Week of Nov. 5th

Just a few reminders:

Tuesday, November 6^th - This is NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 6^th for students. We are holding our parent conferences that day. For those attending, please remember that I am holding student / parent conferences so you need to bring your child with you to the conference. Each conference is scheduled to be 40 minutes. I have emailed each family with a reminder of their time. Looking forward to our upcoming meetings.

Monday, November 12^th – NO SCHOOL – Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving Vacation is scheduled for Wednesday, November 21^st – Friday November 23^rd. There will be NO SCHOOL. 

Student Council collections: The 4^th grade Student Council is holding a supply drive for those in need. All donations will go to St. Anne’s to distribute to local families. Our class has been asked to donate SHAMPOO and $1.00! Let’s all do our part! 

SCHOOL STORE - FRIDAY, Nov. 16^h - This year students will only shop with tickets earned based on their Reading and Math Incentive sheets!  Any student who turns in any sheets prior to Nov. 9^th will have tickets to shop with at the first school store.   Thanks to the 6 students who volunteered to work at the school store. Those who volunteered will work THIS FRIDAY – Nov. 9^th.  The need to be at the school by 8:15 to assist with set up. They should first come to the classroom to pass in homework and unpack.

SCIENCE - I hope many of you enjoyed the WIND / WATER erosion photos from last week’s science experiment. This week we will focus on the DEPOSITION aspect of erosion.   We will set up a classroom stream table and watch the effects of water on soil.

SOCIAL STUDIES - We are wrapping up our learning of the EAST region. This week focuses on the immigrant experience through Ellis Island in the early 1900s. We will then be starting a project that demonstrates our knowledge of the concepts of climate, economy, natural resources and physical features of this region. This project will be completed in school. 

MATH - We are currently in the middle of Chapter 3. As you can see by last week’s homework, our focus has been on double digit multiplication. At the end of last week and this week, we have a focus on LONG DIVISION. We will then move on to applying these skills in word problems. 

READING - Last week our whole group focus was on MONITORING our comprehension by having inner conversations and taking the time to “stop and jot” those conversations down on post-it notes. This is a skill that is essential in building our reading knowledge. It is my hope that the students carry this skill over in their small guided reading groups as well as their independent reading.

WRITING - Our focus is on INFORMATIONAL writing with a connection / tie-in to social studies. Student will be focusing on the strong language of informational writing and the importance of good planning using a pillar. It is great when we can integrate our subject matter.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions / concerns regarding our classroom.

Week of Oct. 22nd

Families of Room 31 –

A few reminders for this week:

SCHOOL PICTURES – Due this Tuesday, Oct. 23^rd.  RETAKES will be Wednesday, Oct. 24^th. 

Parent Conferences – Due to the fact that I am holding student / parent conferences, I have several parent conference times beside Tuesday Nov. 6^th.  Last week I sent home a parent conference preconference form.  Please make sure to return the form with your child a day or two prior to your conference if not sooner.  Reminder – there is NO SCHOOL for students on Tuesday, Nov. 6^th

MATH – We completed our Chapter 2 test on Friday.  I will send them home with the students as soon as I have remediated and corrected the test with teach individual child.    This week we begin Chapter 3 - Whole Number Multiplication and Division.  This chapter is very rich in content truly focusing on multiplying by 2-digit numbers and the process of long division.  Please make sure your child is practicing their math facts (multiplication and division) especially if they have not mastered them yet.  Their nightly practice counts towards the Math incentive.   Program and truly is essential for success in this chapter and chapters to come.

SCIENCE - Last week, we had our first “official” hands-on science investigation.  The goal of this lesson was to learn about mechanical weathering and frost wedging.  We placed water in tin cans and let then freeze overnight.  They observed the cans the following day and certainly had some distinct observations.  I believe many of them sent you a phot via their SEESAW account!  This week we will learn about abrasion and how abrasion affects and change the earth’s surface!

