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Richmond Third Grade - Ms. Martin and Hirahara Sensei

October 25 - Hirahara Sensei ひらはらせんせい

I hope your child enjoyed a day off from school on Friday, October 24th. Teachers attended professional development classes. Richmond's Japanese language teachers met all day in a discussion group to coordinate curriculum.

This newsletter will be sent bi-weekly from now on unless there is a special need to communicate with all of you.

MEMORIZING MULTIPLICATION TABLES ORALLY IN JAPANESE
Third graders started to practice and memorize multiplication tables 2 weeks ago. Students had opportunities to be tested orally last week. We have reviewed the tables 2x and 5x in class. I introduced 3x in class on Thursday. I am expecting most of the students to pass the 2x, 5x, 3x and 4x tables by the end of next week. The way the factors are listed is actually 2x1=2, 2x2=4, 2x3=6, 2x4=8, etc. (Please note that the factors are listed opposite from the way they are listed in English.)

I have been keeping record of who passed their oral multiplication test. Students bring home a card with a stamp with a date written by the teacher or an intern. Please ask your child, if you have not seen any cards at home yet. Please keep those at home to review even if your child has passed them already. If you have questions about this, please email me.

I will retest 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x before I have students move on to 6x and above.

KANJI TEST
I am testing students Kanji every 3 weeks at this point. I will test 3 Kanji next week with stroke order. I will also include 3 Kanji I have tested before for the reading and dictation test.

* Kanji that will be tested for stroke order as well:

Go, Itsu(tsu) / five
Roku / six
Nana / seven

* Kanji that will be included, but already TESTED BEFORE:

Yon, Shi, Yot(tsu) / four
Nichi, Hi, Bi / day, the Sun
Gatsu, Getsu, Tsuki / month, Monday, moon

MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
Our math curriculum introduces division concepts as the reverse of multiplication concepts. We have started to use an ARRAY to show this concept [FACTOR x FACTOR = MULTIPLE ]. We will stick to Multiplication for a while, but during this same math Unit students need to understand that the [FACTOR IS THE ANSWER TO THE DIVISION OF MULTIPLE]. If you have any chance to have a discussion about dividing numbers and multiplying numbers at home, please have your child draw a simple array as a diagram. That will help your child to understand this math concept in the real world.

HIRAGANA/ KATAKANA TEST
Please ask your child whether he/she has passed the Hiragana test yet. Most of the students have already passed that, and I expect every student to pass this by the end of this month.

I am expecting to have every student pass the writing KATAKANA Chart test before the Parent-Teacher Conferences week (by November 22nd). Please have your child to practice writing Katakana Chart at home, if your child has not passed the written Katakana chart test yet.

October 8, 2008 - Ms. Martin

Just a couple of reminders about homework:

Please return the folders which house the homework composition books each week. I've asked the students to always keep the folders and composition books together. The reason is twofold. One, the folder acts as protection for the composition book so that the pages don't become worn, bent or torn and the cover is kept from becoming dog-eared. Many students want to keep their work even after the third-grade year, and this is a way to preserve it. Second, the folder pockets can store other important items such as reading logs, math worksheets and notes to and from home, to avoid them being lost. Please work with your child to remind them to bring their homework to class inside the folder.

I've asked the students to return the assignment sheet (the piece of paper that has Third Grade Homework written at the top), each week, along with their Reading Log, math worksheet and any rough drafts/scratch paper that they used to prepare their work. It's helpful for me to see their process. I will not be sending home a formal Reading Log each week. Instead I've asked students to write their own on a piece of scratch paper or notebook paper, just like we do in class each week.

Also, please provide an envelope or resealable plastic bag to store the Array Cards, which is the Math homework this week. Your child should return the Array Cards in their homework folder next week with their name clearly marked on the outside of the bag or envelope. A piece of masking tape works well for marking the plastic bags.

Thanks for your support and continue to let me know if you have questions.

October 13 - Hirahara Sensei ひらはらせんせい

Hiragana/Katakana Test
I forgot giving the Hiragana/Katakana tests back to Green Group last Thursday, and I forgot giving them back today again! I am sorry for this. I will have them review the test first in the morning tomorrow, and giving the test back home tomorrow on Tuesday.

Kanji Test
I started testing Kanji today from Blue Group. Students take Kanji Test on both sides of paper. 1st page is divided into two section. One section is stroke order, and another side is to copy sentence from the white board, and write hiragana on the right of Kanji to show how to read them. There is one space left for students to create sentence using the Kanji, which are tested. Any student who has learned more Kanji are encouraged to create more sentence using other Kanji as well.

2nd page is for dictation. There are some space left for students to create more sentence using target vocabulary, which are taught in class for last some weeks. I put some words on the board to remind the students. These target words become the extra points added to the point itself for creating a sentence, if the usage is correct.

