Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tuesday, Dec 20

Slipper Day is tomorrow! Bring a Dollar to wear slippers all day ( this is a fundraiser for the 4th graders camp)

Please make sure your child bring their backpack to school tomorrow-- I will be sending home some art projects and a couple papers.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Monday, Dec 19th

2 days left until break! Remember that tomorrow and Wednesday are FULL days of school.

Thanks to those who returned the sheets about the party-- we will have enough juice, frosting, and sprinkles now! If you are interested in contributing, please bring either heathy food snacks for the kids to munch on (grapes, crackers, pretzels, anything that kids like!), OR sugar cookies.  Let me know if you are planning to bring something! Thanks!!

Today in class we practiced more carrying for double digit addition on our classroom whiteboards.  We also worked on a special gift for our parents :)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Friday Dec. 16th

Happy Friday!!
Today we had a CRAZY day!! We had so much to do and so little time (isn't that always how is goes during this time of the year?)  We started out our day with a new gingerbread story and made another story made to help with the comprehension with the story (as well as our ability to compare and contrast).  We also read a book about Kwanzaa today and made a little activity with Kwanzaa vocab.

In math we practiced a LOT of adding and paired it with some greater and less than practice.

I sent homework home today but it isn't due until Jan 6th (The Friday after we get back from break). There are also a MILLION papers in the orange folder today that I let the kids "file" into their mailboxes on their own so I do apologize for those that are a little less-than-organized!  Lastly, I sent home a little flier about the holiday party on Wednesday.






Thursday, December 15, 2011

Thursday, Dec. 15th

Today in class we practiced smallest to largest in math.  We also listened to the Legend "The Indian Paintbrush" and reviewed the elements of a legend.  In the morning we had an instrumental concert highlighting the talents of the middle school students.

We had computer lab this morning as well and a LOT of kids were earning scholastic points!!  Ask your child how many scholastic points they have and ask how they earned them :)

HW due tomorrow!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Wednesday, Dec. 14th

Today in class we read "the Gingerbread Baby" and compared and contrasted it to the Gingerbread Man story we read yesterday.  The kids realized that the problem was the same in both books but the solution was different.  They also identified that the characters were different but the setting was the same.

In writing we made story maps and then later made wish lists :)  Both of these items will be coming home on Friday.

This afternoon we had out PBS (Positive Behavior System) Reward!  Almost everyone was able to attend the Wii Dance Party and it was SO fun!! The kids loved it and I loved watching their moves on the Dance floor :)

***The holiday party will take place on Dec. 21 from 2:15-3:15 We will be decorating sugar cookies and having healthy snacks and drinks.  We will be needing items like cheese and crackers, pretzels, juice, ect.  Shelby's mom is working on a list that I will be sending home asap! :)  We will also be playing a game during the party and making a craft a little earlier on in the day.  All are welcome to attend and help!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuesday, Dec. 13th

Today in class we practiced writing notes to friends.  We learned the parts of a letter and then wrote a greeting card to a friend in class.  I will be mailing all the cards this week so be prepared for your child to get a little mail in the mailbox :)

In math we made polygons on our geoboards.  We also reveiwed line segments. I took a few pics of the kids with their polygons that I will upload later tonight :)

In reading we read the Gingerbread Man and found the parts of the story (the characters, setting, problem, and solution)

**I really need gallon sized ziplock bags if youre feeling generous! Thanks!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Monday, Dec. 12th

Hi everyone-- today in class we learned about Hanukkah and read a book that highlighted the important traditions that Jewish people celebrate with during the month on December.  The kids liked visualizing the candles burning in the nighttime and enjoyed the fun picture book we read.  Later in the week we will be learning about Kwanza with a picture book and a quick project.

We also took the Unit 5 math test today and will be taking the next week to focus completely on addition with regrouping and subtracting with borrowing.  We are a little ahead in math so we have a little extra time to stop and work more in depth on the tricky addition and subtraction :)

I submitted the book orders today for those of you who placed an order-- they promise delivery by Monday of next week!

Friday, December 09, 2011

Friday, Dec 9th

Thank you to all of you who came to our conferences yesterday and and Wednesday.  We had almost 100% attendance :)   Most of you got the report card from me at the conference, if not, you will be getting the report card home TODAY! Also going home today will be new HW in the binders and orange folders.

