Smith Ranch was fun!

Dear Families,

Thank you to all the supportive parents that drove to Smith Ranch on a field trip yesterday. The scenery driving there and in Julian was beautiful! The students and parents had a great time at the ranch and learned things like how heavy gold is, how to pan for gold, what the Pony Express drivers from that time were paid, and the type of rock to look for if you are mining for gold. They went into a mine in a mining car, listened to a letter written by a civil war soldier, and crossed a little pond on a rope bridge! A few of us stopped to pick up a Julian apple pie!

Please remember that California STAR testing starts tomorrow. Making sure your child gets a good night sleep, eats breakfast, and is here at 9am will contribute to a relaxed ready student. Thank you fo your help!

Kim

Welcome Back!

Dear Families, I have just a few announcements for the week! Our field trip to Smith Ranch in Julian is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 19th. At this point based on a few emails and what students have told me we have enough drivers. I would like if all drivers could send me a final confirmation email at kim@innovationsacademy.org. I have a tendency to be a bit of a worrier, so I guess I'm requesting peace of mind. We will leave at 9am and our tour starts at 11am-1pm with a break for lunch, so make sure to send a lunch without a need for a microwave. As I recall from my last trip, we sat on picnic tables outside. Also, only two students have paid for the field trip. The cost is $8 for students and $10 for adults. I would like all of the funds in by Friday - Please! California STAR testing starts on Thursday, April 21st. Students will test from 9:30am-approximately 12pm. The other testing days will be the following week at the same time on Tuesday,the 26th; Wednesday, the 27th; and Thursday, the 28th. On all testing days it is important to have your child at school on time - so at 9am. Also, please make sure they have had a good nights sleep and breakfast. Thank you As always, please contact me at anytime by email or stop by the classroom!

This Week!

Dear Families,

This information was in my last BLOG and I prefer not to repeat, but it is very important that you are aware of our next field trip. We are scheduled to go to Smith Ranch in Julian on Tuesday, April 19th. It is a great trip because the kids get to go into a mine, pan for gold, and hear stories about the pony express (and more). I need 6-7 drivers for the trip. If I am unable to get drivers, we can't go. Please look at your schedules and email me about your ability to help. kim@innovationsacademy.org

On Thursday, the 31st of March there will be a family night from 5:30-7:00. Please join us as Christine will be discussing some changes within classroom teachers. There will not be a dinner that night.

Last week, after Biztown we (my class) had the distinct pleasure to learn about how to get out of the "Rat Race", instead of being in it. Patricia Koehler came into our classroom and helped me as well as all the students learn about certain kinds of investments. Please see the photographs of your children playing the game. We played the adult version of the game, but Patricia has ordered the children's version, which we will be playing next!

Your kids really have loved a method of multiplying called the Lattice Method of Multiplication. Through using this method they have been able to complete 3-digit by 3-digit multiplication problems. Here is the PROBLEM - if your child does not know his/her basic facts this easy method of multiplication is pointless. Please plan to spend at least 20 minutes a night on their basic facts. By fourth grade it is important to have these mastered. Thank you for helping.

Sincerely,

Kim

JA Biztown was fun for most!!!

Dear parents ,

Please enjoy some of the pictures from our most recent field trip - JA BIZtown! Your children were so well behaved, respectful, and fulfilling on their assignments (overall) - I am so proud of them and you ought to know just how wonderfully they completed their job assignments! Yay!

Thank you to those parents who were there at the fieldtrip in the trenches with children creating successfull businesses (Rick West, Patricia Koehler, Debora Mori, Laura West, and Aisha Carpenter). If for some reason I have forgotten you, please understand it is not because I don't value your contribution.

We have another fieldtrip coming up on April 19th and I will need from 6-7 drivers. We will be visiting Smith Ranch Julian where your children will get to pan for gold, visit a mine, and listen to a great historian and story teller. The cost for children is $7 and for adults is $10. Please let me know ASAP if you can drive. If I don't get enough drivers, the trip will have to be canceled. We will leave shortly after 9am and we will start the tour at 11am. Lunches will need to be packed and the trip will be over at approximately 1pm. It's a lot of driving, but totally worth it. I took my kids last year and it was a great success!!

Kim

Biztown Update

Dear Families,

Your children have all been assigned their jobs and are now working in business groups (see photo). That means they are working in cross-age groups, determining business costs, writing advertising, applying for loans, and signing promissory notes for their company. Biztown is next Thursday, March 17th. Parent volunteers need to arrive at the Junior Achievement location by 8am for a 90 minute training. The location is 4756 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120. The phone number is (619) 682 5155. Students from I.A. will arrive at 9:30am. I would like all students to arrive at I.A. at 8:30am that day as we will be walking from I.A. to Biztown. All parents who are volunteering can drop your children in child care early and for free. I still need payments of $20.00 from those children who have not paid for Biztown.

