Welcome Back!
It's a new year!!
Wow!
I hope you all have had an opportunity to join the Remind group, provide me with your email address, and speak to your child about the year ahead!
Here are a few housekeeping needs:
*Signed papers will go home weekly (starting next week) on Wednesdays. If they don't, I will send a remind and/or email to let you know.
*newsletters go home each Monday. I'm hoping to get them posted on EDMODO as well as emailed to you.
*spelling tests will be on Thursday unless we have a short week. In the cases we miss A Monday-Thursday (for holiday or field trip) the test will be Friday.
* homework will be assigned daily Monday-Thursday. They will have spelling plus one (math or reading, usually)... These assignments should never take more than 45 minutes at the most. Most days, they will have about 20 minutes to get started on homework. This time is included in the 45 minute plan.
*planners have been provided for students. I purchased comp notebooks for the class. They are to copy the week and spelling words every Monday and the nightly homework each day.
Once I am sure we have all possible email addresses, I will begin my shutterfly page. This is one of my favorite things to connect parents. Shutterfly is a free online storage for photos. You can print pictures, save pictures, and create keepsakes. I try to regularly upload pictures from everyday events of classroom happenings!! This will include projects, field trips, recess, special events, and of course- class work time! Parents have throughly loved being able to stay connected this way. The best part is that these pictures are protected and ONLY those that have access to my shutterfly website have access to the pictures. I limit the access to parents (including the aunts and uncles that are involved and have permission to pick up students from school), building admin, and myself.
This past week went very well. We're learning to create a new classroom environment. We strive to be peaceful and safe and learn to cooperate even if we disagree.
Starting this week, we will have "GreenPower" each Monday. This is where another teacher comes and teaches hands on science activities to our 5th grade students. These activities are being taught to all HCS 5th grade students but will align with our current IB unit. I will extend these activities within the classroom. Being in Huntsville, there is high importance to learn, enjoy, and create science and engineering practices. This will be a wonderful asset to our students. Additionally, students will apply to be on the GreenCar team. The selected students will plan, build, and race a green car! The races take place multiple times with surrounding schools. The application process is NOT limited to gifted students and students are chosen based on their specific talents and the GreenCar team needs.
My husband teaches in Madison and his students build the GreenCar for his school. The races are neat and exciting!
We are hoping morning broadcast will begin this week. Students that are on safety patrol in my class will begin this week.
I always welcome 2-way communication. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We are a team and we have one goal in mind: success for our sweet babies! I look forward to a great year and hope to hear from you soon!!!