4th 9 weeks week 4

Dear Families,

I hope you all have had a great weekend, here is what we will be learning this week..

Math: Students will review inequality (greater than, less than, equal to...) Students will extend their understanding of inequality as they are introduced to a new type of subtraction problem - comparison subtraction. Comparison subtraction problems answer the questions, “How much greater?” or “How much less?” to quantify the difference between two values.

Science: We will continue observing and recording the life cycle of the frog.  We will also compare and contrast the characteristics of a tadpole and adult frog.

Reading/Writing:  Students will create products to display their learning from their student choice research.

Balanced Literacy: In social studies, students will learn and explore how technology has changed the way we live and in some ways has made things better.  In phonics, students will contrast short and long vowel sounds in words.

Campus News…

Career Day

As part of our college and career readiness standards, we will be having a Career Day for our students to learn about different jobs, occupations, and colleges. Career Day will be held on Thursday, May 2. We are in the process of finding speakers for this day and are asking for your assistance. Career Day becomes an even more exciting experience for our students when members of their own family and community speak to our classes. We are looking for a variety of careers: mechanics, managers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Each speaker will do several presentations that will last approximately 15 minutes, to share information about his/her occupation and hold a question and answer period. Speakers are encouraged to speak to more than 1 grade level. If you can assist us by participating in this activity as a guest speaker or know of someone who could, please fill out the Google Form at the link below or contact Iben Dyke atiben_dyke@roundrockisd.org or (512) 704-0631.

Please fill out this Google Form to sign up.

Important Dates…

• Apr. 19 No School/holiday
• May 2 Career Day
• May 3 Career Dress Up Day
• May 9 Luncheon for Our Sommer Volunteers
• May 10 All library books must be returned
• May 13-15 Campus Closed to all visitors due to STAAR testing
• May 15 Box Tops due
• May 20  Awards Ceremonies: Grades :1, 2,3,4
• May 22 End Of Year Parties-Sponsored by PTA
• May 23  Last Day of School

*Library every Tuesday.  Please return books!

*RAZ Kids reading assignments due every Friday.

4th 9 weeks, week 2

Dear Family,

We began using the research packets in class to create the script for projects today. Your child may ask you to send in pictures or props for their visual project that will be completed in class as well.  You are invited to our final presentations on Friday, April 5 10:45-11:45 AM in our classrooms. Students are expected to dress up as their historical figure that day. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Report cards and data binders came home today.  The common assessments for this marking period are behind the third tab.  Please review these, but do not remove. The report card itself is for you to keep.  Please sign the gold envelope it came in and return it and the data binder as soon as possible. Please also keep in mind, that you may still see some 2’s on your child’s report card.  This indicates that your child is meeting expectations with minimal guidance and is progressing as expected as a learner. A 2 may also be given for a skill that is ongoing and built upon throughout the year.

Our school raised $64,054.40 during the APEX Fun Run!  Thank you to all that donated and volunteered during this fundraiser.  It is greatly appreciated!

Next Week…

Math:  Students will review graphing data. We will be focusing on subtraction concepts within graph data. Students will also be creating graphs to organize data as an extension.

Science:  This is the last week in which students will investigate how the external characteristics of an animal are related to where it lives, how it moves, and what it eats.  We will determine why birds have beaks in a Mystery Science and design our own “creatures” with external characteristics that help it survive in unusual habitats. An assessment will be given at the end of the week.

Reading/Writing:  Students will be working on their individual historical figure PBL products and practicing their speeches.  We will end the week with our PBL presentation Friday.

Balanced Literacy: Students will be wrapping up their individual historical figure PBL products.  In phonics, we will be hearing and identifying short and long vowel sounds in words as well as the letters that represent them.

Campus News…

Sommer Carnival

Online Carnival Wristbands Sales End TOMORROW!

Current Wristband pricing is $15 (ages 5 and up), $10 for ages 2-4, kiddos under 2 are free.

