Ms. Kaley's Classroom Room 24

Hello!

We are done field trips this year!  We had a great time at the Planetarium and I want to thank all you for helping transporting your child to and from this field trip.

3rd grade testing and breakfasts: Monday and Wednesday begin 3rd grade testing for our class.  Monday is math and our students will test from 12pm-3pm.  If they finish beforehand then they will go back to class.  I will be with the 3rd graders during testing on these two dates.  Wednesday will be their language test and it will go from 9am-12pm.  Recess and lunch will still go on for just those students doing testing. If your 3rd grader already has completed their testing early than they will be with the 1st and 2nd graders on our normal schedule.  3rd grade breakfast needs a few more volunteers!  Even though it is directed towards 3rd grade parents, if you are a parent of a 1st or 2nd grader and want to help out, you are more than welcome to help us out!  Thank you to those who have signed up so far.

Breakfast times:  Eating time will be at 8:30am for Monday and Wednesday.  Misha will run circle for the 1st and 2nd graders on those days.  If you are volunteering, please come in at 8:15am when the doors open.  Wednesday doesn’t have anyone signed up for bacon.  I chose the microwavable bacon, but if someone wants to make regular bacon I’m okay with that.  We could also use some fruit for both days as well.   Please visit Track It Forward for signing up 🙂

Shadowing continues:  We will have Franky, Kaulin, and Jaxston shadow Tuesday and Tenley will shadow Thursday.  This will complete our shadowing for the year by the end of this week

Math check ins:  I have already completed the reading testing and DIBELS is all done for our class.  I will be using this week to do some check ins with where our students are in math.  This data will be part of their portfolio for the end of the year.  On Friday I will also be sharing with our kids our end of the year reflection packet.  This will also be part of their portfolio and a must for them to complete next week.

Classroom money begins Monday!:  We are beginning classroom money again for our end of the year Store Day that will take place on Monday May 20th.  We are hoping to team up with Upper El, but they said they are waiting to hear back on the approval to have the multiple classrooms team up together outside.  I told our class we hope we hear back about it soon, but if not, we will still continue our own end of the year Store Day.  It will be just like the one we did at Christmas time.  Plan with your child now on what they would like to sell at Store Day.  It could be toys, books, games, crafts, services, or food.  Plan on selling items that other would like to buy.  Since we hope it will be warmer, popsicles and little treats like that can be eaten during Store Day.  I will update more about Store Day as we get closer and let you know if we team up with Upper El.  This money round will involve earning AND owing.  Our class is beginning to feel the May fever and our 3rd graders, especially, are testing more limits.  Please make sure your child is helping our school and class out by reminding them to use and show their best grace and courtesy.  They are excited about money again and each student has made 3 goals for themselves.  If they “break” their own goal (or for some, a goal or 2 Misha and I want them to do) then they will owe money to the bank.  Doing their works and anything we need them to complete in a lesson or EOY check in/testing, jobs,  and random acts of kindness/generosity are going to be the easy targets to earn money quickly towards their Store Day.  Avoiding works, disrespect, defiance, breaking a school rule, and breaking their own goal are the main ones they decided that would make you owe money.

EOY Dates and Events:

PTC sign ups on Track It Forward are up and ready for you! 

*Waiting to hear details about Teacher Appreciation Week.  6th grade and 9th grade big field trips are happening this week, so rumor has it that it will take place the week of May 13th.  Stay tuned on more details and please read the MMM newsletter for more information.

May 13th in the afternoon form 1:30-2:30 will be the 3rd grade party

Field Day will be Friday May 17th in the morning until recess time.  At 5:30pm will be the 9th grade graduation in the JR High gym.

May 20th will be Store Day until 10:30am.  We will stop out students at 10:15am and then participate in welcoming the Early Childhood students into Lower Elementary at their Bridging Ceremony. Last full day of school. No school for Early Childhood students.  They are coming for their ceremony.

May 21st is the 3rd grade Bridging Ceremony to Upper Elementary at 10:30am. Once this ceremony is over you may take your 3rd grader early since it is an early release beginning May 21st.  PTC begins at 1:30pm.

