Yay for TechSteps!

Parents-

This week, we got to spend some of our computer lab time working with Microsoft PowerPoint.  The students had to create a PowerPoint slide on a topic of their choice, and then they had to give a one minute speech on their topic using their PowerPoint slide as a guide.

I was impressed with all of the presentations.  They did such a great job!  I have posted pictures under the classroom photos tab. Enjoy! :)    

Weekly Update

Parents-

I sent home report cards on Friday.  Overall, the students did a GREAT job!  I will need to have the envelope that I sent the report card in signed and returned as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns with anything you can always contact me. 

Last week we presented our respiratory system posters.  I took a picture of each group.  They did a wonderful job with their presentations.  I have posted a few pictures below, but the rest of the pictures are under the classroom photos tab. I hope you enjoy!

Digital Imaging Project

Parents!  I wanted to share the digital imaging projects with you that we worked on in class; however, for some reason they will not load properly.  If any of you would like to see the projects then please send me an e-mail (bkeys@access.k12.wv.us), and I will send you the videos.  I am sorry for the inconvenience.  We all know how technology can be sometimes! :)

Snowflake Bentley

This past week we were honored to have a lady from Carnegie Hall come to our classroom and teach the students about "Snowflake Bentley."  The students had such a great time and they learned a lot. 

I wanted to share the video with each of you in case you were interested.  I also posted some pictures under the classroom photos tab.  I hope you enjoy! :)

Weekly Update

Parents- 

This is just an update to let you know that we will have a spelling test tomorrow.  Since school was closed on Friday, we will resume the schedule that was planned for Friday.  The students will also be presenting their digital imaging and social studies projects tomorrow.  I will post pictures of their presentations as soon as a get a chance. 

I will be collecting any snow day activities that were completed.  I will also award those bonus points to grades for this 9 weeks.  As of right now, report cards are scheduled to go home on Friday.  When they are distributed, they will need to be signed and returned as soon as possible.

I hope that each of you had a great weekend. 

Congratulations Jaden and Chris!

Congratulations to Jaden and Chris!  Jaden was the December student of the month, and Chris received recognition for getting 1st place in the county math field day test!  Way to go! :)

Jaden

Chris

Parent Update

Parents!

I hope that each of you has had a great weekend!!  I just wanted to let you know that the grading period ends on Thursday, January 12, 2012, and report cards are scheduled to go home on Friday, January 20, 2012.  Overall, the students did an excellent job this 9 weeks.

This Wednesday we will have a lady from Carnegie Hall visiting our class for a Snowflake activity.  I am excited for the students to take part in this activity.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at any time.  I hope that each of you has a great week!    

Spelling Word Update

Parents!

I had several students come in today "getting on to me" for listing all 25 words on the blog. :)

I did the blog on Sunday night, and I planned to test the students on all 25 words.  However, after we had a snow day I felt that it would be in the best interest of students to only test them on 15 words.  The list below contains the shortened spelling list.  If you have any questions send me an e-mail!

Shortened Spelling List:

1. uncomfortable
2. discourage
3. unfamiliar
4. disadvantage
5. unfortunate
6. disqualify
7. undecided
8. disability
9. unnecessary
10. dehumidifier
11. disinfectant
12. disenchanted
13. disobedient
14. unpleasant
15. unpredictable

Parent Update

Parents-

As I was planning my lessons for the week, a co-worker informed me that snow was headed our way!  Now, as I am sitting here, I cannot help but smile as the beautiful snow is falling to the ground.  I must say that regardless of the season, God always finds a way to make a magnificent creation!  I think it is safe to say that winter has officially arrived!  

Over Christmas break, I met up with a former teacher of mine who gave me some advice for my snow packets.  Originally, I had a "method to my madness" on how I was setting up the packets.  However, she gave me some great advice on different activities that I should consider including. With that being said, over Christmas break I spent some time "tweeking" my packets.  I will need to reprint my final draft and make copies.  However, it looks like tomorrow may be our first snow day.  That is perfectly okay!  If we do not have school, I just want the students to enjoy another day off spending time with family and friends! 

I want to take the time to update you about the last quiz that the students took on descriptive writing.  Many of the students did great, but I had a few students who did not get one question correct.  I wanted to let you know that if your child did not do good on the quiz, that I do drop the lowest quiz grade.  Also, quiz grades do not count as much as test scores.  On the other hand, we do spend each day reviewing for our weekly quizzes.  As the students were taking notes, I made sure to highlight the important details that they needed to know for their quiz.  However, we all have days when we do not do our best.  Therefore, if your child was one of the students who did not do well, just remember that I do drop the lowest quiz grade. 

I am trying to help build study habits with the kids.  I have explained how important it is to look over material every night for a little while instead of trying to cram at the last minute.  As they are getting older, they will begin to cover more material that will require them to spend a little more time with their studies.  As we start working our way into the second half of the year, I want the students to work on being more accountable for their work.  They are getting ready to head off the middle school, so if we can work together on building these habits, I think we will help the kids out tremendously.   I have confidence that each of them will appreciate this new level of responsibility.  I must say that I am highly impressed with them so far!  I definitely have some smart cookies who LOVE to learn, and they have made this year so enjoyable! 

As always, if you have any question you can send me an e-mail or call me, and my planning is from 2:10-2:40.  I look forward to seeing my kiddos.  I sure have missed them!

Hip-Hip-Hoorraaayy…….We Filled Our Marble Jar

YAY!!  We have officially filled our marble jar!  At the beginning of the year, I placed an empty jar in the classroom and each time the class did something praiseworthy they received a marble.  The week before Christmas break they filled the jar, and I was so proud of them.  As a class, we came up with a list of rewards.  I decided to allow the students to have a small celebration the Thursday before Christmas break.  I also picked two additional rewards that I will share with the class tomorrow.  I hope you enjoy the some of the pictures!  The rest are posted under the classroom photos tab.

 

Fun With Oragami

Our class got the opportunity to spend some time learning about the Japanese culture!  We were very fortunate to have a lady from Carnegie Hall come to our class and share her expertise!  At the end of the lesson, the students got to create "Snapping Jaws" which is a type of origami!  I hope you enjoy the pictures! 

Digital Imaging Project

Parents-

I do not know if your child has told you or not about our digital imaging project that we are doing as part of a social studies unit, but I wanted to update you.  As part of a technology requirement for our Technology Integration Specialist, she has asked to use my class to complete this digital imaging project.  

This project is a technology and social studies lesson that will allow the students to learn different technology and social studies skills.  One of these skills includes the students characterizing and modeling good citizenship by building social networks of reciprocity and trustworthiness. 

The final product for this project will be a photostory that will instruct upcoming fifth grade students on things they need to know on move-up day.  So far, the students have successfully taken their pictures and saved them to a folder on their assigned computer.  

I plan to gather as many grades as possible from this project.  They have been working extremely hard, and I will be excited for them to share their final products with you.  If you have any questions regarding this project, please do not hesitate to contact me!