Mrs. Z's Class

Website Launch

2009-10-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

I now have our website up and running! Please go onto the Rio website and click on my name (right sidebar), then bookmark the webpage if you'd like. I will discontinue this blog as of today. Thanks!

DVD Power Cord

2009-10-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

We are missing the power cord for our DVD player... if anyone has an extra one, we would love to have it! E-mail me if you need more specifics. Thanks!

Aptos Junior High Field Trip

2009-10-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm sending home a half sheet asking if parents are able to drive next Thursday when we go to see the AJHS play. Please fill it out and return to me, even if you're unable to drive/attend.

Thank you!

SCIENCE CAMP

2009-09-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

As the deadline approaches for Science Camp fees and forms, I want to make sure that all families are aware that financial assistance may be available if coming up with the $230 is difficult. Please see Mrs. Dorney or Mr. Coffin to discuss scholarship opportunities.

...And a reminder for those not sure about the process: the full fee is $230, and checks are to be made out to RDMPA. Please send them (and the forms) to class with your child; I am collecting them and submitting as a group. E-mail me if you have further questions. Thanks!

Conferences

2009-09-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

Our kind school volunteer is creating the teachers' conference schedules and I should receive mine within the next few days. As soon as I do, I will be sending out confirmation notices. ;)

Forms going home today...

2009-09-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a restful weekend! Today students received a packet for the "Drive for Schools" fundraiser, as well as a permission slip for a mini-field-trip next Thursday morning. (We will be going to see a play at the Junior High.) Please return the permission slip this week. If you'd like to drive and/or tag along to chaperone, please e-mail me ASAP. It is $1 for students and adults.

Also, a reminder that fees and forms for Science Camp are due this Wednesday! Please send them in as soon as possible. Thanks!!! :)

New Website!

2009-09-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

I'll be launching a website soon! It will include the blog, which I like, but will also include many other features that the blog alone lacks. You can check it out at http://mrszepeda.weebly.com (still "under construction")!

The Week Ahead

2009-09-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

WOW... October is just about here! Conferences and Science Camp are coming up quickly, and we've just added a quick field trip to the Junior High to see a play! (More info to come!) This week we will...

...Continue plowing through Hatchet in Reading. We will discuss the Hatchet final project, due Oct. 14th.
...Learn how to solve mult/div equations in Math.
...Learn more about Ancient Mesopotamia in Social Studies. We'll find out how the Gilgamesh legend ends and compare it to the endings we wrote.
...Learn about plate tectonics in Science.

Some notes:
-Please return signed Progress Reports
-The students' Sci. Camp presentation will be this Weds. morning
-All forms/fees are due Weds.
-Yellow conference forms are due

Have a wonderful weekend!

Progress Reports

2009-09-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Progress reports will be going home Friday! By the end of the day, I will have met with each student and given a printout of any missing assignments. Although turning in work late is discouraged, I will accept it and apply it to their grade.

Please sign the bottom and return to class on Monday. I am very pleased with how well our students are doing so far! Keep up the good work! ;)

Scholastic Online Info

2009-09-22T12:20:00.001-07:00

Here is the info again for ordering online:

www.scholastic.com/parentordering (link on the left sidebar)
User Name: Rio19
Password: books

;) Mrs. Z

Yellow Conference Forms

2009-09-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Yellow conference sheets are due on Thursday, and I'm still missing quite a few. Please fill these out and send with your child as soon as possible. (Check with the office if you need another one... I wasn't given any extras.)

Thanks! :)

The Week Ahead

2009-09-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Interesting how this week seemed to go so much faster than the 4-day week did! Here's what's to come...

Math: Continuing with algebra, we are beginning equations. These can get challenging, so thank you for your support from home!
Reading: We will begin reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and continue with our Charlotte Doyle read-aloud.
Writing: Although students will continue writing their stories, we will begin our first formal writing assignment.
Social Studies: The kids loved our culminating Early Humans simulation! This week we will take our final test, and begin studying Mesopotamia. Don't forget... Africa Map test on Tuesday!
Science: Continued study of Earth's Changing Crust.

NOTES
-Picture Day is MONDAY (envelopes went home today)
-Book orders due next FRIDAY (this is another opportunity to get up to 20x the bonus points... please participate!)
-Keep sending in candy & yarn for our necklace fundraiser
-Science Camp packets will go home Monday
-We're out of Dixie cups again! Students are going through them very fast... PLEASE send him/her with a reusable water bottle for in-class use.