Remember that if you want to make a scholastic book order through the classroom this month that the orders are due on Monday.  I have to put the order in early so that we get the books before break.

I have a volunteer from home opportunity for anyone who wants to help out but works during the day.  You will need a stapler and scissors. Email me if you are able and willing!

PLEASE label your childs snow pants, boots, coat, and anything else with a tag.  A lot of out winter gear looks the same and it would be SO helpful if there were at least initials inside.

Our christmas party will be on Dec. 21 from 1:00-1:30 (Craft making), and then again from 2:15-3:12 (food and game).  Nylah's Mom, Robyn's Mom, and Shelby's Mom are organizing our party :) A note will be coming home early next week about food donations they will need.

Due to a request, I am adding a "Wish List" Tab to the blog to list things that we currently need or things that we just wish we had here at school.  This is for people who want to donate to the classroom and is by no means an obligation to any of you!

Hope you all have a good weekend!!

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Wednesday, Dec. 7th

Today in class we explored square pyramids vs. cones.  We used the words point, base, edge, and side.  We will exploring volume next week.  We also practice the concept of sharing items equally among friends (there are 15 candies and 4 friends.  How can they share them equally? How many will be left over?) which is the beginning concept for division.

In writing we are practicing using different perspectives.  We are continuing this concept in reading by thinking about the main character and their motives for their actions.  Next week in reading we will be comparing a bunch of different Gingerbread Man stories to see how the different perspectives change the story.  If you have any Gingerbread books (the gingerbread girl, the gingerbread baby, ect) please send them in!

Tonight we had conferences in the evening-- thank you to all the parents that came! So far, we have had 100% participation :)

NO SCHOOL TOMORROW (Thursday)!! Conferences will be taking place all day and the school book fair will be open.

There will also be a story hour tomorrow in the library between 6 and 7.  Ms. Stocks and others will be reading aloud to the students who attend.  She will also be modeling "good questions" for parents to ask kids when they are reading at home.  Call the office for more details. Please come if you can :)

Monday, December 05, 2011

Monday, Dec. 5th

Sorry I wasn't able to get the spelling tests graded and returned on Friday-- I sent them with the kids today.
I also sent a conference time reminder note with everyone.

**The book fair will be going on all day tomorrow and Wednesday.  Students may bring money and visit the fair at any time during the school day.  You may also visit the fair during parent teacher conferences on Wed. night and all day Thursday.

Today in call we started working on a character project to help students "put themselves in someone else shoes" when writing.  I can't wait for you to see the project-- the pictures that go with it are TOO cute.

In math we worked on polygons and quadrilaterals.  Ask your child tonight what a Quadrilateral is :)  Email me or send me a note if they get the answer correct-- I will have a special prize for them!

Friday, December 02, 2011

Friday, Dec. 2nd Cont.

I posted next weeks schedule below but for some reason I was not able to write any additional text on that post so here is another one to let you know that new homework went home today.  Also, I have everyone signed up for conferences-- let me know if you misplaced your time and need a reminder!

Have a great weekend :)

Friday, Dec. 2nd


 Monday
  D  Day: Art     
Book Fair
Tuesday
  A Day: Music

Wednesday
  B Day: Library


Ice Cream Sale during lunch
Evening Parent/teacher conferences
Thursday 
 C Day NO SCHOOL


No school for students
Parent/teacher conferences
Friday  
 D Day


Report Cards Sent home
Dental service here
School Store

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Thursday, Dec 1

Homework due tomorrow!! Also, we will be going to the book fair preview tomorrow.  This will be a time for the kids to look at the books that will be available during the book fair and think about what you may want to purchase.  The fair will be officially open during conference days next week for parents and students.

Also, I posted the Dec calendar on the 'calendar' tab a week or so ago.  Take a look at it to see when we will be having assemblies, school store, ice cream sale, ect.  This is the the calendar that I receive from the office and I think is included in the Poupard Newsletter.

Book Exchange today was a big success--- we had a TON of books brought in and the kids got to choose a lot of great new books to read.  I love seeing kids who are bring their old level 1 or 2 books and trading them up for little chapter books! Its just another reminder of how fast they grow and learn.