August 26, 2014

Parents,

It was so nice to meet with those who attended Parent Night.  Thank you for coming even though talking was a challenge!   I am SO thankful to have my voice back and appreciate all of the sweet wishes from many of you. As I mentioned, we have a very sweet class.  It is my hope that we can always work to the fullest so your children can not only grow academically, but socially and emotionally as well. We are going to have a wonderful year together in 4^th grade and I appreciate all support you are able to offer!!!  I will have a lot of information in this Newsletter.  Please let me know if I have left something out!  Looking forward to a forward to a fantastic year!

**HCS username and password**--Please help your child memorize their username and password by this Friday.  These will remain with your child until their senior year if they remain in the HCS system.  They will use it every time they log in to the computer system, Google, and other sites.  These are in their binders under the Imp section of the binder.

**Spelling City**--Should be underway! Let me know if you have questions.

**Reading Rewards**--Also underway.  Each night Monday through Thursday students will be expected to read for at least 20 minutes log and comment on the site.  I would love for them to read Friday through Sunday, however I will not expect them to report to me.  I will only check the site.  A math sheet will be coming home each Monday and will be turned in to me on Friday and usually it will have pages from our workbook stapled to it.  Students are definitely encouraged to solve the work on their own and then have a parent or grown up check for accuracy.  We rotate weeks: Language (parts of speech) and Vocabulary one week, and Spelling and DOL the next week.  Never will students be tested in Vocabulary and Spelling or DOL and Language in the same week. Spelling City will be due every Friday, and flash cards and sentences will be due on vocabulary weeks.  Please continue to sign the agenda EVERY night.

**Hoover Public Library Summer Reading Program**--(From Mrs. Jolee Owens, SSC Librarian)  “If any of our students participated in the HPL Summer Reading program, have them bring their reading log or certificate to get a special treat from the library.  They have all next week to turn in their forms and then they will receive a “coupon” for a treat from the lunchroom. I will begin giving “coupons” after Labor Day.”

**Graded Papers**-The first set of graded papers will come home this Wednesday inside the yellow SSC Wednesday Folder.  Please look over and initial EACH graded paper with your child and allow them time to make corrections IN PEN.  There will also be a parent signature form that you can then initial letting me know you both have had time to work together on this.  I would like to have these returned by Thursday, however if you need an extra day then just jot a note in the agenda, or send me an email letting me know. If you write notes besides in the comment section, make sure it is on the first graded paper because I do not flip back through them.

**Book Orders**
A separate email went out about Scholastic.

**Box Tops/Campbell’s Food Labels**
We will be collecting Box Tops throughout the year.  PLEASE send in any Box Tops you find in your child’s backpack.  Box Tops = Free dollars for SSC!!! The following comes from Dr. Scholl:  There are a couple of contests through Box Tops and Campbell's labels that we can be entering daily.  Below are the links to each.
For box tops…5 entries per day for 5000 extra boxtops.  15 are chosen weekly. https://generalmills.promo.eprize.com/savetheboxtops/
For Campbell's labels - 1000 schools win $1000.
http://sweeps.labelsforeducation.com/?CID=GS1431

**School Closed for Labor Day**-September 1st

**Fall Picture Day** -- Next Tuesday, September 4^th J

**Change for Change**-September 15-19-More information to come

**PTO/Open House-Next Tuesday, September 16^th from 6:00-7:30 PM

**Upcoming Field Trip**--It is our plan to go on our first field trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Thursday, September 11^th.  More information will be coming in the next couple of days as the paperwork is approved, but I wanted to give you a heads up in the meantime.  I will be allowed to take 5 chaperones on this field trip.  Please sign up here if you are interested. If the sign up is full, send me an email by this Friday and I will draw names, or you can wait until our next field trip to the aquarium.


**Ice Bucket Challenge**--From Dr. Scholl: Ice Bucket Challenge- IMPORTANT FYI:
This was sent to me from one of the other Hoover Schools and we may have some of this here too. Be aware!
I just wanted to bring to your attention some potentially dangerous stunts the kids are currently talking about at school and on the bus.  I think with all the ice bucket challenges going around, it has re-ignited some older and unsafe challenges.  I caught him trying these at home and researched them; the cinnamon challenge and the ice/salt challenge.  You may already be aware of these, but I thought it might be a good time to let parents know and talk to their children.
The poison control center has posted warnings about the cinnamon challenge.  The ice and salt challenge can cause serious frost-bite type burns to the skin.  I have included an article about the cinnamon challenge.  This one is can be very dangerous, especially to people with asthma.  The cinnamon causes a gag reflex and can cause accidental inhalation of the powder into the lungs. The cinnamon oil is caustic and does not break down, remaining in the lungs and causing permanent lung damage. Some teens have been put on ventilators after trying this stunt.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/consequences-of-the-cinnamon-challenge/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

**THANK YOU


In the classroom we are focusing on the following:

READING:
Establishing Reading Workshop, D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything And Read), How to effectively select a book that is “Just Right”, and discussing ways that Reading is Thinking.  We are Book Buddies with Mrs. Lessman's class and look forward to reading with them each Friday afternoon.  We love our Book Buddies! I will take a daily status check of each student’s reading to help instruction and growth.  Our Read Aloud books so far have included  Thank you, Mr. Faulker, The Hundred Dresses, and Out of My Mind.  We have shared rich conversations and discussed the need to predict, connect, infer, question, and reread while reading.

MATH:
In Math, we began the year with data collection and graphing.  We have collected data in a variety of ways, compared the data, and graphed the data.  We will continue to collect data throughout the year by interviewing each other to collect, compare, and graph data regarding topics we are interested in that incorporate numerical analysis.  I expect students to practice their multiplication facts on a daily basis.  By November students are expected to be fluent through 12X12.  The sooner your child has all math facts memorized, the quicker they will be able to apply future lessons.  It is very difficult and time consuming when students are spending time computing problems they should have memorized.  Please work with them EVERY DAY on their math facts, by calling out different problems while in the car, while making dinner, while waiting for an appointment, or at any other time you have available.  Multiplication.com is a good website students can use to practice at home as well. We will have a computation quiz each Friday .

THEME:
We have been working on Building the Classroom Community through a variety of Get to Know You games and activities.  We also began our Science unit on Space and Flight. Yesterday, students brought home a Moon Chart.  They are to observe the moon each night and quickly draw what they see.  Over time, they will begin to see the phases of the moon appear.  This week they will begin studying the planets. Today the kids were assigned a planet to research and make a pamphlet on, directions for this will come home tomorrow and be due a week from this Friday. We are also discussing meteorites, famous contributors to our Space history, and as we wrap up our unit on Space, we will have a more in depth look on the moon and its influence and relationship to our beautiful planet Earth.

WRITING:
Establishing Writing Workshop--   Students have been webbing and sketching favorite memories and making lists of future writing topics.  We have discussed The Writing Process and all steps that are a part of publishing any piece of writing.  There are 5 steps in the Writing Process: Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Proofreading, and Publishing.  We will begin our DOL (Daily Oral Language) in two weeks. Quizzes are normally given each Friday.  Students are welcome to take home their DOL folders or English books home to study, however, if they are listening in class, they should not have to!! We will be tested at the end of every other week.  When we are not working on DOL we will be working on Language (nouns, verbs, sentences, etc.) Here is some great online practice for Grammar also: http://tconstantine.wikispaces.com/English


SPELLING/VOCABULARY
Spelling and Vocabulary will rotate every other week.  Students will be working on developing sentences, creating flashcards, alphabetical order, etc., as well as spellingcity.com in order to help review before our Friday quiz.

TECHNOLOGY:     Google Docs!!! (Typing; Font size, color, background, bold, underline, style; saving; Printing; Creating a folder); Each week we go to the computer lab.  We began the year with reviewing what we already knew about correct placement of our hands on the keys when typing, continued with technology vocabulary.  Once we get the Chrome Books, we will discuss technology and use technology much more.  In the meantime we will utilize the computer lab as much as possible, here is a link if you want to peek at what we do in there!

I want to thank you ALL for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read/respond to this newsletter as well as future e-news I send out. I know this is a lot of information, and as the year progresses our routines will require less words.  I hope I answered some things I was not able to say at Parent Night and looking forward to this year a huge success for your child.  Thank you so much to those who have already sent in contributions, and to those who have already volunteered their time. If you are looking for ways to help our class, please visit our volunteer page. Have a great week!!

All my best!

P.S. Aniya's grandmother passed away recently, please send prayers and/or positive thoughts!

First Week

Welcome Parents!

The kids and I had a great start to school! Thank you so much for having them so prepared in every way. We have a great group of kids in our class. I'm sure they told you that I lost my voice at the end of the first day so it was interesting teaching a new group of kids on day 2 but they were wonderful. For most of the day, they whispered back to me. It was so cute! Thursday and Friday we spent reviewing school and class rules, learning about our classroom, and getting to know each other. We will dive right in learning about space in science.  In math we will begin by making sure we have all of our multiplication facts 0-12 fluent and memorized! In addition to that, we will review computation skills and begin a unit on data and analysis. As writers we will begin collecting ideas for stories  We will also begin to write personal narratives and study how to “zoom in” on the most important parts so it will sound like a story and not just a retelling. We read and enjoyed lots of picture books the first week of school, like, First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg and we read The Kissing Hand by Audry Penn,with our book buddies. Now, we are about to begin our first read aloud, The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes . As we discuss the book, it will encourage us to empathize with others and to treat them how we would like to be treated. We will also begin by talking about mental images and making connections to our reading in order to better understand our books.

I hope you have had a chance to look through your child's H.E.R.O Binder, if not, please take the opportunity tonight. Behind the important info tab will be things that need to stay in the binder all year like: our class directory, usernames and passwords for sites we use and H.E.R.O book rules. Please sign the "agenda" each night where your child writes homework. Our homework, will also be posted on our Homework Blog. This site also has links to other sites we use. We are starting out only doing spelling online, if your child does not have access form home, please see this link for the paper homework your child can do for spelling instead instead.

Anna Emaldi, Patrick Eaton's mom, has volunteered to be our room mom! Everyone please give her a big hug Parent Night! I am very excited to see all of the parents that will be able to help this year and give Anna lots of support!

I'm looking forward to seeing you all Thursday, August 14th at 6 p.m. for our parent meeting. Please bring your smart phone, tablet, or good old fashioned pen and paper.

If you have not completed the Technology Access Form, please do so as soon as possible.

If you approved the tech documentation at registration, your child may bring his or her personal device to school starting this week. Please echo my discussion with your children that when they bring it to school, school rules apply to sites they can go on, times they can use devices, etc. Also, remind your child that when not in use, they should be in desks, and go from desks to backpacks at pack up time so we don't lose them.

Have a great week!

Have a wonderful summer!!

I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give him back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than he was then.

Although he would have attained this growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.

I give him back reluctantly, for having spent many months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we will always retain a little of each other.

We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year.

But give him back I must.

Love,

Mrs. C.

The End is Near!

We will be bringing home a little each day from today until the last day. Please help the kids remember to clean out back packs every night!!

Also, a reminder to send in a self addressed stamped envelope for report cards, if your child will not be here the last day.
Field day-wear sunscreen, bring a hat, water bottle, and sunglasses

Next week:
Bring a book from home each day, our classroom books will be packed up and the library is closed.
Monday-Finish up ABC Books, Memory Books, letters of advice to 3rd graders
Tuesday-Read-a-thon You can wear pajamas
Wednesday-Class Party 1-2:30
Thursday dismissal at 12:45-Board game day
Friday-Dismissal at 11-Clean up day have a book from home.

From the Dolphin Echo:

Testing is over and the 4th graders did a wonderful job piloting the computer based program. It’s hard to believe our kids are nearing the end of their days in elementary school. 4th graders will be ending the year with a study of Motion and Design in science and a Geometry unit in math. May 16th the students will have a celebration walk down the halls of their school as the children in all of the other grade levels line the walls and cheer for us “Moving on Up to be a Buc”! This will be the kick off for our school’s Field Day. Our end of the year class party will be May 21st, so please contact your room parent if you can help. Look for information to come home about summer programs and reading lists, it is so important for the kids to keep enjoying books over the summer. Have a wonderful vacation and thank you for sharing your children with us.

Have a great weekend!

A Few Reminders

**  Hope you are having a great week! (Your kids did a great job at Brock’s Gap today.  Hope you are able to make the parent meeting tonight in the Brock’s Gap lunchroom at 6:00.)

**Please be sure to return the green Family Fun Fair transportation form by tomorrow if you haven’t already.

**I am still hoping to get 2 more chaperones for our field trip to Ruffner Mountain for next week.  If you are able to join us next Thursday from 8:00-2:00 please let me know.  (We will be hiking.)

**Thank you so much to all who have signed up to help with the Family Fun Fair next Friday.  It is an awesome event!!!

**Important Dates

April 17^th: 2014-2015 Kindergarten Enrollment from 4-6 pm

April 25^th: Family Fun Fair 3-8pm

April 28^th-April 30^th: ACT Aspire Testing (3^rd and 4^th only)

May 15^th: Kindergarten Kick-Off from 4:30-5:30 pm

 Go ahead and mark your calendar:

• On-site School registration- July 29, 3:30-6:30- (You will get carpool numbers, pay school fees, get your teachers name…)
• make up on-site registration August 1 & 4, 7-9am- (there will be limited staff available, so come prepared for a possible wait)
• Meet the Teacher-  August 5-  last name A-L 8-9am, last name M-Z 9-10am
• School Starts- August 7

• Parent Nights:
• Kindergarten- August 5 6-7pm
• 1^st Grade- August 12 6-7pm
• 2^nd grade-August 19 6-7pm
• 3^rd grade- August 21 6-7pm
• 4^th grade- August 14 6-7pm

**Spring State Testing for 3^rd and 4^th grade is starting soon.

Grade 3 (Paper and Pencil Administration)

Monday, 4/28  7:50 - 9:15 (Reading)

Tuesday, 4/29  7:50 – 9:15 (Math)

Wednesday, 4/30  7:45- 8:45 (English)

Grade 4 Computerized Administration

Hutchison - Monday, 4/28 7:50 - 9:30 (Reading); Tuesday, 4/29 11:00 – 12:30 (Math)

Crowley - Monday, 4/28 9: 30 – 11:00 (Reading); Thursday, 5/1  7:50 – 9:30 (Math)

Constantine - Monday, 4/28 11:00 – 12:30 (Reading); Thursday, 5/1 9:30 – 11:00 (Math)

McCune - Tuesday, 4/29 7:50 – 9:30 (Reading); Thursday, 5/1 11:00 – 12:30 (Math)

Tindal - Tuesday, 4/29 9:30 – 11:00 (Reading); Friday, 5/2 8:00 - 9:30 (Math)

**All 4^th Grade students will take English section with paper and pencil on April 30^th from 7:50 - 8:30.

March 20

Thank you so much for attending the Wax Museum.  I am so proud of our students and their demonstration of what they have learned about American History.  They could not have done it without you, so thank you! Portraits will be coming home soon, hang it in your living room and I hope you will enjoy your virtual video for years to come!

Report cards went home Wednesday.  Don’t forget to visit The Whole Scoop for a free ice cream cone for straight A’s.  Krispy Kreme offers a free donut for the A/B Honor roll.  Finally, the Credit Union behind Krispy Kreme offers $5.00 every 9 weeks a student shows them their A or A/B honor roll report card. If you did not make a copy and need one, let me know, and I'll be glad to email you a copy.

This FRIDAY is the deadline for parent letters to be submitted to Dr. Scholl, if you would like to let her know of special circumstances regarding teacher placement for next year for your child.  Parents are not able to hand select certain teachers, however they can let Dr. Scholl know of personality traits and teaching styles that your child works best with.  These letters can be hand delivered or emailed directly to her.

Spring Break is next week.  Schools will be closed March 24-28th.  Enjoy time with your families!! If you are planning on staying around town, here are some things going on at the Hoover Library.

The Monday we return from Spring Break, March 31, we will be going on our field trip to the American Village.  Please remember to send your child to school in their SSC shirt.  Students can bring a lunch from home in a disposable bag.  Students can bring no more than $20 cash for our gift shop. Thank you to our chaperones coming to help!  Chaperones will need to be at the school no later than 8:00 and wait for us in the lobby downstairs.

We will be going on a field trip to Brock’s Gap on April 15^th.  In the past when we have had this field trip, Brock’s Gap has had a parent meeting that night at the school to go over everything that was discussed with the kids.  Once I get confirmation of this meeting I will let you know, but I wanted you to have a heads up so you can pencil it into your calendars.

Please continue to save Box Tops, ink cartridges, old cell phones, and Tyson chicken labels to help earn money for the school.  Your child can bring them to SSC any school day and I will make sure they get to where they need to be.

Kindergarten registration is April 17^th from 4-6 for those with a new kindergartener.

April 25^th is the Family Fun Fair.  Mark this date in your calendars!!  (more information to come home later)

April 28-30—ACT Aspire testing—please make sure your child is here every morning for this.  There will not be any check ins/outs during the testing hours.  Please make sure there are not any appointments scheduled during this time.

Thank you so much for working so diligently to make this a wonderful 4^th grade year!

March 7

Social Studies-On March 12th from 10:30-12:00, we will be culminating our American History study with a Wax Museum both live and virtual!  When you arrive, there will be directions explaining how to see our virtual museum. For our live museum, we will line the upstairs halls in our costumes, and share what we have learned of famous individuals who have contributed to America as it is today.  We have learned about our ancestors who fought for America’s Independence from Great Britain through reading, writing, and technological research.  We have researched about individuals such as George & Martha Washington, John & Abigail Adams, Sacagawea, and Thomas Jefferson.  We have made a time line regarding some of the most famous events in American History such as the writing of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, The Boston Tea Party, and the Revolutionary War.  We memorized the Preamble and are excited to share this with our friends at American Village, when we go on our field trip on March 31st. 

Math- We are increasing our knowledge and understanding of fractions in math, and continuing to develop our computational skills with larger numbers with multiplication, division, addition of subtraction. We are reminding ourselves to make sure the solution “makes sense” when we solve problems.  

Reading- We also are enjoying reading books daily that are developmentally appropriate, and that inspire us to think.  We are applying comprehension strategies such as making connections, predicting, inferring, and analyzing a story, which makes the stories more enjoyable and applicable to our lives.

Writing-After our Arbor Day contest, our writing has been linked to our unit in Social Studies with writing the Preamble in kids words, writing our wax museum speech, describing how a bill becomes a law, and publishing a class power point where we each explained one of the amendments of the constitution.

Check our class calendar if you are unsure of any of the upcoming events and don't hesitate to email if you have any questions:

We are looking forward to seeing everyone next week for our wax museum. Grandparents and friends are welcome, feel free to stay and eat lunch with us after the museum.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to "spring forward".