Friday, January 30, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update - 1-30-15

Dear Parents,

Snow days.  There is some potential for more snow on Sunday that could affect school on Monday.  If we are canceled Monday, please look for an e-mail from your child's teachers regarding what they can be doing at home.  For sure, students will be expected to keep up on their independent reading.  Students also have a Science assignment that is listed below that will be due on Tuesday regardless.  I will have an update of something for Math as well.

Benchmark week.  Students completed winter benchmarks this week and last in Reading, Writing, and Math.  On the whole, students are showing terrific growth.  Look for your child's Math results to come home either today or on Monday.  

State testing.  During some of our computer time we have started preparing students for this year's brand new online state tests. Look for more information about this in the coming weeks.

HOMEWORK

READING
  • 33% AR by Friday
  • Spelling test Friday
MATH:
none

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
Please practice the flashcards nightly, and return them the next day. Students also need to get their workbooks caught up if they have not finished pages 85 to 103. (There is nothing to do on pages 92 or 98. Workbook is all work we have done in class. Workbooks will be handed in by Tuesday of next week if we don't miss any days.)

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1/29/15

Dear Parents,


HOMEWORK

READING
  • 22% AR by Friday
  • Spelling test Friday
MATH:
none

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
Please practice the flashcards nightly, and return them the next day. Students also need to get their workbooks caught up if they have not finished pages 85 to 103. (There is nothing to do on pages 92 or 98. Workbook is all work we have done in class. Workbooks will be handed in by Tuesday of next week if we don't miss any days.)

USEFUL LINKS:

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1-28-15

Dear Parents,


HOMEWORK

READING
  • 22% AR by Friday
  • Read Aguinaldo and finish ELA.  Link below if students forgot their book and need to read the story online.
  • Spelling test Friday
MATH:
none

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
none

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Mary Dressel
Whitehouse 4th Grade
Office Phone 419-877-0543

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Team Mindcracfters Daily Update - 1-27-15

Dear Parents,

Math work.  I reminded students during math today that work must always shown and included with their homework.  That is, they should not just have circled  answers.  If a student used scratch paper to do calculation, this should be stapled to it when the work is turned in.

Pencils!  Some time before Christmas I bought a pack of 50 pencils to be used "as needed" when a student was missing a pencil.  At Christmas I also gave each of the students a mechanical pencil.  Yesterday, I bought another 50 pack of pencils to replenish the supply and already about a third of them have been "borrowed."  Please ask your child if they are in need of pencils or other school supplies.  Keep in mind that all supplies needed can be purchased at our school store.  If anyone would like to donate a pack of pencils that is always appreciated

-Mr. Pransky

HOMEWORK

READING
  • 22% AR by Friday
  • Finish ELA sheet by Thursday
  • Spelling test Friday
MATH:
AM Practice - remember to show all work!
Mrs. Vanderstelt's homeroom has an AM "Test" instead.  This should be done independently.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
None

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Monday, January 26, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update - 2-26-15

Dear Parents,

Second quarter progress reports are now available for you to view in the parent portal of PowerSchool.  To access your child's grades, please follow these steps:

1)  Log into PowerSchool using the log-in information that was sent home in the fall.  If you have trouble logging in, please contact the school office.

2)  Underneath the heading "Grades and Attendance," click on the tab that says "Standards Grades."

3)  On the Standards Grades screen, you will be able to see all of the grades your child received this quarter.  The following grading scale is used:

4

Consistently demonstrating mastery of the standard

3

Approaching mastery of the standard

2

Partial achievement of the standard

1

Not meeting the standard


**In the Work Habits section, an "X" indicates that additional practice is needed with that behavior.

HOMEWORK

READING
  • 22% AR by Friday
  • Finish ELA sheet (Some turned it in today.)
  • Spelling test Friday
MATH:
p. 11-14 of Long Division packet (see attachment if it was left at school

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
None

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Friday, January 23, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1-23-15

Dear Parents,

Book Order:  Book orders went home today.  If you'd like to order online, you can go to https://orders.scholastic.com/GJLYC, online orders can be submitted through January 31.

HOMEWORK

READING
  • 22% AR by next Friday
MATH:
none

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
none

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Mary Dressel
Whitehouse 4th Grade
Office Phone 419-877-0543

Thursday, January 22, 2015

team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1/22/15

Dear Psarents,

Math Your child is learning algebra concepts this week. We introduced the vocabulary your child should know. Here are the terms as well as an example of each:
  • variable: unknown number which can be represented by any letter such as x, t, s, etc...
  • expression: x + 3
  • equation: x + 3 = 7
  • inequality: 4 + x > 10
  • sum: answer when adding
  • difference: answer when subtracting
  • product: answer when multiplying
  • quotient: answer when dividing
Reminders:
  • Thursday, January 22 - Grades should be available in Powerschool. Contact the office (419-877-0543) if you are having trouble viewing your child's grades.
  • Pizza reward tomorrow   This  is a reminder that the students who earned 200% of their AR goal will be invited to a pizza lunch with Mrs. Dressel tomorrow.  An email was sent out this weekend with the list of students who reached that goal.
HOMEWORK

READING
  • 11% AR by Friday
  • Finish ELA sheet (Some turned it in today.)
  • Spelling test tomorrow
MATH:
CAR if not finished in study hall

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
None

USEFUL LINKS:
:-)  Mary Beth

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Snow day challenges accepted!

Check out the class website for some great pictures (and even a video) of students who took on the snow day science challenge.  If you still want to try one or more of these - go for it!  Please e-mail me any pictures you take, and I'll add them to the others.

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Snow Day Science Challenge Pictures



Nicolle did them all (and was first to send them to me)!


 

Cory and Justin did it as a team! Here's a link to their video.
Sarah did them all!


Austin and his sister got in on the fun!



 
Riley did it!

 Megan did it!

 
Charlie did it! 

 
Michael did it!

 Maci did it and then showed off her pictures with flair!

Jenelle did it!

Harrison defied gravity


Team Mindcrafters - snow day science challenges

Parents,

I sent this e-mail to your child today.

-Mr. Pransky

Well, here we are again...

Hopefully none of you are sitting around bored on these days off. (My mom always told me, "If you're bored then you're boring.") I hope you can use this time to do something creative like reading a book, writing a poem, drawing a picture, playing a board game, or learning something new.  

Since you have some extra free time today, how about doing some at home science?  I think its time for a Snow Day Science Challenge!

The floating paperclip experiment
I have linked a video that I made last year showing how to float a paperclip.  

The Power of Air Pressure - Hi Ya!

The Power of Air Pressure - Defy Gravity!

If you can do any of these experiments successfully, take a picture and e-mail it to me - I'll post it to our class blog.  You will also earn some extra class dojo points!

Have a good day off.  I hope to see you tomorrow.

-Mr. Pransky





--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Team Mindrafters Daily Update - 1-20-15

Dear Parents,

Reading - Coming home today is your child's AR record report for the 2nd quarter and his/her goal sheet for the 3rd quarter.  Please look over this new goal sheet with your child, but make sure it comes back to school.  Students will refer to these throughout the quarter.  You may keep the AR record report.  We are beginning Unit 3 today.  There will be an ELA sheet, reading log, and spelling list.

Math. Your child is learning algebra concepts this week. Today we introduced the vocabulary your child should know. Here are the terms as well as an example of each:
  • variable: unknown number which can be represented by any letter such as x, t, s, etc...
  • expression: x + 3
  • equation: x + 3 = 7
  • inequality: 4 + x > 10
  • sum: answer when adding
  • difference: answer when subtracting
  • product: answer when multiplying
  • quotient: answer when dividing
Reminders:
  • Thursday, January 22 - Grades should be available in Powerschool. Contact the office (419-877-0543) if you are having trouble viewing your child's grades.
HOMEWORK

READING
  • 11% AR by Friday
MATH:
AM Practice

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
Test over plants is tomorrow! There is a practice test on Moodle that may be helpful although it has questions related to animals that students have not learned yet. Those questions could be skipped.

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Sunday, January 18, 2015

AR Recognition

Congratulations to the following students who met 100%, or higher, of their AR goal in the second quarter:

100% - Logan D, Emily, Kaden, Charlie, Cory, Keaton, Ethan, Eli, Sire, Nicolle, Ella, Alex K, Hadryn, Katelyn, Allison P, Derrin, Brayden, Logan B, Erica, Nathaniel, Jorryn, Fran, Drew, and Cullen.  

125% - Matthew D, Parker, Michael, Emma T

150% - Justin, Austin, Jenelle, Cadence, Alex H, Nate, Eden, Harrison

200% - Maci, Emmah, Sarah, Samantha, Megan, Valerie, Allison M - These seven girls are invited to join me for a pizza lunch this Friday, January 23!  Rewards for 125% and 150% will also be given out on Friday.

AR goals for the 3rd quarter have been set.  Please look for your child's 2nd quarter AR record report to be sent home on Tuesday.

--
Mary Dressel
Whitehouse 4th Grade
Office Phone 419-877-0543

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1/15/15


Dear Parents,

Gym Shoes - Cold weather has a lot of students wearing boots to school; however, many are forgetting to pack tennis shoes on gym days. Students also need tennis shoes to play battleball on Friday (or Thursday this week).

Math - The next few weeks we will be practicing "long" division. Fluency (speed and accuracy) in multiplication and division facts makes learning this skill much easier. Mastery of division facts will be expected by midterm of 3rd quarter in about one month. Students can pick up fact sheets from me here at school or I can e-mail you some printable ones if your child needs extra practice. Please just let me know.

Reminders:
  • End of quarter is Thursday, January 15
  • No school, Friday January 16 - Teacher work day
  • No school, Monday January 19 - MLK Day
  • Thursday, January 22 - Grades should be available in Powerschool
HOMEWORK

READING
  • 100% AR by TODAY
MATH:
none

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
Finish pages 86 and 87 in Science Workbook Most students got a good start on it in class, and some have finished it. Students should be studying their blue plant cards and diagram of flower parts. If we don't miss more school days, our test will likely be January 21..

USEFUL LINKS:

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1-14-15

Parents,

Gym Shoes - Cold weather has a lot of students wearing boots to school; however, many are forgetting to pack tennis shoes on gym days. Students also need tennis shoes to play battleball on Friday (or Thursday this week).

Math - The next few weeks we will be practicing "long" division. Fluency (speed and accuracy) in multiplication and division facts makes learning this skill much easier. Mastery of division facts will be expected by midterm of 3rd quarter in about one month. Students can pick up fact sheets from me here at school or I can e-mail you some printable ones if your child needs extra practice. Please just let me know.

Reminders:
  • End of quarter is Thursday, January 15
  • No school, Friday January 16 - Teacher work day
  • No school, Monday January 19 - MLK Day
  • Thursday, January 22 - Grades should be available in Powerschool
HOMEWORK

READING
  • Back side of the commonly confused words worksheet.
  • 100% AR by TOMORROW!
MATH:
none

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
Students have vocabulary cards related to plant and animal adaptations that should be studied.

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Mary Dressel
Whitehouse 4th Grade
Office Phone 419-877-0543

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update - 1-13-15

Parents,

Reading - Due to missing the last three school days, we will continue to spend our time this short week wrapping up Unit 2.  Therefore, there will again not be an ELA sheet or spelling list this week.

Math - The next few weeks we will be practicing "long" division. Fluency (speed and accuracy) in multiplication and division facts makes learning this skill much easier. Mastery of division facts will be expected by midterm of 3rd quarter in about one month. Students can pick up fact sheets from me here at school or I can e-mail you some printable ones if your child needs extra practice. Please just let me know.

Reminders:
  • End of quarter is Thursday, January 15
  • No school, Friday January 16 - Teacher work day
  • No school, Monday January 19 - MLK Day
HOMEWORK

READING
  • 100% AR by Thursday
MATH:
AM Practice

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
Students have vocabulary cards related to plant and animal adaptations that should be studied.

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Monday, January 12, 2015

Kids Tech University at BGSU

I thought some of our science, math, and technology-minded students might be interested in this.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here


Kids' Tech University at BGSU
    

Kids' Tech U is for students ages 9-12 who are interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They will learn from scientists who work in these fields, and participate in hands-on activities that let them explore scientific concepts. 

Spring Sessions

  • Feb. 7 - Dr. Peg Yacobucci, a BGSU associate professor of geology, will lead an interactive session titled "How Do Fossils Reveal Our Planet's Past, Present, and Future?"
  • Feb. 14 - Dr. Karen Lynn Snover-Clift, director of the Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, associate director of Northeast Plant Diagnostic Network (NEPDN), and national quality manager of the network, will share "A Mighty Oak Tree Is Killed in the Forest; DNA Can Tell Us Who Did It."
  • March 28 - Dr. Andrew Torelli, a BGSU assistant professor of chemistry, will answer "What's the Best Way to Grow Crystals?"
  • April 11 - Dr. John McDowell, a Virginia Tech professor of plant pathology, will discuss "Why Are the Foods that You Love the Most in Danger from Rusts, Blights, Molds and Mildews?"
Kids' Tech U Sign-up Information
  • For students who live within a one-hour driving distance of BGSU.
  • $80 registration fee to participate; scholarships are available
  • Includes lunch card and a KTU T-shirt
  • Students work with undergraduate and graduate students, professors and STEM leaders from community organizations and local industries.
Online registration is now open and will be limited to 150 children.
  
 Register Online Here!

 

NWO_logo_S2011


BGSU is a partner of NWO

Forward email



This email was sent to aw_jf@nwoca.org by nwo@bgsu.edu |  


COSMOS BGSU | 241 Math/Sci Bldg. | BGSU | Bowling Green | OH | 43403

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1-7-15

Parents,

Have a good night!  Stay warm!!

Reminders:
  • End of quarter is Thursday, January 15
  • No school, Friday January 16 - Teacher work day
HOMEWORK

READING
  • Commonly Confused worksheet (front side only)
  • 88% AR by Friday
MATH:
None

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
None.

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Mary Dressel
Whitehouse 4th Grade
Office Phone 419-877-0543

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Snow Day Treat Opportunity

I just came across this cute snowman activity that practices main idea and details (which is one of our Unit 2 skills) and thought I'd pass along for any "bored" students looking for a project to do today!  The main idea statement is in the snowman hats, and the students look for matching details to build a snowman beneath.

Any students who complete this and bring it in tomorrow will get a treat from me, and a classroom dojo point.  If they make a nice decoration to go with the picture I'll even hang them up.

Stay warm!

--
Mary Dressel
Whitehouse 4th Grade
Office Phone 419-877-0543

Monday, January 5, 2015

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 1-5-15

Parents,

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a restful holiday filled with time spent with the ones you love.  It was great to see all of the students today! As a parent of teenagers know it can be challenging to get your child back into school and sleep routines at home.  Thank you for all that you do to for help to make sure your child is ready to learn at school each day.

Reading - We are spending this week continuing to work on skills from Unit 2, and we will be reading a short novel together in class.  There will be no ELA sheet or spelling list, but they do have a reading log to complete.  Next week we will begin Unit 3.

Math - The next few weeks we will be learning "long" division. Students did a great job with the introduction of division today. 4th graders are expected to be able to divide numbers of up to 4 digits dividends by 1 digit divisors. We will be practicing this a little bit each day. As students gain comfort with long division, they will also begin learning to solve problems using variables and expressions, another challenging topic.

Reminders:
  • End of quarter is Thursday, January 15
  • No school, Friday January 16 - Teacher work day
HOMEWORK

READING
  • 88% AR by Friday
MATH:
AM Practice

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:
None.

USEFUL LINKS:

--
Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)