MAP Letters

Dear Parents,

        Aloha!!! Prairie Branch is preparing to ride the waves into MAP success!  The teachers are busy making all sorts of plans to get students prepared for the state assessments in April.  We would like to invite you to be part of this effort. 

A simple note of encouragement can go a long way towards boosting students’ confidence.  We are asking parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches, and any other important person in your child’s life to write a total of three letters or notes (the letters can be from different people) to encourage your child to do their best on the test.   

Please enclose the three letters individually in envelopes, with your student’s name printed on the outside of each and return to your child’s teacher by Friday, March 16^th.  

Thank you for your support and joining the team effort to help all students be the best they can be.

Thank you for your support!

Weekly Spotlight 1/27/12

A Week in Review

      Reader’s Workshop

Students will draw conclusions from non-fiction text.

      Writer’s Workshop

We are beginning to brainstorm ideas for essays and learn about the new genre.

      Math

We are reviewing fractions and probability this week.

      Social Studies

Students are studying the first Missourians and studying timelines.

      Science

Students are studying the different types of matter.

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Author’s Visit

Lisa Campbell Ernst will be visiting Grain Valley on Wednesday, January 8^th. Students will be bussed over to the high school for a short presentation and return to school before lunch. Permission slips are not necessary as it is an in district event.

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Bond Issue

Don’t forget to check out the district’s homepage to review the proposed plans for the north middle school. The bond issue up for election on Tuesday, February 7^th, will allow for additional classrooms and needed updates. Please vote on February 7^th!

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February
7 – Election Day
8 – Author Visit at High School
16 – Two Hour Late Start
20– No School

Pastries with Parents

Don't forget to make plans to attend Pastries with Parents on Thursday, January 26th from 7:45-8:30 at Prairie Branch. Dr. Moss will also be present to share some information regarding our upcoming no tax increase bond issue. Come enjoy the company of your child, visit with other parents and teachers, and enjoy some donuts or muffins! Hope to see you there!

Spirit Week ~ 1/23-1/27

23rd...Monday~ Get Up and Go Day

24th...Tuesday~ Hat Day

25th...Wednesday~ Twin Day

26th...Thursday~ Class Colors Day

27th...Friday~ Spirit Day

We are also collecting gently used books to be donated to students in need throughout our school community! Thanks for your continued support!!!

Two Digit Long Division

Today we started two digit long division and used this online tutorial to assist our learning. The kids really enjoyed it and thought it might be helpful to have on hand at home! This is a complicated skill that we will continue to work on and it is not a skill they should have mastered at this point.

http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX5570627d01627350457a51&t=Division

Scholastic Book Orders

I am sending home two book orders tonight. If you would like to place an order, please do so by next Friday, January 27th. You can also order online using the following url and class activation code.

www.scholastic.com/bookclubs

Class activation code: GW264

Weekly Spotlight - 1/6/12

A Week in Review

      Reader’s Workshop

Students will be working to determine the importance of fiction and non-fiction texts.

      Writer’s Workshop

Next week, students will be researching electricity in a collaborative project with science and will create a brochure teaching others about the uses and safety of electricity.

      Math

Students will continue working on long division and practicing their multiplication and division skills through the use of number problems.

      Social Studies

Students are studying Missouri today.

      Science

Students are learning about electrical circuits and performing labs.

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Pastries with Parents

You are invited to bring your child to breakfast on Thursday, January 26^th at 7:45 am. Dr. Moss will also be present to share some information regarding our upcoming no tax increase bond election on Tuesday, February 7^th. More information regarding the breakfast will come home soon!

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Grade Cards

Your child will bring home their second quarter grade cards today. Please keep their grade card for your records and return the signed envelope to school.

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Papa John's Night

Monday, January 9^th is Papa John’s night! Please help support our school’s PTO by ordering dinner from the Blue Spring’s Papa John’s and a portion of your order will benefit our school!

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January
9 – Papa John’s Night
12 – Grade Card Envelopes Due
24 – PTO Skate Night
26 – Pastries with Parents

Long Division

This week we started our math chapter in division. Like in multiplication, there are several algorithms (or methods) that our Everyday Math Curriculum uses to teach division. I have chosen to start this chapter with teaching long division (which to the kids, is known as the “old-fashioned way” – what we learned in school! J). Unlike in the multiplication unit, I am totally fine with them just using the old fashioned method of division through the entire unit. Most children will choose this method because it is more structured and follows a pattern.

We will continue to practice long division at school and when their skills are more secured they will bring some home to practice periodically. If at any time they become frustrated, please stop, write a quick note and I will be sure to work with them when they return to school. This is a skill we will continue to work on the remainder of the year and as they become more confident in their multiplication skills, they will become more confident in division as well. Please encourage them to continue practicing their basic multiplication and simple division facts at home. This will help improve their speed and accuracy when solving problems.  

If your child needs a refresher on the basic steps, the following link is an online tutorial.

https://www.wrightgroup.com/download/em/em3tlg2_g4_project11.pdf

Thanks so much for your support and please let me know if you have any questions.

Grade Cards for Second Quarter

We had a great and productive first day back to school in the new year! I would like to remind you that your child's grade card for second quarter will go home this Friday, January 6th. Please keep the grade card and return the signed envelope back to school by Wednesday, January 11th. If you have any questions regarding your child's grade, please let me know and I will be happy to discuss it further.