Tuesday, November 24

I am thankful. I am thankful for my students because they are our bright future! I am thankful for TEAM33 and the smiles they bring me. I am thankful for Bulldog Academy and all my cohorts that help me keep my head above water. I am thankful for Needham for giving me a home away from home. I am thankful for my friends that feel more like family.  I am thankful for my family and the way they support me in everything I do.  I am thankful to God for all the blessings He has given me. I am thankful for all these things! Take time to share with someone what you are thankful for!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please take time to check out our Twitter and Facebook for a special Thanksgiving message! 

Monday, November 23

Big thanks goes to Dylan and his family for sharing their dog, Precious, with us today.  She really was precious!  

Another big thanks goes to the classroom parents who have done an amazing job of providing our "Thankful Snack" for tomorrow's activities.  In the afternoon we will be enjoying our snack while making "Thank You" cards for people who have made a difference in our community.  We will also be decorating for the winter and sharing some of our favorite holiday traditions with our friends.  I can't wait!

MATH: Thanksgiving Dinner is served!...Well, almost.  We are still working on it.  The students are working hard on their Thanksgiving Dinner Math Project.  The are making a grocery list, checking it twice, setting up the table and even sharing their favorite recipes! How nice!  

While students are working hard on Thanksgiving Dinner, I am working with individuals to make any needed corrections on their Unit 4 Math test.  Look for results in the Feedback and Data Binder next Monday. 

Friday, November 20

MATH: What a great week as we brought our study of decimals to a close with the Unit 4 Assessment.  Next week we will use our two days of Math to do a Thanksgiving Dinner Math Project.  If you would like to get a preview of the fun activity check out this Project Link; but don't get started yet.  We will collaborate in class to make this Thanksgiving project the most festive yet!

HOMEROOM: Next Tuesday, we are going to be writing letters of thanks to community members such as service men/women such, nursing home residents, and others that may have touched our lives; while enjoying our thankful snack. Please let me know if you have a loved one in the community that could use some heartfelt appreciation. I will need name(s) and address(es) by Monday, 11/23/15. We want to do this as a service project this year.

Note: Thank you to those families who have already sent in bugles, pretzels, and waters.  We are still in need of candy corn, peanuts, raisins, m&ms, and skittles.  All donations are greatly appreciated!

Thursday, November 19

We are gonna OWN IT!! Tomorrow is our unit four test over decimals. We have come along way in this unit. I'm excited  for the students to get the opportunity to show what they know. Tonight's homework is a test review sheet. Numbers one through 11 are crucial and the rest is a great review of other units.  If you need another copy of the test review it is on the homework page. Happy studying everyone.

Tuesday, November 17

MATH: Why do our smart phones have a built in calculator, but not a ruler? Your child should know the answer - personal references.  We don't need a ruler on our smart phone because we know that from the tip of our thumb to the first knuckle is about an inch.  The width of our pinkie nail is about a centimeter and the width of our palm is about a decimeter.  The distance between our nose to the tip of our fingers on an outstretched hand is about yard, and from our opposite shoulder to the tip of our fingers on an outstretched hand is about a meter. Help your child estimate measurement with these personal references as they complete their homework tonight. 

HOMEROOM: Parents, I'm looking for donations for the following snack items. We'll be using them to make a thankful snack on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Let me know if you are able to donate. You can just send it in with your child, but keep the activity a secret :)

bugles               pretzels               candy corn               peanuts

raisins               m&ms                 skittles                    waters

Thursday, November 12

Guess what day it is!  

GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS!!! 

 It's BUBBA DAY!!  

TEAM33 LOVES BUBBA!

Lauren's grandpa is lovingly referred to as Bubba.  He comes in every week to help us with our education.  He always brings a treat and a smile.  The kids call the time they spend with him, "Bubba Time."  For the past two weeks, Bubba has worked with the students on recognizing and modeling decimals.  If you want to engage your child in a conversation about their school day, ask them to tell you about their Bubba Time today.

Just a quick note: I will not be at school tomorrow.  I am taking my son on a college visit to Purdue.  We are all very excited about the prospect of him attending Purdue for college. (Side note for all you IU lovers - my daughter is just a few years behind him and she is determined to go to IU med school.  We will be just as excited at that opportunity also.) I tell you this not just to brag on my children, which I love to do,  but to also make you aware that if you are trying to contact the classroom, please contact the office for help.

