Linda Fancellas

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

The big news for this week is the new date for Field Day.  More details below.

Special Dates

May 7               PTSA  Kindergarten Performs (6:30 PM)

May 4 - 8          Book Fair

May 8               Walk To School Day

May 10              Happy Mother's Day

May 11              Chick-fil-A Fundraiser

                        Last day for AR store

May 13              Second Grade Field Day

May 14              Wes Jones' Dedication of Gym

May 15               Yard Sale (see parent letter in Thursday folder)

May 18 - 22        Students will receive a note about special activities for the last week of school.

May 19                 Special speaker for Science

 

Reminders

Beatrix Potter character  projects will be presented the week of May 11 - 15.  For students scheduled on the 13th, you will present in between our morning and afternoon Field Day activities.

No more check out in media center.  Please return all books ASAP.

Students will wear class t-shirts and should dress appropriately for Field Day.  The morning activities will begin at 8:45 and continue to 11:25.  The afternoon activities will begin at 12:45 on the upper field.  Hope you can join us!

We are still collecting items listed on parent letter for our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It's not too late because we will collect throughout the end of the school year. All donations are appreciated!

Please send in a legal size self addressed and stamped envelope ASAP.  I will use the envelope to mail your child's final progress report and possibly CRCT scores.

AR News

Thanks again to Janet Graham and Alicia Tankersley for their outstanding job as volunteer AR moms.  Each week, they worked diligently preparing reports, updating information and motivating the students. Great job ladies!

The following new students accomplished 100% of thier annual goal:  Brooke Almand, Tyler Cooper, Alex Freeman, Katie Graham,Ayana O'Brien, Robin Stein,Mary Tankersley

Congratulations to all of you!

Monday is an exciting day for second graders who met their AR goal.  There will be a drawing for a boy and girl's bike.  Any second grader who met their goal is eligible for the drawing.

Good Luck Fancellas' Fabulous Fishers!

Also, our class met their class goal so we will have a picnic with Mrs. Manharth.  SUPER READING!

Special Recognition

The following artists had their creative work on display at the Big Shanty Art Station:  Jackson Hagler, Mary Tankersley, Daniel Vieyra, and Emily Wallace

Congratulations!

Terrific Kid for April

Blakelee Jones 

Thanks

Thanks for all the donations to the American Heart Association in honor of Coach Jones.  Overall, our school raised over $6,000.

I appreciate your support during the week of CRCT.  The students came to school each day well rested and fed.  It was a long testing time but most of them  worked very hard and took it very seriously. Thanks to Mrs. Moon for providing a well deserved "end of CRCT testing" snack.

A huge thank you to Mrs. Moon, Mrs. Stein, and Mrs. Windham for their help with a special art project for Mother's Day.  I know you will treasure your handmade gift.

Curriculum News

Science

The students have really enjoyed our life cycle unit. They have observed first hand the development of the Painted Lady butterfly from the larva stage to the adult. Seven of our eight butterflies have developed so we must release soon!

Also, most of the bean plants have germinated.  However, before planting, students observed the parts of a soaked lima bean seed.  They discovered something amazing inside!  Ask them to share their discovery with you.

Next week, they will take a Science test on life cycles. They may take their Science books and/or Lab books home anytime to study.

Social Studies

See the letter inside this week's Thursday folder for standards taught this grading period as well as a culminating activity for the unit on Finance.

Since we have had "Georgia On Our Mind" throughout the year, we would like to celebrate with an end of the year activity which requires parent support.  In place of the usual ice cream sundaes, we would like to sample foods connected to Georgia. For example, coke floats, peaches, peach cobbler or peach ice cream, peanuts or peanut brittle.  You may have a food or recipe you would like to share.  You will receive more information from room moms soon. Please help in some way. Also, we will need cups and bowls.  Thanks so much for supporting this activity.

Math

We are reviewing for the final unit 4 math test. Multiplication, three digit addition and subtraction with regrouping are skills to practice at home. Also, please help your child prepare by giving them practice problems counting change from varying dollar amounts.