In math, your kids are determining travels routes from Chicago to Los Angeles and determining the distance rounded to the nearest 10 miles as well at the time it takes to travel that distance. They are creating posters showing their work.

In writing, they are completing their autobiographical narratives (some are finished) and moving onto writing a piece based on one of their own interests. We continue to develop vocabulary through identifying our own interest words and some guided. Your kids look at context to determine meaning as well as synonyms and antonyms to develop vocabulary.

In science, students are crazy about AMBooks, an on-line science program. Stop by to see. The graphics are beautiful and the content engaging.

This week we also had the pleasure of having two guests in our classroom. Nancy Cox, an employee of the school district came into our morning meeting, read a book, and worked with the group on appropriate participation (see photo). Also, Patricia, Sophia's mom came in with the Cash Flow game (a game designed to teach how to get out of the rat race) and got the kid's prepared to play, plus started the game. She will be back next Friday to continue playing. If there any other parents who would like to come into the classroom and share your expertise, you are welcome!

That's it for now!

Kim

Updates!!!!!!!!

Dear families,

Your children have been working hard learning lots of concepts for Biztown. This week they will be interviewed for a position at Biztown and have had the opportunity to practice interviewing skills! They have also completed job applications and thought about their personal skills and how they might fulfill their job positions. Next, they will be working with their business groups during Biztown training, so that means they might be with me, Bill, or Jennifer.

Thanks to all the families that came to the board meeting tonight. I know it was a committment that required you being away from your home and I appreciate it. You are all such great parents!

Weekly Update!

Dear Families,

There is a lot of news to share this week. First, I want to thank all of the parents who helped with our field trip to the Microsoft store in Fashion Valley! I so appreciated the help getting organized in the classroom and during the walk to the trolley station and back. The students did a great job listening to the Power Point presentation, but the parent assistance during their Power Point creations was invaluable. Thanks! I did make a mistake on the trolley cost. I thought it was $3.00, but it turned out to be $5.00, so if you could all send in the extra $2.00, I can repay I.A.

We also celebrated Valentine's Day on the afternoon of the field trip. Thanks again to all the parents that sent goodies and cards for the students to share. I think they had a bit too much sugar!

Our next field trip will be on March 17th to Junior Achievement's Biztown. The cost is $20.00 per student. Please start sending your money in to the classroom. This event was a big hit last year and one the kids talked about for a long time afterwards. There are a couple of things I need help with. On March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd we need parent volunteers to come to I.A. to interview students for jobs. This is at your convenience and for only the amount of time you have to spare. We will pull students out of class when parents arrive for the interviews. They will be given assistance about how to interview and will have the opportunity to sign up for three jobs of their choice. By the way, please have your children dress-up a bit for their interviews on those days. Last year almost everyone got the job they wanted. Please stop by the classroom to see a list of jobs and companies. We will, however, be dividing the companies up between classes attending. Next, the day of the field trip, I need at least five volunteers to go to Biztown for the day. You will be asked to arrive there at 8am for training. Our class will arrive at 9:30am and as a volunteer you will help in the companies they are working in. Please let me know as soon as possible as your help will make the program a success!

Star testing for all fourth grade students will begin on March 1st. On that day, fourth graders will be engaging in the writing portion of the test. It is very important that your child be in school that day. This is an untimed test, but we are figuring it will take about 75 minutes. I have been working with your children on writing, but they may want to put in a little extra time at home practicing how to write an introduction, paragraphs with topic sentences and details to support it, and a conclusion.

I am looking for speakers for the classroom and want to turn to parents first. Many of you have skills or talents that you could share with the class. For instance, if you are passionate about a craft, type of art, computer skill, mechanical skill, specific topic in science, etc...I would love to make plans with you to come in and speak/teach the class about it. Please contact me at kim@innovationsacademy.org and let me know what you might enjoy sharing. You might even bring in a favorite age-appropriate book to read!

Next Thursday, February, 24th your children will be included in an all school photo for our yearbook. I'm just letting you know in case your child has something special he/she wants to wear or if they want to do something special with their hair. I forgot my own daughter's picture on picture day at her school this year and she ended up getting upset because of what she was wearing. Geez!

Also, just so you know, I will be out of class next Friday as I will be attending some professional development. We always have great subs, so not to worry - again just wanted to let you know.

We are starting to use gmail as a way for your children to type their documents. This means we would set up a gmail email account for your child. Please let me know if you are opposed to this. I will be sending a reminder needing a parent signature next week, so please check with your child regarding it.

Finally, in April, I will be planning a field trip to Smith Ranch in Julian. This is a very exciting trip and I will write more about it on my next BLOG, but you can ask your children about it now!
Take Care
Kim