The Gower Gazette
Week 25- March 15, 2019
In The Classroom...
This week we wrapped up our research on the Bald Eagle and created our informational cards as well as a writing piece. Students shared facts on their topic about the bald eagle through Seesaw and we will be creating a video to add to our zoo in May. The kids did a great job learning how to take notes and gather information. Next week they will use these skills to research the animal they chose for our Wax Museum/Zoo. We have a couple of friends who have not chosen their animal yet. I am getting links, books and other videos prepared for the kids so they can research their animal next week. If your child hasn't chosen an animal by Monday morning, then I will assign one; this way I can get the materials needed for Monday and writing time. This project is apart of their Science and Literacy grade. Here is the sign up genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ba8ad2aa02-animal3 Project info will be going home on Monday.
This week in Daily 5, we learned all about Spring. Each station focused on this season. Students learned facts through informational books, responded to written comprehension questions, and listened to fiction stories about spring. We also worked on AR and started a new program called iReady. iREady is a diagnostic literacy and math program that targets individual needs to help students succeed and excel at the levels they are on. I will share more info about this program at your child's student-led conference.
Math was a BLAST this week. We finished up balancing equations and then the students were challenged to an Escape Room. It was a lot of prep work, but oh so worth it. The kids loved working in teams to solve equations, find clues and unlock the classroom. We will definitely do another sometime soon. Our next topic in math will be 2 digit addition and subtraction. Homework for math this year will look a little different too as we will start Math Stars/Sunshine Math. These are challenging math sheets that build critical thinking. More info will come home on Monday about these math sheets. There will be 10 problems and your child will have 2 weeks to complete. They will also get stars for problems answered and earn lunch with me when they reach a certain amount. It's exciting!
We're mapping, mapping, mapping in Social Studies. The kids learned all about the cardinal directions and even used a compass to label the room with North, South, East, & West. Thanks for sending in your addresses. Mrs. Tuttle will be coming on Tuesday to teach the kids how to create a My Map in Google. They will then create one of their community to add to their Learning Portfolio. So much fun. I can't wait for them to use Google Earth too.
Are your kids still collecting rocks??? They are at school. They love this unit. This week we looked at river rocks. We noticed the differences between these rocks and the volcanic rocks we looked at last week. The kids sorted the river rocks by their properties and then labeled them. We discovered that river rocks are mostly smooth. Next week we will sift rocks and categorize them by their size.
120 Day was an absolute blast. I posted pics of the old men & women on my class Facebook page and Twitter. Check it out. The kids' project grades went home in their Friday Folder. They did a super job. I am very proud of them! They will bring these home next week.
I hope you all enjoy your weekend. Don't forget to wear green on Sunday and as always, read the NOTES section for important reminders.
Take Care,
Ms.Gower
Congrats AR Readers!
- Rush- 40 pts
- Lila- 5 pts
Congratulations!!! I am proud of you.
March Birthdays!
- Isabella- 14th
- Noah- 14th
- Stella- 22nd
- Molly- 25th
We Could Use...
- Heavy Duty Magnetic Hooks (to hold curtain)
- Thin Curtain Rod (for Green Screen Curtain)
- White & Colored Card Stock
Mark Your Calendars!
- March 25- Student-Led Conferences Begin
- April 11- Field Trip
- April 18- Field Day, Easter Egg Hunt, & Track Out Day!
- May 10- Track In Day!
- May 20- Animal Research Projects Due
- May 24- Wax Museum/Zoo (Students come dressed as their animal. Zoo opens at 9:30 and is floating until 12:15)
Notes~
- Student-Led Conferences- A sign-up sheet went home in your child's Friday Folder. Please complete and send it back on Monday. These conferences are different than 1st quarter conferences as most of this is done by your child. He/she will be sharing their digital portfolio with you. You will need to bring headphones to the conference as their are audio and videos to listen to. And, of course, you will need to bring your child to this conference!
- Field Trip Chaperones- Thank you to the parents who will be attending the trip with us. It looks like everyone has been approved as a level 4 Green Star volunteer. We do need to collect your $10 for this trip. Most of you have paid, but a few have not. Please send this in this week. We will need to pay for our trip in advance. The museum has lowered the price for chaperones if paid prior to our trip. It will cost more at the door if you choose to wait.
- Spelling Review Test- We will be taking this on Monday. The kids can use Spelling City to go over Units 1-20. Their login info should be their lunch number and initials. They will also start Unit 21 on Monday and as always our test will be on Friday.
- Pick an Animal- If you and your child didn't sign up for a wild animal to research, please do so this weekend. I will be assigning animals Monday morning for those who have not as I need to gather books and materials for our research before the kids arrive. Here is the link one more time: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ba8ad2aa02-animal3
- BYOD- If you and your child completed the blue BYOD contract at the beginning of the year and turned it in then he/she can begin bringing their devices to use at school. Please be sure to have the following apps on their device: Seesaw (not the family app), Kids A-Z, Freckle, QR Code Scanner (not reader), Kahoot, Flipgrid, Google Drive; also Bookmark these sites: menti.com; xtramath, Epic, AR, WSES website, and my class website. If your child did not sign a contract and turn it in then he/she cannot bring in a device until the contract is complete. Please remember, we cannot charge devices at school so they must be charged and ready to go each day. We are also not responsible for lost/stolen devices. The kids must be responsible with these. I do suggest not having games and distracting apps on your child's school device as it may be tempting to use during the day.
- Thank You- Many thanks to all of you for sending in the items for our 120 day snack. Y'all are the best. The kids had a great time making and eating it.
- Share & Vote for Me =) - I don't know who nominated me, but boy is it an honor. The message truly filled my bucket and made me smile. I feel very grateful to be your child's teacher. I love watching them learn and grow. If you feel up to it, I'd appreciate your vote. Feel free to share the link on your social media outlets as well as with family and friends. Here's the link: https://nclgivingjoy.com/voteme/30373/632415939 Thank you!
WSES- Embracing the Needs of Every Child!
Email: egower@wcpss.net
Website: msgower.weebly.com
Location: 6800 Dwight Rowland Road, Willow Spring, NC, USA
Phone: (919)557-2770
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msgower/
Twitter: @MsGowersClass