MrHowd.com

You cannot allow your children to remain indifferent about their homework. If they develop such an unmotivated approach to learning, they are likely to have problems handling the “real world” as well.

The quote above, from the book Homework Without Tears, reminds us of the importance of homework.

If your student is having a problem with completing work, you may want to consider one of the suggestions from this book: to set up a Daily Homework Time.

The idea is to have fourth graders expect to work for 40 minutes every night (fifth graders work 50 minutes), even if there is no “official” homework. When no homework is assigned from school, students work on other academic activities to practice, extend or enrich their studies in school, such as practicing cursive, working on math facts, or exploring the Internet to find out more information about the current science topic. When students understand that they will work for 40-50 minutes on homework every night, they will be less likely to argue, procrastinate, or “forget” their work.

And what happens if students refuse to do their work during Daily Homework Time, choosing just to sit there or work slowly? Well, the student has a choice. He can complete the work, or sit at his desk without TV, music, video games, computer, phone or any other privilege. Once he knows that you mean business, the work will get done.

Find more information about homework and missing assignments on the Homework Policy page. I also have copies of Homework Without Tears if you would like to borrow one. Here’s a sample schedule of daily homework time and more information.

Originally posted 2009-10-09 17:26:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

¡Hola Mexico!

We won’t be having your normal party. There won’t be any cupcakes. No balloons or pointed little hats. This December, Room 130 is going south of the border to learn more about our neighbor —Mexico.

Over 17% of our country is Hispanic, which is the largest minority group in America, and according to the New York Times, America has more Spanish speakers than Spain. More than half of the foreign-born population in the US is from Latin America, with more immigrants coming from Mexico than any other country.

Yet, many of us have little exposure to the rich culture of a significant and growing population in our own country and an important neighbor to the south.

In December and January, Room 130 will experience Mexico and its traditions through a look at the holidays Mexicans celebrate during this time of the year.

Nuestro Fiesta de Navidad

Our class will learn about Mexico through study of the following traditions celebrated during this time of the year:

• Arbol de Navidad—typically a decorated artificial tree or shrub. Ours is will be displayed with Flores de Noche Buena (poinsettias).
• El Nacimiento—the primary holiday display in most Mexican homes, a nativity scene complete with moss, lights, animals, cactus, mountains, and many people.
• Las Posadas—celebrated from December 16th to December 24th (Noche Buena). This is a reenactment of the story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem. Entire towns in Mexico form processions to “seek shelter” in the inn (posada) and have a huge fiesta when they finally find room in the stable. Children are usually treated to a piñata.
• Noche Buena—December 24th, the last night of Las Posadas processions. This evening usually involves a meal with traditional tamales (corn husks lined with corn dough and filling and steamed), and champurrado (a corn-thickened hot chocolate). Buñuelos de Navidad (fried flour tortillas with sugar and cinnamon) are also enjoyed.
• Dia de los Reyes—Three Kings Day, January 6th. This is the traditional day in Mexico that children receive gifts. Their shoes are left out and they awake to find little gifts in their shoes left by the visiting Wise Men.

In addition to studying about these Mexican traditions, will will have a fiesta that will include making traditional Mexican tacos (not like Taco Bell!), buñuelos, and Mexican hot chocolate (move over Swiss Miss!), having a piñata, singing a few traditional canciónes (songs), and playing games. Later in the day, we’ll play the Jewish dreidel game and compare that game and tradition to a similar game Mexican children play.

The ultimate goal will be to experience the culture of such a large and growing portion of our own country and one of our nearest neighbors. This will allow us to celebrate the differences among cultures, appreciate the wealth of diversity our country enjoys, and recognize the value of our own traditions and cultures. The hope is that the world will become a little smaller place to Room 130. And so, to that end,

¡Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

Does your family have a holiday tradition that you would like to share with our class? Feel free to comment, email or send in a note and we’ll compare and contrast with Mexican traditions.

Today was our BioBlitz field trip. We learned about falconry, met a Conservation Officer, learned about reptiles, hunted for mushrooms, and sorted aquatic insects. Thanks to the family members that attended and helped today.

BioBlitz 2017

34 new photos added to shared album

Spelling: None today due to our field trip.

Cursive: Cursive worksheet pp. 4-6 are available and due Monday.   

Reading: None today due to our field trip.

Writing: A personal narrative is due Monday, September 25. Your student should be publishing their final piece at this point, making sure their narrative is finished.

Math: None today due to our field trip.

Science: None today due to our field trip.

The Energy Fair project is due Friday, September 29. Here are the Energy Fair directions.

Social Studies: None today due to our field trip.

Notes:

• Have you helped your student plan a Daily Homework Time? This is a daily (Monday through Thursday) time of 40 minutes for students to work on math, writing, math facts, cursive, or other homework. Maybe it’s right after school, or at 5 pm, or right after dinner. The idea is that your student is working each day on something to make them smarter. Here is a sample schedule and more ideas.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Sign up for a fall conference
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

We finalized our class rules today. We learned that we wanted to have rules so that our class would be safe and allow us to accomplish our mission. The students made a list of rules, but soon we had over 100 ideas. That was too many to remember, so we decided on one class rule: “Follow the High Fives.” We figured that if people follow the High Fives (respect, responsibility, integrity, empathy and perseverance), we would have a successful class.

Students received several new materials today:

• A whiteboard to use in class
• A colored file folder to use as a writing portfolio. I asked students to decorate this folder with pictures, stickers, or drawings. I’ll laminate the folders and we’ll use them to store finished writing this year.
• A yellow folder to use as our “fridge folder” where we can keep leftover work.
• A planner.

We also played a game called, “Win as Much as You Can.” This was a game where teams can work together so that everyone wins, or compete against each so that only a few win. Our class wasn’t very successful. We chose to complete, so only one team scored points. We might try to learn from our mistakes and play this game again in the future.

Finally, it was Team Day! Students worked in teams to try to solve challenges involved with moving as a team, lowering a hula hoop together, and untying human and rope knots. We didn’t always succeed after the first try, but we learned that we can solve problems by working together, listening to others, and persevering. Thanks to all the family members that helped out today!

Team Day 2017

89 new photos · Album by Christian Howd

Notes:

• School Supply list
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects
  • Subscribe to MrHowd.com for daily class email updates
  • Volunteering information, including forms to be filled out if you would like to volunteer in class or chaperone a field trip
  • Sign up for a fall conference
• The behavior policy and math subject pages and recently been updated with new information about this school year.

Welcome to 4th grade! Click the links below or to the right to find out more information about our class.

• More about this site
• Subscribe to MrHowd.com for daily class email updates
• Meet Mr. Howd
• School Supplies list
• Info about our field trips in 4th and 5th grades
• Volunteering information, including forms to be filled out if you would like to volunteer in class or chaperone a field trip
• Sign up for a fall conference
• Learn about class policies and procedures
• Information about class subjects