SOCIAL STUDIES - We are continuing with our notetaking of the EAST REGION.  The focus this week will be finishing up learning about the economy of the region as it connects to the natural resources and we will move to learning about the climate.  I hear that there is a possible nor’easter heading our way this coming weekend.  Please have the kids pay class attention to the weather if it happens to be on at home!

WRITING – Our focus recently has been on the components of NARRATIVE writing with a focus on writing ENTERTAINING OPENINGS.  The focus has been on using a variety of TOADS (thoughts / questions, observations, action, dialogue and sound).  WE also began talking about using our SENSES to describe the SETTING of the story.  Later this week, we will move to learning to ask key questions of ourselves to discuss and describe and critical characters and / or critical objects as they relate to a story we create.    Our hope is to wrap up the beginning of the narrative writing diamond (openings and settings) before we move on to informational writing.

READING – We have begun meeting with GUIDED READING groups now that DRA’s are over.  The groups is also using a subscription to STORYWORKS to read some non-fiction articles and respond to the text.  We are also incorporating our read aloud – The Wild Robot – into some written responses on Schoology that the students will read and respond to.  Lastly, this week our focus for whole group reading is to review expectation of reading / responding to multiple choice questions and open responses.  I am modeling my thinking with the students as we work through a passage together.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Book Clubs / Reading and Math Incentive

Families of Room 31 ~

Scholastic Book Clubs - I had a student as me to send home a reminder about the Scholastic Book Clubs.  If you are planning on placing an order, they are technically due tomorrow, yet I will accept any orders up until Friday evening.  If placing an order, you  can place the order online or fill it out and send it in in with a check to school with your child by Friday the latest. 

Reading / Math Incentive Sheets - Don't forget to have your child fill out / bring in their math and reading sheets when they are completed.  Your child should be reading 20 minutes a night and practicing their math fact for me 3 to 4 times a week.  This homework counts towards their Incentive Sheets.  I already have  a few sheets turned in!  For each sheet a child turns in, they will get a ticket to shop at the school store.   This year the students will ONLY be shopping with earned tickets - no money will be accepted at the store!  Don't forget... get those sheets in once completed!
Miss Finneran

Seesaw / Schoology / Xtra Math

Families of Room 31 ~

I'm reaching out regarding a class communication pieces I spoke about at Curriculum Night.  There are a few means of communication that I  / the students are using this year that we need your help with.  We need our families to register for SEESAW, SCHOOLOGY and XTRA MATH if you have not done so already.  I will be re-sending home paper copies to have you sign up for these.  PLEASE SIGN UP BY FRIDAY, October 12th.

SEESAW -  Thus far, 10 out of 19  families have registered to this app.  This year, you child will be taking photos of their work that they complete in class and will send it to you to see.  Many families have already seen the great work the kids are doing and are THRILLED when they receive a response from mom or dad! 

SCHOOLOGY - Thus far, 7 out of 19 families have registered for Schoology.  This sight contains many of the forms  / resources that you may need as well as class information.  Missing your child's math homework- go to the math folder and you can print out the page you need.  Lost your vocabulary list or you study map of the East.... do to those folders and you will find them there.  This is also the sight that your child / you will be using throughout the remainder of their schooling in Shrewsbury.  I am looking for ways to improve it so if you have any suggestions, pleas pass in along.

XTRA-MATH - Thus far, 12 out of 19 families have registered for this site.  We use Xtra math almost everyday in class to practice our math facts.  The kids can also use it at home.  If they are not registered and linked to the site, the work they doe in the two places are not compatible.  Also, any work that they have done in previous years, will not be recognized.

MISS FINNERAN'S CLASS BLOG - There is NO NEED to register for this site, yet it is a recourse of information  that I try to keep up to date.    You can see this site by visiting:  http://kfinneran31.blogspot.com/

For those families that need to register for ANY of the sites above, (Seesaw, Schoology or XTRAMATH) I will send home the registration papers on Tuesday.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

PASSWORDS / MUSIC/ SQUARE ONE ART / STUDENT COUNCIL

Families of Room 31 ~

1.  PASSWORDS - tonight I sent home a homework assignment for my students AND PARENTS.  We need each student to have a strong password for the google / Schoology access this year.  We have shared some digital citizenship lessons with the students and have  practiced making strong passwords.  There are TWO different homework assignments depending on whether your child  already has a password or not.

