Report Cards

2nd Quarter Report Cards were sent home with students today.   (The quarter ended 12-17-2010)

Please look for these, as well as their most current STAR reading test and MAP reading, math, and language test scores.

The skills and behavior standards will help give you an idea of how your child's behavior was in 2nd quarter.  I also sent home today a 1/2 sheet of pink paper.  Students self assessed their Q2 behavior the week before winter break, and my scores are next to those.  Comparing their self-assessment with my score can prove interesting some times :)

I will be happy to explain or discuss scores with you.  Please contact me or your child's reading or math teacher if you have specific questions.

Mrs. Rose

Thank You Notes

I know my Grandma always loves letters, and thank you notes are a easy letter to write.

I know my mom also made sure I wrote thank you notes!

Are you enjoying something you got over break, a gift, an experience, a fun meal, a day out doing something?

Write about it!


Write a letter, thank you note, or friendly letter.
It is great practice, and who doesn't love getting something in the mail?

Netbooks II

Pictures of students working harder because of the technology avaiable to them is exciting to see!

Imagine the day before winter break....extra sweets...fun events....a party coming soon.

Imagine hearing the squeals and laughter coming from other classrooms as they have started their parties.

Imagine being a teacher, and asking her class if they would like to stay on the netbooks practicing math a bit longer, or start their party.

Then imagine the principal walking through to say hello and wondering what this SILENT class is doing?

"Oh, we're just doing math." 

They decided to start the party late so they could spend a bit more time "working".

:)

Netbooks I

After some saving, spending, wiring, waiting, installing, and checking,
our school has a mobile set of netbooks ready to check out for classroom use!!! 

I, for one, am THRILLED!!!

We already benefit from typically a very accessible set of computer labs, but now our classroom can become a computer lab too!


There are enough netbooks for each student in the class (set of 30) and they are stored in a mobile cart system that can also be plugged in to charge them.  The carts wheel to different rooms as teachers check them out for class use.

Imagine trying to arrange all those cords!  Parents, if you get a chance, thank our Library Tech Educator for all the work put into this system!

Once students are assigned a netbook they can take them to their desk to work from their own seat.

The netbooks have a more limited memory capacity compared to a laptop, but have Internet access, wireless printing and programs that word process, present, etc. that can convert back and forth from the other classroom computers.

We won't get to use them ALL the time, but it sure did motivate students the first and second times we've used them.  I can't wait to see what we might be able to accomplish!  Two days before break students were eager to type away on the netbooks.  Paragraphs about an interesting, exciting, or important event of 2010 rolled off the printers with impressive writing!

Teacher Note: Knowing how to type makes a difference, and will continue to do so for all of these student's lives.  If possible, encourage your child to type correctly and practice at home.  Try Here, scroll down, and practice typing in the box in lesson 1.


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Gingerbread House

A Big Thank You

For all the candy, frosting, and graham crackers everyone brought in.  It made for a deliciously fun buffet to decorate with!  There are still a few bags of treats we might have to enjoy some January afternoon when the cold weather, test taking preparations, and hard work get to us!

Each student kept track of their costs on their house to try to stay under the pretend $30 budget. 

With frosting, a lot of candy, and patience we had a whole neighborhood of fun looking houses!

Always a fun activity, and certainly a lot of math.  Imagine each piece of candy having a price (in decimals) and adding them all up! 

Think ours were elaborate?  Check out the annual White House Gingerbread House!


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Bored Break Busters - Interjections!

Wow!

Isn't it surprising to find another Schoolhouse Rock video on our blog? Yikes!

We use interjections everyday in speaking, but often forget to add them to our writing. Well, try adding some. 

To a familiar seasonal tune...Hallelujah!

Hope no one is home like Reginald with the flu!


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