Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 12/18/17

Parents,

AR Goal - Since this week ends on a Wednesday, there is no expectation for AR.  On the Friday that we return, January 5, students will be expected to be at 88%.

Christmas Parties - Mrs. Dressel still has a few slots left for donations for the party on Wednesday.  If you would be willing to donate an item, please sign-up on her Sign Up Genius page. For those who have already offered to bring in donations, thank you! Parties will be in the afternoon on Wednesday.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c49a4a92ba3fd0-winter

Science.  We will be finishing our plant and animal adaptations unit and will test over the unit on Tuesday.

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HOMEWORK:  Link for student version copied on the first day of each week.

MONDAY - Take Moodle Practice Test (Science)

http://moodle.anthonywayneschools.org/mod/quiz/view.php?id=12836

TUESDAY - AM Practice

WEDNESDAY - 

THURSDAY - 

               
FRIDAY:  

REMINDERS:

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 12-11-17

Parents,

Social Studies - We are finishing up our economics unit this week. Thursday's homework will be to take a practice test. This will be posted in Google Classroom Thursday night, and the test will be on Friday. Students will be able to take the practice test more than once.

Math.  We will be finishing multiplication and starting "long division" this week.  Tomorrow's homework will be to watch a Learn Zillion video teaching a method which is unfamiliar to most parents and certainly all students called the partial quotient method for long division.  (We will learn the standard algorithm later).  I will tell the students that my expectation is for them to simply do their best effort using this method.  As it won't be taught in class until Thursday, it is meant to pre-teach this topic.  If any students have trouble with it, we will also go over the worksheet at school if needed.

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HOMEWORK:  Link for student version copied on the first day of each week.

MONDAY - AM Practice

TUESDAY - Learn Zillion - (Shared in google classroom - quick code GX6TR8V)

WEDNESDAY - Scholastic News

THURSDAY - Economics Practice test (will be posted in Google Classroom)

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 77% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

Spirit Days:

• Wednesday - AWAKE t-shirt day
• Thursday - Red and Green
• Friday - Hat Day

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 12-4-7

Parents,

Poetry - Last week we finished Unit 2.  For the next two weeks we will be reading a novel and completing a poetry unit.  There will not be a spelling list until we begin Unit 3 after Christmas break.

Slime Shop - On Friday the students brought home some information about Slime Shop.  Their application and investment "contract" are due this Thursday.  Due to scheduling, we will be making our slime before Thursday.  Mr. Dressel's homeroom will be making slime on Tuesday, and Mr. Pransky's homeroom on Wednesday.  Making slime involves glue and food coloring.  I will have the students wear their art shirts, but I recommend that they not wear their best clothing on the day that they make slime:)

Math - We are working on multiplication of greater numbers ( 4 x 1 digit and 2 x 2 digit numbers). The students are off to a great start!

Science - We are learning about plant and animal adaptations. Vocabulary and topics we'll learn in this unit includes: camouflage, mimicry, inherited traits, instincts, learned behaviors, stimulus, and advantages.

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HOMEWORK:  Link for student version copied on the first day of each week.

MONDAY - Learn Zillion - Video #3 & #4 (Shared in google classroom)

TUESDAY - AM Practice

WEDNESDAY - Application & Investment

THURSDAY - Scholastic News

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 66% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

Secret Santa - Pransky shops Thursday, December 7 (2:55-3:25)

Dressel shops Friday, December 9 (1:25-2:55)

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 11-27-17

Parents,

HOMEWORK:  Link for student version copied on the first day of each week.

MONDAY - Accelerated Math

TUESDAY - Learn Zillion - Video #1 & #2 (Quick Codes:  N632X7V and 8TF6CE7)

WEDNESDAY - Scholastic News

THURSDAY - Learning Farm (structural elements)

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 55% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

Wednesday 11/29 - AWAKE t-shirt day

Secret Santa - Pransky shops Thursday, December 7 (2:55-3:25)

Dressel shops Friday, December 9 (1:25-2:55)

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

A couple reminders

Tonight's Homework.  Tonight's homework is to take the practice test on Moodle.  Students may take this as often as they want to help them prepare.  Student's who earn 100% on the practice test will earn a "Practice is the Key" badge.

We practiced logging in at home today, so students should be able to do this independently!  (un: 2026XXX pw: aw+lunch#)

If students want to practice in a game format, there is also a Quizizz game linked in their Google Classroom.

Pre-conference Questionnaire.  Thank you to the parents who returned the questionnaire already.  I sent a few back today because the last two questions on the back were left empty.  (I'll have to add a reminder on the front for next year to turn it over!)  They are kind of the important questions, so I wanted to be sure everyone saw them.  

~SP

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Pre-Conference Questionnaire

Parents,

With Parent Teacher conferences coming up next week, Mrs. Dressel and I would like some feedback from you about concerns and questions you may have so we can maximize our time.  A paper copy form was sent home with your child today.  Please return, if possible, by Friday. 

Thank you!

Mr. Pransky & Mrs. Dressel

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update - 11-13-17

Donuts with Dads is Tuesday Through Friday this week.

We are having the Toledo Opera on Wheels perform for us on Friday at 9 AM.

REMINDERS:

11/16 Thu.- Personal Safety Parent Night from 7:00-8:30 at Waterville Primary

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HOMEWORK:  Link for student version copied on the first day of each week.

MONDAY - Accelerated Math Practice

TUESDAY - Complete Practice Science Test on Moodle

WEDNESDAY - Leveled Reader

THURSDAY - Read Spiders (p. 153)

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 44% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Science Quiz + Coats

Parents,

Science Quiz.  We weren't able to fully review for the Science Quiz over Plant & Animal Life Cycles this week so I'll be pushing it to next week on Wednesday.  Students will be assigned to do this as homework next week, but they can practice ahead of time for the quiz by going to the Moodle link below and completing the practice quiz.

https://moodle.anthonywayneschools.org/login/index.php

username= 2025xxx (note that no "@anthonywayneschools.org" is needed) 

password = aw+lunchnumber

Coats.  Please remind your child that a coat will be required to go outside for recess when it is cold as it has been this week.

Here's the e-mail from Mr. Rhodes about this:

The weather is quickly getting colder and we have noticed the past few weeks that we have had many students coming to school unprepared for the cold temperatures.  At this time we all felt it was important to review our outdoor clothing expectations for students.

-When temperatures are below 50 degrees children should no longer be wearing shorts.  They should also have a jacket or sweatshirt of some sort.

-When temperatures drop below 40 degrees all students should have a coat.  Please note that we will continue to send students outside as long as the wind chills are above 20 degrees. 

-Once we have snow on the ground, boots will be needed for students to leave the blacktop area of the playground.  

 

If you have a need for any winter weather clothing items, please reach out to our counselor, Miss Bailin.  She will be happy to assist you.  If you have new or gently used winter clothing items you would like to donate to school we are happy to accept them in the office.  

Children who are not dressed for outside recess could be kept inside for their safety.  Parent contact will be made for students who are repeatedly unprepared to go outside. 

Third and fourth grade teachers may deduct Class Dojo points from students if they are not prepared to go outside.  We have talked with all of the children repeatedly about how it is part of being responsible to remember what you need for school. 

Please know that we are adhering to these expectations because we care about your children and want to keep them safe.  Hypothermia and/or frost bite can set in for children as temperatures approach 40 degrees.  This varies due to humidity and wind chill.  This is also dependent on the length of time spent outside.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.  Again, our only interest is keeping our children safe.  Thank you for your understanding and support.

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update - 11-6-17

Parents,

Colder weather - We have definitely had some interesting weather lately.  Last week there were a couple of really cold days, and several students did not have sufficient coats, hats, etc to spend 30 minutes during recess in those temps.  Please help remind your child to have the appropriate clothing for recess each day.  We have a level recess at 9:30, and the temps are never much warmer than what they walk out into each morning for school.

