Hello!

3rd graders shadowed Mr. John’s class this week.  They spent all morning and came back for the rest of the day.

Thank you for responding quickly to our evacuation drill Thursday!  Our class and Ms. Angie’s class were the first to get everyone to their ride.  We are going to make adjustments as a school with the 7th grade runners and some other small tweaks.  Other than that, it went very well!

May’s Home Project that is a Free Choice is due May 19th!

Thank you to those parents who helped with the 3rd grade party we held on Monday!

This coming week is our field trip!  Most have turned in their permission slips, but please get them in by Tuesday with your child’s $3.00 to the Office 🙂  I haven’t heard from anyone who wants to go, so please email me if you want to be a chaperone.  If you go, your ticket will cost $6.00 to get into the American West Heritage Center.  The address is posted on the blog from this week.

This week is the end of red folders!  We are going to wrap them up for the year.

The next 6 states are:

Oregon- OR

Pennsylvania- PA

Rhode Island- RI

South Carolina- SC

Texas- TX

Utah- UT

This week in group lessons:

Level 1s: Intro to angles, binomial cube

Level 2s: Find the triangle game, binomial cube

Level 3s: Geometry bingo

In cultural this week:

No History because of the 3rd grade party in the afternoon.

Zoology:

Level 1s: Tracing vertebrates from x-rays

Level 2s: Elephants

Level 3s: Scorpions and crab cakes

Geography: 

Level 1s: North America packet continued

Level 2s: Hardness scale

Level 3s: Weather review

No Botany because of evacuation drill

Friday: Cultural student led packet, Library, Mother’s Day activities, States test

Have a great Mother’s Day and weekend!

Cheers!

Ms. K

I am copying permission slips this afternoon (Monday 5/5).  I forgot to add on Friday that each student needs to turn in $3.00 to the OFFICE drop box for this field trip.  This fee will provide half of their admissions and the other half will be covered by MMA.  This three dollars helps our field trip fund cover the needs of the bus.

Please let me know if you would like to go.  Parents who would like to go may need to take their own car to the American West Heritage Center

The address is:

4025 S. Hwy 89-91, Wellsville, UT 84339

The bus will be leaving at 9:15am.  We are scheduled to arrive and have our time at the center from 10am-2:30.  We will return to MMA a little after 3.

Hope that helps!  Please have permission slips in ASAP.  Slips must be in 24hours before we go.  Jen, I know you guys are on a trip.  You may sign Ben’s slip the day he comes back.

Happy May!!  Countdown to the end of school already can you believe it?!

This week I took the time to do University of Utah reading level testing.  I will have their end of the year levels at conferences. The reading teachers also pulled our students out this week to do state DIBELS testing.  That information will also be available at conferences.  Since conferences are coming up at the end of the month, just know that the last conference is student led.  Today (Friday) our students started the first part of their packets to share with you.  They will also have a story or game design to share.

I have submitted our American Heritage Center field trip information to the office.   Our field trip will be May 14th.  A bus is coming to pick our class and Ms. Jalee’s class up at 9:15.  We are scheduled to arrive by 10:00am.  We are scheduled to be done by 2:30 at the Heritage Center.  Lunch will be eaten there.  Since we will be outside make sure your child has comfortable tennis shoes, sunscreen, a water bottle, picnic lunch, and maybe some sunglasses.  They may wear jeans or shorts that come to their knees.  We will be getting back to MMA via the bus a smidge past 3pm.  You are welcome to come on the trip, just please email me to let me know you would like to come 🙂

Next week our 3rd graders are due to shadow!  They will be spending the morning in Mr. John’s room.  Two 3rd graders will go per day.

THURSDAY 5/8 is the EMERGENCY DRILL!  Remember you will be getting a call to pick up your child between 12 and 3pm.  Your child’s things will be left at school overnight.  If you notice your child doesn’t have any slippers on when you pick them up that is a natural consequence since we cannot stop to have a child to put their slippers on.  

This past Thursday 5/1 started our money earning for our Store Day at the end of the month!  Students made the rules for how much “Maria Dollars” they earn for being on task, how much work they do, and how they behave.  They also made the rules for owing money if they had a consequence.  Store Day is very similar to a yard sale.  Students will bring things in they no longer want and will price their items for sale.  Other classmates will then shop at their set up (their “store”) and they will use the money they earned.  Students can bring in popsicles or bake sale items as well to sell.

There was only Level 1 group lesson on Monday because of reading testing this week.  Level 1s had their last line review.  They will start their introduction to angles, and will continue to learn as Level 2s.

States for next week are:

New Mexico- NM

New York- NY

North Carolina- NC

North Dakota- ND

Ohio- OH

Oklahoma- OK

In cultural this week:

History:

Level 1s: Time to the minute

Level 2s: Comets and asteroids

Level 3s: Timeline of plants

Zoology/Physiology:

Level 1s: Painting of clay mammals

Level 2s: Muscles

Level 3s: Crab intro

Geography:

Level 1s: North America packet

Level 2s: Metals and nonmetals

Level 3s: Blizzards

Botany:

Level 1s: Plant reading comprehension

Level 2s: Adopt a Tree

Level 3s: Positions of the ovary in a flower

Friday: States test, Student Led Packet part 1, project sharing, movie

Have a great warm weekend!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Just some reminders:

1. Planetarium field trip is this coming Thursday 3/13.  All children are covered cost wise.  If you wish to attend and you are not one of the 5 parents who emailed me for one of the leftover tickets then you will have to pay to ride TRACKS and get into the Planetarium.  Here are the details for the TRACKS:

PLEASE DROP YOUR CHILD OFF AT 2393 WALL AVE, OGDEN, 84401at 7:50am.  We depart from the OGDEN station at 8:02am We will then arrive at the 110 S 400 W, SALT LAKE CITY 84101 stop.  Please be on time or your child will be left 🙁

We will then return to the OGDEN station at around 3:00pm.

There are a few stops to catch the next train, but we will travel as a group.

2. Have your child be working on their science fair project!

3.  This coming Tuesday I will be observing in Ms. K.Lea’s in the morning.  Ms. Anna and a sub will be in the classroom.  I will return at 11:15am.

4.  There is no school this coming Friday 3/14.  It is professional development for the teachers.

5.  3rd grade parents: You can have your 3rd grader be working on typing skills.  Google: BBC typing.  It will be the first website.

6. I am missing permission slips from: Asher, Ben L., McKelle

In group lessons this week:

Level 1s: 2D shape review, number handwriting

Level 2s: Angle/Triangle review, sentence structure review

Level 3s: SAGE measurement test, area and perimeter review, parts of speech worksheets

In cultural this week:

History:

Level 1s: Time to the quarter hour

Level 2s: Saturn

Level 3s: Cretaceous period

 Zoology/Physiology:

Level 1s: Making a parts of a bird book

Level 2s: Respiratory system

Level 3s: Insects

Geography:

Level 1s: Bay/Cape

Level 2: Sedimentary rock

Level 3s: Weather worksheet

Botany:

Level 1s: Types of underground stem

Level 2s: Cross stitching

Level 3s: Bees

Friday: Studio, Movie: Matilda (we finished our class book)

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Hello!

Is it just me or is the Home Project tab suddenly missing?  It shows up under my pages where I created it, but not sure why it is hiding.  Anyway, here is what I posted about the Science Fair:

March’s Science Fair Home Project

This project has a specific due date: March 24th.  No late projects will be considered!  We will be having our classroom science fair in the afternoon starting at 1pm ON the 24th.  The specifics are as followed:

1. Each student will be assessed.  Myself and other teachers will assess their boards and presentations based on this rubric:

Science Fair Rubric- Teachers

2. This project will assess if a student can conduct an experiment while using the scientific method.

a.  Students will choose an area of science they are interested in

b. Students will then decide to conduct an experiment in that area of science chosen and be able to explain how and why it works.

c. Students need to able to follow the scientific method process: Construct a hypothesis, conduct an experiment to test hypothesis, collect data (writing, pictures, graphs etc.  Students NEED to know HOW and WHY), make a conclusion on their experiment and if their hypothesis was correct or incorrect.

