual. -Reading: Superfudge book reviews and comprehension questions are due Friday if you did not finish them today in class.

For Thursday:

-Math: P. 177-178. -Spelling/ Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the quiz. -Reading: Finish any missing chapter summaries from the novel Superfudge . Fix up your mistakes in spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Make sure your summaries are clear, neat, and legible. You may re-write the summaries on your own lined paper if necessary. -Weather-permitting, we'll be having an evacuation drill on Thursday afternoon. All students K-8 will walk back and forth to the TYFC. Please wear socks and sneakers for the walk. -Permission slips for our Friday Mesa Prieta field trip went home with students today. Parents, please fill those out and send them back to school on Thursday. Thanks to the generosity of the Taos Archaeological Society in paying for our bus transportation, this is a FREE trip.

For Tuesday:

-Math p. 165-166. -Swim lessons start Tuesday. Don't forget your suit, towel, goggles, and permission slip. Parents, please pick students up at Taos Youth and Family Center at 2:50. -Field Trip!: On Friday 10/6, we'll be taking a field trip to Mesa Prieta, an archaeological preserve near Velarde. I'll send home more information and a permission slip on Tuesday.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 10/2/17

1. factor 2. multiple 3. dividend 4. divisor 5. folklore 6. heritage 7. opponent 8. traits 9. motivation 10. indigenous 11. Ancestral Pueblo 12. petroglyph 13. Tengo hambre. (I’m hungry.) 14. Tengo sed. (I’m thirsty.) 15. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Over the weekend:

-Reading: Read chapters 10 and 11 in Superfudge , and write a chapter summary for each. -Swim lesson packets and school photo proofs went home with students on Friday. They should be inside the Take-Home Folder.

Swim Lessons Start Tuesday!

Fourth graders will start swim lessons on Tuesday, October 3rd at the Taos Youth and Family Center. We will attend from 1:30pm-2:30pm, and continue on Tuesday afternoons for the next 8 weeks. We will not participate October 31st due to Halloween. The final class and mini-graduation will take place Tuesday, December 5th. Please keep in mind, the purpose of these lessons is to give students life-saving water skills. It is part of Taos Charter School’s physical education curriculum, and students are expected to participate weekly for eight weeks. If students arrive in the morning without proper swim gear (suit, towel, goggles), they will be asked to contact parents/guardians to bring supplies. At the completion of the program, we will celebrate at the pool with a mini-graduation party for students and parents! On Tuesdays during the Swim Program, 4th grade will dismiss from the TYFC. Parents, please pick up your child at 2:50 at the TYFC parking lot. Students who ride Bus #7 or Bus #

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 139-140 in My Math. -Picture day for 4th grade is on Tuesday.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 9/25/17

1. homophone 2. clothes/ close 3. break/ brake 4. buy/ by 5. hear/ here 6. choose/ chews 7. right/ write 8. sum/ some 9. whole/ hole 10. would/ wood 11. peek/ peak 12. mail/ male 13. (your own pair of homophones) _________ / ________ 14. Money burning a hole in your pocket

Every Kid in a Park card

-Parents, during our field trip on Thursday, 4th graders received a special gift from the National Park Service. They each got their own access card which grants them and their family FREE admission to any National Park or National Monument in the entire USA! This privilege lasts for a full year. Please see the brochure that went home with students today, or check the Every Kid in a Park link for more information. -Have a great weekend!

For Thursday and Friday:

-Thursday Field Trip!: Our bus to the Bio-Blitz at the Red River Fish Hatchery will leave campus at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday. Please be on-time. Remember to bring a small backpack with your lunch, water bottle, a snack, sunscreen, and a hat. Be sure to wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots and be ready for a full day of fun outside science activities. We'll have 10 sack lunches for kids who get school lunch everyday, or forget. We'll return to TCS for our normal dismissal time at 2:50 p.m. -For Friday: Complete My Math p. 119-120 (odds). Spelling written work is due. Study for the quiz.

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 111-112 in My Math -Parents, please sign the permission slips for the Bio-Blitz field trip and send those back to school.