Veterans Day - This week we are honoring our Veterans.  Mr. Pransky and I would like to personally thank all of our parents who are serving, or have served, in the armed forces.  Veterans are welcome to join students during lunch on Thursday or Friday this week.  Unless you already sent in the form that went home last week, it is asked that you bring a lunch with you when you come.  On Friday we will have a spirit day.  The theme is to wear camo, or red, white & blue.

HOMEWORK:  Link for student version copied on the first day of each week.

MONDAY - Accelerated Math

TUESDAY - Learn Zillion - Use links in Google Classroom

WEDNESDAY - Leveled Reader

THURSDAY - LF (main idea & details)

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 33% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

11/16 Thu.- Personal Safety Parent Night from 7:00-8:30 at Waterville Primary

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update - 10-30-17

Parents,

Math Homework:  With Halloween on Tuesday, I have given all of the students their Accelerated Math homework a day early in case they feel that they won't have time to complete it that night or just want to get it done early.

Weekly Homework:  Mrs. Dressel and I have published the weekly homework in a shared google slide.  This is the same one we share with students on Monday when they write down their homework.  This might be helpful if you child is absent on a Monday.  I have shared this in your child's Google Classroom.  The direct link is here:

Volunteers.  On Friday 11/3 from about 10:15 to 11:50 students will be doing an owl pellet dissection activity.  If any parents are interested in volunteering to help with this activity (in either homeroom) we'd love to have you join us!  Please let your child's homeroom teacher know if you are interested.

Nature's Nursery - We are still looking for some more donations to give Nature's Nursery when they visit tomorrow.  A list of items they could use is attached.

Book Orders - Book orders were sent home, and are due November 3.  If you are interested in ordering items for Christmas gifts, please send me a note, and I will hold onto items to give to you at conferences next month.  Remember, Scholastic's website offers a wide selection of books that can be ordered, and they are searchable in many ways, including by AR level.  To order online use our class code: GJLYC

ELA News - This week we will take a break from the reading series and will do an owl research writing project that will tie in to our Nature's Nursery visit, and our owl pellet dissection on Friday.  However, last week's spelling list proved difficult for many.  Therefore, students will again practice those words this week, and will retest over that list on Friday.

Book Orders - Book orders are due this Friday, November 3.  If you are interested in ordering items for Christmas gifts, please send me a note, and I will hold onto items to give to you at conferences next month.  Remember, Scholastic's website offers a wide selection of books that can be ordered, and they are searchable in many ways, including by AR level.  To order online use our class code: GJLYC

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - Learn Zillion - Videos 4 & 10 (Quick codes: MT2UA3U and Y52YV52)

TUESDAY - AM Practice

WEDNESDAY - LF (Linking Words and Phrases)

THURSDAY - LF (Revising and Editing)

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 22% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

10/31 Tues.: Nature's Nursery visits

                     First quarter grades are posted

                     Fall Party

11/3 Fri.: 1st Quarter PBIS assembly

                Owl Pellet activity

                 Pransky's homeroom JoJo's pizza party

                 Mother/son event

11/5 Sun - Time change (Fall back)

11/6 Mon. Granite City Dine Out Night

11/7 Tues. - No School - Inservice Day

11/16 Thu.- Personal Safety Parent Night from 7:00-8:30 at Waterville Primary

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update - 10-23-17

Parents,

Nature's Nursery - We are still looking for some donations to give Nature's Nursery when they come to present next week.  A list of items they could use is attached.

2nd Quarter - Although the 2nd quarter officially starts Wednesday, we restarted our AR goals for the new quarter today.  Students have been given their new goals, and any changes in reading levels.

Red Ribbon Week - Today we kicked off the week by wearing red.  Please see the other spirit days for the rest of the week.

• Tuesday - Choose and Active Life!  Wear fitness clothing
• Wednesday - Wear AWAKE shirts
• Thursday - Team Up Against Drugs - Wear your favorite team's spirit wear or colors.
• Friday - Generals Don't Do Drugs - Wear AW blue and white

Book Orders - Book orders were sent home today, and are due November 3.  If you are interested in ordering items for Christmas gifts, please send me a note, and I will hold onto items to give to you at conferences next month.  Remember, Scholastic's website offers a wide selection of books that can be ordered, and they are searchable in many ways, including by AR level.  To order online use our class code: GJLYC  

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - AM Practice

TUESDAY - Learn Zillion - multiplication (Quick codes: FJ5GH5B and ZC646ED)

WEDNESDAY - Scholastic News

THURSDAY - Learning Farm (commas)

               
FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 11% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update - 10-16-17

Parents,

Nature's Nursery - The 4th grade team wrote and was awarded a grant for a live owl presentation by Nature's Nursery which will be held on Tuesday, October 31st.  For those not aware, Nature's Nursery is a non-profit organization located in Whitehouse that provides medical care to injured, orphaned or ailing wild animals, as well as conducting conservation educational outreach programs for children and adults. To help them defer costs, we are collecting items to donate to the organization.  A list of the items they are looking for went home with your child last week and is attached to this message as well.

Music Program - Thursday, October 19th at 7 PM in the gym

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - Go to www.Sumdog.com (use third party log in) and join the challenge called "Homework Challenge 10/16".  Students should answer at least 30 questions correctly to earn bonus coins. All skills are related to skills we are currently learning. Students can, of course, do more practice if they like. Top 3 point earners will earn a Sumdog badge.

TUESDAY - Accelerated Math

WEDNESDAY - Scholastic News

THURSDAY - Learning Farm (Theme)

                    -Music Program

FRIDAY:  We are doing a tree classification activity where students will need a leaf from a tree (no shrubs or bushes).  Please bring one in a baggie.

                AR goal should be 100% by Friday.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

• Thursday, October 19th dine out night at JoJo's pizza from 4-9
  
• Thursday, October 19th at 7 PM -  Music Program - meet in classroom at 6:45

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Learn Zillion homework

Parents,

There was a bit of a problem with the Learn Zillion homework last night that didn't allow the 3 exit ticket questions to be completed online saying the assignment had been "closed." As I hoped, most of the kids simply did those same 3 questions on their paper and either e-mailed me, class dojo messaged me, or wrote a note on the paper about the problem.  Thank you for doing this.  I think I have it worked out now and hopefully we won't have that problem again.  Thanks for your communication and patience.  

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 10-9-17

Parents,

Lemonade War - We are finishing our novel this week.  As groups finish, they are directed to our Book Buddy library and encouraged to use this occasionally throughout the year for their independent reading.

Spelling - There will be no spelling this week.  Students who struggled with any of the lists from last week will retest on Friday.

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - Go to www.LearnZillion.com and watch video (J4KD6GN) or login from google classroom.  Complete both sides of worksheet.

TUESDAY - Accelerated Math

WEDNESDAY -Learning Farm.  Students will not have an assignment this week when they log in.  This will allow them to go into other areas of Learning Farm after completing their homework.  Tonight they should do AT LEAST 10 questions for the "Text Structures" standard.

THURSDAY - Compound sentences worksheet

FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 88%.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

Dine out night tonight - Chipotle

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Science Test Results

Parents,

You child completed their first Science test today.  Your child's overall results will come home today on a slip both as a percentage and as a standard score.  You can view more details about your child's test at the link below:

http://moodle.anthonywayneschools.org/mod/quiz/view.php?id=2608

• un: 2026###
  
• pw:aw+lunch#
  

A few things I'd like you to know about the test:

1.  While they are testing, students can receive half credit for correcting a question that they missed.  Sometimes this is deceptive because they may show up as green square on the left when really they got it right on the second or even third try (look for the "mark" score for that question ex. 2.0 out of 6.0)

​

2.  Students are allowed to retake a test to raise a grade up to a week after the test.  It does need to be completed at school rather than at home, however.

3.  Finally, any students who did not earn at least a standard score of "3" (82% or higher) are required to retake the test at school.  I recommend reviewing the test with special attention given to any questions that they did not earn full credit.

Thank you for all of your help encouraging your child with their science studies.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Science Test tomorrow

A couple tid bits that I shared with your child about the Science test tomorrow:

• Students can access the Moodle practice test either from their google classroom or the link in my message below.
• Students will receive one bonus class dojo point for each time they take their practice test
  
• Any students who earn 100% on the practice test will be awarded a "Practice is the key" badge.
• Just as another way to study, I created a Quizizz review game if they would prefer to use that. It is shared in their google classroom or they can go to the link below:

Science Test Wednesday.  Your child will be taking a Science test on Wednesday over our first unit, Nature of Science.  To study for this test, you child should have a practice test which can be done at home on Moodle at this link.  Completing this practice test at least once will be your child's homework for Tuesday night, but it can be completed any time.  Your child can also take this practice test as many times as they like to prepare.  It gives feedback after each question and a grade after it is complete.  The login to Moodle is username=2025xxx (note that no "@anthonywayneschools.org" is needed) password = aw+lunchnumber. 

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 10/2/17

Parents,

Art Shirts.  Students will begin losing a dojo point from Mrs. Nagy this week for being unprepared if they do not have an art shirt.

Lemonade War - We are starting a novel this week.  Students will either be in a group with me, or with Mrs. Pokrzywa (Mrs. Dressel's homeroom) or Mrs. Gutierrez (Mr. Pransky's homeroom).  Nightly reading will be from this novel all this week, and possibly into next week as well.  Since the different groups may be in different places, your child will have their assigned reading written into the reading log each day.

Spelling - When we take breaks from our reading series, usually after each unit, we also take a break from the usual spelling lists.  This week and next students will be working on sight words.  Please see the letter coming home with more information.

Papers coming home - With our standards based grading system, the goal is eventual mastery of standards.  Students will always be asked to C.A.R. (Correct And Return) papers to make sure that the learning is taking place.  A "star" on a paper means that no corrections need to be made.  We do not put individual standard grades (1, 2, 3, or 4) on assignments, as end-of-quarter grades are not an average, but an assessment on mastery by the quarter's end. 

Science Test Wednesday.  Your child will be taking a Science test on Wednesday over our first unit, Nature of Science.  To study for this test, you child should have a practice test which can be done at home on Moodle at this link.  Completing this practice test at least once will be your child's homework for Tuesday night, but it can be completed any time.  Your child can also take this practice test as many times as they like to prepare.  It gives feedback after each question and a grade after it is complete.  The login to Moodle is username=2025xxx (no @anthonywayneschools.org needed) password = aw+lunchnumber. 

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - Accelerated Math

TUESDAY - Moodle Practice Test (Test is Wednesday)

WEDNESDAY -Learning Farm.  Students will not have an assignment this week when they log in.  This will allow them to go into other areas of Learning Farm after completing their homework.  Tonight they should do AT LEAST 10 questions for the "Setting" standard.

THURSDAY - Learning Farm AT LEAST 10 questions for "Plot and Events"

FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 75%.  Remember you can check on your child's goal at any time by logging into Home Connect.  The log in is the same as what your child uses at school to take an AR quiz.

REMINDERS:

Tuesday, October 3 - Basketball Jones presentation.  During the day for students, and at Monclova school at 6:30 for families.

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 9-25-17

Parents,

Art Shirts.  These need to be brought in to school this week if they haven't already.

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - http://learnzillion.com video on problem solving using rounding and estimation (Quick code: E7ABU28) or use link in Google Classroom

TUESDAY - Accelerated Math

WEDNESDAY - Complete the back page of the Scholastic News and enter answers in Google Classroom.  Students then are expected to use a marking pen (red preferably) to mark wrong answers, and then correct.  Scholastic News is accessible online at https://sn4.scholastic.com/ and student password is aw2026 

THURSDAY - Learning Farm (an assignment will be there when they log in).

FRIDAY:  AR goal should be 62%

.

REMINDERS:

• Wednesday, September 27 - 2 hr. delay (professional development)

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters