PS 261 Class 408

Triangle Trade Play Video!

noreply@blogger.com (LEGO Teacher) — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:58:00 +0000

Watch class 408's Triangle Trade Play

Brain Teasers by, Andromache

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:44:00 +0000

Brain Teaser 1
A man climbed a 100 foot tree. he jumped down. Why didn't he die?

Brain Teaser 2
Take the number of kids there are in rom 4-408 and add it to the number of states there are in the Unites States and subtract 16 and the number you get is ...

Brain Teaser 3
What fraction do both pieces put together equal?

Happy Gilmore Movie Review by, Luca

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 11:49:00 +0000

In the movie Happy Gilmore, the main character Happy Gilmore is playing golf to make money to get back his grandma's house. Gilmore's grandma lost her house because she did not pay her taxes for years.

Happy Gilmore used to be a hockey player, but he was not a good skater. Then he tried a little bit of golf and he was good at it and he played golf until he was very good.

I think it is a funny movie and I think it is very entertaining for golf players.

Happy Gilmore also cannot control his anger and his coach has one fake hand because an alligator bit it off.

In one part of the movie Happy Gilmore and the coach give each other a present and the coach falls out of the window and dies.

Interview with my Dad:

Q: What did you think of the movie?
A: Very funny and silly at the same time

Q: Who is your favorite character?
A: The coach because he was helpful

Q: Who told you about the movie?
A: Luca asked me to watch it with him

Q: What is your favorite scene?
A: The fight between Gilmore and the old man

Q: How many times did you see it?
A: Once, but I want to see it again

Class 408 Comic by, Zuri

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:53:00 +0000

Click on comic to see it enlarged

Skateboarding Comic by, Zuri

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:38:00 +0000

Click on comic to see it enlarged

Book Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:11:00 +0000

Only 4 of use in class 4-408 are in Book Talk. They are Hannah, Raquel, Aliyah, and Malcolm. Allisyn's class is in Book Talk too, but 6 kids. They are Molly, Serina, Aly, Maya, Abe, and Mo.

We have to go to book Talk every Friday at 8:30 am on the second floor in the computer room. We are reading A Series of Unfortunate Events The Erstatz Elevator by, Lemony Snicket.

Three weeks ago we were given a vocabulary test. The next week it was Jeopardy Book Talk. We got prizes. I won juggling balls.

Ok, that's it for today, see you next time.

From the Book Talk kids,

Aliyah and Raquel

ANIMALS IN DANGER CLOSE TO BEING EXTINCT AND HOW WE CAN HELP!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:35:00 +0000

Animals are in danger. The Polar Bears are not only ones in danger, Lions are in danger too. there are people in Africa killing them. Mexico is finding a way to save them and so is Africa.
Can we save the animals in danger? I know we can save wildlife!!!!!!!

by, Stephanie Wint

N.Y.C.

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:05:00 +0000

Hi, my name is Ziyad and I am going to tell you why I like N.Y.C.

What I like about N.Y.C. is that if you live anywhere you have everything. For example, candy stores, food markets, baber shops, great schools. and more. But I am going to talk about school because it is my favorite. I like school because of the writing, playing math games, recess, ceiebrations, and because I don't get in trouble.

Don't you like N.Y.C.?

by, Ziyad

IRAQ

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:52:00 +0000

In IRAQ there is a war going on. The presedent of America is sending more troops every month. I know some about the war that lots of people are dying in IRAQ. I think the presedent is really bad because he is risking more people's lives. I know oil is important but saving all of these live is more important.

By, MALCOLM

Barnes and Noble by, Deonte

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:34:00 +0000

Last month class 408 went to Barnes & Noble to pick out a book with our reading partners. Some people say that the books were lot of money. Some people say it was fun, and some kids did not get to buy books. My class enjoyed reading all the books. Parents came along with us. Some parents paid for the childen who wanted a book really bad. Most reading partners already finshed their books from Barnes & Noble.

Book Reading with Miss Aba

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:08:00 +0000

Miss Aba said, "Good morning 408. Today I'm going to perform a book called Coy and the Kola Nut Tree. It's an African book and 408, did we have fun? And I want to know what genre is the book from. And do you now any characters from the book and who is the last character?"

by, Laron

Miss Aba (Zuri’s Mom) came to class 408 and told us a story about a boy who was being treated badly in his village. He was the son of a king who died so he took some Kola nut and ran into the woods. He met a snake and he needed some Kola nuts for his mom and so he gave him some Kola nuts. Later he met an ant who needed Kola nut for the rain god to save his family. So he gave him some Kola nuts for his family and ran off looking for another village. Much later he saw a crocodile who ate the rainforest god's dog and he needed some Kola nuts too, and he gave him some. Then he found another village who asked to do a lot of things and he succeeded in all of them. The boy was then treated well in that village and everyone respected him because he is the son of a king.

by, Jalan

THE GAME!

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:39:00 +0000

It was us, After school v.s Non After School in a basketball game. After School was leading by 2 and then Non After School caught up. Then they took a 2 point lead so it was a very tough game, and a very exciting game. Then it went into overtime and then double over time! But Joe made a layup to win the game for After School.

by, Adrian

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM TO PRESENT

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:19:00 +0000

This is your final chance to enter the MATH MANIA CHALLENGE (from WME - World Math Entertainment) If their are NO entries in the next 2 weeks, it will be CANCELLED!

See 408 Reporter vol. 4 for
MATH MANIA CHALLENGW
(from WME - World Math Entertainment)

FIGHT'S!!!!!!!!! by Zuri

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:17:00 +0000

Boys and girls,
Seeing is believing
You won't be breathing if you have FIGHTS!!!!!!!

What kind of fights are kids getting into? Physical or non-physical? Children are getting into all kinds of fights.

How do fights start?
In ridiculous ways I suppose. One way a fight could start is it could start out as a game and then something goes wrong!

What is the usual punishment for having a fight?
The consequence for some fights is detention. I know this because I had a fight and I got detention. Also, suspension is a punishment. I know this because my friend had a fight and he got suspended. Sometimes you can get a call or a letter home.

What are some ways to prevent fights?
Walk away when someone threatens you or tells you to fight them.

How do some children handle a fight?
Some kids walk away and some kids fight back.
I was guilty of fighting back.

What happens when people come to watch fights and cheer?
The people fighting are encouraged and egged on to fight more.

So boys and girls who are planning to have a fight... Beware of what might happen to you!

How to Make Peace by, Damaras obi

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:10:00 +0000

This is how peace works in my class
and at last I'm letting you know fast
and if your talking to me
you get advice for free.

Step 1
Never start fights that lead to trouble.

Step 2
Always be kind and lift a helping hand.

Step 3
Never put anyone down help put them up.

Step 4
Be yourself not anyone you would be proud to know/be.

Step 5
If you make a mistake that’s ok everyone makes mistakes just lift your self right up.

And Step 6
Always be kind and never become a bully and be a leader not a follower.

P.S.
This was advice for you to know
on the dot and in the spot!

Signed Detective D.

Why do I have to clean my room? a poem by, Jack Prelutsky

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:04:00 +0000

Why do I have to clean my room
when I would rather play?
The crayons scattered on the floor
are hardly in the way.
I almost never trip upon
my basketball or drums,
and I don’t pay attention
to the cake and cookie crumbs.

Why do I have to clean my room?
I think my room looks nice.
There’s pizza in the corner,
but its only half a slice.
I'm not at all concerned about
the gravy on the chair,
my piles of model planes and trains,
my stacks of underwear.

I will admit some bits of clay
are sticking to the wall.
I scarcely even notice them
and do not mind at all.
Beneath my bed there’s just a wedge
of last weeks apple pie,
and yet I have to clean my room...
I simply don’t know why.

Selected by, Exavier and Veronika

“We chose this poem because it had rhyme and it was also funny. It reminds me of having a mess in my room with everything on the floor.”

Parent-Teacher Conference Appointments

noreply@blogger.com (LEGO Teacher) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:07:00 +0000

Hello Class 4-408 families!

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday March 20th from 1-3 and from 6 - 8.
I have some families signed up - but need to hear from all of you! Please check the most recent P/T Conf. Appt. Schedule and sign up for an open time slot (there are still times available Tuesday evening). If you absolutley cannot make it on the 20th, let me know and we can schedule a meeting another time.

A Great Woman of the Civil Rights Movement: ROSA PARKS by Courtney Z. Knight

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:21:00 +0000

On February 4, 1913 Rosa Louise McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. She was named after her maternal grandmother, Rose. Instead of 'e' at the end it's Rosa with an 'a'. Her parents were James McCauley and Leona Edward McCauley. James, Rosa father went North when Rosa was a toddler. Leona, Rosa's mother was pregant with Rosa's' brother Sylvester so she stayed in the South. Rosa's mother became a teacher in a another town so she moved her children to Pine Level to live with her parents while she was teaching. The last 2 times Rosa saw her father was when she was 5 and when she was grown and married. Rosa was home schooled by her mother for a little while because schools for black kids in Pine Level only went up to sixth grade. So when Rosa completed her education in Pine Level at the age 11, her mother put her in Montgomery's Industrial School for Girls (a.k.a. Ms. White's School for Girls). This school was run by white Quaker women who believed that all people were equal.

There were Jim Crow Laws segregating the South and that made Rosa's life hard. Jim Crow laws kept whites separated from blacks and were meant to make whites believe they were better than blacks. It was harder than we can imagine because black people were beaten, lynched, and burned to death by the KKK(ku klux Klan) and mistreated by most whites. Even though slavery was over most black people still did house chores and picked cotton for white people. There were signs that said "whites only" and "colored" every where. At restaurants, on buses, in movie theaters, water fountains, etc. And white sections were always nice and clean. While the blacks sections was always dirty.
While in high school Rosa met a man named Raymond Parks who was a barber. Everyone called him Parks for short. Parks would come to Rosa's house with flowers and asking for a date but Rosa was very shy. Parks kept coming back until Rosa said yes. Parks and Rosa dated for a while and later they were married.
One day Rosa's' mother saw a picture of Rosa's' High School best friend, Johnnie in the newspaper and it said she was an NAACP worker in Montgomery. The NAACP is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Rosa Parks went to one of the meetings to surprise her friend and the members asked her to become a member and volunteer to be the secretary. She said "yes". Mr. Parks helped fight for equality too but he didn't join the NAACP.
December 1, 1955 was the night Rosa made history. After work Mrs Parks did a little shopping & went to Lee's Cut Rate Drug Store to get aspirin for her body aches; she had been at work on her feet all day. She was seamstress at a major department store, Montgomery Fair. Three stops after Mrs. Parks boarded the bus, a white man boarded the bus. All the white seats where full so he was left standing. According to Jim Crow Laws if the white section of the bus was full the blacks had to get up and move further back to make more space for the white passengers. Mrs. Parks was sitting in the first row of the black section with other black people. The other black passengers got up and moved to the back. Rosa Parks stayed seated. The bus driver told her to get up but Mrs. Parks said, "No". This was the same driver who had thrown her off of a bus 12 years before & she was tired. Tired of the oppression of black people. Mrs. Park had known and suffered this oppression her whole life. Mrs. Parks was arrested. A white couple Virginia & Clifford Durr helped get Rosa Parks out of jail. They talked to the police officers at the police station because the officers wouldn't talk to Mr. Parks because he was black. Mr. Parks came and E.D.Nixon (President of the NAACP in Montgomery) bailed Rosa out. A group of ministers including, Dr. Martin Luther King met to decide how they would fight this injustice.
They knew that the majority of the bus riders in Montgomery were blacks so they decided to have a boycott. This meant that no black people would ride the buses. The boycott started on the first day of Rosa Parks' trial. Black people walked to work, school, stores, church, EVERYWHERE. Finally on November 13, 1956 the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation on the Montgomery buses was against the US Constitution. On December 20, 1956 the Supreme Court sent papers to Montgomery ordering the buses to treat blacks and whites equal. The boycott lasted for one year and 16 days. On December 21, 1956 black people started riding the buses again and sat any where they wanted to!
Mrs. Parks continued to fight for equality in the world because she knew the JIM CROW LAWS of segregation were UNFAIR to the black community. There were only a few nice white folks she knew at all in her life time.
And that is why I have chosen Mrs. Rosa Parks as my African-American female hero.

Comment and Proof Read!

noreply@blogger.com (LEGO Teacher) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:15:00 +0000

Hello Class 408 students. I'm glad to see you checking in on our blog during your vacation!

While you are here be sure to read and comment on your classmate's entries, AND check you own entries for typos that you can EDIT. I am seeing many careless spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. You are experts at correcting MY typos - now correct your own :)

Happy vacation,

Maureen

4th Grade Math Test Info

noreply@blogger.com (LEGO Teacher) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:07:00 +0000

Stephanie Slabic our math coach has complied some websites about the NYS Math Tests for me to pass on to you!

Your child should only do a few of their vacation homework problems a day and should mark any questions they find extra tricky.

3-5 Testing Information

New York State Pre and Post March Standards – Your children will NOT be tested on everything that is supposed to be taught in their particular grade. Because the tests are given in MARCH, there are many topics that will be covered afterwards, and thus will not be addressed on the test. This website shows you what standards are Pre- and Post-March.

Third Grade :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/gr3prepost.htm
Fourth Grade :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/gr4prepost.htm
Fifth Grade :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/gr5prepost.htm

2006 Exams - The following link is to the website that hosts downloads for each grade's 2006 exam. This is the actual exam that was administered last year and is a good indicator of what this year's test will be like. This is the practice test we are using in class.
http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/mathei/06exams/home.htm

2005 Sample Test - This is a SAMPLE test to look at with your child. There is also a scoring guide which tells you how your child's answers will be graded.
http://emsc32.nysed.gov/3-8/math-sample/home.htm

Archived Tests - Here are more examples of previous years' tests. If you download these tests for practice - be VERY careful. These tests were given in MAY of the schoolyear and contain many of the POST-MARCH standards that I mentioned earlier. Not every question on the archived tests will be covered on this year's test!
http://emsc32.nysed.gov/osa/arcelinmat.html

Math Games For Practice

NCTM Illuminations
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx
This website has many terrific games for all Pre-K through 12 Grade families. Just check the grade level you would like to work with, and scroll down to find the type of game is appropriate for your child. 3-5 Families - check out the Factor and Product Games!

National Library of Visual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
This is another website that allows you to choose grade level - then find a particular activity that addresses a standard. This is a great website Pre-K through 12th Grade!

Funbrain.com
http://www.funbrain.com
This website has a lot of fun "arcade" style games that give kids a chance to choose their grade level then complete many fun math problems.

NY Metro Parents Article on the 4th Grade Math Test
http://www.nymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=8311

Black Histery Month By KATE MACRAE

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:33:00 +0000

Black Histery Month is made to celerbrat black people who made imporntant contributions to are life.
Some of the people we honer are people who tought us that just because we are differnt on the outside
does not mean we can't have the same good jobs and things. Black histery month foceses on blacks
who made a differins we should all houner people who made a differins in are world like Rosa Parks
,Harett tubmen and other great people like docters and writers.

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:27:00 +0000

Can you translate this poem?

"Warmblood born a blood born Death
Will rob your body of its breath
Mark your skin,seal your fate
The Underland becomes a plate

Turn and turn and turn again
you see the what but not the when
Remedy of wrong entwine,
And so they form a single vine.

to know the complet poem and more, read GREGOR & THE CURSE OF THE WORMBLOODS!

the Ela test

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:23:00 +0000

Hello my name is kimani and im going to tell you what was going on the day of the test! On the day of the ela test people were nervous and they said '' I wish this was the last day of the test !'' they said that because they were nervous and people {like me} thought they were gonna fail but maureen said''if you just try your best there will be no reason to be nervous about the test!'' so people stopped being nervous because of what maureen said! [ remember try your best on the math test thats coming]!

Short Sleeve Sampson

noreply@blogger.com (Class 408 Student) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 16:33:00 +0000

By Hannah Martin Malcomson.

Short Sleeve Sampson is a Professinal Wrestler,even though he is a dwarf of 4'2"!

Let me tell you a little about him.
Sampson's real name is Dan Dilucchio.
He has other ring names, including, Mini-Taker, Pocket Rocket, and Mini-Angle.

Sampson weighs 115 pounds.He was born in Brooklyn N.Y., and was trained by
Tiny the Terrible.

Here are some championships that he won:

*Chaotic Wrestling
*CW Midget Wrestling(1 time)
*CW Light Heavyweight Championship

Today he lives in Rhode Island, and mostly wrestles for the Micro Wrestling Federation.

When he enters the ring, he raps, "I've got the power of the hour.
All my opponents I'm going to devour."

Dear Class 408 -- 2/13/07

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Okadigwe) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:24:00 +0000

Hi Class 408,

Greetings!

This is just a quick note to say hello and I miss you. I really appreciate the beautiful scrapbook you put together for me and the heartfelt things you said on my last day. I couldn't have asked for a nicer send off.

Thank you for delivering a copy of the 408 reporter to me on Mondays. I think you are doing a fantastic job with the paper.

Also, congratulations to everyone who particiapated in the Black History month assembly. You all are so talented!

All is well with me. The second graders are delightful and Ms. Jen Klein is a great teacher to work with. Once I've settled in to the routine on the third floor a bit better, I'll come back and spend some time with you guys.

I'm going to post some pictures from my time with you -- so keep an eye out for those.

Love,
Melanie

p.s. Have a Happy Valentine's Day!