Week 10

The kids wrote an AMAZING mission statement this week that really shows their desire to better themselves this year.  Yes, it's a little long, but it has contributions from everyone and includes all of the things they truly value.  Here is what they came up with:

We the responsible students of Mrs. Bennett’s rockin’ 4^th grade class promise to go above and beyond to learn new things.  We will be true Olympians, supporting each other and showing the rings.  We promise to have fun and to learn from our mistakes.  We will never give up because failure is not an option for us.  Not only will we meet our goals, but we will extend our learning and only be satisfied with our personal best.  This is our promise to ourselves and to each other.

You'll have to stop by and see the amazing way we have displayed it in the room!

Here are this week's events:

1)  Report cards go home Monday.  You will need to sign your child's card and return it in the provided envelope.  Feel free to make copies of the report card for your own records, but remember to send back the original.  Please click here if you need to review the information I gave you last week about what will be included and what you should expect.

2)  This week's homework menu has just one item.  The students need to create their Idiom Day costumes so they can wear them to school on Thursday.  We will learn a spelling pattern in class this week, but the kids will do the homework for this pattern next week.  (Hopefully this will make homework go faster next week since they will have all of this week to collect their words.)

3)  This week is Red Ribbon Week.  Each day there is a theme to help the kids remember to stay off of drugs.  Here is what your child should wear each day:

• Monday: Tie Out Drugs - Kids wear a crazy tie.
• Tuesday: Give Drugs the Blues - Kids wear all Academy blue clothing.
• Wednesday: Put a Cap on Drugs - Kids wear their favorite cap.
• Thursday: Sock It to Drugs - Kids wear crazy socks.
• Friday: Shade Out Drugs - Kids wear sunglasses.

4)  If you haven't sent $10 for our class project yet, please do so as soon as possible.  Your child should have brought home a flyer about this last week.

5)  Most kids are doing a terrific job of keeping up with their reading and posting.  Please make sure your child has posted on the class blog this week.  The new question will be up sometime on Sunday.

6)  Your child should have finished his/her 8th book this week.  He/she needs to post each book on the wikispace to receive credit.

7)  There is an Awards Assembly on Friday at 8:00.  If you child is going to receive an award, I will email you Monday to let you know.

Week 9

Can you believe we're already finished with the First Nine Weeks?  It's crazy for me to think that we're already one-fourth of the way through the year.  As you will see on the report cards that come home next week, the kids have already learned and mastered a ton of content.  I am extremely proud of their constant hard work and positive attitudes.

Speaking of report cards, I want to remind you that Academy report cards will look incredibly different this year than last.  On the front page, you will see a narrative section similar to what you are are used to seeing.  Unlike last year, there will be only one narrative area.  You should expect to see information here about your child's strengths, weaknesses, and work ethic.

On the following three pages of the report card, you will see lists of the objectives your child is expected to learn this year.  In the first column, (the one showing information for the First Nine Weeks), you will see one of the following things:

• E = This means that your child has extended far beyond the requirements for the particular objective.
• M = This means that on the final assessment, your child met the expectations for the particular objective.
• S = An S means that your child has not yet mastered the objective but is showing progress toward reaching that goal.
• T = This means that on the final assessment, your child showed little understanding and/or application of the particular objective and needs more time to master this skill.  
• A gray square = This means that the objective was not assessed this Quarter.

Please note that there will be no pluses or minuses on any score this year (ie: S+, S-, etc.).

On the final page of the report card, you will see your child's reading level and overall scores for each subject area.  In order for your child to receive an overall grade of an M in any subject, he/she must have Ms in at least 90% of the assessed objectives to that point.  If he/she received a T for an individual objective, the highest overall grade he/she can receive is an S.  (Clear as mud, right?)

One of the great things about this new format is that you can see very specifically where your child needs help and where he/she is already going strong.  Please note that an S in an individual objective or two is probably not reason to stress out.  This just lets you know that your child needs to focus his/her attention on certain skills a little bit more.  While sooner is always better than later, our ultimate goal is for your child to be meeting all objectives by the end of year.

My final note on the report card is that it is a cumulative report. This means that each Nine Weeks, your child is held accountable for all of the information learned that Quarter as well as the information from each of the previous Nine Weeks. The overall grades for each subject on the last report card of the year will cover every objective from the entire year.

I expect that you will have questions still, but I am hoping that the information above will give you a good idea of what to expect.  As always, please let me know if you need clarification.

What's happening this week:

1.  Horizontal schedule resumes this week.

2.  On this week's Homework Menu, you will find information about one of the most memorable and fun days of 4th grade.  Idiom Day is tentatively scheduled for next Thursday (October 28th)!  This is a day where the children dress up as the literal meaning of an idiom and then do activities all day to help them learn to use figurative language in their writing.  Please do not let your child tell/convince you that you need to spend a lot of money for his/her costume.  The award-winning costume from my class last year was a giant piece of paper painted green and folded into a big cylindrical pickle.  (The child was "In a pickle," if you haven't guessed yet.)

3.  I have to turn in grades by Wednesday.  By this time, your child should have 7 books posted on the wikispace.  If your child needs help reaching this goal, please consider sending him/her to the Homework Hotline on Tuesdays to get caught up.  (Remember to fill out the Homework Hotline permission slip and send it with your child so we know where to focus our attention.)  By next weekend, your child needs to post an 8th book on the wiki.


4.  Report cards will go home Monday, the 25th.  Please look over your child's card, write comments on the back, and send it back.

5.  In addition to the addition and subtraction timed drills, your child is responsible for multiplication and division during the Second Nine Weeks.  There are a ton of fun games on my website your child can use to help develop these skills.  We will continue to assess all 4 operations each Friday.

6.  The new blog question will be posted on Sunday.  Please make sure your child has posted for each week to this point.

Week 8

Aren't these kids just amazing? I am so proud of them for working so hard on their reading projects over the last couple of weeks. I love how the number one question I received today has been, "When can I show mine to the whole class?" They have such pride in their work and are dying to share it with others.  (A teacher's dream-come-true!) Tuesday we will be sharing them from 1:45 - 2:30 if you have time and want to join us. It should be fun!

This week's main attractions:

1.  Tomorrow is early voting for the Tax Ratification Election at the Academy. If you haven't heard or read information about this yet, click here. This is such an important issue for all of BISD, and your vote is extremely vital to our students, teachers, and our district as a whole.


2.  There is no school Monday! I don't know about you, but I plan on waking up late, taking a nap or two in the afternoon, and then going to bed early. (Yep, it's going to be a big day!)  : )

3.  Class pictures and picture retakes will happen Wednesday.

4.  The final trip payment was due today. If you haven't paid yet (and haven't talked to me), please send your money Tuesday. Remember, unless I contacted you the final payment for a parent-student pair is $80 and the final payment for an individual student is $35.

5.  We have spent a lot of time talking about the expectations for homework over the course of the week. Here are the highlights of our conversations:

• Spelling assignments should take around 30 minutes max to complete. 
• Other assignments (not projects) should take a similar amount of time.
• Blogging and posting on the wikispace should take around 15 minutes each.  (Most kids are at the point now where they can do these in less time.)  
• Until this last week, technology has never been a required means for a product.  If the technology is making your child's assignments stretch out for hours at a time, he/she probably shouldn't be using that form of technology for that assignment.  
• Students should set up a routine for completing homework to lessen the stress at home.  A sample routine might be: spelling assignment on Saturday, other assignment on Monday, post on the wiki on Tuesday, and blog on Thursday.
• If your child is stuck or has a question, please shoot me an email.  I have a few email buddies who write me each week for clarification.  These wonderful parents always seem worried that they are bothering me, but that couldn't be farther from the truth!  I love that they are asking before their child gets to the stressed-out point. Please let me help you if I can!

6.  Speaking of homework, we started the Homework Hotline last week. The 3 kids who came got a ton of work done in that hour. In fact, 2 of them got their entire projects done or almost done! The Homework Hotline will meet this Tuesday from 3:00 - 4:00. Please remember that in order for your child to attend, you must fill out and turn in the Homework Hotline pass so we know what your child's top priorities should be.