May 22nd will be the Upper Elementary’s Bridging Ceremony.  If you also have a 6th grader bridging on this day and would like your Lower El student to attend, please stop by our classroom to pick up your child, so I can make sure your child is with you.  Again, if you choose to leave after their ceremony, please let me know if you are checking out your Lower El student too.  Early release.  PTC beginning at 1:30pm

May 23rd will be the first day of Spirit Week.  I don’t know what it will entail specifically, but I asked our teacher advisor and that is what is known so far.  Early release.  Last day of PTC.

May 24th will be the student’s last day of school!  Early release this day as well.

Hope you have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Ms. Kaley and Ms. Misha

Hi Everyone!

Past Week and Upcoming week:

Fun Run Fundraising:

This past week we were all introduced to Boosterthon’s Fun Run.  This was the email I sent you on Friday regarding how we are raising money for our school’s field adventures and field trips.  Our school is looking to raise money for students participating in the 6th and 9th grade field trips so that every child may have the opportunity to get to do those special trips.

Your child is looking for pledges for every lap that they run during the Fun Run.  Every pledge helps our school goal.  As the students help obtain pledges, we get classroom incentives, and your child also gets prizes from Boosterthon for certain goals.  Please help out our class by this Friday.  Thank you for all your donations and help in this event.

Our students finished up Math U See this past week for those who needed to finished up.  Some students were able to complete the pages they have been working on and some students did as much as they know or were able to focus on.  These Math U See mid year examples will be one example in your child’s portfolio.

We went on to learn more about the Westward Expansion in regards to reviewing what the Expansion was and also what the Louisiana Purchase was.  This coming week we will look more closely at who President Thomas Jefferson was and what the Pony Express was.  In Writing, your child will complete a 4 square writing graphic organizer on a person during the Westward Expansion time era or an invention from that era (telegraph, steam boat).  4 square writing allows your child to read an informational piece of reading and then take notes about what they learned and they classify the information into 4 categories.  We will then turn this 4 square practice round into a piece of informational writing.  I am hoping to have everyone complete their writing piece before conferences.  Those who stay on task should have no problem achieving this goal.

Fun Run-  On Friday February 1st, our class will have art with Ms. Trudy and then they will do the glow run at 9:50-10:50.  Our small math lessons we normally do on Friday mornings will get done Thursday afternoon instead.

Last week we got to 2nd Geography and 3rd grade Science for cultural.  This week 1st and 2nd graders will have Botany and History lessons while 3rd graders will do Zoology and History lessons.  3rd graders will be excited to know that we will begin learning about Dinosaurs!  We begin the Triassic Period on Wednesday.

Spelling Bee:  In February, our annual Spelling bee will take place.  This week, since STEM week displays and all that are all over, I will be going over it with the students.  I highly ask that your student try to practice and participate to try and be one of our classroom representatives for the Lower Elementary spelling bee.  Those students who really decide that they don’t want to try will be asked to do a home project with the Spelling Bee words.  Those students can make silly sentences with the words, create a card/board game with the words etc.  (the creative choices are up to the child.)  Those students who try their best and no matter if they make it to the Lower El Spelling Bee or not, will get credit towards participating in the Bee.  The Spelling Bee words are copyrighted and I cannot post or email out a digital copy, I do not have the authority to do so.  Your child will come home with a printed version of the Spelling Bee words.  Those words will actually be the words chosen during the Bee on Feb 26th.  Even students who are working on CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant words) will find that the first column of 1st grade words are CVC words, allowing those students to feel successful in trying to do their best.  Words lists will go out this week.  Happy studying!

Chili Cook Off-  Please visit the MMM email that is sent out if you would like to participate in the annual Chili Cook off or just come and try all the different kinds of wonderful chilis.  It is next week and I believe it is the 30th of January.  Please double check the flyer on the MMM.

PTC- Please sign up on Track It Forward to reserve your mid-year PTC.  This is a student led conference and your child will be showing the work they have completed for their portfolio.  On Wednesday Feb 13th, I have my daughter’s PTC from 1:45pm-2:00pm.  If you sing up for the 1:50pm-2:10pm slot on Wednesday, please know I will be there for half of it, but Ms. Misha will be there too 🙂

Have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week!  Thanks 🙂

Ms. Kaley and Ms. Misha

Hello All!

Thank you to everyone for a smooth field trip this past Friday.  The kids had a great time and they said they really enjoyed the workshop on simple machines.

STEM Fair Projects:  LE display the week of Jan 22nd.  Projects Due January 18th.

In January the school will host a STEM Fair display.  I talked to the kids this week on what their focuses will be:

1st grader’s projects:  Research a famous scientist and create a project about their life and what they did for science (what made them famous?)

2nd grade’s projects:  A simple science experiment that the student can do the scientific method on.  2nd graders should be able to: 1. Pick a focus (a topic), 2. Create a hypothesis for their topic, 3.  Conduct the experiment (take pictures/video for presentation display!) *include materials/supply list for experiment! *can the experiment be conducted multiple times? What kind of results happen each time, 4.  Write down observations, 5. Make a conclusion and was their hypothesis correct or incorrect?

3rd grader’s projects:  Choose between a project on a simple machine OR a demonstration that explains one of Newton’s Laws of Motion or a demonstration on how momentum or acceleration works.  3rd graders’ projects should be a display that can explain the meaning of the simple machine or laws of motion, explain why/how it works, and how it relates to real life.

Past Week:

3rd graders were excited to learn about round worms (such as earthworms).  We went over the parts of an earthworm and what they do.  We also looked at other kinds of Annelids such as leeches and how they are parasites.  2nd graders reviewed amphibians and the life cycle of a frog.  Since we have the COW on Wednesday afternoons, some 2nd graders got started on reading and researching on an amphibian of their choice.  1st graders learned what an amphibian is and learned they go through a change called “metamorphosis.”

3rd graders have now had a lesson on division with remainders (such as 67 divided by 8).  We will continue practicing this skill and then will work with a triple digit dividend and then move into division with a double digit divisor.  The 3rd graders have seen division in multiple ways with the use of our Test Tube material and also on a white board.  I’ve tied in their division into their multiplication, so they can see how the two are similar to each other.  A skill that is challenging for almost all our 3rd graders is a missing multiplier or missing multiplicand.  This is also true when it comes to division (ex. A x 6= 24 or 28 divided A= 4.

2nd graders are working towards seeing how addition and multiplication are similar.  This week they saw how when numbers go over 10 in a given place value the steps to solve in either addition or multiplication are similar on our materials.

1st graders have begun what we call dynamic addition.  Dynamic is when a given place value goes over 10 and there is exchanging that is needed.  We are starting basic right now, going up to just the 10s place.  As the skill develops they will work with addition that goes up to the thousands place.  This week we will look at subtraction and begin practicing.  1st graders will then have addition and subtraction skills to practice during the week.  After Winter break they will look at multiplication and see how multiplication and addition are similar.  Subtraction skills will also continue.

We begun an important prompt this past week.  It is the 1st summative writing assessment given this year.  After every 2 themes there is an assigned writing prompt that is used to see if they are applying the needed skills they have learned in their writing lessons.  1st graders should be able to write 3-4 complete sentences, 2nd graders should have a fluid beginning/middle/end to their story, and 3rd should apply what 2nd graders do, but be able to add dialogue to their writing.  This coming week the students are working on finishing up their drafts, edits, and revisions, and move into their final drafts.

Upcoming Week:

There is a Parent Night on December 6th at 5:30pm on how a Montessori Class runs and what expectations your child should be applying.  It will go over what makes a Montessori school different from other public schools and what student life at a Montessori school is like.  Please check out the Montessori Monday Moments that was just sent out.  The flyer is located on there.

Ms. Clarissa, our music teacher, is hosting a Winter Concert on December 17th at 5:30pm.  The flyer for the concert is also on the MMM that was just sent out.  Our child has been practicing for weeks in music class! Mark your calendars!

Please note that on December 10th, next Monday, is an early out.

This week I am going to create a sign up on Track It Forward for our annual Holiday Feast!  Our classroom feast will be December 19th at 12:00pm.  Immediate family members are invited to join your child.  The sign up will be for food.  Part of the sign up will be for each level to make something for the feast.  I should have that sign up out by the end of the week so that gives about 2 weeks of preparation.  Our feast will go until about 1pm.  Some years it has gone over 1pm by just a little bit.  The students also present Winter holidays in December from around the world.  We’ll see if we continue that or we change it up some.  Students are welcome to be checked out after the feast.