HAVE A PASSWORD - If you child already has a password in Powerschool listed, please review the password with them tonight to see if it is a "Strong password."  (See the paper work sent home today.).  If you / your student wants to keep the password currently listed, please check of that spot on the homework and send it back.  If you / your child are CHANGING the password - please CREATE ONE with your child and write in on the form.  I will submit the password change to the IT department.

NEED A PASSWORD - If you child needs a password because one was not created in the past, please work with them to create the password following the criteria sent home.  Please enter this password directly into POWERSCHOOL following the directions sent home.
We will be using these passwords NEXT WEEK, so I ask that you take care of this this evening or over the weekend.

2.  SQUARE ONE ART -  There are still 9 students who have not submitted their Square One Art pieces.  They were sent home on Tuesday.  Please make sure they come back to school FRIDAY completed using colored markers.  They need to get submitted to the company next week.  The paper for this should be in your child's homework folder.

3.  MUSIC FORMS - The music teacher sent home a form this week about purchasing a Chorus T-shirt and a recorder.  Please make sure this form and money is returned to school by Monday, October 1st.

4.  STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS - Elections will take place tomorrow morning at some point.  There are 16 out of 19 students running for election!!! (WOW!)  I am SO PROUD of the opinion writing they have completed to enter into the elections.  Please have your child practice reading aloud their speech tonight.  We will be electing THREE students from our class for this role.  ***  If any of the candidates are absent, we will postpone elections until all candidates are in school.

Music / Art / Student Council

Families of Room 31 -

Please check your child's homework folder / planner for two pieces of information from your child's art (Mrs. Loconsolo) and music teacher (Mrs. Falvo). 

On Monday, a notice came home from Mrs. Falvo about purchasing a recorder / Chorus T-shirt.  The form and money is due by Monday, October 1st.

Today, several students (not all), took home their Square One Art projects to complete from the Art teacher. Some student finished their work during art class.   If your child had to complete their project, it would be found in their homework folder and recorded in their planner.  These pieces of art work are to be completed and returned to school.  They may return it whenever they are done, yet by this Friday the latest.  Students may work on it during any indoor recess time we have this week.  They need to complete their art work using markers.

On another note, we will be holding student council elections for our homeroom on Friday (as long as everyone is in school!)   Copies of their speeches have been sent home when your child finishes their work so they may practice if they are running for the election.  There are still a few completing their final drafts and they should sent home tomorrow at the latest.    We will be electing THREE representatives from our classroom. 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Hopes and Dreams / Curriculum Night

Parents of Rooms 31 ~

In school this past week, the students and I have been talking about individual Hopes and Dreams as well what we need from each other to reach these dreams.  On Friday, I sent home a paper with your child for your to complete regarding your Hopes and Dreams for your child.  Please complete your Hopes and Dreams and send them back to school with your child by Wednesday, September 12th.

MATH GOALS - Students will be bringing home the results of their math fact assessment on Monday.  They worked in school to set some goals to reach when they take the assessments again at the end of the month.  To reach mastery, a student needs to receive a score of 95 or above in 5 minutes.    Those that did reach master will set new goals with the time frame being 4 minutes.  That that did not reach mastery, will be setting goals that are anywhere from 5 to 10 points higher than the previous  month.  Please review these goals with your child and send back the font goal sheet cover on Tuesday.

CURRICULUM NIGHT - Just a reminder that Curriculum Night is this week - Thursday, September 13th at 6:30.  I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and reviewing our classroom routines.  Also, there will be sign ups that evening for parent / student conferences.  Due to the fact that I invite the students to be part of the discussion, the conference time slots will be longer.  I will also be offering some before / after school slots on different days to accommodate schedules.

Looking forward to meeting you this Thursday evening.