Janice Earnest

May 6, 2008

Three more weeks of school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The end is almost here and summer break will begin.  The other good news is that CRCT testing is over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My class did such a great job and I am very proud of their behavior and focus last week.

The auction will be in 11 days.  It is Wednesday, May 21.  We have received many cool things.  We still need more auction items.  If you would like to donate to our class auction, please do so by next week.  Remember, gift cards of any amount, toys, cool t shirts, or just anything will be appreciated. 

I've had to remind the class that school is not over yet just because we are done with CRCT's.  We still have report cards coming home in 4 weeks.  I still expect quality work from everyone and study for tests.  Grades are counted up until the last day of school.  Speaking of tests, don't forget about the Social Studies test tomorrow.  We went over their study guide again on Friday. 

Dates to remember:

• Tuesday, 5/6                                   Chick-fil-a Night
• Wednesday, 5/7                               National Nurses Day
• Thursday, 5/8                                  Walk to School Day
• Friday, 5/9                                      Hat Day
• Friday, 5/16                                    Field Day

Tests this week:

• Wednesday, 5/7                               Social Studies, Revolutionary War
• Friday, 5/9                                      Wordly Wise Vocabulary and Spelling
• Friday, 5/9                                      Cummalative Grammar Quiz

April 21, 2008

I hope you all had a great Spring Break!  We are off and running getting ready for the CRCT testing.  The next few paragraphs will outline our upcoming week of testing as well as other important information.

We will begin testing on Wednesday, 4/23 and finish up on Tuesday, 4/29.  Wednesday will be Reading, Thursday will be English, Friday will be Math, Monday will be Science and Tuesday will be Soc. St. We will start testing first thing every morning so it is very important that your child be to school on time.  Please,  no tardies.  If your child is tardy and we have already started testing for the day, your child will miss that section of testing and have to do that part of the test on a make up day. 

I cannot stress enough the importance of a good night's sleep and a good breakfast.  The other news on this is that we will not be eating lunch during testing until 12:30. This is over an hour later than we usually have our lunch.  I have cereal and water here for the children, but please remember to send a snack with your child this week as I am sure I will have some "starving" children.

I am taking the class to the media center today so that they will all have two library books at their desks to read when finished early on testing days.  If your child has a book at home they want to bring they can do that as well.  Don't forget the number two pencils, sharpened.  I have some here, but it makes it much easier if everyone already has sharpened pencils on the days of testing. 

We will not have any homework during testing, nor will I be taking any grades.  I want the children to go home everday and play, relax and enjoy their day. We will however be going over Science and Social Studies topics during the week, but this will not mean homework or tests.  There will be no math classes during testing.

I hope you all enjoyed seeing your child's pictures.  I thought everyone looked so handsome and pretty.  I would like to have all money or pictures back by the end of this week.   Thank you.

Registration forms for all of 4th grade are going home today.  Please be sure to return this ASAP.  There will be Earnest Money involved for those returning their forms in a timely manner.  Also please remember to sign the form on the back page.  I will have to return the form back to you if it does not have a signature.  I myself have turned in a few registration forms without my signature only to get it back the next day.

AUCTION time is fast approaching.  I'm looking at Wednesday, May 21.  This is a huge highlight in my classroom every year and the children always remember the auction.  This is the time of year where I feel like every child is rewarded for doing a great job.  Their hard earned money pays off for them and they have a blast.  This is where I need your help.  I bring in a few items myself, but I need you guys to send in items as well.  We have had everything from water guns, Webkinz, gift cards, video games, footballs, Littlest Petshop, to a harmonica.  If you could start sending in your donations soon, it will give me an idea of what I need to purchase myself.  If you have any questions just email me or ask me when you are in the building. 

I am reading Prince Caspian to the class right now.  The last day to take AR tests is Monday, 4/28.  Prince Caspian is an AR book, and I hope that during testing your child will have a chance to catch up on some AR reading.  I am reading Prince Caspian because the movie is coming out in May and I just love this series.  Since we will have absolutely no homework this week as well, I hope that many of the children can reach their goal.  Look in your child's folder for the actual points your child needs to reach his/her goal.

Dates that are coming up:

• Monday, 4/21                                    Stevie B's Night
• Wed, 4/23 - Tues, 4/29                     CRCT Testing
• Tuesday, 4/29                                   Progress Reports
• Friday, 5/16                                      Field Day
• Wednesday, 5/21                              Auction
• Friday, 5/23                                     Last Day of School

April 2, 2008

Sorry folders did not come yesterday as planned, but I was called out of lunch about my son who was sick.  Needless to say we were off to the doctor and I wasn't in the room to hand out folders. 

CRCT review packet #3 is coming home today.  You should have completed two packets at home by now.  We are checking these in class and going over any questions the children may have.  The week after Spring Break we will really be concentrating on review to get ready for testing.  We even have the counselor coming in that week to work on testing techniques.  We will not have Wordly Wise this week so that we can concentrate more on testing.  The week of testing, we will not have any homework.  I want the children to go home every afternoon and relax and PLAY.  Nothing is better for test anxiety than a good dose of playing outside and going to bed early.  I do want the children to have two chapter books to read during testing.  We will go to the library as a class the week before and check out two chapter books.  This way if they finish early during testing, they will have plenty to read. 

Next week is Spring Break.  Please take this time and enjoy being with your family and friends.  I am not giving out any assignments for the week.  If you feel the need to review, your child will have 3 CRCT packets you can go over with them and as always, READ.  I personally am going to be enjoying my time with my family and I want this for you as well.

This week:

• Math - 3-D figures, multiplying/dividing with decimals
• English - adjectives
• Spelling - Unit 14
• Reading - finishing up with George Washington's Socks
• Science - Ecosystems
• Social Studies - French Indian War/ Economics

Tests this week:

• Friday, 4/4                                   Spelling

Dates to Remember

• Wednesday, 4/2                          Talent Show Tryouts  2:15 - 6:00 in Gym
• Thursday, 4/2                             Talent Show Make Up Auditions  2:15 - 3:15 in Gym
• Friday, 4/3                                 Spirit  Day and Hat Day
• 4/7 - 4/11                                  Spring Break
• Wed 4/23 - Tues 4/29                 CRCT Testing
• Tues, 4/29                                 Progress Reports

March 25, 2008

Due to report cards just coming out, I am not sending home graded papers today.  Your child received a newsletter today and any handouts that needed to come home today.  Look for graded papers next week.  We only have 8 more school days until Spring Break!

Remember the CRCT Review packets are due on Wednesdays and new ones are given out.  We will check these in class and discuss any questions the children may have.  Please take the time to go over these with your children if they have any questions.  This is a great way to get them ready for the CRCT.  The dates for the CRCT will be April 23 - May 2 ( those last days will be make up days). 

We had a great Jelly Belly Day on Friday.  The children truly enjoyed the jelly bean activities we did.  If they haven't told you about our day, ask them about it.  We laughed a lot.

This Week

• Math - ordered pairs, graphs
• English - adjectives
• Reading - George Washington's Socks, WW #14
• Social Studies - French and Indian War
• Science - Moon Phases
• Health - Nutrition

Upcoming Tests:

• Thursday, 3/27                            Science Quiz
• Friday, 3/28                                WW #14 Vocabulary and Spelling
• Friday, 3/28                                Soc. St. Early Settlements Quiz

Dates to Remember:

• Wednesday, 3/26                        WAMU Banking Day
• Wednesday, 3/26                        Still Night at Hillgrove Baseball
• Mon 3/31 - Wed  4/2                   Target Field Trip
• Tues, 4/1                                   Chick -fil-a Night
• Mon, 4/7 - 4/11                          Spring Break

March 18, 2008

Can you believe we are starting our last nine weeks of fourth grade?  WOW! Time flies!  This week is going to be a little different due to report cards coming home on Thursday.  I am sending you this newsletter/blog today, but the actual folder will not come home until Thursday with report cards. 

I am beginning this week to work on CRCT review.  Your child will come home with a packet tomorrow and we will check it in class next Wednesday, 3/26.  If your child finishes his/her packet early, they may go ahead and bring them in for me to keep until  3/26.  We will be doing this on a weekly basis until the CRCT. 

Boosterthon envelopes are due by Friday, 3/21.  Please make sure you have all monies turned in by this date.  The Original Artworks purchases are due by tomorrow.  If you are planning on purchasing anything from them, have the price form and check by tomorrow.  If you are not purchasing, you may keep your child's artwork and return nothing.

Your child should be taking two AR tests this week from books we have done in the classroom.  There are not many tests being taken right now because reading has slowed down on an individual basis.  Please make sure your child is reading at home daily.

This Week:

• Math - new classes start tomorrow
• English - helping and linking verbs
• Reading - finishing A Lion to Guard Us
• Spelling - Unit 13
• Social Studies - Early Settlements
• Science - sharing space projects
• Health - nutrition

Tests this week:

• Friday, 3/21                                  Spelling
• Friday, 3/21                                  Quiz on Verbs

Dates to Remember:

• Wed, 3/19                                     WAMU Banking
• Wed, 3/19                                     Original Artworks Due
• Thurs, 3/20                                   Report Cards/Tuesday Folder
• Friday, 3/21                                  Boosterthon Collections due
• Friday, 3/21                                  Jelly Bean Fun after specials
• 4/7 - 4/11                                     Spring Break

March 11, 2008

Everyone turned in their space brochures on time.  Thank you to all parents who came up and looked at samples of brochures as well as to all parents who supervised your child's work.  We will have a Revolutionary War project coming up at the end of March/beginning of April.  I'll let you know as soon as we have a time line worked out.

