October 29, 2008
Dear Families,
Can you believe that we are at the end of October already? Wow! This week felt like a very busy week, this is what we’ve been doing all week.
Reading – We started our focus on Comprehension strategies for reading. Students are writing about “Imaginings” they had while reading in their response journals. We are learning about how visualizing helps us to understand what we read (especially in Non-fiction reading). And we will be talking about making connections. The three kinds of connections we make as readers are: Text to text, text to self, and text to world.
Math – students have been focusing on perimeter and area this week. They used a math tool called “tangrams” to help them explore area.
Science – we are continuing to use the Discovery Education website to learn about the human body. Additionally, we have two more visits from the SMILE DOCS and will soon be working on a culminating project. Please, ask your child what they are learning about the body from the medical students.
Writing – Sudents continue to put thoughtful work into their memoirs. We’ve written new beginnings, developed the setting of our stories, and have added some great detail. I am impressed with the effort they are putting into their work.
S.S – Map 2 (50 States) quiz 2 this week (on Halloween!) All students will take the quiz this week. Because this quiz involves so much memorization, I ask them to do it twice – the 2nd time just for practice.
Other important events coming up:
Trick or Treat for UNICEF – students brought home their boxes Tuesday. The school would really like to beat our record for last year. Please help the children who benefit from our collection by allowing your child to participate or by donating to UNICEF yourself.
Picture make-up day/class picture – Thursday, October 30th
Wrapping paper pick up – Thursday, October 30 from 2:30 - 6 PM, in the back gym.
Halloween – We will not formally be celebrating Halloween. (No Costumes PLEASE) What I plan to do is “expand” our snack for TFK and then do some small crafts (Horrogami and skeletons with pipecleaners). Parents are welcome to come in and join us. I’ll probably need some help making skeletons and horrogami. (oh, it’s a surprise, don’t tell….) Just let me know if you’d like to join us. THANKS!
Endeavor will be hosting a pie-sale for the Holiday Fair (Saturday, December 6). Flyers will come home this week with sign ups for help.
Conferences (and school half days) on November 19th, 20th, and 21st, the sign up sheet went home this week.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Short week!!
October 22, 2008
Dear Families,
Hello and I sure hope you are getting this!! I’ve been informed that my weekly newsletters have not been making it home lately. I apologize – I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong with my email list, but I’ll get it worked out….
So, this week included many special events:
1. The class did some election research in the computer lab so that they are informed for voting. We voted online today using mockelection.com, and we will also participate in the school’s election on November 4th. A few middle school students stopped by today to register us to vote. Students even took a “Freeman’s oath.” This year, students may ALSO vote at town hall when you vote!!
2. Vermont children’s author Natalie Kinsey Warnock visited our school this week! What a treat for the students. Natalie was raised on a VT farm and continues to live in the NE kingdom. She writes stories that are related to her experiences as a child or that come from family stories. Her presentations were great! Ask your child about them.
3. Students were able to practice using a compass today in math. This can be a very challenging and frustrating task. Ask your child if they were successful!
4. We are doing great work in writing. This week we studied our mentor texts for patterns in structure. We also examined how authors write effective beginnings. Then, students wrote 3 possible beginnings for their memoirs. Many students came up with great ideas. Some students will be completing this task at home over the long weekend.
Next week we will start to study and practice a variety of specific comprehension strategies for reading. We will complete our geometry unit and we will start a new session of “Team time.”
** We will not be dressing up for Halloween. Students may bring in extra special Halloween treats for our TFK time on Friday. That will be our harvest celebration!
Thanks
Cara
Dear Families,
Hello and I sure hope you are getting this!! I’ve been informed that my weekly newsletters have not been making it home lately. I apologize – I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong with my email list, but I’ll get it worked out….
So, this week included many special events:
1. The class did some election research in the computer lab so that they are informed for voting. We voted online today using mockelection.com, and we will also participate in the school’s election on November 4th. A few middle school students stopped by today to register us to vote. Students even took a “Freeman’s oath.” This year, students may ALSO vote at town hall when you vote!!
2. Vermont children’s author Natalie Kinsey Warnock visited our school this week! What a treat for the students. Natalie was raised on a VT farm and continues to live in the NE kingdom. She writes stories that are related to her experiences as a child or that come from family stories. Her presentations were great! Ask your child about them.
3. Students were able to practice using a compass today in math. This can be a very challenging and frustrating task. Ask your child if they were successful!
4. We are doing great work in writing. This week we studied our mentor texts for patterns in structure. We also examined how authors write effective beginnings. Then, students wrote 3 possible beginnings for their memoirs. Many students came up with great ideas. Some students will be completing this task at home over the long weekend.
Next week we will start to study and practice a variety of specific comprehension strategies for reading. We will complete our geometry unit and we will start a new session of “Team time.”
** We will not be dressing up for Halloween. Students may bring in extra special Halloween treats for our TFK time on Friday. That will be our harvest celebration!
Thanks
Cara
Thursday, October 16, 2008
October 16th weekly news
Dear Families,
Good Afternoon. This week has flown by just as the others have…The quick version of some of the good learning we’ve done this week:
Students practiced and performed their reader’s theater skits this week. Each skit had a message about character education. The students enjoyed the reading exercise and the performance aspect of it. We will practice and perform reader’s theater many more times throughout the year. It really makes reading fun and helps students to learn how to read fluently and with expression.
In math we’ve been exploring geometry. Students are learning about and drawing and labeling lines, polygons, rays, angles, and lots more. We will continue learning about geometry, polygons, circles, and even some measurement through the end of October. Additionally, Mrs. Kloeckner will be coming in to teach students about saving money! Considering what’s going on in current events, this is a very appropriate time for such a discussion.
Speaking of current events, next week we will be focusing on the election process. The students will be learning the 4th grade version of politics through read-alouds, TFK, and some interactive games and activities. Additionally, we will be participating in 2 mock elections. Next week the students will be logging onto www.nationalmockelection.org to learn about the voting process and will then get to vote online. Parents may participate too! If you would like to come in and vote with us, we’ll be voting early – Next Wednesday between 12-1:00 in the library. Let me know if you plan to attend so we’ll know how many people will be voting.
This week we continued to use Discovery Education Science to help us learn about the Human Body. We’ve also started studying the skeletal system. Thank you to Alice Brown for coming in to support us in the computer lab! If your child would like to explore DE science at home, they can access the link via the school’s website. Here’s the link - http://www.scsvt.org/LIBRARY/Cooltool.htm#Online-Sub
And finally, we’re just getting a roll on our first official writing piece. Students worked on the first draft of their memoirs at home this week. We’ll be editing and improving them over the next few weeks. We are using 3 picture books as “mentor texts.” Each student chose one to be their individual example. They will study it to emulate the author’s effective and descriptive writing. I look forward to the final pieces. We have some great writers in here!
Reminder: Next week is a short week. There will be no spelling and a slightly different schedule because of our election studies.
This weekend a friend of mine will host “John Dewey Day” in Burlington. (John Dewey is a famous educator and philosopher that was from Vermont.) We start at the Fletcher Free library in Burlington with mask making. Afterwards, we wear our masks and join in a parade on Church Street with a giant puppet resembling John Dewey. Here is the blurb from the library website:
John Dewey Day. Saturday, October 18th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 (parade starts at noon). Join artist-educator Frank Gonzalez and his friends for paper mask making and a parade down Church Street at noon to celebrate the birth (in Burlington in 1859) of educator and philosopher John Dewey. Free. All ages. No preregistration needed.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Cara :)
Good Afternoon. This week has flown by just as the others have…The quick version of some of the good learning we’ve done this week:
Students practiced and performed their reader’s theater skits this week. Each skit had a message about character education. The students enjoyed the reading exercise and the performance aspect of it. We will practice and perform reader’s theater many more times throughout the year. It really makes reading fun and helps students to learn how to read fluently and with expression.
In math we’ve been exploring geometry. Students are learning about and drawing and labeling lines, polygons, rays, angles, and lots more. We will continue learning about geometry, polygons, circles, and even some measurement through the end of October. Additionally, Mrs. Kloeckner will be coming in to teach students about saving money! Considering what’s going on in current events, this is a very appropriate time for such a discussion.
Speaking of current events, next week we will be focusing on the election process. The students will be learning the 4th grade version of politics through read-alouds, TFK, and some interactive games and activities. Additionally, we will be participating in 2 mock elections. Next week the students will be logging onto www.nationalmockelection.org to learn about the voting process and will then get to vote online. Parents may participate too! If you would like to come in and vote with us, we’ll be voting early – Next Wednesday between 12-1:00 in the library. Let me know if you plan to attend so we’ll know how many people will be voting.
This week we continued to use Discovery Education Science to help us learn about the Human Body. We’ve also started studying the skeletal system. Thank you to Alice Brown for coming in to support us in the computer lab! If your child would like to explore DE science at home, they can access the link via the school’s website. Here’s the link - http://www.scsvt.org/LIBRARY/Cooltool.htm#Online-Sub
And finally, we’re just getting a roll on our first official writing piece. Students worked on the first draft of their memoirs at home this week. We’ll be editing and improving them over the next few weeks. We are using 3 picture books as “mentor texts.” Each student chose one to be their individual example. They will study it to emulate the author’s effective and descriptive writing. I look forward to the final pieces. We have some great writers in here!
Reminder: Next week is a short week. There will be no spelling and a slightly different schedule because of our election studies.
This weekend a friend of mine will host “John Dewey Day” in Burlington. (John Dewey is a famous educator and philosopher that was from Vermont.) We start at the Fletcher Free library in Burlington with mask making. Afterwards, we wear our masks and join in a parade on Church Street with a giant puppet resembling John Dewey. Here is the blurb from the library website:
John Dewey Day. Saturday, October 18th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 (parade starts at noon). Join artist-educator Frank Gonzalez and his friends for paper mask making and a parade down Church Street at noon to celebrate the birth (in Burlington in 1859) of educator and philosopher John Dewey. Free. All ages. No preregistration needed.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Cara :)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Weekly news
Dear Families,
My greeting for the students today: Good morning great students and HAPPY NO TESTING!
We are finally finished with NECAP testing (excluding students who have sessions to make up) so things can get back to normal.
Fortunately, we’ve had the chance to do some fun learning too. We have had another visit from the SMILEDOCS, we’ve been working hard on completing our current teamtime project, and we’ve done some great reading. Students are enjoying the reader’s theater skits that they’ve been working on. Ask them about their group, what the “Big Idea” of their skit is, and how they practice it.
Additionally, you may have heard your child come home and talk about the Discovery Education Science website that we attempted to log on to this week. We all are excited to do some of our Human Body learning using this great website. Students may also log on at home. Here is the link: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm
Reminder: This week is the last chance for students who haven’t yet passed map quiz one to pass. Next week, we will start studying map 2 which is memorizing and labeling the 50 states!!
v One more attempt: We are in need of nice (soft) tissues and liquid hand soap. If you would like to donate either/both of these to our classroom, we would greatly appreciate it. THANKS!!
Again, please don’t hesitate to call or email with any questions or comments.
Cara
Question this week: Would you like for your child to have homework that is completed on the computer? IS this even possible in your house?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Testing this week
Hello Families
I just wanted to remind you that we are taking the NECAP tests this week. Testing occurred two times today, will be in both the morning and the afternoon tomorrow, and then will conclude on Wed morning. IF your child missed any of the sessions they will have to make them up as soon as possible.
Additionally, i wanted to remind you that the HW schedule is different this week because of testing. There is NO WORD STUDY this week. Students will have a one-sided math sheet for HW each night.
IF you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks
Cara:)
I just wanted to remind you that we are taking the NECAP tests this week. Testing occurred two times today, will be in both the morning and the afternoon tomorrow, and then will conclude on Wed morning. IF your child missed any of the sessions they will have to make them up as soon as possible.
Additionally, i wanted to remind you that the HW schedule is different this week because of testing. There is NO WORD STUDY this week. Students will have a one-sided math sheet for HW each night.
IF you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks
Cara:)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 1
October 1, 2008
Dear Families,
Hello and Happy October!! Fall is right on-time isn’t it! This week the children are sharing their favorite things about fall. Most of them love jumping in leaves and of course, Halloween.
As I’m sure you’ve heard, we have been practicing for the upcoming NECAP tests. My hope is that the children will understand the kinds of questions they will be asked and the kinds of answers the test makers are looking for.
Testing will begin tomorrow and will continue next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Please be sure that your child gets a good breakfast and plenty of rest for testing days. Additionally, homework will be slightly less on testing nights.
Reading – In addition to prepping for testing, we have been learning strategies for what to do when we don’t understand what we’re reading. We’ve talked about both content comprehension and figuring out unknown words. The students shared strategies for solving these problems independently while they are reading. Additionally, the children are continuing to respond to their reading by writing to me in their response journals.
Next week, the students will be working on fluency by working with Reader’s Theater skits. There will be three groups. Each child will have at least one part. Reader’s Theater is a great way to practice fluency because it requires students to do multiple re-reads and it requires them to follow along while others read. (Little do they know they are working on fluencyJ). Additionally, it requires them to read with proper voice tone and fluctuation. We will do mini-skits at the end of the week so children can present their work.
Math – The students have started working in their EDM (Everyday Math) journals. Soon you will see math work coming home that is related to lines, rays, line segments, points, parallel and perpendicular lines, and the like. Look for a family letter which should help with any unknown vocabulary.
Mapping – I am happy to say that every child improved on their map quizzes the 2nd time. Over half of the class has passed MAP one already! Students who need it still have two chances to pass. Friday is the next quiz. Next, we will be learning the states.
Science -Today the SMILEDocs came for their first visit. These are UVM college of Medicine students who come in to help students learn about the human body. (You will see a letter come home from them tomorrow.) Ask your child what they learned today, what they created today, and what great questions they have for the medical students!!
**If anyone would like to come in and share their expertise about the Human Body, please contact me to set something up!! (I know there are a lot of doctors out there…)**
Thanks!
Cara Crowther J
985-3331 x154
ccrowther@cssu.org
My Question for the week:
How is homework going for you and your child?
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