All pricing will increase by $5 after Midnight tomorrow when ONLINE ticket sales end. They will be able to purchase tickets at that point only at the door, which is $20, $15 and $0 respectively.

Here is a Link to buy: http://sommerpta.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=46

Also we are in NEED of Parent Volunteers to help at the carnival. Please use this link to sign up.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49adae23a2fa7-its

Art Exhibition

The 24th Annual RRISD Youth Art Month Exhibition will be held March 26th-April 2nd at the McNeil PAC. This is an opportunity for every elementary school in the district to showcase student work. There will be a teacher meet and greet on April 1st from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm.

Parent Input for 2019-2020 School Year:

Although we still have much to finish for this school year (a FULL nine weeks!). We are also beginning the process to plan for the 2019-2020 school year.  Although we do not take requests for specific teachers, we do value your input into the specific needs and characteristics that make your child(ren) successful.  Please complete the form if your child will not be returning to Patsy Sommer next year and/or if he/she will return and you would like to provide specific information.

Parent Information Form

Important Dates…

• Mar. 28 Student completed Historical Research packets due back in class
• Mar. 28 Report Cards sent home
• Apr. 2 Class and Individual spring photos (send in payment envelope for class picture)
• Apr. 5 Living Museum Historical Figures PBL presentations 10:45-11:45 AM in classrooms (parents invited)
• Apr. 5 Sommer Carnival 4:30-7:30 PM
• Apr.9-10 Campus CLOSED to all visitors due to STAAR testing
• Apr. 12 k-2 Assembly
• Apr. 19 No School/holiday

*Library every Tuesday.  Please return books!

*RAZ Kids reading assignments due every Friday.

4th 9 weeks, week 1

Dear Family,

Lots of information below….

Your children earned a silly sock day during the APEX Fun Run.  We will do this tomorrow (Thursday).  We also earned a popsicle party, which we will enjoy on Friday.

Field Day is this Friday!  Please send your child to school wearing our GOLD class shirt and tennis shoes.  We will be eating lunch in class that day before field day begins.  If your child wants to order a bag lunch from the cafeteria for Friday, I will be collecting lunch orders from them tomorrow (Thursday).

Choice 1 -corn dog

Choice 2-sun-butter and jelly sandwich

Pizza will NOT be served this Friday.

When we return from spring break, we will be working on a Historical Figures PBL project. Students will be researching and creating a living museum project about a person from history that exemplifies individualism or inventiveness.  Students will be expected to research information about a historical figure of their choice . Please fill out this document:Historical Figures Google Form  with the name of your historical figure no later than Monday, March 25.  I am sending home additional information, the research question packet, and the rubric if you and your child would like to get a head start with researching over spring break. Completed research question packets, written in “kid friendly” language are due back in class by Thursday, March 28.  We will use these research packets in class to create the script for the projects. You are invited to our final presentations on Friday, April 5 10:45-11:45 AM in our classrooms.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Next Week (after spring break!)…

Math: This week in math, students will continue to review with missing addend and fact families (4+4=8 so 8-4=4).

Science: This week, students will continue investigating how the external characteristics (Ex.: fins, beaks, claws, feathers, etc.) of an animal are related to where it lives, how it moves, and what it eats.  We will specifically discuss fish and chickens.

Reading/Writing: We will research, as a class, the historical figure, Ruby Bridges. We will come up with open ended questions and use relevant sources to gather our information in our research packet. We will then write a script we could use to present.

Balanced Literacy: This week in social studies, the students will continue to learn about historical figures that have made a difference in history in preparation for our PBL.  In phonics, students will work on recognizing and saying consonant clusters that blend two or three consonant sounds as well as recognizing and using high frequency words with three or more letters.

Campus News…

Math Superstars is coming to the last reward week on March 29th. Grades 1- 5 will need 400 minutes and Kinder 220 minutes by then to earn an invite for the ice cream party. Please encourage your kids to work on it during the spring break and catch up on all their minutes.

Important Dates…

·         Mar. 14 Singing Stars Concert 6:30 PM

·         Mar. 15 Field Day (12:40-2:20 PM) Volunteers needed: Field Day Volunteers

·         Mar. 18-22 spring break/no school

·         Mar. 25  Historical Figures Google Form due

·         Mar. 28 Student completed Historical Research packets due back in class

·         Mar. 28 Report Cards sent home

·         Apr. 5 Living Museum Historical Figures PBL presentations 10:45-11:45 AM in classrooms (parents invited)

·         Apr. 5 Sommer Carnival

*Library every Tuesday.  Please return books!

*RAZ Kids reading assignments due every Friday.

3rd 9 weeks, week 9

Dear Family,

We had a great time at the APEX Fun Run last week!  Thank you all for your continuous support!

Highlights of Important Information for Class Poetry Book:

1)  Please make checks payable to Studentreasures Publishing NOT the school.

2)  Ordering Online: Please be sure to include the Authorization Code on the order form and return it to school with your child.

3) When you pre-order online you can save $2 on the purchase of a hardcover book. Simply go to studentreasures.com/preorder.

4)  Even if you do not wish to purchase a copy, please send back the form with NO marked so that it is indicated that your child’s page can be included in our class book and so that our class will receive a free book for all to enjoy.

5. I am sending home a form today in case you no longer have it!

Next Week…

Math: This week, students will be reviewing subtraction concepts such as part-part whole and missing addend.

Science: This week, students will begin to investigate how the external characteristics (Ex.: webbed feet, long legs, fins, fur, etc.) of an animal are related to where it lives, how it moves, and what it eats.  

Reading/Writing: Students will edit/revise/publish their poem for our Student Treasures book publishing project.

Balanced Literacy: This week in social studies we will begin our PBL over historical figures.  Students will learn about historical figures such as Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Garrett Morgan and how they are important to history.  In phonics students will recognize and use phonograms that end with a double consonant as well as recognize and say consonant clusters that blend two or three consonant sounds.

Campus News…

The Wellness Committee would like to implement recess coverage once a month for teachers.  If you are interested in monitoring students during recess (12:40-1:10 PM), please sign up for a time slot below.   Thanks!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f49aaac28a2f85-first

Important Dates…

·         Mar. 8 K-2 Assembly

·         Mar. 8 Studentreasures class book order forms and payment due (info. was sent last week; please return all No’s as well)

·         Mar. 13 Kindergarten Round-Up

·         Mar. 14 Singing Stars Concert

·         Mar. 15 Field Day (12:40-2:20 PM) Volunteers needed: Field Day Volunteers

·         Mar. 18-22 spring break/no school

·         Mar. 28 Report Cards sent home

*Library every Tuesday.  Please return books!

*RAZ Kids reading assignments due every Friday

Make a shape poem

Click HERE

3rd 9 weeks, week 8

Dear Parents,

Over the next few weeks, our class will be working on writing a class poetry book to go along with our poetry unit.  Each child from my class will create a page (a poem and an illustration) to be included in the class book.  Once completed, the pages will be sent to a company for “publishing” and our very own professionally bound book will come back for us to enjoy.  Each family has a chance to order a personal softcover copy for $ 19.95, standard hardcover for $24.95, or a deluxe hardcover for $27.95.  The order forms are being sent home today and are due back by Friday, March 8.  1st grade has done these books for the past 3 years and they turned out great and make wonderful keepsakes!

Important Information:

1)  Please make checks payable to Studentreasures Publishing NOT the school.

2)  Ordering Online: Please be sure to include the Authorization Code on the order form and return it to school with your child.

3) When you pre-order online you can save $2 on the purchase of a hardcover book. Simply go to studentreasures.com/preorder.

4)  Even if you do not wish to purchase a copy, please send back the form with NO marked so that it is indicated that your child’s page can be included in our class book and so that our class will receive a free book for all to enjoy.

Next Week...

