10.31.12

Happy OWL o'ween, Gents and Judies!!! What a spoooooky weather day we had yesterday...gloomy, yucky, and not too fabulous...let's hope it's much better for all those trick-or-treaters this evening!

MATH:

We took our timed tests!  Yay to the friends who have already earned their ice cream scoops...you're well on your way to earning your ice cream sundaes!  We then worked on some Halloween themed math by taking a survey of favorite candy treats and graphing our results.  Then, we practiced plotting coordinates on a grid and completing a hidden picture activity using those coordinates.  

HOMEWORK: 3-minute timed test - MUST BE SIGNED!!!  C'mon guys, this is only 3 minutes of your life...there are 1,440 minutes in a day, so I'm certain you can find THREE to devote towards practicing your multiplication!

READING:
Students continued working on election activities with Mr. Featherston.
HOMEWORK: NONE!  Yes, I said it...NO READING LOGS TONIGHT!!!! TRICK OR TREAT!!!!!  Yeaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

PM activities:

I brought in a little treat for our friends and we made our own caramel apples, complete with chocolate chips, sprinkles, and M&Ms!!!  I do this every year with my students and they are deliciously wonderful!

Hope you have a howling HALLOWEEN and are safe as you're out and about in your costume!  Remember to say, "Trick-or-Treat!" and then most importantly, "THANK YOU!!!"  It makes us treaters SMILE!

Happy Halloween my hungry wolves!
Have fun!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

 

10.30.12

Hello all and Happy Tuesday!  I hope you've stayed dry and warm! 

MATH:
We went over our multiplication project which as passed out today and began our timed tests that we will be taking every day.  A very important packet is coming home about our multiplication project.  Students are given templates to follow to create specialized flashcards for each set of numbers (2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, 11s, and 12s).  These templates can be cut out and traced onto posterboard or construction paper and need to be kept together with metal rings or brad fasteners (NO STAPLES OR YARN as they fall apart too easily) If you are unable to obtain any of these materials, please let me know as soon as possible.  The sets of 2s, 5s, and 10s are due to me to be checked NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th.  Please join us in our effort to ensure your student memorizes his/her multiplication facts.  These can be done in the car on the way to the grocery or other destination, at the store, while taking a shower/bath, etc. (anywhere that there is some downtime...squeeze 'em in!!!). 
HOMEWORK: complete timed test with an adult.  Students should get 3minutes to complete as many of the 50 multiplication facts that they can.  In order for this to count, these tests MUST be signed. 

READING:
Students continued reading about the election with Mr. Featherston and will be voting in a blind election at the start of next week.
HOMEWORK: READING LOGS for Reading Groups!!!

Have a terrific evening!  Remember, NO costumes tomorrow, please!!!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

10.29.12

Howdy all and HAPPY MONDAY!  I hope you had a GREAT weekend and were able to come to Garth's festivities!  Did you have a SPOOOOOKtacular time?!!? 


I had A BLAST seeing all of the "literary pumpkins"!  Students did a TERRIFIC job and it is so neat seeing all of their creativity exposed. 

MATH:
We rewound our focus for a day and went back to two-step word problems because that is an area in which the students have much difficulty.  It is hard for them to decipher what a question is asking them to do and/ or solve.  We practiced with several different types of word problems and listening to the numbers and mathematical power words. 
HOMEWORK: none

READING:
Students are learning about the upcoming election and why we vote.  Everything in reading this week will be nonfiction about our country and the election of our presidents.
HOMEWORK: READING LOGS!

PM ACTIVITIES:
We finished reading our class's chapter book, Breathe, and it was just in time for Halloween!  Students have L-O-V-E-D hearing me read this book and have listened intently.  It has been absolutely INCREDIBLE experiencing their excitement!

Students also completed their spelling practice for today as well as an additional word problem practice sheet for math.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

**We will NOT be having a Fall Party and students are NOT permitted to wear costumes to school.

**The weather is verrrrry cool this week so it is important that your child comes to school appropriately dressed in coats and jackets in case we go outside for recess.