Time tests are now five minutes and consists of both addition and subtraction problems.

 

 

 

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

Teacher Appreciation Week

Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You for the cards, flowers, yummy treats, gift cards, and gifts! I am blessed to have such a generous class who make teaching a joy.  Your recognition made me feel very special!

Special Dates

April 6-10 Have a safe and fun Spring Break!

April 12    Happy Easter

April 14    Chick-Fil-A-Night

April 20    Stevie B'S Night

April 21-24 CRCT

April 24     Reading Marathon

Reminders

Only a few weeks left to practice online for the CRCT.

A healthy breakfast (especially a protein food such as meat, cheese, eggs, peanut butter,etc.), and good night's rest really do make a difference in how well your child focuses on the test!

Also, please make sure they are present and on time to avoid make-up tests. Once we begin testing, students will not be admitted to the classroom. Research shows they test better in their familar surroundings.

Read nightly for 15 to 20 minutes and prepare for AR tests.

Chick-Fil-A biscuits are sold every Monday morning in the school lobby from 7:15 to 7:50. Help support our wonderful PTSA!

Please replenish any needed school supplies. Ask your child if they need pencils, new folders or notebooks. Many folders and notebooks are falling apart.

Wee Deliver mail program still needs parent volunteers.

AR News

The Fabulous Fancellas Fishers are doing great toward meeting our class goal. However, some students need to "catch up" so we will have an AR Marathon Reading Day. This means students will read and take AR tests for an hour on April 24. Bring your bedroom slippers, pillow and get ready to READ!

Jump Rope For Heart

This event was held in honor of Coach Jones. Donations can be sent in until April 17. Please make checks payable to the American Heart Association.

Congratulations to Alex Windham for winning the recycling contest for Second Grade!

Curriculum News

Fire Safety

Today, the students completed their second lesson. After CRCT, they will have two more lessons. These lessons are taught by Cobb County fire fighters. Thanks for your assistance completing the homework. Discussing a meeting place in the event of a fire is such an important lesson.

Math

Multiplication has been a high interest concept, which most students grasped right away. Currently, students are learning division readiness then we will begin three digit addition and subtraction.

Social Studies

Recently I discovered that two of our students have real life connections to two of our American heroes from Georgia.  Brooke Almand's great aunt was a nurse for Jimmy Carter's mother and Katie Tucker's grandfather met Jackie Robinson, when he visited the school where he taught.

The students did an outstanding job on their Jimmy Carter posters and presentations. I learned some things too! I appreciate your support, which resulted in the success of this assignment.

Science

Our field trip to Cato Park was a kick-off to our final science unit on animal and plant life cycles. This unit will begin after the Spring Break. Students will experience a real life animal life cycle but I won't reveal it yet!

CRCT

As stated in the previos blog, homework will consist of CRCT practice in the test format. Also, during class,we will review and practice many of the skills covered in reading, language arts, and math. At home, you can review too. In particular, have your child practice items missed on the weekly DL. Many of these skills will be on the Language Arts portion of the CRCT. Practice two and three digit addition and subtraction with regrouping and of course counting money and change from one and two dollars.

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

It is hard to believe that we are now in the last grading period of the school year. It is even harder to believe that I will end my teaching career soon with only 41 days left to teach students. Of course, I have many mixed feelings but overall, I feel the time is right. In particular, it is the right time to enjoy my grandson, Mark,whom is already five months old!

Special Dates

March 19             Report Cards Go Home

                           Sparkles Skate Night

March 20              Book Buddies and Happy Spring

March 27              Jimmy Carter Posters Due (see information in Thursday folder)

April 1                  Last day for recyling old cartridges, cell phones, etc.

April 6-10             Spring Break

April 12                Happy Easter

April 21                CRCT Begins

Reminders

Please return report card signature card and envelope.

Acclerated Reader program ends next month so you need to read nightly to attain your annual goal!

March Terrific Kid

Congratulations to Emily Wallace!

Math Challenge With Mrs. Manharth

On March 13, Alex Freeman and Ayana O'Brien represented our class for the Second Grade Math Challenge.  Students who score 100% on subtraction time tests will be eligible for the next challenge.  Keep practicing!

