Happy Spring Break! I am leaving tomorrow to visit my family in Oklahoma, so I wanted to get this out to you now. I hope you are resting and enjoying your time with your family!
Thank you to all of the families who helped out with World Party! The room looked amazing, and the kids did a tremendous job with their projects and murals.
Here are this week's events:
1) Your child should have 23 books posted on the wiki by now. If your child is behind, please encourage him/her to use this Break to catch up. Next week all students should post their 24th book.
2) Monday is Spring Picture Day. Remember, this is an out of uniform day!
3) The Week 27 Homework Menu is posted and ready if your child wants to work ahead. The activity is due Friday, March 25th.
4) As the TAKS approaches, the more practice and familiarity with these types of questions, the better the chances of success for the students. Please remember that there are several links and practice tests on my website for your child to use.
5) Report Cards will go home during Week 28.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Week 26
The kids worked so hard on their Writing TAKS this week! I couldn't be prouder of them for taking their time and using all of the strategies they have learned this year. It will be a long couple of months waiting for the results, but I am satisfied that above all else the students did their best. They have grown tremendously since the beginning of 4th grade, and I am excited to include their beginning-of-the-year essays with their end-of-the-year essays in the next portfolio so that you can see their progress.
Thank you to all of the parents who helped make breakfast for the students and to those who wrote letters of encouragement this week. The students were thrilled by both gestures. Your actions have blessed our class, and you are truly appreciated.
Here's what you need to know about this week:
1) This week in class we will be creating several decorations for World Party. Please send an old, large T-shirt on Monday your child can use this week to protect his/her clothing from paint.
2) There is no new Homework Menu for this week. Students should continue working on their World Party projects that they began last week. The kids used their computer lab time this week to gather their facts for their projects, so all that should be left is putting the project together. Don't forget, these projects are due Tuesday, not Friday. If your child finishes this weekend, feel free to send it early on Monday.
3) Wednesday we will have a district Reading Checkpoint.
4) World Party will be Thursday evening from 6:00-7:30. This is a tremendously fun and interesting time where you and your child can go from class to class to find out information about cultures from around the world. The kids love this event, and they always learn a lot.
5) Speaking of World Party, please let me know if you would like to volunteer to bring a Kenyan food dish to be served Thursday evening. Below are several sites with recipes you can try. (Feel free to look around other sites, too!) Also, we could just use several bananas cut into thirds or fourths to offer that evening. You can receive volunteer hours for your cooking/preparation time, (or if you just go buy something, you can receive half an hour of volunteer time).
6) Friday will be a Vertical Schedule day. We will use this time to rotate through our vertical classes to learn about the countries represented in each room.
7) Students may wear jeans Friday if they bring a donation for Relay for Life. (This is all the information I have right now about this, but I will let the kids know more when I get further info.)
8) Spring Break is next week! Enjoy your time with your family!
9) Students should post their 23rd book this week on the wiki. If you child is behind, Spring Break should be a great opportunity to catch up!
9) Students should post their 23rd book this week on the wiki. If you child is behind, Spring Break should be a great opportunity to catch up!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Week 25
Good morning! Well, it's finally Writing TAKS time, and I must say that I am really encouraged by the writing I have seen the kids do this week. The students are doing a great job of putting all of the techniques together that they have learned this year to make interesting, fun-to-read compositions. It's rewarding to see their confidence growing. On Monday, I plan to show the students their original pieces of writing from the beginning of the year so they can see just how far they have come. The change really is remarkable! I am so proud of the hard work they have put in this year.
Speaking of being proud, I want to give you the opportunity to let your child know how proud you are of him/her, too. I am asking you to write your child a letter of encouragement to send with him/her on Tuesday morning. You should seal the envelope and write "Don't open until Mrs. Bennett says!" on the front. We will take time Tuesday morning before we begin the test to let the kids read them together. I did this last year, and it was extremely powerful for the kids to hear once again that their parents believe in them and are proud of their efforts. I will send a reminder email about this today and Monday.
Here are this week's major events:
1) We will have a TAKS breakfast for the kids Tuesday morning in my classroom beginning at 7:15. This is just one more way to make sure the kids are relaxed and ready to go for the test. If you signed up to bring something, please try to get it there sometime between 7:00 and 7:15 Tuesday morning. Feel free to stick around for the breakfast and to help serve if you are able!
2) Remember, there are several sites with practice TAKS tests and questions your child can use this weekend to ensure he/she is ready to go. Here are a few you can use:
3) This week's homework menu involves making Kenya projects for World Party and will be due next Tuesday. Monday in class I will draw names and let the kids choose a topic about Kenya that they want to research. The homework menu has several possibilities for your child to choose, so you might look it over with your child this weekend to help him/her find a few options that would work (in case the first choice is taken before his/her turn). I have created an additional page on my website with a ton of good informational links. We will use our computer lab time this week to do additional research.
4) There are still a few portfolios that need to be returned. Please take care of this as quickly as possible.
5) Students should be posting their 22nd book on the wikispace this week. Let me take this opportunity to brag on the successes we are seeing. First, we now have 3 students who have completed their 30 Books Goal and are already working to set new records. (Kate, Noah, and Ryan R., you are definitely setting the bar high!) Second, as a class the students have read over 440 books this year, which is almost 70,000 pages! Wow! (I wonder how many words that would be...) Third, every student who is caught up with his/her reading has tested above grade level on the recent QRI tests. This is strong evidence that the best way to improve reading ability is simply to read, read, read.
6) Your child does not need to blog this week. We will pick this up again after Spring Break.
7) We are making great progress on the 4-minute math charts. Each week more and more students add their names to the list. It's awesome to see the kids continue to push themselves to improve.
8) Finally, please remember that brain studies show that a good night's sleep Monday is crucial to your child's success on the Writing TAKS Tuesday morning. Last year one of the major concerns kids voiced in my class before the test was a fear that they would oversleep or not get adequate rest. Thank you for all that you can do to help reduce such fears.
Speaking of being proud, I want to give you the opportunity to let your child know how proud you are of him/her, too. I am asking you to write your child a letter of encouragement to send with him/her on Tuesday morning. You should seal the envelope and write "Don't open until Mrs. Bennett says!" on the front. We will take time Tuesday morning before we begin the test to let the kids read them together. I did this last year, and it was extremely powerful for the kids to hear once again that their parents believe in them and are proud of their efforts. I will send a reminder email about this today and Monday.
Here are this week's major events:
1) We will have a TAKS breakfast for the kids Tuesday morning in my classroom beginning at 7:15. This is just one more way to make sure the kids are relaxed and ready to go for the test. If you signed up to bring something, please try to get it there sometime between 7:00 and 7:15 Tuesday morning. Feel free to stick around for the breakfast and to help serve if you are able!
2) Remember, there are several sites with practice TAKS tests and questions your child can use this weekend to ensure he/she is ready to go. Here are a few you can use:
3) This week's homework menu involves making Kenya projects for World Party and will be due next Tuesday. Monday in class I will draw names and let the kids choose a topic about Kenya that they want to research. The homework menu has several possibilities for your child to choose, so you might look it over with your child this weekend to help him/her find a few options that would work (in case the first choice is taken before his/her turn). I have created an additional page on my website with a ton of good informational links. We will use our computer lab time this week to do additional research.
4) There are still a few portfolios that need to be returned. Please take care of this as quickly as possible.
5) Students should be posting their 22nd book on the wikispace this week. Let me take this opportunity to brag on the successes we are seeing. First, we now have 3 students who have completed their 30 Books Goal and are already working to set new records. (Kate, Noah, and Ryan R., you are definitely setting the bar high!) Second, as a class the students have read over 440 books this year, which is almost 70,000 pages! Wow! (I wonder how many words that would be...) Third, every student who is caught up with his/her reading has tested above grade level on the recent QRI tests. This is strong evidence that the best way to improve reading ability is simply to read, read, read.
6) Your child does not need to blog this week. We will pick this up again after Spring Break.
7) We are making great progress on the 4-minute math charts. Each week more and more students add their names to the list. It's awesome to see the kids continue to push themselves to improve.
8) Finally, please remember that brain studies show that a good night's sleep Monday is crucial to your child's success on the Writing TAKS Tuesday morning. Last year one of the major concerns kids voiced in my class before the test was a fear that they would oversleep or not get adequate rest. Thank you for all that you can do to help reduce such fears.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Week 24
Happy Friday! I hope you are having a fantastic day! Thank you to all of the parents who helped out with our Valentine's Day party and to the parents who helped cut out things for me this week. Your involvement always makes such a difference. If you helped out with either of these things, will you please send me an email reminding me of the time spent so I can make sure you get your volunteer hours?
Here are this week's headlines:
1) There is no school Monday! Enjoy the time off!
2) Today your child is bringing home benchmark tests and scores from the beginning of the year as well as the ones we took last week. These tests do not need to be returned to me. My hope is that you will look over them with your child to help your child understand questions that were missed. There are several links on my webpage to additional TAKS practice that would definitely benefit your child.
3) Please send back your child's portfolio by Tuesday if possible. The children have selected some pieces they really liked and are excited to show them off to you!
