Scholastic News homework tonight

Parents,

I wanted to again remind everyone about tonight's homework, and the online component.  Students have a Scholastic News magazine for homework.  They will need to read pages 2-5 and complete the back page.  Time has been given in class to start on the reading portion, and many have finished.

After completing the back side, they are to fill in their answers on a Google Form that is in their Google Classroom account.  When finished, it will tell them the answers they got incorrect.  Using a marking pen (preferably red) they should mark the problems they missed, and then go back and correct the problems.  If all problems were correct, they should put a red star on their paper, so that I know it was checked.  These papers will be turned in the next day, so that I can look over their corrections, and help students as needed.

Not only does this allow me to look over student work before the day begins to help guide instruction, it also helps me to group students easily who missed similar problems.  With 51 students between the two classrooms, this is a great way for me to efficiently maximize my instructional time with them.

If your student has not yet accessed Google Classroom from home, here are some steps to get there.

• Go to Google.com and click on "Sign In" in the top right corner.
• Have your child sign in using their AW information
• username: 2026###@anthonywayneschools.org (### is their own additional 3 digits)
• password: aw###### (###### is their 6 digit lunch number)
• Then they can click on the "square of squares" in the top right to access the other Google apps.  If Google Classroom isn't a choice, you can do a quick web search and click on it, and then it should be there next time.

Again, please let me know if you have any questions, or are having difficulty.

Thanks, and have a great night!

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Learning Farm homework - Thursday, August 30

Parents, 

We have been experiencing some glitches with Learning Farm.  After speaking with them today, it is due to duplicate usernames that students had when they tried out Learning Farm last year.  They are planning to delete the old accounts, which is SUPPOSED to fix the issue.  I'm concerned that it may mess up other things, and of course this is their homework tonight. 

Please feel free to let me know if your student has any problems logging on.  If successful, they have an assignment to practice sentences.  They were told to view the lesson and complete at least 10 problems.

Thanks, and have a great night!

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 8-28-17

Parents,

The beginning of the year is always a bit hectic, but things have been going well, and the students have been great.  Thanks for all of your help with getting connected to Dojo, and completing all of the paperwork.  We use Dojo as a way to send quick messages, as well as pictures of the happenings in our room.  If you have a smart phone, I would highly recommend downloading the app and connecting.

Once again, this will be a long email (sorry).  They will be much shorter as the year goes on.

Reading - This week we are starting our first "typical" week guided by our reading series.  We will start slowly, but here is what you can expect:

• Monday - students are introduced to spelling, vocabulary words, genre, etc.
• Wednesday - students will take a practice test on their spelling words
• Thursday - students will read the story and complete a selection test (which includes the vocabulary words)
• Friday - students will take their actual spelling test, which consists of several of the words used in two dictated sentences

The other big part of reading is nightly independent reading of at least 20 minutes.  Students should be documenting their reading on the reading log at the bottom of their homework sheet and then bringing to you to initial.  Thanks to those that have already been helping at home with this!

Spelling - After some more time with the students, they will be placed in one of three different spelling lists.  For this first week, everyone is on the blue list.  A packet of ALL of the lists for the year was sent home today.  You may want to keep this in a safe place as a back up.

T.A.P. - Some volunteers at Zion United Methodist Church are once again partnering with us to provide after school tutoring for students who could benefit.  This happens each Wednesday from 3:30-4:45.  Please contact us if you feel that your child could benefit, and would like some additional information.

Book Orders - Book orders were made available to students last Friday.  I plan to use any bonus points earned from orders to buy additional sets of books for our "Book Buddy" library.  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  Orders are due by this Friday.

Google Classroom - This is like a class website where many links and assignments are posted.  To access from home, your child will need to go to Google and login using their AW username and password (students have a sticker in their take-home folder to help with login information).  Once logged in, students should know how to get there.  I have a quick question waiting there tonight for students to answer.  Successful students will get a bonus dojo point!

HOMEWORK:

MONDAY - 100 or Bust game with a parent

TUESDAY - Tailpipe worksheet

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

THURSDAY - Complete the back page of the Scholastic News and enter answers in Google Classroom.

REMINDERS:

• Wednesday, 8/30 - AWAKE T-shirt (or wear black or white T-Shirt)
• Thursday, 8/31 - Jo Jo's Dine Out Night
• Friday 9/1 - Book Orders due
• Monday 9/4 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Home Connect "how to" video

I forgot to include this link to a short "how to" video for practicing Math facts using Home Connect and Math Facts in a Flash (2 min.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFlzaPZkR7o

If you'd like a more extensive video for using Home Connect to track AR reading and Accelerated Math, check out this longer video. (11 min.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1HN6m3SAVI&t=40s

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Math Fact Practice

Parents,

Early in the year there will be a big push to get all kids to mastery of their basic facts.  Here are some suggestions for practicing these Math skills with your child at home.

1) Flash cards - a tried and true method. As you go through a deck, separate the fast and accurate from the ones that need to be practiced. The "needs to practice" stack will get smaller each day. I attached some printable flash cards to this e-mail if you need some.

2)  Math Facts in a Flash - go to Home Connect, log in with your child's AR password, and click on the Math tab to practice the same way your child will be tested at school. See video below for a "how to" on how to do this.

3)  Print your own fact sheets or ask me and I can send some copies home.

4)  Math apps or websites - there are lots of good ones. (some sites to recommend: xtraMath.org, mathfactspro.com, mathplayground.com, or Math Magician )

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Team Mindcrafters Weekly Update 8-22-17

Parents,

Mrs. Dressel and I will send out weekly e-mails that include that week's homework as well as other reminders.  Sorry, they won't usually be this long, but there's a lot to share today.  :)  

Feel free to contact us by e-mail or through Class Dojo messaging if you ever have any questions or concerns.  Remember, that if it is a subject area question to please contact Mrs. Dressel for ELA & Social Studies and Mr. Pransky for Math & Science.  Also, if you need to contact us about something time sensitive (like an appointment that day) it is better to send it in a note or contact the office directly.  We will often not have a chance to check our e-mail until then end of the day.

What a great first day we had!  The first couple days involve a lot of learning and practice of classroom routines along with time spent getting to know one another.  The kids did a great job listening and remembering all of the procedures today.  Looking forward to a great second day!

Summer Skills.  It's not too late to practice those math facts or finish an AR book for the summer skills challenge!  

Earbuds.  Some students will still need to bring a second set of earbuds. They make it much easier to grab in go in each of the two classrooms.

Silent Reading book.  Since your child hasn't had library yet, it would be helpful to send them with a good book to read if they have been reading something at home.  Many students borrowed books from our shelves in the meantime.

Reminders

 Please complete and return the forms below as soon as possible:

• "Get to know your child" paper (green)
  
• signed handbook form (white)
• Internet Safety form (white)

Students will also need to bring in:

• a "me" bag (for Mr. Pransky)
• 3 truths and a 1 fib paper (purple sheet for Mrs. Dressel)

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK:

Mon:  

Tues:  3 facts and a fib (Mrs. Dressel)

Wed: Math fact packet (5 minutes on each page) - this will be given in class tomorrow

Thurs: Reading comprehension worksheet

Fri: Paperwork listed above due

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade teacher

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters