8.18.11

Happy Thursday Friends!  I hope you've had a thrilling day and are excited about the long weekend away from school.

Today, we had a very fun day because we got to get into groups and practice reading type projects.  We had several very creative groups and all were awesome to watch!  Stay tuned for pictures and videos to come!

This afternoon, everyone presented their "Me Bags" and it was so magnificent getting a look into what matters most to the students in our class...I really feel like I know so much more about EVERYONE!  Yay!!!

I hope you have a GREAT 3-day weekend...don't miss me too much...haha!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

PS, Remember- MONDAY, we start learning REAL 4th grade content as we dive into our subjects!  I can't wait to get the ball rolling on our studies!!

8.17.11

Helllllo all!!!  Welcome to our very first official blog update of this schoolyear!  I hope you can utitlize this site for all your school questions and information needs!  From now on, I will be updating the blog daily to keep you informed of our classroom happenings!  As we begin our 'normal' schedule with all the content areas, you will see more detailed and specific posts catered to the individual subject's information.  For today and tomorrow, I will just give you a brief overview of our day.

Today we...
took the "End-of-the-year 3rd grade Math in Focus" assessment so I can get a clear picture of what your student and I need to work on in order to achieve success this year.  This really gave me a glimpse into the skills that your student mastered last year and what we will need to focus upon in our journey through 4th grade.  This took most of our morning and I was super impressed with the students' diligence to complete the task at hand!

practiced our expectations in the event of a substitute.  The students and I were able to make a chart of reminders for helping a substitute and reviewed expectations for behavior and work completion.  This afternoon, we were able to have a pretend substitute (Mrs. Campbell from 5th grade) come and work with us so we could demonstrate what we know about these expectations.  Unfortunately, we did have a couple of things to work on and a few reteaches, so we will be repracticing these things tomorrow. 

I'm CcRrAaZzYy about alllllll you already!  I'm so glad you're in my class!
I love you!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

REMINDERS:

**ALL paperwork needs to be returned ASAP!

**Please, please, PLEASE send in money ($3) for your PLANNERS!  If you are unable to purchase one, please let me know asap so I can send one home.  It is IMPERATIVE that each child has a planner.

**I sent home a large packet today containing information about myself, our homework policy, snack policy, behavior expectations, and procedures and the coinciding expectations.  Please review this with your student and then return the last page to me on or before Friday- August 26th, 2011

Hiiiii!!!

Hello to YOU, my new 4th grade students at Deep Springs!  I am so excited for the upcoming school year and can't wait to get to know each of you! I think we are going to have one FANTASTIC year and this will be your best school year yet!  4th grade was my absolute favorite year EVER and I'm still close to my 4th grade teacher so I hope we build the same lasting relationship!

this is ME in 4th grade with my friend, Cole.  We are STILL friends to this day (he was even in my wedding!)

The "Year of the Dragon"
Did you know that 2012 is the "year of the dragon" on the Chinese zodiac?!?  Coincidentally, it is our school's mascot (you already know that!) so our theme in the 4th grade classrooms this year is all things dragons and Chinese culture!  I have gotten ALLLLLL kinds of paper lanterns (as you see on the background of this blog), paper umbrellas, wallpaper, and vividly beautiful and colorful decorations...our room is going to be THE MOST fabulous place to learn, EVER!  I. CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. YOU. TO. SEE. IT.

REMINDER: Orientation will be AUGUST 4TH at 6:00PM in the gym at Deep Springs.  I hope to see you there!!!

Here are some pics so you can start to get to know me... I do not want us to be complete strangers on August 11th if you do not get to come August 4th and I don't see you before then...

My niece, Cathryn (I call her, "Prissy").  She is a junior in high school and just got her driver's license!  Yikes!

Mr. Thomas and me in Florida

3 of your new teachers!  (L-R: Mrs. Butler,  me, Ms. Frederick)

Most people say we look like twins...but she's actually my 16 year old niece, Cathryn!

My nephew, Shawn (we call him, Shawnee and you'll hear A LOT about him!  He starts Kindergarten this year)

I LOVE playing reading, math, and science games with my students, so BE READY!

