Friday, January 25, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

January 25, 2013

Silverwood Reading Program
In your child’s Friday folder you will see information about the Silverwood Reading Program, where your child can earn a free ticket to Silverwood if they document 10 hours of recreational reading.  Included in this information is a tally sheet for you to keep track of what your child has read.  Over the next few weeks, I am not necessarily going to assign reading homework for your child, but rather, would them like them to read and document on the Silverwood tally sheets.  The sheets are due back to school by March 13, 2013.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Student Update Forms
Last week I sent home a student update form with your child.  Thanks to those who reviewed the information, signed it, and sent it back to school.  If you haven’t done so yet, I would very much appreciate it if you sent these back as soon as possible.  Thanks!

Changes to Friday Folders
Every child received a new Friday folder this week, and you will see that there is a parent signature sheet stapled to inside front cover of the folder.  After you have looked through your child’s folder, please sign on the appropriate spot on the sheet and send the folder back to school with your child on Monday.  Students who complete their weekly homework, have no missing daily work assignments, and have their Friday Folder signed and returned will earn a classroom reward. 

School Supplies
We are in need of wide-ruled paper, No. 2 pencils, and anti-bacterial wipes for our classroom.  If you are willing and able, we would very much appreciate your donation.  Thanks! 


Please let me know if you need anything.  Many thanks!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Today was the last day of the first semester.  Grades will be finalized tomorrow and report cards will be mailed home soon.

Student Update Forms
In your child’s Friday folder today, or in their backpack, you will see a student update form for your child (essentially a demographics sheet with contact info).  Please make any necessary corrections and then sign and return it on Tuesday.  Thanks!

Selma, Lord, Selma
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, the fourth graders will be watching the movie, “Selma, Lord, Selma.”  This is an excellent film that takes place in 1965 in Selma, Alabama, when the civil rights debate was raging and heated.  In the film, one of the characters gets shot and killed.  The shooting is not actually shown, but we hear the sound and the character falls to the ground.  This film is also rated PG.  If you have any concerns about your child watching this film, please let me know.  We have shown it for many years, and the kids always talk about how much they enjoy this movie and how much they learn from it.  Many walk away inspired, with a better understanding of the evils of segregation, and also an enhanced view of Martin Luther King’s peaceful and nonviolent approach to dealing with inequality.  Again, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Changes to Friday Folders
Changes to our Friday folder system will begin next week.  I am going to staple a signature sheet to the inside cover of the folder for you to sign.  I want to ensure that the students are showing these to you.

School Supplies
With the first semester ending, many students are running low on school supplies; especially paper.  If you wouldn’t mind supplying your child with some more wide-ruled paper, I would be most grateful. 

No School – Friday, January 18th and Monday, January 21st 
Friday is a teacher work day and Monday we are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Please let me know if you need anything.  Many thanks!


Friday, January 11, 2013

Friday, January 11, 2013

It seems hard to believe, but the end of the first semester is upon us.  Next week is the final week, so it is important that all work is turned in.  Grades will be finalized on Friday, January 18th.

Friday Conversation Sheets and Changes to Friday Folders
We did not fill Friday Conversation Sheets today.  At the start of the second semester, your child will be receiving a new Friday Folder, and there will be a signature page stapled to the inside cover of it.  I will be asking parents to sign in order to verify that the Friday Folder was seen before it is sent back to school.  This will allow me to hold the students accountable and to reward those students who consistently show their folders to parents.

School Supplies
With the first semester ending, many students are running low on school supplies; especially paper.  If you wouldn’t mind supplying your child with some more wide-ruled paper, I would be most grateful. 

No School – Friday, January 18th and Monday, January 21st
Friday is a teacher work day and Monday we are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

PE Shoes
Please make sure your child has PE shoes here on Tuesdays and Fridays.  The kids are welcome to leave their PE shoes in our classroom closets if needed.  Mrs. Z only has so many for the kids to borrow, and they aren’t always the right size.  Thanks for your help!


Friday, January 4, 2013

Friday, January 4, 2013

Happy Friday!

We took our spelling pre-test today and homework was handed out today as well.  The links at the top of the page have been updated so you can access the word lists.  Homework is due by Thursday, so your child certainly doesn't have to do any work this weekend, but they can if they so choose.

Below is the letter that I meant to send home today, but alas, the pile is sitting right in front of me.  Sorry about that.


January 4, 2013

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break.  It is good to be back in the saddle. 

Changes to Spelling Test/Weekly Homework Schedule
I handed out the Weekly Homework Sheets and spelling words today.  The final test will be next Thursday and homework will be due that same day as well.   Also, the spelling list that is assigned to your child is based upon how they did on today’s pretest.  Our new homework/spelling schedule looks like this:

Fridays of Each Week:
·         New spelling words handed out (we will do a pre-test to determine what list students will focus on).
·         Homework is assigned.
Following Thursdays: 
·         Homework is due.
·         Spelling test will be administered.

Rationale:
·         This will allow students who wish to study their spelling words over the weekend to do so.
·         Will build in more time to our classroom schedule for pre-testing and word practice.


Mr. V’s Class Christmas Party
Thanks to everyone who helped out with or provided treats for our party!  I apologize that I missed it.  I was planning on being here that day, but I had a family issue come up. 

PE Shoes
Please make sure your child has PE shoes here on Tuesdays and Fridays.  The kids are welcome to leave their PE shoes in our classroom closets if needed.  Mrs. Z only has so many for the kids to borrow, and they aren’t always the right size.  Thanks for your help with this matter!


Please let me know if you need anything.  Many thanks!


291-4791 ext. 135
www.mrvandynesclass.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

2013 is here, and my resolution is to make this blog a bit more active.  So, after a nice little Christmas vacation, here are the words the kids used to describe their last two weeks:

cool, enthusiastic, exciting, best, Santa-ish, funny, sarcastic, wonderful, extraordinary, awesome, grand, fun, pizzariffic, fantastic, dramatic, guinea-piggish, chaotic, cold, amazing, sensational, conventional, awkward, Disney-ish, crazy, supercalifragalisticexpealadoceous, okay, sweet!

The thesaurus came in handy :-)

Reminder that from now on homework will be given on Fridays and will be due on Thursdays.  So look for your child's homework this Friday.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season!