Friday, March 22, 2013

The quote of the week comes from a young lady during math today.:

"When I don't pay attention, that's when good things happen to me."

I wonder if she notices the good things happening... :-)

March 22, 2013

I am looking forward to meeting with everyone next week!

Conferences

Your conference times are in this Friday folder, and our system should have sent you an email with the date and time.  Please let me know if your date and time do not work. 

Social Studies Magazine

Please consider donating $1.50 to help us purchase a Social Studies magazine that will help us cover many interesting topics about Washington this spring. 

Informational Book Talk

The grading rubric for this project is below.  The kids should be reading their books at this point, and I will provide computer time for them to work on their PowerPoints at school.  The due date is April 24^th. 

	Possible Points	Points Earned
Was your book approved on time?	5
Did you complete your project on time?	10
Was your power point organized, colorful, attractive, and easy to read?	10
Did you include pictures or illustrations?	10
Slide 1- include the book’s title, author, and your            name, date, and a picture	10
Slide 2- List of important vocabulary words that pertain to your topic with their definitions	10
Slide 3-Photo album : include pictures of one or two people, places, or events with captions from your book.	10
8.       Slide 4- continuation of pictures with captions from page 3	10
9.       Slide 5- write an note in memo format to a friend telling him/her why you would recommend the book to him/her	10
10.    Slide 6- design a souvenir to correspond to your book’s topic (use Paint program)	10
11.    Slide 7- Write four questions that could be answered by someone reading your book	10
Slide 8- Write a reflection piece about your book.  (Did you enjoy it, how did it make you feel, any questions you now might want to research, or other books you might like to read, etc.)	10
Are the spelling, punctuation, and grammar correct?	10
Was your presentation informative and convincing?	10
Did you make eye contact for most or your         presentation?	5
Did you acquire new knowledge?  Did you answer your classmate’s questions?	10
TOTAL	150

 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Yesterday, Landon and I were chatting outside during recess.  We were talking about soccer and I mentioned how I was never very good at it because I am not good with my feet.  He considered this for a moment and then replied, "Well, you're good at walking!"  Made us both laugh.  That I am, Landon, that I am.  :-)

Conferences

Conference week is March 25-29.  Please schedule your conference online at your earliest convenience.  The last day to do so is Wednesday, March 20^th.  After that, I will schedule a time for you. 

End of Quarter

Somehow, the end of the 3^rd quarter is here.  This is hard to believe!  The last day to turn in work is Wednesday, March 20^th.    

Social Studies Magazine

On Monday, I sent home a letter asking for $1.50 donation to help us purchase a Social Studies magazine that will help us cover many interesting topics about Washington this spring.  If you are able to donate, we would greatly appreciate it!

Late Start Day Moved to Wednesday 3/20

This was originally scheduled for 3/13.

Informational Book Talk

Next week I will be introducing this assignment to the kids.  They are to read an informational book about a topic that interests them.  Then, they will be creating a PowerPoint presentation in class about their book.  This should be fun.  I will distribute information and a grading rubric next week. 

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

Friday, March 1, 2013

March 1, 2013

Late Start Day Moved to Wednesday 3/20

This was originally scheduled for 3/13.

Science Fair

Projects are due March 6^th, the Science Fair is March 7^th from 1:15-2:30.  Please let me know if you need anything. 

Informational Book

We are going to begin a book report/book talk project soon.  I am going to ask each child to pick an informational book to read for this.  Hopefully they will be able to find something that interests them at our school library.  More coming home about this soon.

Silverwood Reading Program

Remember to be documenting your child’s reading minutes on the Silverwood Tally Sheets.  600 minutes earns them a free Silverwood ticket.  The sheets are due back to school by March 13, 2013.  Let me know if you have any questions.

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

Friday, February 22, 2013

Science Fair

We have been talking about the Science Fair in class.  At this point, your child should be ready to start doing their experiment at home and then creating their display board.  Use the materials I sent home a couple weeks ago as your guide for the display.  There is a grading rubric that tells exactly what I am looking for on the displays.  Projects are due March 6^th, the Science Fair is March 7^th.  Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. 

Progress Reports
Believe it or not, we are half way through the 3^rd quarter.  Progress reports will be emailed to you either today or Monday, so please look for them and let me know if you have any questions about them.

What’s Going on in Class?

