Christmas Wishlist

 

Dear Parents,

     Our class is in need of board games. When we aren't able to go outside due to stormy the kids love to play games. The collection that I have were passed down to me by my mom over 13 years ago. Needless to say they are in rough condition or out-of-date. If you'd like to give our class a gift this year I know they would love some games! Some ideas include: checkers, chess, apples to apples, scrabble, Pictionary, twister, guess who, and playing cards.

 

 

Peanutcracker & VSA Art Center Field Trip

Tuesday, December 16th

Pioneer Center- Peanutcracker 10:00-10:45

We will be walking down the block to the art center. Please make sure your child has a warm coat to wear and a cold lunch to eat.

 

VSA Nevada Art Center 11:00-1:00

 

 

They will eat lunch and then have an hour art lesson.

Return to Whitehead 1:30

*No fee for this field trip*

Nov. & Dec. Important Dates

November 11th- No School Veterans Day
November 26, 27, 28- No School Thanksgiving Break
December 16th- The Peanutcracker at Pioneer Center field trip (will send home info in a few weeks)
December 18th- Christmas Party in class with gift exchange
                        2:15-2:45 Whitehead Singalong
December 19th- No School teacher work day
December 19- Start of Winter Break
January 12th- Return to School

November Newsletter

Science Fair Projects

Your children should all be in the process of doing their science fair projects. They have been taught all the elements involved in the scientific process. They have notes in their Science Project Notebook. They also have an orange packet containing all the information about the project and everything they need to include and put on their science fair board. 

Biography & Persuasive Paragraph Project 

In a week the students will be selecting their person for their Biography and Persuasive Essay. They will be answering the question: 

Whose contributions are so significant they should never be forgotten? 

They will choose a person, I have a list to choose from. Then they will research the person and do a one page biography of them as well as their work. Then they will synthesize the information in order to write a persuasive paragraph explaining why that person should never be forgotten. Most of the research will be done at school, but if they do not complete certain parts they will possibly need to do some research and typing at home. Look for a packet on this project to come home soon. 

Math Fact Practice Online Tools

Multiplication Drill Game #1

Multiplication Flash Cards

Multiplication Quiz

Test Corrections

Your child can ALWAYS do test corrections! The last math test and the Chapter 1 First Test test (First Test is the name of the book we are reading in class)  are some they might want to correct. 

To do test corrections they need to: 

1. Get a binder pieces of paper

2. Math- write the standard number and then problem number

3. Reading - Write the problem number

4. Write the correct answer, showing the work and answering in sufficient detail to show they know the answer well. 

5. Staple the binder paper to the test 

6. Turn it in

Fall Fair '14

I'm am SO excited about how much fun the kids had at our first annual Fall Fair. I am very very thankful to all the parents who volunteered their time! We would not have been able to pull these activities and pictures off without them. The students got to do pumpkin measuring, leaf candle holders, skeletal system match, relay races, mummy decorating and a doughnut eating contest. The Halloween party was delicious. Thank you for all your very cute and scrumptious treats! 

 I can't wait until next year to do it again! 

Conference Schedule

Here is the Conference Schedule: 

Friday, October 24

2:00 Julianna

2:30 Gabe

3:00 Braden

4:00 Liam

Monday, October 27

1:00 Rylie Pl.

1:30 Ana

2:00 Hayley

3:00 Ethan

3:30 Quinn

4:00 Tyler

4:30 Hudson

Tuesday, October 28

8:30 Maddison

1:00 Jeferson

1:30 Alex V. 

2:00 Merryn

3:00 Jacob

3:45 Jackson

Wednesday, October 29th

8:30 Adi

12:50 Alex B. 

1:30 Lauren

2:00 Carter

2:30 Riley Y. 

3:30 Grace

Thursday, October 30

8:30 Dominik

1:00 Chris

3:00 Sydney

The Discovery Museum

Wow! What a wonderful day!!!

It was so neat to just have our class there. It seemed like me almost had the pace to ourselves. Thank you so much to our chaperons!! The students had some experience being civil engineers designing buildings that would withstand an earthquake. Then in small groups with their chaperons they got to explore the museum. It was so neat to watch them explore with their hands and minds. There was even a moment when we happened to all be in the same place at the same time for a very "shocking" demonstration of a closed circuit. Watch the video to see how it went!

Fall Fair Oct. 30 9:30-11:30

Fall Fair

Dear Parents,
I am excited to announce our first annual Fall Fair. On Thursday, October 30th we will be having a fun day celebrating fall and Halloween. All day long the students will move through exciting stations where they will get to practice Math in fun fall ways, learn about the skeletal system, participate in action packed relay races where they have to keep their "eyes" on the prize, and be in a good ol' fashioned eating contest.

I am looking for parent helpers to be in charge of a stations for this fun day. If you are able to come for a little while or stay all day please complete the attached page and return it by October 24th so I can prepare you for your station. Thanks so much I can’t wait to celebrate all things fun and fall with you!

The schedule for the day will be:

9:30-9:55  ___1st Rotation_____
10:00-10:25__ 2nd Rotation_______
10:30-10:55___3rd Rotation_______
11:00:11:25___4th Rotation________
11:30-12:50 Lunch and Treats

12:50 Conference Schedule Dismissal 

Happy Fall!

Mrs. Hoffman

Discovery Museum Field Trip

   

Discovery Museum Field Trip

        Wednesday, October 22nd

      ^9:15-1:45

To extend the knowledge the students have gained on waves we will be taking a field trip to The Discovery Museum and participating in their exciting program; Quake, Shake and Break. This hands on activity will let the students explore concepts related to earthquakes, plate tectonics, and large-scale systems. Then, working in teams, students will design, build and test a structure against the forces of a simulated earthquake.

They will also be eating lunch there so please make sure to send them with a sack lunch that day.

The cost of the trip will be $10.00. Checks can be made out to GATE. 

Assigned Quarters for Book Talks and Hot Topic Presentations

Book Talks
2nd Quarter
Grace
Hudson
Adi
Julianna
Liam
Tyler
Alex V.
Austin

3rd Quarter
Merryn
Dominik
Chris
Sydney
Ana
Rylie P.
Carter

4th Quarter
Braden
Maddison
Ethan
Lauren
Jef
Gabe
Quinn

Hot Topic Presentation
2nd Quarter
Dominik
Lauren
Chris
Hudson
Jacob
Jackson
Rylie P.
Riley Y.

3rd Quarter
Grace
Braden
Maddison
Alex B.
Jef
Gabe
Julianna
Quinn
Alex V.
Austin

4th Quarter
Merryn
Ethan
Sydney
Adi
Hayley
Ana
Liam
Tyler
Carter

Book Talk

Quarter 2 Outline due: Dec. 12 Presentation Date Range: Dec. 15, 17

Quarter 3 Outline due: Mar. 20 Presentation Date Range: Mar. 23-24

Quarter 4 Outline due: May. 29 Presentation Date Range: Jun. 3-4

Hot Topic Presentation

Quarter 2 Outline Due: Dec. 5 Presentation Date Range: Dec. 10-12

Quarter 3 Outline due: Mar. 13 Presentation Date Range: Mar. 18-20

Quarter 4 Outline due: May. 15 Presentation Date Range: May19-22

** With presentation dates being so far out, I have assigned date ranges so your child will present on one of those days. This will allow flexible dates for unexpected circumstances during those days. 

Conference Week

I have sent home the form for you to mark your top 3 choices for conference times.  If you are not able to make a time listed on the sheet please email me and we can find another time. We will be discussing your child's academic and social progress so far this year. I am really looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

If you need another form click  HERE

Quarter 2 Dates to Remember

Fall Break:   October 6-10

Discovery Museum Field Trip Oct 22nd 9:30-1:30

Mrs. Hoffman Out for Professional Development- Regular Day for kids: Oct. 23rd

Conference Week:  Friday Oct 24th - Thursday Oct 30th

Fall Fair: October 30th 9:30-11:30  Halloween Party: 2:00-3:00

Nevada Day- No School: October 31st

Teacher Work Day/Election Day- No School: Tuesday, Nov. 4th

Veterans Day- No School: Tuesday, Nov. 11th

Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday Nov. 26- Friday Nov. 28th

Mrs. Hoffman Out for Professional Development- Regular Day for kids: December 4th

Pioneer Center Field Trip: Peanutcracker: Tuesday December 16th 9:30-1:30

Holiday Party: December 18th 1:00-3:00

Winter Break: Friday December 19th-January 9th * School resumes Jan 12th

September Newsletter

Dear Parents,
This is our September Newsletter. The first thing I wanted to share with you are some of the exciting things we will be covering this month:

Math: Number System- Base Ten- adding, subtracting, place value, multiplication, division. I cover grades 3-5 but I will be forming small groups to assist students will specific skills within those grades. Instruction will be whole group and at times supported in small groups. They need to be doing addition, subtraction and multiplication 0-12 each week for Math Fact Practice.

Reading: Reading short stories at a 4th and 5th grade reading levels from Junior Great Books. We will be focusing on pulling information from the text in order to make inferences and support answers. Students should also be reading independent books that both interest them and challenge them to increase their vocabulary.

Science: Waves- light and sound waves




We will be celebrating the July and August Birthdays this Friday, September 12th from 2:00-3:00
We will celebrate the September birthdays on Friday, September 26th from 2:00-3:00. Mrs. Alano and I will  be in contact with those families to coordinate treats. If you would like to come in during this celebration you are more than welcome!

Picture Day is THIS Wednesday September 10th.

 

 

 

Lastly, I wanted to share with you that this time of year is a typical time for SWAS students to be dealing with transitioning into the SWAS classroom. Often times, they mask feelings while at school and then go home and tell their parents that they are unhappy, have no friends, and want to return to their old school. Sometimes this is true while other times it is the fact that they are being challenged and the work is hard for them for the first time in their lives. They are going to start being subjected to content that will challenge them and situations in class where they have to work with others in a group setting. All of these things may push your child's comfort zone back a bit.

When your child expresses feelings abnormal for them here are some tips. First, question the reason. Does it seem like a rational fear and is the situation one that is safe but just new. If it is something you feel is reasonable for them to deal with and you feel they need to persevere through it, remind them to take it slow, remember to breath, and think through the process and how they can resolve the issue. If the situation seems like it is irrational- something is way too hard for them, a situation with students at school that does not seem "right", then please let me know and help your child to come talk to me. Tell them things like, "When you have time at school you need to go up to Mrs. Hoffman and tell her that you are feeling ____, because ____." Having them review the solution several times out loud will also help them relax and feel more comfortable. Sometimes our students need to be taught the words and ways to resolve issues.

On the right hand side of the blog are links to parent resources. The Sylvia Rymm articles are WONDERFUL for parents of Gifted children! I know you will really connect with her ideas and find the content helpful. Joining the Washoe County Gifted and Talented Parent group is another way to connect with families who have children like yours. I hope you'll use and enjoy these resources.

Fianlly, if you save BoxTops you can send them in. Put them in bags with 50 in a bag- labled 50. If you don't have bags of 50 you can send in whatever you do have. But please make sure they are cut nice and neat- not torn. They will not except them if they are not organized in groups of 50 or "messy".  Thanks so much!