Newsletter 12-15-16

Important Dates

• December 15th- 4th Grade Music Program (6:30-7:30)
• Please drop them off in my classroom.  I will be waiting in my room at 6:00. 
• December 20th- Winter Party
• December 21-January 3rd- Winter Break
• January 4th- School resumes
• January 16th- NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 20th- School Spelling Bee
• January 30th- Beulah Ralph's 90th Birthday
• February 6th- NO SCHOOL (teacher work day)

Cold Weather

The weather is getting a lot colder.  There have been a couple time we have stayed in for morning recess because of the wind chill.  We will always try for outdoor recess (send hats, gloves and warm coats!), but sometimes it is just too darn cold!  Today was one of those days.  

Congrats

Congratulations to Ava Renner who was chosen by our class as Citizen of the Month this month!  We are so proud of you!

Spelling Bee

We had our class Spelling Bee on Wednesday.  My heart was so proud as they all cheered each other on.  I am proud to announce that Chase Dunafon and Riley Rolwing will be representing our class in the school wide spelling bee in January!

Writing/Social Studies

Students worked so hard on researching and then presenting information about their region of Missouri.   

While presenting, students were mindful of looking at their audience, standing up straight, and showing lots of enthusiasm.  This project helped with both learning about the different regions of Missouri, as well as learning how to manage work with a group.  Thank you students for giving such interesting presentations!

Class Pictures

A mom came in to do a group shot of our class for the yearbook.  I love this group of kiddos so much!  They make coming to work everyday fun!!!  

Math

Students have just finished our math problem-solving unit. They spent a lot of time working with partners and using multiplication to help solve division problems.  I encourage students over break to keep up with their multiplication facts.  Knowing these facts makes understanding division so much easier!

Reading

We have finished our read aloud book, Jack;s Run.  Students were on the edge of their seats until the last page.  It is going to be hard to find another book that good!  This week we took a break from chapter books and read holiday/winter picture books.  We talked a lot about themes.  Our focus this week in reading has really been kindness and how to show that to others during this season and all the time.  All the books I have read are about showing and sharing kindness with others.     

Staying Busy and Warm

Reminders:

• Thursday, December 15th is the 4th grade choir concert at 6:30.  
• I will be in my room waiting for them to arrive at 6:00 
• Please send in topping for our Gingerbread Houses we are making by Friday if you'd like to donate!
• Holiday Class Party is Tuesday, December 20th
• Parents are welcome
• An email went out from the room mom with information
• If you'd like to be a parent volunteer for Beulah Book Buddies, let me know ASAP 
• Notes went home on Friday Folders last week.  I am happy to send another one.

I am sure you have heard about our Kindness Secret Santa!  My heart is warmed each day when I see students doing things for each other.  Be sure and ask your child what they are doing for others and the kind things that others have done for them.   

What do we do when it's too cold for extra recess?  We make ourselves into elves... 

We have had fun in book clubs doing different activities and sequencing events.

Our class has been learning about parts of speech.  The past couple weeks we have spent time talking about nouns, proper nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.  When we were done, we went on a word hunt around the school looking for words and then trying to classify them.

  We have been doing lots of group work this week.  Students have been learning about not just the objectives and what I am trying to teach, but also the importance of being a good team member.  

We've also had tons of fun in the meantime!!  

Students have been learning about division situations.  I have given them tough situations that they've had to figure out.  I pose the problem, then students have to work with a partner to try and solve it and make a poster to show their thinking and defend their answer.  Students then make comments on each poster and and we have a gallery walk around the class.  We have been enjoying a math congress at the end of lessons talking about and sharing different strategies used.  

  

Have a great weekend!

Flash the Timberwolf

Our school mascot has been named and chosen!!  The best part about opening Beulah Ralph has been the input teachers and staff have.  Monday, at our morning opening, we met our Timberwolf, Flash.

The kids were super excited that Flash knows how to Dab...