Dear families,
I am really enjoying your bright, funny and inquisitive children!
With our third week of school accomplished, we are all settling in to our routines and working on practicing our play. Our music has been shared with all families. Please let me know if you are having trouble accessing the shared folder on google drive. Micha will be here helping with choreography starting Monday Sept. 12 from 9-12. It is important for all students to know their lines and the words to all the songs. We practice daily at school, but your child should read the play as nightly reading in order to memorize and get comfortable with the dialogue.
**Play dates: Thursday Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Pac room for families and friends and Friday Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. in the Pac room for all students. To volunteer to help with our play, click here.
Art, Music, and P.E.: your child is enjoying a full, well-rounded curriculum that includes the arts and physical education. We are so very lucky to have these very talented teachers supporting our students. Thank you Mary Beth Duncan, Ket Tom-Conway and Kim Fleming!
Reading Buddies: our buddies are Ms. Martin's first graders this year! Both the first and fourth graders are doing very well with this and enjoy reading to their buddies on Friday afternoons before going home for the weekend. Happiness is a reading buddy!
The Blue Binder: includes the planner, a black homework pocket for each day's assignments, and a reading log for parent signatures/initials every night. This binder has three sections: notes; homework/classwork; and tests. This is the only binder that will travel back and forth every day between the classroom and home (doesn't come home on Fridays). Your child's planner is the best place to see what is assigned and when it is due. We fill in our planners every morning and Shauna, our wonderful aide, will be checking to see that homework, planners, and signatures/initials are complete every morning. This is a system to help your child manage and organize class work, homework and a schedule. We support each child with this, but it is very important that your child brings his/her binder each day with a parent signature and an initial for the reading log. Academic success can be impacted if this is a regularly forgotten item. It is helpful to complete and pack the binder in the back pack and place it by the door the night before so that in the rush of the morning it is not left behind. We appreciate the support you give your child with this at home.
Math: we have been reviewing whole numbers and place value up to the millions. We will continue to review math facts and begin to go forward this week with estimation, approximation and rounding. We will, as a general rule, have a test every Friday to assess the week's concepts. In addition, we are working on a POM (problem of the month) and continue to do math story problems each period to reinforce concepts.
Social Sciences: Gold Rush as it aligns to our play and our Coloma trip this year. Gold Country here we come!!
Science: we will move into our Foss curriculum on electricity and magnets this week. Our Tech museum field trip (details below) supports this.
Read Aloud: Kit Carson. We are mapping Kit's journey through the Sierra Nevada Mountains
from California to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Accelerated Reader: Information on how to use and support your child with Accelerated Reader will come home this week, and I will be modeling this with students so that they become comfortable with it. This is something that Ms. Treen does as well. So many of you and your children may be familiar with it already.
Novel: By the Great Horn Spoon. This will be our first novel and deep dive into literature. We will read this aloud together on the doc camera so that all students are supported regardless of varying reading levels. This was read to your child last year as a read aloud, and now we are using a second-read (common core strategy) to study this more in depth and develop a deeper understanding of the text (comprehension, literary devices, academic vocabulary and discussion).
Growth Mindset video: I support best practices and a growth mindset in the classroom. Please click here to view an excellent video on this concept. Your child has viewed this video already.
**Our First Field Trip: Tech Museum Wed. October 5 from 8-12:30. Drivers needed. Please be sure that you have filled out the necessary paper work with the office. You will find our field trip drivers sign up page on our blog if you are interested in driving and joining us. I select drivers on a first-come-first-serve basis. Look for the field trip permission slip in the Monday folders tomorrow. Please return asap.
**Back to School Night and Coloma Meeting: Wednesday September 21. At 6:15 Ms. M. will meet all families in the PAC room with current Mt. topics, presentation and discussion--all parents are encouraged to attend. Then, teachers will give classroom presentations for everyone at 7:00 and again at 7:30. At 8 p.m. Reina Honig and I will give information about the 4/5 trip to Coloma this year. I look forward to greeting everyone and talking about the curriculum, Coloma and our fabulous year! (Mark your calendars Coloma: Oct. 19-21).
Classroom volunteers: please find the volunteer expectations for our classroom here. If you are interested in volunteering in our classroom, know that we appreciate it very much! It's what makes Mountain so special. You can click here to put your name on the volunteer list. Thank you.