Congratulations to the following students for accomplishing 100% of their Acclerated Reader goal:

Austin Banks  Ryan Moon   Katie Tucker  Alex Windham

Thanks

to Mrs. Moon for providing the ingredients for our special March activity. The shamrock shakes were grand!

 

Curriculum News

Homework

For the next several weeks, much of the homework will be in the same format as the CRCT and cover the standards that will most likely be on the test.  Some will be a review of standards from the beginning of the year. Hopefully, this will prepare them even more!

Math

Please use the parent letter in Thursday folder for information about Unit 4. We started off with mutiplication because it will be on the CRCT.

Social Studies

Our final unit includes finance, government, and Jimmy Carter. A project about Jimmy Carter has been assigned.  See parent letter in Thursday folder.This website is a great resource for the Jimmy Carter project. Please do not send projects in early due to lack of space. However, they do need to be turned in on time.

http://www.jimmycarter.info/justfor kids_2.htm

Language Arts/Writing

Our last genre is "Response to Literature." During the fourth grading period, students will write their opinions about what they read as well as make connections.

Technology News

The last assessment for technology will be typing several sentences and importing a picture. Students can practice at home to prepare. Remember to to use the typing program on the Still Home Page under Computer Lab. Students should recognize it because they have practiced at school throughout the year.

Also, many students expressed interest in the Dr. Seuss website, which has information and fun activities too.

http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/seuss

 

 

 

MS. FANCELLAS' BUZZING NEWS

Special Dates

 

February 24          Field trip lunch form due

 

February 27          Cosmic Bowling

 

March 3                Early Release Day

 

March 4                Field Trip to Cato Park

 

March 5                PTA

 

March 10               Chick-fil-A Night

 

March 12                End of 3rd Nine Weeks

 

Terrific Kid for February

 

Congratulations Brooke Almand!

 

Thanks........

• to everyone who donated a mailbox for "Wee Deliver" mail.
• Mrs. Windham for the yummy Rice Krispie Valentine heart treats and special bookmark
• activity.
• for donations to Cobb County Humane Society sponsored by Student Council
• for recycling old printer cartridges, cell phones,etc.
• for promptly returning permission forms to Cato Park
• to the many friend and family members who participated in "Friends and Family" lunch. The students were very excited to have a visitor for lunch!

 

Reminders

 

Our scholl will continue to recycle old cartridges, phones, ipods, etc. through April 1, 2009.

If bringing lunch from home on March 4, bring all disposable items. After lunch, everything will be thrown away.

 

On March 4, please dress your child appropriately for the weather and our outdoor field trip. Remember March weather can be wild like a lion or gentle as a lamb. They need to wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes that can get dirty just in case it is muddy on the trails. 

I can take two parent volunteers so first to notify me will be the two to go. You will need to provide your own transportation due to limited space on the buses.

 

Please continue to practice online for CRCT.

 

Wee Deliver News

 

Everything is coming together for Wee Deliver. 

However, we are in need of a parent volunteer(s) to come to school one morning a week from 7:15-7:50.  It would be nice to get a parent whose child is in the lower grades and is possibly willing to help out in future school years.  Please e-mail Monica.Summers@cobbk12.org  if you are able to help in any way.  Thanks so much!

 

Six Flags Reading Challenge

 

Congratulations to the following students for completing the rquired 360 minutes of reading:

 

Tyler Cooper             Emily Epp                 Alex Freeman

Ayana O'Brien            Katie Tucker            Emily Wallace

Alex Windham

 

Technology News

 

Check out these super websites that you can use for the remainder of the year:

 

 

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills-2nd-langbuilders.htm

 

 

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills-2nd-langbuilders.htm

 

Remember to practice subtraction math facts.  If you google math magician, your child can practice time tests online.

 

Curriculum News

 

Math

 

Test for unit 3 is coming up soon!  Remember to use the Harcout Brace website I posted earlier to practice all the math standards for Second Grade.  Currently, we are working on measurement (linear and temperature) in Chapter 12. Three and four digit place value, comparing numbers, fractions, and money are additional skills covered this grading period.