3. Be able to present their findings and project on a project board (no posters) that easily communicates their findings.  IMPORTANT: I am looking for boards that a student has done THEMSELVES.  You may help, but let it be their project and research.  Also, I will be looking for boards that are visually appealing and easily understood.  For example, a board overwhelmed with words or just a few pictures are not going to help the child’s presentation.  Help them make a board that has balance of research/findings, pictures, titles, and visual appeal.

Students may bring in their board and things to work on at school if they don’t get a chance to work on it at home much.   Therefore, there is no excuse that a student should not have a project.

You as parents may come see our science fair!  We will also be inviting the school to come visit our room so students can present their findings.  March 24th at 1pm.

*Ms. Kaley is having a GIRL 🙂

Permission slips went out this past week for the Planetarium.  Our class watched the UTA safety video in order to get our free wrist bands for a round trip.  I received emails from the 5 parents who will get the free extra tickets for the Planetarium.  However, if you want to travel with us on UTA TRACKS you will have to get your round trip pass.  Please email me if you would like to come join us on this field trip.  Please have the permission slips back to me no later then March 12th.

This week in group lessons:

Level 1s: 2D shapes review, what makes a complete sentence?

Level 2s: Punctuation, measurement of their hands in inches

Level 3s: Parts of speech review, Geometry review, Dictionary battle review

In cultural this week:

History:

Level 1s: Time to the quarter hour

Level 2s: Jupiter

Level 3s: Dinosaur named Sue

Zoology:

Level 1s: Parts of a bird

Level 2s: Mammal study

Level 3s: Intro to Arthropods

Geography:

Level 1s: Lake/Island landforms

Level 2s: Metamorphic rock

Level 3s: Weather task cards

Botany:

Level 1s: Herbaceous, woody, and shrubby stems

Level 2s: Cross stitching practice

Level 3s: Pollination

Friday: Studio, Dr. Seuss afternoon

Have your child be working on their Science Fair project!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Ms. Anna and I have noticed over the past week that the students seem to have “Winter Fever.”  It seems to be that time of year again where the kids are noisy and are losing what they learned with their grace and courtesy.  On Thursday had to reign them back by assigning Level 1 and Level 2s a certain rug place.  Level 1s were overseen by me and Level 2s were overseen by Ms. Anna.  Level 3s were tested to see if they could choose and be independent on their own.  With the rest of the class being overseen, the Level 3s were able to get more done.  In fact, with everyone hunkered down more everyone got more work accomplished.  This structure gives the students the reminder that we need to respect spaces and when each student is working to not bother one another.  We had each student raise their hand when they got a work done.  Myself or Anna would then check it off and they were then allowed to clean up and put that work back to get another.  This process will last into next week.  We want to see what the students are choosing and making sure they are doing quality.  We have witnessed other students copying others, so this process will take care of that too.  This really allowed Anna and I to track their work.  After a week we will dismiss those students who have learned the ability to be independent and have relearned their classroom respect.  Those who need more practice with choosing works or respect will continue to be a part of the circle until the lesson has been taught and practiced.

Ms. Jalee has submitted our field trip to the Planetarium for next month.  Know that I will have 5 free tickets to those parents who would like to come. One ticket will have to be for Heather or Adam Misner, so that will leave 4 extra tickets.  First come first serve.  We are leaving at 8:09am via the Utah Tracks.  We will be returning to the Tracks station at 3pm, so students WILL HAVE TO be picked up at the Tracks station.  Directions, times, and fees will be mentioned on the upcoming permission slip and under our our field trip tab I will provide detailed information in the next coming days.

March’s home project is our Science Fair.  The students will be focusing on the scientific method along with their proposed question.  I will post more info on the science fair under Home Projects this weekend.

On the 27th, parent night will take place (Safety in the school).  A flyer went home this week as a reminder.