Boosterthon was extended until Friday, March 14.  If you have any more pledges to send in, you can do so on Friday.   Remember the walk is tomorrow morning at 9:10 on the upper field.  Feel free to join your child and walk/run around the track for our school.

The last day to take grades this nine weeks is Friday.  I talked to the class today about how important it was to do well on their quizzes this Friday.  Please help your child study this week for Wordly Wise Vocabulary and Spelling. 

We are starting new proofreading folders.  We made the folders today and wrote the rules inside for good proofreading techniques.  Children will need colored pencils to do this method.  If your child does not have colored pencils, please send some in ASAP.

Our store is running low on everything.  If you feel motivated to help us out, please send in your donations by Friday.  Thank you.

This Week:

• Math -  Post testing on Fractions/Decimals
• Reading - Wordly Wise #13, A Lion to Guard Us
• English - Helping Verbs, Plural/Possessive Nouns, Pronouns, 
• Writing - We are beginning our Proofreading Rules Folders
• Science - sharing of space brochures, continue phases of the moon
• Social Studies- early settlement

Dates to remember:

• Wednesday, 3/12                             WAMU Banking
• Wednesday, 3/12                             Boosterthon Run 9:10 - 10:10
• Thursday, 3/13                                Picture Day
• Monday, 3/17                                  Stevie B's Night

Tests this week:

• Friday, 3/14                                   Wordly Wise Vocabulary and Spelling

March 4, 2008

We have started our multiplication facts quizzes on Fridays.  The children were tested on their 2's last Friday.  We only had a few who didn't pass with accuracy.  The should only miss one on a multiplicaton facts test to pass.  Once they fill up their cards with stickers they will receive $100 Earnest dollars to spend at auction.

I hope you all are working on the science projects.  Remember if you have any questions or want to see examples, let Mr. Wilfong or myself know.  Projects are due March 10.

We have started our Boosterthon Fundraiser for the spring.  Remember not to send any money in now, just the written pledges on your child's pledge card.  The prize patrol is coming around every morning to award prized for the amounts of pledges on the cards.

This week:

• math - decimals
• English - action verbs
• Reading - A Lion to Guard Us
• Spelling - Unit 13
• Social Studies - Colonization
• Science - space
• Health - nutrition

Dates to Remember:

• Tuesday, 3/4                             Chick - fil - Night
• Tuesday, 3/4                             Early Release
• Wednesday, 3/5                        WAMU Banking
• Thursday, 3/6                           PTA/Original Artworks
• Friday, 3/7                               Spirit Day, Hat Day
• Sunday, 3/9                              Daylight Savings

Tests this Week:

• Friday, 3/7                               Spelling/Grammar

February 26, 2008

Thanks to all of you for my Valentine's Day goodies.  I am 10 pounds heavier as a result, but seriously, I say thank you.  The children seemed to have a delightful time exchanging Valentine's Day Cards.  We all know that changes ever so fast.  I want them to enjoy these "little" things while they still have the desire to be a part of them.

In your child's folder this week is an AR update.  Please go over this with your child and sign and return.  The only way to improve our reading skills is to read daily.

We are really stressing writing our last name on our papers.  I am fining the children for no last name as well as no name.  I told them when I taught middle school I had 120 students come through my door each day.  I want this to become second nature to them - first name and last name.  We are also stressing answering questions in complete sentences.  I am taking off points if questions are answered in a phrase and not a sentence.  You will notice some points have already started being deducted on some of your papers.  The ideal answer to a question is to restate the question in your answer.  This has been an ongoing lesson since early fall. 

We started making our checkbook covers on Friday.  Hopefully this will be up and running by the end of next week.  The children seem really excited about this process.  So look for cleared checks or bounced checks in your child's Tuesday Folder within the next couple of weeks. 

GOOD NEWS! The science project is now due March 10!  This gives you an extra week! I cannot stress the importance of learning how to do a project correctly now.  From personal experience the amount of projects only increases the older they get.  I hope you all saw the bibliography samples we sent home.  Make sure you follow these examples in doing your own bibliograpies.  We will be going to the Media Center and the computer lab to take notes.  I suggested the children use note cards for taking notes.  They need to write the Bibliography on the top of one note card and number it #1, then all the notes taken on cards will have a #1 on them.  Continue with the second  source, write the bibliography on the top the card with a #2 then all the note cards from this source will have a #2.  Continue this pattern for all of your note taking so you will know exactly which notes come from what source.  You do not have to use note cards, you can use paper, its just note cards are easy to keep up with (in a baggie) and they do not rip easily.  I know you have to have atleast three sources (book, encyclopedia, internet)  but I asked the class, "What makes a better paper 3 sources or 5 - 6 sources?"  I want this to be a genuine learning experience for them, if you have any questions or want to see a sample let Mr. Wilfong or myself know.  Also, as far as calculating the age for your child's planet, Mr. Wilfong asks that you follow the instructions on the pink sheet he sent home with your child.  It has the formula you are suppose to use.

