Friday

And so begins the holiday break after an eventful week at Franklin School ,which will stay open at least another year. Many thanks to the well-spoken parents and Mrs. Chapman for their on-target remarks at last Monday's school board meeting.

The fourth-graders have just learned how to conduct interviews for their family history report projects. The assignment is made the week before the break to accomodate the opportunity many will have to interview relatives during the holiday time. The report itself is not due until the end of January so the kids aren't asked to do massive homework over the next two weeks by any means. If it works to get three interviews done with notes taken on cards, that's great.

Here's hoping everyone has a safe and happy holiday break!

Thursday

Check out the new art project: Collage: In the Style of Matisse on our classroom bulletin board. Using cut paper, the fourth graders formed dancers over a collage background of wintry colors. Nice contrast!

Here's a bonus problem to do at home: Mother bought a bag of cookies. There were 36 cookies in it. The children found the bag after school, and when Mother interfered there were 21 cookies left. How many cookies were gone? (Try writing a number sentence before solving.)

Next week we'll learn how to conduct interviews for the Family History Report Project.

Thursday

Disco Day at Franklin turned up some great and colorful costumes. Trying to explain the difference between the 'Disco Days' and the 'Hippie Days' and that they were not one and the same, proved a little difficult. The Family History Report project is on the way so stay tuned. The kids will learn how to interview relatives before the Winter Break so they are ready in case the extended family gets together. Of course, interviews can be conducted over the phone, by email, or by letter, too. The reports won't be due until the end of January so this is not an attempt to ruin the break from school by any means. Nursery rhymes are rich with word play and literary images so one of our bonus questions asked the fourth-graders to find the ending to a few that are not so easy to remember. 'What is the line after "To bed, to bed, said sleep head?" See below for the answer and a few other rhymes. This week's bonus question asked for the neame of the famous toy store in New York City. The kids are reading a selection called "Me and Uncle Romie," about a boy who travels to New York from North Carolina to stay with his aunt and uncle. Good story with lots of place names and geography and interesting food references than include grits and pepper jelly.

Nursery Rhymes:

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey. Along came a big spider who sat next beside her and frightened Miss Muffet away.



“To Bed to Bed” said Sleepy Head

“To bed to bed” said Sleepy Head. “No tarry awhile” said Slow. “Put on the pot” said Greedy Gut. “We’ll sup before we go!”

Thursday

National Education Week brought Representative Kevin Van de Wege to Room 17 last Monday. He talked to the kids about the state budget and the organization of state government. Joining him were Superintendent Jane Pryne, School Board Director Cindy Kelly, and Principal Amity Butler.

Thursday

"Do you remember being that little?" I asked the fourth-graders last Tuesday when we had the opportunity to work with "kindergarten buddies" down the hall here at Franklin Elementary School. More than of few of this year's fourth-graders were our 'shorties' four years ago when they were in Mrs. Carlson's kindergarten class, and yes, they remembered. One of the many good things about a neighborhood school is the opportunity for cross age activities such as kindergarten buddies as it helps teach responsibility, leadership, and respect for a diverse community.

Friday

Since we are working on homophones this week in Reading, the bonus question goes like this: Write a definition for 'mourning.' That's not 'morning' but 'mourning.'

Have a safe weekend driving, walking, or whatever activity fills your time during this exciting and 'scary' time.

Thursday

A little research goes a long way when it comes to bonus questions! Let's see how many fourth graders find the answer to today's bounus question: Where in the United States Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America?

One of our Math problems yesterday described resident ants which reminds that this is the season for resident spiders and mushrooms. Bathrooms and backyards are favored locations!

Next time we'll take a look at a good example of a current event/news item summary. Stay tuned.

