Weekly Update

Families of Room 31 ~

A few important updates / reminders:

1.  PEDOMETERS -   As part of the Health Curriculum and the Get Fit Grant  your child will be given a pedometer to wear and a log sheet / food chart to complete.   Monday October 21st – Thursday October 24th, the students are asked to wear a pedometer (in school and out!) and record the number of steps taken each day.    They are also asked to record the healthy food items they ate throughout the day.  Mrs. LeMay, Ms. Pacheco and I have reviewed this with the children.   There is a SAMPLE chart being sent home.   I recommend that you review this with the children and keep it in a safe place as we will complete this 4 times throughout the year.

The pedometer and the log are to be returned to school on FRIDAY October 25th.  If everyone from the class brings back their pedometer AND completes and returns both side of the log, our class with receive a fruit tray later in November to enjoy!    Let’s do our best to help the children remember to fill out their log and return everything on time!

If there are any questions, you can contact Mrs. LeMay directly at ~ 

            slemay@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

2.  MEDIA – Monday is media and the children have had two weeks to complete their books.  Please remind them to bring them to school on Monday so they can take out new ones!

3.  XTRA MATH and EVERYDAY MATH – Each child has been given a personal log in for both of these sites.   I recommend that they log in and practice their facts as often as possible.   We have 4 children who have completed their XTRA MATH facts already!!!   Congratulations!  You can access both of these sites along with our newsletters and other recommended websites via our class blog:

                    http://kfinneran31.blogspot.com

4.  PARENT CONFERENCES ~  Please remember that Tuesday, November 5 has been set aside for Fall conferences and your child does not have school. I am sending home reminders of the time you are scheduled for with the children on MONDAY in their Blue Communication Folder.   Attached is a sheet I would like you to fill out and return.  Our conferences are short and I want to maximize the focus to meet your needs.

5.  CHORUS CONCERT   - The first fourth grade Chorus Concert is going to be held on November 21, 2013 at 6:30pm.   More details will come from Ms. Fallis, the music teachers, as the date gets closer.

6.  FAMILY FUN WALK -  On Friday October 25th from 4:30 - 6:00 the Coolidge students and families are invite to join us at our 7th Annual Family Fun Walk.  Children may wear costumes!  There will be activities to complete, a chance to enter into a raffle and a bake sale.   Our 4th grade student council members will be assisting at the Estimation Station and will be selling Glow-in-the-dark wrist bands.   All proceeds are donated to St. Anne's Food Pantry.  We hope to see you all there!

Thanks for your continued support.   Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Kelly Finneran

EveryDay Math Log In

Tuesday I am sending home each child's  EVERY DAY MATH log in and password.   To access the site for math practice:

1. Go to - https://www.everydaymathonline.com or type in Everyday Math Student Log in under google.

2.  Where it says Username type your child's LOGIN.

3.  You will then be sent to a  student password page where you will have to type in the number, letter, and shape password.

4.  Each child has their OWN log in information so please keep this is a safe spot.   If you loose it and need a copy…. Please contact me.

At the site you will see various games connected to the unit, family letters with information, a copy of the homework (although back side is not there) as will as other activities to practice.

Practice Your Facts!

Research shows that students who are most successful in math often are fluent with their math facts.  We often think of fluency in reading, but math fact fluency is a key to success.   The goal for our students is that they can complete their their math facts 100 problems in 5 minutes.  This means that they are able to respond in 3 seconds!

Today your child brought home their math fact goal sheets.  Some of the growth noted his month was amazing.  Some student scores increased by 30 to 40 facts!  This is tremendous growth and demonstrates quite a bit of hard work!  Each student set new goals for next month and it is our hope that they will PRACTICE and follow their goal contract.   I will be copying their contract and sending this home.  Although I know that some students' processing speed may be a bit slower, we are hoping each child makes some growth (5 - 10 facts per month).  With repeated, consistent practice, this is an attainable goal!

Please remember that each child has and XTRA math account.   Many student are utilizing this site, yet I know that a few students have completed the program.   I am able to go on to the site and see each child's work / scores and problems they have completed.   I urge you to have your child log on to the site at least 4 times a week.   I am also attaching a site that has a few different programs to practice math facts.  If you or your child come across any apps or sites that they enjoy using, please pass these along and I will post them on the blog to all to use!

Math Fact practice site -Newton School Math Fact Practice (+, -, x, & /)

Reminder -  FUNDRAISING PACKETS are due by next Tuesday, October 15th!
October book orders are due by the end of this week.

Kelly Finneran