Ms. Kotie's Class

Greetings! Welcome to our site. During the 2017-2018 school year, we were asked last year to select a thematic name from among many Utah trees and thus our classroom became the Honey Locust Tree Classroom. We are proud to have so many wonderful qualities being applied to our environment. “Locust” refers to the seed pod that droops from its branches and this is where the honey-like substance comes from and for which the name originates too. This locust can also be an analogy of the seed from which our educational experience begins and thrives. These same locusts become the trees that produce a plethora of pinnate green leaves that yellow in the fall, coloring our landscape with beauty. The tree grows tall and full, providing shade and durable, sturdy branches which tribes have used to make bows. These trees grow quickly and thrive in a mixture of soils and environments.

Our students too grow quickly, pull nutrients and knowledge from all around and thrive when they create and are provided an environment where they are protected, shaded and nourished. They are resilient, strong and determined individuals with so much to offer our classroom, our school and our world. They strive to be sweet and respectful to one another and build friendships with all. Cooperation and collaboration are two actions that happen often in Room 1. Mr. Carl and I are so looking forward to being part of their continuing educational development and are eager to begin an amazing year!

I have been working hard on a new website with so much information and clarity. It is not yet live on the MMA site; however, please visit it HERE and visit each page tabbed to learn more about our classroom, its environment, and its expectations. Some tweaks are still occuring as I am still learning how to get it operational. I hope you all had a great summer: See you soon!

ASAPAnnouncements:

Sixth Grade Meet-up   August 13th, 4:30-7:30pm, Dinner

Fifth Grade Meet-up   August 14th, 5:30-7:30pm, Dinner

We’ve finished the year and I’m so proud of all the progress we’ve made. I am wrapping up the clean-up and organization of all we’ve done, and as I do so, I am re-seeing such wonderful things the children created and wrote. It inspires me to tweak the things that worked and rework the things that weren’t as great. I am so excited for fall!

That being said-the supply list is being adjusted and is on-line; the folders that came home have activities and IXL passwords to use over the summer; continue their writing by having them write letters, etc; continue reading; continue learning.

Our final blog writers publications are HERE! Remember: they were written right after the Redwoods.

I will be available by email throughout the summer at sellis@mmalions.org ONLY.

THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC YEAR! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Greetings! As we progress towards the end of the year, we still have much to complete. Students will be working on their end-of-year essays, portfolios and portfolio reflections, and wrapping up their Culinary Projects. Many opportunities have been made available within class to allow students to really perfect these items or ask questions. Please let me know if your student needs further assistance that they have not requested already.

We are done with SAGE testing- Yay!- yet will continue reading evaluations this week. We will also be continuing concentrations in math, geometry and reading.

Monday we will participate in the UE Swap Meet. Students have had a couple of weeks to earn Montessori  money of different denominations within the classroom. This “money” can be used to buy and sell items at our Swap Meet on Monday, May 14th from 9-11 am. The students can rent a booth for a dollar and sell their “wares.” Many students have been planning for some time what they wish to sell and the business partnerships they will create. Some are selling waters, muffins, artwork, and much more. Food products MUST have full ingredient cards to display with the items in order to be offered at the meet. I am excited to see what the children will bring!

Following are some important dates:

Monday               CRAZY SOCK DAY (Must still wear shoes)

Tuesday               CRAZY HAT OR HAIR DAY (Please keep appropriate messages                                on hats)

Wednesday        Culinary Projects DUE

PAJAMA DAY (Students may bring pillow and blanket for read-                               a-thon in morning)

Thursday            Portfolios and End-of Year Essays Due

OCCUPATION DAY – Dress for the future

Friday                 MMA Field Day (LE 9:20-11 am; UE 12:20-2pm) In the Front Parking Lot (Please park elsewhere this day if you are coming to help!)

DRESS DOWN DAY

May 21st    EC Graduation 10:30 am

May 22nd  LE Graduation 11:00 am

May 23rd   UE Graduation 10:30 am in Gym

May 22nd/24th   Parent-Student Conferences

May 25th Last Day of School

This past week at the Redwoods was amazing! I am entranced and enthused by the growth in our children throughout the year and years they spend in our classrooms. I am so glad our school provides a trip of this nature for the culmination of their journey. It is truly life changing and refreshing.

This upcoming week, we have several other culminating activities occurring. Students will be working on their portfolios, end of year essays, culinary projects, and wrapping up the week with our Crystal Hot Springs end of year field trip.

We will also have our last SAGE test in Math and our last Botany lesson with Ms. Rachel. We surely are wrapping up the year in strong style. Please note that Student-Parent Conferences will take place Tuesday and Thursday, May 22nd and 24th. Sign up here.