Answer to the Bonus Question

This was a more difficult bonus question and there were some close answers, such as "the Emeraly City." But, we were looking for the nickname for a street made famous in early Seattle. Here is the explanation:

Seattle's historic Skid Road district (now better known as Pioneer Square) centers on Yesler Way. This road is often said to have been the original "Skid Road" in the literal sense serving a saw mill owned by Henry Yesler. Yesler acquired land from Doc Maynard at a small point of land at what is today near the intersection of 1st Ave and Yesler Way. He also acquired a swath of land 450 feet wide from his property up First Hill to a box of land about 10 acres in size full of timber spanning what is today 20th to 30th Avenues. His mill was built on the point of land that looked south towards a small island (Denny's Island, part of his land purchase from Doc Maynard) that has since been filled in around and is the heart of today's Pioneer Square.

The Skid Road was built on that 450 foot wide slice of land from the top of First Hill to the mill on the point. Since the building of the mill much of what is today's Seattle is the result of extensive terra forming by the local people to make the hilly landscape of Seattle habitable. At the time of the building of the mill it was some of the only flat land available. The Skid Road became the demarcation line between the affluent members of Seattle and the mill workers and more rowdy portion of the population.[9]

Wednesday

Smile for Picture Day tomorrow! Decisions, decisions...to wear a tie or go for the plain-shirt look...

Which city is nick-named Stumptown? Now we have a bonus question for the week.

Density. Yes, we're learning about water in Science and the kids did an activity with warm and cool water today and how those conditions affect water density.

Open House

Join us at Open House tomorrow night starting at 6 and going until 7 PM. Oh yes, there will be tea!

Bring your fourth grader to Room 17 and learn about some of the upcoming projects, curriculum, and ways to help your child become a good student.

See you tomorrow night!

Thursday

Maybe we're not quite ready for a workshop on making cappucinos, but today was Tea Workshop #2--loose tea preparation. Tomorrow will tell how effective that was.

Learning to write essays and letters is not easy, but this year's fourth graders are showing early skill as they learn to make paragraphs, revise, proofread, draft, and spell correctly. Reasons for optimism are apparent. Today they worked on a friendly letter to me that is to explain and summarize a book they have read this year for Silent Reading. They also had their first shot at Accelerated Reader this year, a computer program that has quizzes for library books read in and out of school.

Today, after several alternative and good answers, the one I was looking for in answer to why Chum salmon are nicknamed 'Dog' salmon was given. Local Native Americans fed this species of Pacific Salmon to their dogs since they arrive in the rivers and streams well after plenty of salmon had been caught and smoked for the humans. Nice work!

Essay

My Favorite Dessert


My favorite dessert is blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream. The cold ice cream slides down my throat while the berries crunch beneath my teeth. If the crust is just right you can taste a hint of cinnamon at the tail end. The joy lasts a long time.

The first time I tasted blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream was at my grandmother’s house a very long time ago. It must have been my birthday or some other special occasion. Otherwise, there probably would not have been any form of dessert after dinner. Dessert is uncommon in my family.

Besides the cold of the ice cream, the crunch of the berries, and the final hint of cinnamon, the appearance of this fine dessert is a thing to behold. It looks a bit like Mount Rainier if the light and the mood are just right. With the vanilla ice cream on top of jagged pie crust and blackberries, you can imagine the majestic mountain right before devouring it.

Much more could be said in praise of blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream, but the experience of eating it should not be delayed any longer. Don’t spend too much time deciding which brand of ice cream to use. Instead get down to the business and joy of actually eating this fine dessert.

Mr. Burnett

Thursday

Lunch in the classroom! It's been about twenty years since we've had lunch in the classroom here in Room 17. That's a long time, but we adapt and move forward. Lunchtime is definitely quieter here than in the gym with smoother transitions to the afternoon's lessons.

What a nice group of fourth-graders! The kids are quickly learning the study habits that will help them throughout their school years and into their working lives. Putting names on papers, turning work in on time, bringing loose notebook paper, and being on time are major lessons of great importance. Let's try to bring in some news items or current events next week that will help us find out what's going on locally, nationally and worldwide. The reading practice is valuable, too. A few minutes practicing math facts at home several times a week goes a long way toward making Math easier, too.

School Starts Tomorrow!

I can't wait to meet all of you in Room 17 at Franklin tomorrow morning.