**There is NO school next Tuesday, November 6th in honor of Election Day - GO VOTE!

Have a marvelous Monday!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas


Thanksgiving is 3 weeks from Thursday!!!





10.26.12

bahahaha...you had to be there for this, but this little lady, is a trip! CRACKS. ME. UP!

it's Friiiiiiiday!  Yay!  We made it!  And can you believe it is the last Friday of the month?!?  Holy Toledo, it's almost November...which means, it's almost turkey day...yum, yum, yummmmmy!!!  I just cannot believe we are almost upon the Holiday season of 2012.  Is it just me or did this year absolutely FLY by?!?  Before you know it, these kiddos are going to be big, bad 4th graders...ahhhhh!!!

TOMORROW is Garth's Haunted House...it's going to be spoooooky!  We will also have games, dancing, trick-or-treating, etc...so bring out the whole fam to this awesome event!!!

MATH:
Since we have been working on multiplication and skills to help us multiply such as making arrays, groups, or doing repeated addition, we took a mini-quiz over the concepts to show off our knowledge of the content.  We also took our very first open response question together...ahhhh!!! 
HOMEWORK: none

READING:
Students concluded working on character traits with Mr. Featherston by writing a Halloween themed story.  It was fun!
HOMEWORK: none

REMEMBER, Literary Pumpkins are due by MONDAY!!!

Also, please return your conference forms and report cards (SIGNED).

Field trip permission forms MUST be turned in BY MONDAY!

Have a spoooooky weekend!
Boo!
-Mrs. Thomas



10.25.12

It's almost Friday, folks!!!  Wooooo Hooooooo!!!!!! 
HOMEWORK: READING LOGS ARE DUE BACK BY TOMORROW!!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

**Pumpkin Projects are due by THIS Monday, October 29th.

**Garth's Haunted House is THIS Saturday, October 27th!

**PLEASE return your child's report card...signed!  When you do, I'll send home a copy for your records!

**Bring back permission forms for our Charlotte's Web Field Trip on Wednesday, November 7th.

**Conference sign-up forms were sent home in your child's planner today.  These are first come, first serve as far as time scheduling so get yours returned to me asap to ensure you get the time you prefer that best fits your schedule and needs.  These are on November 12th and are MANDATORY.

**NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, November 6th.

10.24.12

Happy Wednesday, all!  I hope I am finding you well and wonderful!  WOWZA, what a BEAUTIFUL day!  Can you believe it will be this nice today and so cold and gusty this weekend?!?  What a difference a few days will make for us!  On that note, will you be here this weekend for the GARTH HAUNTED HOUSE?!?  Beware...come if you DARE! 

MATH:
We have began our unit upon multiplication.  I am pleased that many of the students already have some background knowledge and are able to apply these skills.  We will be working on multiplication for an extended length of time, but it is imperative that these facts are mastered NOW.  Students MUST have them down prior to entering 4th grade.  Please work on them as much as possible; repetition promotes fluency.  Beginning next week, we will be beginning a project where students will be creating flashcards in differing shapes on their facts at home.  Be looking for this information on Monday, October 29th in your student's planner.  I have encouraged the students to go through sets at home as much as possible and in any free time (2s, 3s, 4s...up to 10s).  They may be really shaky and unsure on these facts now, but I assure you, by Christmas, you will see a significance difference if you are practicing daily!

Currently in math, we have learned several different skills for how to multiply such as using arrays, grouping, and repetitive addition. 
HOMEWORK: none

READING:
Students are working on the skill of identifying traits that describe a character.  They are looking for adjectives to describe a character based on his/ her actions and defend their choices using found details in the text. 
HOMEWORK: READING LOGS!!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Literary Pumpkin Projects are due by Monday, October 29th.

Garth's HAUNTED HOUSE is THIS Saturday, October 27th.

