The Christmas Party will be on Friday, December 22nd. In the morning, my family will be cooking breakfast for the class. We will have pancakes, sausages, and milk, and my mom's famous scrambled eggs. After breakfast, students will go to PE. Then we'll have the gift exchange. Students can bring in a gift of a $3 value. Girls can bring in a gift for another girl and boys can bring in a gift for another boy. We'll enjoy a movie and have treats after lunch. There is a 1:25 dismissal that day.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Tuesday, November 21st, 2017
Today, the class baked peanut butter blossoms. You can imagine the excitement! There were 19 students and one teacher and about 10 ingredients. I needed to divide and conquer. Everyone wants to help - lots of help. I divided the class into thirds - 10 on computer, 5 baking and 5 reading Thanksgiving books (not a whole lot of reading went on). We made 2 batches and rotated so everyone had a chance to add something, mix, scoop the dough, and roll in sugar. They learn about baking, fractions, and cleanup.
Here are some of the learning opportunities that I would like to share:
Mason went to add 1 teaspoon of salt when the recipe called for 1/2 teaspoon, Addy added 1 cup of flour when the recipe called for 2 cups, Owen had a 1/2 cup in his hand to add soda which was really 1/2 teaspoon, Tharin shook the peanut butter off the spatula and peanut butter went everywhere, Jackson put peanut butter in the 1/2 cup measuring cup, but it wasn't full and there was more on the outside than in it, Karlee rolled the cookie in the sugar by shaking the bowl - sugar going everywhere, some students really used a lot of muscle when rolling their cookie in the sugar - they were odd shaped cookies, spacing cookies on the cookie sheet was a new concept for most,
But:
Everyone pitched in for clean up, all the computers were plugged in, the cookies got baked, the books escaped greasy fingers, and the room smells like peanut butter. I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday morning!
Today, the class baked peanut butter blossoms. You can imagine the excitement! There were 19 students and one teacher and about 10 ingredients. I needed to divide and conquer. Everyone wants to help - lots of help. I divided the class into thirds - 10 on computer, 5 baking and 5 reading Thanksgiving books (not a whole lot of reading went on). We made 2 batches and rotated so everyone had a chance to add something, mix, scoop the dough, and roll in sugar. They learn about baking, fractions, and cleanup.
Here are some of the learning opportunities that I would like to share:
Mason went to add 1 teaspoon of salt when the recipe called for 1/2 teaspoon, Addy added 1 cup of flour when the recipe called for 2 cups, Owen had a 1/2 cup in his hand to add soda which was really 1/2 teaspoon, Tharin shook the peanut butter off the spatula and peanut butter went everywhere, Jackson put peanut butter in the 1/2 cup measuring cup, but it wasn't full and there was more on the outside than in it, Karlee rolled the cookie in the sugar by shaking the bowl - sugar going everywhere, some students really used a lot of muscle when rolling their cookie in the sugar - they were odd shaped cookies, spacing cookies on the cookie sheet was a new concept for most,
But:
Everyone pitched in for clean up, all the computers were plugged in, the cookies got baked, the books escaped greasy fingers, and the room smells like peanut butter. I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday morning!
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Halloween
We will celebrate with treats and some fun games on Tuesday, October 31st from 2-3:15pm. There is a Halloween Parade in the gym. We will sit in the bleachers to watch our buddies and other little 'Falcons' parade by. If they have a costume they want to wear that day, they can come in it or put it on at 2pm. We still have reading class in the morning and math class in the afternoon, so if their costume is not comfortable or would be distracting, please send it in a bag. Our treats are coming from:
Hannah - juice barrels
Mason - something sweet
Kael - something healthy
Karlee - something salty
Karleigh something sweet
Trevor - something sweet
Please be sure and send a water that day and maybe a plastic bag to take some treats home. I'll have some baggies on hand as well. Just thinking ahead - that's a lot of sweets in one day.
Hannah - juice barrels
Mason - something sweet
Kael - something healthy
Karlee - something salty
Karleigh something sweet
Trevor - something sweet
Please be sure and send a water that day and maybe a plastic bag to take some treats home. I'll have some baggies on hand as well. Just thinking ahead - that's a lot of sweets in one day.
Differentiation
On Thursdays and Fridays for 30 minutes or more, we have differentiation groups formed in the classroom. It's where all students are getting time to work on a skill area of need or an extension area. It's crazy to think that with a class of 20 students there can be five different groups engaged in learning and different activities based on data. The kids are rocking at this, and I'm loving it!!! Just had to share.
New Link
There is a new link to try out called AEA Resources. I'll be introducing it to the class so they know how to navigate around. Try it out!
