Teacher's Note December 18, 2014

Please accept our sincere thanks for the generous gifts Mrs. Saavedra and I received from the class.  Mrs. Olson was loaded down with big beautiful bags when she walked into our classroom.  The kids were just as excited as we were to see all the wonderful surprises.  The bags were full of soaps, lotion, gift cards, fragrance warmer, special brownie mix, matching hand towels, hot pad holders and kitchen utensils all artistically arranged.  We appreciate your kindness this holiday season and your support through out the school year.  May each of you enjoy a wonderful Christmas and Winter Vacation. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa 

Teacher's note December 15, 2014

We had a wonderful field trip to DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun last Tuesday.  The weather was absolutely beautiful!   Our docent, students and parent volunteers all did an excellent job.  Thank you to Mrs. Christiansen, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Hornung, Mrs. Mourreale, Mrs. Sankey and Mr. Dotson for providing transportation and spending your day with us.

Thank you to those who donated food or money for the staff appreciation luncheon on Thursday.  As always, it was absolutely delicious!  The decorations looked super cute too!  I feel very grateful to work at a school with such a wonderful and supportive community.  Thank you.

Our class just elected student council representatives for second semester.  Congratulations to  Joseph and Mariah in third grade and Sasha and Jenna in fourth.  I am sure they will do a terrific job representing our class and helping as needed. 

We are super excited to see the third graders perform  Flakes on Tuesday.  I think the play and songs will be adorable.  There will be a dress rehearsal Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 for the other students to observe.  6:30 is the performance for family and friends to attend.  Please have the third graders arrive in my classroom at 6:00 - that is when the doors will open for seating.  After the play the students will return to my room to take off their flake and then meet their family.  Everyone will be happy to know that the  homework for Tuesday is attend Flakes. 

Both grades will be wrapping up their math units this week.  Third grade end of the unit assessment is scheduled for Thursday morning.  The fourth graders will have their geometry test on Wednesday.  You are welcome to ask your son or daughter if they understand the concepts and review as needed. 

Our class will read the novel Chocolate Fever this week.  It is a humorous story that is only 98 pages long.   I think the kids will really enjoy reading this book. 

Friday will be a teacher grading day and the students will start their Winter Vacation.  I want to wish each of you a wonderful Christmas and pleasant vacation.  I look forward to second semester that starts on January 5, 2015. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of December 15, 2014

Third grade
Monday - pronouns, finish math 59 - 64, and reading log
Tuesday - Flakes performance!!!!
Wednesday - main ideas, math 71 & 72, and reading log
Thursday - Enjoy Christmas and your Winter Vacation!

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 64 & 65, math 69, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 56 & 57, math study guide and reading log
Wednesday - main ideas, math 75 and reading log
Thursday - Enjoy Christmas and your Winter Vacation! 

Fourth Grade Spelling: Look to the North

1.  weighs
2.  ceiling
3.  field
4.  reindeer
5.  freight
6.  eighteen
7.  neighbor
8.  receive
9.  weird
10.  chief
11.  believe
12.  seize
13.  either
14.  fierce
15.  relief
16.  windshield
17.  pierce
18.  thief
19.  achieve
20.  eighth

Bonus words
tundra
piteously
surrender
ceases
abundant
bonding

Teacher's Note December 8, 2014

We are excited to go to De Grazia's Gallery in the Sun on Tuesday morning.  The plan is to leave Soleng Tom around 9:00.  Go on a guided tour of the museum and property, do an art project and eat a picnic lunch before we return to school.  We have a band concert to attend at 2:00 -  it sounds like a very enjoyable day!  Drivers, please be in our class by 8:45.  Only a few students ordered a lunch from school so the vast majority needs to bring a lunch from home.  Part of the tour is outdoors and everyone will need a jacket to be comfortable. 

The third graders are working very hard to prepare for their Flakes performance on December 16th at 6:30.  I know I can't wait to see it.  Please mark your calendar and save the evening to watch their musical play.  In Monday's Dragon Folder will be a note describing what the children need to wear for a costume.  The kids know what role they are playing and what clothing they should wear.  The teachers are in the process of building the snowflakes for the kids to wear. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

This week the students will have spelling and vocabulary words to study.  The third graders will work on sequencing and pronouns as they read "Centerfield Ballhawk."  Fourth graders will read "Two Lands, One Heart" and then compare Vietnam and the United States.  I think both of the reading selections are very interesting. 

My third graders will continue to study numerical graphs.  We will move from reading temperature graphs into how to read and organize data in a repeated pattern.  The kids will build a table to help them organize the data. 

Symmetry and determining area  are the math concepts the fourth graders will be working on this week.  This part of the unit is actually fun as the kids draw symmetrical designs and use geoboards to determine area. Who thought math could actually be fun? 

Next week we have a small art project planned and I would certainly appreciate your assistance if you could donate non Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon, or bows. You may have these items in a closet or drawer - they do not have to be new.  Thank you for your continued support. 

I hope we all have a wonderful week.

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of December 8, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - vocabulary 61 & 62, math 40 & 41 and reading log
Tuesday - reading log
Wednesday - language 63 & 51, math 46 & 47 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 51 & 52 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 60 & 61, math 53 & 54, and reading log
Tuesday - reading log
Wednesday - spelling 53 & 55, math page 57, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 60 & 61, and reading log

Third Grade Spelling: Centerfield Ballhawk

1.  boots
2.  grouped
3.  shook
4.  school
5.  looked
6.  hood
7.  choose
8.  brook
9.  zoomed
10.  balloon
11.  loose
12.  soot
13.  understood
14.  cartoon
15.  afternoon

Bonus words
ballhawk
vanish
fault
concentrate
outfielder
depend

Fourth Grade Spelling: Two Lands, One Heart

1.  Pres.
2.  Dr.
3.  Ave.
4.  Hwy.
5.  Rd.
6.  St.
7.  Fri.
8.  Sat.
9.  Sept.
10.  Dec.
11.  tsp.
12.  lb.
13.  Wed.
14.  Gov.
15.  Mt.
16.  Rte.
17.  Jan.
18.  Pkwy
19.  Sun.
20.  Mon. 

Bonus words
hysterically
overwhelm
interpreter
appetizing
equivalent
irrigation
occasionally

Teacher's note December 1, 2014

Our stone soup turned out yummy! Thank you for providing the ingredients. 

I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving, time with family and the Wildcat football victory!  I sure did!

This week we have ATI bench mark testing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning from 9:00 to 11:00.  It is an untimed test and so the kids may have more time if needed.  Tuesday is reading, Wednesday writing and math on Thursday. Please try to avoid students being absent on testing days.    I will administer the test to my third graders, Mrs. Damek to my fourth graders and Mrs. Leon to my students with an IEP.  Due to the testing, we will not read a selection from our anthology - that means no vocabulary or spelling words.

We will continue on with our math units.  Third grade will be studying and building graphs.  Fourth grade will work on measuring and building angles.  All of us are trying to memorize our 100 multiplication facts in 5 minutes.  

We send back our Structures of Life science unit on Tuesday.  It is always difficult for the kids to let the crayfish go.  We have a few lessons to complete in the Structures of Life unit and then we can start The Changing Earth investigations. 

Friday afternoon from about 1:30 to 1:45 Soleng Tom  has a scheduled soft lock down drill.  During that time nobody will be allowed to enter or exit.  If you were planning on picking up your son or daughter at that time, please come earlier or later. 

All of us are getting excited for the De Grazia Art Museum field trip on December 9.  If you have not already done so, please return the parent permission form.  Our drivers are in the process of handing in copies of their proof of insurance card and driver's license. 

I hope each of us have a wonderful week!

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of December 1, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - reading 10 & 11, math 14 and reading log
Tuesday - directions 18 & 19, math 21 - 24, and reading log
Wednesday - reading 12 & 13, math 25 & 26 and reading log
Thursday - fact and opinion 11 & 12, math 28 & 29 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - reading 10 & 11, math 33 & 34 and reading log
Tuesday - directions 18 & 19, math 35 & 36, and reading log
Wednesday - reading 12 & 13, math 38 and reading log
Thursday - fact and opinion 11 & 12, finish math 39 - 45, and reading log

Teacher's note November 24, 2014

Thank you for the fantastic response to drive for our field trip on December 9 to De Grazia Art Museum!  I sent the forms home on Wednesday and by Thursday morning we had enough rides for 41 kids.  Plus three more parents volunteered on Friday!  You will receive a note from me on Monday if you volunteered. I will select the drivers for this field trip and send the paper work home for them to complete.  Please do not be offended if you are not selected for this field trip. Thanks again for your willingness to drive!

We plan to have four field trips this year.  First De Grazia Art Museum, then Saguaro National Park on January 20, a bus field trip to Sweet Water Plant and in May to the University of Arizona and Ben Bells.   Three of the field trips will need parents to provide the transportation.