Spelling and Vocabulary 9/18/17

1. Autumn Equinox 2. unanimous 3. capital 4. synonym 5. antonym 6. budget 7. catastrophe 8. elevation 9. there 10. their 11. they’re 12. jugar (to play) 13. deportes (sports) 14. spill the beans

Over the long weekend:

-Reading: Read chapters 4 and 5 in Superfudge , and write a summary for each in your green summary packet. You may read further if you want. -Field Trip!: Next Thursday, September 21, the 4th and 5th grade classes will be taking a field trip to participate in the Bio-Blitz at the Red River Fish Hatchery. I'll send home permission slips and more information next week. If any parent would like to come along and help chaperone our group, please email me at mbonner@taoscharterschool.org

Family Science Night!

-Don't miss the TCS/Twirl Family Science Night: Thursday, September 14th from 5-7pm in the TCS Cafeteria. Student Council will be selling food and concessions, so come hungry and be ready for some really fun science activities and demonstrations!

For Thursday:

-Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the quiz. -Math: Complete p. 97-98 of My Math (assigned Tuesday).

Spelling and Vocabulary 9/11/17

1. physics 2. matter 3. solid 4. liquid 5. gas 6. evaporation 7. atom 8. mass 9. apostrophe 10. your 11. you’re 12. arriba (up) 13. abajo (down) 14. Beauty is only skin deep.

For Friday:

-Math: Complete p. 83-84 in My Math. -Spelling and Vocabulary: Study for the quiz. -Flower bulb fundraiser information went home with students today. Orders are due Monday, September 11.

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete p. 71-72 in My Math. -Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz.

For Wednesday:

-Math: Complete p. 65-66 in My Math.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 9/5/17

1. minuend 2. subtrahend 3. humorous 4. sarcastic 5. ocean 6. continent 7. nation 8. embellish 9. plot 10. setting 11. Albuquerque, New Mexico 12. estudiante (student) 13. escuela (school) 14. When it rains, it pours.

For Thursday:

-Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice test. -Math: Get ready for the Chapter 1 test by reviewing the "Homework Helper" section of your chapter 1 assignments (in your Take-Home Folder).

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 41-42 in My Math.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 8/28/17

1. novel 2. character 3. fiction 4. non-fiction 5. sum 6. difference 7. product 8. quotient 9. are 10. our 11. hour 12. Taos Charter School 13. break the ice

Weekly 4th Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Process

1. A new spelling list comes out every Monday. 2. We discuss the meaning of each word in class. Students should take notes on the definitions and keep them in their Spelling Journal. 3. Written assignment (due every Thursday): A.) Practice spelling each word by writing it 5 times in your SJ.(2 times for the weekly saying.) B.) Use each word by writing a creative sentence that shows you understand the meaning of the word. Use a dictionary to help when you need it. The sentences can be funny or fictional. Please make them interesting to read. C.) For the Spanish words, do the best you can to write short, simple sentences in Spanish. If you need extra help with those sentences, ask a family member, Mr. Bonner, or Senora Molina some time during the week before Thursday. There are Spanish translation websites posted on our class blog that can help you as well. 4. On Thursday, we’ll have a practice spelling quiz, and I’ll check your written work. Students who score

PARCC Scores

-Parents, today I gave out student results from the big annual PARCC tests that they took last April in 3rd grade. There are 2 pages in the parent report, one for reading/ ELA and one for math, and they should be inside their Take-Home Folder. Please email me at mbonner@taoscharterschool.org if you have any questions about the data. -Math Homework: Complete p. 33-34 in My Math for Friday.

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete p. 27-28 in My Math. -Student re-enrollment forms went home today. They should be in students' Take-Home Folders. Parents, please fill those out and return them to Mr. Bonner by Monday, August 28.

Upcoming August Events:

-Solar Eclipse!: On Monday, August 21 , a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Taos from about 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., weather permitting. 4th graders will be learning all about this astronomical event in class, and they'll able to safely view the eclipse using projections and reflections. Students are allowed to bring in certified eclipse viewing glasses from home to use if they have them, however, parents need to send a permission note allowing the use of the glasses, and they may not share or pass them around them with other students. -Our annual back-to-school Pot-Luck Dinner will be held on Wednesday, August 23 from 5:00-6:30. Please see the TCS website for all the details. -On Wednesday, August 30th the 4th grade class will have a parent meeting and classroom open house from 5-6 p.m. which you’re all invited to attend. In our classroom meeting, we’ll discuss things like 4th grade curriculum, grading, homework routines and expectations, class projects, and Ski C

Welcome to the 4th grade blog!

