Friday, October 31

Happy Halloween!! 
It was a Spooktacular Day.  It was scary how hard we worked on our Week 4 assessment! The work was hard but the scores were great!!  We still have a few students left to finish up testing, but the ones that are done really did amazing.  I can't wait for you to see the results.  (Please note, in order to let everyone finish the test scores may not come home until Tuesday.)

In the afternoon we had a great time at our parent sponsored Fall Party.  A big thank you goes to Andre's Mom for organizing our party and all the helper mom's that made it such a wonderful time!

I hope everyone has a wonderfully warm weekend!  Stay SAFE!

Click here for the Needham November Newsletter.

Thursday, October 30

   I know there is a lot going on tonight.  I hope to see you at some point either at McDonald's or Heritage Hall on the Fair Grounds.  Tomorrow is a pretty exciting day too!  We have our Week 12 assessment.  Students have been given lots of time in class to study their Lesson 4-5 Word parts.  Tonight they should look them over one last time and work on finishing the Unit 1 Review test they are bringing home.  The test is hard, but if they have done these two things, they will do well. Tomorrow we will also have our Fall Party from 1:30 - 2:00!  Remember, parents are welcome!  Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, October 29

Today we became enlightened on the subject of Woodie Gutherie.  He led an incredible life in a time of incredible despair.  Through his fight for justice and fairness we gained songs like, This Land is Your Land. Ask your child to share what they leaned while reading the biography of Woodrow Wilson Gutherie.

Tonight students should be studying the Lesson 4-5 Word Part - Meaning and Spellings.  The reading test this week is hard.  The more familiar they are with the word parts, the better they will be able to concentrate on reading.  We have had many discussions about the difficulty of this week's test.  I have encouraged the kids by reinforcing, "It is hard, but you can do hard work." Please continue to support and study with your student at home.

Tomorrow is our McDonald's fundraiser.  I will be there from about 5-5:30.  After that I am headed to Heritage Hall at the fairgrounds for the Halloween Bash. Click the link for more information. All are welcome to this free event.  I hope to see you at one or both events.

Tuesday, October 28

Another great day in TEAM33!  We worked hard during centers and had a deep discussion on the importance of reading every day and every night.  Please talk with your child about their Lexile book.

What book are they reading?  What Lexile level is it? When is their goal date for finishing and quizzing on the book? What is the book about? What is the setting of the book?  Who is in the book? Have they made any connections to the book?What do they think will happen next in the book?   Are they having trouble visualizing any parts of the book?

 That's right...ask a lot of questions.  Then ask them all again tomorrow.  Let them know READING IS WORTH ASKING ABOUT!

Remember, every child has the goal of reading and passing 5 books at an increasing Lexile.  At least 3 of them need to be chapter books.  This is a very doable goal if they work on it now.  It will not be so doable if they wait until a week before report cards. Please help them achieve this goal.

Monday, October 27

Today was an exciting day to start an even more exciting week.  Many students were decked out in work out clothes to show that Staying Drug Free is No Sweat!  The rest of the week we also have exciting themes! Check them all out on this Week's Literacy Link Newsletter as well as some additional reminder dates like the Needham McDonald's Night from 5-8 on Thursday.  Costumes are encouraged, but not required and everyone will get a treat! I plan to attend the McDonald's Night from 5-6 and then head on over to Heritage Hall on the Fair grounds for 4-H Jr. Leader Halloween Bash.  Kids/Families are invited to attend the free, non-scary Halloween Bash. Costumes encouraged! I hope to see lots friendly faces at both places.

One more important update.  It was brought to my attention that I never really invited parents to the Fall Party.  I apologize for this oversight.  Please know, parents NEVER need an invitation to the classroom.  You are ALWAYS welcome, especially for celebrations such as this one.  I hope to see you ALL at the party!

Wednesday, October 22

Image taken by Peyton Purcell

What a great day!  We began the day by reviewing the LONG AND SHORT A SOUNDS.  Then students collaborated in their new groups for centers to work on SEQUENCE OF EVENTS and the LESSON 4/5 WORD PARTS. During Think Tank I was very impressed with their knowledge of PERSONAL NARRATIVES and how they were able to MAKE CONNECTIONS with the text.  Tonight for homework they are working on COMPARING AND CONTRASTING through Text-Text connections.  With all this work on our LEARNING OBJECTIVES we are going to OWN IT when we test on Friday.

Tuesday, October 21

Been in a meeting all afternoon so this is just a short reminder to check the homework page.

Monday, October 20

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fall Break.  It was great to be back with the students!  I heard about many cool adventures.  I didn't know so much could be packed into such a short week.  For me, I hung out at home doing some long overdue chores and loved it!

Students are bringing home Feedback and Data Binders today.  They have data from week 10 to share from Literacy and Math.  Be sure to look it over carefully before filling out the Reflection Page with your student.  There is also Math homework tonight so don't forget to check Miss Shoultz Homework page.

Along with Feedback and Data Binders, students should be bringing home their Week 11 Literacy Link. Please take a moment to review what is expected this week.  We move a little slower the first 9 weeks to give students an opportunity to acclimate to fourth grade, but from here on out it will be full speed ahead. For example you might notice that this weeks Word packet includes Lesson 4 and 5.  Many of the word parts are review, but the students may need to study some every night.  They will begin the packet in class tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, we will begin our day with a browsing session at the Book Fair.  Students should bring home an order form tomorrow and purchases may be made Thursday or Friday during recess or lunch.

One more reminder before I end this unusually long update - Our class Fall party will be Friday, October 31.  A big thank you goes to Linda Murillo for arranging the party, but she can't do it alone.  If you would like to contribute to the party and have not yet contacted her, please do so at babygirl_monroe@yahoo.com.

That's All :)

Friday, October 10

Happy Fall Break!  I am always excited for breaks because I love spending extra time with my family, but at the same time, I sure do miss all the classroom kids - and worry.  I'm a worrier!  So please have a safe break too!

Report Cards come home today.  I went over them with each child, folded and stapled it, with directions to put it straight in their backpack. Hopefully you receive it, but if not you can always check grades online.  Because grades are now so readily available, there is no need to sign or return the report.

All students have an assigned chapter book at their Lexile level to complete over break.  They can read in the car or during commercials, and especially while relaxing for bed, but they need to READ.  They also have a Fall Break Pack to review for Math. If you were absent and did not get a copy, please use the link to print one.  A week is a long break and  we want to keep the skills fresh.  We are already 1/4 of the way through the year, so we want to hit the ground running when we get back from break.

Wednesday, October 8

I apologize for the late email.  I have spent the whole day playing catch up, but I think I finally made it.  I was so happy to be back with the students today.  It really is where I prefer to be.

Tomorrow we will test on the Lesson 3 List.  Students will need to know the meaning and how to spell each word or word part.  This will be the 1st grade in the new grade book so study hard.  They should also be studying for their first Math test of the new grading period.

Speaking of grades...please do a grade check.  To my knowledge all grades are up to date.  There should be no surprises - the grades are the exact same grades you see in the Feedback and Data Binders each week.  If something doesn't look right, please let me know as soon as possible, and I will check into it.

Tomorrow is also our field trip to the Bicentennial Train.  We are so excited!  There was a misunderstanding.  At first I believed we would not be able to take chaperons.  But, as stated on the permission slip we do have some tickets available.  I have 2 spaces left for chaperons so if you happen to be available tomorrow and have a background check completed in the office, please let me know.  The first two parents that respond will get to be the chaperons.

Monday, October 6

I am writing this post from home in bed.  I have caught the nasty virus that is going around.  I am still running a fever and will not be at school tomorrow either.  Please encourage students to do their best for the substitute.

I have gotten several emails about students who will not be present on Friday and they are concerned about the test. For this reason, will have the weekly assessment on Thursday.  Any student who does not do well on Thursday and is present, will be allowed to try again on Friday. The test will mostly cover the Lesson 3 Word List.  This week students should know the meaning AND SPELLING of each word or word part.

We are also taking a field trip to the bicentennial train in Bargersville on Thursday. Students are bringing home a permission slip tonight.  Please sign it and send it back as soon as possible.

Thank you and please tell the kids I miss them.  I really hope to be back with them on Wednesday.

Friday, October 3

What a great way to end the perfect week!  We had a practice parade to get ready for the Franklin Fall Festival parade. There was so much Needham pride going around I thought I'd POP!  Big thank you goes to Andre for the months he has spent planning and organizing this parade!  What a great community service!

I hope to see everyone at the real parade tomorrow.  Wear purple to the max and meet us at the FCMS parking lot at 12:30.  Fourth graders are also allowed to decorate their non-motorized scooters to ride in the parade.  It will be a blast!!

Thursday, October 2

STUDY!  Test tomorrow over Lesson 3 Words.