Some excellent work from all students today. We did well with the future tense conversations. We worked on the second worksheet for "Chompy's Afternoon" and "The Surprise."
Tomorrow we are going to have a test on the words and the future tense.
Next week we are going to focus a lot on handwriting and spacing words in addition to our other work. Hopefully my laptop will be repaired and we will have the first edition of the Pioneers Press newspaper.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tomorrow's Homework
Tuesday's homework will be the first worksheet based on "Chompy's Afternoon" for the 1.5 group and "House Repair" for the 2.1s. The questions are very simple and the students will start building understanding of the stories. We will work with these stories on a more complex level later in the week.
On the back of the homework is some work with tenses. It is similar to something we have done in class this week and should be fairly easy for most of the children.
On the back of the homework is some work with tenses. It is similar to something we have done in class this week and should be fairly easy for most of the children.
Update
My laptop is broken so updates will be fewer this week.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will finish Lost in the Museum. At that point the higher group will return to working in the 2.1 book.
We will practice the future tense by creating graphs representing the future of our class using questions such as "How many children will you have?" and "Where will you live?"
Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will finish Lost in the Museum. At that point the higher group will return to working in the 2.1 book.
We will practice the future tense by creating graphs representing the future of our class using questions such as "How many children will you have?" and "Where will you live?"
Sunday, December 27, 2009
This Week's Words
We are focusing a lot on the future this week so all our words are time themed. Focus on spelling for the words the students know, like yesterday and tomorrow. Focus on meanings for the others.
Will
Won’t
In
Ago
Last
Next
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Past
Future
Present
Will
Won’t
In
Ago
Last
Next
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Past
Future
Present
Today's Class
Was exceptionally good. I think most students finished the in and ago worksheet and didn't have to take it home for homework.
The future is much easier to learn than the past but, like anything in a language, must be practiced a lot.
Flashcards will go home tomorrow
The future is much easier to learn than the past but, like anything in a language, must be practiced a lot.
Flashcards will go home tomorrow
Saturday, December 26, 2009
This Week's Flashcards
Will be distributed on Monday. Tonight's homework is the in and ago worksheet.
This Week in 4B
We are going to begin our study of the future tense.
To begin we will review the meanings of in and ago to indicate future and past.
We will move on to the I, he, she, they will structure to indicate future actions.
Students will receive cards on either Sunday or Monday with future tense questions using the "In two years" structure. There will also be some additional vocabulary included, some of it review.
This week we will be working on the "Lost in the Museum" story in book 1.5. Both groups will work on that, with the top group doing it in a day and moving on to some phonics work. The other students will spend two days on it.
We are going to push our return to Spin D back another week so that we can focus on the future tense.
To begin we will review the meanings of in and ago to indicate future and past.
We will move on to the I, he, she, they will structure to indicate future actions.
Students will receive cards on either Sunday or Monday with future tense questions using the "In two years" structure. There will also be some additional vocabulary included, some of it review.
This week we will be working on the "Lost in the Museum" story in book 1.5. Both groups will work on that, with the top group doing it in a day and moving on to some phonics work. The other students will spend two days on it.
We are going to push our return to Spin D back another week so that we can focus on the future tense.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Good Luck on Your Test Tomorrow
This week students should have been studying their flashcards each night. Next week we will resume normal homework and students will need to complete the homework in addition to studying their cards.
We have made a lot of progress in reading this week and we also completed two stories for the newspaper. Our ability to write stories is still in the beginning stage but our students are making nice progress.
We have made a lot of progress in reading this week and we also completed two stories for the newspaper. Our ability to write stories is still in the beginning stage but our students are making nice progress.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Today in 4B
We are going to begin working on a new song. Yesterday the students performed "My Favorite Things." It was a beautiful song and the other students clapped very loudly.
We are also going to be reading "Foal." Both groups will be working together on this story.
Students will finish the question structure worksheet we began yesterday.
We also finished a story about our school for the Pioneers newspaper. The long delayed first issue should be out in the next two weeks. It is primarily a 4A project but 4B is also contributing.