Hello to all the incoming 4th grade students and parents at Taos Charter! I hope you've all have had a fantastic summer break. I really enjoyed mine too, but I'm glad to be back working in the classroom and excited to kick off another school year with this new group of kids. School starts Wednesday, August 16th at 8:15 AM. Fourth grade supply lists are available in the office or at the TCS website in the "For Parents" section. It's not necessary for everyone to have all the supplies on the first day. Pencils, folders, and composition books are the most important items. Until then, get outside, have some fun, and make the most of your last days of break. I'll see you bright and early on Wednesday! Thanks for taking the time to find and read our 4th grade blog! Please be sure to bookmark it into your links. -Mr. Michael Bonner email: mbonner@taoscharterschool.org

Have a great summer!

-It's been an excellent year. I've really enjoyed working with all the creative, diligent, kind-hearted, smart kids in this group. I'll miss seeing you all every day! Please email me a schedule of your plays and baseball/ softball games (mbonner@taoscharterschool.org), and I'll come see them if I can. Over the summer, keep your reading skills sharp and get ready for 5th grade by continuing the D.E.A.R. habit of reading for at least 20 minutes every day. Your accounts at Lexia, MobyMax, IXL Math, Spelling City, and Typing Web will all remain open and available for you to use any time during summer break. So be sure to take advantage of your memberships at those sites when you have time.

Over the weekend:

-Reading: Finish reading the novel Holes , and write a title for each chapter on the green sheet. Be sure to have the book with you in class on Monday. -Field Day for K-4 will be here at school on Monday, outside from 9:30-11:30. Parents are invited! Dominos pizza for lunch will be provided for students thanks to the Friends of TCS. Students should dress for outside PE and have a water bottle. -Library books are still missing for the following students: Annissa, Elijah, Norah, and Kiana. Please bring those books in on Monday or payment to replace them.

For Friday:

-Spelling: Written work is due. Study for the quiz. -Clean up day: On Friday, 4th grade will be cleaning out desks and cubbies. Bring a reusable grocery bag or 2 to carry home all of your supplies and belongings. Please bring in any overdue library books, or pay the fee if they're lost, and also bring in any classroom books that may have been brought home this year. -The class voted that Friday will be 80's Day !

Upcoming events:

Races in the Park: Tuesday May, 16th at Kit Carson Park from 9:00 - 11:00. Grades 1st - 8th participating. Students will ride the bus to and from for the races. Talent Show: TCS Talent Show is Tuesday, May 16th at 12:45 in the gym. Wacky Week: Classes who wish to participate may dress up for Wacky Week - Monday - Pajama Day Tuesday - InsideOut Day Wednesday - Cross Dress Day Thursday - Crazy Hair Day Friday - Classes pick Field Day for K - 4th: Monday, May 22nd in the TCS Courtyard. This is the last day for all students!

Spelling and Vocabulary 5/15/17

1. optimist 2. pessimist 3. eager 4. smoldering 5. plunge 6. skeptical 7. altered 8. hoax 9. foreign 10. distressed 11. caballo (horse) 12. barranca (canyon) 13. Take the bull by the horns. This week's list is up at Spelling City for you to practice.

For Monday:

-Reading: Read as far as you are able to in the novel Holes , up to chapter 40. Write a chapter title for each one you complete. -Wacky Week is starting! Monday is Pajama Day. -Tuesday is Race in the Park Day in the morning, and our TCS Talent Show is that afternoon. If you're not performing, bring in a joke or 2 to tell.

Bandelier Trip on Friday!

On Friday, May 12, the class will be taking a hiking field trip to Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos. During the morning, we’ll take a 2 mile loop hike on Tsankawi Mesa to tour Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings. In the afternoon, we’ll have a picnic lunch, and then hike down the Frey Trail into Frijoles Canyon about 2 ½ miles to explore the main ruins. Students should be prepared for the elements and wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots, and a hat to block the sun. They should also bring a small backpack with sunscreen, their own lunch, and at least one water bottle. We were granted an educational waiver from the National Park Service for this visit, so there is no charge for our group to enter Bandelier. If we have time, we’ll stop for ice cream at the Dairy Queen in Espanola our way back to Taos, so kids should bring $5 or so cash for that stop. Students should be at school ready to go at 8:15 a.m., and we’ll return by 5:00 p.m. Permission slips went home today. Par

Spelling and Vocabulary 5/8/17

1. Anasazi 2. Ancestral Pueblo 3. cliff dwelling 4. viga 5. artifact 6. cistern 7. petroglyph 8. kiva 9. cavate 10. pottery sherd/ shard 11. archeologist 12. pueblo (village, small town) 13. mesa (table, or flat-top landform) 14. Don’t cry over spilled milk.