Student Council Election packet coming home today: 4th grade can run for secretary. There is an application and speech guidelines in the green Monday folder.
Mountain nightly homework duration policy: 10 minutes per grade level plus reading--40 min. + 30 min. for reading = 70 min.
Warmly,
Mrs. Young and Shauna
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Dear Parents and Friends,
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Parents Club for the wonderful monetary donation to our classroom!
With our first short week of school off to a great start, we are looking forward to a successful second week. This is a wonderful, bright and curious community of learners, and I feel so happy to be their teacher!
We will be assembling our math and planner binders tomorrow (Monday) as a class. Please be sure your child has his/her blue binder so that we can get started with the process this week. Shauna and I will be handing out the planners and dividers and supporting each student with this task. The blue binder will travel back and forth with your student on a daily basis. They will need a parent signature for the planner and an initial for the reading log EVERYDAY, so please be sure to ask your child about it.
Math: place value. The planner in the blue binder will reflect the math homework assignments with page numbers should you need to reference them. The lesson and homework assignment will be in the pocket so that your child and anyone who might support them with homework will have a reference to the teaching point of the day.
There is no science homework this week.
Tuesday grammar homework: worksheet on 4 types of sentences due Wed.
Nightly reading is 20 minutes a night for 4th graders. A reading log comes home in the planner for parents to initial each night upon nightly reading completion.
Shauna has volunteered to be our room parent! We are so lucky. Thank you Shauna!
Thank you for supporting our classroom and your child.
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Parents Club for the wonderful monetary donation to our classroom!
With our first short week of school off to a great start, we are looking forward to a successful second week. This is a wonderful, bright and curious community of learners, and I feel so happy to be their teacher!
We will be assembling our math and planner binders tomorrow (Monday) as a class. Please be sure your child has his/her blue binder so that we can get started with the process this week. Shauna and I will be handing out the planners and dividers and supporting each student with this task. The blue binder will travel back and forth with your student on a daily basis. They will need a parent signature for the planner and an initial for the reading log EVERYDAY, so please be sure to ask your child about it.
Math: place value. The planner in the blue binder will reflect the math homework assignments with page numbers should you need to reference them. The lesson and homework assignment will be in the pocket so that your child and anyone who might support them with homework will have a reference to the teaching point of the day.
There is no science homework this week.
Tuesday grammar homework: worksheet on 4 types of sentences due Wed.
Nightly reading is 20 minutes a night for 4th graders. A reading log comes home in the planner for parents to initial each night upon nightly reading completion.
Shauna has volunteered to be our room parent! We are so lucky. Thank you Shauna!
Thank you for supporting our classroom and your child.
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
Saturday, August 20, 2016
8/17/2016
Dear Friends and Families,
I hope you have enjoyed your summer! I would like to welcome all of you back as we embark on a new school year. My name is Heather Young, and I will be your child's teacher this year for their fourth grade experience in the Intermediate School.
A little about myself.... I live in Scotts Valley with my husband Scott and our two children, Casey and Whitney. Casey just celebrated his 17th birthday and starts 11th grade at Scotts Valley High School. Now, over six feet tall, he plays football for the Falcons and seems very excited to be heading back to school to see his friends. 19 year old Whitney continues to attend Cabrillo College and work toward applying to San Jose State University's animation program. Whitney will be working in the classroom this year on Tuesday afternoons as an additional aide. This is really a wonderful experience for her and will be a nice added support in the classroom.
Professionally, I have a background and education in the humanities, teaching, and the arts. I originally started my teaching experience at the community college level and found that I enjoy teaching at the elementary level most of all, as I love children. I am quite tickled to be a part of the Mountain team of dedicated teachers, staff and parents again this year.
In closing, please find the supply list on the Home page under the Beginning of Year Business tab if you would like to get a jump on that before school begins. If you are still enjoying the last lingering moments of summer and are not so inclined, worry not. I will send home a hard copy of the list with your child on the first day of school (Wednesday August 24th) and you can gather things together next week as you are able. You may also fill out the parent interview on the same tab on the blog if you wish. Otherwise, I will send home copies of that with your child as well.
