Montessori

I wanted to share a photo from our trip to Mahoosuc Montessori this week.  The preschoolers really loved the books, cards, and I Spy bottles that our class made for them.  Our students also had a fun time making a Christmas craft that Cyndy had planned for them.  The kids really look forward to seeing each other, so I know we are all excited to meet up again sometime next month!

Christmas tree

Thank you to the Blair family for the beautiful Christmas tree!  The paper chains were also a gift from our reading buddies in Mrs. Cote's class.  We love how festive it is in our classroom, and we can't wait to tear into all of those presents next Wednesday!

Bethel, Woodstock students take field trip to study energy sources | Sun Journal

Bethel, Woodstock students take field trip to study energy sources | Sun Journal

I hope you enjoy this article that details our field trip!

Windmill Field Trip

We had a fantastic time today on our trip to the Spruce Mountain Wind Project.  Wow, those wind turbines are HUGE!!!  (About 400 feet tall from base to the end of the blades.)  We were able to learn more about how they are assembled, what they are like inside, and how they work.  Then the students were even able to go up and touch Windmill #2!  Look for an article in tomorrow's Sun Journal!

Time Capsule

Our class is creating a time capsule, which we will seal up next week.  It will remain closed until the last day of school, when we will open it and marvel at all that has changed throughout the year.  It would be great if each student could contribute something such as a recent photo, newspaper article, souvenir from a recent trip, etc. Please send in any contributions by Monday.  They will get their items returned on the last day of school.  Thank you for your help with this fun class project!

Homework Update

This week we will begin using online homework, as well as doing some written assignments.  Please use the updated links on my Homework tab for nightly practice.  At least 40 minutes of IXL should be done by Friday, and and additional 40 minutes can be free choice from the other links I have provided.  Please fill out the Digital Homework log, so I know what your child practiced during the week.  Additional requirements for this week include the worksheets in the printed packet and their nightly reading log.  The logs and the written homework is due on Friday.

Welcome to Fourth Grade!

I am so happy to be back in fourth grade this year!  We had a fantastic first day of school, and I can tell this is going to be a great class.  I am in the process of changing my blog over to fourth grade information, so please be patient for the next week or two.  Currently under the Homework tab my blog still has many links to websites that I used with my first grade class.  I will be updating those links very soon, so we can begin doing electronic homework.  Until then, feel free to browse the links if you are interested, since many of the websites may have information that is interesting and appropriate for fourth graders as well as the younger students.  We will not have any required homework this week.  Please remember that we will not have any school next Monday for Labor Day.  Enjoy the long weekend!

Last Day of School

Oops!  I had lost count and forgot that we had that last little snow day on April Fools Day!  So, our last day is not on June 14th as I said last week, but June 15th instead!  That will be a half day for students. 

Art Stamps

Caroline, a CPS student is a finalist for a contest on "Art Stamps.com".  To vote for her design, please click on the following link.  Thank you for your support!www.artstamps.com/gallery.php

Mrs. Charette's Shoe Tying Challenge

Starting on March 1, our class is doing a Shoe Tying Challenge!  The goal is for everyone to learn to tie their own shoes by April 1.  This week many of the students have practiced both at home and at school, and many have already met their goal!  Once they have mastered the technique they will color a shoe for the bulletin board in our classroom, and I will also give them a coupon for a free book from the next book order.  It is wonderful to see the collaboration that has developed over the past few days, as they are all helping each other and giving their classmates hints on what might work for them.  Please check in with your child to see if they have met the challenge, and remember to keep practicing at home so they they perfect their technique.  This is an important life skill for them to master, and it will make things run much more smoothly when getting dressed at home and at school.  Thanks for your help!

Read Across America assembly

At 1:00PM on Wednesday, March 2, we will have an all-school assembly for Read Across America Day, which celebrates Dr. Seuss' birthday.  All of the different grades will be participating by reading books, poems, or readers theaters to show our love for reading.  Several members of our class will be reading books that they created based on the book "Harold and the Purple Crayon."  Parents who would like to watch the assembly are welcome to attend. 

Valentine's Day

Just a reminder that we will be exchanging Valentines and having a small party on Monday afternoon.  We are all set on juice and sweet treats, but if anyone would like to send in something like pretzels or popcorn, veggies, or fruit, that would be great!  If you could either post what you are sending or email me so I could post an update, that would be great, so we don't end up with too much.  Thank you!

Children's Stage Adventure

The office would like me to remind you that anyone who would like to participate in next week's production of Oliver Twist must return their permission slip by tomorrow (Friday).  There will be parts for those who sign up, but please remember that the younger children will most likely be given non-speaking or single line roles, while the older students usually get the lead roles.  It is a great opportunity to participate in a real theater production, so hopefully those who sign up will really enjoy the experience.  I can't wait to see the show!

Homework and Book It

Now that we have made it through the holiday season, we are back on our regular schedule for weekly homework and reading expectations.  The students should be doing 40 minutes of homework each week using the links on my blog.  They should also be reading nightly and recording the books on their Book It log.  I will be doing the end of quarter reading testing over the next week or two, and during that time many of the books that they bring home will be unfamiliar to them, although they will be at their reading level.  Since many of the books will be "cold reads", the kids may need some help with unfamiliar words.  Thank you for your help!