Over the weekend:

-Career Project: Finish up your posterboards or Google Slides, and be sure to practice it a couple times at home. Presentations begin on Monday. -Field Trip!: On Friday, May 12, the class will be taking an all day trip to Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos. We'll take 2 canyon hikes, have a picnic lunch, and explore lots of Ancestral Pueblo ruins. I'll send home all the info and permission slips next week.

For Thursday:

-Career Project: Continue working on steps 6 and 7 on the blue checklist. We can start printing pictures and captions Thursday, so have those ready on Google Drive if you need to print here at school. You can also email photos to me to print. -Spelling: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz -Carnival!: Don't miss our TCS WORLD FAIR on Thursday from 5:00-7:00 for fun games, amazing prizes, and delicious food! Check your email or the TCS website for all the details.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 5/1/17

1. judge 2. destiny 3. desolate 4. innocent 5. guilty 6. theme 7. ruthless 8. radius 9. diameter 10. hablar (to talk) 11. comer (to eat) 12. vivir (to live) 13. Actions speak louder than words.

Over the long weekend:

-Career Project: Continue working through the steps explained on the blue checklist. -Climate March!: On Saturday, April 29 our 5th grade teacher Chrissy Streit has organized a kids' march to boost awareness about climate change. The group will gather on Taos Plaza at 10:00, and march over to Kit Carson Park at 10:30 for a rally, weather permitting. Make signs, bring your friends and family, and go make a difference! You can email cstreit@taoscharterschool.org for more info. -Invent Event!: Do you like creating art, woodworking, robotics, textiles, fractals, puppet-hacking, drones, 3-D printing, solar energy, or inventing mad machines? Come check out this 3rd annual celebration of creativity and technology at the Enos Garcia School Gym on Saturday, April 29 from noon to 4:00 pm. It's super fun, and it's FREE! See www.twirltaos.org/invent-event for more info.

For Thursday:

-Career Project: Continue working on steps 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the blue checklist. This Friday, April 28 would be a great time to set up your interview since there's no school that day. -Math: Practice the starred skills in IXL Math sections F, G, W, Z, and BB. -PARCC testing concludes on Thursday morning with Math Session 4. The class is doing great. They're keeping a positive attitude and giving their best effort. Keep up the good work, the end is in sight!

For Friday:

-Career Project: Complete steps 1 and 2 on the blue checklist. -Parents, the class is beginning a career education project that will require your assistance. Each student is choosing a career that they are going to be studying. As part of the project, I’ve asked the students to arrange a visit and an interview with a local person who has the career that they choose. Please assist your son or daughter in contacting this person (perhaps you have a friend or a colleague who would work). The culminating activity of the project will be a posterboard or computer-projected presentation by each student teaching the class about the career that they've studied. The presentations will begin Monday, May 8 (or sooner if students finish early). Students have more information about the specifics of the project. Please email me at mbonner@taoscharterschool.org if you have any questions. Thanks, MB

Career Project Coming Up...

-For Wednesday, make a list of at least 3 careers you're interested in learning more about.

PARCC Testing Starts Tuesday

On Tuesday morning, 4th grade will be taking the first section of the PARCC English Language Arts test. There's no assigned written homework on the nights before testing. On those days, get ready for PARCC by getting fresh air and exercise after school. Get a good night's sleep. Eat a healthy breakfast, and be on-time for school each morning at 8:15. See Mr. Bonner's Test Tips sheet for more ideas on how to do your best on these assessments. PARCC testing will run each morning from Tuesday, April 18 until Thursday, April 27. We'll take one session each day. There are 7 sessions in all: 3 in ELA and 4 in Math.

Over the long weekend:

-Math: Complete p. 805-806 in My Math, and practice the starred IXL skills in section N. -Reading: Finish up the comprehension questions from the Jackie Robinson book, and share your responses with Mr. Bonner on Google Drive. -PARCC Prep: Take the Grade 4 ELA Practice Test, Unit 2.

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete p. 779-780 in My Math, and practice IXL skills N.12, O.1, O.5, O.6. -Spelling: Written work is due. Study for the quiz.