Everyone is excited for the three day school week and then Thanksgiving!  We have more than enough learning opportunities planned for this week!  Instead of reading a story from an anthology, we will read three different versions of Stone Soup and compare the stories.  Thank you for the donating the food for our stone soup.  The kids will prepare the food during center time on Tuesday and then it will cook in a roaster overnight.  Wednesday at snack time we will eat a small bowl of soup and a roll. 

We will be doing science every chance we get this week.  The kids will continue to study crayfish and start learning about snails.  The main idea will be to understand the classification of animals and the difference between exoskeletons and endoskeletons.  We have to return our this science unit on Tuesday, December 2  and so we need to complete all the investigations involving the plants or animals. 

Third grade took their addition and subtraction assessment on Thursday.  The tests will be in Monday's Dragon Folder for you to review.  Now they will study numerical graphs and data. 

Fourth grade will be learning about lines, angles and how to measure angles.  Tuesday the kids will have an opportunity to learn how to use a protractor.  Tuesday night's homework will require the kids to use a proctor.  You are welcome to check if your son or daughter understands how to measure angles.  This unit is rich in specific vocabulary words that the kids should feel comfortable using. 

We have the final lesson of Family Life scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 12:15.  The girls will be taught by Mrs. Carlson and Mrs. Evans.  Mrs. Damek and I will teach the boys and my third graders will spend the afternoon with Mrs. Gregory's class.  The fourth graders may have a question for you on Wednesday evening.  :)

As you can see, we do have an abundance of  learning opportunities planned for the three day school week. I hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of November 24, 2014

Third grade
Monday - analogies, math page 5, and reading log
Tuesday - Thanksgiving language arts, math 11 & 12 and reading log

Fourth grade
Monday - analogies, math 11 & 12, and reading log
Tuesday - Thanksgiving language arts, math 15 & 16 and reading log

Teacher's note week of November 17, 2014

The excitement level was high in our class last week as the kids learned about crayfish, worked on dinosaur reports, measured distances and prepared biography book reports.  We have more of the same type of excitement planned for this week. 

The third graders were unanimous that they wanted the final copy of their dinosaur report on the computer.  Each child rotates to a computer for twenty minutes per day and we have the computer lab for 50 minutes on Monday afternoon.  The dinosaur report has became a wonderful technology and writing learning opportunity.  I think it will take us all week to complete the project. 

The fourth graders have presented excellent biography book reports that were due last Friday.  We did not have time for everyone to present yet.  Monday we will have the opportunity to listen to more presentations. 

I sent home the Stone Soup sign up before I had a total understanding of what to do  - please accept my apologies.  I'm still learning some of the third grade traditions.  Monday I will resend the Stone Soup paper and ask each family for one specific item for the soup.  Our entire class will work together to make the soup the week of Thanksgiving. 

We have our 50 in 4 celebration this week.  I sure hope the students have been studying those multiplication facts.  It is exciting to see the students that have mastered the facts and feel proud of themselves.  Please review 50 in 4 with your son or daughter if they have not mastered them - yet. 

Third grade will have an addition and subtraction test on Thursday.  We have been practicing the subtraction algorithm and they seem to be doing well.  This week we will spend time rounding numbers, estimating, adding and subtracting. 

Fourth grade math will practice determining perimeters,  defining polygons and classifying them according to attributes.  This section of the unit has a lot of two dimensional geometry. 

The fourth grade will start one of my favorite writing projects of the year - the character sketch! 
The students will be writing about their looks, personality, hobbies, favorite people and places and goals.  We will take one paragraph at a time and add supporting details to make the writing more interesting.  The kids will be required to write at least one paragraph for every topic, but some students will want to write far more than just one paragraph. I will explain the project to the class and we may ask for your help editing. 

I hope each of us have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of November 17, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - vocabulary 55 and paragraph, math 77 & 78, study 50 in 4,  and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 47 & 49, finish math 79-81, study 50 in 4 and reading log
Wednesday - language 56 & 57, math study guide, study 50 in 4,  and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, study 50 in 4 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 56 & 57, math 13 & 14, study 50 in 4 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 50 & 52, math 17, study 50 in 4 and reading log
Wednesday - drawing conclusions, math 20 & 21, study 50 in 4 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 25-28, study 50 in 4 and reading log

Third grade spelling: The Talent Show

1.  song
2.  law
3.  because
4.  soft
5.  dawn
6.  crawl
7.  lost
8.  taught
9.  long
10.  pause
11.  frost
12.  lawn
13.  hawk
14.  laundry
15.  author

Bonus words
gym
perform
prefer
recite
billions
roam
enjoying

Fourth grade spelling: The Cricket in Times Square

1.  team's
2.  player's
3.  bird's
4.  wolf's
5.  horse's
6.  class's
7.  group's
8.  girls'
9.  students'
10.  trees'
11.  parents'
12.  owners'
13.  cousins'
14.  teachers'
15.  aunts'
16.  friend's
17.  children's
18.  city's
19.  classes'
20.  country's

Bonus words
scrounging
eavesdropping
wistfully
excitable
logical
sympathetically
acquaintance 

Teacher's note November 10, 2014

I hope you have terrific plans for Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11.  We will not have school on Tuesday.  We do have school on Monday and Wednesday - it is a bit unusual to have a vacation in a school week and then return to school.  My family is definitely making plans to make the most of Veterans Day. 

Last Tuesday I was disappointed in my All Stars.  Nine students did not hand in their reading log on time and seven students did not have their homework.  I was not pleased!  They are far better than that.  Thank you for the support of the parents I contacted and let's all work together to help the students learn and be responsible. 

The third graders seem to have located information about their dinosaur.  Now we need to arrange the facts into well organized paragraphs.  I will give the students a choice to type the paragraphs on a computer at school or write the final copy on a clean dinosaur paper like the one they have been writing their notes.  I do expect the final copy to be well written, neat and include pictures.  I predict the dinosaur report will be complete by the end of this week or early part of next week. 

The fourth graders have a biography book report due this Friday.  I see many of them working on their report during read to self or computer time.  The homework Wednesday and Thursday evening is to complete their book report.  Just a reminder, the top of each page of the flip chart has pictures and the bottom has a well written paragraph.  We will be eager to see the book reports and hear the presentations on Friday. 

Last Friday the fourth graders took the multiplication and division unit test.  The graded test will be sent home Monday in the Dragon Folder for you to see.  Now we study linear measurement - both the standard and metric system.  The kids will have an opportunity to use rulers, yard sticks, meter sticks and measuring tapes in the class.  It would be fantastic if the students could practice measuring at home too.  The beginning of the week we measure distances and then we determine the perimeter. 

The third graders will continue to work on subtraction strategies this week.  We have already worked on the open number line and drag methods of subtraction.  This week we will continue to break the number apart to subtract and focus more on the subtraction algorithm. 

Perhaps your son or daughter has mentioned the crayfish in our room - they definitely added some life to our classroom!  We will learn more about crayfish structures, behaviors and habitat this week. 

I send my best wishes to all of our All Star team.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of November 10, 2014

Third grade
Monday - vocabulary 49 & 51, study 50 in 4, and reading log
Tuesday - Enjoy your family and freedoms!
Wednesday - spelling 44 & 46, finish math 64 - 66, and reading log
Thursday -  study spelling words, finish math 67 - 69, and reading log

Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 52 & 53, math 3 & 4, and reading log
Tuesday - Appreciate the blessings and opportunities of living in America!
Wednesday - work on biography book report, math 5 & 6, and reading log
Thursday - finish biography book report, math 9 & 10 and reading log

Third grade spelling: The Stories Julian Tells

1.  brother's
2.  brothers
3.  uncle's
4.  uncles
5.  sister's
6.  sisters
7.  sisters'
8.  man's
9.  men's
10.  child's
11.  girls
12.  girl's
13.  girls'
14.  mine
15.  yours

Bonus words
cartwheel
beyond
fastened
mustache
seriously
collection 

Fourth grade spelling: Stealing Home

1.  shelves
2.  sheep
3.  teeth
4.  elves
5.  mice
6.  calves
7.  spacecraft
8.  jeans
9.  feet
10.  women
11.  men
12.  geese
13.  salmon
14.  series
15.  scissors
16.  halves
17.  oxen
18.  crises
19.  knives
20.  thieves

Bonus words
tutor
glumly
impose
pastimes
irritably
disposition
bicker
grudge 

Teacher's Note November 3, 2014

Congratulations to Jenna and Danny for winning the idiom contest.  They were tickled pink to have 442 idioms and win the contest. 

As you know, Tuesday, November 4th is voting day across Arizona.  I would like to invite or remind you to participate in the election process.  One of the issues  I care deeply about is candidates' views on education.  Please study the candidates and issues to vote for what you believe will be best.

The PTSA has a book fair in the library all of this week.  Our class previewed the books last Friday and the kids may have a wish list to discuss with you.  We will not return to the book fair as entire class, but I will send a student to purchase an item if they bring money. 

The fourth graders will be preparing for the Family Life curriculum that will be taught at the end of November.  Please read the information letter sent home in the Dragon Folder and return the second paper informing me of your wishes. 

The third graders seemed very excited about starting a dinosaur research project on Thursday.  They do not have to rush through the report and try to complete it in one or two days. The kids may use the computers and books in the class to locate their information.  Of course, they may check out their own book from a public library if they wish, but it is not necessary.  I expect the research project to take us a couple of weeks to complete. 

The fourth graders have a biography book report that I have decided will not be due until November 14th.  The final project will be a flip chart built with at least three pieces of paper.  I will be happy to give the kids the paper from our supply closet.  The top of each flip chart will have a picture drawn, photocopied or printed from a computer.  The bottom section of each page will be a paragraph about the topic.  The three pieces of paper folded down will produce space for five paragraphs.  I did explain the project to the kids and will discuss the biography book report again.  Students may hand in their book report ahead of schedule. 

My third graders will work on subtraction strategies this week.  We will use the open number line to start and later introduce the algorithm. 

The unit three multiplication and division test is scheduled for Friday for the fourth graders.  Please continue to review with your son or daughter to check for understanding of the concepts. 

Oh, science is going to get even more exciting!  The crayfish arrive this week.  We have been informed that the science center will not have snails to send with this unit.  If anyone has about eight or ten land snails that we could study for a month that would be great! 

I don't want to talk your ear off, so that is enough information for this week. 

May we all grow, reach and succeed! 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of November 3, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - vocabulary 45 & quilt, math page 53 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 39 & 40, math 55 & 56 and reading log
Wednesday - language 106 & 107, math 59 & 60 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math page 61 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 46 & 47, math 55 & 56 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 44 & 46, math 59 & 60 and reading log
Wednesday - graphic aids 48 & 49, math 63 & 64 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math study guide, and reading log

Third Grade Spelling: Rosie: A Visiting Dog's Story

1.  crown
2.  proud
3.  however
4.  count
5.  crowded
6.  around
7.  south
8.  loud
9.  house
10.  shouted
11.  howl
12.  growl
13.  bounce
14.  fountain
15.  sound

Bonus Words
appointment
confident
program
approach
firm
comfortable
equipment

Fourth Grade Spelling: Sarah Plain and Tall

1.  boiled
2.  annoyed
3.  choices
4.  poison
5.  employer
6.  joining
7.  spoiled
8.  voices
9.  destroyed
10.  pointing
11.  avoided
12.  enjoying
13.  employee
14.  voyage
15.  appointed
16.  poisonous
17.  foil
18.  loyal
19.  noisy
20.  disappointed

Bonus Words
alarmed
windbreak
conch
paddock
rustle

TEST

TEST

Teacher's note October 27, 2014

The Fall Festival was absolutely fantastic!  Our PTSA did an outstanding job organizing and providing a wide variety of activities for all of us to enjoy. It was fun seeing many of you at the festival and the kids looked super cute in their costumes.  A great big thanks to our PTSA for all their efforts for this very successful activity. 

Thursday afternoon my class and the other fourth graders will have a 30 in 3 celebration.  Any student that correctly answered the 30 multiplication facts in 3 minutes will be invited to participate in a special P.E. or art activity. Any student that does not pass 30 in 3 will work on learning those multiplication facts. The purpose of the celebration is to motivate the students to memorize those facts.  The kids will need to show determination and perseverance - they can do it!

This may be a disappointing week for some of my third graders.  Mrs. Gregory's and Mrs. Hall's classes will be going to Camp Cooper on Tuesday.  They will spend the night and return on Wednesday.  The circumstances do not allow my students to participate.  I am sincerely sorry if your son or daughter feels disappointed for not being able to attend Camp Cooper. 

This week is Red Ribbon and spirit week at Soleng Tom.  I listed below the activities our student council has planned for us and encourage everyone to participate.  The message to say no to drugs is  very important. 

My third graders will not have spelling or vocabulary words this week.  Our time will be spent researching a dinosaur and reading A Magic Tree House book.  I loved the fables they wrote last week! 

The fourth graders have a biography book report due in two weeks.  The kids should be reading their book during read to self in class and at home for their reading log. Please ask your son or daughter how they are doing on reading the book. This week I will send home the directions for the biography book report.

Our seeds sprouted and have been placed in hydroponics for us to continue to observe the growth and development.  The kids seem to enjoy observing the changes, but do not care for the odor of the sprouters.   

May we all have a wonderful week!

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa  

Spirit Week/Red Ribbon Week Schedule

Monday - Sock it to Drugs - wear crazy socks!
Tuesday - Band Against Drugs - wear a head band or bandana.
Wednesday - Turn You Back on Drugs - wear a shirt backwards.
Thursday - Shade Out Drugs - wear sunglasses.
Friday - Redhead Day - wear a red hat, bandana or wig.

Homework week of October 27, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - Scholastic News, math 37 and reading log
Tuesday - finish math 39 - 42 and reading log
Wednesday - practice 30 in 3, math 45 & 46 and reading log
Thursday - RAZ-Kids for twenty minutes, math 47 & 48 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 42 & 43, math page 36 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 39 & 41, finish math 37 -39, and reading log
Wednesday - reading 9 & 10, math 44 - 46, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 49 & 50 and reading log

Fourth Grade Spelling: How to Babysit an Orangutan

1.  ground
2.  frown
3.  downtown
4.  bounced
5.  council
6.  about
7.  scout
8.  counter
9.  background
10.  amount
11.  bound
12.  shower
13.  mountain
14.  county
15.  thousand
16.  allowance
17.  counselor
18.  discount
19.  countless
20.  rebound

Bonus words
displeasure
jealous
endangered
smuggled
facial
coordination

Teacher's note October 20, 2014

Did you hear the great news that Soleng Tom Elementary won the district competition for the highest percentage of attendance?  Our attendance rate was 97%.  A trophy will be on display in the office and a flag will be flown outside.  The attendance flag is a traveling award and we will try to have the highest attendance again.  The important part of the contest is that kids are not missing instruction  and learning opportunities.  Thank you for encouraging your children to attend school.

Saturday afternoon is the Fall Festival at Soleng Tom from 3:00 to 6:00.  Our awesome PTSA has put in a tremendous amount of effort and generated wonderful activities for everyone.  I plan on attending and hopefully many of you can attend too!  It definitely seems like an activity you do not want to miss. 

Picture retakes are scheduled for Wednesday morning.  Only the students that want a retake will be photographed this Wednesday. 

The fourth graders have a biography book report coming up in November.  On Monday we will go to the library and make sure each fourth grader has an appropriate book for their report.  You can ask on Monday evening who your son or daughter chose to read about. 

The third graders will be writing fables this week.  Last week we discussed the writing project and brainstormed ideas.  Now it is time to write the rough draft, revise, edit and write the final copy.  The final copy will be due on Thursday. 

Fourth graders will be researching a Greek God or Goddess and writing a two or three paragraph summary.  Then they will print images depicting their God or Goddess.  Both the summary and the images will be attached to a 12 by 18 piece of construction paper for display in our room.  The poster is due on Thursday.

Third graders will be working on three digit plus three digit addition this week.  We set a goal last week to collect a 1,000 rubber bands.  Joseph was extremely generous and we already have more than 1,200 rubber bands.  This unit is meant to help students understand how much is one thousand and place value in the base ten system. 

The fourth graders will learn division strategies this week.  We will use multiplication to solve division problems.  Plus the students will be shown the strategies Go With What You Know and the standard algorithm.  I will send home notes of the different strategies for you to see. 

I sincerely hope this is a wonderful week of learning opportunities for each of us.

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa  

Homework week of October 20, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - vocabulary 41 & 42, math 17 & 18, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 36 & 37, finish math 21-24, and reading log
Wednesday - idioms, math 28 & 29, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 33 & 34, and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 38 & 39, math 104 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 36 and sort, math 23 & 24 and reading log
Wednesday - idioms, math 27 & 28 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, finish math 29 - 31 and reading log

Third Grade Spelling: Little Grunt and The Big Egg

1.  joyful
2.  choice
3.  voice
4.  joint
5.  moist
6.  spoil
7.  royal
8.  annoy
9.  noise
10.  employ
11.  soil
12.  loyal
13.  boiled
14.  destroy
15.  pointy

Bonus words
brunch
erupting
omelet
lava
peaceful
escape

Fourth Grade Spelling: Garden of Happiness

1.  curve
2.  learned
3.  curly
4.  pearl
5.  purse
6.  further
7.  turtle
8.  urgent
9.  burning
10.  hurried
11.  earth
12.  earned
13.  purpose
14.  surface
15.  overheard
16.  rehearse
17.  current
18.  disturb
19.  furniture
20.  research

Bonus words
inhaled
lavender
mural
skidded
haze

Teacher's Note October 13, 2014

Welcome back to the second quarter of this school year! I'm looking forward to the learning opportunities we have planned.  I also hope you enjoyed a wonderful Fall Break - I sure did as my husband and I spent eight days in Germany.  I will share some of the information I learned from our trip with the class. 