4) Your child should have 20 books posted on the wikispace now and should be working on his/her 21st book this week. (Can you believe they have read so much this year?) I am so proud of the kids for their hard work and for pushing themselves to achieve this goal. After doing QRI reading level tests this week, I can see such a difference in the kids who are making this goal a priority. (By the way, the QRI levels will be sent home today for you.)
5) The kids do not need to blog again this week.
6) This week's Homework Menu is due Friday. It involves another essay to help the students continue to prepare for the TAKS test (which is now a week and a half away). I emailed links to online practice tests this week for your child to use as needed. (Please let me know if you didn't get them.) I will be at a doctor appointment Tuesday afternoon, so Homework Hotline will be held in Mrs. Smalley's class that day. If your child is going, he/she should bring the pass directly to Mrs. Smalley at dismissal.
7) Our Science Checkpoint test will now be Tuesday.
8) Dads and Doughnuts will be held this Friday from 6:50 - 7:30.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Week 23
Good evening! I don't know about you, but I'm LOVING the warmer weather today! I think I've had just about enough of the freezing temps and the ice. It looks like we might even get up to the 70s next week. Yippee!
On a personal note, I am now 99 days away from my due date! I think the kids are enjoying my outie bellybutton a little more than I am. (They keep asking if it will ever go back in, and I'm starting to wonder the same thing.) If you haven't seen me lately, there's much more of me to love now. My husband, Kris, and I are getting extremely excited about her arrival and are getting nervous about how fast time seems to be flying.
This week is filled with events, so let's get right to it.
1) Horizontal schedule resumes Monday.
2) The Book Fair is this week! Our class is scheduled to visit Tuesday to make wish lists and again Thursday to make purchases. Also, don't forget that the Book Fair will be open from 5:00-6:30 Tuesday evening if you want to shop with your kid.
3) Our Valentine's Day party is Monday at 2:00. Thank you to all of the parents who have already sent $2.00 to Donna Downs for the craft. Also, thank you to everyone who volunteered to bring snacks and drinks for the party. If you have any questions or want to know how you can help, please contact Mrs. Downs at dldowns2u@sbcglobal.net. Kids do not need to decorate boxes or bags at home this weekend. We will spend time in class on Monday decorating bags to hold their goodies and Valentines.
4) There are no clubs on Monday.
5) Portfolios go home Thursday. Your child's recent benchmark test scores will be included to give you a better idea of your child's progress. We are finishing QRI reading level testing this week, so that data will also be in the portfolio.
6) Recommitment letters are due this Friday. If you need another copy, please let me know a.s.a.p. so you have time to meet the deadline.
7) This week's Homework Menu has 2 options for the children. Both choices are writing activities to help the kids better prepare for the quickly approaching Writing TAKS. The Homework Menu is due Friday.
8) Your child should post his/her 20th book this week on the wiki. Many kids are catching up and are even getting ahead! Thanks for all of your support at home in the endeavor.
9) This week we have a Science and a Math Checkpoint. These are district tests to determine student progress. Once we have these results, I will communicate them to you.
10) If you haven't explored the TAKS links on my website lately, please do so when you get a chance over the next couple of weeks. There are full practice tests (with answer keys) you can print off to help your child at home as well as interactive study guides kids can use to practice their skills.
11) Your child does not need to blog this week.
12) We are still working on beating the 4-minute timers for our math drills.
On a personal note, I am now 99 days away from my due date! I think the kids are enjoying my outie bellybutton a little more than I am. (They keep asking if it will ever go back in, and I'm starting to wonder the same thing.) If you haven't seen me lately, there's much more of me to love now. My husband, Kris, and I are getting extremely excited about her arrival and are getting nervous about how fast time seems to be flying.
This week is filled with events, so let's get right to it.
1) Horizontal schedule resumes Monday.
2) The Book Fair is this week! Our class is scheduled to visit Tuesday to make wish lists and again Thursday to make purchases. Also, don't forget that the Book Fair will be open from 5:00-6:30 Tuesday evening if you want to shop with your kid.
3) Our Valentine's Day party is Monday at 2:00. Thank you to all of the parents who have already sent $2.00 to Donna Downs for the craft. Also, thank you to everyone who volunteered to bring snacks and drinks for the party. If you have any questions or want to know how you can help, please contact Mrs. Downs at dldowns2u@sbcglobal.net. Kids do not need to decorate boxes or bags at home this weekend. We will spend time in class on Monday decorating bags to hold their goodies and Valentines.
4) There are no clubs on Monday.
5) Portfolios go home Thursday. Your child's recent benchmark test scores will be included to give you a better idea of your child's progress. We are finishing QRI reading level testing this week, so that data will also be in the portfolio.
