Merry Christmas everyone!

May the joys and blessings of the Christmas season find their way into your homes and hearts!

Merry Christmas!

Pre-Christmas Blog Entry

To kick off this "Pre-Christmas Edition" blog entry, I would like to thank students, parents, and staff for  the kind presents. I count myself blessed to be a member of a supportive and caring community at Ruskin.

Also, I want to say a big "THANK YOU" to Ms. Lee-Tran for catering the Winter Party! It was quite a spread! We all were stuffed! Additional "Thanks" go out to Ms. Hashimoto, Ms. Kim, Ms. Ly and Ms. Robinson.

Here are some things I would like to share with you:

• Where to see Christmas displays throughout the valley: http://www.lightsofthevalley.com/Properties/San_Jose.asp
• I actually recommend the 1401 and 1405 Glacier Drive houses (they're next-door to each other).  The owners have a short wave FM radio transmitter (104.1 FM) from which they have coordinated their lights and on-lookers can listen to the music from their cars. Parking in front of the two houses is blocked off, but there's some really good parking spots in front of the house, if you get there early. They serve free popcorn from their popcorn popper and accept donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Here's some information from their website:
• "This year we have over 75,000 lights synchronized to several songs with 240 separate channels. The songs are broadcast on a short range FM transmitter set to 104.1 FM. We have converted to 100% LED this year, and there numerous new features such as additional "leaping" arches, strobes, and tree displays. Overall, there has been a large increase in lights that go higher, wider, and brighter than the year before. We are also sponsoring the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation, and more details can be found on our website at http://www.glacierlights.com/
  
  
  Sun-Thurs 6-9 pm
  Fri-Sat 6-10 pm 
  
  
  Lights turn on Sunday December 4th and run through New Year's Eve."
• This is the link for ALL Christmas Holiday Lighted House locations in the Santa Clara Valley: http://www.lightsofthevalley.com/MyCommunities.asp?c=Santa_Clara_County
• Do you own a tablet? Will you be owning one soon? Are you planning on getting some eBooks for a trip? If you answered, "YES" to any of these questions, then consider downloading eBooks for FREE from the Santa Clara Library! In addition, you can also download audiobooks, music and videos. For more information, here's the link: http://www.sccl.org/browse/ebooks-and-econtent/ebooks
• Two Ruskin students finished in the top 50 nationwide during the most recent National contest: ElisaZ finished 15th (996 correct out of 1000 questions) and KyleM, 29th (992 of 1000).  Very impressive!  Keep the students practicing as there are more contests - local (San Jose) and national - scheduled for the new year!
• As of tonight, 12/22, the top ten students (ranked by most correct responses) from Mr. Amutan's class are: Ethan, William, Ariel, Dominic, Daniel, Alan, Ashley, Hannah, Kevin and Angel! Keep up the practice, everyone!
• Update - AR quizzes that were taken by the class since Thanksgiving: FOUR From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler quizzes (3 teacher-created and 1 quiz company-created) and, for most students, THREE reading textbook quizzes (The Stranger, Cendrillon, and Heat Wave).
• The scores for the three teacher-created questions were not high averages, and the primary reason was the level of difficulty of the questions was high.  Generally, most students scored passing grades on the quiz company-created quiz.

HW - Wednesday, 12/19

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE; start up again on January 7

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # NONE; start up again on January 7

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE; start up again on January 7

6.  Language Arts - pgs. NONE
7.  My Math Class - Math Packet to go home TOMORROW (Due Monday, January 7)

-- Textbook pgs. NONE

-- Workbook pgs. NONE

8.  Science - pgs. NONE

9.  History - Geography picture dictionary due on Monday, January 7

Student's Violin Was Mistakenly Taken

If your child mistakenly took a violin case (containing a violin) with the name "Alan ____," please bring it to the classroom tomorrow.  He needs it so he can practice. Thank you.

By the way, two violins were left behind in the classroom today.

HW - Tuesday, 12/18

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE; start up again on January 7

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # NONE; start up again on January 7

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE; start up again on January 7

6.  Language Arts
- LA Workbook pgs. NONE
- Grammar Handouts #10: Contractions with "Not"
- Theme 3 Test TOMORROW
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler will be finished in class tomorrow; students started taking the AR quiz on Chapters 5-8 today and will take Chapters 9-10 AR quiz tomorrow.
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 246-249

-- Workbook pgs. 131-134, 144-6
-- Topic 9 Test TOMORROW

8.  Science - pgs. NONE

9.  History - Geography picture dictionary due on Monday, January 7

HW - Monday, 12/17

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity - NONE; start up again on January 7

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # NONE; start up again on January 7

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE; start up again on January 7

6.  Language Arts
- LA Workbook pgs. 206-209
- Grammar Handouts #8 and #9: Irregular Verbs and the Verb "Be"
- Theme 3 Test on Wednesday
- From the Mixed-Up Files study sheet was passed out today.
Will not be graded or collected; simply an aid for Tomorrow's AR quiz on Chapters 5-8.
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 243-245

-- Workbook pgs. 143
-- Topic 9 Test on Wednesday

8.  Science - pgs. NONE
-- OPEN BOOK Chapter 3 Test Tomorrow

9.  History - pgs. none
-- Geography picture dictionary on Monday, 1/7

As you shop this season, thank this man

“He knew the technology didn’t exist at the moment, but that it would exist.”

