Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 8-31-15

Parents, 

Reminders:

• Connect to your Parent Class Dojo account (if you have not connected you should have receive an e-mail invite to do this.)

• Pizza Hut Dine Out Fundraiser - Thursday, September 3

• Book orders - (optional) due Friday - you can order online www.scholastic.com/bookclubs  Class Activation Code: GJLYC  

HOMEWORK:

MATH:

none

READING:

Context Clues (complete one side of the nonsense words paper)

Read for 20 minutes.  AR goal for Friday = 22%

SCIENCE:

none

SOCIAL STUDIES:

none

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 8-27-15

Parents, 

Math facts.  Nightly practice with Math face can make a huge impact on  your child's success in Math this year.  Students who are fast and accurate with their facts will have a much easier time when we learn harder math calculation such as long division.  Basic facts need to be memorized - please discourage your child from using finger counting or other techniques.  While they are helpful when children are first learning facts, they inhibit fluency over time.  So, what is considered fast?  If your child cannot recall a fact within 3 seconds or less, then it needs to be reviewed more.  See attachment for copies of timed test sheets that can be used at home for practice.

AR goal.  Mrs. Dressel spoke with students today about their progress toward their AR goal this week.  Students who have been reading nightly and keeping up with their reading goal should be at 11% (or higher) of their goal by tomorrow.  If your child is reading a longer book that cannot be finished that week, Mrs. Dressel will usually allow the student to be less than 11% as longer as they have reached an appropriate page goal in the book.  Please ask you child for more details about this.

TAP - The Tutoring Assistance Program (TAP) is a free one-on-one tutoring program offered by the Zion Lutheran Church just down the road from the school.  Volunteers from the church have work with children from 3:30-4:45 on Wednesdays.  The time begins with a 15 minute snack and beverage and then 1 hour of adult-led tutoring.  Students can work with their tutor to complete homework, read together, study for tests, or work on skills that need practice.  Please see the attached document for more information, and contact your child's homeroom teacher if you are interested in signing your child up for this program.

Reminders:

• Connect to your Parent Class Dojo account (if you have not connected you should have receive an e-mail invite to do this.)

• Book orders - (optional) due Friday - you can order online www.scholastic.com/bookclubs  Class Activation Code: GJLYC 

• Back to School Bash is Friday, August 28.  We hope to see you there!

• Please have your child bring in extra pair of scissors if they have one at home.

HOMEWORK:

MATH:

"Lion" Expanded form worksheet

READING:

Read for 20 minutes.  AR goal for Friday = 11%

SCIENCE:

none

SOCIAL STUDIES:

none

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Whitehouse Tech Club

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 8-26-15

Parents, 

Reading Logs.  I'd really like to get students off to a good start with reading.  Once students fall behind, it is very difficult for them to catch up.  This Friday, students are expected to be at 11% of their individually set AR goals.  You can help by making sure that your child is reading the same book at school and at home until it is finished, and an AR quiz is taken.  Students should be completing their reading logs, at the bottom of the homework sheet, and bringing them to you to initial each night.  

Thanks to those who have been doing this.

TAP - The Tutoring Assistance Program (TAP) is a free one-on-one tutoring program offered by the Zion Lutheran Church just down the road from the school.  Volunteers from the church have work with children from 3:30-4:45 on Wednesdays.  The time begins with a 15 minute snack and beverage and then 1 hour of adult-led tutoring.  Students can work with their tutor to complete homework, read together, study for tests, or work on skills that need practice.  Please see the attached document for more information, and contact your child's homeroom teacher if you are interested in signing your child up for this program.

Scissors.  Our order of scissors is on back order.  If your child has an extra pair of scissors at home, it would be helpful to send them in until our order comes in.  Thank you!

Reminders:

• Connect to your Parent Class Dojo account (if you have not connected you should have receive an e-mail invite to do this.)

• Granite City Night TONIGHT - If you dine in, or get carry out tonight, a portion of your bill goes to our Parents' Club.  Make sure you either give them the flyer, or let them know you are from Whitehouse!

• Book orders - (optional) due Friday - you can order online www.scholastic.com/bookclubs  Class Activation Code: GJLYC  

HOMEWORK:

MATH:

none

READING:

Read for 20 minutes.  AR goal for Friday = 11%

SCIENCE:

none

SOCIAL STUDIES:

relative location worksheet (both sides)

--

Mary Dressel

Whitehouse 4th Grade

Office Phone 419-877-0543

Open House Team "Selfies"

 

Team Mindcrafters

(Miss Schnee, Mr. Pransky, & Mrs. Dressel)

 

 4th Grade Team

(from Left: Mrs. McMurtrie, Mrs. Whitlow,
Mrs. Dressel, Mr. Pransky, Mrs. Lindrup, Miss Schnee

Staff Talent Show Video

As the final act of the Talent Show, teachers performed in their own version of the Evolution of Dance.

You can watch it here:

Have a great summer!

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Whitehouse Tech Club

Thank you for a great year!

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 6-1-15 - Last Day of School Edition

Parents,

We want to first take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support in your child's education this year.  Each school year brings new challenges for your child and through each success and failure your child grows and matures and learns more about his/herself.  

Academically, this class performed exceptionally well in learning the fourth grade curriculum.  The more we taught them, the more eager they were for a new challenge.  They demonstrated limitless curiosity and enthusiasm to learn.  This made them very fun to teach.

Beyond showing terrific academic growth, the students have developed many other many other qualities that they can take with them wherever they go.  Students demonstrated responsibility, perseverance, honesty, empathy, cooperation, and decision making skills which we hope will carry with through with them into adulthood.

We hope that you and your child can look back upon this school year with fond memories.  As your child grows we enjoy reading and hearing about their successes in school, sports, and other endeavors.  In the future, if you or your child are ever around for a school event, please have them stop in and let us know how they are doing.  Your child is, and always will be, part of our Whitehouse family.

Grade cards.  Final grades are now posted in Powerschool.  We have also included a few reports in your child's take home materials today of their progress with STAR, Accelerated Math, and Accelerated Reading. 

4th Grade Memories.  The 4th Grade Memories book is our gift to you and your child. You child received a paper copy and a digital one is attached to this message as well.  We hope this will remind your child of the many the fun experiences we had together this year.  Enjoy!

Thank you for a great year.  Have a safe and happy summer!

-Mr. Pransky

-Mrs. Dressel

-Mrs. Vanderstelt

--

Shane Pransky
Whitehouse Primary
4th Grade

On the web:

Team Mindcrafters

Whitehouse Tech Club

Team Mindcrafters Daily Update 5/ 28/ 15

Dear Parents,  Tomorrow is Bike Hike.  If you are bringing a bike, please put it behind the school in the bike rack where your child can find it easily when they get here.  This should be done well before busses are coming in to avoid traffic tie-ups.  

We fitted lots of helmets today.  We also talked about the wildlife the kids might see at the park.  Everyone is very excited, but please don't forget their sack lunch, sunscreen, a hat to prevent ticks during their time at the park, and bug spray.  It is supposed to be pretty warm, so cool clothing would be best.  They need to wear socks and their tennis shoes for safety.  Water, pop, and a snack are provided. 

We have plenty of helpers to pick up bikes and riders who become too hot, ill, or their bikes have broken down.  

If you have had to change your plan for getting the bike back home, please send a note with your child in the morning.  Phone calls will probably not get to us as we leave right after announcements.  Expect tired kids at the end of the day.  

Congratulations to the last minute kids who got their AR points just in time.  We are all very happy they are joining everybody else on this fun 4th grade experience that they will remember for a long, long time.  

:-)  Mary Beth V.