Week 4 Transformers!

This week in Science we studied the unit "Organisms and Where They Live".

We talked about different ecosystems and population. I brought in the world population

numbers divided in to different countries and the students were excited learning

about that. For a science experiment, we put in to a plastic bag: 1) a piece of ham 2) a piece of

lettuce 3) a piece of bread and 4) a piece of apple. Throughout the week we checked on them to see

which one will grow mold first.

In reading we read the story " Sarah, Plain and Tall". It talks about missing something or someone very dearly. It is quite a long story and not exactly the most entertaining story, but it does teach some good vocabulary.

We also completed Science wkbk and Reading Grammar wkbk this week. Some students tend to work really slowly at these and would not finish the work in class. I may have to assign them as homework if this continues on.

We also learnt new vocabulary and learnt a new song called "Beauty in Ugly" - by Jason Mraz.

It is a great song to teach kids about not judging people by how they look but by their personality and mind.

I also assigned some writing homework: "What do you want to be when you grow up?". I want to get the kids to start thinking about it and perhaps work towards his/her goals =).

I try to review the vocabulary for 10 minutes every class, just testing the kids verbally. This is important as it helps them to be able to iterate the words by speaking, and not just reading it on a piece of paper. On Tuesday we had a vocabulary competition between the 2 classes. By making it a bit more competitive, the students will actually try to do better.

I was very happy with the vocabulary quiz results this week, many students continued to do well and many improved greatly from the first test!!! Proud of you guys!

Individual Comments:

Class A:

Livia: Is always on time and ready to start work. She is behaving as always and knows the materials really well. She made great sentences with her vocabulary and was able to know the answers when we had a friendly vocabulary competition in class. I will be sure to remember to copy all the materials in large font so Livia can read them better. Keep up the good work!

Belinda:

Great this week! Pays a lot more attention now in class. She finishes her work faster too! Belinda seems to like to sing and is a good, loud singer. She seems to know her vocabulary words a lot better this week as well and has improved a lot for the test compared to the first test. There is one thing I'd like Belinda to improve on. When she tries to voice her answer or opinions in class, sometimes her spoken sentences would be broken and hard to understand. This just takes more practice speaking correctly with proper grammar. Keep up the good work!:)

Jay:

Jay always seem tired in class, however this week he has improved on getting his homework done! He works faster now and usually follows along when we are reading. He seems to like to practice singing the songs too. Jay's writing is pretty neat and he makes better and better sentences with the vocabulary. He just needs to have more confidence in himself. I believe he can do excellent work if he tries even harder and pays even more attention.

Ryan:

Ryan is a very expressive singer! Always excited and enthusiastic about the songs =). Ryan always knows his vocabulary words well, even if he forget one he can figure it out quickly. His sentences were great as usual, very creative! Ryan finished his work fast and got the highest vocabulary quiz mark in his class once again. One thing he needs to improve on is not lingering around after nap time. We always have to wait for him to put his sleeping bag away and sit down to start class.

CLASS B:

Sydney: Sydney is a competitive girl and loves to learn about new things. She usually pays attention and is a quick learner. Her writing is neat, her sentences are well written, and she always gives me good consistent work. Sydney is the fastest worker in class and got perfect on the Science workbook. She also made a huge improvement on her vocabulary quiz this week!!! Paying attention and studying does help =)! Keep it up!

Tiger: I've noticed a huge difference in Tiger - he pays a lot more attention now! He knows his vocabulary well so I can tell he has been studying. When he reads he needs to not act goofy and read smoothly. Tiger makes great sentences and has been doing all of his homework. He did great on the vocabulary test this week!! Good job!!

Brian: Brian is very well-behaved but sometimes his attention strays when other students are goofing around. Usually he always wants to concentrate on work and encourages others to do so =). Brian needs to remember his punctuation marks when he's writing sentences though. His mark on the vocabulary test was the highest in both classes!! Good job!!

Richard: Richard needs to read with more expression and not too monotone. He makes good sentences but needs to make sure that he copies his vocabulary words correctly. Watch the small errors! Richard was working slowly in class for the last 3 weeks, however this week he worked super fast and did great work! He also made a huge improvement on his vocabulary quiz!!! Very proud Richard!!! =) Keep it up!!

*P.S. If parents can not make PTA meeting this Friday, feel free to call me at the school or contact me through this blog or email. I would be happy to discuss your child's progress with you. connie@taiwanspca.org

Teacher Connie a.k.a BIG BUMBLE BEE

Weekly Vocabulary

I will post the weekly vocabulary words here in case anyone loses their copy or needs to enlarge the fonts:

Week

1

method

n

a procedure, technique, or way of doing something

1

2

inquire

v

to seek information by questioning

3

visual

n

the picture elements;Seen or able to be seen by the eye

4

observe

v

to use one or more of the senses to identify or learn about an object or event

5

literacy

n

the ability to read and write

6

analysis

n

a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations

7

oxygen

n

An element, normally a gas, that makes up about one-fifth of the atmosphere of the Earth. Oxygen is usually found as a molecule made up of two atoms.

8

organism

n

A living thing that carries out five basic life functions on its own

9

cell

n

the smallest unit of living matter

10

tissue

n

a group of similar cells that work together to carry out a job

11

organ

n

a group of tissues that work together to do a certain job

12

system

n

a group of parts that work together

13

organ system

n

a group of organs that work together to carry on life functions

14

microorganism

n

an organism that is so small you need a microscope to see it

15

buttermilk

n

a similar liquid made from whole or skim milk with the addition of a bacterial culture

16

peaceful

v

undisturbed by strife, turmoil, or disagreement

17

plenty

adj

a full or abundant supply or amount

18

vast

adj

of very great size or proportions; huge; enormous

19

nuisance

n

an annoying person, thing, condition, practice etc.

20

queer

adj

strange or odd

21

ramshackle

adj

loosely made or held together

22

mischief

n

a cause or source of harm, evil, or annoyance

23

cellar

n

an underground room usually for storage

24

seesaw

n

a recreation in which two children alternately ride up and down while seated at opposite ends of a plank balanced at the middle

25

peculiar

adj

strange; queer; odd

26

flabby

adj

hanging loosely or limply, as flesh or muscles

27

soggy

adj

soaked; thoroughly wet

28

spectacles

n

a pair of eyeglasses

29

ghastly

adj

resembling a ghost, esp. in being very pale

30

gaze

n/v

a steady or intense way of looking

31

radiant

adj

emitting rays of light

32

over-whelmed

v

to be overcome completely in mind or feeling

33

beckon

v

to signal or summon, as by nodding or waving

34

murmur

v

to speak in a low tone or indistinctly

35

clutch

v

to grip or hold tightly or firmly

36

miserable

adj

very unhappy, uneasy, or uncomfortable

37

centipede

n

any of various flattened, wormlike arthropods of the class Chilopoda, whose bodies are divided into many segments, each with one pair of legs

38

tiptoe

v

to move or go on tiptoe, as with caution

39

bulging

v

to swell or bend outward

40

glint

n

a tiny, quick flash of light

41

massive

adj

large in scale, amount, or degree

42

ripe

adj

having arrived at such a stage of growth or development as to be ready for reaping, gathering, eating, or use

43

trickle

v

to flow or fall by drops, or in a small, gentle stream

44

midget

n

an extremely small person having normal physical proportions

45

miraculous

adj

extraordinary, astounding

Week

7

kingdom

n

the largest group into which an organism can be classified

2

8

trait

n

a characteristic of a living thing

9

genus

n

a group made up of two or more very similar species

10

species

n

the smallest group into which an organism is classified

11

characteristic

n

a distinguishing feature or quality

12

infer

v

to form an idea from facts or observations

13

tropical

adj

very hot and humid

14

timber

n

the wood of growing trees suitable for structural uses

15

misconception

n

A mistaken thought, idea, or notion

16

extinct

adj

no longer in existence; that has ended or died out

17

dart

v

to thrust or move suddenly or rapidly

18

obtain

v

to get, get a hold of

19

ancient

adj

very old; aged

20

glum

adj

moody and sad

21

design

v

to make drawings, preliminary sketches, or plans

22

petal

n

one of the often colored segments of the corolla of a flower

23

knapsack

n

A bag made of sturdy material and furnished with shoulder

straps, designed for carrying articles such as camping

supplies on the back

24

outdoorsmen

n

a person who spends much time in the outdoors

25

gasp

n/v

a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise

26

salami

n

a kind of sausage, originally Italian, often flavored with garlic

27

apricot

n

the downy, yellow, sometimes rosy fruit, somewhat

resembling a small peach

28

compass

n

an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a

freely rotating magnetized needle that indicates magnetic

north

Week

25

fossil

n

any evidence of an organism that lived in the past.

3

26

embryo

n

an undeveloped animal or plant.

27

preserve

v

1) to prepare (as vegetables, fruits, or meats) to be kept for

future use

2) to keep or save from injury, loss, or ruin

28

limb

n

any of the paired parts (as an arm, wing, or leg) of an animal

that stick out from the body and are used mostly in moving

and grasping

29

gill

n

an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike pieces

for obtaining oxygen from water

30

pesticide

n

a substance used to destroy pests (annoying thing that

causes harm or destroys something EX: insects)

31

contribute

v

to give, along with everyone else.

32

resource

n

a source of supply or support EX: Natural Resources

33

migrant

n

a person, animal, or plant that migrates (to move from one

country, place, or locality to another)

34

architecture

n

a method or style of building

35

grim

adj

mean-looking, fierce

36

shanty

n

hut or shack (small in size)

37

labor

n

the services performed by workers for wages or

something that requires work

v

to work hard

38

bruise

n

an injury in which the skin is not broken but

is discolored from the breaking of small blood vessels that lie

underneath the skin

39

shortcut

n

a shorter, quicker, or easier way

40

wondrous

adj

wonderful

41

sturdy

adj

firmly built or made or strong and healthy in body

42

twirl

v

to turn or cause to turn rapidly

43

permanent

adj

lasting or intended to last for a very long time

44

meadow

n

an area of moist low usually level grassland

45

dent

v

to make a hollow (lowered spot on a surface) in or on

something

46

cartwheel

n

a sideways handspring with arms and legs extended

47

necessity

n

something that is necessary and needed

48

slit

n

a long narrow cut or opening

Week

49

explore

v

to search or discover new things and places

4

50

admire

v

to look with wonder, desire, and respect

51

advertise

v

to announce publicly especially by a printed notice or a broadcast

52

prairie

n

a large area of level grassland

53

content

adj

pleased and satisfied with what one has

54

braids

n

a length of cord, ribbon, or hair formed of three or more strands woven together

55

prim

adj

very caring about one's appearance and behavior

56

quilt

n

a patterned bed cover made of two layers of cloth with a filling of wool or cotton

57

porch

n

A covered area, usually having a separate roof, at an entrance to a building.

58

dough

n

a soft clump of moistened flour that can be rolled or kneaded

59

plow

n

a farm machine used to cut, lift, and turn over soil

60

streak

n

a small amount

61

frowned

v

to show displeasure or disapproval with the face

62

sly

adj

mischievious and clever at hiding purposes

63

portion

n

a part and share of a whole

64

carpenter

n

a worker who builds or repairs wooden structures

65

bundle

n

a number of things fastened or wrapped together

66

community

n

1. living part of an ecosystem

n

2. the people living in an area or the area itself

67

consumer

n

1. organisms that eat other organisms or use the food that producers make

n

2. a person who buys and uses up goods

68

decomposer

n

organisms that break down wastes and the remains of other organisms

69

ecology

n

the study of how living and nonliving things interact

70

balance

n

a condition in which 2 things are equal to each other

71

eroding

v

gradually becoming destroyed by chemicals

72

climate

n

the average weather conditions of a particular place