Wishing All of Your Homes A Happy Thanksgiving!

For the kids...and no, root beer and popcorn were not on the first Thanksgiving menu:

This makes a lot of sense:

I hope you find time to do this today and every day:

A reflection from our late President John F. Kennedy, who created the Peace Corps:

One final wish:

I am thankful for your support and smiles!

May the blessings of the season fill your homes today and forevermore!

Happy Thanksgiving!

15 New TenMarks Assignments Have Been Posted

Good morning!

I have posted 15 TenMarks Assignments.
About 3-5 of them were completed by a small number of students (less than 6) so I reassigned them.
They are all review of what we have learned since the beginning of school.

The lessons are:

• 4.OA.2 - Multiplication and Division to Solve Word Problems
• 4.OA.2 - Relate: Multiply & Divide, Multiply & Add
• 4.OA.3 - Solve Problems Using the Four Operations & Estimation
• 4.OA.3 - Solve Problems with Four Operations (No Estimation)
• 4.OA.5 - Identifying Number Patterns
• 4.OA.5 - Number Patterns and Word Problems
• 4.OA.5 - Shape Patterns
• 4.NBT.1 - Relating Place Value and Multiples of 10
• 4.NBT.1 - Multiplying by Powers of Ten
• 4.NBT.2 - Comparing Whole Numbers
• 4.NBT.2 - Ordering Numbers
• 5.OA.1 - Evaluate Numerical Expressions: No Grouping Symbols
• 5.OA.1 - Evaluate Numerical Expressions with Grouping Symbols
• 5.OA.2 - Writing Numerical Expressions
• 5.OA.3 - Finding Rules that Represent Patterns

The Due Date is Sunday December 15.

If you have forgotten your login and/or password, please email me by clicking here.
(Please mention "Forgot TenMarks Login/Password" in the subject line.)

Enjoy!

HW -Thursday, 11/21

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension  NONE
4.  Spelling Activities  NONE
5.  Wordly Wise  NONE
6.  LA Workbook  NONE
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages Topic 7 Test Prep (skip # 10,11,14); Reteaching ODDS (skip Sets H and J)
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 7 Test on FRIDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. NONE
9.  Science pgs. NONE

NOTES:

• Minimum Days (1:00 p.m. dismissal) ALL WEEK due to conferences.
• REMINDER: We have Science Lab and Little Buddies tomorrow.

HW - Wednesday, 11/20

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension  "Alex Haley's ROOTS"
4.  Spelling Activities  NONE
5.  Wordly Wise  NONE
6.  LA Workbook  NONE
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 182-185 odds
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 7 Test on FRIDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. NONE
9.  Science pgs. NONE

NOTES:

• Minimum Days (1:00 p.m. dismissal) ALL WEEK due to conferences.
• Bring an old or worn out t-shirt to wear AND a permanent marker (not the thin tip) for art (oil pastels).

*NEW* Scholastic Writing Contest

Polyjuice Potion Contest

Due Date for Entries: January 07, 2014

Here’s a chance for truly serious Harry Potter fan to win a trip to New York to meet the editors of Harry Potter! Just write an essay (no more than 1 page) that answers this question: If you took a sip of polyjuice potion and became another person for a few hours, who would you be and what would you do?

Now for some important rules...

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, students must write an essay (no more than one page) that answers this question: If you took a sip of Polyjuice potion and became another person for a few hours, who would you be and what would you do? Each entry must include student, teacher, and school names; grade; and school address and phone number. Entries must be mailed to: Polyjuice Potion Essay Contest, P.O. Box 714, New York, NY 10013-0714. Entries must be received by January 7, 2014. No other means of entry accepted. 

                  4. There will be one (1) Grand-Prize Winner who will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two (winner and parent or legal guardian) to New York City to visit Scholastic headquarters, have lunch with member(s) of the Harry Potter editorial team, and go on a $300 shopping spree in The Scholastic Store.  Date of visit will be determined by Scholastic in coordination with the winner and the winner’s parent or legal guardian. (Approximate retail value of this prize is $2,500.) Actual value of prize trip may vary depending on winner’s residence and seasonal rates. All expenses not specified above, including, without limitation, all federal, state, and local taxes and international tariffs, are the winner’s sole responsibility. 

There will be ten (10) Runner-Up Winners who will receive a World of Harry Potter Library. (Approximate retail value of this prize is $60.)

Click here for the entire rules list.

