Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Some Quick Information

Hi all!

I am sending home Monday folders today. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to make any comments in them. Despite this, I did not want to wait any longer to send folders home. Please go over your child’s work and return the folder tomorrow.

Book projects are due tomorrow. Your child should bring their bag of items and information sheet with them tomorrow. Late projects are deducted an additional 10 points for every day they are late.

Next week is Spirit Week. The lower school children have been encouraged to participate in the festivities. Wednesday is Hat Day, Thursday is Slipper Day, and Friday is Green/Blue/FA Logo Day. Please remember that Thursday is our PE day, so the children should have a pair of sneakers with them. There is no school on Monday for a short Fall Break.

That’s all for now. You will be hearing from me again a bit later this week.
Kim Bushman

Monday, September 22, 2008

Last Full Week of September!

Hi all!

It is hard to believe that September is winding down, and we are now officially into autumn! Time is flying!

We have begun our Word Study for the year. The students are divided into S group and D group. S students are reviewing doubling the consonant, e-drop, and no change when adding -ed. This is a simple enough skill, but on our beginning of the year assessment the children missed an average of 3 our of 5 words with that feature. We will review this feature for the next two weeks and then move on to more challenging features.

Monday folders are in book bags. Please look over your child's work, sign the folder, and return it tomorrow.

Just a reminder that book orders are due Thursday. I will be placing our order on that day.

We have a case of chicken pox in our class. Regan will be out for the week. It is a much milder case since she was vaccinated, but I just wanted to let everyone know so you can keep an eye on your child....just in case. We all hope you're doing well, Regan!

Book project mini-goal #3 is due tomorrow and the final project is due next Wednesday. The children are doing a fantastic job keeping up with their goals!

There is a sign-up sheet outside our classroom for conferences on Friday, October 31. Please stop by and sign up for a time.

That's all for now!
Kim Bushman

Monday, September 15, 2008

Back to School Night is Coming!

Hi all!

We’re three weeks into the new school year and getting up to speed. Word study and our first novel study will begin next week.

Back to School Night is this Thursday from 7pm – 8:30pm. The evening begins in the Reed Theater with classrooms opening at approximately 7:30. I am attaching a copy of my Back to School information packet, and am sending a hard copy home with your child today. Please look over this prior to Thursday night and bring any procedural questions with you that night. Please remember I will not be able to speak with you about your individual child on that evening.

Monday folders will be coming home this afternoon. Please review the work with your child, sign the folder, and send the empty folder back tomorrow.

Book orders are also coming home today. I am sending orders for September, October, and an Accelerated Reader catalog with your child. These orders are due by Thursday, Sept. 25. I will submit the orders by computer on that day. Please make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, Sept. 18: Wordly Wise Test
Back to School Night
Book Project Mini-Goal # 2 Due

Friday, Sept. 19: No School (Teacher Work Day)

Tuesday, Sept. 23: Book Project Mini-Goal # 3 Due

Thursday, Sept. 25: Book Orders Due

Friday, Sept. 26: First Word Study Tests

Monday, Sept. 29: I am deleting the Mini-Goal due on this day.

Wednesday, Oct. 1: Finished Book Project Due

Thursday, Oct. 2: Wordly Wise Test Lesson 2


That’s all for now!
Kim Bushman

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Back to School!

Dear Families,

Thank you all for sending back your information forms with your email addresses last week. I’d like to save some trees this year and send home pertinent classroom information through emails. I will try to title these as “Class Information.” Please send back a quick reply so I can verify your email address. I will begin to contact those I do not hear from later this week to see if I’ve made a mistake with your information.

Your child placed the information concerning our first book project in their binders yesterday. I set a number of mini-goals for students to complete along the way. Hopefully this will help motivate any procrastinators we may have in our classJ. Please go over this information with your child sometime this week. We went over it fairly extensively in class, so they should be able to answer any questions you might have. This project will be due Wednesday, October 1.

A “Genres at a Glance” study guide is also in your child’s binder. We will have a test on this information on Friday, September 12. Your child should know the different genres listed and be able to match them to their definitions.

Any materials that are clipped in your child’s binder should remain there. Items that are to be given to you, or left at home, will be placed in your child’s Communication Folder.

Important Upcoming Dates:
Thursday, Sept. 11: Student picture day (information should come later this week or early next week)
Thursday, Sept. 18: Back to School night for parents
Friday, Sept. 19: No school for students (Work Day for teachers)

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! The children did a wonderful job getting back into the swing of things yesterday.

Thank you.
Kim Bushman