Dear Families,

  Hello and Happy Fall!  (I waited until the weekend to send this, just so I could say that..... :))

School is finally starting to feel like we're getting into the routine of things.  Just in time to have a 4 day week, a field trip, and NECAP testing...... Anyway, here are some of the things we've been doing:

Reading : 

Reading conferences, our first response, and 3 minute fluency assessments.

Writing:

Students wrote me letters about their "writing lives,", and continue to work in their notebooks.  This week however, they actually started a couple of narratives.  Soon, students will choose one of the narratives they've already started to work through the writing process!!  

Look for the letter that I wrote in response to the students' "writing lives" letter on our blog site!!

Math:

We've been working on understanding area this week in preparation for looking at multiplication using the area model.  In addition to using pattern blocks to  think about area, we used 1 in square tiles this week. Multiplication starts on Monday! Additionally, we shared our strategies for subtraction after looking at the HW together.  And finally, we talked about a new ADDITION to the goal sheet - CLINIC!!  

Students brought home a (computation) clinic book (you may have heard it referenced to as "the dinosaur"...:)), a salmon colored instruction sheet, and either a pink or yellow clinic cover sheet.  All students were placed in either addition or subtraction based on a few assessments they've completed.   They will complete 4 problems a night (Due Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), and one of those 4 problems should be solved using 2 different methods.  Students correct themselves, turn it in each day and keep the clinic book in their HW folder.  Please let me know if you have questions about this part of the weekly goal sheet.  

Spelling:

Spelling (word study) will also start this week.  There will be 2 groups in our classroom.  All groups will bring home a packet on Monday that is due on Friday.  We complete a pre-test on Monday and go over the spelling rule and word sort together.  The rest of the work is to be completed at home.  The quiz will always be on Friday.  

Other important stuff:

I know that there was a big meeting with 4th grade parents, administrators and school board members this week concerning the large class sizes we're faced with this year.  I wanted to say thank you for your support.  I hope that we can now move forward with what we've got and continue to feel supported and confident in all of the people and programs at SCS.  Moving forward, we are fortunate here in Shelburne to already have many supports in place.  And of course, I will always do my best to meet the needs of ALL of my students.  

- Remember, there is NO SCHOOL on Wednesday (9/26)

- Field trip to Shelburne Farms on Friday 9/28.  A permission slip came home last week.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  It's sure to be a great time!!

 - NECAP testing will start the first week of October (10/4) and continue through the following week.  4th graders complete testing in both math and reading.  Science NECAP will take place next spring.  

OK, That's enough for now.  Keep in touch!!

First Week!!

8/31/12

Hello Families and Happy Blue Moon!!

I am pleased to say that we have had a successful first week of school!  The students are working really hard and are enjoying getting to meet new friends and see old ones.  

Some things we've been working on this week:

• Building reading endurance
• Writing a story about our summer - independently
• Introduction to Habits of Mind - especially in math
• Learning about classroom jobs and "applying" for them (to be posted Tuesday!)
• Getting to know each other better
• Classroom/schoolwide procedures
•  Daily routines
•  Lining up quietly
•  Transitioning to and from circle - quickly, quietly, and calmly
•  "freezing" when we hear the signal
•   cleaning up the classroom
•   Using the classroom library
•   Showing good listening
•   and many more!
• How to create the BEST classroom community!

Of course, we're also taking assessments, enjoying Read-alouds and activities with our Endeavor team mates, and getting to know our classroom.

**Important for you to know that students will be bringing home their FIRST GOAL SHEET tonight!  Goal sheets basically outline our HW for the following week and are always due, along with the HW, on Thursdays.  Next week's HW is simply one math sheet (review), 2 entries in their writer's notebooks, and to read nightly.  You will also see a YELLOW reading log come home.  This is what students will be using to keep track of BOTH their in school and at home reading.  It should be brought back and forth with their reading book each day.  There is one place on the goal sheet where I ask for your signature.  This is for you to sign off on their at home reading.  (They should be keeping track of the book title, total number of pages, and nightly the number of minutes read and the number of pages read.)

Next week we'll continue practicing classroom procedures, start exploring shapes in math, begin September's Number Corner (part of Bridges Math), learn more about Habits of Mind, continue collecting entries in our writer's notebooks, work on building reading endurance, and of course, have fun and get to know each other better! :)

And finally, as always, please feel free to ask questions if you have them.  Email is probably the best way to get a hold of me but you may also try calling.  However, please know that there is usually just one time in the morning, and one time in the evening that I check my mail.  

I look forward to a great year with your children! :)

Hello and Welcome!

Everyone is gearing up to get back to school - such an exciting time of the year!!  Although it will be difficult to leave my two sweet children, and to be busy, busy, I know I'm excited for a new school year to begin.

I thought i'd start this year's blog with a post that shares a little bit about me - personally.  We spend so much time at the beginning of the year getting to know each other, I know that students also like to get to know me!

I grew up in central PA with my older sister Taya and my mom.  We were fortunate enough to grow up in a small town surrounded by close family!  Once HS ended, I quickly left PA to head out to Northern CA for college.  My dad lived in CA so it was nice to be closer to him.  I graduated from Humboldt State University with a BS in Botany and then moved back east.

I've been in VT since 2001.  When I first arrived, I worked for the state doing invasive plant control and after two seasons working in the field, decided I wanted to go back to school to get my teaching degree.  I got my first teaching job in 2004 in Northfield, VT where I taught 4th grade.  I've been at Shelburne since 2008.

My husband Noah and I are high school sweethearts and were married in Vilcabamba, Ecuador in 2004.  We have a dog named Hank, a 2 year old son named Sy and a 6 month old daughter named Poppy.  I feel very blessed to have such a delightful family! :)

Some things I like to do for fun are: walk, yoga, shop, travel, eat, bake, and read.  We live in a musical house - I play the violin and my husband is a bass player (and singer) in a band.  Sy currently prefers to play the drums.  We'll soon see what instrument Poppy enjoys the most! :)

I LOVE learning and teaching!  I love to spend my days inspiring curiosity in my students and watching them grow as learners.

I'll hope to keep the blog posted as the year continues.  Most often i'll post the classroom news, and eventually, I'd like to have students updating parents on what is going on in the classroom.  Stay tuned!!

Thanks for reading.
Cara:)

Weekly News - September 30th

Dear Families,

Hello and Happy Friday!

Hasn't it been a beautiful fall so far!

The Endeavor 4th graders have definitely found their groove and are growing every day! Some things we've been working on:

Reading -

• writing a good reading response
• NECAP prep
  
• building reading endurance

Math -

• using the area model of multiplication to understand factors, products, division, prime numbers and composite numbers!
• Sharing multiplication strategies that help us remember our facts
• mulltiples of 2 and 3
• reviewing expanded notation
• NECAP prep

Writing -

• collecting entries
• "Heart Mapping"
• writing from our "best" and "worst" lists

Science - Most of our larvae have become Chrysalises! We've been watching them closely in anticipation of the arrival of our beautiful monarch butterflies! When our monarchs emerge, we'll spend a few days observing them and then plan a release day.

Spelling - This was week 2 of spelling. Students and I spent some time going over last week's packet. I reminded them to read the directions and work carefully in their spelling packets. Beginning the week of 10/10, spelling HW will be DUE THURSDAY so that I can check students' work before the day of the test. Next week, we will not have spelling HW due to NECAP testing.

NECAP - Students will be taking the NECAP (reading and math) tests next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and again the following Monday.

Other Important news:
- Next week's HW will be slightly less than normal due to NECAP testing. Students will not have spelling or writing HW and only one math sheet.
- Many of you still need to sign up for November conferences.

OK. Keep in touch!

Cara :)

--
Cara Crowther
4th Grade Teacher
Endeavor Team
Shelburne Community School

Dear Families,

Hello and happy (salsa) Friday! It was our first FULL week of 4th grade! Some things we've been doing this week:

Reading – This week, students received their Reading Response journals. We talked about how to log books they’ve read, and what to do when they finish a book. Additionally, we visited the library and talked about how readers choose books and make good book choices.

Math – Students learned about area this week and we explored the concept with pattern blocks and then tiles. The students eventually used 1x1”, 2x2”, and 3x3” squares to find area. Next week, we’ll move into multiplication and division models. A very informative sheet came home today that explains what else we’ll be doing in Bridges Unit 1.

Science/Social Studies – We continued to collect data about our rapidly growing monarch larvae this week. The larvae are growing big enough that we even have to feed them more! Part of our science inquiry this week was to wonder about their feeding habits and exactly how much they eat. Additionally, we examined them under a magnifying glass and created labeled drawings of what we saw.

Of course, we also enjoyed team time, making salsa this afternoon, and had a FABULOUS field trip to Shelburne Farms this week. Students did a great job working together in the team building activities.

Homework Notes –

Students have 2 new additions to their goal sheets this week: Fastt Math and Spelling. All students have done Fastt Math last year, so they understand the program. I reminded them how to get on and what it looks like once you do. They will be asked to do Fastt Math 5 x/week for homework. (Yes, if they want, they can do 2 in one day.)

Spelling (due Friday) will start on Monday so students will get their HW and packets then. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

Important Dates:

Curriculum Night for parents – Tuesday 9/20-6-730

Picture Day – Wednesday 9/21

Innisbrook Wrapping paper orders due – Tuesday 9/27

Reading Fix-Up Strategies

Dear Families,

We've been working on comprehension strategies for the past two weeks. One thing we have focused on this week is what we call "fix-up strategies." These are things that we do as readers when we come to a word, or section of text that we don't understand. I've told the students that ALL readers need to use fix-up strategies at some point - even adults. So, i'd like to ask YOU to share some things that you do as a reader when you read something that you don't understand.

Thanks for sharing!

Cara

October 8

October 8^th, 2010

Dear Families,

It has been a full, but slow moving week here at SCS. The NECAPS have filled up our mornings with reading and math testing. The students have done a really great job staying focused and quiet during the testing. In addition to NECAPS here is some of the stuff we have been working on:

Reading: We have been engrossed in our reader’s theater scripts this week! Students were broken up into three groups, and have been practicing three different stories. Performances were this afternoon, and they were wonderful! Students did a great job following along in the script, using vocal and facial expressions to convey their roles, and read fluently as a group. The three performances were from the books; Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar, Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini, and The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. Next week in reader’s workshop we will be focusing on book recommendations and how to monitor our comprehension as we read.

Writing: This week in writing we have officially started our unit on memoirs. We have been immersing ourselves in memoir related material-reading picture books and excerpts from chapter books-and discussing what qualities make a memoir. Next week, students will continue to be exposed to memoir rich literature and begin to focus on their own lives and writer’s notebook entries to develop a seed topic to write about!

Math: We started the new October Number Corner this week which consists of students exploring a base four pattern on the calendar collector, as well as measuring cups, quarts and gallons. The discussions we have had as a whole class have been amazing! It is so great to see the amount of growth in students’ observations and their abilities to discuss these math concepts. Even from just a few weeks ago in September, they have made so much progress, and I couldn’t be happier! I have to stop the discussion sometimes because we have to move on! We are also exploring different strategies for multiplication. Next week I will be sending home a packet that has all the different strategies for each multiplication fact so that parents at home can learn right along with the students. Some of the strategies your fourth graders are learning are so cool- I wish I learned my multiplication facts this way!

Science: We have just hit the very tip of the iceberg this week in science. Students have created a KWL Chart (Know, Want to know, and Learned) on the Human Body, have watched an introduction to the Body Systems video, and explored the circulatory system a bit by checking our pulse rates. We will be diving more into the Human Body next week, but probably won’t begin any experiments until after NECAPS are over.

Geography: Students came into school Monday morning very anxious to see their scores on their Natural Landmark Geography Tests. I was so impressed with everyone’s effort, excitement and overall performance on this first round of tests. I had a chat with students on Tuesday, and I want to clarify it for all parents as well, that ALL students will receive a prize no matter when they pass the test. Whether it is on the first, second, third or fourth try, everyone gets the prize when they pass. There was a bit of confusion this week as students thought the prize was only given out if they pass on the first time. I stressed to them all that it does not matter which try they pass on, when they do pass, they should feel good about themselves because they completed something very challenging!

Other News: I have sent home a permission slip for our field trip taking place at the end of this month to the State House in Montpelier. Please return the bottom portion of the slip ASAP! We will continue math NECAP testing on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Since it is only two days of testing, we will begin an almost regular homework routine; spelling, one math worksheet and only two days of clinic.

We are also still looking for a few parents who can volunteer to come in and do fluency with some students. Preferably, you would come in the mornings, but we can arrange it to meet your schedule! Please email me if this is something you are interested in!

J Katie

** I have attached the November Conference Schedule to the email newsletter. Please respond with your top three conference times and I will get back to you with your time slot!