Merry Christmas to all...

The following videos are of the fourth grade choir singing two of their Christmas songs. The specialty choir performed at many different places this holiday seasons. We are very proud to have several choir students within our pod. Enjoy the music and have a very Merry Christmas.

Our Pod's Specialty Choir Members

Mrs. Murders' Class Christmas Party

 

 

Mrs. Murders' class had a great Christmas Party on Thursday, December 16. The kids ate lots of great food and even played a WILD game of "Fill the Stocking"!!!! It was rowdy but lots of fun!!! Thanks to all the parents who sent food or other treats for us to enjoy!! Also thanks to Ms. Stacy and Ms. Darby for planning such a wonderful party for the students.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Pajamas and more

I wanted to say Thank You soooo much to all the parents that donated pajamas or money for our Christmas Project this year. We were able to collect or buy a total of 80 pajamas!!!!!!!!!! Scholastic is going to match each pair of pajamas with a book. What is so awesome about this whole project is that the pajamas and books are going to go to kids in our community. We are going to drop them off Monday at Potters Clay and Hillcrest Children's Home in town!!!!!!

Look at all those Pajamas!!!!

On another note, Congratulations to all of the Lake Intermediate 4th Grade Choir students on an awesome performance at this years "Holiday in the Park"!!!! They were amazing!!



Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving the students were sooooo busy. First, we colored pictures and wrote friendly letters to soldiers overseas!!! The students were so kind with their words. We discussed the sacrifices the soldiers go through everyday for us back in the United States. I was proud of the words of gratitude the students wrote to these soldiers. Second, we practiced, practiced, practiced for our WONDERFUL Thanksgiving Celebration. Thank you parents for such a HUGE turnout. You exceeded our expectations. I thought the students did a wonderful job. They were AWESOME!!! Last, we started collecting pajamas for children and adults who are in foster care, orphanages, and shelters this holiday season. We are sending all of the collected pajamas off to be paired with a book by Scholastic Book Clubs. This is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in during this season of giving. Please remember to send your flame resistant pajamas by December 3rd.

Thanks for the donations!!! Can't wait to see how many pairs we can collect!!!!

COMING SOON...PICTURES FROM THE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION.

Absences

Cough, Cough! Sniff, Sniff! We are in the midst of cold and flu season. There seems to be a number of kids absent each day. If your child is fever free and just has a little cough or sniffle, please still send them to school. You are welcome to send them with cough drops and you can bring medicine to the nurse’s office. Also, take a few seconds to jot us a note to let us know they aren’t feeling up to par. When they are absent, it is hard to make up assignments from 3 teachers especially when they have missed our instruction time. We understand there are times when your child does NOT need to be at school. If you know your child is going to be out for several days, we can prepare their makeup work if you will call the school or email us to let us know when you’d like to pick it up for them. This will greatly help them get caught up and not feel so far behind!

Absences: We know that sometimes your child must be absent from school. We also know that “life” happens. However, we are seeing lots of kids miss school. Some things to consider:

·         If doctor’s appointments can be made after school this will help students avoid missing class.

·         Each day your child is absent they have makeup work to do. They are responsible for getting the makeup work and turning it back in to the appropriate teachers.

·         When they are gone, they miss our instruction and valuable discussion that takes place in the classroom.

·         If doctor’s appointments are made during school hours, please try to return your child to school as soon as the appointment is over. This will reduce the amount of work and instruction they miss.

We all know what it is like to be a working parent and we know that your schedules are busy. We understand that sometimes your child must miss school to go to check ups, etc. We also know that your kids come FIRST! We know you want the best for them, and so do we! We love your kids dearly and have their best interest at heart! Thanks for helping us with this situation!

Arkansas Symphony

The students had a fantastic time listening to the Arkansas Symphony on Monday, November 1st at Summit Arena. The students have been listening and learning about the music and composers in Music class. It was amazing for the students to experience the music being played live!!! This kind of field trip allows students to be cultured into another world they may never experience again!!!

The bus drive wasn't bad either!!!!

Coming Soon!

Look for some exciting news in next week's progress report! We are really thrilled to share our exciting news with all of you!

Continuing with Red Ribbon Week....

SHADE OUT...DRUGS

Students continue their Celebration of Being Drug Free

Tomorrow, Friday October 29th will conclude our fun filled week promoting being DRUG FREE. We will end by "SOCKING" out drugs. Don't foget to wear your CRAZY socks!!!!!

Character Round-up

Yesterday we had a character rally to learn about the character words for the year:  loyalty, cooperation, responsibility, honesty, self-control, positive attitude, perseverance, respect,and courage.  Our classes were the stars of the show.  We are very proud of all their work!!! 

Red Ribbon Week

Happy Red Ribbon Week!

As you can tell, today was “wear RED day” in celebration for Red Ribbon Week. Students are having a great time and are looking forward to the next few days when they will be wearing crazy socks and sunglasses.

*Next Monday we will be going to the symphony, so if you haven’t turned in your permission slip or money ($2) please do so in the next few days!

We had a great turnout for Parent Teacher Conferences. Thanks to all of you who attended. We love your children very much and look forward to working with them over the remainder of the school year.

Charlie May Simon 2010-2011

Our media staff has created a wiki page that includes all of the Charlie May Simon books. You can view the page here:

http://charliemaysimon2010-11.wikispaces.com/

Happy Reading!

Literacy News

There is so much going on, where do I begin…First, I wanted to remind parents about AR. The first nine weeks is almost to a close, which means the due date for AR is fast approaching. Students must take and pass 5 test with an 80% or higher ON THEIR LEVEL or HIGHER!!! Students have plenty of class time daily to read and take test, so hopefully everyone will reach this very obtainable goal.  Second, we are working on our first essay project in class. The students are writing ALL ABOUT ME essays. They are writing about their families and then two other aspects of their lives. They are going to type the paper and make a collage of pictures describing themselves to go with the essay. This is one of the biggest projects we will do in Literacy class this year, and the students seem to always tell me it is their favorite.  We will all be excited to show them off at parent teacher conferences on October 25^th. Last, we recently finished reading the book Abduction by Peg Kehret. At the conclusion of the book, Deputy Clayton Green, from the Sheriff’s Department came and spoke to the students about staying away from strangers and many other issues affecting our students. The students seemed to love the program, and asked many important questions!! Below you will see some pictures from this program. One thing the deputy talked about was having a “password” for the family. The students know to NOT go anywhere with someone who doesn’t know the password. I thought this was one of the many great tips Deputy Green gave the students. In the coming weeks, I will be sending home an ID kit with each of the students. This kit will include their picture, important information about themselves, and even their fingerprints. I do not have all the information needed to complete the entire kit, but hopefully this is something you can finish with your child and keep in a safe place. I know we never want our children abducted, but it is ALWAYS best to be ready in case the unthinkable happens. Well, as you can see, we are very busy at school each day. We are hopefully teaching students things that impact ALL aspects of their lives not just academics.

Happy Reading!!!!!!

The students enjoyed asking questions and talking to Deputy Clayton Green. Deputy Green is even a graduate of Lake Hamilton!!!

Awards Assembly

Don't forget: Benchmark Awards Assembly is tomorrow morning at 9:00 am! We'd love for you to come out and support our students who will be receiving awards for their hard work in third grade.

Breakfast Club

Last week was a rough week, conduct wise, all the way around. However, each class had a few students who were shining stars through the entire week. We want to reward them. Tomorrow morning, we have invited 31 students to join us for our first Breakfast Club. Students who were at school every day last week AND maintained an A average in Conduct will receive an invitation at the end of the school day today. We will provide drinks and doughnuts during morning recess tomorrow, but students are welcome and encouraged to bring something else if they want to. Another pod did this last week and students brought biscuits, pigs in a blanket, fruit, etc. We aren't going all out, but if your child receives an invitation and you want to send something, feel free! We won't let it go to waste! :) We hope that eventually all 80 students will be inside for Breakfast Club during the course of the year. Thanks for your help and support! We really do appreciate everything you do to make our job easier!

5 Weeks Grades

Five Weeks Grades came home yesterday. Please remember this about your child's grades:

• There is not a Science Grade on the report, because we have spent our time thus far on Social Studies. We started Science this week, so watch progress reports for grades.
• There is still room for improvement. Don't panic! The purpose of 5 weeks grades is to keep you aware of how your child is doing so far.

Also, please return EVERYTHING that is in the Return to School pocket of your child's gold folder. The progress report page AND the work that is behind it need to be returned to school. The purpose of this is to keep a portfolio of each child's work throughout the year. Don't worry you'll get it all back around 3rd Quarter Conferences. Thanks for your help in this matter!

Also in the gold folder was a permission slip for the symphony on November 1. Your child will need to return the permission slip and $2 to attend the symphony performance.

Don't forget about the clear or mesh backpack policy also!
Thanks!

Fun Websites for Northeast States

http://www.quia.com/jg/1134651.html

http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/story.php?title=northeast-state-capital-flashcards

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

Parents,
These three websites have Northeast states and capitals that your child might like to play on to help them learn these states. I searched for "northeast states and capital games" These were what I thought were some of the best. Enjoy! Don't forget your child has a test on Friday!

Mrs. Reeves

Parents,



Yesterday in Social Studies we began studying the Northeastern states. We will study their capitals, resources, industries, etc. Yesterday I gave each student a study guide for the states, capitals, and abbreviations. This information will be tested on September 17. On that day we will also have our first Social Studies test. We will complete a study guide in class on the 15th. They will receive 5 bonus points for having it signed and returned on the 17th. The purpose of having it signed is so I know you saw the study guide and that you helped your child study.


Because studying is a new skill for some students you are going to have to help them out! I will teach them some tricks to help them study and give them some study tips like:


1. Studying a little each night will make the task seem easier,


2. Take home the resources that will help you study,


3. Make up funny sayings to remember states and capitals,


4. Re-read at home the information that we read at school


You already do so much to help your students, I know they will do GREAT! Happy Studying!

Mrs. Reeves

Quiz Over Naming Polygons Moved!

Due to circumstances beyond my control the Naming Polygons Quiz will be moved to next week.  We were not able to cover that skill well enough to have a quiz on it this week. Today students learned how to name polygons by counting the sides.We will review tomorrow. Students will be bringing home a study guide for this quiz TOMORROW. The test is Monday. (This test covers things like triangle, octagon, nonagon, etc. It also covers regular and irregular polygons, convex and concave polygons, congruent and similar polygons. Forgotten what some of these words mean? You can look in the SRB, student reference book, on page 96, 97, & 105 for some definitions and examples.)

What's happening in math this week...

*  Unit 1 test tomorrow, WED., SEPT 8.  Students should study the TWO study guides and there is a chance for bonus points added to the score!  Any student who makes flash cards for the vocabulary words on the "blue" family letter and has a parent to sign saying that he/she studied them for 5 or more min. will receive 5 BONUS POINTS ON THE TEST!

* Short quiz on naming polygons by the # of sides it has is on FRIDAY... triangle, quadrangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, (Bonus: dodecagon-12 sided)  On this quiz they will have to tell if a shape is concave (at least one corner is "caved in") or convex (NO corners caved in).  And they will a have to if shapes are congruent or not. Congruent is the same size and same shape. It will only be 15-20 short questions.

* We will be playing games on Friday to work on some basic skills and working in groups to solve a problem.

*I will be sending home a new family letter for the next unit we will be covering either Wed. or Thurs. So be looking for it.

* REMEMBER: Math homework comes home on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

HOPE YOUR CHILD IS ENJOYING MATH AS MUCH AS I ENJOY TEACHING THEM!!

Books, Books, and more Books

As the Literacy teacher, I Brooke Murders, promise to try my hardest to get each and every child to find a love for reading and books. With some it is very hard, but I will NEVER give up!!! Like years in the past, we will participate in the Accelerated Reader program. This is a program that allows children to read and take test on THEIR LEVEL!!!! With each test they take, they earn points and receive a comprehension score. This helps me know if they are struggling, or reading at a successful level. There is one GOAL I want my students to reach with AR each nine weeks.I want each students to take and and successfully pass with an 80% or higher score 5 test within their level. This goal will be a part of their grade each nine weeks. This is an easy goal to obtain, especially since I'm constantly reading to them along with other teachers. We will begin the AR program this week. They will all learn their reading level and begin taking test on Tuesday. If you have any questions about the AR program or the requirements please feel free to contact me, so we can discuss your concerns.

 Please encourage your child to read at school, but at home, too.  Students can only become better readers with PRACTICE!!!!! This means they need to be reading all the time. Here are some suggestions that you as parents can do to help your child become a better reader and know that reading is important.
          1. Set aside time to read with your child
          2. Set aside time for your child to read to you
          3. Go to your local library to check out books
              or join their reading programs
          4. When reading the newspaper,
               ask your child to join in
          5. Have books readily available to them
          6. Have them read aloud to siblings
Of course, these are just a few of my suggestions. There are so many more fun and interesting ways to show your child that reading is important.

We will begin a new novel on Tuesday. The book is entitled Abduction by Peg Kehret. It is a thriller!!!! The kids are sure to enjoy this nail biter!! Make sure to ask your child about this book and the characters' daily adventures!!!

I

Math Matters

Well it was another GREAT week in Math.  Students are working so hard and really seem to understand geometry like no other class I have ever had.  We had a short quiz today and out of 76 students about 41 students made an A!!!!!  That is FABULOUS!!!!  About 94% of the students made an A, B, or C.  I am so proud and you should be too. 

IMPORTANT: WHOLE UNIT TEST ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8. On the test is basic addition and subtraction facts, lines, rays, line segments, polygons, parallel blue family letter, and all of the homework to help prepare them for the test.  I am sure they will do well.  I have some very intelligent "kiddos" in my class.  However, this does not mean that they shouldn't study.  Everything helps.   If there are questions please let me know. Have a GREAT weekend!

Reminders...

Just a few friendly reminders... First, students will be out of school on Monday, September 6th for Labor Day. We hope everyone has a safe three day weekend. Second, if you haven't returned your child's first behavior report please do so as soon as possibe. Finally, LHIS will be having their WatchDog Dad Pizza Night, September 14th. If you are planning to attend,  please let us know. We need to make sure we order enough pizza. Also, If you need more information about the WatchDog program, please feel free to let us know.

FIRST Time For Everything……

Well, this week we will have a few FIRSTS. Tomorrow we are sending home their FIRST behavior report. On the report you will find a few things. First, you will find their conduct grade. Above the grade, you will find what (if any) they received a mark for, and you will find a letter. The letter represents in which class that behavior took place. Second, on the bottom of the page you will find any grade below a C that your child made this past week. This grade is on one assignment…it is not their current average. Last, you will find a spot on the right hand side for you to sign. Please sign and send the report back to school as soon as possible.



Wednesday, the students will have their FIRST TEST of the year. The test will take place in Mrs. Murders’ Literacy class. They will be tested over the book The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. Vocabulary, characters, and events of the book will be the focus of the test. The book was read aloud in class over the last week.


We hope the FIRST week of school went well for all the students. They seem to be adjusting well to fourth grade life. I hope this second week of FIRSTS goes just all well.

Helpful Hints, Step 4

     "4. Solve problems on their own. If your child can't figure out the answer to a math problem, help him think about a way to find the answer. Ask, "Have you worked other problems like this? Does your math book show how to find the right answer?"

In the packet we sent home at Open House there was a story attached called "How love can cripple." This story shows the importance of letting your child solve problems on their own. As parents we want to do everything for them, but sometimes it is better to let them do things on their own to teach them to be responsible. This year, that is one of our goals: to make responsible students. We hope these tips help make this year a success!

Math class is off to a GREAT start!

I am really enjoying all of my math classes this year. The students seem to really listen, work hard, and ask questions.  That's every teacher's dream. We are working individually, working in groups, using technology, creating shapes out of straws and twist ties, and even singing to help reach all students in my classroom.   

We are working on unit 1 which deals with geometry:  what is a square, rectangle, congruent shape, line, ray, etc.  It all sounds easy, but some of the concepts my be difficult to grasp at first.  That is why it is sooooo important to send your child to school every day.  Each lesson builds on the previous lesson.  If a child misses it make it very difficult to "catch up."  If a child must be absent, please make sure he/she knows it is his/her responsibility to get and do the make up work from the teacher. 

IMPORTANT:  I have sent home a blue family letter.  This will help you help your child with most of the homework.  There is vocabulary, examples, and activities you can do with your child to reinforce what we are doing in class.

Also we have been reviewing addition and subtraction ex. 234+654= and 900-234=.  MANY OF THE STUDENTS HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO DO THESE SKILLS.  We will be working on it in class, but that may not be enough to get your child comfortable with skills again.  These skills are important life skills.  Everyone needs to be able to accurately add and subtract throughout his/her life.  I highly suggest you help review your child at home. With us working together, we can help each child be successful.   

VOLUNTEERS:   I would like to have parents who are willing to come and help in the classroom.  This would consist of working with an individual student, working with a small group, or just helping in the whole classroom.  Sometimes it is a little overwhelming to have 25 to 28 students in the classroom and only one of me.  Having an extra person there to help can make all the difference in the world (even if all you are doing is walking around keeping students on task.)  If you are interested please write me a note or email me at robin.chuang@lh.k12.ar.us

Step Three

     "3. Pay attention in instructions. A classroom runs more smoothly when students do what the teacher says. Your child's score on a state test could be lowered if he doesn't fill out the answer sheet correctly. So spend time at home learning to follow directions. Cook together and talk about what happens if you don't follow the recipe exactly."

Tomorrow will be the fourth step in helping your child make this school year great! Hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Ways to Help, Step 2

This is the second step recommended by The Parent Institute to help your child make this school year great.

     2. "Break down big assignments. Reading an entire chapter book may seem overwhelming. But reading one chapter is something your child can do. Teach your child to break down tasks into smaller, achievable steps."

Happy Helping!

Ways to Help Your Child...

This is taken from The Parent Institute's September Newsletter:

     "It's the start of a new school year and you want to make it a great one. Researchers at Indiana University found that children did better in school when their parents taught them how to:

1. Be positive about challenges. The children who do the best in school are those who approach a new task with a positive attitude. Look for ways to model that behavior at home: "I don't know how to use this computer program. Shall we figure it out together?"

Stay tuned this weekend for the remaining three tips! Have a great weekend.

New Schedule

Well, they say "Third times a charm"! That saying fits our schedule changes this year. With the addition of more activity time and classes, our schedule has changed once again. We feel like we have worked out all the kinks, so we wanted to let the parents know. The following is the current schedule with switch times.

8:00-8:15-Homeroom classes
8:15-9:45-First class
9:45-11:25-Second Class
11:25-Switch back to homeroom
11:30-12:10-Lunch and Recess
After lunch and recess, students stay in their homeroom class until dismissal begins at 3:00.

Activity classes are different daily and take place in the afternoons. Each teacher will send home an activity schedule so parents are aware of the days and times of each.

As you can see, from the time they get to school until the time they leave, we keep them busy learning and on the go. No wonder the students and us teachers come home exhausted!!! Hope this new schedule helps you know where your child is during the day. If you have any questions about the schedule please let us know.

Coming Soon!

Picture Day is coming this Friday, August 27th. Your child should have brought home a flyer on Friday. Practice those smiles! :)

First Day Recap

The first day of fourth grade is in the history books! We had a great day today. Students took a tour of the building, switched to each of their three teachers' classes, and learned about our expectations for the year. We hope they came home, told you about their day, and thought it was as good as we did.

Because Agendas will not be in for a few weeks, we have made a temporary agenda for today and tomorrow. You may have to remind your child that you need to see it until they get in the habit of asking you to sign each day. We will continue to have make shift agendas until the permanent ones arrive. Our goal in doing this is to have students already get in the routine of filling it out in every class and get it signed every night.

Beginning next week we hope to have a regular schedule in place. The schedule that was on the brochure may change because of changes in pull-out class (Art, Music, PE, Computer Lab, Library) scheduling. We will do our best to let you know when we have a stable schedule in place.

We cannot express to you enough how excited we are about this school year! We are expecting GREAT things!

Successful Night!!!

Tonight's Open House was a great success. Meeting all of the students and parents made us even more excited about beginning school on Thursday. We know we are going to have a fantastic school year, and know that you are just as excited. Thank you in advance for your support in your child's education. Your support will make all the difference. Remember to return all your forms, money for agenda, and supplies from the added list as soon as you can. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail any of us. SEE YOU GUYS ON THURSDAY...bright and early!!!!

Open House

Open House will be held at the Intermediate School on August 17 from 6:00-7:00pm. We look forward to meeting you all. Our classrooms are located down the fourth grade hall on the right side. Mrs. Reeves' room is the fourth room on the right and Mrs. Murders' and Mrs. Chuang's rooms are past the elevator. Look forward to meeting you all.