Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Field Day

Luckily the weather held out and we were able to have field day. Our class won the overall day winning ribbons in every single event! We placed first in the running relay, sack race, over/under, chicken throw, and cone weave; second in hula hoop, 3 legged race, human tunnel, and single ball jump; and third in the cone throw and the four legged race. Even better was the sportsmanship shown by our class. They cheered for every class until the races were over. I am so proud to be their teacher!
The chocolate party will be tomorrow. We just weren't able to get it in today.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Celebration Time!

Camp Campbell Gard was a great success-students and adults alike seemed to have a great time! I enjoyed sending the kids off to get lost in the woods;)
Tuesday brings the fourth grade field day as well as our chocolate celebration. We plan to watch the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so bring your favorite chocolate item to share with the class!
On Thursday we will celebrate our Walk-a-Thon win with Mrs. Porter's class from 9-11:30. We will also have our last AR lunch that day.
On Friday, we will celebrate the last day of school AND have our AR ice cream party.

So far, we're not celebrating anything on Wednesday...YET!

Don't forget-no school tomorrow!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Sweet Sorrow

As much as I hate to see this year come to an end, I must face the May 30 end of year date for the 2007-2008 school year. In the past, I have been very fortunate to have enjoyable, teachable, lovable classes, but either I'm getting older (obviously) and can't remember how good last year's (and the year before...) students were or this year's class is the BEST EVER! First grade teacher Mrs. Porter keeps telling me how great her class is, but I would put my homeroom up against any I've ever taught! They are smart, well-behaved, enthusiastic, loyal, and kind-and every other trait I hope to see in my own son.
50% of our class is in Washington D.C. as of this writing. In all fairness to those students, I can not/will not assign work to be graded while they are gone so all classwork assigned in their absence will not be graded. I do expect the students who remained behind to be honorable in their behavior and complete assigned work to the best of their ability.
Friday is the Camp Campbell Gard trip-yes, it is spelled correctly! Don't forget to pack a lunch and wear clothing suitable for the weather. We will spend lots of time outdoors, rain or shine!
On May 29, our class will celebrate our win for the Walk-a-thon top fourth grade $$ collector. Since so many of our students have siblings/relatives in the winning class from first grade, we have decided to celebrate together. The fourth graders could not decide whether The Bee Movie or Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium was the movie of choice (11-11 vote), so the choice was given to the first graders. Either way, I know the fourth graders are very excited about their guests!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Winding Down

Camp Campbell Gard: Please remember to pack a lunch on Friday. Pop is fine. Dinner and a snack are included in the amount paid, but there was a miscommunication and lunch will NOT be provided. Sorry about that glitch.

Washington D.C.: I have been informed that the bus will wait for no one. Be on time or early!

Because of the trips, all contracts are due tomorrow. There will not be a science test so that all students may fully utilize their time on contract completion.

Congratulations to this session's Rocket Club members!
Caitlin, Jared, Molly, James, Hunter, Jenna, Faith, Taryn, Holly Sa., Morgan, Jessica, Holly Su., Bryce, Lexie, and Tim are all in the final Rocket Club of 2007/2008!

Our last Friday folder came home last Friday (May 16). I have suggested to students that they may wish to check their mailboxes daily. All grades will be due by Tuesday, May 27 at midnight, so no late or missing work will be accepted after next Tuesday.

Coming up:
May 26: No School
May 27: Field Day
May 28:
May 29: Walk-a-thon party
May 30: Last day of school-Tug of War, Hot Dog Day
Not yet scheduled: AR ice cream party, chocolate party

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Cheap Physicals

On Tues. May 20th Batavia Family Practice will be giving physicals at the high school. The physicals will be good for ALL of next school year whether it be athletics, work permit, or anything else.

The physicals are a value of $100 plus dollars at the office but will be given for $10.00. ALL of the money will come back to Clermont Northeastern!!!!! The students will need to get a copy of the OHSAA physical form signed by their parents and bring with them as their release. (There are copies in both the middle school and high school office or they can get them from Mr. Tackett). No student with a signed form will be turned away, even if they don't have their money.

The physicals will be given at the High School from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. They do not need to make an appointment, just show up. Middle School students will need to walk over. Don't send them w/o a signed physical form.

They can pay in cash or checks can be made out to Batavia Family Practice.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

13 more days of learning

I apologize for not blogging more frequently lately. The end of the school year gets very hectic with lots of interruptions.
As you may have realized, there is no spelling homework for the remainder of the year. This is also the last week for homework packets.
Upcoming events:
May 13 (tonight): Concert by the Lake-fourth graders are performing
May 14 (tomorrow): Fifth grade orientation-we will visit the middle school in the morning
May 19: Walk-a-thon-our class should wear green! Charlie test
May 20: Science and Charlie contracts due; Science test; Third Rocket Club party
May 21: Washington D.C. trip begins
May 23: Camp Campbell Gard trip
May 26: Memorial Day-No School
May 27: Fourth Grade field day
May 28: Mrs. Krebs for science
May 30: Tug of War/Last day of school

Congratulations to our Millionaire's Club members! Holly Su, Bailey, Nick, Jessica, Tim, and James got to go on a behind-the-scenes visit to Newport Aquarium today!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Journal Journey

Today we began mapping our journal journeys that have returned. Hunter's, Abby's, Jenna', and Jared's travels were finished this morning with both cross country and international routes. Both Jenna's and Hunter's journals visited Spring Hill, Florida while Jared's went to Afghanistan, and Abby's went as far as Taiwan. We have received several other journals and will map their travels as well as create graphs representing the sites visited.

Market Place prospered today. The students really seem to enjoy both buying and selling.

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we read chapters 7-9 and worked on our contracts.

Math: worksheet
Science: life science contract-the radish seeds sprouted in one day.
Spelling: worksheet

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

What's Up?

In science we are working on a life science contract which includes Versatiles, inquiry stations, information stations, nonfiction reading, and a plant brochure. This contract is due on May 20 to accommodate those students who are traveling to Washington D.C.
In reading/language arts we are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together and working on a tiered contract. This contract is based on the same principles of interest-based student decision making, but is a bit different than our science contracts. Students must complete level 3 before moving on to work at level 4 which must then be completed to begin level 5. We are reading three chapters per day in order to complete the book before the Washington trip. Students will be expected to take the AR test on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on May 20. The contract is also due that day.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Testing Over

Thank you so much for your support of the Ohio Achievement Testing! We had 100% attendance on all three test days so everyone in the class earned a treat bag and is finished with the fourth grade OAT!

In order for your child to succeed on tomorrow's science test, he/she should be familiar with the following Ohio Science indicators:

1. Describe how wind, water and ice shape and reshape Earth's land surface by eroding rock and soil in some areas and depositing them in other areas producing characteristic landforms (e.g., dunes, deltas and glacial moraines).
2. Identify and describe how freezing, thawing and plant growth reshape the land surface by causing the weathering of rock.
3. Describe evidence of changes on Earth's surface in terms of slow processes (e.g., erosion, weathering, mountain building and deposition) and rapid processes (e.g. volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides).


For a look at questions that may appear on the test, click here, then select Grade 5 May 2007 Released Science Test.