ThAnK yOu!!!

Wow! Words cannot express how thankful I am for such a wonderful, giving group of students and parents! We collected THREE Priority Mail boxes for our troops and a great crate full of items for our nursing home buddy, Jim.

The profits from our popcorn sales over the next couple weeks will be going towards shipping the boxes for our troops.  

For our troops we collected a variety: magazines, puzzles, cards, dice games, wipes, candy, snacks, pencils, pens, notebooks....it is AMAZING! We also made some Christmas cards to put in the box! 

For Jim: We collected a crate full of items: Colts neck pillow, Colts hat, sugar free candy...wonderful! We also collected about $20 to spend our nursing home buddy. We also usually send a gift basket around Easter time. Since we had such a great collection of things for our Christmas basket, I plan on saving the $20 and spending it on his Easter basket. That is more than enough to spend on the Easter basket and we won't have to have another collection when that time comes.

Thank you all again for your generous donations! What a great example for your children during this Christmas season!!

Also....Each year I like to collect your old Christmas cards. Before you throw them away, please cut off the front and send them to school with your child! These make great cards for our troops and for our nursing home buddies each year! Thank you!!

Collection Week

We are collecting items for our troops and nursing home buddy this week!

Item ideas for Jim:

Colts gear, Diet Pepsi, action movies, and sugar free candy. I am also collecting monetary donations to shop for items for Jim.

Items for our troops:

pens, pencils, notebooks, snacks (no chocolate), baby wipes, and Jolly Ranchers.

Items for Nursing Home Buddy

Our nursing home buddy is Jim. He loves the Indianapolis Colts and action movies. He appreciates personal items such as sugar free candy and Diet Pepsi. I will also be collecting money if you would rather contribute that way. In the past, I have collected money and then gone shopping and have been able to get him Colts tshirt or something fun. Thank you for all your help!!

December

December is almost here and it always flies by! I wanted to give you a little heads up and info about what is going on next month:

1. Research. During our reading workshop we are doing animal research. We are note taking and reading a variety of sources. Your child may be reading these books at home and may do Internet research as well. We will be using this research to write research reports in January.
2. Christmas Party. The date for this party is December 18th and will start at 2:15 (I believe). PTO sent papers home if you are able to help at the party or would be willing to donate items for the party. Please let me know if you did not get a paper and are willing to do one of the above.
3. Christmas. In the past we have not done a Christmas exchange. I like to focus on the giving and not the getting. This year will be the same. We will be doing some sort of service project. Currently we are looking into collecting items, making cards, poems, etc. for our troops in the military (we have a few teachers who have sons in the military and could make this happen). They are compiling a list of needed items. I will get this list to you as soon as possible!
4. Nursing Home Buddy. We will be sending a gift basket to our buddy. He loves the Colts. I will also collect money to do the shopping....so if you are willing to donate a few dollars to help out, that would be great as well.
5. Open House. Third grade open house will be Friday, December 14th from 2:30-3:15 pm. It will be very similar to the student led conferences you participated in first quarter....except a lot less formal as there will be several people in the classroom. You may take your child home after the open house, but you are unable to pull siblings from their classrooms early. You may wait at the car rider location for siblings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everything had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!! Here are some pictures of our turkey activity the day before Thanksgiving!

Update!

Wow, this month is flying! I cannot believe that next week is Thanksgiving! I will soon have to change the background, as we had our first snow yesterday!! Just a few notes:

• Book orders went home and are due this Friday. If you want them to be Christmas gifts, please let me know. I will contact you when the orders are in and you can pick them up in the office.
• I have updated Acuity with new practice tutorials based on what they missed in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 pretest. You and your child can access these online at www.acuityathome.com
• Only three days of school next week!

Election Day 2012

Today in school we had the chance to vote. Third grade will be raising money for Young Author's Day. We will either be selling cookies, bracelets, or popcorn. We had to make posters and write campaign speeches persuading others to vote. We also had to register to vote: we needed to know our birthday and address in order to vote. We then gave our speeches and casted our vote when we visited the voting booth. We placed our ballots in the box and will find out the results tomorrow.

We also learned a lot about past Presidents and elections. We learned where they came from, how old they were, how tall they were, favorite foods, sports, things, and much more.

We got to watch two short election videos. One was "So You Want to be President?" and the other was a music video created by students at the Ron Clark Academy. They encouraged people to vote "Any Way They Want" and presented facts for both Obama and Romney. They wrote their own lyrics and sang and danced on the video. It was fun to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hqme4X1b7E&safe=active

Acuity At Home

Throughout the year students take an online test called Acuity. This "test" is used to help guide our instruction. We give them a pretest at the beginning of the quarter. Based on those results I can tell which standards I need to spend more time on and which ones the class has pretty well mastered. I also use those results to assign each student individulized practice based on the problems they missed. For example, if a student missed an elapsed time problem, then I can assign them a practice tutorial/game on Acuity using that skill. Then they take a post-test at the end of the quarter. Again, I use those results to assign further practice.

They can do those practice sessions here at school (I schedule the lab.) AND they can do them at home. Some of you have asked about homework and/or extra things you can do at home....this is it! Your child will log in just like they do at school. The lessons assigned to your child are based on the problems they missed.....so these are the standards and skills they need to practice. I do ask that your child make a list of the lessons he/she completes at home along with their score. (They get six practice problems at the end of the lesson.) I have just updated all of their assignments in Language Arts and Math. Please let me know if you have any further questions! We will be taking Quarter 2 pretests soon, so I will be update with those practice lessons as well!

The website is: www.acuityathome.com

Fall Break!

A reminder that we have no school this Thursday or Friday! Enjoy your fall break!

Also, a reminder that we have student led conferences going on tonight and tomorrow morning. Please call the office or me if you are unsure of your conference time!

Thank you for all the pumpkin donations for pumpkin day! We just have a few more to collect and we will be set! If you are available to pop and bag popcorn on October 31st, please let me know. We need help from about 1:00-2:00 pm.

Thanks!

Pumpkin Day

Third grade will be having a pumpkin day on October 31st. We will need:

*pumpkins (not the baby ones - but not huge ones....mid size)

*Parent Volunteers from 1:00-2:00ish pm to pop and bag popcorn in the teachers' lounge.

Please let mek now if you are able to donate a pumpkin or your time! Thank you!!

Able to Help Out??

We have several activites and events coming up within the next two weeks. Please read below. If you are able to donate anything we need below PLEASE let me know asap!! Thank you for all your help!!

We will be doing a class science fair project NEXT WEEK. We will need:

*1 quart jars w/ lids (12 of them)

*Heavy whipping cream (6 cups)

Third grade will be having a pumpkin day on October 31st. We will need:

*pumpkins (not the baby ones - but not huge ones....mid size)

*Parent Volunteers from 1:00-2:00ish pm to pop and bag popcorn in the teachers' lounge.

Thank you!!

Mid-October

October is flying by. If your child did not tell you, I was sick last week....a  lot. I missed most of the week with the stomach flu....which I believe is going around the school so make sure your child gets plenty of rest, fluids, and hand washing!

First I want to thank those of you who have have donated items off our wish list! The AA batteries have helped keep my flashlights running for flashlight Friday....which they love. Thank you also for the congratulations. I told the class last week, that Brian and I are expecting another baby. Hopefully next April, we will have a healthy baby girl or boy!

Just a reminder that next week is Fall Break. There will be NO SCHOOL for the students next Thursday and Friday (the 25th and 26th). Conferences will be held Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. I sent home conference confirmations today with your child, so please check their assignment book.

What's Going On?

Well....A LOT has been going on! We have been busy here at school! The field trip was a great success! The rain held off, and the kids have talked about it all week. The Forks of the Wabash does an excellent job of teaching children about the history of our area. Thank you to all the chaperones who were able to attend! And if you weren't able to attend this time, you will have other chances throughout the year.

This week we have had to do some seat rearranging. The amount of chatter has gotten a bit out of control. It isn't that it is horribly loud or disrespectful, it is just that they are talking instead of getting their work done! Hopefully the new seats will help with that problem :)

A purple sheet went home this week about conferences. We hold student-led conferences. If you did not get this purple sheet, please check your child's book bag. They need to be returned by next Friday so I can work on confirming a schedule.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Great Week!

We had a great week this week! We got a lot done and the kids were great! Thank you all for sending in your field trip money!! I will be organizing groups next week. Just a reminder, our field trip is Wednesday, October 3rd. We will go rain or shine!

Also, they are asking that all Entertainment books be returned ASAP. Our class has just a few of them out still!

We have Flashlight Fridays. The kids to get read in the dark with their flashlight. Thanks to the PTO, I was able to purchase some flashlights from Wal-Mart for those kids who forget one. However, I will need batteries to keep these running! If you have AA batteries at home, we could use them!!

Thanks!

Reminders

• Please return the Entertainment books when you are done selling or if you have chosen not to participate!
• Field trip money is due Friday ($4.00). If you need help paying for this, please let me know.
• Book order forms (coming home today) are due Friday. You may order online or I can place the order for you.
• We have Flashlight Fridays during reading time. Remind your child to grab a flashlight Thursday night!

