The kids got their 2nd term card test over sets 1 - 4 back today. I was VERY impressed with the scores. 63 students received a score of 2.8 or better (basically B+ to A+) So WAY TO GO PARENTS for helping them study or making them study!
Retake test for those students wishing to do retakes is again this Wednesday.
This
Friday we have two things going on. All 5th graders will be at the OEC
all day. Since I have them tramping through the woods off the deck
doing different activities I ask that they wear old shoes, long pants
(jeans if they have them) and layers on top. (tshirt,
sweatshirt,jacket) I know the weather is supposed to be nice through
Thursday.... but I haven't seen the forecast for Friday yet.
On
your permission slips at the beginning of the year you should have
signed up for either home or school lunch. I'll make sure my parents
that are packing a home lunch get a reminder email today. I'm pretty
sure that Vandermei and Buell do the same.
Finally... even
though we'll be at the OEC, we are STILL taking the term card test over
sets 1 -6 while we are at the OEC. ALL term cards (sets 1 - 8) need
to be completed by Monday, as their final test over sets 1-8 will be the
11th of October.
Reminder that Picture day is October 13th and that the book fair is tomorrow and Wednesday.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
9/18 Update - Picture Day and OEC
Our fall visit to the OEC is scheduled for October 4th.
Most of you chose "home lunch" on your permission slips. (I still have to copy these and get them back to you). I'll send an email to those who signed up for home lunch as a reminder to pack a lunch for the OEC that day.
We will be at the OEC all day. Please watch the weather and make sure that your student dresses appropriately for the weather. Unless the weather is predicted to be down pouring all day, we will be going! Kids will also be OFF the trail, hiking around in the woods, so make sure they have closed toe shoes or boots on please!
Most of you chose "home lunch" on your permission slips. (I still have to copy these and get them back to you). I'll send an email to those who signed up for home lunch as a reminder to pack a lunch for the OEC that day.
We will be at the OEC all day. Please watch the weather and make sure that your student dresses appropriately for the weather. Unless the weather is predicted to be down pouring all day, we will be going! Kids will also be OFF the trail, hiking around in the woods, so make sure they have closed toe shoes or boots on please!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
9/17/13 Upcoming Fundraising information
·
Upcoming Technology Fundraiser – Sponsored by Technology Committee of Teachers
This event is not related to PTA’s Annual Walk-a-Thon
YANKEE CANDLES
An informational assembly for students will take place on September 25th, with the sales from 9/25 to 10/10 for Yankee Candles. Please look for the flyers to come home that day. Payment must be turned in with each order. Cash or check (made out to Sunset Lake) are accepted. Orders should be ready for pick up in early November.
Just a reminder to 4th & 5th Grade
students that auditions for Pinocchio Jr. are this week Wednesday 6-8:30 &
Thursday 4:15-6:30 at the Middle School Choir room. If you
need more information check the PTA facebook page or see Mrs.
Heintzelman.
Thank you J
Upcoming Technology Fundraiser – Sponsored by Technology Committee of Teachers
This event is not related to PTA’s Annual Walk-a-Thon
YANKEE CANDLES
An informational assembly for students will take place on September 25th, with the sales from 9/25 to 10/10 for Yankee Candles. Please look for the flyers to come home that day. Payment must be turned in with each order. Cash or check (made out to Sunset Lake) are accepted. Orders should be ready for pick up in early November.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Week of 9/16/13 Spelling lists
Happy Monday!
The kid's took the spelling test this morning and they've been corrected and returned to your students. If they "lose" it you can always email me for the score:)
New lists have been passed out and should come home today.
Students also received back their first science warm-up sheets today. Comments for improvement or ways to "fix" their sheets is in the upper left corner of their returned assignments.
Know that any time your student scores low on anything that I teach, that it can be redone for more points and credit. Test retake days for spelling tests and science tests are Wednesday during recess, or at a time that you arrange with me before or after school. I'd rather have them learn from their mistakes and become more proficient and skilled than to just have to accept that they did badly and that they can't improve.
