Ross / Ellis Weekly Newsletter
November 30, 2018
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
Helping Hands Needs Your Help!
We have found that this project is highly successful at Blackburn and we appreciate any donations.
Here is a link to the 4th Grade Letter for Helping Hands.
A Note From Mr. Ross Regarding Online Assignments in Reading Class
This is the first year that we have been 1:1 in 4th grade, where every student has been given a Chromebook to use in school. We have been encouraged to make use of this by incorporating online assignments into our daily lessons.
The major website that we use in Language Arts is Google Classroom. It is a website where students are grouped into classes where I can post assignments, quizzes, and materials such as books for students to use on their Chromebooks. I post almost all of my online assignments in Google Classroom.
The other major website that I am using at this time for online graded assignments is EdPuzzle. EdPuzzle is a website where students can watch a video that stops at certain places for comprehension questions that the students have to answer. Usually these questions are pretty basic to make sure that the students are paying attention to the video.
While the Chromebooks and online activities have been a wonderful addition to our ELA classroom, I realize that they make it difficult to share with parents the actual graded assignments that you are seeing on the Weekly Progress Reports (I note these online assignments by putting Google Classroom in the name). With a worksheet, you could easily check your child's Friday Folder to see why your child did not do so well on an assignment, not so much if the assignment is in Google Classroom. Luckily, most of you should be able to access your child's online assignments at home by following the directions below:
If you see an online assignment on the Weekly Progress Report that you would like to review, the first thing to do is access your child's Google Classroom account. You will need to use your child's account log in and password. All of your child's online assignments can be accessed in Google Classroom.
Once in Google Classroom, choose the correct class. Most assignments will be in "Ross Block 1 Reading Class 2018-2019" or "Ross Block 2 Reading Class 2018-2019", but some assignments will be located in whatever reading group class your child is in, like "Block 1 Group 2" for example. Your child should be able to show you which class to choose.
Once in the correct class, click the "Classwork" tab at the top. This contains all of our assignments organized into categories. Find the assignment that you are looking for and click it. Then click "View Assignment." In the upper right-hand corner you will see the grade and any comments below the assignment. If you click on the assignment you should be able to see your child's responses for your review. (Please note: there is a resubmit button for all assignments. Please do not use this option unless I have asked your child to do so, like if I feel that your child did not understand the assignment and needs to do it again. I usually do not allow students to correct completed work.)
To view EdPuzzle assignments you have to actually go to the EdPuzzle website, but you can also do this through Google Classroom if you would like. Log in to Google Classroom and click on the "Classwork" tab. The link to the EdPuzzle website is under the "Class Websites" category. Click on EdPuzzle.com and it will show you the following directions to log in to the website and to see your child's graded work:
To Log In:
1. Log in as student with Google. (You may already be logged in.)
To See Graded Assignments:
1. Click on correct class on left side.
2. Click Completed.
3. Click Show All.
4. Click on the specific assignment to see answers and any comments.
A few things to keep in mind:
- I have shown all the students how to access their graded work on Google Classroom. Hopefully they can show you how to do this at home if you are having any trouble with this.
- Not everything that is completed in Google Classroom will actually count for a grade. It only counts for a grade if I put it in PowerSchool (our online grade book) and is on the Weekly Progress Reports that we send home. Just like not all worksheets that we send home are counted for a grade, I don't want to count all of my online assignments for a grade either.
- I realize that some parents are not able to access their child's school Google accounts on their personal devices for whatever reason. Please email your child's homeroom teacher with your favorite pizza place in Mountain View in the subject to earn your child a free homework pass. If you are having difficulty doing this at home you are more than welcome to schedule a time to come into school to use your child's Chromebook to view their completed work.
- We will be adding more websites (like CommonLit.org) from which we will be getting grades. These assignments will still be accessible through Google Classroom under the "Class Websites" category.
I want to thank you for your patience with me as I am learning all this as I go. Although I have used Google Classroom in the past it has never been to such an extent. I am very excited that we are finally able to have 1:1 Chromebooks for our students to help them learn 21st Century skills!
What Will We Be Learning This Week?
Math
We will continue our study Cluster 4 next week: Develop Multiplication and Division Strategies. Students have been very successful in learning to multiply 1, 2 and 3 digit numbers by 1 digit numbers and 2 digit by 2 digit numbers.
This week, we have begun dividing larger numbers. Students will learn two strategies to divide larger numbers: Traditional Long Division and the Area Model. After introducing both algorithms, students can use the method they are most comfortable with. We will be working on this skill for the next couple of weeks.
Science
This week, students have read a Folk Tale about a character named Magnus explaining how electricity was likely discovered.
Students have experimented with magnets and recorded their findings as they tested to see what items magnets attract. We have discussed that magnets attract iron, nickel and cobalt. Therefore, if a magnet is attracted to something, it is likely made of iron or an iron alloy.
Language Arts
Social Studies
Odds & Ends
Secure Volunteer Link
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 27th - Fall Make Up Pictures
Tuesday, November 27th - 2:30 Battle of the Books Practice
Friday, November 30th - Tuesday, December 4th - Dental Bus
Monday - Tuesday, December 3-4th - Dental Bus
Wednesday, December 5th - Blackburn Spelling Bee (8:00 am)
Wednesday, December 5th - Progress Reports
Friday, December 7th - School Dance 6pm
Monday - Friday, December 10-14th - Christmas Shop on Cafeteria Stage
Tuesday, December 11th - Battle of the Books Practice 2:30pm
Wednesday, December 12th - 4th Grade Habit 3 Assembly 8am
Thursday, December 13th - Christmas Program at Blackburn 6pm
Thursday, December 20th - Club Day (Clubs are during the school day - 8-9am)
Thursday, December 20th - Early Release Day 11:30am
Friday, December 21 - Wednesday, January 2nd - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, January 2nd - NO SCHOOL - TEACHER WORKDAY
Thursday, January 3rd - Students return to school
Monday, January 7th - PTO Board Meeting 3pm
Tuesday, January 8th - Battle of the Books Practice
Tuesday, January 15th - Battle of the Books Practice
Monday, January 21st - NO SCHOOL HOLIDAY
Tuesday, January 22nd - NO SCHOOL - TEACHER WORKDAY
Wednesday, January 23rd - NO SCHOOL - TEACHER WORKDAY
Tuesday, January 29th - Battle of the Books Practice 2:30pm
Tuesday, January 29th - Report Cards