We have a BIG week coming up, and it's supposed to be HOT... get lots of rest, eat breakfast, and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated! Have a terrific weekend! :)

Science Camp Parent Meeting

2009-09-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

Reminder: the Camp informational meeting for parents is tonight at 6:30 in the MPR. Students will have a presentation on Sept. 30th. :)

Class Donations

2009-09-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the money you have given to our class! I will be purchasing a document camera with some of the funds... It will be an incredible resource for teaching and learning!!! The next item of business will be to purchase a laptop to use with it... does anyone know of a resource for buying discounted laptops? ;)

Upcoming Tests - Updated 9/18

2009-09-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Math: Friday we will have a quiz!
Geography: Tuesday is our Africa Map test!
Social Studies: Early Humans Final next week... Mr. Kyle's class Monday, our class Tuesday
Reading: Holes Final Test on Monday
...Study, study!

Science Camp

2009-09-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

A flyer went home yesterday about Science Camp, and there will be a parent meeting this Thursday (tomorrow) at 6:30pm in the MPR.

Candy Necklace Fundraiser

2009-09-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

The 6th grade will be raising funds for Science Camp (see flyer going home today)! Three important things to remember:

1) Please bring in candy and yarn no later than Sept. 29th to help our fundraising efforts.
2) Volunteer (students!) to work after school to assemble necklaces on 9/29.
3) Sign up (students!) to work the candy necklace booth at the Harvest Festival (sign-up sheet on our door).

Again, look for the flyer for more information.
Thanks for your help!

Important Notes...

2009-09-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

-Innisbrook orders are due; please bring them in
-A list of package options for Picture Day went home today

Africa Test

2009-09-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Next week we will have a test on the locations of Africa's countries; a study-map went home today. I encourage students to go online to www.ilike2learn.com and take the Africa Map quiz! Very easy and fun! (I have posted the link on the sidebar under "Student Links.")

End-of week update

2009-09-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

We had a great week! We began Algebra, created cave paintings, met our little buddies, and started thinking about our first Science unit (just to name a few!). Here's a quick look at what's in store for next week...

Language: We will begin Spanish class on Wednesday! Every week Mrs. Murray will join us for 45 minutes of espanol... iQue fabuloso!
Reading: We will be stepping up our reading of Holes in class, and will be analyzing elements of the story. We will also have our first Library visit on Friday.
Math: Continuing with Algebra, we delve into equations!
Social Studies: Our Early Humans unit culminates with a fun activity on Tuesday and Thursday! Parent help needed... Our class: Tues. 9-10am, Thurs. 12:45-1:45. Mr. Kyle's class: Mon. 1-2pm, Thurs. 9-10am. ALSO, study Africa map for test next week!!!
Science: We will be starting Unit 1, Earth Science. Activities to come that may need parent assistance. :)

Have a great weekend!

Wishlist

2009-09-11T09:31:00.001-07:00

I have updated our class supplies wishlist (on the sidebar). Thanks!

Cave Painting

2009-09-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Merrillee Tunink, Donna Townsend, Maggie Larcher, and the ultra-fast parents from Mr. Kyle's class, for helping with the setup and cleanup of today's Cave Art project! It was MESSY but the kids loved it! :)

Help Needed for Tomorrow

2009-09-09T14:19:00.001-07:00

We'll be doing a messy project tomorrow and we need a couple extra adults! Here are the times:

Mr. Kyle's class: 9-10am
Mrs. Z's class: 12:45-1:45pm

E-mail me if you can come! Thank you!

Important Forms-Updated 9/10

2009-09-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Parent-Teacher Conference sheets went home today (yellow); please have them returned by Sept. 24th. Also, permission slips went home yesterday for the King Tut exhibit. Thanks!

Sent home Thursday: Harvest Festival sheet, Innisbrook online ordering info sheet, and H1N1 flu update letter. :)

Materials

2009-09-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

We have all our materials secured for next week's SS activity... thank you Cheryl Vlaicevic and Donna Townsend! Also, thank you Merrillee Tunink for helping me with a "top secret" activity we're doing tomorrow! ;)

Field Trip Lunches

2009-09-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Please let me know ASAP if your child will need a lunch prepared by the cafeteria. If I don't hear from anyone, I will assume all students will bring their own lunches on that day. Thanks!

Materials Still Needed

2009-09-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a great long weekend! We only have a couple items left on our materials list (see post below for Soc. Studies activity)... Please look through the list again and e-mail me if you can bring any of the items.

Thank you!

This Week at a Glance...

2009-09-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe week 5 is creeping up on us! I have said it before and I'll say it again: we have an incredible class! They surprise me every day with their intelligence and wit. We are regularly working to keep focused and adopt 6th grade behaviors, so please remind your sons and daughters that hard work requires hard focus!

Math: We are finishing up rounding and estimating. Chapter 1 test on Wednesday!!!
Language Arts: Holes is getting good! We're practicing different forms of reading response and continuing story writing.
Social Studies: Early Humans study is about to wrap up! Please get ready for some textbook reading at home and fun activities in class! Check my earlier post for materials needed.
Tech: Continue working on brochures of an African country!

Congratulations to our all of our fabulous 6th graders, including:
-Radio Rio participants: Rachel S. and Jessica
-Conflict Managers: Jessica, Jade, Emily, Graham, and Josh
-Student Leadership winner: Alyna
-New Rio Rockers member: Sasha

Have a terrific 3-day weekend!

Materials Needed for Social Studies Activity!

2009-09-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

We'll be doing a fun, interactive, cumulative activity next week to wrap up our Early Humans unit. There are quite a few materials that we will need! Please e-mail me or send a note if you can provide one of the listed items. I will then add your name next to the item on the blog so we know who's bringing it. Thank you!!!

(Unless otherwise noted, we will need at least 30 of each item...)
-1 large bucket (can be borrowed)
-plastic spoons /Cheryl V.
-plastic bowls /Cheryl V.
-vegetable seeds (any... large enough to handle easily) /Donna T.
-several boxes of toothpicks /Cheryl V.
-2 long planter boxes with soil (or ~5 smaller plastic pots w/ soil)

THANK YOU!

Dixie Cups

2009-09-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

We have run out of cups! Let me know if you have any extra around the house (small size). Thanks!

Classroom Volunteers

2009-09-02T06:55:00.001-07:00

I am planning to have our volunteer schedule finalized by the end of the week, so I will be contacting you via e-mail if available, or note home if not. I am looking forward to having you in class, and thank you in advance!

Tut Field Trip Chaperones

2009-08-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the list of chaperones:
-Cheryl Vlaicevic
-Greg Horne
-Kirsten Berhan
-Susan Manabe
-Melinda Losik
-Mike Tunink
Extra Driver: Donna Townsend

Again, I wish I could invite ALL of you! I will send an e-mail to each of our chaperones to arrange for the adult ticket fee.

Thanks!

Room 19 Wishlist

2009-08-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some items that would be wonderful to have!

-iMac Notebook
-Document camera (Toshiba?... Sweet and Kitch both have one)
-Classroom Jeopardy system (by Educational Insights)
-Gift Certificates to:
*eNasco.com
*Amazon.com

I will add to this list if I think of anything else... :)

THANK YOU, parents!

End-of week update

2009-08-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

What a terrific Back to School Night! I enjoyed meeting all of you and thank you for your support. I will be thinking about my "Wish List" and will create a post. :)

Here's what's coming up next week...
Math: We will continue to look at the number line, but will be studying decimals. Please note that some homework assignments will be altered (shortened or problems cut out).
Language Arts: We will read our first piece from the reading anthology, and we will work on a language packet (due Friday) out of the corresponding Practice Book. We will also continue reading Holes and will have a new set of vocabulary words.
Writing: We will continue studying stories, and learning about character development and the three-part story.
Social Studies: The first human societies are becoming more complex! We will learn about their advancements in technology, farming, and early government. Quiz on Chapter 1 coming Tuesday! (Mr. Kyle's class: open-book quiz on Monday.)

Have a great weekend!

Radio Rio Tryouts Tomorrow!

2009-08-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

Those students who wish to be a radio "personality" on Radio Rio this year will be trying out tomorrow. They will be given a script to read "cold" to the class. Based on criteria given to me by Mr. Coffin, I will decide who the person will be (only 1). There will also be a Program Manager position that will not require a try-out.

Field Trip Update

2009-08-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Just as I expected, we have many parents that would like to attend the tour! I have 13 so far, and there may be a few more that are turned in tomorrow. (Please turn them in no later than tomorrow night if you're interested.)

We were originally granted 3 adult tickets (including me!), but because we're driving in cars, they will allow up to 4 additional. That makes a total of 6 parents that may join us. Given that we already 13 who have expressed interest, I will have to conduct some sort of lottery to fairly decide who can go.

The general public isn't able to view the exhibit on Mondays; the museum has reserved that day specifically for school groups, so unfortunately I don't see a way around the 6-parent maximum. I'll discuss it further tomorrow at BTS Night... I hope to see you there!

;)

Math Support

2009-08-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

We are lucky to have Mrs. Mitchener back this year! She will be in our class twice a week. Additional support opportunities: at the After-School Program on Mondays from 2:30-3:30, and Morning Tutorial on Tues, Weds, and Thurs from 7:30-7:49am in the library (FREE for students who need help in ANY subject or who want a quiet place to finish HW before school! Starts Sept. 1).

;)

Field Trip Announcement!

2009-08-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Terrific news! We are scheduled to see the King Tut exhibit at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco on November 16th!

This past summer I entered a lottery for free tickets to the exhibit, and our class has been granted 29 FREE tickets! This is very exciting, as we will be able to view the contents of King Tut's tomb in person (although not his sarcophagus... too fragile to travel). This should coincide with our Egypt studies, and is a rare opportunity to enhance our learning!

The museum has set forth very strict rules regarding chaperones, and will allow only a few at a fee of $24 each. If you are interested in attending, and are able to drive at least 4 students, please fill out and return the slip that I will be sending home. More info to come!

Check it out at www.tutsanfrancisco.org

:) Mrs. Z

Thank you!

2009-08-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Scoppettone family, for the class-set of calculators!

:) Mrs. Z

This week...

2009-08-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

We are off to a roaring start, and the kids are doing a terrific job of keeping up with the rigorous 6th grade pace! Here is a look at this upcoming week...

Reading: We will begin reading Holes, by Louis Sachar. Most of the reading will take place at home, with other activities and assignments done in class.

Writing: Students have already begun thinking about their first piece, which can be a story, a nonfiction piece, or poetry. This is open, so I'm encouraging them to let their "creative juices" flow!

Math: We will continue with Chapter 1, Integers, and we will be multiplying and dividing pos. and neg. numbers. Remember, the math book is online! 6th grade math is challenging, so thank you for your encouragement at home!

Social Studies: We continue our Early Humans study, and will be learning about the earliest civilizations. A culminating unit activity will be coming up, so stay tuned for a list of needed materials.

*There are a couple things our class still needs:
-A wall calendar
-A small CD player
Thank you for all you have donated!

*Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, 8/27. I look forward to seeing you all there!

-Mrs. Z

Ordering Books Online

2009-08-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the info again for ordering online:

www.scholastic.com/parentordering
User Name: Rio19
Password: books

;) Mrs. Z

BOOK ORDER UPDATE

2009-08-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

I originally asked book orders to be placed by next Friday, but I need to push up the due date to THIS FRIDAY, 8/21.

Thank you!
-Mrs. Z

Online Math Textbook and Corrected Work

2009-08-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

I just received word yesterday that our math resources are up and running online. The publisher is CGP, and if you go to their site, you can access the entire textbook and homework book online! (Now I won't hear: "I couldn't do my homework last night!")

1. Go to www.CGPeducation.com

2. Click on "Digital Resources"

3. Username: Student.45 (capital S)

4. Password: student.45 (lowercase s)

Also, a note about corrected work: everything is filed into "student files" as it is graded. Students will staple their packet of work and bring it home on Monday afternoons. (If you don't see work coming home, let me know!)

Most assignments will be graded on a 10-point scale, unless otherwise noted. Special projects will generally be 100 points. Please encourage your child to turn in homework on time; I have been accepting late homework this week (begrudgingly!), but starting next week I won't. Unless it's excused, late HW will receive a zero (just like in Junior High!).

Thanks!

-Mrs. Z

We made it through Week 1!

2009-08-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations... everyone survived the first week of 6th grade! We have had a great time getting to know each other, and I can tell already that this will be a wonderful year. My students are FUN, FUNNY, and they are so BRIGHT! I am truly glad to have joined the Rio family.

Here's this week in a nutshell...

Math: Monday we will begin a review of math concepts to get us ready to dive into our book. We are focusing on MULTIPLICATION... practice those flash cards!
Reading: We will be reading a short story and discussing different genres. I will introduce our year-long project: "Genre Bingo."
Language: Continue working on daily sentence corrections and review.
Social Studies: This year we will study all the world's countries one continent at a time, and this week we begin with Africa. We will make maps and learn the countries' locations. We will also begin our first unit on Early Humans.
Tech: We are lucky to have Mr. Kyle to teach our class technology while I teach his class Social Studies. We will begin switching this week.

Book Orders: This issue is especially important because we could earn up to 20x the bonus points if we amass a $200 order! My goal is to get enough points for a new computer! I also encourage you to order online... it's very easy for you and me.

THANK YOU for all your donations to our class! We have an abundance of Kleenex, pencils, pens, and more. I greatly appreciate your generosity. I also have enjoyed meeting all of you; I have felt truly welcomed by our Room 19 parents!

:) Mrs. Z

Back to School!

2009-08-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome back, 6th graders! I am excited to meet you all and get our year started. We will be busy right from the start, so be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat breakfast! (And now that summer's ending... try to cut down on the video games!)

Here's what you need to know for the first day (Weds., 8/12)...

School starts at 7:49... set your alarm!
There is a list of supplies on the Rio website that you should bring with you. Check it if you haven't already.
Check our wishlist, which I've posted on this site... do you have any of these things laying around the house?
Come with a smile and a good attitude!