— Susan Woodland, daughter of Joseph Woodland, who invented the bar code on the beach, by running four fingers through the sand, as he attempted to answer a grocery executive’s call for a way to track products. Woodland, a mechanical engineer who died Sunday in New Jersey at age 91, reportedly told the story this way: “I poked my four fingers into the sand and for whatever reason — I didn’t know — I pulled my hand toward me and drew four lines. I said: ‘Golly! Now I have four lines, and they could be wide lines and narrow lines instead of dots and dashes.’ ” But he actually kept going and drew a full circle, the design he favored. Woodland and fellow Philadelphia college student Bernard Silver were awarded a patent in 1952 for a bull’s-eye-shaped Classifying Apparatus and Method, according to the New York Times. They sold the patent for $15,000. In the 1970s, when Woodland was working for IBM, colleague George Laurer designed the rectangular bar code as we now know it, and it was given a boost by Alan Haberman, a supermarket executive who died last year. (SeeQuoted: on the bar code, IBM and tech history.) The first product ever sold that was scanned with a UPC symbol? A pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum for 67 cents, at a supermarket in Ohio in 1974, according to the Guardian.

Weekend News and Tidbits

It's almost 5:00 p.m. on a Friday, and I'm going to keep this concise...so bullets it will be!

• Weekend HW:  LA Workbook pgs. 203-205; From Mixed-Up Files study sheet (?s 1-12) are not DUE but will help you review Chapters 5-7
• Monday
• Holiday Sing-Along 9:00-9:30 a.m. in the Multi with Maestro Darrell
• 1:05-1:45 p.m. - Fitness Center
• Start Geography Picture Dictionary
• Tuesday
• Science Open Book Chapter 3 Test
• From the Mixed-Up Files Ch. 5-8 AR Quiz
• Wednesday
• Language Arts Theme 3 Test
• Math Topic 9 Test
• Thursday
• From the Mixed-Up Files Ch. 9-10 AR Quiz
• Class Party and clean up for the Winter Break (10:15 - 1:00 p.m.)
• Minimum Day
• Math Olympiad 1:15-2:15 p.m.
• Friday - NO SCHOOL
• Monday - Wednesday:  S.I. after-school class in Mr. Amutan's room, 1:45 - 2:45 p.m.

November's San Jose Sharks Reading Is Cool Reader of the Month

November's San Jose Sharks Reading Is Cool goal was "MOST AUTHORS READ" and a few more students submitted their reading logs.

Because he read the most authors - 25! - in November, Ethan repeats as our Sharks Reading Is Cool Reader of the Month. In all, Ethan read 5,782 pages in November! WOW!

He will receive a medal as well as a $5 Jamba Juice gift card!

Students are currently competing for the December Reader of the Month by reading the MOST BOOKS.  Students are to FINISH the book they start and try to read around their GE reading level or within their ZPD. Please refer to their December STAR Reading Report for these numbers.

December Reading Logs are due the MONDAY we return to school: January 7.

HW - Thursday, 12/13

Remember to cut out words that describe your family or bring magazines to cut out in class.


1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # none; start up again on January 7

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE; start up again on January 7

6.  Language Arts
- LA Workbook pgs. 200-202
- Grammar Handouts #6 and #7: Past Tense, Past Tense Helping Verbs
- Theme 3 Test, next Wednesday
- From the Mixed-Up Files study sheet was passed out today.
Will not be graded or collected; simply an aid for students for Monday's quiz.
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 238-239

-- Workbook pgs. 141
-- Topic 9 Quiz on Friday; Topic 9 Test, Next WEDNESDAY (changed)

8.  Science - pgs. none
-- OPEN BOOK Chapter 3 Test on Tuesday

9.  History - pgs. none
-- Starting Geography picture dictionary on Monday, 12/17


Notes:
-  Our winter class party is next Thursday.  Ms. Lee-Tran is planning and providing food for the class.

HW - Wednesday, 12/12/12

Remember to cut out words that describe your family or bring magazines to cut out in class.

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # none

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE

6.  Language Arts
- LA Workbook pgs. 196-199
- Grammar Handouts #4 and #5: Subject-Verb Agreement, Present Tense Verbs
- Theme 3 Test, next Wednesday
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 236-237 (same as Tuesday)

-- Workbook pgs. 139-140 (same as Tuesday)
-- Topic 9 Quiz on Friday; Topic 9 Test, Next Tuesday

8.  Science - pgs. 112-113 (Chapter 3 Review) due tomorrow

9.  History - pgs. none


Notes:
-  Our winter class party is next Thursday.  Ms. Lee-Tran is planning and providing food for the class.  

