Ms. Arnold's Weekly News
Week of 1-19-15
**New videos attached at the end of the newsletter each week. Please share with your student. :)
***Multiplication Fact Focus attached to weekly math and multiplication videos attached to help with studying at home.
No School Monday the 18th: MLK Day!!!!!
Our Classroom Learning Time
Our Focus Points
Reading / Language Arts
Students are continuing to work through our Daily 5 rotations, Read to Self, Read to Someone, Partner Fluency Time, Listening Time, and Teacher Time. Students are also meeting with me one-on-one through the week to work on specific goals. Our comprehension focus this week is a using our prior knowledge to connect to text as well as to the story elements. We will continue to work on our summarizing and identifying author's purpose throughout the trimester. Other areas of focus throughout our Daily 5 rotations are: response to reading, writing, fluency, listening, and word building. I am very excited to see their excitement and focus to their day to day reading and writing grow. We are truly building life long readers and writers.
Math (Chapter 4/Unit 4)
We are excited to begin the trimester with our new "MY MATH" journals and lessons all of which focus on our grade level standards. Our current unit is focusing on introductory division skills and concepts. Vocabulary checks will be given throughout the unit. We will be discovering the connections between multiplication and division.
Multiplication Fact Focus: multiplying by 3
Previous Fact Focus: multiplying by 0, 1, 2
Another Fact Focus: multiplying the "doubles" (1X1, 2X2, 3X3, 4X4, 5X5, 6X6, 7X7, 8X8, 9X9, 10X10, 11X11, 12X12)
Writing
Students are continuing to gather stories in their writer's notebooks. This is an ongoing process through the entire year. We are also creating an interactive "grammar" notebook that students will use through the year. This notebook will include pages that focus on: nouns, proper nouns, possessive nouns, verbs... Students will also be working on building stories with multiple paragraphs, using commas in a series, developing informational pieces on a variety of topics and working on their revising and editing skills. Paragraph structure and legible handwriting are continuously encouraged and taught. This week will be begin our "informational" piece. Students will be selecting a topic on how we can help animals in our community/state. Research will be done in school prior to our drafting our first piece.
Science
We will begin our next science after returning from our winter break. Our next unit is on traits, ecosystems, and habitats.
Social Studies
In transition from our focus on "map skills", we are currently studying the difference between a hemisphere, continent, country, region, state, and city. We will look more closely at the different regions of the United States. This is in preparation for our more detailed study of Michigan that we will continue to dig into this trimester. Some Michigan topics will include: natural resources, weather/climate, landforms, agriculture, government, economics, and historical events and people. A study guide will be sent home soon for their next quiz.
This Week's Spelling Words: List #14
Week of 1-19-15 (Test Friday)
1. found
2. town
3. shout
4. owl
5. couch
6. bow
7. scout
8. round
9. plow
10. crowd
11. proud
12. clouds
Please Read Homework Changes for 2015!!!
Weekly Specials and Nightly Homework
Tuesday: Gym; Math Homework #2; Study X facts; Red folders come home
Wednesday: Computers; Math Homework #3; Study spelling words ; Red folders come home
Thursday: Gym; Study spelling words; Study X facts; Red folders come home
Friday: No specials; Cardinal Connections; Spelling test #13; Facts Tests; Red folders come home; new spelling list comes home
What information do you need from me?
Keicher Newsletter
DATES AT A GLANCE
JANUARY
19 NO SCHOOL – STAFF ONLY
20 4th Grade Hearing Screening
3rd and 5th Grade Vision Screening
21 3rd and 5th Grade Vision Screening
Credit Union Day
22 3rd and 5th Grade Vision Screening
23 Progress Reports Going Home
26 Spelling Bee practice – Mrs. Barnes’ Computer Lab – 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
27 Bats Presentation – 3rd Grade – 12:15 & 1:15
Michigan Center Community Food Panty – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
28 Credit Union Day
Spelling Bee – Semi-Finals – Keicher West Gym – 2:00 p.m. – Parents Welcome
29 Spelling Bee – Finals – Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.
30 6th Grade Camp – Permission Slip and $40.00 due
31 Baseball/Softball Sign-ups – High School – 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. – During Basketball Tournament
FEBRUARY
2 Bible Release – 2:10 – 3:10 p.m.
3 “The Life Cycle of Stuff” – 4th Grade – 9:00 a.m.
4 Credit Union Day
5 5th Grade Music Program – Keicher West Gym – 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.
6 Keicher Parent’s Night Out – Valentine’s Theme - More information to follow
9 Welcome Back Mrs. Davis
Good News Club – Permission Slips week before
School Board Meeting – MCHS – 7:00 p.m.
10 Michigan Center Community Food Pantry – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
11 COUNT DAY
Credit Union Day
12 Hearing Rescreening – 4th Grade
13 NO SCHOOL – WINTER BREAK
16 NO SCHOOL – PRESIDENT’S DAY–WINTER BREAK
17 PTO Meeting – Keicher – 6:00 p.m.
18 Credit Union Day
19 Ice Skating at Optimist Arena – Mrs. DuBois’ Class - Big Brothers/Big Sisters – 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
23 Spring Pictures
24 Michigan Center Community Food Pantry –
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
25 Credit Union Day
26 5th Grade Project Night – 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
27 End of 2nd Trimester
28 Daddy/Daughter Dance – More information to come
ΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨ
1. The MICHIGAN CENTER COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY will be open every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 6:30 -7:30 p.m. The pantry is located at the west end of Keicher. Follow the signs through the Pre-School playground gate. See “Dates At a Glance”.