Spelling and Vocabulary 4/10/17

1. area 2. perimeter 3. setting 4. demonstrate 5. details 6. metric system 7. centimeter 8. meter 9. kilometer 10. liter 11. gram 12. sol (sun) 13. estrella (star) 14. over the moon

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete p. 701-702 in My Math, and practice skills N1, N2, N3 in IXL. -Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz. This week's list is up at Spelling City.

For Tuesday:

-Math: Complete p. 673-674 in My Math. -PARCC testing is coming up April 18-27. Then, MAP testing is May 3-4 for 4th grade. Parents, please don't schedule morning appointments or out-of-town trips during this time frame.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 4/3/17

1. measure 2. length 3. capacity 4. weight 5. yard 6. ounce 7. pound 8. pint 9. personification 10. famous 11. infamous 12. ciudad (city) 13. pais (nation or country) 14. It’s always darkest just before the dawn.

Over the weekend:

-Math: Complete p. 661-662 in My Math, and practice the starred skills in IXL section T. Turquoise group, review for the chapter 12 test by practicing IXL skills in section N. -Reading: Finish the 2 paragraph essay on "Escape North" on Google Drive, and share it with Mr. Bonner when you're done. Print it if you can.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 3/ 27/17

1. prefix 2. root word 3. suffix 4. disorganized 5. simile 6. metaphor 7. paraphrase 8. specific 9. poem 10. stanza 11. abolish 12. fecha (date) 13. ano (year) 14. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

For Monday:

-Math: Complete p. 617-618 in My Math, and review for the Chapter 9 test by practicing the starred IXL skills in sections Q and S. -Spelling: Written work is due. Study for the quiz. -Parents, 3rd quarter progress reports went home with students today. Please take some time to discuss the grades and comments with your son or daughter. Sign the green slip and return it to school on Monday with your child to verify that you received the report.

For Wednesday:

-Math: Complete p. 603-604 in My Math. Practice IXL skill Q14. -Field Trip!: On Thursday, March 23, the 2nd and 4th grade classes will be traveling to Santa Fe to visit the International Folk Art Museum. Information and permission slips were sent home with students today. Permission slips are due tomorrow (Wednesday). Thanks to educational grant-funding from the Museum, there is NO CHARGE for this trip. Students will need to bring their own lunch, a water bottle, and a snack. We'll leave at 8:15, and return to school at 3:00.

Spelling and Vocabulary 3/21/17

1. Spring Equinox 2. cite 3. evidence 4. fact 5. opinion 6. intention 7. persuade 8. decimal 9. tenth 10. hundredth 11. thousandth 12. primavera (spring) 13. viento (wind) 14. a dime a dozen Because of our Thursday field trip, the written spelling work will be due on Friday.

Science NMSBA this week:

-NMSBA Science Tests: Parents, 4th and 7th graders will be taking the state-required assessment in Science this week - March 7, 8, 9 for about an hour each morning. -Our Winter Song-Share for grades K-4 is on Wednesday, March 8 at 1:30 in the TCS Gym. Families are invited to come enjoy the performance!

For Wednesday:

-Math: Get ready for the Chapter 8 test by practicing the starred skills in section P of IXL Math. -Science: Continue to work through the steps on the checklist for the science report option that you chose. -Our big annual TCS Basketball Tournament is underway, and continues every day until Sunday! We really need 4th grade parents to sign up to volunteer on Thursday, March 2 to help sell tickets, concessions, scoreboard operators, referees, paper scorekeepers, and cleanup. If you can't help on Thursday, please sign up to work a shift or 2 another day. All funds raised will help benefit our classrooms! Please see the "Sign up Genius" links below on the Feb. 22 blog post to check for available shifts. Thanks!

Over the weekend:

-Science: Find information, read, and take notes on your report. Also, read through the purple checklists, and decide which of the 4 presentation options you'll choose: written report, posterboard report, computer projection report, or hands-on demonstration.

For Friday:

-Math: Complete p. 527-528 in My Math, and practice the starred skills in IXL. -Science: Steps 2 and 3 on the orange checklist. Read and take notes about your general field, and choose a specific topic that you'll be doing your report on. Bring the checklist to school on Friday so I can approve on your topic. -Explora Science Night is Friday at TCS from 5:00 to 7:30! Come check out this fun FREE educational event for the whole family. Concession food will be available in the cafeteria.

TCS Basketball Tournament is next week!