Keep posted with immediate notices on Remind. And look forward to student writing later in the week!

I hope you all are enjoying the blog writing; I sure am. We have many activities and learning occurring even as we near the close and minds are already gearing up for summer mayhem.

I will be out this next week at the Redwoods with the 6th years. Mr. Carl will be with our 4th and 5th years guiding them through their practice work and several writing lessons. Our reading and math have greatly improved for all over the year and we are quite pleased with the progress. I am most impressed thus far about our students growing knowledge of the world and its parts.

Please stay aware of upcoming dates:

May 8th            SAGE Math 12-3pm

May 11th          Crystal Hot Springs Field Trip; NEED CHAPERONES & DRIVERS

6th Years Redwoods Essays Due

May 14th          UE SWAP MEET 9-11am (Students may “rent” a booth and sell their wares (pre-approved the week prior))

May 15th           End of Year Essays Due

May 16th          Culinary Project Due

May 17th          Portfolios Due

May 18th          Field Day (more announcements to come)

May 23rd          6th Year Graduation

May 22 & 24th           Parent-Student Conferences

May 25th            Last Day of School

April 26th, 2018

Evan R.

On Tuesday, April 24th, all of the 6th graders went to the Planetarium. My friend and I enjoyed all the games the Planetarium provided for us. Our favorite was the asteroid game. The objective of the game was to destroy all the asteroids before they hit the Earth. We also got to go to an IMAX theater and a dome theater. One of the movies was about how astronauts live and cooperate up in space. However an obstacle for an astronaut is not being able to be their with family and friends. I don’t think I could be an astronaut, because I couldn’t go that long without my family. The last thing I enjoyed was the giant 3D sphere. It showed us the air quality around the world, and how quickly the polar ice caps were melting. I would recommend the planetarium for other people. It really is a fun place.

April 25th 2018

Indra

We have had a good week so far. Today some 4th graders were reading the UURC with Miss Steph. We have also been reviewing the water cycle and were able to watch a silly weather forecast video by Studio C. We are all working on maps. A few students are working on the map of Europe and others are working on the United States.  We had music in our classroom today; Miss Clarissa showed the Upper Elementary performance to us and then we had a small talent show that will continue next week. In PE, we are learning about Baseball. Although summer is only 22 school days away, we are still learning new things and are excited to finish out 4th grade year strong I.can’t wait for next week.

This is our first distribution of student blog writing: Enjoy! There’s more to come.

By Jace Otto (6th)

April 17, 2018

Last week was a busy week. On Monday, we had a math test where there were problems on paper all around the circle and we would get in groups of 2 or 3 and sit by a rug with 2 problems and rotated around the circle every 5 minutes. On Tuesday, our class had class pictures! We also had lessons and reviews for stuff we didn’t get on Monday. On Wednesday, we had Music/P.E. In music we got to practice with the pianist who will play with us in the concert. In P.E. we played baseball and someone hit the ball on the roof. On Thursday, we had a regular work cycle and worked on Earth Day posters. Finally, on Friday we had an English SAGE test. Last week was fun and busy!

By Kaidyn Carnes (LaPorte) (5th)

April 17, 2018

On Monday, most of all three grades had large number math like ten digit addition, subtraction, 182 digit long division, decimals, multiplication, and fractions. On Tuesday, most of the class did their maps. On Wednesday, we did Steck Vaughn & m&m’s (math & memory). On Thursday, we didn’t do anything special. On Friday we had SAGE testing. Testing went from about 12:00 – 2:49. Well that wraps things up for this week.

By Marley Speicher (4th)

April 18, 2018

This is about the new works and assemblies in our class this past week. Our class has gotten so many amazing works. Some works are Interpretive Reading, History Question Charts, Fundamental Needs, Science Experiment Cards, and so much more. Our class still has so much to offer and in our class you learn all types of things like grammar, language, science, history, math, geography, geometry, and more to learn. The fourth graders assembly happened too. The assembly was about fossils. First, the nice lady that was leading the assembly talked about fossils and identifying them. The lady talked about paleontologists discovering fossils. Then we went to table stations. At the table stations, we had to identify certain fossils if they were or were not. We also had to organize the fossils by carnivore and herbivore at the table stations; then the assembly was over. We lined up and left for the rest of the day. That was about some o f the things we did this past week.

Click here for a full print out. No edits possible. DUE MAY 16th.

Students received the packet and reviewed it WITH instruction today the 19th of April. Check in with them.

Be Aware: 6th and 5th years have additional “heavy” assignments in addition to this one due by the end of the year. 

Just a reminder!

17-18 Concert Flyer