The first quarter progress reports where ready to send home Monday with the Dragon Folders.  I hope you have the opportunity to read through the report and comments.  Please sign the back of the envelope and return it empty.  Let me know if you have questions or concerns and I will be happy to contact you and discuss the topics.

I have decided to have my class participate in the fourth grade Strive for Excellence Assemblies.  I enjoy describing the evidence on why I selected each student for the award.  The seven students that will receive an award this quarter had an invitation placed in their progress report envelope.  Each student will be honored once during the school year.

The informational reading texts we will be reading this week are very interesting!  Third grade will read about a nature photographer and fourth grade about saving baby pufflings.  I predict the kids are going to love these selections. 

Both grades are starting fresh in a new math unit this quarter.  Third grade will be working on understanding place value to one thousand and addition and subtraction strategies. Fourth grade is on to multi digit multiplication.  We will become efficient at multiplying one digit times four digit numbers.  Students definitely will find this unit much easier if they have their multiplication facts memorized.  Please continue to help your son or daughter master their multiplication facts. 

Science is about to get far more lively!   We will start sprouting plants to observe and record the change and growth that occurs.  Our long term goal will be to have a seed grow until it can produce another seed to restart the cycle - wish us luck! 

I am excited to see the kids and hear about their adventures over Fall Break.

Take care,
Mrs. Figueroa 

Homework week of October 13, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - vocabulary 37, math page 2 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 33 & 34, math page 5 and reading log
Wednesday - analogies 11 & 12, math page 9 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math page 12 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 33 & 34, math 3 & 4 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 33 & 34, math pages 5 & 6, and reading log
Wednesday - analogies 11 & 12, math 8 & 9, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 13 & 14 and reading log

Third grade spelling: Wild Shots, They're My Life

1.  space
2.  stage
3.  huge
4.  fence
5.  price
6.  police
7.  office
8.  engine
9.  badge
10.  pencil
11.  excite
12.  force
13.  range
14.  ginger
15.  giraffe

Bonus words
creature
marine
survived
delicate
curious
collapsed

Fourth grade list: Nights of The Pufflings

1.  cared
2.  dairy
3.  unfair
4.  rarely
5.  stared
6.  dared
7.  glare
8.  airplanes
9.  barely
10.  farewell
11.  software
12.  staircase
13.  everywhere
14.  declare
15.  square
16.  therefore
17.  despair
18.  prepared
19.  beware
20.  repair

Bonus words
uninhabited
burrows
venture
stranded
nestles
instinctively

Teacher's note September 29, 2014

The All Star team is fortunate to have fantastic parent support!  I base that statement on the fact that every child had at least one parent/adult and often the entire family attend parent teacher conferences!  I appreciate your time to attend the conference and especially the daily support in homework. 

It was also great to see so many grandparents able to make the grandparents luncheon.  We had a team meeting after lunch and let the children share their thoughts about eating lunch with their family.  It was very heart warming to hear the children share their feelings.  Please express our thanks to the grandparents.

This week we have benchmark testing in reading, writing and math.  Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 is scheduled assessments. Students may have additional time if needed.  The testing has a dual purpose.  First, we will know how each child is doing in reading, writing and math.  Second, I will know what I need to teach or reteach.  I want the kids to have a calm confidence as they test.  I will be testing my third graders, Mrs. Damek will test my fourth graders, and Mrs. Leon will test my students with an IEP, Individual Education Plan. 

Fourth grade will read The Emperor's Kite from our anthology - it is a very cute folk tale.  Fourth grade will have spelling and vocabulary words this week. 

Third grade will spend their time reading fables and writing their own fable.  Both grades will learn how to use quotation marks correctly. 

This is a week of assessments. Wednesday all of my students will take a math assessment.  Third graders take a multiplication and division test and fourth graders do an addition and subtraction assessment.  It will actually be good timing for us to start a fresh math unit when we return from Fall Break.

Thursday is our Technology Day - at last!  The kids will be able to spend 1 - 2 hours enjoying  technology.  I need a few more permission slips.  I will talk with the class about not bringing any device to school with out your permission. 

Can you believe we are already at the end of the first quarter? Friday is a teacher grading day and the kids can get started on their Fall Break.  The kids do not come to school Friday. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Fall Break and I look forward to second quarter!

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of September 29, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - Raz-Kids 20 minutes, math page 50 and reading log
Tuesday - multiplication memorization, math page 70, and reading log
Wednesday - edit fable, multiplication memorization and reading log
Thursday - Enjoy your Fall Break!!!!

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 29, math 67 - 69 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 30 & 32, study guide, and reading log
Wednesday - study spelling words, multiplication memorization and reading log

Spelling list: September 29, 2014

Third grade
No spelling or vocabulary words this week!

Fourth Grade
1.  pour
2.  orbit
3.  fourth
4.  source
5.  sports
6.  forward
7.  force
8.  order
9.  wore
10.  yourself
11.  support
12.  sore
13.  orange
14.  anymore
15.  ignore
16.  portrait
17.  border
18.  course
19.  tornado
20.  your

Bonus words
insignificant
plotting
twined
steely
encircling
loyal
neglected
unyielding

Teacher's note September 22, 2014

We have an exciting week ahead of us.  As you know, we have Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  The students will be dismissed at 11:40.  I absolutely want the student to attend the conference and participate in the conversation.  Please decide in advance if you want your son or daughter to purchase a school lunch on the three days they will be dismissed at 11:40.  I look forward to our time to discuss your child's progress and get to know each other better. 

One of our favorite days of the school year will be Friday - Grandparents Luncheon!  The kids are always thrilled to have their grandparents come and eat lunch with them.  I expect this year's luncheon will be as wonderful as ever. 

Please return the federal aid cards that were sent in last week's Dragon Folder if you have not already done so.  Many of my students have not returned the form yet. 

The kids have earned 50 class points and have decided to "spend" them  on a technology day.  Mr. Dotson gave us permission to bring our electronic devices to school to use that day.  Now the students need your permission in order to bring their electronic device to school.  A written permission form will be sent home in the Dragon Folder for you to sign and return.  Students that do not bring a device will be allowed to use our classroom computers.  I decided on Thursday, October 2 as our Technology Day.

We will not have spelling or vocabulary words this week.  Instead our time will be used doing a variety of writing and reading activities.  All of my class will be writing a letter to one of their favorite people this week and reading fables and myths.  My third graders will write a fable and the fourth graders will research and write about a Greek god or goddess.  I'm excited about the activities we have planned!

The third grade will begin to study division this week.  They will learn how multiplication relates to division and fact families.  We will be working on writing and illustrating multiplication and division story problems.     

The fourth grade will focus on subtraction strategies.  We should be efficient subtracting with an open number line, breaking apart the numbers and the standard algorithm.  The kids will also use a number line to determine elapsed time. 

May we all have wonderful learning experiences this week!

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of September 22, 2014

Third grade
Monday - 20 minutes on Raz-Kids, math  page 41, memorize 7s and reading log
Tuesday - multiplication story on computer, math 44, memorize 8s and reading log
Wednesday - Fox and Grapes, division story on computer, memorize 12s and reading log
Thursday - finish letter, math page 47 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - 20 minutes on Raz-Kids, math 53 & 54, memorize 7s and reading log
Tuesday - analogies, math 57 & 59, memorize 8s and reading log
Wednesday - Fox and Grapes, math 61, memorize 12s and reading log
Thursday - finish letter, math C25-27, and reading log

Teacher's Note September 15, 2014

Please be aware that next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 22-24, are Parent Teacher Conference Days.  The students will be dismissed at 11:40 those three days.  Sack lunches will be available in the cafeteria if you want your son or daughter to eat at school.  I will send home a note reminding you of the time you signed up for conference.  I absolutely want the student at the conference.  The students will have an opportunity to tell us how they think they are doing in reading, writing, math and behavior. I enjoy the conferences and getting to know the students and parents better.  I look forward to our thirty minutes together!

The third graders finished presenting their Flat Stanley book reports and did a good job!  Their book reports should be on display in the hall very soon!  The grade on the book report will be in Monday's Dragon Folder. 

On Friday the fourth grade fiction book reports are due.  The t- shirt paper is ready for the students to take home and add their information to the front and back.  Students should take their time and do their very best on the book report.  Please make sure the words are easily read.  Friday the fourth graders will present their book report to the class.  If a student finishes ahead of schedule, they may present before Friday. 