2. SPELLING BEE – Our 5th and 6th graders have been working very hard for our spelling bee. Each grade level will have 16 representatives that will compete in our semi-final round which will be held on Wednesday January 28th, at 2:00 p.m. in the Keicher west gym. Parents are welcome to attend! From this round, 8 representatives per grade level will move on to our Final Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 29th ,at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. Good luck to all of our students! For additional words to review you may visit the following website: www.myspellit.com and www.spellingbee.com
3. PTO’S 6th ANNUAL DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE will be held on Saturday, February 28th in the Michigan Center High School Gym from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Preschool through 6th grade girls are welcome with an escort of their choice (Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Special Friend etc.). The cost is $25.00 per couple (additional girl is $12.00) which includes corsage, tiara, snacks, and 5x7 picture, lots of dancing and fun. Forms were sent home this week to purchase tickets. Please return completed form to the office by JANUARY 28TH with cash or check (Michigan Center PTO). NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THE DAY OF THE DANCE.
4. EASTERN BRANCH LIBRARY - On Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m., we will be hosting our very first Mario Kart Tournament. This event, aimed at tweens and teens, will have lots of refreshments available, as well as board games for those wanting to do that instead. All of this will be in our beautiful Knibloe Room. For more information, call the branch at 788-4074 or stop in at 3125 E. Michigan Avenue, right next to Arby’s.
5. **ATTENTION** - Winter is here and with that we have students getting wet using the playground equipment at recess. It is uncomfortable for the students when parents are working and unable to bring dry pants for them. If you have any jeans or sweatpants your child has outgrown or simply will not wear anymore, we would appreciate them for our clothes closet. Our supply is getting low, so any help you could give us would be greatly appreciated.
6. POPCORN will be sold every Friday during lunch for $.50 a bag. Plain popcorn only. Proceeds to supplement the 4th Grade Mackinac Island Field Trip.
7. ATTENDANCE - We have many students who need to work on their punctuality in the morning. We certainly understand that students have doctor and dentist appointments or that busses sometimes run late, but many students are not getting to class on time. One problem is that students take too long at breakfast, and then straggle into class. This causes a disruption for the students and the teacher in the room. Please stress to your children the importance of getting to their class on time. Also, picking your child up early means your child is missing important instruction time. Teachers are teaching right up until dismissal time. Our goal is 100% attendance every day and no tardies. For the sake of your child’s education, we hope that you can make this your goal as well.
8. BASEBALL/SOFTBALL SIGN-UPS will be held at the High School on Saturday, January 10th, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 31st, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. during the basketball tournaments. We will also have one on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. during the basketball tournament and Tuesday, March 10th, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. during the Math/Science Night. All kids ages 4-14 (Boys age as of April 30, 2015 and Girls age as of December 31, 2014) need to register by March 10th to avoid a late fee (no exceptions).
Cost: Bring cash or check:
T-Ball (ages 4-5) $25
Coach pitch (ages 6-8) $40
Minors (ages 9-10) $60
Majors (ages 11-12) $60
Koufax Boys (ages 13-14) $110
Travel Girls (ages 13-14) $110
Minors and Majors will have additional fees for competitive teams.
A $20.00 LATE FEE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LATE REGISTRATIONS.
9. SIXTH GRADE CAMP (June 1-2) - Information regarding 6th grade camp went home during conference week. All students must have a completed permission slip along with $40.00 to hold their spot by January 30, 2015. Please make checks payable to “Michigan Center Schools.” The total cost is $75.00. We are looking for chaperones to assist us. Please let us know if you can give us the gift of your time. Any questions, please call 764-5200.
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School to Work Skills
Good attendance in school promotes the lifelong skill of punctuality and dependability. The learning process is boosted and assisted when students arrive ready for the day.
Some things that help us to achieve readiness in the morning are: having backpacks ready the night before, going to bed at a scheduled time each night, having clothes laid out to put on in the morning and going to the bus stop or car at the same time every day. The school’s start time doesn’t change, but our daily routines can adjust as we need them to.
When students are ill or have doctor appointments, please call our office and bring in written excuses from a doctor/dentist office. Upon their arrival or departure, we appreciate having an adult sign them in or out in our office area. Please refrain from picking up students before the end of the day when possible. Instruction may be missed at this time and students won’t be ready for the next day.
Together we can make a difference. Helping and teaching our kids to be responsible for being at school benefits all concerned!
8 Ways to Respect Yourself
1. Set positive goals and strive to achieve them.
2. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
3. Have confidence in your abilities.
4. Be honest with yourself and others.
5. Choose friends who make healthy choices and share your dream of a bright future.
6. Use good judgment and make wise decisions. Think about the consequences of your actions.
Sick Science!!!
Cities, States, Countries, Continents!!!!!
Regions of the United States Video Tour
Region of the United States Song
The 5 Regions
Skip Counting by 3s
3 Times Table Song
Ms. Arnold
Email: Stacy.Arnold@mccardinals.org
Location: Keicher Elementary School, Broad Street, Michigan Center, MI, United States
Phone: 517-764-5200
Facebook: facebook.com/KeicherArnold
Twitter: @Arnold12Stacy