7.  This week's Homework Menu is now posted. All activities on the menu are due this Friday.

8.  Your child should post his/her 7th book this week on the wikispace. Most kids are doing a tremendous job of keeping up with (or surpassing) this expectation. If your child is behind, remember that the Homework Hotline time could be spent for this task.

9.  Most kids are caught up with their blogs. Please check with your child and make sure he/she has blogged a response for each week to this point. I will post this week's question on Sunday.

10.  Report cards will be coming soon. On the first report card, 4th graders are held responsible for being able to complete 100 addition problems in 5 minutes and 100 subtraction problems in 5 minutes. Please check with your child to see if he/she has met this requirement yet. If he/she hasn't, remember that flash cards are extremely helpful for developing this skill. Also, there are printable drills on my website you can use at any time. Our final drill for the first Nine Weeks grades will be this Friday.

Week 7

If you haven't heard from your child yet, my husband and I are expecting our first child! I'm currently 8 weeks along and absolutely thrilled! I don't think I knew that it was possible to feel so much love and joy for someone I've never even held or met. We are blessed beyond measure!! Here's a pic of our little jelly bean:

I want to make sure to thank all of the parents who worked so hard to make our Movie Night such a success! The turnout was so much greater than we anticipated, and the kids had an amazing time. Thanks for your involvement and your time! 


Here are this week's main events:


1.  The final payment for the Austin/San Antonio field trip is due Friday.  If you are going with your child, your final payment is $80.  If your child is going alone, your final payment is $35.  If you helped with Movie Night, your cost will be less; I will email you your final amount on Monday.


2.  This week's Homework Menu is posted and ready for your viewing pleasure. We started the first activity today in the computer lab, and your child should have the brainstorming sheet in his/her Take-Home Folder. Your child should have started the second activity last week. Both activities are due Friday. (We will do a spelling activity in class this week instead of including it as a homework assignment.)


3.  Please take time to go over your child's portfolio with your child, fill out the reflection form, and send everything back on Monday.


4.  Your child should be finishing his/her fifth book this weekend. Remember, all books must be posted on the wikispace for your child to receive credit. 

HELPFUL HINT: Some parents are having their kids type their information in a Word document first. They are then copying and pasting the information on the wiki and/or the blog so that there is less chance of losing what they have written.

5.  If your child has not posted on the blog yet, he/she needs to do so by Sunday.  Next week's question will be up by Sunday.


6.  Clubs begin this week!  (I really have no more information than that, but I thought it was worth mentioning!)  : )

Week 6

The Ring Ceremony and Run went so well today! The kids did a great job and had a ton of fun. Our own Megan got 3rd place in the race even after being sick for the last couple of days! What a trooper!

Our Writing Boot Camp went so smoothly this year. The kids learned all about ways to improve their writing by including figurative language and powerful verbs. I was very impressed by how quickly they picked up and understood these skills, and I am excited to see them use them in the weeks to come!


There are several important events coming up this week that you need to know about.  As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

1.  Vertical schedule begins this week.  For those new to the Academy, this means that the kids will go to Specials and lunch with kids from all grades from the Azul team.  Click here to view my vertical plan.

2.  Tuesday will be our Movie Night to raise money for the Austin/San Antonio trip.  (Kate and Carter have done a great job advertising this all week on the announcements!)  Remember, to benefit from the money raised, you must participate and volunteer your time in some way.  Tracy Buzzard (tracybuzzard74@yahoo.com) and Stacey Henry (slhlah10@gmail.com) from Mrs. Mogk's class are two of the parents helping organize this experience.  If you have emailed me, I have forwarded your information on to them.  If they haven't contacted you yet, you might try emailing them directly.  If you haven't emailed me yet but want to participate, contact them and see where you can serve.

The Movie Night activities will last from 3:30-5:30.  We are asking the kids/parents to pay $5 to watch the movie and eat chips, salsa, chili, and popcorn.  (That's pretty cheap child care if you ask me!)  We have decided not to charge any entry fee for our chili and salsa participants since such a fee might discourage participants.  Remember that the Book Fair Family Night begins at 5:30, so you can go directly from the movie to the book fair!