-Parents, please sign up to volunteer at our TCS tournament next week if you haven't already. Our 4th grade night is Thursday, March 2nd. We need you! Dear Parents and Friends of TCS: Finally, our biggest community event and fundraiser of the year: the TCS annual Basketball Tournament. This year’s tournament will be held from Monday, February 27th to Sunday, March 5th. The weekday games will run from 4pm till 8:30 pm, and the weekend games begin at 9 am, running till 3 pm on Saturday and noon on Sunday. Again this year, each night of the tournament will be “dedicated” to a grade at Taos Charter School. Parents from that grade will be encouraged to donate volunteer time at the concession stands, the admission desk, or inside the gym helping with scoring or refereeing. At the end of the tournament, each class will receive $200 to spend on field trips or play equipment. Mon., Feb. 27: Grades 7 and 8 Tues., Feb. 28: Grade 6 Wed., March 1: Grade 5 Thurs., March

For Wednesday:

-Math: Complete My Math p. 521-522, and practice the starred skills in IXL. -Science: Share the orange project checklist with your parents. Decide which general field of science you're interested in studying (Step #1).

Over the long weekend:

-Math: Complete My Math p. 515-516 and the 4 page packet on Equivalent Fractions. If you have time, practice IXL skills P1 up through P9. -Language Arts: Finish the 2 paragraph Compare and Contrast Essay on "To the Top" and "Moonwalk," and share it with me via Google Drive. -Parents, Our 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Chrissy Streit, has arranged for US Senator Martin Heinrich to visit Taos Charter School on Tuesday, February 21! She's invited our 4th grade students to meet him in the Library that afternoon, which is a very exciting opportunity. Students, please dress appropriately for such an important event. We'll be posing for a class picture with the Senator as well - parents please sign the release waiver to allow your son or daughter to have their picture taken that day. It should be in the Take-Home Folder. -Have a great weekend!

For Tuesday and Wednesday:

-Tuesday is our final Ski Program day of the year. Skiers and boarders should report to school at 7:45 a.m. We'll return to TCS at 5:00 p.m. -Non skiers will swim and skate at the Youth and Family Center. They'll eat lunch back at the school, and then take the bus to High Altitude Athletics where students will participate in an hour of fun, gymnastics-type activities. Return by bus in time to catch buses home. Please have students bring $1.00 for skating (the swim lessons are free), $2.00 for the bus, appropriate clothes for walking, swimming, skating, and gymnastics, a hair dryer if appropriate, and snacks. -Math: Finish My Math p. 503-504, and practice the starred IXL skills.

Spelling and Vocabulary List 2/13/17

1. equivalent fraction 2. improper fraction 3. simplest form 4. field of science 5. biology 6. geology 7. meteorology 8. astronomy 9. ecology 10. hydrology 11. adentro (inside) 12. afuera (outside) 13. kill two birds with one stone

Valentine's Day

-We'll have a class Valentine's Day party on Monday, Feb. 13 at 2:00. Kids are welcome to bring in cards to pass out and a treat.

Tuesday and Wednesday:

-Math: Complete p. 399-403 in My Math (all the odd number items). Practice IXL skills E8, E9, and E11 to help you get ready for the Chapter 6 test on Wednesday. -Skiers and snowboarders should be at school, ready to go at 7:45 on Tuesday. We'll return to TCS by 5:00. -Non skiers: Feb 7 - Swim lesson (required - you must bring your swim suit or you won't be eligible to participate in the rest of the day's activities) and skate (optional) at Youth and Family Center, eat sack lunches at Youth and Family, bus over to the movie theater at 11:30 and watch the movie A Dog's Purpose -(students must pay $5.00 for the movie, $2.00 for the bus, $1.00 to skate - students may purchase their own concessions at the movie theater).

Spelling and Vocabulary List 2/6/17

1. fraction 2. numerator 3. denominator 4. mixed number 5. lunar 6. astronaut 7. gravity 8. hostile 9. persist 10. sustain 11. yield 12. zapatos (shoes) 13. camisa (shirt) 14. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. * This list is now uploaded at Spelling City. Use the games and activities there to help you practice the spellings and definitions.

For Thursday:

-Math: Complete My Math p. 383-384. Practice IXL skills E8, E9, and E11. -Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz. This week's list is posted at Spelling City to help you get ready.