Mr. Thomas and me on our recent Florida vacation

I can't wait to hear all about your summer!
I already love you!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

PS, to my former kiddos at Garden Springs, not a day goes by that I do not think of you and remember you fondly.  I miss you so much and hope that our paths will cross continuously for the rest of your lives!  Your teacher this year is so incredibly lucky to have you...show her what an absolute learning rockstar you are!  You DO have one assignment already: please, please, pleeeaaase (pretty please with sugar on top?!?) keep in touch!!!  My email is still the same: abby.thomas@fayette.kyschools.us OR email me on my home address (I see these the minute you send them because they show up on my phone): abbybthomas@gmail.com (I've enjoyed receiving emails from some of you and Micah and I email several times on a daily basis!  It's such a great way to keep in touch with you all!).

I sneezed...

it is weird that EVERYTIME I sneeze, I think of you?  You all ALWAYS tried to catch my on my "sneezing thing" (a double sneeze) and everytime I sneeze, I catch myself making sure it is "double" like I always assured you it would be.  I sneezed several times today and they always came in pairs, so I wanted you to know that it made me think of you...even here on the beach!!!  AND...I miss you so, so very much!!!  I hope all is well and I am absolutely L-O-V-I-N-G your letters...keep 'em coming (but also remember to include your return address as it is hard to send one back to you if you do not include your address!).

I. L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. (and miss you exponentially!!!)
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

I. MISS. YOU.

I miss you already!!! Yes, already!  The fact that tomorrow is Monday and I will be at school working in our classroom, but I won't get to see you is weighing heavy on my heart!  Don't get me wrong, summer is awesome and these first two days have been wonderful, but I honestly miss you so much!  I hope your summer break has started off well...AND, I hope you plan on sending me a letter soon!

I love you!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

6.2.11 - Summer Break Eve!!!

Happy Summer-Break Eve, everyone!  I cannot believe we're here...it seems as if this year has absolutely FLOWN by!  I certainly do not want to see you students leave, you have been so very, very amazing and I love you so much!

Today, we had our Living Arts & Science Center presentation and it was so great!  We had so much fun and our presenter was filled with compliments for our behavior which made me so proud (I've been tearing up all day!).  We learned how energy is produced and how it is measured...see pictures below!

We finished up on some projects today as well...
We got our class yearbook complete, copied, and passed out to everyone!

Also, each student planted "Forget-Me-Nots" which are flowers that symbolize true, unforgettable love and fond memories, as well as faith, hope, and luck.  It would be an honor if all my fabulous students from this year would please accept the "Forget-Me-Not" seeds in upholding this cherished tradition.  We each have 2 sets of instructions for planting and growing these flowers.  I hope when they grow in your yard, you see them and remember your dear old 3rd grade teacher! 

Summer folders were sent home today as well.  These contain numerous activities to work on over the course of the extended break and even include an addressed and stamped envelope to me so you have no excuse not to send me a letter! 

Please do not forget that 3rd grade awards are tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. in the gym.  I look forward to seeing all parents there!
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

coal fingers!

safety gloves for electric workers

clearly, I am an angel...
bahahaha!  they're hawk wings :)

she's a sillllllly gal!

Abby's going to fly away!

my my, what big hands you have!

Madison brought me watermelon today, and it was SUPER yummy!  What a GREAT "summer" treat!

Helllllllooooo there, Miss Lady!

6.1.11

Happy June, Everyone!!!  I hope this HOT spring day finds you absolutely wonderful!  We have had a busy day of completing all of the end of the year tasks we need to get finished. 

The students wrote letters to my future students about what they can expect with having me next year (it's something I do every year for the first day of school), and then we packed up our room...completely!

Remember, our living arts & science presentation is tomorrow!  $2.50 is due before it begins at 8:40!  Also, do not forget that our 3rd grade awards presentation is Friday at 10:15.  We look forward to seeing you then!

Tomorrow, I will be sending home the summer packets and hopefully our class yearbook that we've been working on.
xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas

yeah, most people feel this way too...

Jazzy girl :)