Here are the things you need to know for this week:
1. First, and most importantly, the OU football game is at 6:00 tomorrow. I know that you probably plan every other activity in your life around the Sooners' schedule like I do, but I wanted to make sure you didn't miss it. I'll leave for Oklahoma first thing in the morning, hang out with friends and family throughout the afternoon, and then scream my heart out at the first of many victories this year at Owen Field. Don't you just love football season?
2. Thursday is the due date for the $75 deposit for the Austin/San Antonio field trip. It is also the day of the parent meeting to answer your questions, give you information, and take roommate requests. Please join us in the cafeteria from 6:30-7:30 Thursday evening.
3. The new Homework Menu is already posted on my website. Most students did a tremendous job of getting everything done and turned in on time this week. Thanks for helping your child set up these routines at home. As a former middle school teacher, I know that kids who build these habits at a young age are much more likely to be successful in later years. Please remember, if you every have any questions or need clarification, just shoot me an email.
This week's menu begins our spelling program for the year. If you haven't looked at the Spelling Procedures Prezi (on the Curriculum Information links list shown to the right), please take a gander and familiarize yourself with the expectations. The kids have seen this, and we will review it again this week. The most important things to remember are:
- The kids often have freedom to use technology to help them present their information. (Check out the Project Resources page of my website for more ideas.) Please remind your child to use the checklists on the Homework Menu to make sure that in using the technology he/she doesn't leave out any of the requirements for each assignment.
- Your child will choose his/her own words to include in the assignment. The words must match the spelling pattern for the week and must be words that he/she did not know how to spell before the week began.
4. Your child should be finishing his/her first book by this weekend. Books must be at least 90 pages in length, or your child can combine 2 books if their pages add up to 90. (There are some kids trying to read 4 or 5 tiny books and add them together; this does not work for our requirements.) When your child finishes a book, he/she must post it on the class wikispace to receive credit.
5. Your child must post a 5-sentence comment on the Week 2 (Your Favorite Character) post of the class blog by this Sunday. Some students have responded, but not everyone who did answered the posted questions and/or wrote enough. Please double-check that your child has taken care of these requirements. I will get the Week 3 post up sometime this weekend if you child wants to get ahead.
6. Our Grandparents Day celebration will be Friday. If your child's grandparent is coming, please make sure he/she is aware that grandparents will not be allowed to come to the older grades until 1:00. At 1:00 grandparents should come to our classroom for an activity, and then they will have the opportunity to take pictures and get refreshments in the gym. If your child is going to go home with his/her grandparent, please be aware that no one can check out before 2:00 and no child can leave with a grandparent without written permission which must be turned in by Thursday, (not Friday).
Have a wonderful long weekend! Thanks for all of your support and involvement!
