October 31, 2013

Homework:
Math-sheet 28
Science-Phases of the moon calendar is due tomorrow for final grading
Social Studies-Some students still need to complete the 10/29 assignment and/or get a signature on the 10/22 assignment
Reading-Log, next book project is due November 15th.
Today's Highlights:
Ask your child what the app "bump" does.  I showed them this today (it's how I got the picture below from my iphone to the computer) and they thought it was pretty cool.
The students are in the process of writing their first Response to Text.  Here is a picture of some students preparing their pre-writing (finding evidence to support the thesis).











Reminders:  The weather is getting colder and the students need proper clothing for outside recess and walks on the path.

October 30, 2013

Homework:
Math: sheet 27
Reading: Log
Science: Phases of Moon Calendar-----these are going to be collected on Friday for a final grade!
Social Studies: CNN questions due tomorrow.  Use the one from last week as your guide and get that one signed (10/22 questions).
**Parents~I will always give the previous week's CNN assignment back to them to use for the new question.  If they are unhappy with the grade the students can revise--this assignment always needs a signature to show me that you saw the grade or revision.
Today's Highlights!!
Northwest Solid Waste District and Hudak Farm
We had a great day and learned a lot.  Have your child give you summary of what they saw and learned.  Pictures were sent home today.

October 29, 2013

Homework:
Math-sheet 26
Reading-Log
Social Studies-Permission Slip, remember to bring a lunch for the field trip if you are doing so.  Dress warmly and wear appropriate shoes.
Science-Phases of Moon calendar.
Pictures from Hay Day

Reminders:
Field Trip tomorrow.

October 28, 2013

Homework:
Math-Sheet 25
Reading- Crash group: finish the book
Reading Log due tomorrow
Science-Phases of the moon calendar
Social Studies-FIELD TRIP PERMISSION SLIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today's Highlights:
I want to tell you about Friday's Hay Day!  The kids were awesome.  It was the best Hay Day yet and the addition of the Talent Show was fabulous!  Many of our kids participated.  I will get pictures of some projects on the blog tomorrow.  Thank you for all the snacks~we ate most of them!  The high school students who spent the day with us had a great time.
Reminders:
Field Trip to NWSWD and Hudak Farm is on Wednesday. Permission slips went home today.

October 24, 2013

Homework
Math-sheet 24
Reading-log and read kindness unit book if you need to
Science-look at the moon, I have the calendars to do a check of them
Today's Highlights
Meadowbrook Farm purchases went home today. The kids played a game about natural resources. Our field trip to NWSWD and Hudaks is scheduled for next Wednesday. Permission slips will go home tomorrow.  Ask your kids about Apple TV!
Reminders
Hay Day is tomorrow.
Recess weather is changing so make sure your child has warm clothes to play outside!  I know, I know, I gave up the outerwear fight by middle school~but my husband still chooses it as one of his fights!
Field Trip next Wednesday~~Look for the permission slip tomorrow!
Shout Out!
Conference time always makes me nervous.  I feel like the student who hopes the other kids will like her.  The conferences the students led are the first ones I can honestly say I had FUN at!  The students were absolutely awesome!  I am very proud of your children!

October 23, 2013

Homework:
Math - Sheet #23
Language Arts - Continue adding to reading log
Social Studies - New CNN question set due Friday
      * You can revise last week's to improve your grade OR
         get a parent signature if you're happy with your grade.
Science - Draw on moon phase calendar

Today's highlights:
We talked about renewable and nonrenewable natural resources this morning. We also started learning how to organize a Response to Text paper that will be due in November. The school newspaper, the Trotter Times, was distributed around the school. Below is a link to a PDF version of the paper for you.  We're very proud of our students who put this together.

Trotter Times - October 2013 Issue

October 22, 2013

Homework:
Math-Sheet #22
Reading-Log
Social Studies-CNN question, due on Thursday
Science-Moon phase calendar~will be collected tomorrow and graded for work done as of tonight.
Today's Highlights:
The first edition of the Trotter News was distributed!  I will try to get an electronic version of it on the blog tomorrow!  We will go to the NWSWD next week to learn about composting and recycling.  On our way home we will stop by Hudaks to see what they use the compost for!  Hopefully we will get some compost to analyze the next day!
Reminders:
I don't think there are any tonight!
Oh! The field trip is next Wednesday! Oh! Hay Day on Friday!

October 16, 2013

Homework:
Math-sheet #19
Reading Log and Moon Phase Calendar
Social Studies-Some of you need to have your CNN questions signed.
Today's Highlights:
Playing Frisbee at Gym!  I went outside and had PE with the kids today!  I can't throw a frisbee.......
Reminders:
No school on Friday.  Tomorrow I will be out for 2 hours attending parent conferences at BFA.  Ms. Dion will cover the class and continue to work on the composting and recycling presentations.

October 15, 2013

Homework:
Math-sheet #18
Reading-The students created and acted out skits today, so we did not meet with reading groups.  Crash does have one page in the journal to do.
Reading Log
Science-Moon phase calendar.
Today's Highlights:
Mrs. Wilkins was observed by her teacher today and the kids were wonderful! They created skits based on the words in THINK.  Did your child remember what each letter meant?  Before you speak you should think.  Ask yourself..........it is True? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? and Kind?  If you answer no to any of these then you should keep your thoughts to yourself.

The students collaborated on an activity that has them teaching information from an article to the rest of the class.  Ask your child how it worked.  Here is a picture of one of our students working on the computer in his group.
Reminders:
Student led conferences are tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday.  No school on Friday.

October 14, 2013

Homework
Math-Sheet 17
Reading- Everyone has homework from the class novel they are reading.
Logs are due tomorrow.
Science-Moon phase calendar.
Today' Highlights
Ask you child what it means to THINK before you speak.
Reminders
Conferences this week and no school on Friday.

October 10, 2013

Homework
Math-sheet 16
Reading- log

• Stargirl: read to page 138 and look for descriptive words
• Firegirl: read chapters 14 and 15
• Crash: read a couple of chapters or 10 pages
• Maniac Magee: 20 minutes of work on reading or the questions in the log

Science- moon phase calendar

Today's Highlights

We had a normal schedule! No more testing!!!!!! We learned how to write a complete answer to our CNN questions that the students will have every Tuesday.  These will always be due on Thursday.  This week we did it in class together.  There is a link, on the homepage of the blog, that shows what a complete question should look like.

Reminders

Conferences next week and no school on Friday, 10/18.

October 9, 2013

Homework
Math-Sheet #15
Reading-Log
Science-Moon Phase Calendar
Today's Highlights
We are done with NECAPS!!! Here is a beautiful picture of our view when we are outside!  Mrs. Dunn and I were twins today!

Reminders

Student led conferences next week and no school next Friday~10/18.

CNN model question

October 8, 2013

Homework
Math-sheet #14
Reading-log, and finish last night's if you didn't do it. We didn't have reading today due to NECAP testing.
Science-Moon phase calendar
Today's Highlights
We were mentioned on CNN Student News!  Each day they have a roll call where 3 schools are mentioned.  I entered our name a couple of weeks ago and we were on today's show!!!!!
http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/

What Fairfield kids do when they are done with NECAP testing.

Reminders

Student led conferences next week. No school on October 18th.

October 7, 2013

Homework
Math-sheet #13
Reading-Everyone has homework for the book they are reading for our tolerance, kindness, and acceptance unit.  This should be in their assignment books.
Science-Moon phase calendar.
Today's Highlights and Class Information
Today was a pretty normal day. We used our problem solving skills to try to figure out how to get a lunchbox from behind the lockers.  Ask your child to share the rap song on the phases of the moon.
Back to NECAP for the next 2 mornings!!!!!!!  We are planning a field trip to the Northwest Solid Waste District.  I will let you know more when we get the details. October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month .
This fits right in to our unit on kindness.  We will be using the site http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/index.html to help us learn more about the topic.
Reminders
Next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons and evenings are student led conferences.  The students will be focusing on their goals for the year.  No school on October 18th.

October 3, 2013

Homework
Reading-log
Science-Moon Phase Calendar
Today's Highlights
NECAP!!!!
Reminders
Fairfield Celebration this Saturday!
Student led conferences on October 15, 16, and 17. No school on October 18th.

October 2, 2013

Homework:
Reading-Log
Science-Moon Calendar, if the moon is not visible then the students can go to this website:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon
Today's Highlights:
NECAP testing~We finished the reading sections today and tomorrow we start math.
Reminders:
Student led conferences on October 15, 16, and 17. No school on the 18th.
Fairfield's 250 year celebration this Saturday!!!!!!!  At the Fairfield Library ~ BNML ~

October 1, 2013

Homework:
Reading~Read 20 minutes or so.
Science~Go outside and see if you can see the moon.  Draw it on your calendar.  If you can't see it and you have internet then go to http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon and draw what the moon looks like tonight.
Today's Highlights:
We started NECAP testing today. Tomorrow we will take 2 tests and Thursday will be one.  Next Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are also testing times.
Reminders:
This Saturday is the 250 year Celebration of Fairfield!  The school band will be playing.  Student led conferences are on October 15, 16, and 17.  No school on the 18th.