FREE Event Tonight at Mission San Jose

Sounds interesting!

Especially if you want to hear what an organ from the 17th century would have sounded like!

HW - Thursday, 1/28

Parents:

• If you have any Cookie Dough Orders, please get them in ASAP!
• TOMORROW is the LAST DAY for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
• IF YOU ORDERED A YEARBOOK ONLINE, this Sunday, January 31, is the deadline to personalize your back cover. Don't delay!
• On February 10, Ruskin will be celebrating Lunar New Year with an assembly. Returning, due to popularity, is the Magical Moonshine Theater. Upper grades time TBD.
• On February 12, we will have a Valentine's exchange so if your child would like to exchange cards (handmade ones are cool though not required) then make sure they bring them on Friday, February 12. If you would like to bring treats as well, please make sure those are not homemade! (This event is not to replace lunch!)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com. Please register now!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due Friday) / Test on Friday
• Wordly Wise Lesson 16e (due Friday) / Test on Friday
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. 196-202 (skip the weather assignment)
• Time for Kids (read and prep for Friday Quiz)
• Cinderella second drafts reminders:
• Dialogue needs to be separated into new, indented lines when a different person speaks
• Make it sound like a story and not just a "checklist of the elements"
• It's gonna be a long story. So if you think you're done, you're probably not. Make sure you describe the settings, characters (major and minor), the characters' emotions and actions, etc.
• Have different people read your second draft. Listen to their critiques. Think: "How can I make it better?"

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. none 

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. none

HW - Wednesday, 1/27

Parents:

• If you have any Cookie Dough Orders, please get them in ASAP!
• THIS IS THE LAST WEEK for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
• Today we had a Code Red (barricade doors) drill. The students did a pretty good job despite this being the first time doing it. Talk to your child about the drill and what they should do in case of a Code Red (on-campus threat).
• IF YOU ORDERED A YEARBOOK ONLINE, this Sunday, January 31, is the deadline to personalize your back cover. Don't delay!
• On February 10, Ruskin will be celebrating Lunar New Year with an assembly. Returning, due to popularity, is the Magical Moonshine Theater. Upper grades time TBD.
• On February 12, we will have a Valentine's exchange so if your child would like to exchange cards (handmade ones are cool though not required) then make sure they bring them on Friday, February 12. If you would like to bring treats as well, please make sure those are not homemade! (This event is not to replace lunch!)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Test on Friday
• Wordly Wise Lesson 16e (due Friday) / Test on Friday
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. none
• Time for Kids (read and prep for Friday Quiz); Reading worksheet
• Cinderella second drafts reminders:
• Dialogue needs to be separated into new, indented lines when a different person speaks
• Make it sound like a story and not just a "checklist of the elements"
• It's gonna be a long story. So if you think you're done, you're probably not. Make sure you describe the settings, characters (major and minor), the characters' emotions and actions, etc.
• Have different people read your second draft. Listen to their critiques. Think: "How can I make it better?"

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 203; worksheet (tip for problem #4: a "batch" is 12 treats)
• WKBK pgs. none 
• CHANGE: Topic 8 Test TOMORROW, 1/28

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. none

Interesting Read: Natalie Chou, 18, is a McDonald's All-American in Basketball

http://interactives.dallasnews.com/2016/natalie-chou/

Current Events: Science (Erosion)

(via SkyNews Twitter)

The state of Pacifica's eroding cliffs and seacoast have long been documented.

With the recent evacuations stemming from some perilous changes in the cliff side, more attention is being turned to the small city south of San Francisco.

Here are some pictures and a short drone video of the current situation (via USA Today).

HW - Tuesday, 1/26

Parents:

• If you have any Cookie Dough Orders, please get them in ASAP!
• We have Library tomorrow so bring your library books to school!
• Ruskin Math Olympiad will resume tomorrow.
• THIS IS THE LAST WEEK for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• On February 10, Ruskin will be celebrating Lunar New Year with an assembly. Returning, due to popularity, is the Magical Moonshine Theater. Upper grades time TBD.
• On February 12, we will have a Valentine's exchange so if your child would like to exchange cards (handmade ones are cool though not required) then make sure they bring them on Friday, February 12. If you would like to bring treats as well, please make sure those are not homemade! (This event is not to replace lunch!)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Test on Friday
• Wordly Wise Lesson 16c-d / Test on Friday
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. 193-195
• Time for Kids (read and prep for Friday Quiz)
• Cinderella second drafts reminders:
• Dialogue needs to be separated into new, indented lines when a different person speaks
• Make it sound like a story and not just a "checklist of the elements"
• It's gonna be a long story. So if you think you're done, you're probably not. Make sure you describe the settings, characters (major and minor), the characters' emotions and actions, etc.
• Have different people read your second draft. Listen to their critiques. Think: "How can I make it better?"

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 202
• WKBK pgs. none 
• CHANGE: Topic 8 Test on Thursday, 1/28

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. 222 (Math Skills); 224-225 (#1-20 and Map the Concept)
• Chapter 6 Open Book Test TOMORROW

HW - Monday, 1/25

Parents:

• It's good to be back. Thank you for the well-wishes!
• If you have any Cookie Dough Orders, please get them in ASAP!
• Ruskin Math Olympiad will resume this Wednesday, 1/27.
• THIS IS THE LAST WEEK for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• On February 10, Ruskin will be celebrating Lunar New Year with an assembly. Returning, due to popularity, is the Magical Moonshine Theater. Upper grades time TBD.
• On February 12, we will have a Valentine's exchange so if your child would like to exchange cards (handmade ones are cool though not required) then make sure they bring them on Friday, February 12. If you would like to bring treats as well, please make sure those are not homemade! (This event is not to replace lunch!)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Test on Friday
• Wordly Wise Lesson 16a-b / Test on Friday
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. 190, 192
• Time for Kids (read and prep for Friday Quiz)
• Cinderella second drafts reminders:
• Dialogue needs to be separated into new, indented lines when a different person speaks
• Make it sound like a story and not just a "checklist of the elements"
• It's gonna be a long story. So if you think you're done, you're probably not. Make sure you describe the settings, characters (major and minor), the characters' emotions and actions, etc.
• Have different people read your second draft. Listen to their critiques. Think: "How can I make it better?"

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 199-201
• WKBK pgs. R 8-4, R 8-5, P 8-5
• CHANGE: Topic 8 Test on Thursday, 1/28

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. none
• Chapter 6 Open Book Test on Wednesday, 1/27

Consider Entering Into These Scholastic Contests

Please let me know if you have any difficulty accessing the Contest Forms.

Amazing People Portrait Contest (Art)

Due February 9

Contest Form (Click Here for the PDF)

Meet John Taylor, 49er Legend and Super Bowl Champion

Serramonte Mall in Daly City.

Though it says Free Autographs, you may be asked to purchase an item (8x10, mini-helmet, etc.), so you may want to bring something with you just in case.

HW -Thursday, 1/21

Parents:

• Being out with an illness stinks. So take care of yourselves!
• Ruskin Math Olympiad will resume next Wednesday, 1/27.
• Keep collecting pennies for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Wordly Wise Lesson 15e / Test on Friday
• Cinderella second drafts reminders:
• Dialogue needs to be separated into new, indented lines when a different person speaks
• Make it sound like a story and not just a "checklist of the elements"
• It's gonna be a long story. So if you think you're done, you're probably not. Make sure you describe the settings, characters (major and minor), the characters' emotions and actions, etc.
• Have different people read your second draft. Listen to their critiques. Think: "How can I make it better?"

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. Topic 8, Lesson 4
• WKBK pgs. P 8-1, P 8-2
• Topic 8 Test on Tuesday, 1/26
• DUE MONDAY: Text Topic 8-5; Wkbk P 8-3, 8-4 (all assigned and started in class)

4.   History pgs. Unit 3, Lesson 3

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. 214-215 (Write a paragraph or more answering the questions on page 215)
• Chapter 6 Open Book Test on Wednesday, 1/27

HW - Wednesday, 1/20

Parents:

• Being out with an illness stinks. So take care of yourselves!
• Ruskin Math Olympiad will resume next Wednesday, 1/27.
• Keep collecting pennies for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Music performance will be held during the PE/Music period tomorrow which is 10:10 - 11:00 a.m.
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Wordly Wise Lesson 15c-d / Test on Friday
• Cinderella second drafts reminders:
• Dialogue needs to be separated into new, indented lines when a different person speaks
• Make it sound like a story and not just a "checklist of the elements"
• It's gonna be a long story. So if you think you're done, you're probably not. Make sure you describe the settings, characters (major and minor), the characters' emotions and actions, etc.
• Have different people read your second draft. Listen to their critiques. Think: "How can I make it better?"

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 192-193 (Topic 8, Lesson 3)
• WKBK pgs. R 8-1, R 8-2, R 8-3
• Topic 8 Test on Tuesday, 1/26

4.   History pgs. 71-74 (Unit 3, Lesson 2)

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. 206-207 #1-3 (write a paragraph for #3); 218-221 (Chapter 6, Lesson 3)
• Chapter 6 Open Book Test on Wednesday, 1/27

NO SCHOOL on Monday

Have a great three-day weekend!

Stay dry and keep revising your Cinderella stories by adding more detail, formatting your lines of dialogue, and including all of the elements.

Show your parents the paper that had to go home today.

See you on Tuesday (P.E. and Music classes!).

HW - Thursday, 1/14

Parents:

• Keep collecting pennies for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• NO SCHOOL on Monday since it is a Federal Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday observed)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) NONE this week
• Wordly Wise Lesson 14e
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. none
• Time for Kids worksheets (2) and Quiz on Friday
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs. If your draft was already read, then you should be making improvements to it for your second draft.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. none
• WKBK pgs. none

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. none
• Chapter 5 Open Book Test TOMORROW

HW - Wednesday, 1/13

Parents:

• Keep collecting pennies for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• NO SCHOOL on Monday since it is a Federal Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday observed)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) NONE this week
• Wordly Wise Lesson 14ed (due Friday)
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. none
• Time for Kids quiz on Friday
• Grammar Worksheet (revising sentences)
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs. If your draft was already read, then you should be making improvements to it for your second draft.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 182-183
• WKBK pgs. none
• Topic 7 Test TOMORROW

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. none
• Chapter 5 Open Book Test on Friday

Thursday is PAJAMA DAY!

HW - Tuesday, 1/12

Parents:

• How appropriate! It's Charles Perrault's 388th Birthday today, and Google decided to celebrate the famed author of such stories like Cinderella and "inventor of the modern fairy tale" genre with a banner like this: 

• Keep collecting pennies for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• NO SCHOOL on Monday since it is a Federal Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday observed)
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) NONE this week
• Wordly Wise Lesson 14c-d
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. none
• Time for Kids worksheet (Swiss cheese)
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs. If your draft was already read, then you should be making improvements to it for your second draft.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 180-181
• WKBK pgs. none
• Topic 7 Test on Thursday

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science 

• TEXT pgs. 192-193
• Chapter 5 Open Book Test on Friday

End of the Week Notes

• Due to illness, I will push the due dates for the Cinderella stories back a couple of days. They will now be due at the END of the week, not the beginning. So the second draft will be due on 1/15 1/20, and the final draft will be due on February 5. The hardbound books should arriving next week have arrived. I apologize for the delay and thank you for understanding. (updated 1/12)
• We will have a Pennies for Patients assembly on Monday. Collection boxes will be distributed afterwards.
• Please monitor the weather next week. They are predicting a wet Wednesday and a wet week (the week after next).

