Thursday, January 30

Two full days of class! We are on a roll!!

Today we focused on writing.  Each student successfully completed an ISTEP writing prompt with a page or more of writing. The stories were incredible!  I was very proud.  Ask your child what they wrote about. We also spent some time reviewing word parts by going through the Show What You Know packet.  Students should continue to study this packet at home tonight.  The test tomorrow could include any information from the packet, along with questions over comparing and contrasting.  Students should be able to successfully compare and contrast using a Venn Diagram and/or text (complete sentences).  If you would like to see how your child is doing with this skill, ask them to make a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting two people that live in your house.  They should then write a sentence to tell the biggest difference between the two people. I would love to see their work tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 29

It was great to be back with the kids for a full day.  We had a lot to accomplish so we stayed busy all day!  Here are a few items from our day that you might want to be informed about.

1. Show what you know: This week we are reviewing all past words and word parts.  Students brought home a review packet tonight for homework.  There are hints in the back of the book.  If your child needs additional help you can also refer to all the past lesson packets that are still linked at the bottom of the Homework page.  Just look for attachments named "Lesson" 1-11

2. Going for the Gold with Compass Learning Challenge:  

I challenge students to complete as many Compass Learning tasks from their 12/2013 folders as they can before February 28. These tasks can be completed at school or home.

Every time they complete 3 tasks, they will get to color in one of their Olympic rings on the record sheet at school. If they complete 15 tasks, they will have completely filled in 1 set of Olympic rings.

1 set of Olympic Rings= Bronze Medal

2 sets of Olympic Rings= Silver Medal

3 sets of Olympic Rings= Gold Medal

Everyone that receives a medal will be invited to an Olympics Party in March. Let the games begin! Parents if you need some help getting onto Compass Learning at home, please refer to this Compass Learning Parent Guide.

3. An Interview with History - Even with all the interuptions, our projects are coming along quite nicely.  Students are now working on the scripts for their interview.  The interview outline is due Monday.  We will be recording all next week.

Monday, January 27

What a great day to have school!  I just wish it could have lasted longer!  Today in Literacy Block we reviewed the last two weeks tests, Week 21 and 22.  We all agree that the week 22 test scores stink!  We reviewed the answers.  Students agreed they feel more confident now, and we will be ready to tackle more comparing and contrasting questions on this week's test. (Week 22 scores will not be added to the grade book.) Week 21 scores were pretty good.  Please look them over as you fill out the reflection page tonight.  Students should also spend a substantial amount of time reading tonight.

Hope to see everyone tomorrow!  Bundle up and stay warm!

Friday, January 24

It was GREAT to be back with the students today. I really appreciated all their heartful concern and warm welcomes back.  We did take the Week 22 assessment today which reviewed previous skills and tested on the Lesson 10-11 word parts.

On Monday, Feedback and Data Bindes will come home with both the Week 21 and Week 22 assessment information. I do apologize for the delay.

I hope everyone has a relaxing, refreshing, and warm weekend. See everyone on Monday.

Thursday, January 23

I hope the last few school days have gone well for everyone. I am hoping to be back with everyone tomorrow!  The Colts are coming back tomorrow too! Be sure to wear your blue and white.

Tomorrow is also another 2 hr delay.  I know we are all excited about the extra time to sleep in, but we should also all be very concerned about the loss of educational time. This will have an impact on everyone's education if we let it. To ensure your child does not lose educational time keep them reading and on Compass Learning. They know what to do, you just need to set aside the time for them to do it.

I am very excited to see everyone tomorrow. There will be a Week 22 test over word parts.

Tuesday, January 21

I hope everyone had a wonderful day off. I wish I could say I did, but I have been sick in bed all day. I did get up long enough to go to Immedicare and find out I have bronchitis along with a high fever.  Needless to say, I will not be at school tomorrow.  During Literacy block students will have time to work on memorizing the spelling of word parts, continuing to work on their assigned Compass Learning Lessons, and of course read their goal book.  Please be sure everyone has their goal book at school. I hope to see everyone on Thursday.

Tuesday, January 14

The Homework page has been updated with important information.  Please be sure to check it out.
You should also receive a call tonight about Math Bowl.  Please encourage your student to participate in this worthwhile program.

Monday, January 13

It was a great day today!  The first full day in quite a while, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I think the kids are even ready to get back to work!  Today we tried something new with centers.  I am not sure how it will go, but we are going to give it a shot for a little while.  My hope is to increase the amount of time each small group works specifically with me.  I can tell I am going to have to keep tweaking just a little, but my hope is that it will be worth it in the end.  For this reason, there is not a Literacy Link this week - but we will get it figured out and I will be sure to update you next week.

Homework page has been updated.

Friday, January 10

Students are bringing home some exciting opportunities today!  Please go through the papers in their backpack with them, so they do not miss out.  Here are a list of opportunities you should be looking for:

1. MATH BOWL SIGN UP:  We are proud to hold the 1st place Division Title for the 2013 competition.  Now we are looking forward to working toward holding that title again this year.  We are looking for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of Math through games, challenges, and competition. You don't need to be "Good at Math" to join.  You just need to be willing to have fun, work hard and collaborate with others.  We hope you will join us! Permission slips are due by the 1st practice on Wednesday, January 15th from 5:30-7:00 in the Needham Library.

2. Poetry Contest: Time For Kids is sponsoring the yearly Poetry Contest. Students are challenged to write a humorous poem using creativity, originality and rhyme.  All poems should be turned in to Mrs. McCain by January 21.

3. I Love to Read Challenge: Record your time reading for the chance to win $500 and $250 for your classroom.  Due to the weather the time for reading was extended.  All reading totals are due by March 7.

Please take advantage of these opportunities to engage your child in enriching and educational activities.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thursday, January 9

I LOVE MY JOB!  It felt so good to be back with the kids today!  We began by playing Fact or Fiction. We all wrote 5 things we did over break, but one of them was fiction.  I have to say, these students did some incredible things over break - and that is a fact!  They also did some great work over break!  Miss Shoultz and I marveled at their bio-bottles all day.  Very impressive!  If your's student isn't quite finished, no worries.  They have until Monday, and this is really one of those projects I want them to enjoy and take pride in.  

Homework has been updated on the website.  It is to read their articles and books they found for their Interview with History project.  Most students have three sources already.  I will be going to the Public library tonight to help anyone who couldn't find a print resource at school and tomorrow I will help the last few find articles if they had difficulty.  They will have until Monday to finish reading the information.  Some students may need some help reading the information with a parent, and others might just like sharing what they read with a parent.  Either way, please discuss what they are learning with them.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

WELCOME TO 2014!

I have finalized grades today for Reading and Language.  Be sure to check them out and let me know if you have any questions.  Otherwise, what you see is what will appear on the Report Card for the 2nd grading period. To see your grades you can click the Check Grades link on the Team33 Website. Students can log in with their school login (four letters + four numbers) our you can use your parent login.

I am excited to see how the bottle bios are coming along.  If you have not started creating your two-liter bottle person, no worries. I have realized that more than one typing error on the project outline made the directions more than a little confusing.  So, here is an updated copy of the Interview with History Project Outline, along with the pictures to help you get some ideas for your Bio Bottle.   These pictures were from former 4th grades who, as you can see, had a lot of fun completing this project. I hope you do too.  Let me know if you have any trouble along the way.

I really have missed being with all of you, and am looking very forward to seeing everyone on Monday.  I do hope you enjoy the remaining few days of break though!