 

Writing

 

Students are learning how to write their opinions and support it with reasons. So far, they have written about their favorite ice cream flavor and a food they think the lunch room should serve every day. Many of them are learning how to express themselves in a very persuasive manner.  Of course, this applies to oral expression too. Have you noticed?

 

Science

Our high interest unit is the sun and solar system. This includes quite a lot of information. They are learning what cause day and night, seasons, and many new vocabulary words.  Next week we will begin learning about the moon including their phases.

Today I read the story, Snowflake Bentley to my class. It is a nonfiction book and quite long.  However, it captured their attention from the beginning to the end.  I told the class that I found a great website about Snowflake Bentley but I forgot to put it in the previous blog posted earlier today So here it is and I hope the children enjoy it.  By the way, Snowflake Bentley was a real person!

Try these two websites for snowflake fun!

  http://www.bentley.sciencebuff.org/index.htm  to learn about Snowflake Bentley,watch a video about him, and examine his hundreds of original snowflake photographs

Now, try making your own snowflake!

 http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com to create your very own virtual snowflake.

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

Special Dates

February 4      Early Release Day

February 5      Lunch and Learn Positive Learning

February 5      Second Grade PTA program

February 6       Friends and Family Day RSVP due

February  6      Must Ministries Food Drive Ends (Please donate canned and dried goods)

February 10      Chick-fil-A Night

February 12      Friends and Family Day for Second Grade (Lunch Change:  11:48 - 12:48)

February 13       Special Project with Room Moms

February 14        Happy Valentines Day

February 16      President's Day  (No School)

February 17      Six Flags "Read To Succeed" Program Ends

Terrific Kid for January

Congratulations to Alex Windham!

Reminders

Please allow your child to experience real life lessons in compassion and generosity by contributing to the Must Ministries Food Drive and the "Have A Heart" Student Council project. The "Have A Heart" project will run the week of February 9 - 13. Students may purchase a large paper heart for $1.00 or a small one for $0.50.Special messages may be written on the hearts and they will be hung on a wall. This project is very dear to my heart because the proceeds will benefit the Cobb County Humane Society. Contributions to both projects are greatly appreciated!

On February 5, students need to come to our classroom by 6:15 PM for the PTA program.  Also, they need to wear their class t-shirts and jeans.

Practice online for the CRCT.

Breakfast With Assistant Principal

Our class  worked together to complete fifty percent of their annual Acclelerated Reader goal by the designated date. Their hard work earned them a special breakfast with Ms. Smith.

Congratulations Fancellas' Fabulous Fishers!

Keep reading and stay on track to meet your annual goal by the end of the year. Then we can enjoy a picnic with Mrs. Manharth!

Thanks...........

for the delicous snacks donated during conference week. Each day, I looked forward to both the healthy items such as fruit and veggies as well as the yummy cookies and brownies. Only problem....it's over!

to Mrs. Graham for preparing the AR Summary reports, which I shared at conferences. Also, thanks to both Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Tankersley for their weekly updates and reports. 

Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Windham for the January special activity.  Although the temperature was a bit warm, the class enjoyed drinking and eating snowman soup. I hope your child brought home the poem/recipe and  ingredients to make at home. This weekend is suppose to be perfect for making more snowman soup for the whole family!

Mrs. Tucker and Mrs. Stein for their dedication and diligence each week making numerous copies.

Conference Week

Sharing your child's progress with you was delightful!  It is amazing how much your children have developed academically, socially, and emotionally since August. Parental support has played a vital role. Please continue to monitor your child's homework and papers in the Thursday folder. Papers with a "1" should be corrected and returned to me. Our class had 100% attendance which is another indicator of your support. For the remainder of the year, please call, email, or write a note if you wish to meet again to discuss your child's progress.

Curriculum News

Language Arts

I informed some of you during your conference that the spelling test format will change next week. Instead of the cloze test, where students fill in the missing word, the test will contain sentences that I dictate to the class. On Monday, students will continue to bring home Word Preview with new core words to practice for the Friday test.  Other words on the test will be previous spelling words or words from the phonics lessons covered.

Technolgy News

Great Math Websites

Virtual Manipulatives               http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html                    

Math Games     http://www.aplusmath.com/

Dog Bone      http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/ekowalcz/math/elementary_web_sites.htm

Making Change with money          http://www.mrnussbaum.com/cashout/index.html

            These are specific sites that support the 3rd nine weeks of our math standards.

 

 

Virtual Manipulatives               http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html                    

Math Games     http://www.aplusmath.com/

Dog Bone      http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/ekowalcz/math/elementary_web_sites.htm

Making Change with money          http://www.mrnussbaum.com/cashout/index.html

            These are specific sites that support the 3rd nine weeks of our math standards.

Virtual Manipulatives               http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html                    

Math Games     http://www.aplusmath.com/

Dog Bone      http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/ekowalcz/math/elementary_web_sites.htm

Making Change with money          http://www.mrnussbaum.com/cashout/index.html

            These are specific sites that support the 3rd nine weeks of our math standards.

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

Happy New Year!

First, let me take this opportunity to thank everyone for the generous Christmas gift cards and gifts that I received from the class.I had a great time shopping during"the after Christmas sales" at Target and Coldwater Creek. Then, I enjoyed a very nice lunch at Theo's. Chocolate is a staple item for me and I'm always in need of notepads. I appreciate such thoughtful and special gifts.

Also, I hope the thank you notes for the individual gifts that I received found their way home that last week before the holidays began.

My best wishes for a blessed and wonderful new year to all of you!

SPECIAL DATES

January 9    Conference Letters Go Home

January 12 Six Flags "Read To Succeed" letters go home

January 19   MLK Holiday

January 21   100th Day of School (more information next week)

January 26 -29  Conference Week and Early Release

January 29   Artwork for Agriculture Day Due (see letter in folder) 

February 2    Science Fair entries due (letters sent home on Jan.7)

Thank You.......

 Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Windham for organizing our awesome Christmas party. The class enjoyed lots of good food as well as a fun Christmas Bingo game and the classic story, The Night Before Christmas. Also, thanks to the parents who donated food, drinks, or paper products. Finally, thanks to the parents who helped out at the  party.

Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Moon, Mrs. Stein, and Mrs. Windham for helping the class make such pretty and creative decorations for our Christmas trees. I know you will enjoy using these decorations for many years to come.

to Mrs. Hagler for getting the nice shopping bags for each student.  They came in handy for carrying home the holiday decorations.

for the many aluminum tabs sent in this year.

REMINDERS

Please continue to practice online for the CRCT.

Use the Sitton Spelling website,which I posted in the Oct 02 blog. Currently, we are on unit 17 but your child will benefit from reviewing previous units.

Keep reading AR books and take a minimum of two tests per week. Your child's annual goal and progress will be discussed at your conference. Also, remember to read a balance of fiction and nonfiction books.

Check with your child to see if they need any new school supplies.

CONFERENCE WEEK

You will receive your child's report card at your conference.  I look forward to discussing your child's progress with you.

Six Flags "Read To Succeed" Program

A letter will go home on January 12 explaining the program.  It is optional.  However, it is a great incentive for earning a free ticket to Six Flags.  Also, what a great way to combine reading for AR and the Six Flags program.  Just remember to record your time for the Six Flags program.  Happy Reading!

CURRICULUM NEWS

Language Arts

Writing/English

The format for Daily Language changed this week.  It is presented in a similar manner as the CRCT. Anothe change is the students will take a test each Friday, which evaluates their understanding of the skills taught for the current week.

The writing genre for this grading period is persuasive writing. Letter writing and revisiting informational are included, too.

Math

On Monday, we began unit 3. Please see parent letter in this week's folder to preview skills and concept taught during this grading period.