Friday, September 22, 2017
Field trips
Upcoming field trip dates:
Seasons field trips:
Monday, September 25th 10:05-2:30 at Monsanto
Monday, November 20th 10:05-2:30 at Monsanto
Thursday, February 1st, 10:05-2:30 at Monsanto
Thursday, May 9th 8:30-2:30 at Monsanto and Lock and Dam - Parents are welcome.
Louisa County Historical Society:
Wednesday, April 4th 8:45-1:30 at Wapello Museum and Wapello Park
Seasons field trips:
Monday, September 25th 10:05-2:30 at Monsanto
Monday, November 20th 10:05-2:30 at Monsanto
Thursday, February 1st, 10:05-2:30 at Monsanto
Thursday, May 9th 8:30-2:30 at Monsanto and Lock and Dam - Parents are welcome.
Louisa County Historical Society:
Wednesday, April 4th 8:45-1:30 at Wapello Museum and Wapello Park
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
PIN Night information
At PIN Night, I talked about academics, expectations, and our schedule.
Assignment books are used every day. At the bottom, is a place for parents to record reading minutes and initial each day. We can also use it to communicate with each other.
Reading minutes - the minimum is 60 minutes a week. 45 minutes for a four day week. It is rewarded with an extra recess on Fridays. If the minimum requirement is not met, students will read around the room on Fridays instead of having recess. Students have set their own goal. I want them to enjoy reading and not hate reading. If they need help finding a series, a favorite author, or an alternative way to reach their reading minutes, contact me. We can try some different things.
We start our day with leveled reading where each student is in a group reading at their ability level. Fourth graders are expected to answer questions in complete sentences. We also rotate through the chrome books on mylexia, dictionary.com, connect ed.
Students go to specials next. We have a four day rotation of Art, computer, PE, music. The special they have is written in the assignment book.
Whole group reading in with the entire class. We work on vocabulary on Monday, skills on Tuesday, comprehension test on Wednesday, vocabulary test on Thursday, cold read test on Friday. When students pas a skill, they move on to an extension activity. When they do not pass a skill, there will be an intervention given. All tests will be corrected.
Spelling coordinates with the reading program. This might be assigned as homework. Monday - write words three times, Tuesday - spelling skill worksheet, Wednesday - find the misspelled words and write a paragraph, Thursday - study, Friday - test
Students go to recess at 11:45 and lunch is at 12:05. They come in at 12:30 and fill out assignment books. I read aloud at this time. I'm currently reading Nightmare Mountain by Peg Kehret. She has a lot of suspense in her novels.
At 12:45, all fourth graders go to math class. We do flexible grouping where we pretest students' skills and divide them into three groups based on what they are ready for. All students receive the same pretest and post test.
There is a second recess from 2:00-2:15pm.
The last part of our day, we spend on Social Studies and have some homework support time or math intervention. In 2nd and 3rd quarter, my class will go to Mrs. Duytschaver for Science or Miss Lockhart for Health and Technology. The order has not been determined yet. For fourth quarter, they'll be back with me to cover anything we didn't get to with our thematics.
There is about 20 minutes left for math intervention, homework, or extension activities.
We will have our counselor, Mrs. VanSickle give us lessons once every three weeks. She'll come in on Tuesdays from 11:10-11:40am. Students will also go to the library every Tuesday morning. They can checkout from the classroom library as well.
Each student can bring their own healthy snack daily, but for birthday treats and parties, bring it on.
If you have questions, e-mail, send a note, or call me. My cell phone is 563-260-1557. You can leave a message and I will get back to you.
It is my hope that your fourth grader will have fun learning!
Thank you!
Assignment books are used every day. At the bottom, is a place for parents to record reading minutes and initial each day. We can also use it to communicate with each other.
Reading minutes - the minimum is 60 minutes a week. 45 minutes for a four day week. It is rewarded with an extra recess on Fridays. If the minimum requirement is not met, students will read around the room on Fridays instead of having recess. Students have set their own goal. I want them to enjoy reading and not hate reading. If they need help finding a series, a favorite author, or an alternative way to reach their reading minutes, contact me. We can try some different things.
We start our day with leveled reading where each student is in a group reading at their ability level. Fourth graders are expected to answer questions in complete sentences. We also rotate through the chrome books on mylexia, dictionary.com, connect ed.
Students go to specials next. We have a four day rotation of Art, computer, PE, music. The special they have is written in the assignment book.
Whole group reading in with the entire class. We work on vocabulary on Monday, skills on Tuesday, comprehension test on Wednesday, vocabulary test on Thursday, cold read test on Friday. When students pas a skill, they move on to an extension activity. When they do not pass a skill, there will be an intervention given. All tests will be corrected.
Spelling coordinates with the reading program. This might be assigned as homework. Monday - write words three times, Tuesday - spelling skill worksheet, Wednesday - find the misspelled words and write a paragraph, Thursday - study, Friday - test
Students go to recess at 11:45 and lunch is at 12:05. They come in at 12:30 and fill out assignment books. I read aloud at this time. I'm currently reading Nightmare Mountain by Peg Kehret. She has a lot of suspense in her novels.
