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| This free picture slideshow made with Smilebox |
Today, coming home with your child is the conference request sheet. The sheet says they are due back next Monday, but Mr. English would like them back by this Wednesday instead. Those that do, will earn $50. We will be scheduling them the following week and another slip will come home stating the day and time of your conferences. If you have multiple children here, we try very hard to have back to back conferences for you. It is important that you fill out a first AND second choice that you are available. I will also be gone for part of a day to attend my own children's conferences at another school. Gotta love scheduling...yeehaw!
Also coming home today, is the information/permission form for Red Ribbon Week. Please read through it and then fill out the back page to return to school. Hang the informational part on your fridge, but please have your child return the back page to me tomorrow. Those that do, will earn $50. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to call, text, or write anytime.
Today in class, we talked about the difference between mean and strict. There have been accusations made that I am a mean teacher. All weekend, I reflected on this statement. I don't feel that I am mean to kids, but obviously some do. I am going to continue to reflect on this and try different things to help those feelings go away. I have taken this statement very hard and very serious. I have always thought of myself as strict. I hold children accountable to the T, but I also model grace and forgiveness. I am a huge believer in every day is a new day, and say it often in class. I know that I can come across as gruff and not listen to excuses, and I am putting plans in place to correct that way of thinking. In emails, texts, or blog posts I am usually typing in a hurry and just want to get the facts delivered to you. I apologize if I ever sound demeaning or like I am telling you how to parent your child. I am talking in general statements, and never mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I want your child to come to school and feel safe to be the best thems they can be!!! If you or your child have had or are having any issues with this topic, please, please schedule a meeting for us to sit down and talk through it. I don't want anyone (parent or student) to feel that I don't enjoy them or like them and would like to solve these issues as soon as possible. If you want to write a nice note too, that is always welcome and fun to read. :0)
Today in class, we also had a fun guest. Mrs. Grewell (my future mother in law) came and taught the class some very fun water cycle plays. We had a blast as you can see. Mrs. Grewell used to teach the gifted and talented program in Laurel. She recently retired and is loving coming into her grandkids classes and now mine. :0) A HUGE thank you to her!!!! It was kinda weird to hear the kids say Mrs. Grewell, knowing that this time next year that will be my name! :0)
Tomorrow is our field trip to the NILE. Due to the fact that the lunchroom is not up and running until 11:15, and that is the time we get on the bus to leave, kids MUST bring a sack lunch tomorrow from home. Please remind them. We will have to eat in our classrooms before we go. As always, they may NOT bring soda in their lunch. Thanks. Kids also need to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Think layers. If we get hot, we can always shed clothing. Thanks. PS-You signed the permission slip a long time ago! I have everyone's! :0)
Lots and lots of papers were passed back today. Make sure your child is bringing them home for you to see. I always tell them that parents are there to help. If they see that kids don't do well on something, they can go over it again at home.
I have posted some other pictures in the slideshow above along with Mrs. Grewell's plays. You can see that more and more people are finding those Fallen Rock signs. Awesome!!! Keep looking, they are everywhere...even in Cody, Wyoming...right Natalie?????? WooHoo! There are also the pictures of Mr. Ashcraft's visit last Friday. He is back from Spain!!!!! It was pretty cool to listen to his adventure and see more pictures. He even brought us back some chocolate from Spain. Yum! We will miss following him each day of facebook, but we are glad he is back on US soil!
Homework tonight and for the next few nights is science. Students will be writing a story step by step, piece by piece. Today in class, we wrote an example of the introductory paragraph. They all copied it down in their science notebooks. Now, tonight they need to write THEIR introductory paragraph about THEIR raindrop. The raindrop will eventually go through all the stages of the water cycle, but tonight they are just introducing it to us. All stories should start out with Once upon a time...After they write it, they need to bring it to you to make grammar and spelling corrections. They will eventually write a final draft, so they need to have your help editing it as they go. It is also important that they don't rip out their stories from their science notebooks. Each day, we will write an example paragraph and then they will bring home theirs to write. I also sent home the actual raindrops today. At home, they need to transform their raindrop into a character (preferably the one in their story). They can be as creative as they want. My only rule is it has to hang on the wall in the hall and can't be too heavy. They sky is the limit on the creativity!!! Have fun with this. The characters will not be due until next week sometime and they should stay at home until I ask for them. We want them all to be a secret surprise!!!! Fun!
Lastly, today in CC meeting, Rusty posed the question...How do you keep track of your homework? We made a poster describing what a 4th grade planner should look like. Please look at the poster again above with your child and discuss it. These are my expectations of a 4th grader when it comes to filling our a planner and using it correctly. If you do do this, please write the word PLANNER in the planner for $20. If your child can tell you the answer to Rusty's question then write that in the planner as well, for another $20 bonus.
Have a wonderful evening, and again it is good to be back online with all of you again!!!
Ms. Erickson