·         Reading – This week we learned all about whales and read some great informational texts about them.  We worked on sequencing and transition words.

·         Writing – We continue to review paragraph structure as well as possessive pronouns and the use of apostrophes.

·         Math – This week we worked on finding the factors of numbers.  Your child learned 3 different strategies to accomplish this.  Ask him or her to show them to youJ  Next week we will be talking about multiples and then working on division with single-digit divisors.

·         Social Studies – We have completed the chapter about Washington’s Native Americans.  We took notes on the chapter to find the key information.  The kids used their notes to make up some test questions.  I will take the best questions and create a test for them to take over the material. 

·         Science – Obviously, we are working on the Science Fair.

Silverwood Reading Program

Remember to be documenting your child’s reading minutes on the Silverwood Tally Sheets.  600 minutes earns them a free Silverwood ticket.  The sheets are due back to school by March 13, 2013.  Let me know if you have any questions.

March 1 – We will have school!

This is a snow make-up day, and since we had a snow day, we will be in class on the 1^st.

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

Friday, February 15, 2013

February 15, 2013

Valentine’s Party

Thank you to those who brought treats and/or showed up to our party yesterday!  It was great and the kids did an amazing job.

Science Fair

Starting next week, your child needs to have a topic picked out for the Science Fair (one that tests a variable).  We will begin to work through the experiment form in class and they can begin testing at home.

Whiteboard Markers

If having money in your bank account annoys you, consider spending it on some whiteboard markers for your child and his or her classmates.  We use whiteboards everyday and our stash of markers is running low.  Thanks for your consideration!

IXL

Please continue to utilize the IXL website.  Your child has been given a username and password and can enjoy unlimited access to the site.  It provides wonderful practice to improve skills and help prepare for the upcoming MSP in May.  Your child can practice on this site both from home and at school, and it is well worth their time. 

Silverwood Reading Program

Remember to be documenting your child’s reading minutes on the Silverwood Tally Sheets.  600 minutes earns them a free Silverwood ticket.  The sheets are due back to school by March 13, 2013.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great three-day weekend!  Please let me know if you need anything.  Many thanks!

Friday, February 8, 2014

Science Fair

There is an information letter about this Science Fair coming home in this Friday folder.  We talked about the Science Fair in class today, so your child should have a decent understanding of what’s expected.  My goal is to make sure it is a worthwhile project, while also keeping it stress-free and low-key.  We will be doing some of the work in class, but the actual testing for your child’s project will be done at home.  Please read over the information and let me know if you have any questions.

Whiteboard Markers

Each child has a mini-whiteboard at their seat in which we use for math practice and a variety of other things.  Many students have lost their whiteboard marker or it has run out of ink.  It would be amazing if you could buy your child a couple of whiteboard markers (if you are able).  I would very much appreciate it! 

IXL

Please continue to utilize the IXL website.  Your child has been given a username and password and can enjoy unlimited access to the site.  It provides wonderful practice to improve skills and help prepare for the upcoming MSP in May.  Your child can practice on this site both from home and at school, and it is well worth their time. 

Silverwood Reading Program

Remember to be documenting your child’s reading minutes on the Silverwood Tally Sheets.  600 minutes earns them a free Silverwood ticket.  The sheets are due back to school by March 13, 2013.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Valentine’s Party

This will be taking place on the afternoon of February 14^th at approximately 12:30.  If your child chooses to make valentines, please have them do so for each student. 

Friday, February 1, 2013

2/1/13

IXL

Many of you already know this, but our class is enjoying a month-long free trial for the incredible math website:  www.ixl.com  Your child has been given a username and password and can enjoy unlimited access to the site.  It provides wonderful practice to improve skills and help prepare for the upcoming MSP in May.  Your child can practice on this site both from home and at school, and it is well worth their time. 

Silverwood Reading Program

Remember to be documenting your child’s reading minutes on the Silverwood Tally Sheets.  600 minutes earns them a free Silverwood ticket.  The sheets are due back to school by March 13, 2013.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Valentine’s Party

This will be taking place on the afternoon of February 14^th at approximately 12:30.  If your child chooses to make valentines, please have them do so for each student.   

School Supplies

Thanks to those have brought in school supplies for our classroom!  Our greatest needs are currently wide-ruled paper and anti-bacterial wipes.  Thanks! 

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