Football Fans

My daughters

Football season is here, and we have quite a variety of fans in here!! This weekend was a great football weekend for my teams: Chicago Bears and Notre Dame!! It has made for some fun conversations in our class :)

Delay Day!

We went straight from a three day weekend to a two hour delay this morning! The first delay of the year is always a bit crazy, but I have to say that the kids did great! Everyone was still a bit tired and slow from the long weekend :) Not too much going on this week. We definitely have been working on our routine and expectations. Writing workshop is beginning to take shape, as the kids are improving their writing stamina. Encourage your child to write every chance they get!! Reading workshop is also beginning to take shape as the kids begin taking on more responsibility as I begin to work with students one on one and in small groups! It is exciting to see this happen!! Word study is also beginning to take shape as they are learning all the different activities and the expectations of each. Their brains have been busy!!

No School Monday!

Just a reminder that Monday is Labor Day so school WILL NOT be in session! Enjoy the three day weekend :)

First Week

Wow, this year has gotten off to a great start! I can't believe we are almost through our first full week already! The kids have been adjusting to a new classroom really well. It always takes awhile to get used to a new classroom, new procedures, new classmates, and a new teacher! It is a big adjustment!!

Reminders:
Picture Day will be next Wednesday, August 29th.
Book orders are due tomorrow!

Uh Oh!

We have been learning a lot this week already....especially about our brain and how we learn! And wow, these kids are amazing! Such a fun group already! In talking about the brain, we talked about how big it was and how much information it holds. BUT I think I may have made a mistake and said it was the heaviest organ in the body...that night as I lay in bed I couldn't remember if we had discussed that or not. So I though I would refer to Google and check it out! I/we were wrong and can't wait to tell them I learned something new: the liver is actually the heaviest organ in our body! Should
make for great discussion on Monday!!

Electronic Devices

The policy has changed a little bit on electronic devices. Cell phones are not permitted to be on during school hours. If you child, carries a cell phone for before or after school purposes, it is to remain in their book bag all day.

In the past, we have not allowed students to bring Nooks, Kindles, or iPads. In today's society, several students have these devices and use them on daily basis as they have their books on them. Your child is permitted to bring these devices to school to use for educational purposes: research and reading. If they choose to bring them, it is at your own risk. The school is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen items. Please be sure to read this section of the handbook before sending a device in with your child.

New to the Blog!

I just added some new things on my blog! First of all, I added several things to my wishlist on the right hand side. Please keep your eyes open for these things! If you are able and willing, I would love any donations off this list to use in our classroom!!

Secondly, I updated the "Books" section on the left hand side. I added the Tumblebooks link. It is a GREAT place to go and have your child(ren) listen to books being read. It is a free resource free the Wells County Public Library.

Some of My Family

Our summer is off to a busy start! We spent Memorial Day weekend down in Indy at my sister's house. Below are my two girls....3 years old and 10 months old.

This is a picture from earlier this spring. It is my daughter, Stella (with the hat on), with three of her cousins...Millie (brown curly hair), Caden (tongue out), and Eli (big grin).

And this is one more picture from this weekend.....it was HOT. We spent most of the time in the pool, but they also loved taking breaks in the shade :)

Good-bye and Hello!!

I have had a great year and will miss seeing everyone!! Have a great summer!!

Welcome! Friday is Meet Your New Teacher Day! I am eager to welcome any new parents (and students) as they may check out this blog! I try to update it here and there throughout the summer with some pictures of my family and I...but sometimes I get too busy! I am sure this summer will fly by and before we know it, we will be seeing each other this August! As I learn new important upcoming events I will be sure to update that section on the right hand side. If you have any questions, be sure to email me as I will be checking that throughout the summer as well!!

Last Week of School!!

This is it. The last week of school. I can't believe it is here already! I have LOVED this year and this class. This class has such a great combination of personilities. We have really had a lot of fun throughout the year. I am sad to see them go.

We have Field Day tomorrow (be sure to dress appropriately, wear SPF, and bring a water bottle), Talent Show on Thursday, and Meet Your Teacher Day on Friday.

Report cards will be coming home this week as well. Attached to the report cards will be: your ISTEP login to check your child's scores online, 2012-2013 NWCS Calendar,  and 4th grade supply list. Please be sure to get this out of your child's bookbag!!

End of the Year

The end of the year is rapidly approaching and there is A LOT going on!! Be sure to check out the upcoming events along the right hand side.

Mr. McClure is in need of volunteers for Field Day on Wednesday, May 23rd. You can sign up to help in the AM, PM, both, or just volunteer to walk the track with grade levels. If you no longer have the sign up form, please just call or email me and I will let him know you are available.

PTO is also in need of volunteers for the Bear Crawl Walk-a-thon on Wednesday, May 16th. There is a paper going home today if you are available to help.

If you have any questions about the end of year or anything else, please be sure to let me know....the next few weeks will go by quickly!!

Our Young Authors!!

ISTEP

We will be ISTEP testing Monday-Thursday next week. Please make sure your child gets a good night of sleep and a healthy breakfast!! If you are able and willing to donate a healthy snack for these days please let me know so I can plan accordingly. In the past we have granola bars, cheese sticks, pretzels, apples, Cheez Its, Goldfish, graham crackers....anything is fine!

Reminders

Just a reminder that next Tuesday, April 24th is our open house! Please come and check out our new room!! It will be from 1:00-1:30. At this time students will be begin getting ready for the spring program that starts at 2:00 and then again at 7:00 in the evening. If you are coming to the evening program, the students are asked to arrive at the classrooms at 6:45 pm. Hope to see you next Tuesday!!

Author Community Night

Author and songwriter, Jeff Mondak, will be hosting a community night at OES on Thursday, April 19th at 6:30 pm. Teachers will also display Young Author books outside of their classrooms, so families will have the opportunity to browse the school and read some great books! No need to RSVP just bring the family and enjoy! He is a fabulous author. Listen and read some of his work at www.jeffspoemsforkids.com. You will love him!

Lunch Change

Have a great 3 day weekend! Just a note they emailed us after school was over....they are switching the lunches on Monday and Tuesday. I guess it has to do with the long weekend. Thanks!

Back in Session!

Open House Invitation went home tonight on bright green paper. Please be sure to read it and return it by April 13th! Date for the open house will be Tuesday, April 24th from 1:00-1:30 pm.

One For Books! The book fair will be collecting spare change in memory of Xander Powers, beloved son of Zach and Meghann Powers (NWCS teacher) and grandson of Janice Kenline (OES secretary). Xander sadly lost is battle to Spinal Muscular Atrophy in July 2011. There is now a Kate's Kart in his name at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. Simply donate your spare change in the baggie that went home today! Thank you!

No school this Friday, April 6th - Good Friday!

Spring Pictures this Thursday!

Spring Break!!

Everyone have a fun and safe spring break!!

Acuity At Home

I have updated all students' study sessions for Acuity. I have assigned students practice sessions based on the problems they missed on Acuity for language arts and math. It would be excellent practice for your child to log onto Acuity at home and practice these sessions. Parents are encouraged to sit down with your child to help them. They do not need to all be completed in one night. Even just doing one session a night would be very helpful.

www.acuityathome.com

Next Open House Date Set!

Our next 3rd grade Open House will be Tuesday, April 24th from 1:00-1:30 pm. At 1:30 students will head to specials, and then at 2:00 they will participate in the 1st-3rd grade music program in the gym, which parents are invited to attend! (It will also be performed at 7:00 that night.) So by taking one afternoon off work you will be able to attend 2 events for your child! By then, we will (hopefully) be settled into our new classroom that I am sure your child will be eager to show off! Paperwork will be coming home after spring break so I will have an idea of who can attend. Please let me know if you have any questions before then!

OCAS Buddy

We are currently collecting money (I will collect the money and buy items for our buddy) and/or items for our nursing home buddy. This Easter basket will be our last basket of goodies for the year. Thank you for your help throughout the year!!

Exciting News!

All classrooms at OES have been installed with Smart Boards! We are so excited about this incredible technology addition to our classroom!
I was planning on moving to room 17 (in the third grade area) next year. However, since the Smart Boards were a surprise we are moving sooner! They have installed a Smart Board in my new room (17), so we are going to move to that room so we can put it to great use!
We will work to move our room and organize our new classroom on 3/21 and 3/22, the last two days before spring break. We are waiting until all testing is complete (ISTEP, Acuity, and IREAD3) before we make this transition.
When students return to school after spring break, our new home will be Room 17. My new extension will be x5517.

Acuity At Home

Acuity testing begins next week. This test assesses specific standards each quarter. Then teachers use the data from this test to determine which skills need more teaching, to design small group instruction, and to help guide their future instruction.
We visit the lab usually every week to do “Study Sessions” on Acuity. I assign each student specific standards (based on the ones they missed on the test). Then students participate in a mini lesson on the computer, and then they are given six problems. If students miss more than one, then I reassign them the particular standard to redo.