Social Studies

Students will learn about the contributions to civil rights made by Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

 

 

Ms. Fancellas" Buzzing News

Special Dates

December 5      Nutcracker Ballet and Christmas Ornaments

December 9      Chick-fil-A Night and Science Night

December 22 - January 6   Happy Winter Break!!!

Thanks........

• to Mrs. Windham and Mrs. Moon for our November cooking activity. We had gourmet pumpkin pancakes topped with homemade whipped cream and syrup. Someone could moonlight at IHOP!

• for all the donations to High Touch High Tech Program.  The students had lots of fun learning about energy and force, while using hands on activities.

• for all the mittens and gloves for needy children in Cobb County.  This activity is sponsered by our Still Student Council.You may still send in donations through December 19.

• I appreciate the aluminum tabs turned in so far and please keep them coming throughout the year.  Remember your child can redeem 20 for one dazzling dollar.

• Thanks to Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Tankersley coming in each week to update the AR news.

Reminders

We have asked the students to dress up in their "fancy" clothes to attend the Civic Center for the production of the classic holiday favorite, Nutcracker Ballet. They are very excited to attend a "real" field trip.

Conference week will be here soon!  If you prefer a particular day to meet, please let me know soon.  Once the schedule is made, it is difficult to make changes. Please keep in mind you have one to three conferences to schedule but I have nineteen. Thanks.

Students will take their math unit 2 test week. To prepare for this test, I will send home a list of math vocabulary words for my math class. Please help them with these words. They don't need to memorize the definitions but they need to identify each of these geometry terms.

At this time of the year, your child should have accomplished 40%  of their annual AR goal. Please continue to check the AR reports sent home every other week.  Also, remember your child needs to practice reading nonfiction AR books. Reading comprehension for this grading period is all nonfiction reading.

During December 10 - 18, you may want to visit the Cobb Marietta Musuem of Art. On display will be the art of three of our students.  You can enjoy viewing the talented work of Ayana O'Brien, Robin Stein,and Emily Wallace.  Congratulations to all of you!

Next Monday, your child will bring home a letter with a designated number to go online to practice for the CRCT. Yes, it is that time already!  Please let me know if you have any difficulty logging in with the  number assigned to your child.

Curriculum News

Math

Unit test will be next Friday. We have covered a lot of skills and concepts this unit. The weakest areas I have observed are counting change up to one dollar and two dollars and reading analog clocks using five minute intervals. This is especially true when the minute hand moves past the six.  Please practice at home.

I see some improvement in subtraction facts! Thanks for your support at home. It has made a difference! (ha!  couldn't resist the pun)

Language Arts

Identifying the main idea in reading and including it when writing stories remains a main focus. Additionally, we are working on reading words with multi-syllables, plurals,contractions, and multiple meanings.

Science

Energy is our new unit.  Primarily, students are learning about light, heat, and motion. Look for a list of vocabulary words, which I will send home soon to better prepare your child for the unit Science test.  Rembember they may bring home their books anytime as long as they return them he next day.

Sorry for the delay. I intended for this blog to be ready on Thursday, as I had the students write in their agendas. However, before I could finish the server went down.

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

Special Dates

Nov. 13       Fall Festival (Sneaky Sam will be looking for you!)

Nov. 20       High Touch High Tech forms due

Nov. 19        Social Studies Test

Nov. 21       Room Mom Activity for November

Nov. 24-28   Happy Thanksgiving

Dec. 2          High Touch High Tech Program on Energy

Dec. 5          Performing Arts Program (Nutcracker Ballet)

Reminders

Once again many students need to master subtraction facts.  This is ongoing homework.

If you have not returned the signed permission form for High Touch High Tech, please return as soon as possible. Students are not allowed to attend without permission.

Please let me know if you would like to be a mystery reader.

Thanks

A huge thanks to Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Windham for the October craft and food. First, the class enjoyed designing a face for our jack-o-lantern.  They chose Jackson Hagler's as the one to carve on the class pumpkin. Then they made their pumpkin craft and tasted delicious toasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin cookies!  Were you surprised that a roll of toilet paper could turn into such a cute pumpkin?

