Treeline and Lifezones

We'll be viewing all the life zones during our October field trip, the last big trip for a while!

Are you excited? All aboard!


Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Mountain Lions

Mrs. Slothower and I took a science class at the zoo a few weekends ago and after learning about mountain lions, got to see this fun little event.

This is a great video to think about VERBS and what actions each lion is taking as they move around the enclosure.
Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Here is a video from the Official Laura Ingalls Visitor Center in South Dakota. We can't take a field trip, but enjoy the sights and learn!!




Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Partner Reading & Recording

A week or so ago we worked with a partner to master one page of a multi-page narrative poetry piece.

Each group worked on fluency, style, pronunciation, and delivery in their piece.

We then recorded each pair of students and made a class audio book to listen to in class.

Some groups worked reading together, and practiced their timing.

Other groups split the piece and mastered their own section.

Some groups practiced so much they practically memorized the text.

Rereading text passages helps increase fluency, comprehension, and overall oral fluency.

Field Trip Lunches

Ever feel like you need a really good lunch?

Friday on our field trip please remember you need to sign up if you are getting a school sack lunch, or bring your own lunch.

You are welcome to bring what you normally bring...however...

• If you want to bring disposable bags, containers etc. so you can throw it away you won't have to fit as much in your backpack on the way back to school
• Simpler is sometimes better - less elaborate food is easier and ends up with fewer spills

My lunch will probably include an apple, bagel, string cheese, carrots, and cookie.

 

 

Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

ST Math

Students have started working on the ST math program, short for Spatial Temporal Math. It is a computer program (with our penguin JiJi) geared to helping students problem solve and understand math concepts without just getting the answer, but helping them understand why! The program, style, and even JiJi are all research based to help kids learn math.

We'll be using the net books in our classroom twice per week to work through the different lessons in the program. Each student may work at their own pace, and can move as quickly as they can answer the questions correctly.

Students struggling receive multiple reteaching opportunities to help them master a concept.

The MIND institute has a great video about the program here! If you want to try one of the activities with Jiji, click here!


We will be sending information home with students about using ST math at home. If you have access to the Internet and a computer at home, you can watch your child work on ST math!


Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

How Many JiJi's Do You See?

We're finding out who JiJi is! How many do you see in this picture? What is JiJi doing?

You'll be helping JiJi out soon!


Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Birthday Treats

If you would like to send treats for your child's birthday, please follow these simple guidelines.

We have 28 students currently in our class.
Any extra supplies (napkins, plates, forks) must be brought with the snack.
We will have the snack at the end of the day.
Please let me know you are bringing a treat so I can plan for a few extra minutes for our celebration.

Class Jobs

Take a peek into our classroom and see how students are involved in everyday class activities.

Supply Team
Helps pass out and collect supplies, materials, papers from each student.

Technology Team
Double checks our clean-up after computer lab use. Also responsible for transporting the netbook carts to and from our classroom.

Bookshelf Team
Keeps bookshelves, workbooks, and other supplies organized.

Helper
Responsible for any special tasks during the week such as lunch count, messenger, etc.

Homework Policy

About a month into school I like to do a homework check-up to see how our plan is progressing.

Homework is a way for students to have extra practice outside of class time to work on the skill we have focused on during the day. This is a time for students to explore the work on their own.
I do expect that parents are and active part of the homework process. Parents can coach, guide, teach, and help students WITHOUT just giving them the answers.

Tips:

• Check your child's planner for what homework has been assigned.
• Create a time and space that is consistent to complete homework.
• Follow a routine to ensure your child completes the homework and ensures you as a parent have a few minutes to look over their work.
• If homework is taking upwards of 30 minutes for 1 assignment please contact the teacher.

I do keep track of students with completed and uncompleted homework assignments. Students may miss recess, alternative activities, or be required to take the homework home a second time if it is not turned in, completed and on time.

Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

What is a Promethean Board?

As I've posted in earlier posts, several classrooms at our school have been outfitted with a Promethean Board.

Watch a great video about how the board was named, and some classroom use ideas here!

A Promethean Board is a specific brand of an interactive board similar to a Smart board. Teachers and students can manipulate information on the board with the use of a "pen".

Our systems have a projector that is suspended above the board to display the image onto the board. See ours here! The system is hooked up to a computer where information such as a Word document, PowerPoint, Internet, or Promethean programs can be displayed.

The Promethean programs are new to me but follow many of the instinctive buttons, codes, and formats of other programs. Using their software it is fun to see what the system can do!

Instead of using the pen up at the board, there is also a ActivSlate tablet that can manipulate all the information on the screen from anywhere in the room. This means students can use the Slate from their desks, or the teacher can move about the room during the lesson.

Our system also came with ActiVote, an interactive voting system for students to respond to information. The egg shaped Votes (one per student) have an A-F voting option anytime the teacher asks for a quick vote. The data is immediately displayed in graph format for students to see.

Unit 1 - Geometry

 We'll be wrapping up our first math unit this week on geometry.

Students should know and be able to identify names of shapes, identify characteristics of a polygon, know convex and concave shapes, identify the  face, edge and vertex on a 3D shape, and reflect and image over a line of symmetry.

Math Reminders:

Math homework will come home most nights Monday - Thursday.
Math homework will almost always be a 1/3 sheet with 5-10 problems.

Each math unit we will send home a blue parent letter with vocabulary, definitions, and at home learning projects.

Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Healthy Snack

Students will have a snack time each day if they want to bring their own healthy snack.  The snack must meet a few criteria in order to be allowed during snack time. Any snacks not fitting these criteria will need to be saved for lunch or after school.

•  Healthy food.
•  Quick to eat. Time consuming foods to peel, mix, etc. should be saved for later.
• No mess. In carpeted classrooms we cannot have spills!

For tips about how to encourage healthy eating habits check here!

Peanut Butter & Write Night

Please join us:

Wednesday

September 7th

from

5:30 to 7:00 pm

...to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We will then be working on writing a descriptive, detailed, sequenced paragraph about how we each make our sandwiches.

This is an open house event, so please feel free to come late or leave early as needed.

The whole family is welcome so come on over!

Field Trip Permission Forms

Please send back field trip permission forms and payment by September 8, 2011.

Find out more about our field trip at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tours

"Descend underground as you partake in the only 1,000 foot vertical shaft gold mine tour in the USA.

Experience the “Old West” as it was for hard rock gold miners of “The World’s Greatest Gold Camp”, Cripple Creek, Colorado, as you explore America’s favorite gold mine tour!"

4th Grade Calendar

I'm testing a new way to share calendar information with families. If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, or want to print this calendar, check it out!

Chipotle Fundraiser

If you like those foil wrapped burritos as much as I do, come support our school on

Tuesday September 6 from 5-8pm.

Chipotle will donate 50% of their profits during that time to our school!

I'll see you there with my chicken burrito with black beans, brown rice, pico, cheese, guac and lettuce!


View Larger Map

New Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Order

Parents,

Book orders for September are due this Wednesday, September 7th. There is a 6th Diary of a Wimpy Kid available for preorder through our book order.

Also, if you place your book order online our class gets 1 free book for the classroom. Go to www.scholastic.com, parents, book club orders. Or click here!

Students, please remember to make safe decisions when you go to other websites online.

Line of Symmetry Using Paint

To help students understand our next geometry learning goal, we used paint and created preimages and images reflected over a line of symmetry.

So much of our world has lines of symmetry around us, look around to find ideas!

This website has some basic shapes and the lines of symmetry in each one.

Silhouette

Isn't it amazing what you can tell from just the outline of a black shape?
Could you guess who someone was just by looking at their Silhouette?

Parents, next Tuesday, August 23rd it will be your challenge to find your
student's silhouette at our Open House.

Students, we've got some sitting, cutting, and writing to do!

Welcome

Welcome to our new school year!

Our supplies are ready, plans have been made, and we are ready to get started. I am so excited to begin teaching this group of students and be a part of all their amazing learning.

The purpose of this blog is to offer parents, family, and friends a window into some of the events, lessons, and learning that is happening at school.

I also use the blog to communicate upcoming events, alert you to interesting or useful places online, and to keep you informed.

Look through some of lasts years posts, check out the tabs across the top and view permanent pages to learn a little about the classroom, the curriculum we use, and your teacher!

If you have comments or questions about the blog please email me using my work email address.

Mrs. Rose

School Supplies 2011-2012

The following is our school supply list along with a few explanations as to how the supplies will be utilized throughout the year. We are so appreciative to parents for purchasing these supplies in order to help our instruction throughout the year.

1 yellow highlighter 

5 pkgs. of 12 #2 pencils, sharpen 2

1 pencil pouch with zipper, (fabric preferred)  Students will travel with some supplies to reading groups

1 pkg. of wide ruled notebook paper

2 composition notebooks, any color, 9 3/4" x 7 1/2" Writing and Science Journals

1 adult-size pointed scissors,

1 ruler with inches & metric, no metal, no bendable

4 large glue sticks

1 bottle of white glue

1 box of 24 colored pencils

1 box of 24 crayons

1 box of washable markers (optional)

1 large pink eraser 1 box of 24 crayons

1 red ball point pen

3 spiral notebooks zipper Reading, Math, and Social Studies

1 clipboard, letter size 8 1/2" x 11" Helpful when students work outside, on the go, etc.

1 box of gallon or quart size zipper storage baggies We use these to store various projects, pieces, and student activities

1 - 3 ring binder, 1 1/2 inch wide Help students organize papers, spirals, data, worksheets etc.

2 boxes of facial tissues

4 pocket folders with prongs Projects and poetry

1 hand held pencil sharpener

$2.70 for Planner

Colorful Portraits

Cultivating Creativity through Visual Literacy

Here's how to set up the lesson to create these colorful portraits. I first saw this idea at our school when our art teacher had the students work collaboratively on one for each teacher. See mine here!



Check out the second part of the process here.

Summer Reading Tips III

Keep it special
1 on 1 time. Spend time with your child individually as a special part of the day.

Family book. Read a book together as a family and enjoy the exciting plot and adventure that many children's books have to offer.

Location. Reading is much more enjoyable when you are comfortable. Find cozy places to encourage your child to read.

Praise. Reading can be tough work. Giving your child verbal praise for their accomplishments.

Rewards. Our goal is to have reading be a reward in itself. To help kids get there, library summer reading programs, lunch with the teacher, or rewards set up at home can help guide the way.

Tracking progress. Keep a list of books read, hours read, minutes read, or something to help chart the progress your child is making. Get those sticker charts ready!

Ownership. Owning a book can be a meaningful connection to the characters, plot, and information in a book. Inexpensive ideas include thrift stores, garage sales, Paperback Swap, used book stores, or trading books with friends.

Summer Reading Tips II

When will we get all this summer reading done?

While on the go. How much time is spent on a commute, running errands, driving to practice? Keep books in the car to always have one available. A milk crate or extra backpack of books will keep them safe.

While waiting. Waiting for sister's soccer practice to be over, waiting at an appointment, waiting for dinner to be done. Reading while waiting fills in a wasted empty time and has a clear end mark - when dinner is ready!

Evening routine. Every night after dinner set the timer for 30 minutes, read 30 minutes before bed time, 30 minutes before any TV time, 30 minutes while dinner is prepared. Have your child agree on a time and stick to it!

When it's too hot. I know on these warm afternoons I don't want to go run around, bake, or go somewhere in the car. So I find the coolest spot I can and plop down with a book!

Summer Reading Tips I

Follow along as we look at ideas to keep kids reading all summer long!

Make sure the book is on their level. Too easy is boring and they will quit, too hard and they're frustrated. AR levels, lexile levels, or just the 5 finger rule when looking at a book.
Interesting books. Know what interests your child and encourage them to find books in that genre.

Owning favorite books. Repetition is helpful to improve fluency and comprehension. Reread that favorite book again.

Keep a supply on hand. Our school library paired with a home or public library selection should give your child several options when it comes to reading time.

Summer Postcards

Writing postcards is a great way to practice some letter writing skills without too much effort.

To write a post card, kids need a few sentences and an address.  Even with so much technology knowing how to write an address doesn't look like it will be going away anytime soon.

What's so great about a postcard?

• Fast to write
• Good address writing practice
• Cheaper to send (twenty-nine cents)
• Can make your own postcard and decorate it yourself! (Check postage guidelines for sizes)

I'm taking a Creativity class this summer and we're doing some art projects. These are 2 of my postcards.

(Gasp! Students who have seen me try to draw should be amazed that I'm making just a little bit of progress, it might look like something next year instead of scribbles!!!)

Swimming is Healthy Exercise

Don't love going for a run?  Too hot to go across the monkey bars?  Swim!

Swimming is a great life lesson and amazingly healthy exercise.  We love taking kids on field trips to the pool for that exact reason!  Ever notice how hungry you are after swimming?  It is because you were ...shhh!....EXERCISING!

Check out the local pools (indoor or outdoor) for their schedules and price fees. 

Here is a great article about why swimming safety is so important!  Keep kids safe, teach before it's too late!

Picasa Photo Edit and Picnik

As all those great summer photo's are taken, give kids an opportunity to play with some photo editing.

Free software like Google's Picasa can be downloaded for free and includes many ways to crop, change, highlight, and otherwise edit pictures.



Hiking in Branson, MO May 2011



As another part of the wonderful free-goodness that Google is...they also have a link to use Picnik photo editing website for free too.

Here, you can add clip art, reverse colors in a photo, crop, add borders and much much more.



Same picture after some fun editing!



Don't just take pictures, play with them!