Friday, April 22

Dear Parents,

This update is going to be filled with a complete cry for help!  Here are the things I could really use your help with:

1. ISTEP SNACKS:

Please consider donating treats for ISTEP next week. I'm looking for donations of the following (we have 21 students) to keep our brains and bellies full:

• Lucky Charms
• Chex Mix
• Cookies
• Fruit Roll Up
• Bottled Water
• Tootsie Rolls 
• Peppermints (red & white star mints)

If you could send them in before Monday, that would be amazing!

2. Mini Grant

While perusing Facebook last night I came across a post from the Johnson County Community Foundation.  They are offing a $250 grant to 8 classrooms.  Our class discussed it and would really love to have 2 Sphero Balls to play with as we do our unit in Coding. All they have to do to have a chance to win is:

•  LIKE the Johnson County Community Foundation Facebook Page. 

• Then make a comment on the page with their teacher's name, school, and one sentence saying why their teacher is great.  

I promise, I am not into self promotion, but I am very into getting my students whatever they need to further their education.  The $250 would make us just $10 + tax shy of getting 2 Shpero balls for our room.  I will happily pay the $10 + tax if we are awarded the grant.  If you are willing to help our classroom in this endeavor, please follow this link for more information.
https://m.facebook.com/jccfindiana/photos/a.10150241420924268.336951.330914674267/10154101234769268/?type=3&fs=0

3. Chaperones 

Our field trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a week from today.  I am allowed to take 4 chaperones.  At this point I only have 3 volunteers.  The first person to respond to this email indicating they would like to go is in!

Thank you in advance for everything you do!!  

Sincerely, 
Mrs. McCain

PS  The BOOMER presentation today was AWESOME!! Check out some great pics and videos on in our Photo Album.

Monday, April 18

We are ready for another great week at Needham.  This week we will be reviewing some key concepts for ISTEP Math and learning about Simple Machines.  Our schedule will be a little crazy this week with third graders doing ISTEP and even a little crazier next week as we tackle our last portion of ISTEP.  Please, during these two weeks be sure to rest up, take breaks, eat healthy, and be at school!   Fresh air can also do you good, and there is lots of it today; so take some time to play outside tonight.

Friday, April 15

What a beautiful day - inside and out!  

MATH: Students came to school eager and ready to conquer the Unit 9 Assessment.  We began by reviewing the Study Guide.  The students had lots of great questions.  I love it when they add in the tips and tricks they learn from home!  Thank you for taking the time be be involved in your child's education.  Studies show it makes a much bigger impact than I could ever dream of making! We did begin our test, but are still working hard, so we will continue on Monday.

HOMEROOM:  Big thanks to Nick and his mom for arranging Dr. Pound as a guest speaker today.  We learned a lot about our livers! If you want to engage your child in a conversation about their school day, ask them what they know about a liver!  I bet they may even show you some of the cool treats from the goody bags Dr. Pound provided.

Friday, April 8

Our 1st bus trip to CBIS

Today flew by!  Matter of fact, the same could be said about the week!   I am sincerely sitting here wondering where it went! I guess the idiom is true, "Time flies when you are having fun!"


We did have a lot of fun today at CBIS!  It was very exciting to learn their expectations and tour the building!  The students are ready for the responsibility!


Thankfully we do have a few more weeks of 4th grade between then and now, and there is still a lot of educational fun to be had.  To make sure you are aware of all the upcoming events, please keep checking our Classroom Calendar, and enjoy the April Needham Newsletter.

Wednesday, April 6

HOMEROOM:  We had a perfect walk to Webb today!  The rain held out for us and the performances were exquisite!  Many students are talking about joining the High School Drum Line and Color Guard when they are able!  I can't wait for them to come back and perform as high-schoolers.

Tomorrow morning is 3rd and 4th grade Donuts with Dads from 6:30-7:30am.  Friday we will be going to CBIS to learn all about next year.  We will leave immediately following lunch and return for dismissal.  Whew, the fun never ends at Needham!

MATH: The students are doing some cool things with percents!  I am so proud of them.  Tonight's homework is SL 9.4.  They will need a calculator for part of it and were encouraged to bring their Math Notebook home to help them with the steps for converting fractions.  Just in case they forgot, here are the steps:

Fraction to Decimal:
Divide the numerator by the denominator.
(1/2  = 1 divided by 2 = 0.5)

Fraction to Percent: 

1. Convert the fraction to a decimal. 
2. Move the decimal 2 places to the right. (x100)
3. Add the % sign. 

Monday, April 4

What a great day to be at Needham!  It was wonderful coming back to stories of Spring Break adventures! My favorite was being greeted with all the heartfelt smiles and warm hugs!  I truly love my job!

MATH:  We jumped right into percents today and the kids were 100% ready!  I think they will have fun showing you how well they understand percents as they complete their homework tonight.  Be sure to look over their shoulder and "ohh" and "ahh!"
Unit 8 tests were supposed to go home today, but I forgot to record the scores before I left for break.  I am doing that tonight and the tests will be on their way to you tomorrow.  Feel free to wait until tomorrow to feel out the reflection page if you would like.

Please Note: As we move on into percentages, students will be allowed and encouraged to use a calculator on homework.  I do not have enough calculators to send home with each child, so please ensure a calculator is available to your child.  Any standard calculator will do, or they may use an online calculator such as this one: http://www.online-calculator.com/full-screen-calculator/

HOMEROOM:  Wednesday we will be taking a walk to Webb Elementary to enjoy a performance by the Franklin High School Winter Guard. (I am especially excited about this performance because my daughter is on the Winter Guard dance line.)  We will head to Webb after lunch and be back in plenty of time for the buses.