We are also going to be reading "Foal." Both groups will be working together on this story.
Students will finish the question structure worksheet we began yesterday.
We also finished a story about our school for the Pioneers newspaper. The long delayed first issue should be out in the next two weeks. It is primarily a 4A project but 4B is also contributing.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Our Match
Today in the second break Mr. Sean's English class took on Ms.Fatima's class. We won the match 1-0. Palestinian Ahmed scored our goal. Islam was also a big reason we won. He was the goalie and he didn't let Ms. Fatima's class score.
The match was a prize that our class won by working hard and being good in class. Ms. Fatima's class did a lot of complaining so if we have a few more excellent weeks, maybe we will give them a rematch.
The match was a prize that our class won by working hard and being good in class. Ms. Fatima's class did a lot of complaining so if we have a few more excellent weeks, maybe we will give them a rematch.
Today's Class
The students did very well on the stories today. Amr, Ahmed M., Ahmed H., and Maria did some excellent work with Lost.
We practiced our song for the final day before our song contest and we studied antonyms. Antonyms are opposites. Rich and poor are antonyms.
We wrote sentences about each other using these new words and then we worked on our new drama.
The students also got a chance to work with Ms. Marah and Ms. Fatima in the third period.
We practiced our song for the final day before our song contest and we studied antonyms. Antonyms are opposites. Rich and poor are antonyms.
We wrote sentences about each other using these new words and then we worked on our new drama.
The students also got a chance to work with Ms. Marah and Ms. Fatima in the third period.
A Note on the Drama
Just a short note to address a complaint about this week's drama:
One of the jokes we have in our class is based on our three Ahmeds. Sometimes we call them American Ahmed, Palestinian Ahmed and Chinese Ahmed.
In the drama Palestinian Ahmed is violent and mean. The real Palestinian Ahmed is not violent or mean. The same way that Zeina does not really drive a car and Sena is not marrying a bear.(I hope) We use students in the dramas because it makes the stories more entertaining to the students and they enjoy them more.
We are certainly not insulting Palestinians in any way. Any parents who took it that way should take another look with this in mind.
One of the jokes we have in our class is based on our three Ahmeds. Sometimes we call them American Ahmed, Palestinian Ahmed and Chinese Ahmed.
In the drama Palestinian Ahmed is violent and mean. The real Palestinian Ahmed is not violent or mean. The same way that Zeina does not really drive a car and Sena is not marrying a bear.(I hope) We use students in the dramas because it makes the stories more entertaining to the students and they enjoy them more.
We are certainly not insulting Palestinians in any way. Any parents who took it that way should take another look with this in mind.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Using Flashcards
The students are receiving flashcards every week or every two weeks now. When the week is finished DO NOT stop using the flaschards.
With the new cards Sunday the students should have around 60 cards. The vocabulary cards, the past tense question cards, and the antonym cards.
As the year goes on, students should practice all their flashcards. The students should do flashcards between 10-30 minutes a night.
If there is other homework 10 minutes.
If the homework is short and easy somewhere in the middle.
If there is no homework 30 minutes.
With the new cards Sunday the students should have around 60 cards. The vocabulary cards, the past tense question cards, and the antonym cards.
As the year goes on, students should practice all their flashcards. The students should do flashcards between 10-30 minutes a night.
If there is other homework 10 minutes.
If the homework is short and easy somewhere in the middle.
If there is no homework 30 minutes.
Friday, December 18, 2009
This Week's First Drama
This is the first drama we will be working with this week. The students will receive it in class and it is here so they can practice it at home. This is a talk between two teachers and it should help the students understand some of their new and old words a little better.
Mr. Sean: Hi Mr. Jon. It’s nice to talk to you. I missed you so much. All the new teachers are very mean.
Mr. Jon: What do they do that is mean?
Mr. Sean: They always take my shekels. Sometimes they hit me. They are not nice at all. I feel like crying. Waaaaaaaaa.