3.  School ends at 11:45 on Wednesday!  Please make arrangements to pick up your child at this time.  Teachers will be in meetings the entire afternoon, (which is the reason for the early release).


4.  Portfolios will go home Thursday.  Please look at the pieces your child has chosen to include in the portfolio, return everything back in the folder, and complete the feedback form with your child.

5.  Over the next two weeks I will be doing QRI testing with your child.  These are the tests to determine your child's reading level and fluency.  As soon as I have the results, I will communicate them to you.

6.  On this week's Homework Menu, your child will have a 2-week reading assignment.  In lieu of doing a traditional book report, your child will create some type of project about the best book he/she read so far this year.  Please help your child pace him/herself over the next two weeks so that he/she has adequate time to produce quality work.

The spelling activity on the Homework Menu is still due this Friday.

7.  The second payment for the Austin/San Antonio trip was due today.  If you have not paid yet, please get this money to me a.s.a.p.  The final payment will be due in 2 weeks.  The amount due will depend on your participation in the Movie Night fundraiser.  As soon as I have those numbers, I will let you know.

8.  Your child should be finishing his/her fourth book this weekend. Remember, all books must be posted on the wikispace for your child to receive credit.

HELPFUL HINT: Some parents are having their kids type their information in a Word document first. They are then copying and pasting the information on the wiki and/or the blog so that there is less chance of losing what they have written.

9.  If your child has not posted on the blog yet, he/she needs to do so by Sunday.  The new question will be up by Sunday.

Week 5

Thank you to all of the parents who made it to Curriculum Night Thursday evening!  Hopefully many of your questions have been answered and you have a clearer picture of what we're doing, why we're doing it, and where we're going.  If you missed the presentation or need a refresher of the information given, click here to see the prezi.  (When it opens, just keep clicking on the right arrow to progress through the presentation.)

Thank you also to Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Kelly for coming up today and making copies for me!  You have saved both Mrs. Brannum and me a ton of time!  I appreciate you!

Here are this week's events:

1.  The second payment of $75 for the Austin/San Antonio trip is due this Friday, September 24th.  If your child is going by his/herself, you will not pay anything else at this time.  The final payment for everyone will be due two weeks later and will be around $75 or $100 for parent/student pairs and around $50 for individual students.  These numbers will be finalized and communicated to you soon.

2.  We will have a fundraiser to help with the costs for the trip.  On Tuesday, September 28th from 3:30-5:30, we will show a movie and have a homemade chili and salsa cook-off.  We will ask for donations from students and parents to enter and watch the movie, and we will charge fees for entering the cooking contest ($3) and/or for tasting/judging ($1).  Our vision is that kids will be able to watch the movie and fill up on chili, chips, and salsa for just a couple of bucks.  The Book Fair Family Night begins at 5:30 that night, so families can enjoy both activities.

In order for you and/or your family to benefit from this event, you must participate in the fundraiser.  You can participate by:

• making posters to hang up around the school advertising the event
• collecting money at the door
• serving chili, salsa, etc. at the event
• setting up the chili and salsa competition
• contacting parents (from all grades) to find competition participants
• finding people/businesses/restaurants to give chip donations
• finding people/businesses/restaurants to give plate, bowl, napkin, and bowl donations
• decorating for the event
• etc.

Please let me know a.s.a.p. if you plan on participating in the fundraiser and let me know how you would like to serve.

3.  Run for the Rings is this Friday!  We have not been given the schedule of events for the day yet, but last year the Raising of the Rings Ceremony was around 8:15 and the Run started immediately after it was done.  Unlike last year, the entire event will take place at our campus.  (Yea!)  As soon as I get more information, I will pass it on to you.

4. On Wednesday and Thursday, we will have our Writing Boot Camp.  This is a fun tradition where we mix the 4th graders up and rotate them through classes designed to help them add interesting and figurative language to their writing.  Our theme this year is "Bring the Bling," and we could use some fun glittery, shiny stickers to give as prizes throughout the week if you want to help out.

