Morning Message 12/17/09

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, December 17, 2009.
Day 68 of School, 112 days left
Tiger Day: I

SUBSTITUTE RECAP: Ms. Best left me a full report and I was very pleased and proud to read that nearly everyone was helpful and studious in my absence. As you know, I really dislike being away from school and being away from you all. It’s tremendously difficult to be out for even a half day. There is so much learning we need to do. Plus I miss you guys!... I really have to count on each of you to be responsible, respectful, and helpful when I’m not able to be here with you.

REMINDERS:

• Chorus Field Trip today. Chorus members will go down to the Music Room at 10:10AM. You’ll return at 11:45AM.
• Bowling Fieldtrip tomorrow. We will discuss lane assignments this morning.
• Mr. Bragg (Colonial Guy) will be visiting us today.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget snack!
2. On your desk is a blank half sheet of paper. Choose two lines from the Poem of the Month (“Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”) to illustrate. Write these lines at the top or bottom of your paper. Be sure to include your name as well. Then begin to draw using pencil. Show your rough draft to Ms. Bragg before you begin to color with colored pencils.

Morning Message 12/16/09 (posted day late b/c of absence)

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
Day 67 of School, 113 days left
Tiger Day: T

Please welcome the substitute Ms. Best and be sure to be respectful and helpful. Ms. Bragg has a cold and should be back tomorrow. She expects to return to a tidy classroom and a glowing review of her ever so intelligent and polite students.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget snack!
2. Today is Wednesday so it’s time again to record observations and water plants.
3. Next, begin reading the issue of VA Studies Weekly on your desk. When you are done reading, you can pick up the key word list from Ms. Bragg’s desk. But you must thoroughly read the issue first!

Morning Message 12/15/09

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, December 15, 2009.
Day 66 of School, 114 days left
Tiger Day: S

Geography Bee: Let’s wish our finalists (Thomas and Mike) luck today-- they’ll go on to the next round at 2pm.

REMINDER: Bowling trip this Friday-- get in your permission slips and $6!

This morning we will be continuing to read about Colonial VA. We’ll also practice notetaking and making a bibliography. Finally, we’ll discuss how we will take notes when we get down the library today.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack! Everything you need for the day should be unpacked and in your desk.
2. What would you like to learn about your Colonial occupation? What are you curious about? Use the blank piece of lined paper on your desk to write some questions.
3. When you finish you may enjoy practicing poetry with a buddy. Another colleague has earned entrance into the Treasure Chest-- see if you can get there!

Morning Message 12/14/09

Good Morning! Today is Monday, December 14, 2009.
Day 65 of School, 115 days left
Tiger Day: R

Geography Bee Results:

• Top scorers with 6 out of 7: Mike and Thomas
• 2nd highest scorers with 5 out of 7: Katarina, Josh, Riley, Christian, Ben S., and Sloane
• 3rd highest scorers with 4 out of 7: Ben L., Kirsten, Ethan, Sam
• Congrats to everyone for putting yourselves out there and taking the risk- bravo! Everyone got at least one question correct.
• Ms. Lang will look at the scores for the entire 4th grade... She’ll let us know who qualifies for the next round.

Plant Projects: Need to go home! Don’t forget!


This morning we’ll practice taking notes, skim Bacon’s rebellion, and start chapter 7, Virginia Leads the Way! This afternoon, we’ll be choosing our research topics for Colonial Day.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack! Everything you need for the day should be unpacked and in your desk. Empty Friday Folders should be returned to your mailboxes.
2. It’s Monday-- time to observe and record! Remember to verify your measurements with a colleague. You both need to be looking at the tape measure or ruler in order to agree that the measurement is accurate.
3. When your observations are complete, add your new poem to your poetry collection. Then find a buddy and practice it with a friend. Who has heard of this poem or poet before?

Morning Message 12/11/09

Good Morning and Happy Friday! Today is Friday, December 11, 2009.
Day 64 of School, 116 days left
Tiger Day: E

Reminder: Geography Bee today!
Because we will be doing the Geography Bee this afternoon-- that is we’ll be doing Social Studies this afternoon-- we’ll switch our schedule around and do some Language Arts this morning.

Plant Projects: Need to go home today. Some rubrics are missing from the mailboxes.

Digital Story Popcorn Party: Because Patrols will be leaving at 3pm for a meeting, we will start our popcorn party a little earlier than Friday Afternoon Club. We’ll be sure to watch those that the patrols made first.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack! Everything you need for the day should be unpacked and in your desk.
2. Check out the results of your Math Fact Quiz. You’ll need to study those facts that you got incorrect. Say the correct answer to yourself 3 times quietly. When you are done, put your quiz in your mailbox. NOTE: Once you show that you’ve mastered multiplication facts, you get an award!
3. It’s Friday-- time to observe and record! Remember to verify your measurements with a colleague. You both need to be looking at the tape measure or ruler in order to agree that the measurement is accurate.
4. If you finish early, you may enjoy reading, writing, or practicing poetry.

Morning Message 12/10/09

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, December 10, 2009.
Day 63 of School, 117 days left
Tiger Day: G

Pods Have Changed!: I tried to give everyone a different outlook on our classroom. We’ll test out this new arrangement for a few days... Adjustments may need to be made.

Plant Projects: Though I’m sad to see these tremendous masterpieces go, I worry about the wear and tear they encounter in the classroom. Projects can go home either today or tomorrow, whichever is better for you. We want them to reach home safely.

Digital Story Popcorn Party: We will watch, celebrate, and enjoy popcorn during Friday Afternoon Club. Good idea Mr. Knight!

Group Photos Today: Several groups will be called to have their photo taken. Be sure to hurry back to class and be respectful in the hallways.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack! Everything you need for the day should be unpacked and in your desk.
2. Read your Plant Project rubric. Everyone did an excellent job, which means that you’ll also do really well on your Colonial Day projects-- I can’t wait! When you’re done reading, put your rubric in your mailbox.
3. If you finish early, you may enjoy reading, writing, or practicing poetry.

Morning Message 12/9/09

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, December 09, 2009.
Day 62 of School, 118 days left
Tiger Day: I
   
REMINDER: Scientists work hard to take accurate measurements. Be sure that you’re verifying your measurement with a group member. Also, remember that we have tape measures if you need them.

Watering Our Plants: We now have more measuring cups... But they’re marked off in different increments. How will we figure out how to use these new measuring cups.

Plant Projects: I think we’ll keep them here a bit longer. We don’t want them being ruined in the rain.

This morning we’ll be talking some more about our social studies reading... Then we’ll transition to Science.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack! Everything you need for the day should be unpacked and in your desk.
2. It’s Wednesday, so it’s time to do observations and water our plants.
3. If you finish early, you may enjoy reading, writing, or practicing poetry.