Please pop in to say hello and see our beautiful classroom. I am eager to meet all of you and your wonderful children.
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Young
Dear Friends and Families,
I hope you have enjoyed your summer! I would like to welcome all of you back as we embark on a new school year. My name is Heather Young, and I will be your child's teacher this year for their fourth grade experience in the Intermediate School.
A little about myself.... I live in Scotts Valley with my husband Scott and our two children, Casey and Whitney. Casey just celebrated his 17th birthday and starts 11th grade at Scotts Valley High School. Now, over six feet tall, he plays football for the Falcons and seems very excited to be heading back to school to see his friends. 19 year old Whitney continues to attend Cabrillo College and work toward applying to San Jose State University's animation program. Whitney will be working in the classroom this year on Tuesday afternoons as an additional aide. This is really a wonderful experience for her and will be a nice added support in the classroom.
Professionally, I have a background and education in the humanities, teaching, and the arts. I originally started my teaching experience at the community college level and found that I enjoy teaching at the elementary level most of all, as I love children. I am quite tickled to be a part of the Mountain team of dedicated teachers, staff and parents again this year.
In closing, please find the supply list on the Home page under the Beginning of Year Business tab if you would like to get a jump on that before school begins. If you are still enjoying the last lingering moments of summer and are not so inclined, worry not. I will send home a hard copy of the list with your child on the first day of school (Wednesday August 24th) and you can gather things together next week as you are able. You may also fill out the parent interview on the same tab on the blog if you wish. Otherwise, I will send home copies of that with your child as well.
Please pop in to say hello and see our beautiful classroom. I am eager to meet all of you and your wonderful children.
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Young
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Hello Everyone,
Thank you to all those who brought in snacks for our testing week. It was very helpful and the kids ate every bit!
Young Writers’ Published Book:
We are dedicating our book to our mentor poet, Sarah Kay. Here is a link to her inspiring poem, “Love Letter: Toothbrush to Bicycle Tire”, as well as a link to our students’ poems 4/5 Poetry 2016. Each student will receive his or her copy of our published book through the SC Young Writers’ Program this Friday.
Important Dates
Friday, June 3, 5:30-9:00- End of Year Pool Party for all 5th graders at Mrs. Dudley's
Monday, June 6- Afternoon at the creek. Bring bathing suit and towel
Monday, June 6- Afternoon at the creek. Bring bathing suit and towel
Tuesday, June 7, 9:00-12:00- All School Talent Show (some new rules/changes apply)
Wednesday, June 8- Taco celebration pot luck in the 4/5 at noon.
Thursday, June 9, Last day of school! Dismissal at 12:35.Wednesday, June 8- Taco celebration pot luck in the 4/5 at noon.
Curriculum
Math: We have concluded our math this year
4th Science: Assessments Wednesday June 1
Social Studies:Wrap up of American History
Reading: Wrap up of Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Reading: Wrap up of Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Vocabulary and spelling packets: Done for the year.
Writing/grammar: Persuasive essay assessments
Read Aloud: The Jungle Book
Read Aloud: The Jungle Book
There is no homework
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Hello Everyone,
Test prep has begun
Students will have test prep classwork and homework for math and ELA in preparation for the May testing.
Volunteers to bring in healthy snacks for testing week (May 23-May 27) are needed. If you are able to contribute and bring cheese and crackers, peanut butter celery sticks, carrots and dip, apples, granola or protein bars. Please sign up for snacks here. Thank you in advance.
New 4th grade digital math accounts
Login Id: first initial last name (all lower case, no spaces)
School Id: 2CA0079
Password: 54321
Please log on with your child to see what our digital Singapore math program has to offer. This tool is used to reinforce the teaching point of the day and to give students the additional practice to build automaticity with math concepts. Students can practice at home, too. There will be homework occasionally assigned that is digital, but it is an in-class tool for the most part. Please let me know if your child does not have access to a computer.
Poetry - Young Writers’ Program
Our poetry reading was very successful, and we are dedicating our book to our mentor poet, Sarah Kay. Here is a link to her inspiring poem, “Love Letter: Toothbrush to Bicycle Tire”, as well as a link to our students’ poems 4/5 Poetry 2016. Each student will receive his or her copy of our published book through the SC Young Writers’ Program.
