Make the Daily Platypus your source for what’s happening in Room 15. Bookmark it and check back every week for updates on homework, tests, field trips, and much more. It’s usually updated every weekend, so Monday and Tuesday are good nights to check back.

Despite some unusual challenges, we’re off to a great start in Room 15.  This week we’ll be deploying for Language Arts for the first time. Fifth grade students will remain with me, while fourth graders will be down the hall with Ms. McNeil. Due to our large class sizes, how our Language Arts Program fleshes out remains to be seen. During these first few weeks we’ll be experimenting with different models. Please visit Ms McNeil’s classroom page for information on fourth grade Language Arts.

This week in my 4th grade math class, students will be wrapping up our mini-unit on basic multiplication and division with a chapter test on Friday. This unit has now doubt seemed easy, but it serves three purposes. First of all, after the long summer break, students need something to get their math brains ticking again without overwhelming them.  A second purpose is to establish a wide range of procedures and policies, such as how to format one’s math paper, and the consequences of failing to complete homework. Finally, this mini-unit provides the foundation for our “Fact Car Rally Race” math facts program, which begins this week.  True memorization of the multiplication tables is perhaps the most essential aspect of any student’s math foundation.

Here’s this week’s 4th grade math homework for this week: Monday, September 19, Tuesday, September 20, Wednesday, September 21, Thursday, September 22. Just click on the day to download and print in PDF format.

In Homeroom, we’re studying Spanish through the Jackson County Library System’s website. We spend about twenty minutes per day, four days per week using Mango. Students and families are welcome to undertake the same course of study at home. Simply click on the Mango logo to go to the Jackson County Library page. From there, scroll down until you see the same Mango button, which will take you to the registration and login page.  Finally, be sure to check out the trailer for The American Teacher (below).