You might check the weather forecast in the newspaper (usually in section C) or on the television news (any local channel will do), and sometimes we follow the weather in Las Vegas and Portland just for fun. Feel free to take some notes on other interesting current events from newspapers, radio, or television. Then we can talk about them at school each morning.

Remember to bring a book for Silent Reading tomorrow morning (and every morning), along with some sharpened pencils and notebook paper. And, check out the "Room 17 Report" below for more information about your new classroom. See you soon!

Room 17 Report
Mr. Burnett's Class Franklin School Room 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 1, 2011

Dear Fourth Grade Student and Parents/Guardian:

I want to welcome you to the fourth grade and let you know that I am looking forward to having you in my class this year. You will have an enjoyable and productive year in our room!

You will need to have a book for silent reading at 8:10 each day. You may bring a book from home or find one in our classroom collection.

Since we believe that education is serious business, please do not bring any toys to school because they interfere with learning. Here are other rules you will be expected to follow:

1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Stay in your seat unless given permission to leave
it.
3. Raise your hand and wait to be called on before
speaking.
4. Turn in all assignments on time.

HOMEWORK: Students are responsible for handing their homework in on time. Homework is due the following day and needs to be placed in the correct assignment box before the second bell when school starts. Homework generally consists of unfinished daily assignments, and I ask the students to read for at least fifteen minutes each evening. Occasionally, there will be homework projects that require more than one day to complete, and for these assignments I will give the students a due date.

WHEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE: Assignments are usually due the morning after they are assigned. If the assignment is not handed in, the student receives a 0 in the grade book for that assignment, so it is very important that all assignments are completed and turned in on time. Nothing lowers a report card grade faster than missing assignments. If a student is absent, he/ she will have at least two days to make up the assignments after checking with me to see which assignments to make up.

GRADING: No student will receive failing marks on their report card if their assignments are turned in on time and they are trying to do the assignments to the best of their ability. I will present more details on the new report card as they become available to me.

You will earn good grades as long as you listen well in class, follow directions the first time, and complete and turn in assignments on time.

HANDING ASSIGNMENTS BACK: Assignments and papers are returned to the student’s “mail box.” Students are responsible for getting their “mail” and taking it home to show their parents/ guardians. I encourage you to keep assignments rather than throw them away, at least through the end of the trimester. The projects, like the “Family History Report,” you will probably want to keep forever.

I hope some of your questions and concerns about this year have been answered in this letter. You can also check our Franklin website by accessing the Port Angeles School District website. Good communication will help each student succeed in fourth grade. Please contact me with any other questions and concerns.


Sincerely,
Mr. Burnett (565-1853)

Thursday

That jacket is somewhat large for a fourth-grader, but it shows good taste.

The crayfish are still alive! Yesterday, after school, we transplanted a few of them to Peabody creek in an unprecedented 'release the crayfish' ceremony. This is the first year the crayfish have survived long enough for such an event. One comrade has found a home in our classroom aquarium among the hearty and long-living goldfish. The Reading assessments, both ARI and Dibbels, are nearly finished, and the fourth-graders are showing huge growth since September of 2010, I see pizza and coke in the near future!

Thursday

Fourth graders learned about the Great Depression from presentations by third grade "professors" yesterday. Comparisons to the current recession were made and everyone did a fine job.

Amazingly, the crayfish are still alive! Investigations are underway to find crayfish-laden bodies of water within walking distance of Franklin Elementary School. Lake Crescent is too far to travel. Here is a simple way to construct a crayfish trap from inexpensive materials found in most households.

Wednesday

The crayfish have returned. Fourth graders learn to care for and identify body structures of crayfish this year. We will not eat the classroom crayfish no matter how appetizing they appear! Instead, students make sure their habitat is kept clean, sufficient cat food is supplied for their sustenance, and that crayfish behavior is observed.

On Friday we will walk to the Vern Burton Center for the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts Children's program. We leave from school at 8:05 AM sharp and we'll return in time for lunch, although all lunches will be sack lunches on that day to accomodate those classes attending the second show. Good walking shoes are highly recommended.