Sign-up--Young Writers’ Year End Celebration Student Reading: Tues., May 24th
I am signing interested students up to read their poems at the Young Writers year-end
celebration at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Please confirm if your child would like to read his or her poem at this event by May 16.
As there will be multiple schools participating, they request that we have a maximum
of five readers. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend!
Important Dates
Wednesday, May 25th, 7:00- Open House
Monday, May 23rd- Friday, May 27th- Standardized Testing Week
Monday, May 30- Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30-8:30- Book Shop SC Young Writers’ Poetry Reading
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30-8:30- Book Shop SC Young Writers’ Poetry Reading
Friday, June 3, 5:30-9:00- End of Year Pool Party for all 5th graders at Mrs. Dudley's
Tuesday, June 7, 9:00-12:00- All School Talent Show (some new rules/changes apply, a flier will be coming home in the Monday folders. Please be sure to read about the new changes)
Wednesday, June 8, 5:00-8:30- 6th Grade Graduation, if you have older children or plan to attend
Thursday, June 9, Last day of school!
Typing Club/Cursive
We will be typing in class each week, and students will sometimes be assigned typing homework. Please let me know if computer access is a problem. In addition to typing, students will continue to practice their cursive. These activities will alternate to give students time to master these fine-motor skills.
Curriculum
Math: both 4th and 5th graders will wrap up geometry this week and we will begin bar graphs, averages, and line plots.
4th Science: Solid Planet--study of rocks and minerals.
Social Studies: review of main concepts and continuation of American History.
Reading: we have begun Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.
Reading: we have begun Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.
Vocabulary and spelling packets: daily vocabulary; Friday assessment; writing prompt.
Writing/grammar: comma usage; Native American year long essay project with various writing applications and revisions, persuasive essays, summary paragraphs on history topics.
ELA and math test prep packets as homework and classwork.
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Hi Everyone,
I hope every mother had a beautiful Mother's Day! My family took me to see the new Jungle Book which I enjoyed no end. It's an old favorite of mine from way back.
Test prep has begun
Students will have test prep homework for math and ELA in preparation for the May testing.
New 4th grade digital math accounts
Test prep has begun
Students will have test prep homework for math and ELA in preparation for the May testing.
New 4th grade digital math accounts
Login Id: first initial last name (all lower case, no spaces)
School Id: 2CA0079
Password: 54321
Please log on with your child to see what our digital Singapore math program has to offer. This tool is used to reinforce the teaching point of the day and to give students the additional practice to build automaticity with math concepts. Students can practice at home, too. There will be homework occasionally assigned that is digital. Please let me know if your child does not have access to a computer.
Poetry - Young Writers’ Program
Our poetry reading was very successful, and we are dedicating our book to our mentor poet, Sarah Kay. Here is a link to her inspiring poem, “Love Letter: Toothbrush to Bicycle Tire”, as well as a link to our students’ poems 4/5 Poetry 2016. Each student will receive his or her copy of our published book through the SC Young Writers’ Program.
Sign-up--Young Writers’ Year End Celebration Student Reading: Tues., May 24th
I am signing interested students up to read their poems at the Young Writers year-end
celebration at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Please confirm if your child would like to read his or her poem at this event by May 16.
As there will be multiple schools participating, they request that we have a maximum
of five readers. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend!
Important Dates
Thursday, May 12th, 5:30- Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 25th, 7:00- Open House
Monday, May 23rd- Friday, May 27th- Standardized Testing Week
Monday, May 30- Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30-8:30- Book Shop SC Young Writers’ Poetry Reading
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30-8:30- Book Shop SC Young Writers’ Poetry Reading
Friday, June 3, 5:30-9:00- End of Year Pool Party for all 5th graders at Mrs. Dudley's
Tuesday, June 7, 9:00-12:00- All School Talent Show (some new rules/changes apply, a flier will be coming home in the Monday folders. Please be sure to read about the new changes)
Wednesday, June 8, 5:00-8:30- 6th Grade Graduation, if you have older children or plan to attend
Thursday, June 9, Last day of school!
Typing Club/Cursive
We will be typing in class each week, and students will sometimes be assigned typing homework. Please let me know if computer access is a problem. In addition to typing, students will continue to practice their cursive. These activities will alternate to give students time to master these fine-motor skills.
