Tuesday, May 31, 2011 Week 38

Our final 9 days together.

Today’s biggest events:

Technology time where we voted for our final three monthly attribute awards.  Students had to select a student that best personified:
Cooperation
Do Your Best
Honest

We also discussed the 10 options that we have Thursday’s Fine Arts assembly.   Students then went on-line and voted for their top options.



Students then studied for tomorrow’s final exam with all 50 states and capitals.  


A few students, extra props for Kyle, then read and responded to any article about things that we will no longer need or use in 10 years.  
Click here for the article and the questions we were discussing.

60 to 75 minute disaster practice.  
We had the students, teachers and all administrators practice how to respond if we have an earthquake.  We practiced walkie-talky communication, first aid, search&rescue, and how to proceed with specific logistics.  
The students handled it as a serious matter and they represented themselves well.  

3rd Trimester Math:
All 5th graders need to take a math assessment.  I realize that we haven’t thought of math for over an entire week.  Therefore I told students just to try their best and their results will only be used for grading if it helps them.  

Lewis and Clark:
We discussed how Lewis and Clark made a great partnership because they were so different.  We also discussed Lewis’ battles with what is now called bipolar disorder.  
Finally we had a ton of fun discussing Rush’s Thunderbolts.
Click here for information on Rush’s Thunderbolts.

PE
The students used their PE time to practice for next week’s promotion ceremony.

Now there is only 8 more days :(

Kind regards,
Mr. Hubbard

Homework for the week:
Freewrite -- “This summer I will.....”
Return to me by Friday.

Reading Around the World -- get those pages signed off so they can go into the official record books.  Seriously their pages read get factored into their reading grades.  
RETURN to me by Friday.

Technology Tuesday...

Click here to the take 3rd quarter survey.

Click here to the take the fine arts survey

What will be gone by the year 2020?

Click here to read the article about things that may be gone by 2020.

Please tell me if you agree or disagree with his predictions.

Tell me which prediction do you believe will come true.

Tell me which prediction do you believe will NOT come true.

Do you have any of your own predictions?

Manners Monday -- May 23, 2011

We had a beautiful manners tea!  We had 97% of our students dress appropriately for the big day!  It was so special to see girls in their beautiful dresses and the boys looking like little gentlemen.  

Look out for http://dublin.patch.com/school-news  for upcoming photos and a complete write up of our big manners event!!  


We had our 3rd states and capitals test in the morning.


We found a way to discuss Lewis and Clark for 30 minutes.


Finally we prepared and discussed Outdoor Education camp at Camp Arroyo.

Click here for all of the Camp Arroyo information.


Look forward to seeing all of the kids at 10:30 tomorrow morning (w/ their bag lunch).

Kind regards,
Ron Hubbard


Homework for the week:
1.  pack for all types of weather
2.  bring a bag lunch for Tuesday
3.  make sure parents know that the school day ends at 1:20’ish on Friday, May 27th so they need to pick you up.  
4.  Bring cards, light board games or books for the 90 minutes of cabin time each evening.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Big two things:
1. The field trip to Wells Middle School is tomorrow morning. We leave by 8:35’ish and we return to school by Noon. Students will be back in time to enjoy lunch at Dublin Elementary. 

1. They may bring spending money to purchase food items from the Wells snack bar.
2. Please check the weather as a guide to what to wear (right now it says mid 50’s in the morning and mid to late 60’s upon our return).
3. Also we are walking 1.5 miles each way so wear appropriate footwear and eat a great breakfast.

2. Camp is less than 5 days away!!
Click here for all the camp information and paperwork.

Today:
We started the day with 55% of our class participating in band practice first thing in the morning. The remaining students worked on their theme 5 projects, worked on the stock market math homework, read or studied for their states and capitals.

All students were given the opportunity to complete their Thursday night homework Free-Write during class time. Our school’s goal was to NOT assign any homework on the night of the singing concert however some students did not make wise choices and they chose to do the free-write tonight (i.e. I TRIED to strongly encourage them to NOT have Thursday night homework).

We then had a singing assembly and then we practiced how the students would get onto and down from the stage for when they performed for the community tonight.

We returned to class and then took our states and capitals test. The students ended their day with Mrs. Cargo’s class and Mrs. Wilmott’s class.

I also enjoyed the first of my three catered lunches supplied by your generous teach appreciation gifts. Today was 5 Guys and it was delicious. Thank you so much.

Do not hesitate to call or email me regarding Camp Arroyo questions. Please remember to look at that packing check list and the parent guidebook found on the link from my website.

Kind regards,
Ron Hubbard

Homework:
Free-write due Friday
Batman has Robin, Spongebob has Patrick, Scooby Doo has Shaggy and I have......

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Today was our Tuesday Technology day and we had our Theme 5 / Federal Express Day.  Click here for an example what a Federal Express Day.

The amazing thing was how quickly the time went while the students worked on their research and their projects.  I heard two different students say, “I can’t believe the day is almost over.”  And this was after we had spent 3.5 hours working on our projects.   Tomorrow the students will have 2.5 hours to complete their projects.  I’m really looking forward to our presentations on Friday afternoon.   Please ask your student about what they are working on and what they have learned so far, most of them are 100% engaged and doing some authentic learning.  

We then  voted on our top five stocks for our math/stock market project.  So at the end of the day I handed out tonight’s math homework worksheet.  If they lost their homework, click here.   

They finished the day with P.E.

I handed out two things that they should have given you:

1. A two-page “One Week Before Camp”
2. The camp’s official check list.

If they “lost” their handouts, then click this link for all of your camp information.

Kind Regards,

Ron Hubbard

Homework for the week:

They did have a 2 page handout to read, titled “The Softball Team” -- they need to answer the four questions and the write about it question.  This is due on Wednesday.

Free-write due Thursday
“Who let the dogs out?”

Free-write due Friday
Batman has Robin, Spongebob has Patrick, Scooby Doo has Shaggy and I have......

Math:
Due Wednesday -- based on our five companies how many shares would we purchased if we had invested a $5,000 in each one on date to be determined?  See the link above.  

Due Thursday -- based on our five companies and the shares that we purchased 11 years ago, how much would your shares be valued if we sold them on May 17, 2011?  

Wells field trip on Friday -- wear layers of clothing;  We walk at 8:30’ish in the morning and return just before lunch;  Therefore students need have clothing for a cooler morning walk and the possibility of a hotter sunnier walk home.

25 states and capitals test is Thursday.  Students received their scores back on Thursday.  45% earned 90% or higher and 45% earned 50% lower.   The key to memorizing?  Repeat to remember and remember to repeat.   Here are two great lesson on how our  brain memorizes:
lesson 1
lesson 2
Click here for the maps to practice with and to ensure you know which 25 states and capitals are being tested.

Teacher Appreciation Day -- May 16, 2011

A special thank you goes out to everyone for taking time to celebrate teacher appreciate day today.  I really appreciate the kind emails, your donations to my classroom gifts and the thankful cards.  It truly is an honor to work with such an appreciative community and a collection of supportive and kind families.  

What happened today:
We caught up what transpired on Friday and over our weekends.  I was out of town on Friday attending my niece’s Confirmation ceremony (my wife’s goddaughter) so I wanted to know how that day went.  

We then discussed the importance of manners and what was taught on Friday.  I tried to emphasize the importance of manners upon my life, how these are life’s “unwritten” rules and that fairly or not, people will judge others based on their manners’ knowledge and actions.  

We then all participated in a large manners lesson hosted by Mrs. Johnson.  All three classes attended and many people were able to go up to the front and practice their manners at a formal dinner.

For next Monday’s manner luncheon Mrs. Johnson and the school is asking:
1.  Students not show up with shorts or blue jeans.  
2.  No high heels.
3.  For boy’s --- ties are not necessary however a minimum of a collared shirt.
We are not asking families to purchase new clothes rather we would like the students to wear something respectful of this event.   We anticipate have the Superintendent, two print reporters, a television reporter,  and other city dignitaries.  Therefore we would like to put forward our best efforts.  

Math:
We discussed how investments work. So we had a discussion about stocks, bonds, real-estate, the fundamental truth of investments that “higher reward will always come with higher risk.”  We looked at some historical data of Google and Disney’s stock prices over the 5+ years and today’s trading.  
We did an example of how to figure out how many shares you purchased based on your original investment and share price.  
We then did an example of how to figure out the value of your investment based on the shares that you own  and the share price that you sell it at.
Tonight’s homework:  
Select 5 companies that you would like our school to invest in and tell me in 2 or 3 sentences why you choose those 5 companies.  

Theme 5 Project Work:
Theme 5 project for “One Land, Many Trials”  
For our final it will be done a tad different, the students are going to be given two large chunks of days to work on a research topic related to our Theme 5 and our social studies standards that cover the 1780’s - the 1850’s.   Students are working on slavery research, Native American research, Presidential research, Texas becomes a state, the War of 1812 and life on the Prairies.  

A week from now we will be taking off for Outdoor Education week.  
Students should not arrive to school until 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24th.  We have a full day in store that day at camp and we can’t get to camp prior than Noon.  Therefore we ask that the kids arrive at a later time since idle time with 75+ 11 year olds equals  craziness.

Do you need to see the parent/student guidebook?  
Do you need to see the camp’s official “check-list” of what to bring?
Do you want to see my 1 week until camp write up?  
THEN CLICK HERE FOR ALL THAT INFORMATION

Thank you again for your generosity today and your words of encouragement and support!!

Ron Hubbard

Homework for the week:
Free-write due Thursday
“Who let the dogs out?”

Free-write due Friday
Batman has Robin, Spongebob has Patrick, Scooby Doo has Shaggy and I have......

Math:
Due Wednesday -- based on our five companies how many shares would we purchased if we had invested a $5,000 in each one on date to be determined?

Due Thursday -- based on our five companies and the shares that we purchased 11 years ago, how much would your shares be valued if we sold them on May 17, 2011?  

Wells field trip on Friday -- wear layers of clothing;  We walk at 8:30’ish in the morning and return just before lunch;  Therefore students need have clothing for a cooler morning walk and the possibility of a hotter sunnier walk home.

25 states and capitals test is Thursday.  Students received their scores back on Thursday.  45% earned 90% or higher and 45% earned 50% lower.   The key to memorizing?  Repeat to remember and remember to repeat.   Here are two great lesson on how our  brain memorizes:
lesson 1
lesson 2
Click here for the maps to practice with and to ensure you know which 25 states and capitals are being tested.

Do Students Eat Like Prisoners?

It seems like the prison food actually has a more well rounded diet served to them?  I don't know about that veggie log though.

2011 Student Poetry Contest

Click here to go to your poetry entry page

Please note, they don't want you using all caps.

They want your actual home address, see me if you somehow don' know your address

Dublin, Ca 94568

hubbardron AT dublin.k12.ca.us

Dublin Elementary School

Mr. Ron Hubbard


*** You must come and get me before you click onto "click here to enter contest" ****

The Negative Effects of Student Bullying.....

Click here to see the link where this graphic originates from.

Pathos, Ethos and Logos at school and in our community....

Click here for the great article that inspired my "rant"

Wow, studies show that "The Family Path" has the greatest impact and influence over student achievement, while the "Organizational Path" has the lowest.   I'm not surprised since they say the best way to influence  someone is to:
1st -- establish your credibility (i.e. are you someone worth valuing and trusting)
2nd -- do you empathize with your audience(s) (i.e. do you care about me or know anything about me)
3rd -- least effective, showering someone with logic, statistics, and various facts (i.e. look at the numbers, etc..)
Pathos, Ethos and Logos....

So I find it humorous that we spend a great deal of money and resources on 30 minute interventions as an alleged "solution"; Students show up for 27 minutes (factoring in of travel time) and learn from someone who in many cases they will only interact with for 3 or 4 times per week. There is little to any community building, no lets share out, etc...It is slam, bam, learn this skill type of stuff.

Sometimes based on the article referenced, I wonder if we would be better served using all that money in intervention in parent education, parent coaching and some cases parent classes.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A quick one today....
We had technology today.
CLICK HERE for the specific game plan

We then prepped the room for state testing.  

We then took the 2nd part of the math test.   We have science tomorrow and then the Wells Placement test on Thursday morning.  

They ended the day with some great beautiful sunshine and some P.E.

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK:

State Testing Prep:
If your child wants to do some prepping here is the links for California’s released questions:

• If you would like your child to begin reviewing “all” of the released test questions, CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RELEASED QUESTIONS

• Here is another link that may be useful, just choose “sample questions” and the section/grade level.    CLICK HERE

• The blueprints are very useful so your students can understand which specific question they will be tested on.   CLICK HERE FOR THE BLUEPRINTS  

Exercise  -- especially if your child tends to get nervous with testing have them burn off their increased adrenaline.

More sleep than usual -- well rested people perform better

Be full of water  

Great breakfast with complex carbohydrates and/or proteins.

Math Prep and Review

CLICK HERE for a great website for reviewing 5th grade skills and it even includes skill appropriate math games.  

Don’t forget that my favorite the Khan Academy has a great bunch of movie math reviews.

The M,M,M, and R rap due next Friday
Click here for math notes and the mmmr rap

All the notes from our last two weeks of review can be found on the math link:
CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF OUR NOTES ON MATH REVIEW

First States and Capitals test will be on Thursday.   Everything you ever needed regarding the states and capitals
Click here to practice your states and capitals

Technology on May 10, 2011

1. 20 minutes of typing
2. www.pearsonsuccessnet.com and work on the math practice called May 10, 2011 
3. Science Review --- please either go here  or watch 4th grade Brainpops
4. States and Capitals or  school appropriate 

Monday, May 9, 2011

We did about 30 minutes reviewing the last of our poems.  So now every poem, minus the three students that did not complete the assignment, has been critiqued and received feedback from 25 students+teacher.
We hope to enter our poems into the national competition tomorrow while at the computer lab.  

We then pushed hard on math review this morning.  We spent nearly 100 minutes reviewing math concepts.  
The notes can be found by clicking here.

We this watched a great movie called “Spin”
We watched the movie and then debated on the author’s perspective and the director’s message.  
Here is the movie since the students enjoyed the movie.

We then listened to a recent episode of Freakanomics.  
Click here to listen.
They discussed the photo that is used in the blog.  

I hope you enjoyed the Mother’s Day cookbook.  I will attach it later this week so you can keep it at home.  I hope you enjoyed your special day!!

Reminder:

• May testing for Math -- is Tuesday
• May testing for science is Wednesday
• Wells Advanced Placement test is Thursday

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK:

State Testing Prep:
If your child wants to do some prepping here is the links for California’s released questions:

• If you would like your child to begin reviewing “all” of the released test questions, CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RELEASED QUESTIONS

• Here is another link that may be useful, just choose “sample questions” and the section/grade level.    CLICK HERE

• The blueprints are very useful so your students can understand which specific question they will be tested on.   CLICK HERE FOR THE BLUEPRINTS  

Exercise  -- especially if your child tends to get nervous with testing have them burn off their increased adrenaline.

More sleep than usual -- well rested people perform better

Be full of water  

Great breakfast with complex carbohydrates and/or proteins.

Math Prep and Review

CLICK HERE for a great website for reviewing 5th grade skills and it even includes skill appropriate math games.  

Don’t forget that my favorite the Khan Academy has a great bunch of movie math reviews.

The M,M,M, and R rap due next Friday
Click here for math notes and the mmmr rap

All the notes from our last two weeks of review can be found on the math link:
CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF OUR NOTES ON MATH REVIEW

First States and Capitals test will be on Thursday.   Everything you ever needed regarding the states and capitals
Click here to practice your states and capitals