Friday, August 13, 2010

Welcome to LEAP

Hello students and parents! I am very excited to be a part of the LEAP department. For many years, I have integrated gifted learning strategies into my regular classroom, and now I have the chance to completely immerse myself in gifted ed.

This year, I will be working with 1, 3, 4, and 5th grades. Currently, I am planning out our theme and Kaleidescope units, with the guidance of my LEAP colleagues.

My hobbies include cycling, cooking, reading, and anything that connects to technology. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my wife, Nora, and son, Adam.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

"Any fool can know. The point is to understand."

- Albert Einstein

Powder Valley Field Trip Photos








Tuesday, May 11, 2010

This Week

We have a last-minute, short field trip planned to Powder Valley Conservation Area on Wednesday. This is a brief summative field trip that allows students a chance to use the skills learned in our MO Dept. of Conservation "Nature Unleashed" program. There is no cost since the bus fees are funded by the MO Dept. of Conservation.

We are working on 5th grade division skills.

Students continue to work on their last graded writing piece.

In S.S., we're learning about the three levels of government (local, state, federal) and the three branches of government (executive, judicial, legislative).

In Spelling, we're working on Chapter 25.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Poetry Day Time

Hi all,

Our Poetry Day will take place from 2:15 - 2:45. Our event may be a bit longer, but will definitely end before 3:00 so you can escape before buses arrive.

We will have treats and beverages to celebrate, and students have created special poems for Mother's Day. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

This Week

Sorry for the late post here, students and parents!

This week we are continuing the same spelling list as last week. Students may test on Spelling City whenever they are ready.

Chapter 27 Math Test Friday.

Big project in Science -- in class, we are creating dioramas to show a food chain within a specific Missouri ecosystem: cave, wetland, glade, or stream. Students are very fired up!

Last-minute field trip, for free! Next Wednesday, we'll hop over to Powder Valley to follow up our Nature Unleashed program, and have a nature scavenger hunt, watch birds, and study Missouri ecosystems.

Writing - students are creating a work of fiction (in class) and will make an action figure to match their story.

Poetry Day - Please be sure to come to Poetry Day this Friday, from 2:15 - 2:45-ish. Students will read two of their original poems, and we'll enjoy refreshments, as well.

Chess - if you have noticed your student has an unusually high interest in chess, then I'm to blame. Our class has really enjoyed learning the basics of chess. What a fantastic, life-long game to begin learning! I'm very proud of my students' mature behavior during chess matches.

Reading - students are working in book groups reading a high-interest book. Ask about the characters, plot, or premise. My students love to brag about their latest read!

Grade Checkups went home Wednesday. Please review grades, initial, and send back.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Famous Missourian Living Museum

Famous MO History Museum - students will present their Famous Missourian "skits" in our living museum - Tile Floor Gym, Friday, April 30, from 11:25 - 11:55. Bring your cameras/recorders!

S.S. Chapter 8 Study Questions

1. A person who starts a business is :
2. Which department (in a business) tells people about the product or services a business offers?
3. Give an example of a service business:
4. How are supply and demand related?
5. Taxes that come out of the money a worker earns are called:
6. How are public goods and private goods different?
7. What is a budget?
8. A consumer is someone who:
9. An example of opportunity cost is:
10. Savings refers to money that:
11. Interest (in regard to money) means:
12. Invest means to:
13. How is import different from export?

Monday, April 26, 2010

This Week

We have our Chapter 26 Math Test on Tuesday.

Our S.S. Chapter 8 test is planned for Friday. Students do have study guides for this chapter on economics. Also, Junior Achievement will be here Thursday to further enhance our economics unit.

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Big Grant Win!

I am very pleased to tell you that I have won a grant through donorschoose.org. A donor is supplying my classroom with 3 Apple iPod Touch handhelds, which students will use "in the field" to collect data and run experiments during our ecology unit, "Nature Unleashed," which is part of another grant our fourth grade won through the Dept. of Conservation.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

5th Grade Placement for 2010-2011

Dear Parents,

Over the next few weeks, the staff will be working to design class lists for next school year. A note is going home today to explain the process.

I would very much like to receive an email from you concerning placement of your child. I prefer, however, that requests for particular teachers to not be named, as I cannot honor those requests. But, if there is a particular style of teaching that works better for your child, please do let me know.

Thank you,

M. Kuhn

Big Events

Upcoming dates to add to your calendars:

1. Famous MO History Museum - students will present their Famous Missourian "skits" in our living museum - Tile Floor Gym, Friday, April 30, from 11:25 - 11:55. Bring your cameras/recorders!

2. Arch Field Trip - The cost is $16.50, and that includes a full-day trip to the Old Courthouse to watch a reenactment of the Dred Scott case, a ride up the Arch, an IMAX movie about Lewis and Clark, and time to explore the history museum. Students will bring sack lunches and dine on the Arch grounds. Tuesday, May 18.