Reading Log
The reading log is for extra points. I encourage every student to keep a log of Japanese reading. I think it is absolutely o.k. to add Homework reading (aloud) if it is more than 10 minutes and no longer than 20 minutes. Please make sure your child tries to pronounce the words and sentences clearly as he/she reads the reading page.

Thank you very much for your questions and help!

October 8, 2008 - Ms. Martin

Dear JMP3 Parents,

The students' first couple weeks of homework look great for the most part. We are still working out some details. Please let me know if you have any questions. Once again, the assignment sheet will be sent weekly to all email addresses that are part of the third grade group. If you are not getting the email or know someone who isn't, please contact me. I can make sure you are on the group list or send a paper copy if you prefer. As I emphasized in class, the students should complete the academic work first before spending time on an elaborate motif on their borders. I've seen some very nice drawings in the borders but the emphasis should be on completing the spelling, math, etc, first. Then if there's time the border may be decorated and color added. Please help to guide your child along these lines on their homework.

As I mentioned at Curriculum Night, we are regrouping students in leveled reading groups for what we call Walk to Read. This allows for smaller reading groups, a higher student/teacher ratio and increased individualization of instruction. The entire school is implementing this new program, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, are joining forces. With Michelle Kisinger and Lesley Spector, we have a total of 5 teachers for a one hour reading block each day. Students are grouped according to fluency and comprehension scores on reading assessments. The groupings are flexible and subject to change as students advance.

I like to provide a time for student sharing once a month, always on Fridays. The next scheduled sharing time is October 17th. Many students asked if they could bring pets but unfortunately it is not possible, although photos are very welcome. Because the time is so limited, I ask that students thoughtfully choose items for sharing. Appropriate items might be special awards, collections, or musical instruments to play, or photos from a special trip; things that showcase a student's interests, hobbies and talents. This sharing date coincides with Sayaka's last day at Richmond so it will also be a chance for your child to say goodbye.

I sent home a Scholastic Book Order form on Monday. If you'd like to order, please return the order and payment by October 23rd.

Remember there is no school for students on Friday, October 10th.

Thank you for your support.

September 30 - Hirahara Sensei ひらはらせんせい

Thank you to the parents who attended our Curriculum Night last week. It was so nice to see many of you face to face. I really appreciated all the questions you came up with. Please keep asking me questions through email and by using the contact slip below. You may attach this slip to the homework on a daily basis if you have any questions or issues you want me to discuss with you.

Most of the students’ writing has been improving quickly by using homework, conversation activities, responding to the teacher’s journals, creating short sentences by using new words, etc. We are still working in class on learning a step-by-step approach to writing, but I think YOUR HOMEWORK SUPPORT HAS BEEN MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE EFFICIENTLY at school. THANK YOU !

CLASSROOM BOOK CHECKOUT OPPORTUNITY
I am sending another sheet of paper today for the students and parents who want to check out Japanese books from Rm 201. ONE BOOK per child at a time for one week. Please read the student and parent contracts (see separate sheet), sign the contract and turn it in if your child is interested. WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET A STUDENT CHECK OUT THE BOOK UNLESS THE PARENT AND THE CHILD SIGN THE CONTRACT. Please understand that it is expensive to replace books from Japan, and we all need to be careful with handling our precious resources at Richmond.

BIG THANK YOU TO AMY AND SHIZUMI who volunteered to put forms together for students checkout forms in the classroom last week! They pasted checkout log sheets to each individual student’s folders Friday after 4:00.

Another big THANK YOU to Dana (Nicholas F’s mother), Cathrine (Audrey’s mother), Jill (Samantha’s mother), Denise (Kai N’s mother) and Meg Matsushima (Taylor’s mother) to volunteer for this year’s classroom parents. We met Friday afterschool to talk about special events, field trips, and how to get help from parents. Our first event (coming soon) will be the Halloween Party ! Those wonderful ladies will keep you posted.

Kanji List and Kanji Test
I am ready to give out Kanji Flash Cards, if you want. Please email me so that I can give an instruction how to use the flash card. I will start the Kanji testing next week on Friday. The Kanji which are going to be tested will be those in the homework. Please make sure your child knows the correct stroke orders, how to read them and write them.

(Challenge work) Students who have already learned some other kanji will have the option to take same Kanji test, but include different Kanji from their different Kanji List. Those will not be on the printed Kanji list, but practice dictation of the sentence with as much Kanji as your child can write in the sentence.

HOMEWORK Packet and MATH CHECK
I am mostly happy with the way homework is going. Most of the students have started to bring the homework in their folder every day. This makes the lesson go more smoothly since I usually review the homework the day before and the day after it is due to catch any questions and to give students plenty of opportunity to understand the homework instructions.