Spelling lists are as follows:
List 1 - Square group
1. dynamite
2. slope
3. growth
4. locate
5. design
6. retire
7. chosen
8. sorrow
9. froze
10. polite
11. horizon
12. tone
13. grocer
14. lotion
15. strike
16. deny
17. exponent
18. donate
19. style
20. classify
21. assign
List 2 diamond group
1. arrive
2. slope
3. growth
4. locate
5. design
6. supply
7. chosen
8. type
9. froze
10. polite
11. spoken
12. tone
13. describe
14. silent
15. thrown
16. deny
17. excite
18. bowl
19. style
20. decide
List 3 (circle group)
1. arrive
2. shown
3. role
4. lone
5. cycle
6. supply
7. beside
8. type
9. spoken
10. describe
11. silent
12. thrown
13. excite
14. bowl
15. decide
The kid's took the spelling test this morning and they've been corrected and returned to your students. If they "lose" it you can always email me for the score:)
New lists have been passed out and should come home today.
Students also received back their first science warm-up sheets today. Comments for improvement or ways to "fix" their sheets is in the upper left corner of their returned assignments.
Know that any time your student scores low on anything that I teach, that it can be redone for more points and credit. Test retake days for spelling tests and science tests are Wednesday during recess, or at a time that you arrange with me before or after school. I'd rather have them learn from their mistakes and become more proficient and skilled than to just have to accept that they did badly and that they can't improve.
Spelling lists are as follows:
List 1 - Square group
1. dynamite
2. slope
3. growth
4. locate
5. design
6. retire
7. chosen
8. sorrow
9. froze
10. polite
11. horizon
12. tone
13. grocer
14. lotion
15. strike
16. deny
17. exponent
18. donate
19. style
20. classify
21. assign
List 2 diamond group
1. arrive
2. slope
3. growth
4. locate
5. design
6. supply
7. chosen
8. type
9. froze
10. polite
11. spoken
12. tone
13. describe
14. silent
15. thrown
16. deny
17. excite
18. bowl
19. style
20. decide
List 3 (circle group)
1. arrive
2. shown
3. role
4. lone
5. cycle
6. supply
7. beside
8. type
9. spoken
10. describe
11. silent
12. thrown
13. excite
14. bowl
15. decide
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Spelling Lists Week of 9/9/13
Sorry.... Forgot to post these on Monday.
List 1 (Square Group)
1. operate
2. claim
3. needle
4. marine
5. foggy
6. gasoline
7. eighty
8. freight
9. delete
10. outweigh
11. lease
12. daily
13. Braille
14. replace
15. sleigh
16. feature
17. geology
18. freeze
19. daydream
20. populate
21. complain
List 2 (diamond group)
1. operate
2. claim
3. needle
4. beneath
5. foggy
6. gasoline
7. eighty
8. freight
9. complete
10. scary
11. neighbor
12. daily
13. screen
14. police
15. explain
16. feature
17. straight
18. memory
19. contain
20. populate
List 3 (circle group)
1. speed
2. peach
3. lady
4. beneath
5. fame
6. brain
7. complete
8. scary
9. neighbor
10. screen
11. police
12. explain
13. straight
14. memory
15. contain
List 1 (Square Group)
1. operate
2. claim
3. needle
4. marine
5. foggy
6. gasoline
7. eighty
8. freight
9. delete
10. outweigh
11. lease
12. daily
13. Braille
14. replace
15. sleigh
16. feature
17. geology
18. freeze
19. daydream
20. populate
21. complain
List 2 (diamond group)
1. operate
2. claim
3. needle
4. beneath
5. foggy
6. gasoline
7. eighty
8. freight
9. complete
10. scary
11. neighbor
12. daily
13. screen
14. police
15. explain
16. feature
17. straight
18. memory
19. contain
20. populate
List 3 (circle group)
1. speed
2. peach
3. lady
4. beneath
5. fame
6. brain
7. complete
8. scary
9. neighbor
10. screen
11. police
12. explain
13. straight
14. memory
15. contain
Friday, September 6, 2013
Update September 6th
Hey!
The first week is done! What a WONDERFUL group of kiddos I have this year! You all deserve a pat on the back for raising such sweet, generous, caring kids.
Schedule Books Schedule books need to come home EVERY night. This is so you can be up to date on what has gone on during their school day. Schedule books only have to be SIGNED however, once a week. Tuesday is our designated day to do this.... but due to chaotic family activities I will totally understand if it doesn't get signed exactly on Tuesday. The signature is my way of knowing that you have seen it, verifying that they are in fact bringing it home.
The white box above the yellow box where you sign is where their "homework" assignments for the night should go. Don't ever let them tell you "I don't have any homework"... because they do! If they don't have anything specific written in that spot, then they ALWAYS can be reading their 30 minutes a night, working on spelling, or working on memorizing their science term cards.
