Spring Showcase

Please come visit our school this evening for our Rio Vista Spring Open House and Science Fair.

5:00  Rio Vista Parent Club Pizza Dinner
6:00  Visit classrooms and Science Fair

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 585-586.
               Miss W: p. 583-584.
               Mrs. Thompson: no homework.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 489-490.
2.  Come to Spring Showcase
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Science Fair Tomorrow

You have one more day to put the finishing touches on you science fair projects.  Tomorrow we have our annual Rio Vista Science Fair in conjunction with Spring Showcase.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 583-584.
               Miss W: p. 577-578.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 489-490.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 487-488.
2.  What is the best science fair project you have ever seen?
3.  Get parent initials.
4.  Read for half an  hour.

Fast Changes on Earth's Surface

Landslides, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes!   Some times our Earth changes quickly and we have to adapt.  Fourth graders are learning about these fast changes of the Earth in science class.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 577-578.
               Miss W: p. 571-572.
               Mrs. Thompson: practice test
               Mrs. Leone: p. 477-478.
2.  What should you do if there is a flood?
3.  Get parent initials.
4.  Read for half an  hour.

Love That Boy: A Poem by Walter Dean Meyers

Love that boy,
like a rabbit loves to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
'Hey there, son!'

He walk like his Grandpa,
Grins like his Uncle Ben.
I said he walk like his Grandpa,
And grins like his Uncle Ben.
Grins when he's happy,
When he sad, he grins again.

His mama like to hold him,
Like to feed him cherry pie.
I said his mama like to hold him.
Like to feed him that cherry pie.
She can have him now,
I'll get him by and by

He got long roads to walk down
Before the setting sun.
I said he got a long, long road to walk down
Before the setting sun.
He'll be a long stride walker,
And a good man before he done.


This poem is featured in the book we are reading in fourth grade, Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 571-572.
               Miss W: p. 565-566.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 471-472.
               Mrs. Leone: practice test.
2.  How are humans different from other animals?
3.  Get parent initials.
4.  Read for half an  hour.

The California Gold Rush

In By the Great Horn Spoon!, the novel we have been reading in fourth grade, Jack and Praiseworthy have finally reached California, and they can begin looking for gold.

Today's homework:
1.  Math:  no math homework today.
2.  What is the most important thing you have learned in fourth grade?
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

"Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year."  (source wikipedia.org)

What can you do to protect the environment?

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 565-566.
               Miss W: no homework.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 469-470
               Mrs. Leone: no homework.
2.  What are some ways to help the earth?
3.  Get parent initials.
4.  Read for half an  hour.

Poetry: Copy Change

One technique for learning about poetry is called copy change.  In a copy change, students write a new poem based on the form and/or ideas of an established poem.  Here is an example from Vanessa.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: no homework.

               Miss W: no homework.

               Mrs. Thompson: p. 456-457.

               Mrs. Leone: practice test.

2.  Describe your favorite movie.

3.  Get parent initials.

4.  Read for half an  hour.

Raising the Flag at Fort Tejon

Here is a picture of our students raising the flag at Fort Tejon.  We had a great trip.  A big thank you to all the parent volunteers!  You were fantastic!

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mrs. Spaulding: practice test.
               Miss W: practice test.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 455.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 441-442.
2.  Describe what you did at Fort Tejon (or what you did in class.)
3.  Get parent initials.
4.  Read for half an  hour.

Levi Strauss

Fourth graders are learning about the many colorful characters of California history, such as Levi Strauss, who is credited with bring blue jeans to the world.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mrs. Spaulding: p. 535-536.
               Miss W:  p. 541-542.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 449-450.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 435-436.
2.  Levi Strauss biography page.
3.  Bring back permission slips.
4.  Read for half an hour.
5.  Get parent initials.

Street Music: A Poem

“Street Music”
 by Arnold Adoff

T h i s    c i t y:
t h e
a l w a y s
           n o i s e
g  r  i  n  d  i  n  g
up     from     the
s u b w a y s
u n d e r
   g r o u n d:
slamming from bus tires
and taxi horns and engines
of cars and trucks in all

v  o  c  a  b  u  l  a  r  i  e  s
                                            of
clash
flash
screeching
hot  metal    l a n g u a g e
c  o  m  b  i  n  a  t  i  o  n  s:
as    p l a n e s
  o v e r h e a d
               r o a r
an
o r c h e s t r a
of rolling  drums
and battle blasts
assaulting
               my ears
w i t h
t h e
a l w a y s
    n o i s e   of
t h i s   c i t y:

street    music.


Today's homework:
1.  Math Mrs. Spaulding: p. 521-522.
               Miss W:  p. 525.
               Mrs. Thompson: p.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 429-430.
2.  Write a poem about sounds.
3.  John Sutter Report due.
4.  Read for half an hour.
5.  Get parent initials.

Dog: A Poem

Dog

By Valerie Worth

Under a maple tree
the dog lies down,
Lolls his limp
Tongue, yawns,
Rests his long chin
Carefully between
Front paws;
Looks up, alert;
Chops, with heavy
Jaws, at a slow fly,
Blinks, rolls
On his side,
Sighs, closes
His eyes: sleeps
All afternoon
In his loose skin.

Fourth graders are continuing their study of poetry.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mrs. Spaulding: p. 513-514
               Miss W:  p. 521-522.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 429-230.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 423-424.
2.  Write a poem about a pet.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and restful break.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mrs. Spaulding: p. 515-516.

               Miss W:  p. 515-516.

               Mrs. Thompson: p. 429.

               Mrs. Leone: p. 417-418

2.  Write about what you did during spring break.

3.  Read for half an hour.

4.  Get parent initials.