HW - Thursday, 1/7

Parents:

• Friday Flagpole will be held, weather permitting
• Scholastic Book Orders are due Monday, 1/11.
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com
• Thank you parents for the wonderful holiday gifts!
• Bring in your HW packets from the holiday break so we can correct them tomorrow

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test 
• Wordly Wise Lesson 13e
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. none
• Time for Kids did not come in today again
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 174-175
• WKBK pgs. R 7-4; P 7-4
• Quiz tomorrow (ten questions)

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. none

HW - Wednesday, 1/6

Parents:

• Scholastic Book Orders are due Monday, 1/11.
• All after school classes (Homework Club, Critical Thinking, Math Olympiad, etc.) resume this week at their normal times.
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com
• Thank you parents for the wonderful holiday gifts!
• Bring in your HW packets from the holiday break so we can correct them tomorrow
• Happy Birthday to Principal Nunez!

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test 
• Wordly Wise Lesson 13e (due Friday)
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. 305-308
• Time for Kids did not come in today again
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 172-173
• WKBK pgs. R 7-3; P 7-3

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. 176-181

HW - Tuesday, 1/5

Parents:

• REMINDER: December's Sharks Reading Is Cool Reading Logs are due tomorrow, Tuesday, 1/5!
• All after school classes (Homework Club, Critical Thinking, Math Olympiad, etc.) resume this week at their normal times.
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com
• Thank you parents for the wonderful holiday gifts!
• Bring in your HW packets from the holiday break so we can correct them tomorrow

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for JANUARY: MOST AUTHORS READ (Due 2/1)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test 
• Wordly Wise Lesson 13 c-d
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. 291, 298-301
• Time for Kids did not come in today again
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 170-171
• WKBK pgs. R 7-2; P 7-2

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. 168-173

A Pretty Interesting Event for Aspiring Artists or Cinephiles: Pixar Animator Sanjay Patel at Santa Clara University

LINK to the Goldstar Offer

HW - Monday, 1/4

Parents:

• REMINDER: December's Sharks Reading Is Cool Reading Logs are due tomorrow, Tuesday, 1/5!
• All after school classes (Homework Club, Critical Thinking, Math Olympiad, etc.) resume this week at their normal times.
• The next Ruskin Lego Challenge has been posted: RuskinLUG.blogspot.com
• Thank you parents for the wonderful holiday gifts!
• Bring in your HW packets from the holiday break so we can correct them tomorrow

1.  Read for 30 min. 
Sharks Reading Is Cool goal for DECEMBER: MOST PAGES READ (Due 1/5)
HAVE YOU BEEN ENTERING YOUR PAGES IN YOUR READING LOG?!

2.  Language Arts

• Spelling Activity (TWO due by Friday) / Spelling Test 
• Spelling list wasn't distributed in time before they left today; they will receive the list tomorrow
• Wordly Wise Lesson 13 a-b
• Language Arts Workbook pgs. 289, 294-297 (don't do bottom of page 297)
• Time for Kids did not come in today
• Cinderella first drafts need to be either brought into class (as a printed copy), emailed to me, or made ready to be viewed via Google Docs.

3.  Math

• TEXT pgs. 166-169
• WKBK pgs. R 7-1; P 7-1 (for workbook HW, drawing models is optional)

4.   History pgs. none

5.   Science pgs. 160-165

Happy New Year! School Resumes on Monday!

Those were probably the two most emotionally juxtaposed sentences of the 2016 school year.

First, Happy New Year to you and yours! I hope we all work towards having a better, more loving, more "good memory-making" and more prosperous 2016!

Second, here are some January dates to keep in mind:

• Monday, January 4 - School resumes on the first day of what is projected to be a very wet and wild week.
• Monday, January 11 - Pennies for Patients fundraiser begins. Hopefully, my class can break Gold status for the first time and help those suffering from leukemia and lymphoma!
• Wednesday, January 13 - PTA General Association meeting in the Library @ 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, January 18 - (NO SCHOOL) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday observed
• Thursday, January 21 - Winter Concert in the Multi @ 8:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
• Friday, January 22 - PTA Movie Night. Doors open @ 6:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 29 - Pennies for Patients fundraiser ends.

Enjoy the last weekend of break!

See you on Monday!