3. Poetry Day Event - Friday, May 7, 1:45 - Visit our classroom to hear each student recite 1-2 poems from their poetry anthologies. After, we'll serve refreshments in the cafeteria.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Ah, Back to Normal!

MAP testing is now over, and we get to breathe a collective sigh of relief. My students worked very hard on their MAP tests and took it very seriously. Thanks for your hard work!

So now that we're back to normal, here's the weekly outlook:

Spelling- Unit 23 - We're studying the /qu/ sound.
Math - Chapter 26 - Decimals
Social Studies - Chapter 8 (Economics) - we will have Junior Achievement joining us next week to learn about entrepreneurship.
Science - Earth Science - Rocks, Landforms, Changes on the Earth's Surface - We are using a rock tumbler to observe weathering, and we are studying horizons of soil and the rock cycle affects our soil.
Reading - Book Clubs continue into the month of May. We will focus on fifth-grade curriculum, so students are prepared for the beginning of their fifth grade year.
Writing - We are creating lines to read at our Famous Missourian History Museum. Date TBA.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Online Science Book

Our science book is available online, just like our math book. Here is the LINK.

The login (tfourth) and password (pass) are the same as Harcourt math.

Science - Rocks Study Guide

Here is a list of things to know, concerning our recent Rocks Unit in Science:

1. There are three kinds of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary
2. Weathering is the wearing down of rocks into smaller pieces (sediment).
3. Erosion is the movement of sediment, and deposition is the collection of sediment.
4. Each of the three kinds of rock can turn into each other through heat/pressure or weathering.
5. Rocks contain minerals which become part of our soil - vegetables absorb these minerals, and animals eat those vegetables, so rocks are a part of our diet!
6. Mountain building is caused by movement of the Earth's tectonic plates (earthquakes).
7. Islands can be formed by volcanic explosions that build up land mass so it is above sea level.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Free Stuff for Kids

Gino asked for the link, and here it is. Make sure to get a parent's permission before giving any personal information online.

http://www.bestfreestuffonline.com/kidstuff.htm

Andrew Henry's Meadow


I always share my favorite childhod books with my kids. My all-time favorite is Andrew Henry's Meadow, by Doris Burns. Here's a picture, and some links, as well, if you want to purchase your own copy:

To purchase: http://www.sanjuanbooks.com/

Author Doris Burns: http://www.sanjuanbooks.com/aboutdorisburn.htm

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

This Week in 4th Grade

Happy spring!

This week we are preparing for our first round of MAP tests: Language Arts. We are scheduled to take this section of the MAP next week, in the morning. My students need:
1. Solid night's sleep
2. Healthy, complete breakfast
3. A positive attitude

Students are encouraged to bring an item to share to make "MAP Mix" -- good items to send are:
- a box of dry cereal
- a bag of chocolate chips
- a box of Cheez-It
- a jar of peanuts
- raisins
- small marshmallows
- any dry snack that you can think of

Also, conferences are scheduled for this Friday. You should have received your conference notice from me, if we've scheduled one. If you aren't sure, please contact me a.s.a.p.

Since we are in "MAP mode" for the next three weeks, you will notice that I will not be testing or quizzing as usual. I will not send home Story of the Week for the next three weeks, either.

Instead, students will be working on their Famous Missourian posters in class, as well as conducting labs in earth science. We will be studying probability in math, and practicing games to detect fairness and equity for rules, using our knowledge of fractions, division, and percentages. Our current spelling list is Chapter 22.

Monday, March 8, 2010

S.S. Chapter 7 Study Guide

You may also use your student's Missouri book to review, there is a very good one on page 258.

Know these things:

19th Amendment (gave women the right to vote)
What event led to the Great Depression? (stock market crash of 1929)
In 1964, many Americans feared N. Vietnam would invade S. Vietnam and that ________
(communism would spread across Asia)
In the 1960s, women, Hispanics, and African Americans all ________________
(fought for equal rights)
Who was Sara Breedlove Walker? (first African American millionaire)
The aerospace industry produces _____________________ (goods used in airplanes and space vehicles)
WW I began in _____________________ (Europe)
Which countries did the U.S. fight in WW II? (Germany, Italy, Japan)
What is are allies? (nations that fought together in WW II)
What is communism? (system of government where government owns all resources)
Why was the conflict over communism called the Cold War? (It did not involve a battle)
What is terrorism? (using fear and violence to achieve political goals)

Critical Thinking-

How was the role of the U.S. similar in both world wars?

How was the Cold War different from WW I and WW II?

This Week

S.S. Test over Chapter 7 on Thursday! I will post the study guide on the blog tomorrow.

Math Chapter 21 Test on Friday. We have been working on fractions for two weeks; I am checking students' knowledge of identifying fractions, comparing fractions, and reducing fractions to lowest terms. Please the online Harcourt book for activities and lesson review.

Spelling Chapter 20 Test on Friday.

Also, we will be viewing health films regarding the human body this Friday. If you would like to preview the video, please contact our school nurse, Darla. If you would prefer to exempt your student, just send a note.

Conferences will be held on Friday, March 26. Please contact me if you would like to schedule a conference for that afternoon. Times are available from 12:30 until 3:15. If that day does not fit your schedule, we can meet on a different day.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Monday Tungsten Party

For our afternoon Tungsten party, we will do

1. Stuffed animals
2. gum
3. candy
4. laptops
5. electronics
6. hats
7. baby picture
8. double snacktime
9. extra book club
10. 5 min. of extra recess

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Famous Missourian


We will start our Famous Missourian research projects on Monday. Now is a good time to start thinking about the famous Missourian you would like to "be" for our living museum. Here is a sample of how you will format your Bio-boards:

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Geometry Link

Click here for some geometry practice, using protractors.

This (short) Week

No spelling list this week; several students have asked that I provide a challenge list EVERY week, so hopefully I'll be able to meet that demand in the coming weeks!

We are studying "how-to" writing in class. Students are creating short pieces of writing that teach how to make a certain food, create a particular craft, or perform a sport action.

The Story of the Week is about a famous Arctic Disaster. We'll be watching an I-Max movie in class about exploration and discovery.

We have a symphony field trip Thursday. About eight students have not turned in permission and $$$ -- please check on that.

For math, we're getting into geometry. Some words to know:
parallel
perpendicular
right angle
obtuse angle
acute angle
intersecting lines
line
line segment
point
ray

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Our Busy Week

This week we are focused on divisibility rules as well as working through factors and multiples -- we are heading toward fractions and geometry for our next math lessons.

Math Ch. 16 test on Thursday.

Spelling Ch. 16

Reading: we are still working on types of fiction. This week, we're using several historical fiction pieces to discuss setting.

Language: the students are combining sentences and fixing run-ons.

Science: our most recent lab experiment involves physical and chemical changes in matter.

S.S.: We are beginning Ch. 7.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

News This Week

Sorry for the late update!
In math, we are focused on Chapter 14, practicing our long division skills. Also, we are continuing to study area/perimeter and types of angles.

For language arts, students are putting the finishing touches on their fiction pieces. We are trying to have interesting leads for our stories that put the reader right into the action of the story.

In science, we are completing labs on matter and energy, studying physical and chemical changes as well as building electrical circuits.

Social studies has taken a backseat to science, but we are studying Missouri post-Civil War. Students are building books (in class) to show timelines of events after the Civil War. We are learning about women's suffrage, WWI & WWII, and other major events that shaped the world.

In reading, students are practicing cause-and-effect and developing their abilities to use figurative language.

PRISM projects are going well-- every Friday we make time for PRISM work time. Students can research, create, and assemble as needed. I am available to answer their questions and help, too.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

This Week

- No Spelling List this week: Spelling Bee is Thursday, at 1:30.

- Math Ch. 13 Test Wednesday

- Abilities Awareness Day is this Friday

- S.S. Ch. 6 Test Thursday (see study guide in previous blog post)

S.S. Study Guide - Test Thursday

Chapter 6, Lesson 1, 2 and 3 Study Guide and Quiz
Plantation— a large farm that requires a lot of labor.
Underground Railroad— a series of routes and hidden places for slaves to escape to the north.
Abolitionist— person who wants to outlaw slavery
Dred Scott decision — court decision that slaves are property
Kansas—Nebraska Act— U.S. Allows news states to decide on slavery on their own
Kansas Border War — one of the first violent conflicts that led to the Civil War

1. What does strike mean, when talking about labor unions and workers?
A strike is when a group of workers stop working to have their demands met.

2. What are Buffalo Soldiers?
Buffalo Soldiers were former slaves working for the army out west to protect settlers.
3. Jim Crow laws were created to do what?
Jim Crow laws segregated blacks and whites, and forced people to use different water fountains, bathrooms, and parts of trains and buses, and schools.
4. Which side of the Civil War did Missouri join?
Missouri, although pro-slavery, joined the Union (North) and fought the South.
5. What does it mean to reconstruct?
Reconstruct means to rebuild after a war.
6. What did the 13th Amendment do?
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery.
7. How did transportation change in Missouri following the Civil War?
Before the Civil War, transportation was mainly by wagon. After the war, railroads helped make Missouri a stronger economy.
8. Bonus: Why did the South want to secede from the Union?
The South seceded because of slavery and because of unfair taxation.
9. What does “segregated” mean?
To segregate means to separate. The words is often used to describe separating people because of race or skin color.

Monday, January 4, 2010

This Week

We will be finishing our Ch. 12 math work and will have another brief quiz on Wednesday.

We are starting our first big science unit of the year with Matter and Energy. All students are asked to complete a PRISM project (invention, investigation, or portfolio).

In Spelling, we are currently on Unit 14.