Is your son or daughter having a great Tucson adventure with their Flat _______________?  On Friday, September 12 our own versions of Flat Stanley were sent home with the children to have an adventure.  All of the third graders will participate in the Flat Stanley project and the fourth graders were given a choice whether or not they want to participate.  Please read the parent letters sent home in the Flat Stanley folder and help your son or daughter write an address of someone you know will participate.  We hope to address the envelopes in school on Monday and send our Flat _______ on their great adventures.  Thanks for your help!

I'm excited to read our selection out of the anthologies this week.  Third grade will read informational text about Balto, the dog who saved Nome.  Fourth grade will read a play titled The Baker's Neighbor.  All of use will work on understanding cause and effect relationships. 

My third grade All Stars will be improving our skills in telling time, determining elapsed time, and understanding dimensions and area this week.  Fourth grade will be working on rounding, greater than, less than and equal too numbers up to one million.  They finished their 10,000 chart and have it hanging in the back of our room.  They will be using addition strategies with larger numbers. 

I hope we all have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of September 15, 2014

Third grade
Monday - vocabulary 31 & 32, math 27 & 28, memorize 10s and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 30 & 32, Telling Time, memorize 11s and reading log
Wednesday - math page 157, memorize 9s and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math page 35 and reading log


Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 24 & 25, math 19 & 20, memorize 10s and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 27 & 28, math 43 & 44, memorize 11s, and reading log
Wednesday - work on fiction book report, addition practice, memorize 9s, and reading log
Thursday - finish fiction book report, study spelling words, memorize 6s, and reading log
 

Spelling lists September 15, 2014

Third grade
1. shot
2.  chance
3.  match
4.  watch
5.  showed
6.  shock
7.  pushed
8.  such
9.  crash
10.  chew
11.  batch
12.  hitched
13.  sharp
14.  mush
15.  speech

Bonus words
telegraph
drifts
temperature
guided
trail
splinters


Fourth grade
1.  carved
2.  garden
3.  harm
4.  farther
5.  barked
6.  alarm
7.  chart
8.  starved
9.  harder
10.  parked
11.  smartest
12.  charge
13.  guard
14.  argument
15.  hardware
16.  garbage
17.  harsh
18.  parts
19.  radar
20.  harbor

Bonus words
ad lib
shiftless
luxury
privilege
elated
shamefacedly
indignantly
assent

Teacher's Note September 8, 2014

I started reading the class The Lightning Thief, but I have decided not to read the rest of the book aloud.  It was making some of our All Stars uncomfortable.  There are so many wonderful books to read, so I will select one all of us will enjoy.

Friday we had time to listen to two great Flat Stanley book reports.  Monday afternoon more students will present their report.  Now we will start on the project portion of Flat Stanley.  The kids will decorate their own Flat Stanley and take them on a "Tucson  Adventure".  Please look for the Flat Stanley information at the end of this week.  Fourth graders have the option of participating in Flat Stanley this year if they desire.  We will be interested to see where he will go on his adventures. 

Fourth grade should be reading a fiction book for their book report due on September 19.  I made a mistake in last week's teacher's note and wrote the book report was due on September 12.  My apologies - they are due on the 19th.   Students were given the instructions for this book report and the paper for the final copy will be available soon. 

We have exciting stories to read this week!  All of the All Stars will read Pandora's Box.  The third grade will read Turtle Bay and fourth grade Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. We will be learning about author's purpose and locating information as we read our selections. 

The third grade will be working on multiplication facts, noticing patterns, and writing stories.  Fourth grade will be building a 10,000 chart!  We should have a better understanding of place value and base ten by the end of the week. 

I am asking for your help as your son or daughter memorizes their multiplication facts up to twelve.  Each night I will assign a number to memorize the multiplication facts.  If you feel your child is fluent with the math facts for that number, sign the paper glued into the front of their planner.  You may go ahead of schedule, but let's make sure the kids have their facts memorized.  I appreciate your assistance.  Students will be given a homework freebie once they have memorized all of their facts to 12. 

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings by 7:50 I will be available for tutoring in my room.  The tutoring is meant for those we need a little more assistance.  It is not a social time or an excuse not to do homework.  Any All Star that would like help with a concept is invited to attend tutoring. 

I hope we all have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of September 8, 2014

Third grade
Monday - vocabulary page 26, math 17 & 18, memorize 1s and 2s, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 27 & 29, math 21 & 23, memorize 3s and reading log
Wednesday - Author's purpose 27 & 28, math 24, memorize 4s and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 25 & 26, memorize 5s and reading log

Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 19, math 32 & 33, memorize 1s and 2s, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 22 & 24, math page 35, memorize 3s and reading log
Wednesday - Locate information 20 & 21, math 36 & 37, memorize 4s and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 39 & 40, memorize 5s and reading log

Spelling Lists - September 8, 2014

Third - Turtle Bay
1.  known
2.  written
3.  laugh
4.  sphere
5.  wreck
6.  writer
7.  wrong
8.  wrap
9.  wrench
10.  knocked
11.  knot
12.  wring
13.  enough
14.  rough
15.  wrinkle

Bonus Words
message
litter
trained
patiently
wise
eager

Fourth - Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride
1.  loop
2.  wounded
3.  shoot
4.  booth
5.  broom
6.  boost
7.  mood
8.  fooling
9.  afternoon
10.  room
11.  smooth
12.  tooth
13.  raccoon
14.  bloomed
15.  souvenir
16.  routine
17.  roofs
18.  loose
19.  coop
20.  stoop

Bonus words
outspoken
practical
brisk
elegant
elevations
miniatures
starstruck
marveled

Teacher's Note September 2, 2014

I hope your Labor Day weekend was very enjoyable - mine was!

This Wednesday will be picture day for the entire school.  Everyone will have their picture taken for the yearbook and lunch cards.  Purchasing pictures is optional and should be paid in advance.  I will make sure we do not go to P.E. until after the photos are taken.

Parent Link phone notifications start this week.  Please read the information sheet that will be in Tuesday's Dragon Folder for far more information.  Basically it is a computer program to help keep parents informed. 

Soleng Tom is in the process of forming this year's site council members.  Both the third grade and fourth grade have a position available for parents.  It is a great way to hear first hand what is happening at the school and help make decisions.  The site council will meet at least four times per year and more often as necessary.  Please let me know if you are interested in running for the position and I will send you the form to complete.  I believe candidates need to hand in their form by this Friday in order to be on the ballot. 

The third graders get to do their Flat Stanley book report this week!  An example and Flat Stanley form will be given to the kids on Tuesday.  The kids have been reading a Flat Stanley book in class and should be ready to start the book report.  I expect the kids to use their best effort in writing and decorating Flat Stanley.  The coloring should be light enough that the words are easily read.  Each third grader will present their book report to the class on Friday.  I expect them to hold their Flat Stanley and a copy of the book they read.  The presentation should only be about three minutes long.  I'm excited to see the book reports and hear the presentations!

Fourth graders will receive the fiction book report directions and expectations on Tuesday too.  Their first book report will be due on September 12 and should reflect their best effort.  Fourth graders will also present their book to the class and should plan on talking about three minutes to describe the important events in their book.

We are starting Greek mythology this week.  I think the kids will love studying mythology.  This week we will read The Midas Touch and I will read aloud The Lightning Thief.  The next month we should know far more about Greek mythology. 

This week our third graders will be studying multiplication, skip counting, telling time and elapsed time.  The fourth graders will be working on addition and subtraction strategies and place value to ten thousand. 

I suppose that is enough information for this week. :)  Thank you for taking the time to read this note. 

Take care,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of September 2, 2014

Third grade
Tuesday - vocabulary 20, finish math 4 - 7, and reading log
Wednesday - Elements of Nonfiction 21 & 22, math page 9, and reading log
Thursday - finish Flat Stanley, study spelling, math 11 & 12 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Tuesday - finish vocabulary quilt, math 18 & 19 and reading log
Wednesday - alphabetize spelling words, finish math 21 - 23, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 27 & 28 and reading log

Third grade spelling: The Olympic Games

1.  least
2.  fast
3.  just
4.  burst
5.  strip
6.  stick
7.  strike
8.  artist
9.  almost
10.  student
11.  strong
12.  start
13.  blast
14.  step
15.  street

Bonus words
news story
article
newsletter
biography
magazine
informational

Fourth grade spelling: The Golden Touch

1.  Midas
2.  powerful
3.  granting
4.  wealth
5.  reconsider
6.  statue
7.  golden
8.  foolish
9.  punished
10.  curse
11.  realized
12.  sobbing
13.  sprouted
14.  request
15.  assistance
16.  fulfill
17.  treasure
18.  demanded
19.  important
20.  reminder 

Bonus words
satyr
console
sprung
sentiment
disbelief
goblet
starve
pitied 

Teacher's note August 25, 2014

Mrs. Saavedra has been a wonderful addition to our All Star team!  She just completed her first week of helping individual students, working with small groups, and preparing materials for future lessons.  She will be in our class from 8:30 until 10:30 each school day and is an outstanding teacher's assistant. 

