A Few Updates & a SCIENCE FUN!

Report Cards:This week and next I will be finishing up conferences to go over your child's progress this quarter and his or her report card. If you aren't sure which time you signed up for or have missed your conference and need to reschedule please let me know. If I have already met with you, or am meeting with you this week I will send your child's report card home on the last day before break.


Tie Dye t-shirts:
If you haven't already done so, please send in $5 and a white t-shirt to be tie dyed. Please write your child's name on/near the tag in permanent marker. We ask that all money and shirts be turned in my next Tuesday, 9/8.

Items for our classroom:
I think we have enough of most supplies to last for the whole year.....except pencils! From what I can tell, the kids are eating them when my back is turned! :) But seriously, many of you have asked if we need anything for the classroom. Going in to the next quarter I think we will definitely need pencils. Mechanical pencils have become a distraction for lots of kids, so I'd love to get more regular pencils. Ticonderoga and Rose Art/USA Gold are the most reliable, sharpen best, don't end up in the trash, etc. 

And now for the good stuff! Here are some pics from our Science Fun Day. I encourage you to ask your child to tell about these, they had so many wonderful experiences today!


"Can you dig it? 
Geologists searching their 'mock rocks' for interesting minerals:

 

"Nature's Niche"

Students learned about different animals and their habitats, and physical and behavioral adaptations. I was so proud of how many of them were brave enough to hold the snake. I wish I could say I was! Despite getting to hold a ball python, the most exciting part of this session was when they discovered that the bearded dragon had pooped in it's cage :/

Fun Fossils & Formations

Students learned about fossils and landforms. They created a volcano, and then built and tested structures to see if they could withstand an earthquake!

 

Updates and Reminders:

Read-a-thon theme week:

Tuesday we will have book buddies with Mrs. Turner's 1st graders. Wednesday is 'dress as your favorite book character' day. Friday we will be writing a class letter to the author of our current read aloud book The Tiger Rising by Katie DiCamillo. We are tracking in class minutes read. Please make sure you are keeping track of minutes read at home so your child gets credit for ALL of their reading. Please send in pledge envelopes ASAP, remember actual money will be collected AFTER the reading part is complete.

Grade Level t shirts

We will be doing tie dyed t shirts for this years field trips. Please send in a white tshirt (with your child's name on the tag) and $5 by Tuesday September 8th.

Cultural Arts Experience
Next week we will have local poet, Phillip Shabazz for a week long residency with each of the 4th grade classes. This wonderful writing experience is paid for by the PTA! In place of our regular 10 minutes of writing homework he will have short writing assignments for the kids each night.

Science Fun Day
Our first in-school field trip with Science Fun for Everyone will be Monday, August 31. If you have not yet paid, the cost for this is $23. Be prepared to learn all about fossils when your kids come home that day!


Other Important Info:

This Wednesday, August 19th is an early release day. In light of the longer school day this year, early release time is now 11:35. If your child's transportation plans will be different than normal, please let me know. 

I'm noticing that many students are getting very hungry either before lunch or later in the afternoon before dismissal. Our lunch time is pretty late, and the longer school day seems to be catching up with all of us. Please make sure your child has at least 1 snack in their backpack each day. Feel free to send in snacks to be kept in their lockers, like a box or granola bars to last the whole week so you don't have to remember each day to pack something. 

Report card conferences will begin next Monday, 8/24. If you have not yet signed up for one be on the lookout for a half sheet with an updated list of the remaining available times.