Have a great weekend! I will see everyone on Monday!

 

Wednesday, November 11

HOMEROOM: Happy Veteran's Day!  TEAM33 is very thankful for all who have served to protect our country!  You can see more of our "photo booth pics" in the Picture Gallery for Week 14.

MATH: Today in math we continued our REAL WORLD study of decimals.  We learned about bank ledgers and used calculators to balance our account.  Probably the most important thing we learned is that calculators help make getting answers easier.  They can help make getting the RIGHT answer easier, or they can help make getting the WRONG answer easier.  So it is important to always calculate twice!

Tuesday, November 10

(Block 1)         Red - Model; Orange - Guided;          (Block 2)
Green - Collaborative; Blue - Independent

MATH: I think we are starting to get somewhere with these decimals.  When we reviewed our learning objectives today I could see the confidence growing in students' eyes.  As you can see in the picture, we are not independent in our learning yet, but we are moving that way. Please take a moment each day to point out decimals in our world to your children.  It can be a hard concept, but it helps to know that it is a real part of our world that they need to make sense of.

HOMEROOM:  Big thanks to Lauren today for sharing her dogs Holly and Allie.  This is actually Allie's second visit and I think she loves us!  We have definitely loved all the pet visits the students have been earning by saving those purple tickets!

I am just noticing that a flyer did not get passed out about an opportunity tonight.  Tonight is the 4-H Project Fair at Scott hall from 6:00 - 7:30.  The project fair is a great way to learn more about 4-H and the opportunities it gives to our students.  As a former 4-H  leader, and a parent of two 4-H members, I highly recommend 4-H to all students.  It is the only program I know of where there is truly something for everyone!  If you can't make it to the project fair tonight, you can still learn more about 4-H through the contact information on the flyer, so it will be coming home tomorrow.  Sorry again about the delay!

TOMORROW: Quick reminder to everyone that tomorrow is picture retakes day.  I am unaware of anyone taking retakes from the class - so if you are intending for your child to have their picture retaken, please let me know. Tomorrow is also Veterans day.  Needham wants to show our appreciation for what our veterans have sacrificed for us by honoring them with a Red White and Blue Day tomorrow.  Come dressed to honor!

Friday, November 6

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN TODAY!!!

Today we collaborated in groups to sort our Halloween candy wrappers, create graphs, find numerical landmarks, and even analyze the data! Then our groups designed posters as a visual aid for when they present their findings on Monday.  It is like we are living in the REAL WORLD!

I can't wait to post pictures of the groups presenting their posters on Monday.  Be sure to stayed tuned on Facebook and Twitter. You will surly be amazed at what these students have done! 

Tuesday, November 3

Our ecosystem diorama's look amazing!!  This picture does not do them justice!  If you have a free moment to stop by the school feel free to check them out.  You will be very impressed.

Today we began working on our new learning objective, "Name and model decimals."  We all agree that it is hard work, but that is ok, because we do hard work!

To nights homework is a throw back to Unit 2.  We are working on subtraction with regrouping.  It is a skill we have really been working on.  We are also working on the importance of showing our work - no "magic answers" allowed.  Please look over your child's paper tonight and check for not just the right answer, but also the right work.   Thanks for all you do!

Monday, November 2

It was great to have everyone back at school, safe and sound and (for many) juiced up on sugar from the the exciting holiday weekend. I loved hearing all the exciting stories that come along with trick-or-treating!  If you didn't get my notice over the weekend, I would like to remind you to save those holiday candy wrappers.  We will be doing a fun project with them on Friday.  Speaking of fun projects...our ecosystem projects were a blast and turned out really well!!  A few students are deciding to put finishing touches on their diorama tonight, but all diorama's are do tomorrow - no exceptions.

Tomorrow we will be back in Math.  Unit 4 focuses on decimals.  Students are bringing home their Unit 3 data and the Unit 4 Family letter in their Feedback and Data Binders.  Be sure review this important information with your child and fill out the reflection page for tonight's homework.