I will be giving a similar calculation quiz after Wednesday. Please go over and mark the missed ones, and have your child correct the mistakes in front of you. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GRADE SIMPLE MATH FACTS AS PART OF THE HOMEWORK.

READING ASSIGNMENT AND JAPANESE SILENT READING
I want every student to read the reading sheet (homework) aloud for about at least 5 minutes everyday. This should be done at your child’s natural reading speed. Aim at reading with good cadence rather than rushing it. It is a good idea for you to sit close to your child to let him/her know that you are aware of how the cadence is going. When your child finishes, please sign in the slots.

I will give a reading sheet from this Thursday that should stay in the homework folder. Please record the minutes on ththe back of the last page of the reading sheet. I will give out 50 yen (points) for every one page of the log finished and turned in. I will wait to graph student progress until students and parents are used to recording the log.

September 22 - Hirahara Sensei ひらはらせんせい

The Fall has come. Cold symptoms are already appearing among students at Richmond. Please be sure to have your child rest, eat balanced meals, and wash his/her hands. I will keep encouraging students to keep their hands away from their mouth and nose in class, and encourage students to wash their hands and top of their desks frequently.

Thank you for sending the Homework (H.W.) folder back to school lastFriday!
I just wanted to be aware of any questions parents may have, and make sure that all students understand the homework procedures. From now on your child can keep the H.W. folder at home, or in their backpack until time to turn it in Wednesday morning.

Curriculum Night this Wednesday!
We are going to do two presentations: from 6:00-6:40 and 6:50-7:30 pm. We will talk about this year’s Curriculum, Homework, State Tests, Field Trips, and so on. Please come to hear us speak about the year ahead as well as to ask questions.

Hiragana Weekly Test is going to be over this week.
As I said before, I will be testing Katakana weekly. Beginning next week, students who have not yet passed Hiragana will be tested on both until they pass the Hiragana test. Students who have passed both Hiragana and Katakana will be taking a pretest to review Kanji from first and second grade. Some of the students who study Japanese outside of Richmond will have an opportunity to use more Kanji after they pass both the Hiragana and Katakana Tests.

A Request From Ritsuko Fujiwara Sensei:
Please sign up to volunteer for the full-day Artist in Residence class on September 29th for the 3rd grade Class ( Part one/ 2 sessions).

A Note From Mika Sensei (our Intern who helps both classes on Tuesdays):
My name is Mika Ido. I am from Kobe City. I usually work with Yoshida Sensei’s Kindergarten class as an intern, but I also help 3rd grade in both Hirahara Sensei’s classes once a week.

I would like to offer tutoring help for 3rd graders. I have seen some students benefit from getting some help in Japanese after the long summer break. If you are interested in having your child receive tutoring, please contact me. Thank you very much. --Mika Ido

I look forward to seeing all of you at Curriculum Night this Wednesday, September 24th! Please email me if you have any questions.

September 15 - Hirahara Sensei ひらはらせんせい

I hope my Third Graders have all enjoyed the good weather this weekend. Our school schedule and routines are pretty much set to go by now. A lot of learning has happened already, and we are getting ready for our first homework assignment this week. I will be giving some instruction about Homework procedures at home and at school this week.

Hiragana & Katakana Test and Practice
I have tested students on writing whole Hiragana chart last week. I have returned the tests back to the students last Friday. I am expecting all the third graders to pass all sections of the chart by the end of this month, since Hiragana is basically the phonetic alphabet students read and write everyday. ( This has been introduced since Kindergarten, and I need every third graders to have a solid foundation of this.) Please take a look at the test that goes home, and practice every day at home until your child will be confident to fill all the chart. We are not going to spend much time to practice those at school. The students who pass the Hiragana will be moving onto Katakana Chart, and then to Kanji from second and first grade.

Homework Guidelines:
The first homework assignment will be sent home on Thursday, September 18. Homework will be due on Wednesday the following week. I expect my students to read the first page (Reading Page) every day three times. There will be signature lines for the parents to verify the completion of the Reading every day. I need parents to check the completion of Kanji Page and sign on top of that page as well. I will attach a cover letter to the first homework assignment, which will go home on Thursday. I will also talk about these Homework requirements at our upcoming Curriculum Night next week.

Classroom Help:
Thank you to Meg Matsushima who volunteered to be the PTA rep for our Third grade class. I received several classroom volunteer survey forms back from several families last week. There are still a lot of open spaces to sign up for. I put a sign-up schedule sheet in the hallway below my class number plate. At this point, there are some tasks you can do with and/or without students that don’t require Japanese language skills. Please take a moment to look at them, and sign up. You can also email me to sign up that week (preferably a couple of days ahead of your volunteer time).

School Supplies and Classroom Supply Fee:
Thank you so much to the parents and students who have brought us school supplies and paid the classroom supply fee. I will start emailing the parents who have not paid the fee as a reminder.