Please continue turning in Box Tops!

NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 6th - ELECTION DAY - Are YOU planning to VOTE?!?  Let your voice be heard!

10.23.12

Back again!  Last week was crazy to say the least!  I woke up Saturday before we returned from fall break with a horrible pain in my mouth and ended up having to have emergency surgery to remove my wisdom teeth.  Guess there went all my wisdom :)

HA!
But we're back online and I'm sorry for the delay on report cards!  Hope your week last week was okay and I am sorry about any craziness :(

Homework today is to make sure we are reading for our reading logs and filling them out as well as completing our homework packets.

Do not forget: the Haunted House is THIS Saturday from 6-9PM and Literary Pumpkins are due this coming Monday.  We've had a few students already bring theirs in and they are wonderful!

10.5.12

It's heeeerrre...it's arrived...FALL BREAK!!!  Wahoooooo!!!  Good news?!?  Rest, relaxation, NO work to be done.  Bad news?!?  TEN days until I get to see you again :(((((  Wahhhhhh =....(

We had a mainly review day and some FUN too :)

We took a math test to review all the concepts we've focused upon thus far this school year.  I'm anxious to grade them to see how we did!

HOMEWORK: none, but PLEASE READ, READ, READ!  Keep those brains fresh for our return!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

**There is NO homework packet this week (because of Fall Break)

**There is also NO spelling words (you'll receive them upon the return from break)

**Please sign up to volunteer for Garth's Haunted House!

**Literary Pumpkins are due by Monday, October 29th.  Please make sure your pumpkin is over a CHAPTER BOOK character.

Have a fantastic FALL BREAK!  I'll miss you so, so, soooooo much and can't wait to see you when you get back!
I love you!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

10.2.12

Hello all and Happy Tuesday! 

Some notes about today...

Tomorrow is our MATH TEST over SUBTRACTION.  Students should be completing "Subtraction Skills Packet Study Guide" if not finished in class as HOMEWORK.

PLEASE complete reading logs EACH NIGHT!

Pumpkin projects are due on October 29th and must be over a chapter book!

We are working on being NICE to one another and always displaying PEACE, LOVE, AND HAPPINESS!

Have a terrific Tuesday!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

I'm baaaaaack!

Well, it's been a rough past few days.  I was sick and I feel like it takes FOREVER to get back on track once you're out!  But, I'm here and I'm ready to roll!  We have LOTS of things happening over here in Thomasland and I hope to keep you informed!

Tonight, homework is completing READING LOGS and reading assignment for Mr. Featherston.

Another item was sent home today...

We are beginning our "SAVE THE LITERARY PUMPKINS!" projects!  Information was sent home with the students today saying, "The pumpkins in town need your family's help!!!  They don't want to be carved this year...here's where you come in!  To help disguise them from the carvers, turn them into your child's favorite storybook character!  The pumpkins can be real or fake.  Use acrylic paint, cotton, yarn, permanent markers...anything your family needs to turn your pumpkin into a book character and save it from being carved this year!"

• Pumpkins are due on Monday, October 29th and will be taken home on Friday, November 2nd.
• Please send in the book that shows your pumpkin's character.  I fyou do not have the book, let me know and I will see if I have a copy for you to use.
• If you do not want your child's pumpkin to take the morning bus ride to school, feel free to drop it off during the morning of the 29th.
• I cannot wait to see your creative designs!

Here is an example of a pumpkin done by a previous student of Mrs. Mullins:

I also wanted everyone to see the OWLSTANDING bulletin board created by Abigail and Adrianne.  Abigail drew the HOMEWORKOPOLY card that said for her to make a bulletin board.  She enlisted the help of Adrianne and together, they created this...

isn't it PRECIOUS?!?  They did a GREAT job!!!

in case you were wondering, HOMEWORKOPOLY looks like this...

Have a marvelous Monday!
See you tomorrow!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas