Monday, January 31, 2011

It's a Slick Monday

Good Afternoon!

Today in reading we talked about diagrams and their importance.  Please continue to work with your child on prefixes: non, ex, dis, under, anti.  Also work on suffixes and their meanings.  ment, able, ful, ness.

In math we will continue working on fractions.  For your child to be successful with fractions they MUST know their multiplication facts.  Please continue to practice these with your child. 

We are gearing up for EarthWorks.  If you participated in the fundraiser you do not have to pay anything for your child to attend.  If you did not participate the cost for your child to go to EarthWorks and the cost of the bus is $20 total.

I found a neat typing website to help your child practice their typing skills.  http://freetypinggame.net/play.asp  I will also add it to they resources section.  :)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Help!

I am needing a parent or 2 who are willing to help me get some organization tasks accomplished.  I need to get book orders ready to go out as well as some different parts of my classroom organized.  If you are willing to come in and help please email or text me! wadkinsre@usd290.org  7852295793 :)  Thanks!

Our class is also out of highlighters!  If you find any laying around without a home could you please send them our way?!

Parent Teacher Conferences

It's that time of year!! Please don't forget to call the office 785-229-8060 to set up your conference time!! As I get an updated calendar I will try to update my google calendar as well!

Happy Monday!

Good Afternoon,

This has been quite a day.  There are several items coming up in the following weeks.  Please be sure to check the google calendar and your child's planner pages.  This Thursday is our Kansas Day Celebration.  This will be an all day celebration, with a 2 hour break in between for lunches and recess.  We have several presenters that the students will see.  Happy 150th birthday Kansas!

Costumes for Wax Museum need to be at the school by Wed February 2nd for dress rehearsal at 11.  If you will not be able to make it Friday February 4th for Wax Museum you are welcome to attend my classes dress rehearsal. If you are having troubles coming up with a costume please let me know so that I can gather the required materials.  Please remember we do not expect you to spend money.  If you are choosing to buy costume pieces I recommend shopping at good will and thrift stores.  (To bad it isn't garage sale season!)

We are currently in need of some old fashioned spectacles (glasses for my students who still don't know what the word spectacle means), football clothes (we have 2 students who are portraying football players and have no football clothing), and art supplies such as an easel, paint pallet, etc.  Thanks for helping us out!


In math we are working with probability.  Is it certain, likely, very likely, 50-50 chance, unlikely, very unlikely, or impossible to achieve.  We have also started working with basic fractions.  Please continue working with your child on count bys (2,4,6,8,10, 12... these are count bys of 2s) One way is to have your child practice saying them in their head while they brush their teeth. Your child should know all of their count bys through 10s.  So all the way up to the number times 10 for each number 1-10.

In reading we talked about problem/solution text.  We will also continue talking about main idea and details.

We have state testing starting the last week of February!  This is quickly approaching.  I haven't seen the official testing schedule yet, but please know that it is coming! 

My students did finally earn their class party.  We will be doing this February 4th before Wax Museum.  The kids voted and decided that they want to watch Alpha and Omega for their party.  They are allowed to wear pjs or bring a stuffed animal/pillow.  We also won the Scentsy Pizza Party.  We will do this the same day as our movie.  (I might also bring in cupcakes for my birthday, haven't decided yet.)  This pizza party will not replace school lunch.

Spelling List 20 for test on Thurs., Jan.27
all
there
their
only
through
too
because
often
together
several
answer
usually
morning
really
cannot
ready
already
carefully
leave
everything
game
system
bring

Students need to practice
consonant blends.  These
are two consonants whose
sounds are blended together.
For example:
dr  br  cl  th  tr  sk  sl
fr  pl
Have your child find words
that demonstrate these blends.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Happy Tuesday

Good evening all,

The school spelling bee was today.  Chevonne in our class got 3rd place and will be an alternate if one of the other two can not make it for the county spelling bee. 

Literature Festival packets went home today.  If you would like to order a book for your child, so that they may have it autographed, these are due by January 31st.

Take home task is due on Thursday and test is on Friday.

My great grandmother passed away yesterday, therefore I will not be at school on Thurs. or Fri.  Mrs. Laura Duty will be my substitute.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email or call me. 

Spelling words:

are(n’t)
there
their
then
than
its
important
it’s
example
half
brought
special
complete(ly)
already
problem
winter
heavy
carefully
follow
beautiful
everyone
they’re

Students need to spell words
that make comparisons.  For example:
long—longer—longest are comparisons.
Long is called the positive, longer the
comparative, and longest the superlative.

Sometimes you must double the consonant when adding the suffix.
flat—flatter—flattest
OR change the y to an i
sunny—sunnier—sunniest
OR drop the silent e and add the
suffix.
white—whiter--whitest


The following is a letter from the Ottawa Library:


Dear Parent:                                                                                                                                                               

You are invited to attend a fun and exciting reading program that will begin this February at Ottawa Library!  PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME® is designed to help families help their children improve their reading skills and enjoy reading.
There are many things that families can do to both encourage and facilitate a child’s interest and skills in reading.  PRIME TIME is a special 6- week program of storytelling, reading, and discussion for parents and children in grades K-5.  PRIME TIME doesn’t just help to improve reading skills; it also helps families learn to talk about books in ways that will aid children in school.  The program is FREE and a FREE dinner is served.  Special story-times will be offered at the same time for younger brothers and sisters.  Door prizes will be given away nightly and families who participate regularly will be given a free book!

PRIME TIME programs are presented by a discussion leader and a storyteller who use award-winning children’s books to:
• encourage parents and children to read and talk about books as a family activity;
• help parents and children learn how to choose books and use library resources.


Families who want to participate must pre-register and may do so by completing and mailing the form accompanying this letter or by calling the library at 242-3080. 

PRIME TIME programs will be held every Thursday, beginning February 3rd through March 10th at 5:30 pm at the Library located at 105 S. Hickory.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me at the library or via e-mail.
Thank you!
Sincerely,



Shannon Leonard, Youth Services
Ottawa Library       
shannon.leonard@ottawalibrary.org

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Brrrrr..... It's cold!

Good afternoon! It was so nice to be back into a routine today.  I hope you enjoyed your two snow days! Please remember that as temperatures stay low, to send your child with gloves, hats, and heavy coats.  We are having indoor recess while temps are this low, but waiting for parents to arrive at the end of the day is rather chilly.

In reading we continued to work on comparing and contrasting information.  In math we played division dash and worked on different strategies for multiplication. Please continue to work on count bys and multiplication facts with your child.  There is a link under resources for multiplication games. We also began our Earthworks curriculum today.   There will be no spelling test this week. 

Students need to continue working on coming up with a costume for their famous Kansan.  If you need help coming up with ideas please let me know ASAP!  We DO NOT expect you to go out and buy items for a costume.  The costume needs to match the era and job of the person your child is portraying. 

Don't forget that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday!  :)  Have a happy week!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Thoughts and Well Wishes

Good Morning,

Katie Gardner, one of our 3rd grade teachers, is scheduled for one of her surgeries today at 11.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers today.  Katie's family has set up a website where you can check on her progress.  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/katiegardner/journal Thank you again for all the positive thoughts, the prayers, and the well wishes for her!

In class:

Yesterday we talked about measuring angles and identifying angles. (acute, obtuse, straight, right, and reflex) 
We started our Famous Kansans project, this is also known as wax muesum. 

JUNGLE BOOK AUDITIONS
NEED 6 men and 1 boy and 15- 30 other people (anybody)
This is a TRUNK show- during the day, at the schools, one acts, minimum props, etc

Audition Dates:
Wednesday, January 5th, 5-8pm
Thursday, January 6th, 5-8pm

Location:
Carnegie Cultural Center
501 S. Main St.
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785) 242-8478
click here for map

Monday, January 3, 2011

Good Afternoon

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Break was very relaxing for my family.  We stayed at home and cleaned!  Over break Ms. Gardner, who teaches 3rd grade, was in a very serious car accident.   She is expected to recover; however, she has a very long, rough road of recovery ahead of her.  Please keep her in your thoughts and/or prayers.  You can send her free cards courtesy of the hospital she is staying at. 
The website is
http://wesleymc.netreturns.biz/cheercards/ 

We start testing the last week of February.  Please continue to work on multiplication facts and reading for 20 minutes at home. 

In math we began studying angles and degrees.  We learned that a circle has 360 degrees.  We will learn how to measure angles later this week.

In reading today we talked about comparing and contrasting, as well as, using Venn Diagrams. 

I will be sending home book-it coupons for November and December later this week.  Book-It logs for January went home today. 

Spelling List 17

Spelling List 17 for test on Fri., Jan. 7

 
there
their
use
using
through
because
does
again
always
it
usually
true
perhaps
certain
past
instead
either
understand
moon
animals
mind
outside
they


HELP!!!

Happy Monday everyone!

I am needing a parent or two to come in and help me get materials ready for EarthWorks.  We are starting next Monday and I need someone who can come in and make copies and assemble books! Let me know ASAP!  Thank you so much for your help!