HW - Tuesday, 11/19

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension  "Cookies from the Sky"
4.  Spelling Activities  NONE
5.  Wordly Wise  NONE
6.  LA Workbook  NONE
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 176-177
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 7 Test on FRIDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. NONE
9.  Science pgs. NONE

NOTES:

• Minimum Days (1:00 p.m. dismissal) ALL WEEK due to conferences.
• LIBRARY TIME is TOMORROW. Bring your books!

Next Friday, Picture Make-Up Day

Community Health Fair This Sunday

HW - Thursday, 11/14

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension  NONE
4.  Spelling Activities  NONE
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 9e
-- Lesson 9 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Grammar Practice Worksheet (More Plural Nouns)
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 169-171 EVENS
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 7 Quiz on FRIDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. NONE
9.  Science pgs. NONE

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• Minimum Days (1:00 p.m. dismissal) TOMORROW and ALL NEXT WEEK due to conferences.
• LIBRARY TIME is NEXT WEDNESDAY. Bring your books!

ATTENTION: Sumdog Login Change

When logging into Sumdog.com, students must enter the new passcode.

Instead of typing ruskin-elementary-school in the school field, they must type ruskin.

It was shortened to help facilitate student logins.

Please bookmark this link so you do not have to type ruskin anymore: http://www.sumdog.com/sch/ruskin

NOTE: If you access the website normally (using www.sumdog.com), be aware that you will have to type ruskin in the school field.

HW - Wednesday, 11/13

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension  NONE
4.  Spelling Activities  NONE
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 9c-d
-- Lesson 9 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Grammar Practice Worksheet
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 169-171 ODDS (started in class)
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 7 Quiz on FRIDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. 31-36 (started in class)
9.  Science pgs. 78-79 and Unit A Packet (Due Thursday)
-- Chapter 2 Open Book Test on Thursday

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• Minimum Days (1:00 p.m. dismissal) THIS FRIDAY and ALL NEXT WEEK due to conferences.
• LIBRARY TIME is NEXT WEDNESDAY. Bring your books!

UPDATE: Minimum Day Schedule

I am sure that you are aware that next week is a minimum day schedule.

This Friday apparently is a minimum day as well, which means a 1:00 p.m. dismissal time.

Please plan accordingly.

HW - Tuesday...11/12/13!!!

Enjoy the next to the last day of consecutive numbers (next one is 12/13/14) until the next millennium ( 1/2/(30)03)! 

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension  NONE
4.  Spelling Activities  NONE
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 9a-b
-- Lesson 9 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Workbook pages 145-149
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 160-161 #10-34 EVENS; 162-163 #7-29 ODDS
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 7 Quiz on FRIDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. none
9.  Science pgs. 78-79 and Unit A Packet (Due Thursday)
-- Chapter 2 Open Book Test on Thursday

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• Minimum Days (1:00 p.m. dismissal) ALL NEXT WEEK due to conferences.
• LIBRARY TIME is NEXT WEDNESDAY. Bring your books!
• November Scholastic Book Orders: If you still want to order, please do so by tomorrow night so that we can receive the shipment before Thanksgiving.

New TenMarks Lessons...and S.I. Letters

Parents,

I added a few more TenMarks lessons (due 11/30):

Understanding Division Using Models and Strategies

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Relating Multiplication and Division

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Solve Word Problems Involving Division

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Multiplication and Division to Solve Word Problems

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Estimating Products and Quotients

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Also, a few of you may have received letters today regarding Supplemental Instruction. Not all students received it but if your child did, s/he is invited to attend after-school instruction starting this Tuesday.
Thank you for understanding!

Three-Day Weekend

• In observance of Veterans' Day, we do not have school on Monday.
• HW this weekend:
• Read for 30 minutes. Write it in your Reading Log.
• RuskinFIT for 60 minutes.
• Math Textbook pgs. 160-161, #9-33 odds
• Science Textbook pgs. 72-77
• PE/Music on Tuesday
• No Fitness Center due to the Monday holiday

The Western Black Rhinoceros is Extinct

We had just read about animal extinction in our science books when this headline was released almost a day ago: Western Black Rhinoceros Declared Extinct.

Animals and plants are tracked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) on their Red List. This list ranks the plants and animals who have the "least concern" of extinction to those that are "critically endangered" and "extinct in the wild". It also lists extinct animals.

Of course, man has been a major factor in the increased number of endangered and extinct species. Here is a short list of animals which man has had a heavy hand in rendering extinct.

Some questions to ponder:

- Can advancements of cloning "remove" the statuses of some - if not, all - animals and plants classified as extinct?