Math: This week students will work on identifying U.S coins (pennies,nickels,dimes, and quarters). Students will sort and compare the coins and also examine math tools that show representations of the coins. Example: What other math tool have we used that is similar to a dime? (tens block) What other math tool have we used that is similar to a penny? (ones block)

Science: This week, students will gather evidence of interdependence among living organisms such as energy transfer through food chains or animals using plants for shelter. The week will end with an assessment on interdependence and food chains.

Reading/Writing:  Students will continue to be immersed in poetry as both readers and authors. The focus this week is on free verse and shape poems. Students will also select a poem(s) to edit/revise/publish for our Student Treasures book publishing project.

Balanced Literacy: In Social Studies the students will continue to explore goods and services.  What happens when goods are scarce as well as the components of jobs and their contribution to goods and services production will be discussed.  In phonics the students will concentrate on recognizing and using phonograms such as -an, -at, -ay, -ate, -ake, and -ame.

Important Dates…

·         Mar. 5 3rd Grade Economics Fair (bring quarters if you’d like to make purchases) See attached flyer!

·         Mar. 8 K-2 Assembly

·         Mar. 8 Studentreasures class book order forms and payment due (info. was sent today)

·         Mar. 15 Field Day (12:40-2:20 PM) Volunteers needed: Field Day Volunteers

·         Mar. 18-22 spring break/no school

*Library is scheduled for Wednesday next week!  Please return books!

*RAZ Kids reading assignments due every Friday.

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 Economics Fair 2019.pdf

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3rd 9 weeks, week 7

Dear Family,

On Wednesday I emailed about the Apex Fun Run program that is at our school for the next two weeks! The Apex program teaches leadership traits and fitness to our students who are raising pledges for the Fun Run on Thursday, February 28^th.  You may pledge a dollar amount per lap ran (up to 36 laps) or make a flat donation.

Here’s how the fundraiser works

·         Each student already brought home an Apex Pledge Kit (pledge sheet attached to a lanyard).

·         Login at www.MyApexEvent.com using the access code found on the front of the pledge kit.  Since each child will receive a free t-shirt for the run, be sure to list your child's shirt size when you log in.

What we’re raising funds for

·         The majority of the funds raised this year will go to our school to pay for Technology, Outdoor Improvements and Student Enrichment Resources!

·         However, the school has promised that an additional 10% of whatever is raised by each class goes directly to that teacher to purchase items for their own classroom. That’s exciting!

·         With your help, I’d love to purchase these items for our classroom:  alternative seating, books, and classroom supplies.

Please help us reach our goal.  

Campus News….

Field Day!!!

Please sign up online Field Day Sign Up Genius if you can commit to helping us at any of the following sessions on March 15th.

KLRU Kids Writing Contest

The KLRU Kids Writing Contest is now open to all students kindergarten through fifth grade in the KLRU viewing area.  Stories can be fact or fiction, prose or poetry.  Submissions must be received by KLRU by March 31, 2019. Please visit klru.org/writerscontest/ for contest rules and the scoring rubric.

Next Week...

Math: This week will be a flex week; concepts taught this year will be reviewed.

Science: Students will analyze and record examples of interdependence found in various situations such as terrariums and aquariums or pet and caregiver.

Reading/Writing:  Students will respond to and use rhythm, rhyme and alliteration in poetry and recognize sensory details. They will continue generating and writing poetry.

Balanced Literacy: This week in social studies the students will continue to learn about the difference between goods and services.  They will also explore the importance of making choices when buying goods.  In phonics the students will be recognizing and using onsets and rimes when reading words as well as recognizing letter patterns within words.

Important Dates…

·         Feb. 20-27 APEX Leadership Lessons

·         Feb. 28 APEX Fun Run

·         Mar. 5 3rd Grade Economics Fair (bring coins if you’d like to make purchases)

·         Mar. 8 K-2 Assembly

·         Mar. 8 Studentreasures class book order forms and payment due (info. will be sent home soon)

·         Mar. 15 Field Day (12:40-2:20 PM)

·         Mar. 18-22 spring break/no school

*Library every Tuesday.  Please return books!

*RAZ Kids reading assignments due every Friday.