5. The Week 5 Homework Menu is posted on my website.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way.

6.  Your child should have completed his/her 3rd book by now and should have all 3 posted on the wikispace.

7.  If your child still has not posted on the blog this week, he/she needs to do so by Sunday.  The question for Week 5 will be up by Sunday.

8.  If your child sold items for the school fundraiser, you need to turn in all money and order forms by Tuesday.

Finally, in case you didn't know, Mrs. Brannum (Rojo 4th grade) found out on the first day of school this year that she has cancer.  On Tuesday she will have surgery to have her entire thyroid removed.  I know that she and her family could use your prayers, and I'm sure that letters and notes would be appreciated.  I know that many of you don't know Mrs. Brannum well, but I have seen time and time again that the Academy functions as a family and takes care of its own.  If you decide to give Mrs. Brannum anything, I can definitely deliver it for you.

Thanks for all that you do!

Week 4

I'm at a Writing Retreat in Denton right now with Mrs. Mogk (don't worry, I'll leave in time for the OU game tomorrow), and for some strange reason I'm still awake at 12:50 in the morning.  I know it's because my mind is so full of things I need to do this week, starting with thanking all of the AMAZING grandparents who blessed us with their presence today.  It was such a treat to get to meet them and share a moment with your wonderful families.  What an incredible place to be today!

I also want to make sure to thank Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Johnson for the classroom help they have given me lately!  You ladies have definitely made my life easier this week!

Here are this week's major attractions:

1.  If you haven't turned in your Austin/San Antonio Information Sheet (given out at the parent meeting Thursday night), please do so by Monday!  We can't finalize costs until we have all of this information.  Your second payment for the trip will be due September 24th.


2.  This week I asked the students how many pages they should read each night.  It was very interesting to hear their responses.  Answers ranged from 10 to 40 to "I don't know."  Finally a child shouted out the correct response: "You never told us we had to read a certain number of pages."  I reminded the students that the requirement is simply that they finish a book each week.  The students have set their own goals for the number of pages based on the books they have chosen.  We talked a lot on Thursday about how if they are stressed about getting their reading done each week, they probably have chosen books that are too hard for them.  We compared picking out the right book to putting on the right pair of shoes.  Some kids need to just read the minimum 90-page books each week because that is the right fit for them. Other kids are comfortable with a 250- or 350-page book, so they should continue to challenge themselves each week with longer and harder books.  You can support your child at home this year by reminding him/her that there is no reason to stress about this and that he/she can choose easier books if he/she is having difficulty finishing in time.  Most kids seem to have a good grasp of the expectations now, and I hope that this clarifies any misunderstandings you might have had about the requirements.


3.  Thank you so much for everyone who made it to the parent meeting Thursday night; I know how hard it is to sacrifice an evening away from home.  If you missed the meeting, the documents you need are on the Parent Resources page of my website.  Please make sure you read them, sign them, and send them back Monday with your child.  Once we have this information from everyone, we will be able to determine final costs for the trip.  The second payment will be due September 24th, and we will let you know sometime this week how much it will be.


4.  Curriculum Night is this Thursday.  You can attend either a 6:30-7:10 session or a 7:20-8:00 session.  These important meetings are where I will talk to you about the academic expectations for 4th graders and answer any questions you might have about homework, technology, etc.  Hope to see you there!


5.  This week's homework menu is posted on my website.  The kids who are working on their activities over the weekend and/or early in the week are consistently turning in quality work and are far less stressed than those who wait until the last moment.  Please encourage your child to begin these assignments early and to use the checklists to make sure all requirements are fulfilled.  Remember, all assignments are due Friday.


6.  If your child has not blogged yet this week, please remind him/her that this must be done by Sunday.  Also, there are a handful of students who did not ever respond to last week's post.  If you are having trouble with this (or with anything else), please email me and I will be happy to help!


7.  On the first report card, your child is held accountable for being able to complete 100 addition and 100 subtraction problems in 5 minutes.  Please help your child practice flash cards daily so that he/she can master this goal.