Another Week of Learning!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Families,



Well, I am happy to announce that my computer is healthy and running just fine now! Whew, it's amazing how much we depend on these little machines! Speaking of which, your children came home tonight with two websites (one for explorers and one for Native Americans) in order to make a choice for our Museum Project. Once they have made a choice, they have specific directions on some information to research and will be writing a three paragraph report plus (finally) creating their dioramas. Please be prepared to help them with home research and the materials for the dioramas. They will not only be presenting an oral report to their class, but will also be asked to dress-up on the day of the "Museum" when they will be the expert while other IA classes visit ours.

We are also continuing with our five paragraph narratives during writing. Most students are making great progress and some are not. Each day when we work on these, I review what we have talked about and also give specific directions about the next steps. I would like to see all students succeed on this writing assignment and am meeting with each student. Now is a great time to have a conversation with your child about how important it is to use independent work time effectively.

Students are also making progress on their book reports and are creating some beautifully crafted posters. Stop by anytime to see your child's work. These are due next Thursday, November 11th. There are still a few students who haven't finished their books. This coming weekend would be a good time to catch up, if need be.

In math, we are covering many topics, such as landmarks in data, representation of data, ballpark estimates, and partial-sum addition. I want to thank those parents who have worked with their students on basic facts at home. I have seen some great progress during "White-Board" math.

Our next science topic will be in the area of Life Science. Students will choose an animal and investigate it's habitat, food chain, and food web. The outcome will be a speech they give to their class on their chosen animal investigation.

Our Halloween celebration was a great success. Many students said it was one of the best days they had ever had in school or their lives. I wish I had taken video of the apple-bobbing as it was absolutely hilarious and much fun. Thanks again to parents for decorating, bringing treats, and for just overall support.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Kim

Weekly Update

Dear Families,

Oops, my computer shut down before I was able to edit and finish my previous BLOg, so please read both to get all of my information. I was mentioning that a few book reports are going to be started this week as some children have finished their books. Others will start on Monday. I hope they enjoy working on them because most of the report will be drawing and presenting. Stop by if you would like to see what students are doing.

In math we have been studying and reviewing place value and we will be starting to look at data reporting and multiple digit adding next week.

Please make sure you have sent a shoe box with your child because next week they will also be choosing the topic for their "museum project" which will include dioramas. Please be prepared to supply the materials for each of your children to complete their dioramas. Students will also need to gather some research information from their home computers. The good news is that we finally have our routers, so students computers should be up and running soon.

I want to thank Rachell's dad, Chris for installing our projector. Soon we will have the capability to watch movies, but in the mean time we have been able to access the internet and see a quick video on erosion and weathering. Yay!

Sorry about the BLOG/computer problem. I hope you are all able to access both BLOGS.
Kim

Weekly Update!

Dear Families,

School pictures are on Wednesday, October 27th. Please send a your child ready for their pictures. The students will each come home with an order form and viewing card. You can order online or bring the form into class. Make checks payable to Innovations AcademyThursday-Field

On Friday, we will enjoy a Halloween Party! Children can come in costume - please no blood and gore. I'm fine with masks as long as they are not too scary. We will be taking a walk through the school and of course we don't want to scare the younger children. My original plan was to start our celebration right away, but I'm a little concerned that sugar consumption too early in the day may not be such a wise idea, so I'm planning for the "PARTY" to start after lunch. With the help of our room parent (Deborah Mori), we are gathering decorations and supplies. I am still looking for rolls of toilet paper and individually wrapped candies. So far, the plan is to "bob for apples", mummy wrap each other, penny toss into a pumkin, and play some other word and puzzle games. Parents are welcome to stop by and enjoy the fun.

For learning;

We are starting our fourth lesson of Wordly Wise this week. I love the fact that children are noticing these higher level words in their reading and using them when they speak. Capitalization is still one of our grammar topics and I am reminding students that what we learn about capitalizing needs to be transferred into their writing! We are also continueing to write our fictional narratives. Today I introduced a synonym tool that will help our young writers create more varied and interesting work.

Some students are done reading their book report books.

Thank you!

Dear Families,

Last week was a long week, but very gratifying as I felt the student conferences were successful and meaningful. Parents got to see what students were learning and had a chance to ask questions of their children and of me. Thank you to all who participated. If you did not get a chance to come into the classroom, please let me know a convenient time - kim@innovationsacademy.org.

I will be giving you an update about the Halloween celebration on my next BLOG; however, it is a good plan to send your child in costume with some extra clothing for later in the day. Many children decide they want to change after they have tired of displaying their costume. Anyway, let's plan ahead, just in case.

Sincerely,

Ki m

Weekly Update!

Dear Families,

I forgot to mention that this Thursday, October 14th is Family Night! Oops! I'm not sure how I forgot! I guess life as a teacher is just busy. Anyway, we will have the usual dinner arranged by a classroom teacher - this time it is sponsored by Lisa our 8th grade science/math teacher. Please support her classroom by purchasing tickets through Donna at our front office. After dinner, you are invited to your students' classrooms to participate in math games. I look forward to seeing you!

Conferences have been proceeding successfully. Your children have been leading the conferences and giving parents a "tour of their learning". Please remember that I am available throughout the conference not only to assist your child in their explanations of learning, but also to discuss any of your concerns or questions about classroom life.

I requested shoeboxes a while ago, but it's now time to get them in. I have 11 and need 21. We will be using them as we study the "Explorers" and creating dioramas. Students will not be asked to start this project until about November 1st; however by then I would like to have all of the shoeboxes in the classroom. Thank you for your cooperation.

We will also be starting an artistic book report soon. Students have been asked to bring an independent reading book from home or choose one from my library. I mention this because it is important for your child to committ to a book. We discussed today some important considerations:
Can you read the book independently?
Do you love the book?
Does it completely capture your attention?
I would like you to discuss these questions with your child. The book must be at school (vs. at home) to read, but must be tantilizing, so they are excited about reporting on it. Please let me know if you need help with this.

Our Halloween party is just around the corner. Please look for an email from one of the 4th grade room parents requesting help decorating, for treats, game ideas, etc. Your child is allowed to come in costume that day; however, I especially explained to the boys that means no weapons, or blood. Masks will be allowed only in our classroom, but not within the general school population. Please contact me with questions. For those of you not celebrating Halloween, please advise as to your students plans and any requests if they will be attending school that day.

I am always available by email, phone, or in the classroom.

Kim



Sincerely,
Kim

This Week's News!

Dear Families,

This week has been much better in our classroom! Finally, students seem to be getting into the routine, observing the "quiet signal", and understanding our daily routine. I love when students request quiet of our neighboring classrooms as they seem have begun to take their academics seriously. You have wonderful children that are expressing a desire to learn! Yey!!!

There are just a few reminders this week as well as a few requests! Please make sure to put student-led conferences on your schedule. We will have a full day of regular school on Monday, October 11th. However, on Tuesday through Thursday, your children will only be in school half days. They will be dismissed at 12:30pm, and conferences will start at 1:00pm. If you have not yet reserved a time for a conference, please let me know. Friday, October 15th is a Professional Day for teachers at IA and students are not allowed to be present. Please make arrangements for child-care.

The other BIG excitement for this month is of course Halloween! I love this time of year and enjoy observing it in the classroom with a party. Are there any parents who would be willing to come in and decorate with black and orange streamers or....? I also need donations of toilet paper in order to have a mummy-wrapping contest and a large basin and apples for Apple-Bobbing. I would also like to make caramel apples with various toppings, but need help with the supplies. If you have any other ideas for this celebration, please let me know. For those student unable to participate in this event, could you provide other snacks for your children or advise what would work better for your family. I have explained to the students that all costumes are "OK" as long as there isn't BLOOD OR WEAPONS. I have requested that if they are unsure, to bring their costumes in early for me to preview

That's it for now!
Love, Kim

What's Going On?

Dear Families,

Life in our classroom is moving along and when I think about the biggest issue right now it comes down to classroom behavior. Many of my current students are observing the quiet signal and many are not. This is making it difficult for me to finish assessments in order to form groups and be the best teacher I can be for your children. Your children know if they are being appropriate. Please take a moment to discuss with them the following:
1. The quiet signal means quiet. There are no exceptions.
2. Getting up randomly in the middle of a lesson is not "OK"! Students must ask for permission to interupt a lesson to go to the bathroom, sharpen pencils, get a drink, or a snack. Wandering off just because they feel like it is not accepted.
3. When I ask for silent reading, it must happen right away without question or arguing.
4. Bathroom breaks are given before we meet for Morning Meeting, at "Break", at Lunch, or in the case of an emergency. Some students are still not adhering to this schedule. I need your help.
5. Going down to Donna's for anything but an emergency will not be granted.

Unfortunately these disruptions are interferring with the flow of lessons. I want all of your children to benefit from being in an organized, learning-filled classroom.

The other item I must bring to your attention are math skills. If your child is still having trouble adding or subtracting either single digit or double digits with regrouping, please be prepared to work with them at home. I want all students to benefit from math education this year and I am finding that some of these basic skills are lacking. Please understand that I will be working with your children at their level no matter what, but your supplementation at home will help.

This is a difficult BLOG for me to write as I would like to say that all is just perfectly fine, but it isn't. I need your teamwork to help students know that interrupting lessons to the point that
I am unable to keep teaching is not "OK" and that they must get some of the basic math skills "under their belt".

I appreciate your support.

Kim