Mr. Jon: Are the students still nice? I miss Ata and Dania. Dania was a very good girl and Ata was very rich. Sometimes Ata would give me shekels and say “Buy yourself a present Mr. Jon.”
Mr. Sean: He does that for me too. He gives me 50 shekels every week and I give him As on all the tests. I don’t like to sell tests but I am so poor. I don’t have any money for food.
Mr. Jon: Why don’t you have money Mr. Sean?
Mr. Sean: I don’t have money because Palestinian Ahmed keeps taking it. He is so violent he scares me. Now I feel like crying again. Waaaaa. I can’t fight him because I am so peaceful.
Mr. Jon: There is a big table in the class. You can use that to hit Ahmed.
Mr. Sean: I can’t do that Mr. Jon. I am very weak and the table is so heavy. Only Ahmed is strong enough to pick it up. Sometimes he uses it to hit the other Ahmeds. He is a very mean boy.
Mr. Jon: Why don’t you pick up something lighter to use against Ahmed?
Mr. Sean: I am too scared. He is really crazy Mr. Jon. All the students are scared of him. Even Miqdam is scared and he is almost as crazy as Ahmed.
Mr. Jon: I am very sorry but I am happy you are not crazy. Is everyone else in the class sane?
Mr. Sean: Yes there are no other crazy students. There are some who do dangerous things though. Zeina loves to drive her car very fast.
Mr. Jon: That is dangerous. How did Zeina get a car? She is only a little girl.
Mr. Sean: She bought it from Ms. Zeina. Little Zeina is very rich. Sometimes she drives with her eyes closed.
Mr. Jon: That is dangerous. Driving with your eyes open is the safe way to drive.
Mr. Sean: I know Mr. Jon. Zeina is so rich she thinks if she crashes the car she can just buy a new one and extra cars for all her friends.
Mr. Jon: I hope that Zeina doesn’t hurt herself or her car. You have to be very careful if you are going to do dangerous things.
Mr. Sean: Hi Mr. Jon. It’s nice to talk to you. I missed you so much. All the new teachers are very mean.
Mr. Jon: What do they do that is mean?
Mr. Sean: They always take my shekels. Sometimes they hit me. They are not nice at all. I feel like crying. Waaaaaaaaa.
Mr. Jon: Are the students still nice? I miss Ata and Dania. Dania was a very good girl and Ata was very rich. Sometimes Ata would give me shekels and say “Buy yourself a present Mr. Jon.”
Mr. Sean: He does that for me too. He gives me 50 shekels every week and I give him As on all the tests. I don’t like to sell tests but I am so poor. I don’t have any money for food.
Mr. Jon: Why don’t you have money Mr. Sean?
Mr. Sean: I don’t have money because Palestinian Ahmed keeps taking it. He is so violent he scares me. Now I feel like crying again. Waaaaa. I can’t fight him because I am so peaceful.
Mr. Jon: There is a big table in the class. You can use that to hit Ahmed.
Mr. Sean: I can’t do that Mr. Jon. I am very weak and the table is so heavy. Only Ahmed is strong enough to pick it up. Sometimes he uses it to hit the other Ahmeds. He is a very mean boy.
Mr. Jon: Why don’t you pick up something lighter to use against Ahmed?
Mr. Sean: I am too scared. He is really crazy Mr. Jon. All the students are scared of him. Even Miqdam is scared and he is almost as crazy as Ahmed.
Mr. Jon: I am very sorry but I am happy you are not crazy. Is everyone else in the class sane?
Mr. Sean: Yes there are no other crazy students. There are some who do dangerous things though. Zeina loves to drive her car very fast.
Mr. Jon: That is dangerous. How did Zeina get a car? She is only a little girl.
Mr. Sean: She bought it from Ms. Zeina. Little Zeina is very rich. Sometimes she drives with her eyes closed.
Mr. Jon: That is dangerous. Driving with your eyes open is the safe way to drive.
Mr. Sean: I know Mr. Jon. Zeina is so rich she thinks if she crashes the car she can just buy a new one and extra cars for all her friends.
Mr. Jon: I hope that Zeina doesn’t hurt herself or her car. You have to be very careful if you are going to do dangerous things.
This Week in 4B
We are going to study synonyms and antonyms. The students will receive antonym flashcards on Sunday so they can spend the week practicing.
We are going to continue our reading work. The group working in book 1.5 will continue the "Lost" story about a boy who finds a lost bear. This is a very long story. We started it last week. When we finish that story we will move on to "Baby Otter Grows Up"
To understand "Baby Otter Grows Up" you should know the words from the cards I sent home two weeks ago. Study sink and float carefully.
The group working on 2.1 will continue with Poppleton and then move into "The Green Leaf News"
Next week we will get back to working in our Spin books a little bit.
The words for this week are all opposite pairs
fat/thin
rich/poor
ugly/beautiful
slow/fast
nice/mean
violent/peaceful
crazy/sane
big/small
Many of these words are ones we have studied before so they should not be that difficult.
We are also going to study new groups of opposites that are not going to be on the spelling test. They are:
dangerous/safe
healthy/sick
heavy/light
We are going to continue our reading work. The group working in book 1.5 will continue the "Lost" story about a boy who finds a lost bear. This is a very long story. We started it last week. When we finish that story we will move on to "Baby Otter Grows Up"
To understand "Baby Otter Grows Up" you should know the words from the cards I sent home two weeks ago. Study sink and float carefully.
The group working on 2.1 will continue with Poppleton and then move into "The Green Leaf News"
Next week we will get back to working in our Spin books a little bit.
The words for this week are all opposite pairs
fat/thin
rich/poor
ugly/beautiful
slow/fast
nice/mean
violent/peaceful
crazy/sane
big/small
Many of these words are ones we have studied before so they should not be that difficult.
We are also going to study new groups of opposites that are not going to be on the spelling test. They are:
dangerous/safe
healthy/sick
heavy/light
Sunday, December 13, 2009
This is our song for this week. We have a singing contest on Wednesday. Please practice at least three times a night.
This week's words are:
1. Buildings
2. Elevator
3. Point
4. Playground
5. Map
6. Forrest
7. Hug
8. Nap
9. Slip
10. Float
If these look familiar its because they were on the flashcards I gave out last week. Also remember to practice the flashcards I gave you yesterday.
This week's words are:
1. Buildings
2. Elevator
3. Point
4. Playground
5. Map
6. Forrest
7. Hug
8. Nap
9. Slip
10. Float
If these look familiar its because they were on the flashcards I gave out last week. Also remember to practice the flashcards I gave you yesterday.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Welcome to Four B
This is our new blog. This week we are going to get a new set of flashcards to work on at home. These will focus on the past tense. Parents look for them on Sunday or Monday.
Students seem to have done well with the vocabulary flashcards. We will be continuing with the story about Nayeli Lopez in book 1.5 and Ellen and the Wobbly People in book 2.1
We are also going to continue to focus on the past tense and inch our way towards the future. Check back here for frequent updates.
Here are last week's spelling test As
Ahmed Q.
Maria (two weeks in a row)
Zakariya (six weeks in a row)
Islam
Great work by all of you
On a sad note, Zakariya will be leaving our class. He is moving to the 4A class that is taught by me and Ms. Fatima. Congratulations to Zakariya and we will miss you.
Students seem to have done well with the vocabulary flashcards. We will be continuing with the story about Nayeli Lopez in book 1.5 and Ellen and the Wobbly People in book 2.1
We are also going to continue to focus on the past tense and inch our way towards the future. Check back here for frequent updates.
Here are last week's spelling test As
Ahmed Q.
Maria (two weeks in a row)
Zakariya (six weeks in a row)
Islam
Great work by all of you
On a sad note, Zakariya will be leaving our class. He is moving to the 4A class that is taught by me and Ms. Fatima. Congratulations to Zakariya and we will miss you.
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