Thanks to everyone who made a donation of baked goods or other items for the Fall Festival.

Reflection Entries

Special recognition to the following students:

Jackson Hagler     Emily Wallace

Ayana O'Brien        Robin Stein

Mrs. Manharth's Math Challenge

Next Friday, Ayana O'Brien and Alex Freeman will represent our class at the Second Grade Math Challenge.  Congratulations to both students.  Any student who scores 100% on a subtraction or addition time test is eligible.

October Mystery Reader

Last month, our class was treated definitely "not" tricked to a very special Halloween story read by our principal, Mrs. Manharth, and starring her dog, Scarlett.  Scarlett was dressed up as Halloweiner.

Accelerated Reader News

Since our Georgia Performance standard this grading period for reading and writing is nonfiction, I encourage all students to check out at least one nonfiction book every week to read and take a test. On the last report, I noticed some students have not taken any tests on nonfiction books this year.

Also, please keep in my mind that I cannot delete  a low score on a test.  The only time I will delete a score is when a child types in a wrong book title and does not realize it until they begin to take the test. To help your child prepare for a test, ask them questions from the beginning, middle, and end of the book. Ask them a variety of questions using words such as characters, setting, main idea, problem, solution,etc. in your questions.  In fact, this will help improve their overall comprehension beyond the AR test.

Curriculum News

Social Studies

Next week. the class will review Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove, and James Oglethorpe and their importance to Georgia.  The test will be on Thursday. To prepare,they will bring home vocabulary words to learn and a study guide.  Also, they may use their Social Studies book and the newspapers about each person to help them study.

Ms. Fancellas' Buzzing News

Special Dates

Oct. 31  Wear red for Red Ribbon Week

             Mystery Reader

             Craft Activity with Room Moms

              Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Nov. 4     Student School Holiday

Nov. 6      Art Show (5:00 - 7:00 PM)

Nov. 11     Chick -fil- A Night

Nov. 14      Fall Festival

Reminders

Students need to master subtraction facts up to 18.

Read for fifteen to twenty minutes nightly.

Please ask your child if they need pencils, pens or other supplies.  My pencil supply is dwindling fast!

If you write your child's name on tags of coats, sweaters,etc., they are more likely to get returned when lost or left outside following recess. Due to safety, students are not allowed to go back outside once we return to the classroom.

Aluminum Tabs

Please save the aluminum tabs from soda cans and other cans.  I will collect them all year. They are sent to the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta to recycle for money.  The money earned provides housing for families of terminally ill children.  Also, the students may earn one dazzling dollar for every 20 tabs.

New PE Teacher

A big welcome to Mr. Dickerson, who began this week.

Four-legged Visitor

Molly's first visit was a big success!  The class worked as a team to earn the required ten points for her to spend the day at school.The students behaved very well during her visit and Molly loved meeting her new friends!

Art Show

Hope you will come see your child's art (I mean masterpiece) at the Still Art Festival in the gym. Even if you don't  buy the art work, please come and enjoy admiring the talent at our school.

Curriculum News

Math

Please review carefully all papers sent home daily and in the Thursday folder. Many students need additional help at home with subtraction regrouping. Please check their homework for mistakes and have them correct any mistakes on classwork, as well as homework.

Language Arts

Comprehension remains a major focus throughout the year. As you listen to your child read their AR books, test their comprehension.  Have them make predictions and connections. Ask them questions from the beginning, middle, and end of the book.

Another focus in reading and writing is our nonfiction genre. Please encourage your child to read more nonfiction AR books.  However, they may need to drop down the reading level due to the advanced vocabulary in nonfiction books. 

We are comparing the elements in fiction and nonfiction books.

Students are learning to use a dictionary.

During this grading period, they will begin writing nonfiction stories with true facts. However, we will continue to write fiction too.

Social Studies

We continue learning and writing about famous Georgians. After completing Tomochichi, students will discover the importance of Mary Musgrove to Georgia then they will connect their knowledge of Tomochichi and Mary Musgrove to the founder of Georgia, James Oglethorpe. Guess who is learning almost as much as the students?