The fourth grade unit 1 math assessment will be in the Dragon Folder for you to see how your son or daughter understood the concepts.  Please review the test with your child.  I will review the concepts with the students who need a little more practice and then they have another chance to show mastery. 
Fourth grade will begin to study the base ten system to the 1,000s, addition and subtraction strategies.  Monday they will make a 1,000 book! 

The third graders will be taking their unit 1 assessment on Tuesday.  I hope they have a solid understanding of how to make a 100, counting change, writing equations and using a  number line to
add.  I would appreciate your help reviewing these topics with your son or daughter.  Next the third graders will start a multiplication unit and understanding equal groups. 

I now have a variety of reading data such as class assessments and Dibels testing to inform me of each student's strengths and areas for improvement.  We will address the areas that need improvement.  The kids are doing a fabulous job on their reading logs!  If they continue reading far more than required, we can only imagine the growth!

School pictures are coming up the first week in September. Picture information will be in Monday's Dragon Folder. Everyone will have their picture taken for the yearbook and lunch cards.  If you wish to purchase pictures, please return the order and check on or before picture day.  I'm sure the kids will look terrific!

You probably already have exciting plans for Labor Day weekend.  We will not have school on Monday, September 1 due to the holiday.  Enjoy your three day weekend!

Take care,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of August 25, 2014

Third grade homework
Monday - vocabulary 16, math 39 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 19 & 21, math page 14 and reading log
Wednesday - language 18, math 26, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, edit paragraph, math page 2 and reading log

Fourth grade homework
Monday - vocabulary 15 & 16, math 1 & 2 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 19 & 21, math 3 & 4, and reading log
Wednesday - prefixes, math 6 & 7, reading log
Thursday - study spelling, edit paragraph, math 11 & 12 and reading log




  

Third Grade Spelling: Allie's Basketball Dream

1.  tight
2.  while
3.  show
4.  stone
5.  bright
6.  whole
7.  window
8.  time
9.  follow
10.  close
11.  flight
12.  tide
13.  grow
14.  broke
15.  below

Bonus words
aimed
captain
monitor
pretended
professional
familiar

Fourth Grade Spelling: Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man

1.  those
2.  coach
2.  solid
4.  include
5.  crew
6.  plus
7.  operate
8.  broke
9.  upset
10.  tune
11.  June
12.  floating
13.  plume
14.  renew
15.  husband
16.  honor
17.  smoke
18.  conflict
19.  stew
20.  thunder

Bonus words
immigrants
salary
modest
valuable
appreciation
courageous
tremendous
sportsmanship

Teacher's note August 18, 2014

Thank you to all of you that were able to attend Curriculum Night last Tuesday - I appreciate your time.  For those who weren't able to attend, the Curriculum Night hand outs will be placed in the Dragon Folder for you to see.  I am pleased to let you know the All Stars now have two Classroom Event Organizers, CEOs.  Mrs. Mourreale and Mrs. Olson have agreed to be co-CEOs.  Mrs. Christiansen has been kind enough to volunteer to  stuff the Dragon Folders for us on Mondays. Thank you ladies!

I had a couple of great questions that we did not discuss Tuesday evening.  Should the parents sign the planners each evening?  Yes, I would like to ask a parent to sign your child's planner each night Monday through Thursday.  I want us all to work as a team and keep informed as to what is happening in the class and with your child.  The second question was when is homework turned in?  I needed to adjust the routine.  Homework will be collected first thing in the morning.  I will decide if each assignment should be graded in class, I grade it, or it receives a check meaning I checked to see if the assignment was completed. 

Congratulations to Cailyn and Danitza for being selected as third grade student council representatives and Audrey and Caitlin for winning the fourth grade election.  I am sure all four students will use their leadership skills in student council.

The third grade will be working on counting and adding coins this week.  Perhaps you have coins in a piggy bank or pocket that they can practice counting and adding.  Maybe you can even let them handle the money at a place of business.  Nothing like real experiences to teach a lesson.  :)

The fourth grade will be completing their first multiplication unit and taking a test on Thursday. Wednesday night's study guide is a great review for the test.  Parents may want to check over the study guide to see if your son or daughter seems confident with the concepts. 

I am excited to have Mrs. Saavedra join our All Star team this week! 

Thank you for taking the time to read this communication and supporting your child's education.

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa    

Third grade spelling: Nate the Great, San Francisco Detective

1.  easy
2.  grade
3.  meet
4.  late
5.  seat
6.  saved
7.  pail
8.  these
9.  reach
10.  name
11.  raise
12.  leave
13.  gain
14.  theme
15.  scream

Bonus words
case
detective
specific
returned
assistant
positive
definitely

Fourth grade spelling: My Name is Maria Isabel

1.  mine
2.  tie
3.  wild
4.  type
5.  smile
6.  drive
7.  size
8.  blind
9.  visit
10.  thick
11.  die
12.  prize
13.  fifty
14.  picnic
15.  arrived
16.  decide
17.  child
18.  civil
19.  divide
20.  library

Bonus words
pageant
rehearsals
restless
troublesome
tropical
attentively

Teacher's Note August 11, 2014

I would like to invite you to Curriculum Night this Tuesday.  We will meet in our classroom from 6:50 until 7:30.  The conversation will be directed towards the adults, but the students are welcome if they want to hear the information too.  I do plan on sharing a vast amount of information and hope to use your time wisely.  I have even offered the students a homework freebie if they can convince an adult to attend.  I honestly feel Curriculum Night is a terrific investment  for a successful school year. 

We started our language arts, math, science and social studies curriculum last week.  Also, our resource and speech teachers set their schedule and began working with students.  This week we add music, Mrs. Damek, computer lab, library, orchestra and GATE into the schedule.  We continue to adjust the schedule to meet the needs of our students.  School is far more exciting once our special activities are included. 

We have excellent news!  Mrs. Saavedra has been hired as a teacher's aide to work with the students in my combination class two hours per day.  She is an experienced teacher's aide and a very kind person.  I am tickled pink to  have her in the classroom with my All Stars.  Mrs. Saavedra will start on August 18.

Tuesday night we will discuss curriculum in detail.  Let me just write a brief note about what will be taught this week.  Third graders will continue to work on addition strategies, move into the hundreds and addition fluency.  Fourth graders will work on understanding factors, multiples and multiplication facts.  All of my All Stars will study narrative elements, root words, prefixes and suffixes this week. 

I have been impressed with your children and hope to see you at Curriculum Night.  

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of August 11, 2014

Third Grade
Monday - vocabulary 5, math 29 & 30 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 13 & 15, math 33 & 34 and reading log
Wednesday - narrative elements 6 & 7, math 35 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 37 and reading log

Fourth Grade
Monday - vocabulary 6, math 16 - 18 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 13 & 15, math page 20 & study multiplication facts, and reading log
Wednesday - language 7 & 8, math 23 & 24 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 25 & 26 and reading log

Third Grade Spelling: Pepita Talks Twice

1.  slip
2.  fish
3.  pick
4.  rocks
5.  lunch
6.  gift
7.  thing
8.  inch
9.  truck
10.  pond
11.  from
12.  jump
13.  socks
14.  dish
15.  thump

Bonus words
grumble
exploded
languages
mumbled
streak
stubborn
darted

Fourth Grade Spelling: Donavan's Word Jar

1.  asleep
2.  empty
3.  queen
4.  deal
5.  needed
6.  spelling
7.  east
8.  feelings
9.  tea
10.  keeping
11.  beneath
12.  agree
13.  elevator
14.  coffee
15.  suggested
16.  method
17.  feature
18.  metal
19.  disease
20.  television

Bonus words
uneasy
disappointment
compromise
perseverance
leisure
chortle

Teacher's Note August 4, 2014

I was extremely pleased with the beginning of the school year.  We had perfect attendance the first two days of school! Our cabinets are teeming with supplies for the school year and almost everyone has handed in the mountain of paperwork that was in the Dragon Folder.  My All Stars seem very kind and caring.  I had to smile when a fourth grade student was describing a third grader and said, "I really like _____.  We are friends and work well together."  During our Friday afternoon class meeting the majority of the kids stated the best part of the week was meeting so many new friends! Again, I had to smile. 

Please save next Tuesday, August 12 for Curriculum Night.  We will meet in our classroom from 6:50 until 7:30 and share as much information as possible in that short amount of time.  I believe it will be worth your time to attend.  Your son or daughter will receive a homework freebie coupon if you come. 

We have many learning opportunities planned for this week.  All of us will be working on vocabulary, complete sentences, narrative elements and writing a personal narrative during language arts.  The third graders will write about a time they could not stop laughing and the fourth grade prompt is to describe a challenge they faced.  The students may ask you to edit their personal narrative on Thursday evening. 

Third graders are studying place value and addition and subtraction strategies.  They will have an opportunity to use pictures, number lines, and the algorithm to solve math problems.  The kids already have modeled three or four different addition strategies that they can use. Third graders will be working on their fluency with addition and subtraction facts. 

The fourth graders will be building arrays to find the factors of a given number.  They should have a solid understanding of arrays, dimensions, prime, composite and square numbers by the end of the week.  They will be working on memorizing their multiplication facts through 12. 

That is probably enough information for now! Thank you for reading this blog entry and I look forward  to working with your child this school year. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of August 4, 2014

Third Grade

Monday - vocabulary, math pages 11 & 12 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling, math page 14 and reading log
Wednesday - language , math 17 & 18 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, addition practice and reading log

Fourth Grade

Monday - vocabulary, math pages 4 & 5 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling, math pages 6 & 8 and reading log
Wednesday - language, math 13 & 14 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math pages 13 & 14 and reading log

Third Grade Spelling: Officer Buckle and Gloria

1.  sat
2.  felt
3.  last
4.  send
5.  next
6.  best
7.  went
8.  hand
9.  stand
10.  past
11.  grand
12.  stamp
13.  belt
14.  lend
15.  checked

Bonus words
department
expression
obeys
accident
commands
noticed
audience

4th Grade Spelling: The Gardner

1.  played
2.  escape
3.  thank
4.  subway
5.  gray
6.  safely
7.  mistake
8.  greatest
9.  break
10.  after
11.  planting
12.  scratch
13.  address
14.  holiday
15.  natural
16.  paragraph
17.  blanket
18.  capital
19.  taken
20.  cabin

Bonus words
anxious
recognizing
adore
vacant
sprucing
retire

Teacher's Note July 29, 2014

I am so excited to meet my All Stars and their parents at Pop In!  We can share information with each other and prepare for a wonderful year!  I will see you soon.

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Teacher's note May 19, 2014

I thought our field trip to the U of A and Ben's Bells went well on Friday.  Thank you to Mrs. Tapia, Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Neilson, Mr. Mourelatos, Mr. Folkerts and Mr. Warren for providing transportation and supervision.  Hopefully your son or daughter told you about the field trip. 

It is hard to believe that we are down to the last week of the school year.  Thank you for your support the entire year- it made my year far more enjoyable.  Our entire class will be fifth graders next year and I sincerely wish each student continued success.  It has been my pleasure to have them in our All Star class. 

Please make sure your son or daughter has turned in library books and the math handbook. 

We still have work to do this week.  We have been working on our poetry books for about a month.  I hope the kids have been keeping up with their poems.  The book should include at least 25 poems, a cover and table of contents. Of course, it should represent the student's best effort.  The books are due on Tuesday morning. We will share the poetry books with our class on Tuesday. Wednesday all the fourth graders will gather for Pastries and Poetry.  After the kids share their poems with their peers then we will enjoy delicious pastries.  The kids absolutely need their poetry book on Wednesday. 

Monday afternoon there is an assembly to listen to the candidates running for a student council office.  Good luck to all of our class members brave enough to run for office!

Tuesday at 9:15 is the fourth grade Strive for Excellence Assembly.  If you received an invitation last Monday, I hope you will be able to attend and cheer for your son or daughter as the award is received.

The yearbooks are scheduled to be distributed on Wednesday. Thursday morning the third through fifth graders will gather in the cafeteria to sign yearbooks. I will provide special sheets of paper for those students who did not purchase a yearbook.  Everyone will have an opportunity to have their friends write them encouraging words. 

Progress reports will be sent home with the students on Thursday afternoon. 

Thanks again for a wonderful year.  May we all continue to grow, reach and succeed!

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of May 19, 2014

Monday - finish poetry book, math 19 & 20 and reading log
Tuesday - If not done, finish poetry book and math 24 & 25

Teacher's note May 12, 2014

Last Friday afternoon in walked Xiah's mom, our CEO, with two beautiful bags in her hands.  I opened the gifts to discover a beautiful silver book mark and a gorgeous silver snow globe from Things Remembered.  Both of the items had my name engraved on them.  Thank you for donating to the group class gifts.  You are very generous and have been supportive all year. Please accept my sincere thanks.

Monday morning we have a special presentation titled Too Good To Throw Away.  It correlates with our Changing Earth science unit and encourages us to reduce, reuse or recycle.  I think it is very informative and persuasive. 

Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 will be the track assembly.  The ribbons from regionals and city will be awarded to the athletes.  Parents of the track team are invited to attend if they wish. 
  
We have two wonderful events on Friday - our field trip to the U of A and the band and orchestra concert.  Our adjusted plan is to leave Soleng Tom by 8:45 in the morning, walk around the U of A, paint kind coins, eat lunch and be back at Soleng Tom by 1:00. Then we will enjoy listening to our musicians. 

It is time to return library books and the math handbook.  The math handbooks were handed out during parent teacher conferences to the families who wanted a reference book at home.  Please return all the school books as soon as possible. 

We did not take the unit two math test on Friday.  We need to review organized lists and vertex edge graphs.  I think we can review and take the test on Monday.  Then we will finish the year studying three dimensional geometry. 

This week we will put a great deal of effort into our poetry unit.  The kids will be writing nature, concrete and free choice poems.  They will be producing their final copy at home for their homework.  The completed poetry book will be due next Tuesday.  The entire fourth grade will enjoy Poetry and Pastries together on Wednesday, May 21. 

I hope this is a wonderful week full of learning activities to help us grow, reach and succeed. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of May 12, 2014

Monday - vocabulary 131 & 132, type I Do Not Understand and cinquain poetry and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 107 & 109, math pages 2 & 3, and reading log
Wednesday - study spelling words, math page 6, type haiku, acrostic and  nature poems
Thursday - math 8 & 9, work on  nature and free choice poems, and reading log
Friday - work on poetry if necessary

Spelling list: The Down and Up Fall

1.  difficult
2.  probably
3.  beginning
4.  direction
5.  discover
6.  excellent
7.  important
8.  imagine
9.  energy
10.  remember
11.  different
12.  another
13.  beautiful
14.  dangerous
15.  government
16.  interest
17.  becoming
18.  description
19.  engineer
20.  wonderful

Bonus words
transformed
investigate
enthusiastically
decor
apparently
corridor

Teacher's note May 5, 2014

Wow!  The kids had terrific nonfiction book reports! I was impressed with the creativity, information and confidence the students demonstrated.  Monday we will enjoy the rest of presentations that did not get an opportunity on Friday. 

Thank you for the outstanding response to drive to the U of A on May 16th.  I sent the letter home on Monday and by Wednesday we had enough drivers.  I really appreciate your support.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you Tuesday night at the Family Barbecue.  Please have the students at school by 5:15 and report to the music room.  They do not have to wear anything special for the boom whacker concert. The performance will start at 5:30 and last about 30 minutes.  The kids will help put away the boom whackers and music stands and then be free to eat and enjoy the many other attractions at the BBQ.  The Family Barbecue is one of my favorite events of the entire school year. 

In addition to Tuesday's BBQ, we have a couple more special events.  Monday morning our class will preview the Book Fair in the Library.  Thursday morning we will see the Art Bus while it is parked at Soleng Tom. 

The kids are going to love this week's reading selection "Fly Traps! Plants That Bite Back!"  It describes a variety of carnivorous plants and how they function.  We will also continue to write poetry. Next we will write acrostic, nature and concrete poems - it is an opportunity for the kids to be creative!  Wednesday evening the students will start typing their poetry at home.  Please encourage the students to put their best effort into their poetry book.  The fourth grade has planned a Poetry and Pastries  special event for May 21.  The kids will read their poems to each other and then enjoy a delicious treat!

Math is going to be interesting and fun this week as we do probability experiments and analyze the data.  The kids should have a far better understanding of probability after this week.  I am planning to give the unit two test on describing data and probability on Friday. 

Sometime in the near future I will be gone for a day or two for professional development - it is time for me to learn more!  I am going to try to arrange it on a day when I will not miss too much fun. 

I will see you Tuesday.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa 

Spelling words: Fly Traps! Plants That Bite Back!

1.  major
2.  cedar
3.  spiders
4.  locate
5.  ruler
6.  motive
7.  raven
8.  pilot
9.  silent
10.  super
11.  paper
12.  native
13.  rivals
14.  solar
15.  bison
16.  legal
17.  humor
18.  moment
19.  nature
20.  virus

Bonus words
carnivorous
boggiest
chemicals
dissolve
accidentally
fertilizer
victim

Homework week of May 5, 2014

Monday - vocabulary 127 & 128, finish math 37 - 39 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 104 & 105, math 45 & 46, and reading log
Wednesday - type biopoem and I Am poem, math 48, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 51 & 52 and reading log

Homework week of April 28, 2014

Monday - vocabulary 123 & 124, math 13 - 16, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 101 & 102, math 17 & 18, and reading log
Wednesday - math 23 & 24, work on book report, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, finish book report, math 28 & 29, and reading log

Teacher's note April 28, 2014

Congratulations to our track team who won second place in City!  Second place out of about thirty schools is excellent!  Our very own Zach, Riley, Emily, Julian and Krishawn won ribbons at City!  Way to go!

Numerous special events are scheduled that will make this week exciting!    Monday we have a special presentation titled Our Water, Our Future.  It describes the history of water use in Tucson and persuades us to use water wisely. Monday night is Soleng Tom Baskin Robbins Night.  I will be serving generous scoops from 7:00 to 7:30 and would love to be at your service.  Tuesday we will enjoy the fifth grade Jazz concert!   Wednesday the entire school will have a  practice lock down starting at 9:00 - it is a great idea to know what to do in case of an emergency. 

The fourth grade has planned a field trip to the University of Arizona and Ben's Bells on Friday, May 16.  Please read and sign the permission form in Monday's Dragon folder. We need your help providing transportation and chaperoning.  The plan is to take a walking tour of the U of A, paint kindness coins and eat a picnic.  The kids seem to be in awe as we walk through the library, computer lab and student union.  I always enjoy this field trip. 

Our final book report of the year is due this Friday.  The students can present their non fiction book report once it is completed.  I certainly hope your son or daughter has been reading and pondered what type of a book report they would like to produce.  This group of kids seem to actually enjoy presenting their book reports. 

Please continue to save Tuesday, May 6 for the Family Barbecue and the fourth grade boom whacker concert.  The kids should be at school by 5:15 pm and the concert will begin at 5:30.  They do have an impressive concert prepared. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Spelling list: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox

1.  practice
2.  members
3.  dinner
4.  suppose
5.  except
6.  problem
7.  shallow
8.  stubborn
9.  logger
10.  cotton
11.  object
12.  shelter
13.  distance
14.  pattern
15.  captive
16.  publish
17.  sitting
18.  tractor
19.  servant
20.  hidden

Bonus words
bellowing
softhearted
ration
tragedy
fateful
gadgets

Teacher's note April 21, 2014

I hope everyone had a wonderful three day weekend with your family.  I also hope it was a chance for all of us to get healthy again.  There were germs passing around the school and our class.  Perhaps the long weekend gave everyone a chance to recuperate and rest.

Please save the date of Tuesday, May 6 for the Family Barbecue and the fourth grade boom whacker concert. If I remember correctly, the kids will be asked to  be at school at 5:15 to prepare for the concert.  They have learned many songs that they will sing and play with the boom whackers.  You definitely do no want to miss the concert or the Family BBQ. 

We took the unit 9 math test on graphs that show change over time and algebra.  The graded tests will be sent home in Monday's Dragon Folder.  We will continue to study graphs and line plots to make statements based on the data and using vocabulary such as mode, median, outlier, range, and cluster.  Then we will compare two sets of data and write comparison statements.  This unit is fun because we get to build so many line plots. 

Monday I will introduce a poetry unit that we will work on one poem at a time until the end of the school year.  Our focus will be selecting words that describe a very specific item, emotion or characteristic.  The beginning of the unit is very structured and progresses to less structure and more creative as we move through the unit.  The final copy will be bound in a book with a catchy title and a table of contents.  In years past, many students claim this is their favorite writing project of the entire year.  I predict our class will produce excellent poems and books. 

I want to wish our Soleng Tom track team good luck at the City meet on Saturday.  They will be competing with students from about 30 other schools.  We have seven students in our class that qualified for City.  Good luck to Johnny, Krishawn, Zach, Riley, Julian, Emily, and Ashlee - we are proud of you! 

May we all have a week full of learning opportunities. 

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of April 21, 2014

Monday - vocabulary 118 & 119, math 101- 104, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 98 & 100, math 61 & 62, and reading log
Wednesday - line graph and inferences, math 8 & 9 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 105 & 106, and reading log

Spelling list: I Have Heard of a Land

1.  some
2.  sum
3.  tale
4.  tail
5.  plains
6.  planes
7.  close
8.  clothes
9.  blew
10.  blue
11.  piece
12.  peace
13.  night
14.  knight
15.  peddle
16.  pedal
17.  sight
18.  site
19.  stake
20.  steak

Bonus words
pioneer
fertile
harmony
arbor
possibilities

Teacher's note April 14, 2014

We have completed the AIMS testing for this school year!  Thank you for the excellent attendance last week.  As far as I could observe, the students seemed to give the test their best effort.  Thank you to the many families who donated hard candy for the students to suck on during testing. 

This week we return to our weekly routine other than we do not have school on Friday.  The spelling test will be on Thursday.

We are about to conclude our math unit on graphs that show change over time.  The kids seems to have a solid understanding of the concepts and should be ready to take the unit test on Wednesday.  Our next unit is analyzing data and I expect the students will do well.  In my opinion, it is an easier unit than the one we just completed. 

Our reading selection for the week is informational text titled The Gold Rush.  As we read we will work on the skill of determining fact and opinion and review text structure.  I think the kids will enjoy learning about gold rushes. 

Student council has planned an exciting spirit week for us to enjoy that include the following days:

Monday  - Crazy Hat Day
Tuesday - Sports Day
Wednesday - Twin Day
Thursday - Crazy hair and Pajama Day

I will be participating and will encourage all of the students to do the same!

May we all have an enjoyable week full of learning opportunities.

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of April 14

Monday - vocabulary 113 & 114, math 71 & 72, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 95 & 97, math page 73 and reading log
Wednesday - fact and opinion, study spelling words and reading log
Thursday - Enjoy your three day weekend!!!!

Spelling list: The Gold Rush

1.  hasn't
2.  I've
3.  I'd
4.  we've
5.  wouldn't
6.  you'd
7.  haven't
8.  wasn't
9.  they've
10.  you've
11.  she'd
12.  didn't
13.  won't
14.  shouldn't
15.  couldn't
16.  weren't
17.  we'd
18.  hadn't
19.  they'd
20.  don't

Bonus words
beckons
abandoned
fares
rugged
profitable
multicultural
 

Teacher's note April 7, 2014

We are ready for the AIMS test and our chance to show what we know.  Monday the kids take two science tests.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be one reading and one math test each day.  Our lunch time this week will be 12:22 - 12:55.  Please be aware that on Wednesday students will be dismissed at 2:40 instead of 1:40.  Let's be  positive about the test and encourage the students to do their very best. 

The kids are happy to know that their homework this week will be their reading log and reviewing their language arts and math notebooks.  We will not have spelling or vocabulary words.  Please make sure the kids get plenty of rest this week. 

Thursday our class will start a social studies research project.  The kids will have a partner to research an Arizona topic, event or person.  The final copy will be produced using Publisher and each partnership will present their topic to the class.  The final copies will be on display as a timeline in our room.   

I hope the kids feel calm and confident about this week and the AIMS test. 

Take care,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework week of April 7, 2014

Monday - read language arts & math notebook and reading log
Tuesday - read language arts & math notebook and reading log
Wednesday - read language arts & math notebook and reading log
Thursday - reading log
Friday - Have an enjoyable weekend!

Teacher's note March 31, 2014

I was extremely pleased to be part of the Soleng Tom community on Friday.  Our track team won the regional meet and showed excellent sportsmanship!  Numerous parents helped provide transportation and work at the meet.  The fifth grade teachers shared that the students that were at school were fabulous too!  It is very heart warming to see so many people work together to achieve goals.  Thank you to everyone!

Monday morning at 8:45 will be the Striving for Excellence Assembly to honor the students receiving a problem solving or effort award. The invitations were in the progress report envelopes of the students that will be honored.  The children love when a family member can attend and watch them receive their certificate. 

I hope you are already aware that AIMS testing will be the week of April 7 - 11.  Please make sure students arrive on time and avoid any unnecessary appointments during school hours that week.  The kids will be happy to know that I will assign far less homework during AIMS. The kids have worked hard all year and now it is time to show what they know.  Let's all be positive and encouraging regarding the tests.  The fourth grade teachers will allow the students to suck on a candy during the test.  You may donate a bag of Jolly Ranchers, mints or your favorite hard candy if you wish. 

This week we will be reviewing for AIMS and continuing with our current units. Our math unit is matching algebra equations to graphs that show changes over time.  The kids seem to be doing well with the concepts.  The spelling list for the week features words with silent letters and noticing the pattern for those words.  We will be talking about slow changes and fast changes as we continue our Changing Earth Unit.  We have plenty to learn and do this week! 

Thank you for your continued support.  May we all grow, reach , and succeed!

Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa