Weekly Spotlight 10/21/11

A Week in Review

In reading this week, we have begun to target individual goals based on the DRA assessment results. The reading assessment gives instructional insight on student needs based on their ability to read accurately with good speed and phrasing and their overall comprehension of the text. We will focus on improvement of these skills over the year.

      Reader’s Workshop – Answering questions

      Writer’s Workshop – Poetry

      Math – Unit 3 Assessment on Wednesday

      Social Studies – Missouri Regions

      Science – Scientific Process

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PTO Upcoming Events

November
14 – Papa John’s Night

18 – Family Diner and Poetry Café

December

2-9 – Script Orders

8 – Bump City Night

12 – Papa John’s Night

15-16 – Holiday Shop

 
Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who had a part in the planning and the preparation for the party this afternoon! We are really looking forward to celebrating the fall season as a classroom family! Thank you for being so supportive!

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Poetry Café

More information about our upcoming PTO dinner and Poetry Café will be sent home next week. We will need to get an estimated head count of the number of students wishing to read aloud their poetry. Dinner orders will need to be placed through PTO and more information will be sent home soon regarding this as well.

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Looking Ahead
October
25 & 27 – PT Conferences
27-28 – No School

November
7-14 – Script Orders
8 – Two Hour Late Start
18 – PTO Family Dinner and Poetry Café
23-25 – No School: Thanksgiving Break

Weekly Spotlight 9/14/11

A Week in Review

   Today marks the end of first quarter and I look forward to discussing your child’s progress in fourth quarter during parent teacher conferences. This week, we have completed common assessments in communication arts and math. These assessments are used to monitor student understanding of essestial skills in fourth grade. The data will be used to help plan further instruction.

      Reader’s Workshop – Answering questions

      Writer’s Workshop – Poetry

      Math – Define factors, products, multiples, and square numbers

      Social Studies – Missouri Regions

      Science – Scientific Process

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PTO Upcoming Events

November

14 – Papa John’s Night

18 – Family Diner and Poetry Café

December

2-9 – Script Orders

8 – Bump City Night

12 – Papa John’s Night

15-16 – Holiday Shop

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Jefferson City Field Trip

A trip to Jefferson City is a tradition and a required field trip for fourth graders in Grain Valley. The trip is planned for November 3^rd as we will leave school at 6:45 with an approximate return time of 3:30 pm. All students will need to be brought to school, but it our intention to be back to school in time for student to ride the bus home. Students will need to bring a disposable sack lunch with no glass containers and they may bring a snack for the ride home. Any parent volunteers are welcome! Please let me know by October 20^th if you plan to attend! Please keep in mind this a trip for fourth graders only; other children may not attend the field trip.

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Looking Ahead

October
21 – Fall Party 2-3 pm
25 & 27 – PT Conferences
27-28 – No School

November
7-14 – Script Orders
8 – Two Hour Late Start
18 – PTO Family Dinner and Poetry Café
23-25 – No School: Thanksgiving Break

Weekly Spotlight 10/7/11

A Week in Review

   Solving basic multiplication facts with speed and accuracy is an important skill students began last year in third grade. To further assist students in mastering their math facts, we have begun a program called “Rocket Math”. This program allows for daily drill and practice of basic math facts and includes daily testing. After mastering multiplication, students will advance to division. In order to advance to a new level, students must complete the test in one minute and score 100%. They will have multiple opportunities for success. Students will bring home their daily test each day. Please help track your child’s progress by looking these tests with them.

      Reader’s Workshop – Answering questions

      Writer’s Workshop – Exploring the poetry genre

      Math – Define factors, products, multiples, and square numbers

      Social Studies – Missouri Regions

      Science – Scientific Process

 
PTO Events

Don’t forget about tonight’s PTO event at Coco Keys!!! The previous flyer sent home contained the wrong promotion code. You will need to have this code: “prairie7”. Also, make note that this Monday, October 10^th is Papa John’s Night. The class with the largest percentage of participation will receive a pizza party! Thank you for supporting our PTO!

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Parent Teacher Conferences

I sent home a reminder with each student of your scheduled conference for either October 25^th or the 27^th. If you have a conflict, please contact me as soon as possible so we can reschedule. If you did not receive your reminder notice, please let me know!

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Looking Ahead

October
7 – CoCo Key Night for PTO
10 – Papa John’s Night
12 – Two Hour Late Start
21 – Fall Party 2-3 pm
25 & 27 – PT Conferences
27-28 – No School

Weekly Spotlight 10/3/11

A Week in Review

   Our field trip on Friday was fantastic! The Native American exhibit was very interesting and so were the outdoor sculptures. The students learned a lot about the Native American culture and fine art.

     Last week, we also finished exploring some very structured forms of poetry. Now we will begin exploring the art of free verse poetry and the discovery of how poets find the ideas.

     In math we assessed over unit 2 and developed individualized student goals. As we proceed into unit 3, we will continue to work on these targeted skills. Each student was asked to write this skill in their agenda last Friday to help you understand what they can work on at home. Please let me know if you would like help finding resources.

      Reader’s Workshop – DRA testing and summarizing fiction texts

      Writer’s Workshop – Exploring the poetry genre

      Math – Define factors, products, multiples, and square numbers

      Social Studies – Missouri Regions

      Science – Scientific Process

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Snacks at Lunch

Beginning Wednesday, October 5^th, fourth and fifth grade students will be able to purchase extra snacks in addition to lunch. Each snack will cost an additional $0.50. There must be available funds in the student’s account to buy extra milk, juice, snacks and/or entrée. If you would like your child to have the choice of buying extra snacks and/or entrée, please see the form being sent home today and return to school with your signature.

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Breakfast

Just a reminder, breakfast is now being served at Prairie Branch. Students will need to go directly to the commons for breakfast when arriving to school as they will be sent to the classroom at 8:40 for class to begin.

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Looking Ahead

October
7 – CoCo Key Night for PTO
12 – Two Hour Late Start
21 – Fall Party 2-3 pm
26 & 28 – PT Conferences
27-28 – No School