I have decided to up my efforts to communicate with all of you, therefore, I will be calling half of my class each week to touch base with you, let you know how your child is doing, and give you a chance to voice any concerns. This upcoming week, expect at least one call from me if your child's last name ends with an 'A' through 'K'. The week after that, I will call the names ending with an 'L' through 'Z'. I have noticed that in my recent efforts to call many of you, the number given on the emergency card is not working or no longer in service. Please make sure I have a working number to keep you informed. I want to remind parents who receive e-mails with updates to the class web site, that if you click on the title of the update that is in your e-mail, you will automatically be transferred to the class site. Just a reminder, the weather is getting cooler and we still go out for recess if weather permits. Please make sure your child is leaving with a sweatshirt or jacket each day. Progress reports go home on Monday, and if you would like missing work from me, please send the progress report back signed with a note stating so, or drop me an e-mail. 10 points will be deducted for each day after the day following the time the child receives the missing work. For example, if I get the note on Wednesday, and your child receives the work on Thursday, every school day after Friday that the work is late will receive a 10 point deduction. I am investigating how to also create sites where the reports can be posted weekly on line for you just in case you are one of the parents who does not get these in a timely fashion. Any student who returns a progress report signed the next day following when it was given, will receive a homework pass. Two days after, and your child will receive a Marshall Buck. Be on the look out for a note to go home on the "Bring a Hero for a Hero Sandwich Party" at the end of October. Kids will be selecting someone they feel is their hero and invite them to the school for a sub sandwich lunch and to thank them for being such a big part of their lives. Students on this day can dress up like their hero as well. This will happen on October 26, 2012. I have a parent volunteer who will be helping me coordinate this, but we could always use more assistance in set-up, and assisting in serving our heroes. If you would like to be part of it, please let me know.
Science News
We are now moving into the measuring portion of our first unit. Next week students will do experiments on volume and mass. They will have to calculate volume using a water displacement method, and mass using a triple beam balance. The test has been pushed back a week to the first Friday of October.
Social Studies News
We will have a small quiz next week on reading a map, and we will study the five themes of geography and study other groups of people in more depth. One map skill coming up that kids should practice, is reading a time zone map. You can Google one and just quiz your child, "If it is 10:00 a.m. here, what time is it ______?"
Reading News
We have finished our district assessment, and will begin grouping students according to their reading level next week. This week we have studied what it it is like to read a book too hard and too easy. Next week we will look more into reading a book that is "Just Right".
Math News
This past week we started the first lessons of our curriculum. Students learned about exponents, writing in scientific notation, and were introduced to multi-function problems. Next week we will master multi-function problems and move into some algebraic equations that utilize a variable in the problem.
Writing News
The "All About Me" website project is due in a little over a week. I have handed out and posted on the web site the rubric for grading this project. Please turn this sheet into me with the web address of your child's site. I will turn this back over to you when I have graded the site. I am also highlighting any grammar mistakes and explaining them on the comments section located at the bottom of each web page. Your can fix these and resubmit the sheet to me with a note stating it was corrected, and I'll give your child the higher score. Writers make mistakes, especially grammar mistakes before a book becomes published and they are rewarded for their efforts. No reason your child can't too.
Have a great weekend, go to a cider mill, and remember, "Go Irish!"
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