They can also do these study sessions at home. Some students have a large amount of study sessions and others have completed them and may have none. This is excellent practice for test taking along with sharpening skills for the specific standards they struggle with. This is optional.The instructions to log onto Acuity are below. Please let me know if you have any questions.

www.acuityathome.com

Students will see a login screen like they see when they use it at school. They simply login using their username and password they use here at school.

Then they click on “Study” and select either Math or Language Arts. If there are no tests listed, then your child is currently caught up. If there are tests listed, you and your child may work on those lessons.

Again, if you have any questions, please let me know!

Testing!

We have a very busy month of testing ahead of us! Be sure your child gets a good night sleep along with a healthy breakfast! If you would like to donate any healthy snacks for this testing time, please just send them in. Thanks!

Science Fair Volunteers Needed!

Mrs. Tieman is in need of volunteers for the Science Fair on March 1st. If you are able to help out on this day please let me know so I can pass your name along to her! It is a FABULOUS event and the kids really enjoy it!

Spring Pictures....DATE CHANGE

Spring Pictures were scheduled for March 8th. They have been changed to APRIL 5th!!

Upcoming Events!!

1. Valentine’s Party is on Tuesday, February 14th at 2:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend the party! A class list was sent home with each student last week. Valentine’s cards are optional.

2. OCAS Buddy – We are currently collecting items for our OCAS buddy, Jim. He has no diet restrictions. He likes the Colts and enjoys personal items such as games and magazines.

3. Science Fair – We will be working through a class science fair project this week to introduce the kids to the scientific method. The topic is popcorn. So far I have: Boy Scout, Pop Secret, Jolly Time, and Kroger. If you have other name brands at home and are able to send in a bag, it would be very appreciated!!

4. Science Fair – Students will be able to participate in this year’s science fair if they choose to do so. Boards will be on sale in the office. OES science fair will be on March 1st. Sign up forms will go home at the end of the week.

5. Young Authors will be Friday, April 20th. The author will be holding a community night Thursday, April 19th. I have the books in the my classroom. They will be $2.50. We will begin working on this immediately after spring break. Students will do some work here at school, as well as some at home.

6. Random Acts of Kindness Week is next week:
Monday: “Be a Good Sport!” Team Shirt Day
Tuesday: “Be Kind for Valentine’s” Wear Red/Pink Day
Wednesday: “We’re Wild About Kindness!” Wild Hair Day
Thursday: “Hats Off to Showing Kindness!” Wear a Hat Day
Friday: “Show Your Bear Kindness!” Wear OES Shirt Day

Young Author's Day

1. Young Author's Day will be Friday, April 20th. The author is Jeff Mondak. He is an author, musician and a poet. He will do programs designed for the different age groups of our students and even do a community program the night before! The community program will be Thursday, April 19th at 6:30 pm!!


2. We will be creating a book for Young Author's Day. We will start these books immediately after Spring Break. The books are available for purchase from me for $2.50.

Proposed 2012-2013 Calendar

Dr. Mills has submitted a calendar proposal to the School Board for the 2012-2013 school year. You can find the calendar here on the NWCS website. Click on "Corporation Calendar" along the left hand side and you will find a 12-13 DRAFT of the calendar. Dr. Mills is welcoming any feedback regarding the calendar until January 31, 2012.

I Am Back!!

Oh. My. Goodness. What a crazy week! As I am sure many of you have heard, I have been out Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. My family got hit with the stomach flu. Bad. And I got the worse of it. I am happy to say (with my fingers crossed) that my family is beginning to feel better.

Usually when I am gone, I am able to plan ahead and call subs. However, this hit so suddenly, I was unable to call my usual subs. Therefore, the kids had a variety of substitutes. I realize this may have caused confusion, however I have to give a huge compliment to your children. They were EXCELLENT! Every time Mrs. Tieman or Mrs. Wall checked in, she said the class was working at the task at hand. I did not have any behavior notes for the entire 3 days. I have to also give a big thank you to Mrs. Wall, as she was a huge help in preparing materials as I would email her my sub plans.

We have updated their planners, so please check those for important dates coming up soon. Circus papers will be coming home today, so please check the book bags for those as well. The dates for Acuity are listed on the blog as well as in their planners.

Also....we will have no school, Monday, January 16, 2012. This will no longer be used as a make up day.

Upcoming Events and Info

1. 
   
   Report cards - Tuesday, January 10th - if you have any questions about your child's report card please let me know!



2. 
   
   Circus Information - next week - There will be information regarding the time and date, chaperones, and lunch. Please be sure to look for this paper in your child's bookbag next week. It needs to be returned by Friday, January 20th!


3. 
   
   Acuity Testing - We are scheduled for 1/10, 1/12, 1/17, and 1/18

Have a great weekend!