- Can the problems of a burgeoning planet (i.e., continued growth of the human population, strains on limited resources, destruction of habitats) be staved to help save endangered organisms?

- When will the next animal or plant be declared extinct?

- What can I do to help save endangered plants and animals?

HW - Thursday, 11/7

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension # none
4.  Spelling Activities  (TWO activities this week, due Friday)
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 8e and Lesson 5-8 Crossword
-- Lesson 8 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Workbook pages 139-143
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages NONE
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. none
9.  Science pgs. 72-77 (due Tuesday)
-- For page 74, use this Wikipedia link to assist you with your research on an extinct animal. Of course, you may choose other online or offline resources.

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• Congratulations to Sabrina! Her design received the most votes!
• November Scholastic Book Orders due tOMORROW, 11/8, to ensure delivery before the November Thanksgiving break.
• Next Monday is a Federal Holiday. We will be observing Veterans' Day so NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 

HW - Wednesday, 11/6

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension # none
4.  Spelling Activities  (TWO activities this week, due Friday)
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 8e and Lesson 5-8 Crossword
-- Lesson 8 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Workbook pages 132-138
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages NONE
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Two-page packet
-- Topic 6 Test TOMORROW  (FYI: There was no Quiz last Friday.)
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. none
9.  Science pgs. 68-71

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• Congratulations to Sabrina! Her design received the most votes!
• November Scholastic Book Orders due this Friday, 11/8, to ensure delivery before the November Thanksgiving break.
• Next Monday is a Federal Holiday. We will be observing Veterans' Day so NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 

HW - Tuesday, 11/5

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension # none
4.  Spelling Activities  (TWO activities this week, due Friday)
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 8c-d
-- Lesson 8 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Workbook pages 129-131
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 152-155
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 6 Test on THURSDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. none
9.  Science pgs. 56-63
10.  Scholastic News Backpage (save Bonus for tomorrow)

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• LIBRARY TIME is tomorrow. Bring your books!
• T-Shirt mascot designs due TOMORROW.
• November Scholastic Book Orders due this Friday, 11/8, to ensure delivery before the November Thanksgiving break.
• Next Monday is a Federal Holiday. We will be observing Veterans' Day so NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 11.

Tomorrow: Free Lego Build @ Lego Store (Valley Fair)

The line can get very long so get there as early as you can! Bring your homework and lots of patience!

HW - Monday, 11/4

1.  RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes
2.  Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes
Reading Goal of the Month:  Most Books Completed (You MUST complete a book within your reading range a.k.a. ZPD!)
Keep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in December 2...Receive a Prize!
Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.
3.  Reading Comprehension # none
4.  Spelling Activities  (TWO activities this week, due Friday)
5.  Wordly Wise
-- Lesson 8a-b
-- Lesson 8 Test on FRIDAY
6.  LA Workbook pages 123-126, 128 (write it correctly on another sheet of paper)
7.  Math
-- TEXTBOOK pages 148-149 (if you did not finish it), 150-151
-- WORKBOOK pages NONE
-- Topic 6 Test on THURSDAY
** Practice Sumdog.com OR Tenmarks.com for 15 minutes **
8.  History pgs. none
9.  Science pgs. 48-53

NOTES:

• Please check the Conference Tab regarding open conference times.
• T-Shirt mascot designs due WEDNESDAY.
• November Scholastic Book Orders due this Friday, 11/8, to ensure delivery before the November Thanksgiving break.
• Next Monday is a Federal Holiday. We will be observing Veterans' Day so NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 11.

Seen on a Bush Near the Lunch Line on Friday

Weekend, November 1-3

• Math Textbook pages 148-149, #8-36 EVENS
• Class T-Shirt
• "Mr. Amutan's Speedy Sharks" on a Neon Blue shirt with White Lettering
• Designs are due Wednesday. Voting will take place that day. GUIDELINES: must be done on an 8.5" x 11" white paper; use black ink (NO color); keep it simple (details may not show); try to fill most of the page (the bigger the image, the better); do not include "Mr. Amutan's Speedy Sharks". GOOD LUCK!
• Answer to the extra credit question ("How many touchdowns will the 49ers score this weekend?"): ZERO. They don't play this weekend! (They have a "BYE", or a week off.)
• Common Core Test "Preview":
• Do you want to take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium practice test which will be somewhat similar to what students will be taking on computers in 2014-15?
  
  
  Click here: http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/
  NOTE: Keep clicking through the buttons until you get to the screen where you have to choose a Grade Level, then eventually a test choice (Math, Math Performance, ELA, or ELA Performance). Then, continue on and take the test.