December Challenge!  Now that we are in December I have a challenge for the students!  If everyone completes their Spiral Maths, Word Works, Text Times, and writings before recess on Fridays in December then we can watch a Christmas movie in the afternoon.  Help encourage your child!  Spiral Math is only 1 column a day.  I tell the students to complete it right after circle time in the morning.  Word Work is also a few language exercises each day.  Text time is the shortest.  It is a short passage and then there are 3-4 questions about the reading.  If everyone followed the exercises then everyone would be done by the end of Thursday (All the exercises in Spiral Math and Word Work are Mondays-Thursdays).

Have a great upcoming week and rest of your weekend.  Happy December and for anyone who celebrates or that you know celebrates Hanukkah!

Ms. Kaley and Ms. Misha

Hello Everyone!

On January 31st in the evening there is our annual Chili Cook off.  Our class and Ms. Stef’s will be making chili in the afternoon on Wednesday Jan. 31st.  Any parents who wish to help out, please email me. I am looking for 3 volunteers.  The students will get the COW again on the 31st, so while they are doing their computer assignments, students will be called to help.

President reports due FRIDAY! Jan. 26th– Students who are finished may bring theirs in early to share.  Reports are due by Friday.  Again, all project information is on the Projects tab at the top of our blog.

Class party- Valentine’s Day is approaching!  Our class party will be in the morning on Feb. 14th since it is an early release day (beginning of Parent Teacher Conferences- Mid Year).  Our room mom is working on some activities and will need volunteers to help out.  Please keep an eye out soon for her sign ups

Gala basket- The school’s annual Gala fundraiser night is Sat. March 17th.  Each classroom gets a basket theme then the baskets are bid on through a silent auction.  Our room, Katie, will be needing donations for our basket soon.  Keep an eye out for that email as well!  Thanks everyone!

Past Week:

We focused on Zoology and Physiology this week in cultural.

Level 1s:  Reptiles.  Parts of, facts about, and different kinds of reptiles

Level 2s: The tongue and how we taste.  Parts of a tooth and teeth care

Level 3s: Annelids.  Earthworm facts and built a pillow earthworm for parts of an earthworm

Level 1s and 3s focused on fractions this week while 2nd graders checked in with me on time.  A lot of our 2nd graders are struggling with telling time, so on Monday I will be holding an open lesson to review time.  Any student may attend, but it is an opportunity to review and go over it again.  Level 1s are learning to name fractions based on a picture.  So, if the picture of a circle shows 3 equal pieces and 2 are shaded gray, they are naming that fraction as 2/3rds.  Level 3s are beginning to name fractions on a number line.  This is a difficult lesson and when the directions have an explanation where they have to decode what it is asking them to do, many of our 3rd graders struggle with what they are asking.  Here is the page we worked on this week that a lot of the 3rd graders had questions about:  3rd grade Fractions on a Number Line

Upcoming Week:

Colder this week.  Have your child remember their cold weather attire for recess

Monday– Lexi’s Celebration of Life at 2:30.  Heather, I know Janessa’s was Sunday, so if you want to email me to schedule a time to do Janessa’s Celebration of Life let me know 🙂

Wednesday– COW 12:30-2:30

Friday– President reports are due!

PTC sign ups will be posted next weekend!  They begin Wednesday Feb 14th and run until Friday Feb 16th.

Have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week

Ms. Kaley

Hi Everyone!

Prodigy Math is working out really well!  I had a few students try it out yesterday afternoon and it is such a cool way to check math concepts.  The area of math I assign is their task to make moves in the game.  It is an adventure game that reminds me a lot of the Zelda games!  Each math question they answer is tracked in their progress through my login.  I can see where each student is struggling and would need a review in that concept and what they have mastered.  I added more assignments so the students could have some more questions.  The program even allowed me to add a SAGE prep test for 3rd graders!  I looked at the questions and the prep questions are on point.  Please have your student be practicing this game at home.  We will also have some opportunities in class, but most of the time will need to be at home.  The areas I assigned and the SAGE prep are due on Nov. 3rd.  If students are down before that I can add more.  I really want to see where each student in (especially 3rd graders for that SAGE prep test).  I am already getting great data back from just looking at the progress last night!

-Ms. Kaley