Curriculum
Math: both 4th and 5th graders will wrap up geometry this week and we will begin bar graphs, averages, and line plots.
4th Science: Solid Planet--study of rocks and minerals.
Social Studies: review of main concepts and continuation of American History.
Reading: we have begun Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.
Reading: we have begun Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.
Vocabulary and spelling packets: daily vocabulary; Friday assessment; writing prompt.
Writing/grammar: comma usage; Native American year long essay project with various writing applications and revisions, persuasive essays, summary paragraphs on history topics.
ELA and math test prep packets as homework and classwork.
That's all folks!
That's all folks!
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Hi Everyone,
Happy spring!
Poetry - Young Writers’ Program
Our poetry reading was very successful, and we are dedicating our book to our mentor poet, Sarah Kay. Here is a link to her inspiring poem, “Love Letter: Toothbrush to Bicycle Tire”, as well as a link to our students’ poems 4/5 Poetry 2016. Each student will receive his or her copy of our published book through the SC Young Writers’ Program.
Sign-up--Young Writers’ Year End Celebration Student Reading: Tues., May 24th
I am signing interested students up to read their poems at the Young Writers year-end
celebration at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Please confirm if your child would like to read his or her poem at this event by May 16.
As there will be multiple schools participating, they request that we have a maximum
of five readers. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend!
Important Dates
Saturday, April 30th, 8:45-11:00- SC County Math Contest
Saturday, April 30th, 4:30- Mountain School Fundraising Auction (Bargetto Winery)
Thursday, May 12th, 5:30- Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 25th, 7:00- Open House
Monday, May 23rd- Friday, May 27th- Standardized Testing Week
Monday, May 30- Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30-8:30- Book Shop SC Young Writers’ Poetry Reading
Typing Club/Cursive
We will be typing in class each week, and students will sometimes be assigned typing homework. Please let me know if computer access is a problem. In addition to typing, students will continue to practice their cursive. These activities will alternate to give students time to master these fine-motor skills.
Curriculum
Math: 4th wrapped up area and perimeter last week, and 5th wrapped up volume and conversions. Both 4th and 5th start geometry this week.
4th Science: Solid Planet--study of rocks and minerals.
Social Studies: Review of main concepts and continuation of American History.
Reading: We have begun Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.
Reading: We have begun Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.
Vocabulary and spelling packets: daily vocabulary, Friday assessment; writing prompt.
Writing/grammar: adverbs that modify adverbs and adjectives; Native American year long essay project with various writing applications and revisions, persuasive essays.
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Dear Families,
Celebrations: 4/5 and 5/6 Young Writer's Poetry Slam Tuesday 4/12. Thank you to Julie M. for being an outstanding WPA this year and bringing doughnuts and milk for the event. Thank you also to Claudia, Chris and Julie T. for attending and supporting our children and our slam. We appreciate all you do.
Congratulations to Claire Galbo for winning the Clean Air Calendar Art Contest. She is one of 11 winners from Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties!! Way to go, Claire, and thank you Mary Beth for guiding the project.
Congratulations to Claire Galbo for winning the Clean Air Calendar Art Contest. She is one of 11 winners from Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties!! Way to go, Claire, and thank you Mary Beth for guiding the project.
Typing Club/Cursive
We will be typing in class each week, and students will sometimes be assigned typing homework. Please let me know if computer access is a problem. In addition to typing, students will continue to practice their cursive. These activities will alternate to give students time to master these fine-motor skills.
Curriculum
Math: 4th and 5th decimals wrap up this Friday. Then, on to measures for 5th and area and perimeter for 4th.
Science: Solid Planet--study of rocks and minerals.
Social Studies: Review of main concepts and continuation of American History.
Reading: We have finished Sarah Plain and Tall and will begin Dear Mr. Henshaw
Reading: We have finished Sarah Plain and Tall and will begin Dear Mr. Henshaw
Vocabulary and spelling packets: daily vocabulary, Friday assessment; writing prompt
Writing/grammar: adverbs that modify adverbs and adjectives; Native American year long essay project with various writing applications and revisions, persuasive essays.
Warmly,
Mrs. Young
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