This week in group projects:

Level 1s: Divergent, convergent, and parallel lines

Level 2s: Triangle angle star

Level 3s: SAGE practice math test, multistep word problems

In cultural:

Zoology/Physiology:

Level 1s: Birds intro

Level 2s: Circulatory System

Level 3s: Sea urchins

Geography:

Level 1s: Compass rose

Level 2s: Igneous rocks

Level 3s: Recording weather

Botany:

Level 1s: Parts of the stem

Level 2s: Cross stitching

Level 3s: The stamen

Friday: Studio, Library, Science fair talk

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Thank you to those parents who came and also drove on Wednesday for our field trip!  The students really enjoyed going!

Our next field trip will be to the Clark Planetarium on March 13th.  We will be riding the front runner since it drops off right at The Gateway where the Planetarium is.  We will be going with Ms. Jalee’s class.  This will be an all day field trip.  Mark your calendars!

February 27th is Parent Education Night at MMA.  The topic will be about school safety and how can our schools become more safe nowadays?  Please visit this month’s newsletter on the school’s website to obtain more information.  There are also flyers on the front doors of the school.

This Tuesday, when we come back from President’s Day, the Upper Elementary will be holding their annual Science Fair!  3rd graders are invited to visit as to prepare them for next year when they will participate.  It will also give them ideas for our next and last assigned home project.  Our class will have its own Science Fair.  We will invite other classes to come and view when the project is due, which is March 24th.  I will be posting details in the Home Project tab soon.  1st and 2nd graders will be participating!  This project will also be evaluated.  Students will evaluate their own project as well as their peers will evaluate their projects.  Students will be looking to see how well they follow the directions, how well they know their topic, and how much of their project came from them.

This week in group lessons:

Level 3s: Editing a paragraph, multi step word problem solving (adding and subtracting)

In cultural this week:

History:

Level 1s: Time to the half hour game

Level 2s: Mars

Level 3s: Dinosaurs from the Jurassic Era

Zoology:

Level 1s: Reptiles book

Level 2s: Mammal study

Level 3s: Starfish

Botany:

Level 1s: Kinds of roots

Level 2s: Leaf sewing

Friday: Myth of Cupid, Who was Saint Valentine?, Valentine’s crafts

Remember to get your pizza money in!  You can pay through the online link!  Money is due on Wednesdays before noon to get your order in for that week.  Please let me know if you have paid online to make it easier for the 6th graders to distribute the slices.  I’ve had to hunt down pizza because I didn’t know a student paid online.  Thank you!

Happy President’s Day!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Monday and Tuesday we had work cycle.  Wednesday we had a laid back day and got our room ready for the International Festival.  The school did a wonderful job on their projects.  Thank you for all of you who came to see and to help!  We had another successful year!

This coming Wednesday we will be going on our field trip, however we have to take care of rides!

Children who come to the school and need rides because their parents can’t get them a carpool or have their own parent take them, those children will get rides from our certified drivers.  Certified drivers, please email me and let me know if you can drive on Wednesday the 12th.  Drivers here at the school/carpools, we will be departing MMA at 9:10am.  The tour is at 10am at the Salt Lake factory and will go for around an hour.  We will leave after the tour is done and be back to MMA around or a little after noon.  Please pack your child a lunch as we will eat when we get back from our trip.

If you would like to set up a carpool, I cannot be a part of it for legal reasons, so you must contact parents from our class to create a carpool.  If you are taking your own child, I would greatly appreciate you having your child come to MMA FIRST so I can take roll and see who for sure if here before we leave.  Problem arise when parents meet want to meet us at the field trip site.  So, if you could have your child here at normal MMA drop off time I would appreciate it!

Here are two parents who are willing to carpool other children:

Annie Petree: Has 1 child to take of her own to take.  Call/text her at 719-492-8872.

Antoinette Panter: Has 1 child to take of her own.  Can fit around 5 more children.  Call/text her at 801-791-0997

ADULTS WHO ARE ATTENDING: to enter the factory, the fee is $1.00.  Students are covered in our field trip fund.  

Please email me and let me know your child’s ride situation.  Ms. Jalee’s class can no longer attend with us because they didn’t have enough rides.  Please help our students go on this field trip!

Don’t forget to get your pizza order in! The link is to the right of our blog!

In group level lessons this week:

Level 3: Editing a paragraph, Classification of trapezoids

In cultural:

History:

Level 1s: Time to the half hour

Level 2s: Earth

Level 3: Dinosaur study

Zoology/Physiology:

Level 1s: Reptile report

Level 2s: The skin

Level 3: Echinoderm (starfish, sea urchins…) intro

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Hello!

Busy weekend, our school went to The Utah Montessori Conference all day Saturday.  Once again it was a great learning experience and gave us the opportunity to connect with other schools.

This week we were able to book a February field trip to Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolate Factory in Salt Lake.  This field trip will be February 12th at 10am.  The tour will last about an hour and then we will head back to the school.  Ms. Anna and I thought this would be a fun Valentine’s Day treat.  The kids are looking forward to learning where chocolate comes from and how it’s made.

January’s Home Project is due this Monday.  We will take the afternoons this week to share them!  I’m looking forward to seeing the children share their famous person!

February is come to school with your child!  It is also PTC time!  I will be sending out 2 wejoinin.com links for both of these sign ups this week.  For come to school with your child, you will have to sign in with the office so they know you and I have made an arrangement for you to be in the classroom.  Now, this experience is for observation.  If you decide to come, you are there to watch.  The school has asked that you do not interact with your child or another child.  I will have a chat with the students about parents coming in the class.  They are used to observations from administration in the school, so we will go over that they are not to bother you as well.  You may ask questions after your time is up.  I will allow 1 parent at a time since we have the whole month for you to come.  Observation time will commence at 9:30am.  Please keep an eye out for both sign ups this week.

This week in group lessons:

Level 2s: drawing angles and measuring

Level 3s: math review, characteristics of a parallelogram, fractions on a number line

In cultural:

Zoology/Physiology:

Level 1s: Reptiles

Level 2s: Teeth

Level 3s: Octopus

Geography:

Level 1s: Map orientation

Level 2s: Volcano facts book

Level 3s: Rain gauge

Botany:

Level 1s: Parts of a plant overview

Level 2s: Leaf rubbings

Level 3s: Medicinal plants

Have a good rest of your weekend and week!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Hello and Happy (cold) December!

Speaking of cold, please send your child to school with winter gear.  Some children are coming with just a zip up hoodie.  Please send them with gloves, a hat, and boots if there is snow.  Here is the forecast for this coming week:

Monday 9th- high of 19 

Tuesday 10th- high of 27

Wednesday 11th- high of 33

Thursday 12th- high of 38

Friday 13th- high of 36

Monday the 9th is our field trip to the Nutcracker Ballet.  Please don’t forget to pack your child a lunch.  We will be eating at 10:30-11:00am.  Our bus will be here at 11:15am.  We will be picked up at 1:30pm.

This week in group lessons:

Level 1s: 3 dimensions

Level 3s: Parts of a triangle part 3

Open lessons: quarter layout (money)

In cultural:

History:

Level 1s: Grammar and time

Level 2s: Constellations

Level 3s: Carboniferous period

Zoology:

Level 1s: Amphibians

Level 2s: Mammal study

Level 3s: Making stocking earthworms

Geography:

Level 1s: Planisphere map

Level 2s: Jello earthquake model

Level 3s: Day and night breezes

Botany:

Level 1s: There once was a daisy play

Level 2s: Dented margins

Level 3s: Types of corolla (petals)

Friday: Studio, Library, Heat (physical science), snowflakes for junior high

Have your child work on their book reports!  They are due soon!

I will be testing level 1 reading this coming week and will be putting those who are at a higher level in different reading groups.

Please don’t forget to sign up for our Holiday Feast! See the link to the right of the blog.

Take care and stay warm!

Cheers!

Ms. K