Next Week’s Curriculum:
Reading: “George Smith’s self introduction”
Writing: “Self introduction”
Conversation: “Classroom procedural questions and answers, talking about self”
Math: “Number Sense; plus minus stay the same game, Finding Doubles and Halves”
Science: Change “What is a solid/ liquid/ gas?”
Social Studies: Our School Community and Our Classroom Rules
Artist in Residence: Animal Design

September 3 - Hirahara Sensei ひらはらせんせい

My name is Michiko (Parshalle) Hirahara. Please call me Hirahara Sensei which is my maiden name. The first day went smoothly for the most part. I bet your child had a long exciting day at school and was pleased to be back home.

This is my second year at Richmond. I am very excited to be here to teach after teaching in Eugene for twelve years prior to the last year, which I had eleven years of teaching third grade at Yujin Gakuen Japanese Immersion School. As I still learn how school operates at Richmond, I am amazed how much continuous effort and results of hard work done by parents, community members, principals, students and teachers and other staff members. I feel lucky to work with your child and with you this year.

Interns?
We don't have stable intern who will be working with us this year at least until March. (We are short of numbers of interns, but not the quality of the work they do for all the school.) But, don't worry, I will be seeking out any chance to have any native speaking volunteers for my students this whole year. All the Japanese interns and teachers are on the same page to help each student out with our limited resources. I am hoping to get back to you with creative schedule of interns here and there to provide extra native speaking help in the classroom.

School Supplies and material fees
Thank you so much for sending school supplies and checks to school today. We have received quite a few notebooks. If you didn't have a chance to go shopping, would you please bring Band-aids instead of notebooks.

Please have your child bring a check or cash (in an envelope with your child's name) by next Friday, September 12. I am not going to accept any responsibility over the envelope and/or check, which doesn't have STUDENT'S name on it. We will use the class money you pay this term to buy necessary materials and to budget for class field trips. But as you know, $10 doesn't stretch far these days, we may need to ask you to pay some more in the future for specific reasons, such as classroom party, supplementary fee for the class field trip, supplementary materials. We are going to try save our classroom budget by sharing with you our wish list as much as possible before we purchase extra supplies.

Two Classes and Individual Numbers
We have two classes of third grade. The class that starts the day with Ms. Martin is Blue Class (aogumi - あおぐみ). The class which starts the day with Hirahara Sensei is Green Class (midori gumi - みどりぐみ). We don't share supplies, but math books go back and forth in a cart.

Every student received individual numbers and I asked everybody to memorize it today. Blue Group's student number is from 1 to 30. Green Group's student number is from 31 to 60. We are going to use this number to sort mailboxes for the students so that any body can understand whose piece of paper it is.

PE Days!
Green Group will kick off this year's PE tomorrow! (Please make sure your child will dress appropriately tomorrow for safety, if your child is in the Green Group.)

Green Group's PE day --- Tuesday (8:45-9:15) and Thursday (8:45-9:15)
Blue Group's PE day --- Tuesday (8:10-8:40) and Friday (8:10-8:40)

Behavior Expectations and Reinforcement in Japanese class
Mrs. Martin and I will be teaching more about procedures and how to be a good learning community member this month. I will be help creating our own classroom rules tomorrow.

I have explained group point system today, and I will be using this system to reinforce the positive behavior. As a class we all are going to encourage each other to achieve learning goals.

Individual Positive Behavior
I am going to use color behavior card systems for individual students. I have a big chart with students' names in class. I will be putting the tags on their names as I catch the behavior during the class.

Green card --- Great learner! (3 blue or green tags = 50 yen)

A yellow card ---A warning after a non verbal/ verbal warning

A pink card--- A time out (go to the time out spot) and do the assignment quietly for 5 minutes or so.

A Pink tag --- A time out at Ms. Martin's room, Ando Sensei's room or at the office. I will be calling home about the incident and discuss the consequence and a plan for the improvement.

There is a lot more to this system, but I will explain how I will be reinforcing the positive behavior later in the newsletter.

I will share the individual behavior information with parents at the conference as well as the academic ones.

Do you want to volunteer for your child's class?
Weekly homework is not going to be starting immediately. If you are one who can help in the classroom, please sign up the time, days of the week and specific areas you want to help. Please feel free to send me email for questions and also for Japanese Classroom help. If you need to go through the PPS background check to be working with students but can hardly wait to help some ways, there are a lot of things you can help students and me without direct contact with studenst. Please do not hesitate to write a note.

I can be reached by email. I usually try to check email in the morning, and hopefully sometime during the day (it really depends on the day), and after school. You can also leave me a message through Patsy, but I prefer emailing the most. (mparshal@pps.k12.or.us)

Thank you so much!