6) Recommitment letters are due this Friday. If you need another copy, please let me know a.s.a.p. so you have time to meet the deadline.
7) This week's Homework Menu has 2 options for the children. Both choices are writing activities to help the kids better prepare for the quickly approaching Writing TAKS. The Homework Menu is due Friday.
8) Your child should post his/her 20th book this week on the wiki. Many kids are catching up and are even getting ahead! Thanks for all of your support at home in the endeavor.
9) This week we have a Science and a Math Checkpoint. These are district tests to determine student progress. Once we have these results, I will communicate them to you.
10) If you haven't explored the TAKS links on my website lately, please do so when you get a chance over the next couple of weeks. There are full practice tests (with answer keys) you can print off to help your child at home as well as interactive study guides kids can use to practice their skills.
11) Your child does not need to blog this week.
12) We are still working on beating the 4-minute timers for our math drills.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Week 22
What a week! I hope your kids enjoyed their second Winter Break as much as I did. It was so nice to have some downtime. The plan for this week is to pick up where we left off last week. Just scroll down to last week's post to update yourself on the news, homework menu, etc.
Here are the only new items to add:
1) Wednesday is an early release day. You need to make arrangements to get your child at 11:45.
2) Wednesday we will be taking a Reading Benchmark Test, and Friday we will be taking a Math Benchmark Test.
3) Recommitment letters go home this week. These letters help us know who will be returning and what open spaces might be available. Thanks ahead of time for making sure you get these back quickly.
4) Spring Pictures are this Thursday.
5) Our Valentine's Party will be Monday, February 14th, at 2:00. As soon as I have more information about this event, I will send it your way.
6) The Book Fair begins next week!
Here are the only new items to add:
1) Wednesday is an early release day. You need to make arrangements to get your child at 11:45.
2) Wednesday we will be taking a Reading Benchmark Test, and Friday we will be taking a Math Benchmark Test.
3) Recommitment letters go home this week. These letters help us know who will be returning and what open spaces might be available. Thanks ahead of time for making sure you get these back quickly.
4) Spring Pictures are this Thursday.
5) Our Valentine's Party will be Monday, February 14th, at 2:00. As soon as I have more information about this event, I will send it your way.
6) The Book Fair begins next week!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Week 21
Good morning! I just wanted to take a moment to thank a few people who have helped out lately. Thank you to Mrs. Foster for the wonderful baby towels and washcloths. We will definitely make use of them! Thank you also to Mrs. Bagley and Mrs. Miller who stopped by yesterday to help out with the pizza party. Things like that are so much easier with another set of hands on deck. I appreciate each of these women tremendously!
Here is the news:
1) Like last week, the kids will be writing an essay for their Homework Menu item. The Writing TAKS is now 5 weeks away, and we want the kids to be as prepared as possible. Because these assignments understandably take longer, the kids will not have a second assignment or a blog question for the week.
2) Dads and Doughnuts is this Friday from 6:50-7:30. This is a fun time for the kids to bond with their dads while eating some delicious, fat-filled snacks! If you did not buy tickets last week, contact the office to see what you need to do.
3) Kids should now have 18 books posted on the wiki. Congrats to Kate who is the first child to successfully complete all 30 books from the required genres! What an accomplishment!
4) The kids have decided that they want to be the first class to beat the 4-minute timers in all math operations. The kids are pumped about this goal and want to accomplish it before any other class can beat the 5-minute timers. (A little pizza can sure make a group of kids aim high!) I am excited to see that they are all continuing to improve and are putting for their best effort even after reaching their original goal. Remember, there are printable drills and games on my website your child can access at any time.
Here is the news:
1) Like last week, the kids will be writing an essay for their Homework Menu item. The Writing TAKS is now 5 weeks away, and we want the kids to be as prepared as possible. Because these assignments understandably take longer, the kids will not have a second assignment or a blog question for the week.
2) Dads and Doughnuts is this Friday from 6:50-7:30. This is a fun time for the kids to bond with their dads while eating some delicious, fat-filled snacks! If you did not buy tickets last week, contact the office to see what you need to do.
3) Kids should now have 18 books posted on the wiki. Congrats to Kate who is the first child to successfully complete all 30 books from the required genres! What an accomplishment!
4) The kids have decided that they want to be the first class to beat the 4-minute timers in all math operations. The kids are pumped about this goal and want to accomplish it before any other class can beat the 5-minute timers. (A little pizza can sure make a group of kids aim high!) I am excited to see that they are all continuing to improve and are putting for their best effort even after reaching their original goal. Remember, there are printable drills and games on my website your child can access at any time.
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