This week in academics:

• Math - decimals and fractions
• English - Possessive nouns
• Reading - Wordly Wise #12 and A Lion to Guard Us
• Social Studies - southern colonies
• Science - Space Unit
• Health - nutrition

Upcoming Tests

• Thursday, 2/28                              Science Quiz
• Friday, 2/29                                  Wordly Wise Vocabulary and Spelling
• Tuesday, 3/4                                 Southern Colonies Quiz

Important Dates:

• Wednesday, 2/27                          WAMU Banking
• Friday, 2/29                                  Hat Day
• Monday, 3/3                                  Boosterthon Pep Ralley Kick Off, 12:45 - 1:15
• Tuesday, 3/4                                 Early Release (dismiss 2 hours early)
• Tuesday, 3/4                                 Chick- fil -A Night

February 12, 2008

Valentine's Day is this Thursday so please make sure you get those Valentine's Day Boxes in to hold your Valentines.  We will see our book buddies on Valentine's Day so don't forget to include them on your class list.  I hope you all enjoy the day.

Believe it or not, it's time for progress reports.  Please sign and return your child's progress report and write any questions or comments that you may have. 

Congratulations to Noah Lewis and LaDarius Alexander!  They represented our class well at the science fair.  Noah took 1st place for 4th grade and LaDarius took 3rd place.  Way to go guys, we are so proud of you!

Sydney Bolin is our Terrific Kid this month.  Sydney is a great student, friend, and helper.  Her cheerfulness and graciousness are appreciated everyday. 

The class will be doing a brochure project in science over the next 3-4 weeks.  They will research a planet and make a brochure inviting others to visit their planet.  I have an example from my daughter (she did one in fourth grade)  that I will leave in my room and Mr. Wilfong has several examples and a rubric he will keep in his room.  Parents are welcome to come and see the examples just give us a heads up before you come and we'll set up a time.  The projects will be due on March 3, 2008.  We will be going to the Media Center Thursday, 2/21 for a lesson on taking research notes, and bibliographies. 

I am really stressing neatness and putting a first and last name on papers.  I want the class to take pride in their work and accomplishments.   I want them to represent themselves well and sloppy work is not a good way to do this.  This is a great class and they need to show it.

This week:

• Math - fractions/decimals
• English - possessive/plural nouns
• Reading - A Lion to Guard Us with comprehension questions, Wordly Wise #11
• Social Studies - Middle Atlantic Colonies
• Science - Space
• Health - Nutrition

Upcoming Tests:

• Friday, 2/15                                         Wordly Wise and Spelling of words
• Thursday, 2/21                                     Middle Atlantic Colonies quiz

Important Dates:

• Mon 2/11 - Fri 2/15                             Counselor Appreciation Week
• Wednesday, 2/13                                 WAMU Banking
• Thursday, 2/14                                    Share Valentines after specials
• Friday, 2/15                                        Hat Day
• Mon 2/18 - Tues 2/19                          Student Holidays
• Wednesday, 2/20                                 Betty Stroud to visit 9:15 - 10:15

February 5, 2008

I can't believe this nine weeks is almost half way over!  Progress reports will be coming home next Tuesday.  Basically we only have about 14 weeks of school left.  Time is flying by faster than I want it to.  The class and I talked this week about how great they work together and how everyone gets along so well.  The reason we had this talk is because we are tending to chat a bit too much.  I'm very thankful that the students are comfortable with one another and feel like they belong to a family in here, but we have go to cut down on our "sharing with others". 

Don't forget to be making a Valentine container at home for your Valentines.  You will want to have those here by next Thursday to celebrate Valentine's Day.  I am sending home a class list today so that you will know how many Valentines and the names of everyone in our class.

This week:

• Math - decimals/fractions
• English - possessive nouns
• Spelling - Unit 11
• Reading - reading for information
• Social Studies - New England Colonies
• Science - Space Unit
• Health - Nutrition

Tests this Week:

• Friday, 2/8                                  Spelling
• Friday, 2/8                                  New England Colony Quiz

Dates to Remember:

• Tuesday, 2/5                               Chick - fil- A  Night
• Wednesday, 2/6                          Early Release
• Thursday, 2/7                              PTSA, Science Fair 6:30
• Friday, 2/8                                  Hat Day
• 2/18 - 2/19                                 Student Holidays