Friday

The MSP continues Monday with the Reading section of the state assessment. Our students have worked hard and made lots of progress this year.

More Science investigations take place next week as we learn more about plants and seed growth. By the way, what is the name for the onset of seed growth? And, what are the three things plants need to grow? By the end of next week our students will know the answers to those questions and more. The Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts is coming up at the end of this month, and that means the possibility of a field trip, a walking field trip. So a little extra exercise each day is advised--not only to get in shape for the walk to Vern Burton Gym, but also as a means to improve personal health. Keep walking!

Friday

Can you name the parts of a seed? Our fourth graders can after dissecting swollen lima beans, separating the seed coat from the cotyledons and examining the embryo with hand lenses. Next we will continue the study of the life structures of plants.

Yes, today is 'pajama day.' Somehow, the fourth graders don't believe male teachers sleep in their jeans and sweaters.
Next Tuesday we will begin the MSP (measurement of student progress) which is the big standardized test for Washington's students. Earlier bed times and good breakfasts are recommended.

Friday

Sure, we learned how to brew tea in fourth grade this year, but tea alone isn't much good when it's time to make dinner. So, this week the fourth-graders are writing an essay about a situation in which they are given the responsibility to make dinner when they get home from school one day. To make it somewhat easier, one part of the meal must come from a can. We'll see what they come up with in terms of food groups and inventiveness.

We repeat-long division. Now that the fourth-graders are quite good at double digit multiplication, long division and changing fractions into decimals come next. Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down.....repeat. One is reminded of hair-washing and shampoo instructions.

Friday

While we still want students reading outside of school, it just isn't quite warm for the kind of recreational reading pictured at left. Apparently, Spring has not yet sprung. Nevertheless, we've been talking about the other evidence that the season really does exist, from lawns getting mowed to the chirping frog sounds heard all over.

Halibut is not the answer to the latest bonus question: What deep water fish is used to make the famous 'filet of fish' sandwich?

Our class is considering entering a Room 17 team for the Relay for Life fundraiser in June at the Clallam County Fairgrounds. Stay tuned for more information about this event.

Thursday

Along with the first rainstorm of Spring we are still reminded daily of the new season by the noisy frogs chirping away all over the Peninsula, even heard near the downtown streets of Port Angeles. The more obvious signs of Spring are just less obvious this year after a long, dark, and wet Winter that lingers on in our region.

What other signs, events, or rituals come with the start of Spring? Make a list or write a short essay about your favorite part of Spring and bring it to Room 17.

Tonight is the General Music concert starting at 6:30 PM here at Franklin. Students should arrive closer to 6 PM.

Tea and cupcakes for everyone yesterday....thanks to one of our sets of twins for having a birthday celebration with us!

Wednesday

Sometimes a fourth grader finds creative ways to keep warm and dry during the fierce winters of the North Olympic Peninsula. Next year we might add ponchos, scarves, and gloves to the list of requested school materials, along with paper, pencils, and erasers. No snow is forecast for the near future, but the rains have come to stay, apparently.

We've started a new unit in Science: Magnetism and Electricity. For a challenging bonus question, let's see if anyone can draw a simple circuit before we do the Science Activity in a day or two.

Divide. Multiply. Subtract. Bring Down. Then repeat the steps in your mind a few times before falling asleep at night.

Thursday

Students can log on to a great site called XtraMath at home as well as school for extra practice with Math facts. From home the easiest way to access this site is to google 'xtramath.' Then use my school email address, bburnett@portangelesschools.org, and the student's code or PIN. If they haven't memorized the PIN, they will need to write it down at school. No school for students on Friday--that's tomorrow!

Thursday

Yes, there was school today! Check out a site called 'XtraMath' for a fun way to practice multiplication facts (you can also find addition and subtraction facts, too).

Let's do some research and find the answer to the bonus questions (see below). And, if finding out about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln seems too easy, try this one: If a roll of nickels is worth two dollars and fifty cents, how much is a roll of dimes worth?

