Hello, families. It felt good this past week to get back into some regularly scheduled reading and writing classes. We continue to find all the moments we can to read both independently and aloud together, and analyze our characters. In Writer's Workshop, we have begun a new focus on essay writing. We are learning to "live wide-awake lives" as writers, noticing details around us that others often pass by. It has proven to be a new way of thinking for many of our kids, and we feel like writer/detectives, finding stories and ideas in small things that we haven't taken notice of before. We will soon turn these ideas into opinions, and practice backing up those opinions with evidence. Being able to defend a viewpoint on paper will most certainly be a necessary skill in future years in school.
This coming week we will be reviewing the content of Unit 3 in Math, and the final test will probably come next Thursday. Watch for review practice sheets to come home for homework next week. Our next Spelling Test is also scheduled for next Thursday.
Extra events continue to crowd our calendar and keep us motivated. This coming Monday on November 12th, it is "I Spy" Day at West Middleton. Our lunchroom will be turned into an art gallery, with projects and music created by all of our classes on display all day. That evening from 6:30 to 7:30, parents and families are invited to stop and in and take a good look at all the creations by our talented students.
Also next week, our WM Community Service Club is hosting a coin drive to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy. On Monday, students are encouraged to bring in all the pennies and nickels they can find, on Tuesday they bring in dimes, on Wednesday they bring in quarters, and on Thursday, they may bring in any coins, paper bills, or checks made out to the Red Cross. Thank you!
There will be no school on Friday, November 16th, since teachers will be holding parent teacher conferences on the evenings of November 15th and 20th. If you still need to double-check your conference time with me, just send me an email. Otherwise, I am assuming the time slot I sent you is going to work, and I will see you - AND your student - at that time. I am very much looking forward to visiting with you!
Each classroom will hold their own rounds to qualify for the WM Spelling Bee during the short week of school right before Thanksgiving break, narrowing ourselves down to the final four students to represent our class. The words to practice should be located in your student's Take Home Folder - we have several students who love this event and have been practicing. Remember, we will have full days of classes on the 19th and 20th, but on the 21st, the day before Thanksgiving, it is a CRT Day, and buses will be picking up students at 11:00 am.
This past week, as you know, was also our last week with Linley Carlson, our wonderful student teacher. We have all become such a team together in Room 117. We will all be missing her greatly, but we are also excited for her to get a new experience with first graders at Sunset Ridge. We held a little going away party for Miss Carlson on Thursday, her last day. She surprised us with specially made cupcakes ("Owl miss you" cupcakes) and personalized cards and notes for each of us. We surprised her with our tub of school and classroom supplies - and we did take her completely by surprise!! It was great! Thank you again to all of our families who joined us in this gift for Linley. We will all see her one more time because she is joining us for both conference days. She has written to our families with this note:
Dear 4th graders and parents,
I want to thank you for the lovely gifts that I received on my last day in Mrs. Hannam's class. I will cherish the past two months that I was able to spend with all of the talented boys and girls in Mrs. Hannam's class. I could not have asked for a more incredible experience and have been very fortunate to teach such amazing students! Thank you again! It was very hard leaving such an incredible class on Thursday. I look forward to seeing everyone at conferences.
Sincerely,
Linley Carlson
And with that -- see you all soon at Parent Conference time! Melanie
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