Red Ribbon Week is Next Week

Here are the activities for Red Ribbon Week: ( Oct. 28th - Nov. 1st)

Monday - Wear sunglasses.. My future is so bright I have to wear shades
Tuesday- Wear hats.... Hats off to a drug free life
Wednesday - Wear sneakers... sneak away from drugs
Thursday - Wear your t-shirts backwards - Turn your back on drugs
Friday - Wear "Read" or red t-shirts ... Feed your brains.. don't harm them.

As the weather turns colder there are many children that are not wearing warm enough coats to school. Children WILL go outside as the temperature permits. There is no one to watch them at recess if they don't have a warm enough coat.

Golfing and More

          Your child has been an active participant in Physical Education, learning about golf as a great lifetime activity.  We have been hitting practice balls outside at Truman during P.E. classes, and our focus has been on correct technique, using a driver and an iron, as well as safety.  Students have also been able to practice putting while participating in a mini golf course that was set up around the library.  I was awarded a “Kids in the Community” grant that is paying for our field trip to Airport National on Friday October 25^th. Mrs. Sercu-Fredericks class will go from 9:15-12:00 and Mrs. Thompson’s class will go from 11:30-2:30.  Students will get an hour on the driving range as well as an hour on the mini golf course.  Classes will be eating lunch at school. Students need to dress warm, I recommend jeans/sweat pants, hooded sweatshirt, jacket, hat and mittens/gloves.  It is easier to take off items if the weather allows verses not having what you need to stay warm.  Students may also bring water bottles.  If you have any questions please contact me at lshaver@cr.k12.ia.us.

 

Miss Shaver

 

 

This week we will be working on main idea , character traits, and setting in reading.  Mrs. Smith has started to teach more and she is teaching reading and reading groups.

We took the Unit 3 math test. Your child's score will be sent to your email tomorrow.  Our next unit in math addition and subtraction of whole numbers. That would be "big" numbers.

The Master Gardeners came last Monday and will be coming for the next three Mondays. They are teaching the kids about plants and how they grow.

 

Thank you to all of our readers on Friday for America Reads Day.

Upcoming Events:
Monday, October 21:  From the Ground Up  2:15-3:00
Wednesday, October 23:  Early Dismissal 1:30
Friday, October 25:  Airport National Golf 9:15-12:00
Monday, October 28:  From the Ground Up  2:15-3:00
Thursday, October 31:  Fall Party 2:45-3:00  (No costumes and no parade)

 

Something to Keep in Mind

Our class is looking for donations of gum and wrapped candy for ticket rewards.  If you have some Halloween candy that your family won't eat we would appreciate the donation. I draw ticket winners daily.
Thanks!

Friday is Picture Day and the Book Order is Due

Today you will be recieving the form for school pictures that your child will need.  If you are wanting school pictures please fill out the form and return it with a check to school on Friday.

Book orders are also due on Friday.

We had our ticket celebration today. We watched It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and ate popcorn.
Our next ticket goal is 500 tickets.
Please check your email regularly as I have been sending you your child's test results via the internet.
Thanks!

Picture Day is Friday, Oct. 11th

This week will begin our testing week.  Your child will be taking the new district reading assessment. This test is not like the ones they have taken in the past.  For this test they are shown some video clips and given some articles to read. Then they will have to choose a side and write a paper on it.  Our topic is whether school or home lunch is healthier for kids.  This will take us about two days to complete.
When we are not working on the reading assessment we will continue to review inferences, main idea, and character traits in reading groups.

We will also be taking the writing assessment this week. The children will be writing a persuasive piece about what changes could be made to our school to improve it.  They will be utilizing the Traits of Writing and trying to make sure that they have good sentences and conventions.  We practiced this type of writing with the letter written to you about what book they should get from the book order and why.  I wonder if your child was able to persuade you to buy them a book.
The tenement houses are in the front glass display case for the next few weeks.  They look great!  Please take a minute to come to school and see them. They are so proud of them.  I will be sending grades home this week. We are going to be moving on in Social Studies to study child labor.  On Thursday your child will be bringing home a time line of what their day looks like. This is a WEEKEND HOMEWORK assignement that will be due on Monday.  All your children need to do it keep a "diary" of what a typical day looks like for them. There will be a sheet with times on it for your child to fill in.
In math we took the Unit 2 test on patterns and are moving on to place value.  I will be giving a pre-test today.
We have earned our next ticket reward. The children have voted to have a movie and popcorn. On Wed. we will be watching The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and having popcorn.
Upcoming Events:Tuesday, October 8: PTO Orange Leaf Night
Wednesday, October 9: Early Dismissal 1:30
Friday, October 11: Picture Day
Friday, October 18: America Reads Day
Wednesday, October 23: Early Dismissal 1:30
Friday, October 25: Airport National Golf 9:15-12:00
Thursday, October 31: Fall Party (No costumes or parade) 2:45-3:30

Important Information About Intramurals and Student Directory

Intramurals will be cancelled tomorrow morning, Oct. 3rd.

Please send back your student directory forms if you want your child's name and number in the directory.  There have only been 12 turned in so far in the 4th grade.
Thanks,
Carrie

Author Tolya Thompson Called Us!!

We were taking a math test today and my school phone rang.  The caller ID said that it was Tolya Thompson , an author that we had written.  I hesitantly picked up the phone and to my surprise it was her!  I have read the Smartie Series books by Tolya Thompson to the kids this year and we have used them to talk about many different social and emotional skills.  For example, Loud Lips Lucy is about a girl who talks all the time and when her loses her voice she learns that by listening she learns more.  Worry Wart Wes is about a boy who worries over everything.  He learns that he is just fine and that he doesn't need to worry so much.
The kids had liked these books so much we decided to write the author.  Little did we know that she would call us. She told the class that the letters came at a great time since she had been thinking of giving up writing since she was having a writer's block She shared that these letters from the kids were what she needed to not give up and to keep on writing. She told the kids that they can do anything that they want to and to think outside of their main views.  She talked to the kids on speaker phone for quite some time and told them that she was sending a package to them.  She even told them that when she finished the new series that she is writing... the one that is causing her troubles... that we would be the first ones to get a copy!!
I have taught for over 20 years and this phone call was one of the neatest things I have expereinced. I wish you all could have seen the look on the kids' faces as this wonderful author talked and encouraged your children!  Today.... that math test wasn't the focus... today.... the focus was that your children touched the life of an author as much as she touched theirs.  Sometimes the biggest lessons are taught by surprise! Please take a minute to talk to your child about this amazing and wonderful event in our day!