At 12:45, all fourth graders go to math class. We do flexible grouping where we pretest students' skills and divide them into three groups based on what they are ready for. All students receive the same pretest and post test.
There is a second recess from 2:00-2:15pm.
The last part of our day, we spend on Social Studies and have some homework support time or math intervention. In 2nd and 3rd quarter, my class will go to Mrs. Duytschaver for Science or Miss Lockhart for Health and Technology. The order has not been determined yet. For fourth quarter, they'll be back with me to cover anything we didn't get to with our thematics.
There is about 20 minutes left for math intervention, homework, or extension activities.
We will have our counselor, Mrs. VanSickle give us lessons once every three weeks. She'll come in on Tuesdays from 11:10-11:40am. Students will also go to the library every Tuesday morning. They can checkout from the classroom library as well.
Each student can bring their own healthy snack daily, but for birthday treats and parties, bring it on.
If you have questions, e-mail, send a note, or call me. My cell phone is 563-260-1557. You can leave a message and I will get back to you.
It is my hope that your fourth grader will have fun learning!
Thank you!
Monday, September 11, 2017
Field trips with Louisa County Conservation
4th grade field trips
9/21
10:30-2:30
Seasons of the Prairie
Big Sand Mound
1/11
12:30-3:30
1 hour/classroom
Weather
School
2/1
10:30-2:30
Seasons of the Prairie
Big Sand Mound
5/10
9-2:30
Seasons of the Prairie
Big Sand Mound / Lock and Dam
(Parents can attend this one.)
There is a field trip that is donated to 4th grade from the Louisa County Historical Society. That has not been scheduled yet.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Aug. 31st, 2017
Ms. Lackey's Class is off to a great start learning routines and expectations, making friends, and having fun while learning. Some things your child knows and may or may not have shared with you:
*Each student can bring their own healthy snack. They will have it at 11:15am.
*Library is on Thursdays.
*PE is on Day 3. Students can keep track in their assignment book.
*Students should be reading at home. The minimum is 15 minutes a night or 6o minutes a week. They can read 30 minutes in one night and 15 minutes on two other night. Break it up in your schedule for what works for you. My goal is to have children love to read, not dread it. You can also read to them, they can read to a sibling, they could play a game that requires them to read too. I just need parents to sign in the assignment book, send me an e-mail, or write a note confirming that your child read. There is some extra recess time on Fridays they can earn if they reach their goal.
*Homework - I like to give time for the students to get their work done in class. I would rather they work on skills at home. There are several options of some computer programs. Students know how to get to my blog and all of the programs are linked in the upper right hand corner. If there isn't a computer for the student to use, they can read, do math flashcards, write their own story problems, write in a journal, and ask lots of why questions.
*No school on Monday, September 4th.
*Parent information night is Monday, September 11th from 4:30-5:30pm. There will be a session at 4:30pm and another one at 5:00pm. I will walk you through your child's day and explain the routines and expectations. It's a great time for asking questions. If you can't make it, we can talk by phone, e-mail, or a note.
*There is a field trip coming up on Thursday, September 21st. More information will be coming. This and three other field trips are for students only. In the Spring, we have a field trip that parents are invited to go on. Those dates are still getting confirmed.
We welcome birthday treats! There are 22 of us. All August birthdays are celebrated at the beginning of the year. June and July birthdays are celebrated in May.
For math, we do flexible grouping. Your child might have a different math teacher sometime during the year.
We are learning about maps and globes in Social Studies first quarter. For 2nd and 3rd quarter our class will travel to Mrs. Duytschaver for Science and Miss Lockhart for Health and Technology.
*Each student can bring their own healthy snack. They will have it at 11:15am.
*Library is on Thursdays.
*PE is on Day 3. Students can keep track in their assignment book.
*Students should be reading at home. The minimum is 15 minutes a night or 6o minutes a week. They can read 30 minutes in one night and 15 minutes on two other night. Break it up in your schedule for what works for you. My goal is to have children love to read, not dread it. You can also read to them, they can read to a sibling, they could play a game that requires them to read too. I just need parents to sign in the assignment book, send me an e-mail, or write a note confirming that your child read. There is some extra recess time on Fridays they can earn if they reach their goal.
*Homework - I like to give time for the students to get their work done in class. I would rather they work on skills at home. There are several options of some computer programs. Students know how to get to my blog and all of the programs are linked in the upper right hand corner. If there isn't a computer for the student to use, they can read, do math flashcards, write their own story problems, write in a journal, and ask lots of why questions.
*No school on Monday, September 4th.
*Parent information night is Monday, September 11th from 4:30-5:30pm. There will be a session at 4:30pm and another one at 5:00pm. I will walk you through your child's day and explain the routines and expectations. It's a great time for asking questions. If you can't make it, we can talk by phone, e-mail, or a note.