Spelling Spelling lists will come home on Monday of this next week. Each week on Friday the kids take a "Pretest" . This pretest determines what level of difficulty of words they will get to study for the week. I divide the lists into "list 1", "list 2" and "list 3". List 1`words are the most difficult, and list 3 words are the most basic. Each week kids have a chance to test up into higher levels of words, so if your student is on list 3 one week, they may very easily be at list 1 the next. Each pretest covers different spelling word skills... like ei and ie combinations, silent letters p, gh etc. The kids will have a spelling page to do each day in class that we will discuss and go over, and they will have an additional homework page on Wednesday night.
Spelling tests are given each Friday. If students do poorly on a test, they can retake it again at the beginning of recess and then go outside when they are done. I try to have them corrected and back to the students by the following Monday... but this year with 76 science warmup sheets to grade every weekend, I'm going to play it safe and say that I'll have the spelling tests returned at the latest on Tuesday. If you DON'T get a test back, call or email me and I can tell you the score... sometimes tests "disappear" in the hallway trash cans if the score is low. :)
Spelling lists are always sent home Monday or Tuesday via infinite campus and are also posted on the blog. In the event that your student forgets them, you can pull them off line for them to study.
A.R. (Accelerated Reader) Accelerated Reader will start next week on Tuesday. The kids took the Star test today (which helps us to determine their reading level after summer vacation) and will go to Library to check out books on Tuesday afternoon. I will have the kids write their first marking period goal in their schedule book.... so ask to see it and talk with them about what books, and how many books they will need to read to reach this goal.
Though students are encouraged to read books at their level... I am very well aware that there are FANTASTIC books below and above their level that they might like to read. I encourage them to do this. I'd rather have them LIKE what they are reading, than to be stuck with some they do not, and end up not liking to read. I will keep careful track of their progress, and as long as they are steadily progressing or improving, an occasional above or below level book is fine.
Extended Learning Assignments:
I'll will be providing extended learning assignments for science and writing throughout the year. This month for science, students have the opportunity to do the following:
1. Take home and identify a rock or mineral specimen I have in my room or one they have at home.
2. Take home a (clean and bleached) animal skull, and use the internet or library books to identify the species, age etc.
The knowledge they gain will need to be shared with me orally and in the form of a report in which they state their "claim" of what they think their specimen specifically is, write "evidence" that lead them to this conclusion, and their "reasoning" or reason their evidence backs up their claim. ( I will provide this form)
An FYI on my rock books. The BEST and most accurate one that I have has a page in the front that talks about chakra's and meditations that can be done with crystals. I didn't notice this until after I bought the book.... but its such a small section I don't think they'll even notice it. The rest of it is all the rock types, divided by color, grains size, chemical compositions etc... So just a heads up on that. If you don't want this book coming home with your kid, just call me or let me know and I'll give them a different one.
Kids can use materials or books I send home with them, or they can visit the internet and pull their information from there. I'll let that be your choice.
Term Cards We have started putting together our term card sets. If you have students who have had me in the past, they are more than welcome to use the sets their brothers and sister's created.
There are 114 terms.... Most of these will be memorized via the games that we play to help them memorize them. The reason we do these cards is two fold:
1. Due to the big district push for math and literacy, most kids didn't get very much science in 1st - 4th grade. Therefore they have holes in their learning that I need to cram in before they take off to middle school.
2. A question on the meap test in 2004 ( The last year we as teachers were even allowed to look at the test) was as follows:
"In a Riparian habitat, how does an overpopulation of consumers affect the producers?"
... most kids read this and thought... "huh?" If they didn't know the word Riparian, population, consumer and producer, they didn't have a chance at even making a good guess. (If you think that question was hard you should have seen the rest of the test!)
So for SURVIVAL'S sake... they have to know these words before the MEAP or they will start the test already at a disadvantage. If you know anyone at the department of education who designs these tests, feel free to convey my angst!
And Last but not least.....Deer Hunters ... I need a favor!
When you get your deer this year, (Michigan deer only.. no out of state deer ) can you do me a HUGE favor and save the heart, the lungs, the kidney's, the liver and the upper section of the Aorta for me? One of our unit's studies all the body systems... and the best way to teach this is with the real thing. Please package them as follows with your name on each bag:
Heart - Rinse out the chambers as best as you can. Even hearts perforated by bullets/arrows are good as it allows me to show the inside of a chamber during dissection. Then fill a large ziplock bag full of water and put the heart inside the bag so that it will freeze in the water. This will keep it from getting freezer burnt or damaged while it freezes.