HW - Tuesday, 12/11

For tomorrow's field trip, please remember to:

• pack your lunch into smaller snack bags, which can fit into coat pockets
• wear LONG socks if you can because the leather back of skates may rub against open skin and cause irritation or skin abrasions
• wear layers of clothing because it will be cold; but if you're sweating, you may feel uncomfortable under multiple layers

Remember to cut out words that describe your family or bring magazines to cut out in class.

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # none

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE

6.  Language Arts 
- LA Workbook pgs. 191-195 (started in class)
- Grammar Handouts (2) Exact Nouns/Exact Verbs; Rewriting Sentences
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 236-237

-- Workbook pgs. 139-140
-- Topic 9 Quiz on Friday; Topic 9 Test, Next Tuesday

8.  Science - pgs. 112-113 (Chapter 3 Review)

9.  History - pgs. none

HW - Monday, 12/10

Remember to cut out words that describe your family or bring magazines to cut out in class.

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # none

5.  Wordly Wise - NONE

6.  Language Arts 
- LA Workbook pgs. none
- Grammar Handout
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 234-235

-- Workbook pgs. 135-138
-- Topic 9 Quiz on Friday; Topic 9 Test, Next Tuesday

8.  Science - pgs. 100-101, 104-107

9.  History - pgs. none

Congrats to TWO of our students and Ruskin places 3rd in Sumdog's San Jose Contest

First, CONGRATULATIONS to Ethan and Ariel for placing in the top 50 students in this past week's Sumdog.com math contest!  The 1,000 question limit was reached by both students.  Ariel answered 884 questions correctly, which was good for 45th "place", and Ethan only missed 25 questions - good enough for 5th "place" overall! WOW!  Congratulations to both and let's get more kids involved!
(NOTE: The word place was used with quotation marks because the website doesn't count ties.)

Second, Ruskin ranked 3rd overall school in the contest and had 11 students place in the top 50.  Congratulations to all students!

Lastly, starting today we are now enrolled in the NATIONAL contest!  Let's show how good we really are! Good luck to all!

Weekend HW, 12/7-12-9

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

7.  My Math Class  -  Topic 9 Test on Tuesday, 12/18

-- Textbook pgs. 231-233

-- Workbook pgs. none

Notes:

• After-school SI programs CANCELLED for Monday, 12/10, due to a mandatory district meeting. They will resume on TUESDAY, 12/11, from 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
• Bring in your signed Field Trip permission slips by Tuesday! No Signed Slip = No GO!
• Has your child been practicing math on Sumdog.com?  Ruskin is NOW  in a nationwide competition!

HW - Thursday, 12/6

I'm sorry! This was saved as a draft but never published!

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # none

5.  Wordly Wise # 11e
Wordly Wise Lesson #11 Test tomorrow

6.  Language Arts 
- LA Workbook pgs. 180, 184-187 (started in class); 181-183 (on their own)
- Grammar Handout #3 "Past, Present and Future Tense"
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 225-226 (SKIP 227), 228-229

-- Workbook pgs. none
-- NO Quiz tomorrow

8.  Science - pgs. none

9.  History - pgs. none

Notes:

• SHARKS ICE SKATING FIELD TRIP permission slips need to be returned ASAP.
• S.I. After-School programs will NOT meet on Monday, 12/10, due to a district training/meeting
• Has your child been practicing math on Sumdog.com?
• As of this post, Ruskin is currently 2nd among San Jose schools for the contest ending TODAY!  Students are limited to 1,000 questions MAX!  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK EVERYONE!
• Theme 3 Language Arts Test during last week of school.

Spelling Activity Worksheets Are Now Posted in the Helpful Links Tab

Two of the Spelling Activity Worksheets are now uploaded in the Helpful Links tab, which can be accessed from the homepage.

I will be working on adding the others after I update them.

If you have trouble accessing the worksheets, please let me know.

HW - Wednesday, 12/5

1.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes 

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month:  MOST BOOKS READ
Remember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

2.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 30 minutes

3.  Spelling Activity

4.  Reading Comprehension -  # none

5.  Wordly Wise # 11e

6.  Language Arts - Grammar Handout #2 Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
7.  My Math Class

-- Textbook pgs. 223

-- Workbook pgs. none

8.  Science - pgs. 96-99  (started in class)

9.  History - pgs. 7-10  (started in class)

Notes:

• SHARKS ICE SKATING FIELD TRIP permission slips went out today.
• S.I. After-School programs will NOT meet on Monday, 12/10, due to a district training/meeting
• Has your child been practicing math on Sumdog.com?
• As of this post, Ruskin is currently 2nd among San Jose schools for the contest ending December 6!  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK EVERYONE!
• Theme 3 Language Arts Test during last week of school.