Furthermore, can you guess what the fourth graders in the picture are doing? Finally, check the Port Angeles School District website for the latest about snow days or late starts during these times of wild weather in Port Angeles.

Friday

So many cupcakes and cookies! Such great treats on Monday with lots of valentines exchanged.
As Presidents' Day approaches (no school Monday) the students are asked to find out what major historical events happened during the lives or presidencies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Have a good weekend and remember to read for at least fifteen minutes each day!

Thursday

The Family History Reports show a wealth of memories, organization, and respect for the people who came before us and those we live with or who play a role in our students' current lives. This week the fourth graders presented some of the anecdotes and showed pictures from their reports to the rest of the class. For most of our students, a report project, complete with interviews, rough drafts, final drafts, pictures, maps, family tree, family recipe, and bibliography, covers new ground and the organization, thought, and homework required stretches their skills. Many went beyond the minimum requirements by making intricate family trees, for example. Very nice work!
The second round of our classroom's Analytical Reading Inventory shows exceptional Reading growth in many of our students and nearly a year's growth in Reading levels in most of the other fourth graders since the first round of assessments in September. Extra practice reading at home (for at least fifteen minutes) pays off.

Thursday

What do you know about the American Quarter Horse? Soon our fourth graders will know a lot more about them. As soon as they finish learning how to write a business letter, the students will mail their letters to the American Quarter Horse Association in Texas. Within a few weeks, as long as the letters are in the correct form, each student will receive an abundance of information about quarter lessons. Not only is it fun to receive mail and 'stuff,' but learning to write business letters improves writing skill and develops a practical way of formal communication that will help with job applications in the future, for example.

The Family History Reports are in, and oral presentations will start next Monday. Each student will choose an anecdote from their report to read to the class. The presentations are short but always memorable.

Wednesday

The Family History Reports are due on Monday, January 31st. A sample bibliography is shown below. Most won't need to list a book as a source, but there is the format just in case. Tomorrow we'll work on the report covers in class.

No school on Friday...for students, that is.

Bibliography

1. Brown, Joe
December 21, 2010


2. Jones, Gina
January 1, 2011


3. Ireland, Its Land and People, Jones, Bill, pages 1-9

Friday

One of the traditions in Room 17, along with the Family History Report project, is making tea. This year, Wednesdays turn out to be the best time for our class to have a small cup (Mr. Coffee only makes about two liters so the portions are small but refreshing.) Several fourth graders have learned the procedures for making simple tea with tea bags, but next week they will have a chance to participate in our "loose tea workshop." They will learn the proper way to use a tea infuser with loose tea, a more economical and flavorful approach.

Next week we'll also learn how to make a bibliography for the Family History reports and the cover. Students should bring the red folders with all the report materials (cards, rough drafts of interviews, family trees, etc.) to class each day. The reports are due Monday, January 31st.

Thursday

We will sing the famous spiritual, "We Shall Overcome" while Judi Lindberg presents historic and biographical information tomorrow morning over Franklin's intercom so students and staff throughout the school will learn about the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement.

Equal rights for all citizens continues as a struggle in today's world, and making our students aware of the past can help them improve not only their own lives but also the lives of others. Those "others" are the people they will live and work with in their future.

Four of our Room 17 students are working on optional essays for the 'Martin Luther King Essay Contest.' Here is the prompt for this project: "Explain why Dr. King was special enough to have his own recognition day."

Interviews for the Family History Report project should be finished, and now the notes from those interviews should be written in sentences and paragraphs for the rough draft. Each of the three interviews should have its own page as a mininum. Maps and family trees come next so stay tuned and have a good weekend.

Thursday

Winter arrives in Port Angeles. Cold, wet, and rainy. Now here's the bonus question: What does the word "pewter" mean and what does it have to do with Winter in Port Angeles?

The students should be finishing their three interviews this week for the Family History Reports that are due at the end of the month.
They're also finishing the rough draft of another essay in which a character, either fictional or real is described using details about what the character looks like, what he or she says and does. Later this month mid-winter assessments in Reading, Math, and Writing will be given.