Lungs, liver, kidney's, aorta - Even if there are holes in them, they are still good! Rinse, and follow the same procedure as above for storing. I will disinfect all the organs prior to use... but if you notice or think the interior cavity of the deer you harvested contains any ulcerations or disease, don't send me those organs. Most deer diseases are not transmittable to humans but I don't want to be the exception either! :)
Write your name or include a piece of paper with your first and last name and attach it to your bag/bags. The DNR doesn't have an issue with me doing this as long as I/they can verify the deer were taken legally by a registered hunter.
The reason the deer must be from Michigan is due to the infiltration of chronic wasting disease in deer in other states surrounding Michigan. We have yet to have this contagious disease spread to our deer in Michigan and I want to keep it that way :)
Thanks so much!
The first week is done! What a WONDERFUL group of kiddos I have this year! You all deserve a pat on the back for raising such sweet, generous, caring kids.
Schedule Books Schedule books need to come home EVERY night. This is so you can be up to date on what has gone on during their school day. Schedule books only have to be SIGNED however, once a week. Tuesday is our designated day to do this.... but due to chaotic family activities I will totally understand if it doesn't get signed exactly on Tuesday. The signature is my way of knowing that you have seen it, verifying that they are in fact bringing it home.
The white box above the yellow box where you sign is where their "homework" assignments for the night should go. Don't ever let them tell you "I don't have any homework"... because they do! If they don't have anything specific written in that spot, then they ALWAYS can be reading their 30 minutes a night, working on spelling, or working on memorizing their science term cards.
Spelling Spelling lists will come home on Monday of this next week. Each week on Friday the kids take a "Pretest" . This pretest determines what level of difficulty of words they will get to study for the week. I divide the lists into "list 1", "list 2" and "list 3". List 1`words are the most difficult, and list 3 words are the most basic. Each week kids have a chance to test up into higher levels of words, so if your student is on list 3 one week, they may very easily be at list 1 the next. Each pretest covers different spelling word skills... like ei and ie combinations, silent letters p, gh etc. The kids will have a spelling page to do each day in class that we will discuss and go over, and they will have an additional homework page on Wednesday night.
Spelling tests are given each Friday. If students do poorly on a test, they can retake it again at the beginning of recess and then go outside when they are done. I try to have them corrected and back to the students by the following Monday... but this year with 76 science warmup sheets to grade every weekend, I'm going to play it safe and say that I'll have the spelling tests returned at the latest on Tuesday. If you DON'T get a test back, call or email me and I can tell you the score... sometimes tests "disappear" in the hallway trash cans if the score is low. :)
Spelling lists are always sent home Monday or Tuesday via infinite campus and are also posted on the blog. In the event that your student forgets them, you can pull them off line for them to study.
A.R. (Accelerated Reader) Accelerated Reader will start next week on Tuesday. The kids took the Star test today (which helps us to determine their reading level after summer vacation) and will go to Library to check out books on Tuesday afternoon. I will have the kids write their first marking period goal in their schedule book.... so ask to see it and talk with them about what books, and how many books they will need to read to reach this goal.
Though students are encouraged to read books at their level... I am very well aware that there are FANTASTIC books below and above their level that they might like to read. I encourage them to do this. I'd rather have them LIKE what they are reading, than to be stuck with some they do not, and end up not liking to read. I will keep careful track of their progress, and as long as they are steadily progressing or improving, an occasional above or below level book is fine.
Extended Learning Assignments:
I'll will be providing extended learning assignments for science and writing throughout the year. This month for science, students have the opportunity to do the following:
1. Take home and identify a rock or mineral specimen I have in my room or one they have at home.
2. Take home a (clean and bleached) animal skull, and use the internet or library books to identify the species, age etc.
The knowledge they gain will need to be shared with me orally and in the form of a report in which they state their "claim" of what they think their specimen specifically is, write "evidence" that lead them to this conclusion, and their "reasoning" or reason their evidence backs up their claim. ( I will provide this form)
An FYI on my rock books. The BEST and most accurate one that I have has a page in the front that talks about chakra's and meditations that can be done with crystals. I didn't notice this until after I bought the book.... but its such a small section I don't think they'll even notice it. The rest of it is all the rock types, divided by color, grains size, chemical compositions etc... So just a heads up on that. If you don't want this book coming home with your kid, just call me or let me know and I'll give them a different one.