*There is a field trip coming up on Thursday, September 21st. More information will be coming. This and three other field trips are for students only. In the Spring, we have a field trip that parents are invited to go on. Those dates are still getting confirmed.
We welcome birthday treats! There are 22 of us. All August birthdays are celebrated at the beginning of the year. June and July birthdays are celebrated in May.
For math, we do flexible grouping. Your child might have a different math teacher sometime during the year.
We are learning about maps and globes in Social Studies first quarter. For 2nd and 3rd quarter our class will travel to Mrs. Duytschaver for Science and Miss Lockhart for Health and Technology.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Orbital Studies:
Students have chosen a topic they would like to learn about that orbits around our Social Studies curriculum. We have been studying the western region. Students will write 25 facts or more and they will create a display that they can share with their class. They have other options as well: Students can have a food from their region, do a demonstration, have a hand out, or write an essay. The display will need to be done at home. This is due next week, April 10th -12th. They have been given class time to research their facts. They are excited to choose their topic. I look forward to what they create to share. Photos need to be printed at home. If they choose a handout, I will print enough for the class.
Students have chosen a topic they would like to learn about that orbits around our Social Studies curriculum. We have been studying the western region. Students will write 25 facts or more and they will create a display that they can share with their class. They have other options as well: Students can have a food from their region, do a demonstration, have a hand out, or write an essay. The display will need to be done at home. This is due next week, April 10th -12th. They have been given class time to research their facts. They are excited to choose their topic. I look forward to what they create to share. Photos need to be printed at home. If they choose a handout, I will print enough for the class.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Dates to know:
March dates to know:
March 10th - No school
March 14th & 16th - conferences
March 17th - No school
March 24th - PTO Carnival
Future dates:
April 28 - Spring Concert
May 17th - Field trip to Lock & Dam & Monsanto
May 26th - last day of school
March 10th - No school
March 14th & 16th - conferences
March 17th - No school
March 24th - PTO Carnival
Future dates:
April 28 - Spring Concert
May 17th - Field trip to Lock & Dam & Monsanto
May 26th - last day of school
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Valentine's Day Party
Our Valentine's Day Party will be on Tuesday, February 14th from 2:15-3:15pm. Students can bring in their own box that they decorate at home and share a Valentine with everyone. The student's signed up for the party are: Bailey, Summer, Dominic. If you would like to send in a treat, please make it for twenty-four.
This is also Iowa Assessment week. Please talk to students about doing well on the tests. We will be doing test talks prior to the assessment week. There is no school on that Friday.
List of students and adults:
Molly Bramble
Olivia Calderon
Caleb Clark
Austin Downs
Maggie Gomez
Javen Hathaway
Dominic Ibbotson
Kyndra Johnson
Grayson Kilburn
Cody McKim
Xeydon Mesa
Jon Morgan
Summer Neubauer
Joslynn Rickey
Bailey Runnells
Isabel Stout
Laura Sywassink
Gabe Wheeler
Mason Whitcomb
Ms. Lackey
Mrs. Haines
Mrs. Hafner
Ms. Stanley
This is also Iowa Assessment week. Please talk to students about doing well on the tests. We will be doing test talks prior to the assessment week. There is no school on that Friday.
List of students and adults:
Molly Bramble
Olivia Calderon
Caleb Clark
Austin Downs
Maggie Gomez
Javen Hathaway
Dominic Ibbotson
Kyndra Johnson
Grayson Kilburn
Cody McKim
Xeydon Mesa
Jon Morgan
Summer Neubauer
Joslynn Rickey
Bailey Runnells
Isabel Stout
Laura Sywassink
Gabe Wheeler
Mason Whitcomb
Ms. Lackey
Mrs. Haines
Mrs. Hafner
Ms. Stanley
Friday, January 6, 2017
January
Welcome back to 4th grade in 2017! Starting on Tuesday, we reviewed expectations and wrote new goals to accomplish. We also wrote about and shared what the Christmas vacation was like for everyone. We are slowly entering back into our curriculum.
In reading, we have just started working on skills for 3.5 and will continue those next week. There will be testing on Tuesday and Thursday.
The spelling test will be Thursday, and the words are from the 3.5 lesson.
In Math, we are working on prime numbers with our homeroom class. We will be flexible grouping next week and taking on fractions.
During Science time, we will be studying health. There are short videos the students will be watching and taking notes.
In reading, we have just started working on skills for 3.5 and will continue those next week. There will be testing on Tuesday and Thursday.
The spelling test will be Thursday, and the words are from the 3.5 lesson.
In Math, we are working on prime numbers with our homeroom class. We will be flexible grouping next week and taking on fractions.
During Science time, we will be studying health. There are short videos the students will be watching and taking notes.
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