For Tuesday and Wednesday:

-Math: Complete p. 371-372 in My Math. Practice IXL skills E4 and E5. Here is the updated schedule of non-skier events for the final three ski days at TCS: Jan 31- Swim lesson (required) and skate (optional) at Youth and Family Center, and then bus over to the Guadalajara Restaurant to eat lunch (students must pay $2.00 for the bus, $1.00 to skate - students purchase their own lunches at the restaurant). After lunch, some students will participate in a presentation from the Forest Service - other students will do an art project. Please have students bring $1.00 for skating and $2.00 for the bus (the swim lessons are free), appropriate clothes for walking, swimming, and skating, a hair dryer if appropriate, and snacks. Feb 7 - Swim lesson (required) and skate (optional) at Youth and Family Center, eat sack lunches at Youth and Family, bus over to the movie theater at 11:30 and watch the movie A Dog's Purpose -(students must pay $5.00 for the movie, $2.00 for the bus, $1.00

Spelling and Vocabulary List 1/30/17

1. February 2. dividend 3. divisor 4. compatible 5. paraphrase 6. pronoun 7. conjunction 8. compare 9. contrast 10. dismayed 11. accomplishment 12. deportes (sports) 13. baloncesto (basketball) 14. Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.

For Friday:

-Spelling and Vocabulary: Study for the quiz. This week's list is up at Spelling City if you want to use that site to help you study. -Math: Complete p. 357-358 in My Math. Practice IXL skills E4 and E5. -Science Fair: Parents are needed to help judge science fair projects for TCS and Anansi 6-8 graders on Friday, January 27. If you'd like to come help, please attend the brief training on Friday morning at 11:00 in the TCS Library. Here is the schedule: 11:00-11:30 Judges' Training and Lunch provided by TCS. 11:30-12:30 Silent Judging (Judges only). 12:30-1:30 Science Fair Judging with Participants and Judges.

For Thursday:

-Spelling and Vocabulary: Written work is due. Study for the practice quiz. -Math: Complete p. 252 in My Math. Practice IXL skills E4 and E5.

For Wednesday:

-Math: Complete both sides of the Long Division practice page. Practice IXL Math skills E4 and E5. -Ski Program kids should be at school by 7:45 on Tuesday. We'll return to TCS at 5:00 p.m. Please be on time when picking up your children at the end of the day. Those riders who live on the north end of town can catch the bus at the Arroyo Seco community center at 8:20 and pick up your children at 4:20. -Non-skiers will be swimming and ice-skating at the TYFC. They should dress in warm clothes for skating, and bring a swimsuit and towel. In afternoon, they will be going to High Altitude Athletics for an hour of fun, gymnastics-type activities. The bus ride is $2, so please bring $3 total to pay for the bus and skating. Those students should report to Mrs. Streit in the 5th grade classroom at 8:15. -In the very unfortunate event of a 2-hour delay on a ski program Tuesday, the ski program and the non-skier activities will be postponed until a later date, and a regular school d

Spelling and Vocabulary 1/23/17

1. gradually 2. icicle 3. remainder 4. innovative 5. prosperous 6. translate 7. omit 8. fascinated 9. brilliant 10. timid 11. pais (nation) 12. ciudad (city) 13. Poco a poco, se va lejos. (Little by little, you’ll go far.)

Over the weekend:

-Math: Division fact practice - fix all the facts you missed or didn't complete on practice page A. Then complete page B. Practice IXL Math skills E1, E2, E3, and E26.

For Friday:

-Parents, second quarter report cards went home with students today. Please take some time to discuss the grades and comments with your child. -Math: Complete p. 339-340. Practice IXL skills E1, E2, E26.

For Tuesday:

-Ski Program kids should be at school by 7:45 on Tuesday, January 17. We'll return to TCS at 5:00 p.m. Please be on time when picking up your children at the end of the day. Those riders who live on the north end of town can catch the bus at the Arroyo Seco community center at 8:20 and pick up your children at 4:20. -Non-skiers will be swimming and ice-skating at the TYFC. They should dress in warm clothes for skating, and bring $1, a swimsuit, and towel. Those students should report to Mrs. Streit in the 5th grade classroom at 8:15. -In the very unfortunate event of a 2-hour delay on a ski program Tuesday, the ski program and the non-skier activities will be postponed until a later date, and a regular school day will begin at 10:15 a.m. -Second marking period report cards will go home this week. I apologize for the delay. MB

For Friday:

-Math: Get ready for the Chapter 5 test by practicing the starred skills in IXL Math. -Pink re-enrollment forms were sent home today. Parents, please fill those out and return them by January 27.