Kids can use materials or books I send home with them, or they can visit the internet and pull their information from there. I'll let that be your choice.
Term Cards We have started putting together our term card sets. If you have students who have had me in the past, they are more than welcome to use the sets their brothers and sister's created.
There are 114 terms.... Most of these will be memorized via the games that we play to help them memorize them. The reason we do these cards is two fold:
1. Due to the big district push for math and literacy, most kids didn't get very much science in 1st - 4th grade. Therefore they have holes in their learning that I need to cram in before they take off to middle school.
2. A question on the meap test in 2004 ( The last year we as teachers were even allowed to look at the test) was as follows:
"In a Riparian habitat, how does an overpopulation of consumers affect the producers?"
... most kids read this and thought... "huh?" If they didn't know the word Riparian, population, consumer and producer, they didn't have a chance at even making a good guess. (If you think that question was hard you should have seen the rest of the test!)
So for SURVIVAL'S sake... they have to know these words before the MEAP or they will start the test already at a disadvantage. If you know anyone at the department of education who designs these tests, feel free to convey my angst!
And Last but not least.....Deer Hunters ... I need a favor!
When you get your deer this year, (Michigan deer only.. no out of state deer ) can you do me a HUGE favor and save the heart, the lungs, the kidney's, the liver and the upper section of the Aorta for me? One of our unit's studies all the body systems... and the best way to teach this is with the real thing. Please package them as follows with your name on each bag:
Heart - Rinse out the chambers as best as you can. Even hearts perforated by bullets/arrows are good as it allows me to show the inside of a chamber during dissection. Then fill a large ziplock bag full of water and put the heart inside the bag so that it will freeze in the water. This will keep it from getting freezer burnt or damaged while it freezes.
Lungs, liver, kidney's, aorta - Even if there are holes in them, they are still good! Rinse, and follow the same procedure as above for storing. I will disinfect all the organs prior to use... but if you notice or think the interior cavity of the deer you harvested contains any ulcerations or disease, don't send me those organs. Most deer diseases are not transmittable to humans but I don't want to be the exception either! :)
Write your name or include a piece of paper with your first and last name and attach it to your bag/bags. The DNR doesn't have an issue with me doing this as long as I/they can verify the deer were taken legally by a registered hunter.
The reason the deer must be from Michigan is due to the infiltration of chronic wasting disease in deer in other states surrounding Michigan. We have yet to have this contagious disease spread to our deer in Michigan and I want to keep it that way :)
Thanks so much!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Sadowski update September 5th
School Musical
Attention those interested in acting, singing and
dancing: our 4th-8th grade musical this year is My
Son, Pinocchio. There will be an audition workshop in the PAC on Monday,
September 9th from 6 to 7 pm. At this workshop, we’ll let you
know what is expected in the auditions. The workshop is not required, but
it’s a good idea to go. Questions? Contact Mr. Morris / Mrs. Craig
/ Mrs. Heintzelman.
Vision and Hearing Screening
FYI: We will have our screenings for hearing
& vision on November 19 & 20. Grades K, 2, & 4
will be tested for hearing. Grades 1, 3, & 5 will be tested for
vision. Let the office know if you have any students that you’d like to
receive a screening that they are NOT scheduled for. Rescreen date
is December 11
Spelling
Spelling
Spelling tests will start next week. Lists will come home on Monday and I will also email them via infinite campus and post them on this blog in case your kiddos forget to bring them home.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
A.R. Dates
A. R. Dates
Attached below is an email from Mrs. Buell to Sunset Teachers regarding A.R. dates for the entire year.
Feel free to refer to it as often as necessary to keep your student up to date on A.R. points.
Thanks and looking forward to a great first day!
Email:
Our A.R. committee has not officially met yet, but I wanted to
get these dates set for you. We will be having the end of year carnival
as the celebration for AR. After we meet, I will send out all the details
about earning tickets and such. Again this year, we will not be awarding
incentives for the 25, 50, and 75 percent marks, but if your grade level or
individual classrooms wish to provide something for these accomplishments, that
is perfectly fine.
Thanks,
Lynne
First Marking Period:
25%--9/20
50%--10/4
75%--10/18
100%--10/31
Second Marking Period:
25%--11/19
50%--12/6
75%--1/9
100%--1/24
Third Marking Period:
25%--2/12
50%--2/28
75%--3/18
100%--4/2
Fourth Marking Period:
25%--4/24
50%--5/6
75%--5/16
100%--5/30
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