Hi again! Just wanted to review the appropriate rules for Super Speed Math:
1. 90 seconds per turn.
2. Write the coordinates of each record breaking score as you go.
3. Every time a personal record is broken, start one line below where you started the last time. This will have the students move down through the more challenging facts as their scores improve!
Thank you very much! Have a great afternoon! :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Book Baggies
Hello all! Happy Monday! Coming home today will be the Book Baggie - complete with book and Reading Response Journal. This, as well as the Home/School Folder and agenda book, is to come back and forth between home and school everyday. The assignment for tonight is just to read the book. This reading may be applied towards the daily 20 minutes of reading. Sometimes there will be assignments in the journal, these are expected to be done that night, unless otherwise directed. Thank you for your support!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Patriot Day
I can't hardly believe that we've come to the end of three weeks already! We've been busy establishing routines, assessing prior knowledge, and getting to know each other.
Thank you so much to the parents who were able to attend Back To School Night yesterday evening! I felt that it was a HUGE success - thank you also for your positive, helpful feedback. Please remember that if you should ever have any questions to just send me an email, and I will answer as best I can! To those of you who were unable to attend, a packet of information should have come home today with your child. It will include various items including, but not limited to: daily schedule, UES Behavior Matrix, Spelling Activity Cards, Super Speed Math Schedule, and a Classroom Directory.
Thank you to those of you who were able to contribute to the poll this week! Majority votes for a packet sent home at the beginning of the week. I'll start sending that out next week! Please be advised that there may be some assignments that will need to come back to school before the end of the week - I will be sure to either write these dates on the specific pages, or have the students write the date in their agenda books.
Speaking of agenda books...thank you very much for be sure to sign the pages! Some students were still missing a few components of their assignments. I highlighted what was missing in the agenda book to bring it to their attention so it may be corrected. My goal with this is to establish organizational skills as early as possible. Thank you for your support!
As you are aware, today, September 11, is Patriot Day. A book I love to share with the students is The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. It's a Caldecott Award-Winning book showing an illustrated version of the story of Philippe Petit - a French street performer who walked a tightrope across the gap of the Twin Towers in August of 1974. True story! This, naturally, served as quite the spring board for discussion about Mr. Petit, as well as about the September 11th attacks. There were many "why..." questions - as I'm sure you can imagine.
I did my best to keep the explanations as honest, yet generic as possible. We discussed how planes crashed the towers in New York City, The Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. We discussed how the people who did this were not mentally well. We discussed how maybe the reasons why the attackers did this was because they were jealous of the tall buildings, or they just wanted more space.
Addtionally, on a more positive side, we discussed how airport security has changed drastically since the attacks (which led to many stories of sunblock, medicine, bugspray, etc. getting thrown out at the airport). Also, how even though it was sad that the the Towers and Pentagon were destroyed, at least they left other places alone.
There was also an interest in wanting to see pictures of what happened. I DID NOT share any, as I think that something this graphic should be left up to your decision as a parent.
There was an additional interest to see photographs/videos of Philippe Petit as well. I'm almost positive that something could be found on YouTube - the site is blocked by FCPS, and I couldn't really find anything anywhere else but a few photos. I have attached links of photos of Philippe Petit, and some pictures of tall buildings from around the world.
Also, we earned our first 25 Soaring With Pride stickers! We will be having a popsicle party on Monday :) Yippee!
Thank you so much for your continued support - have a wonderful weekend!
Petit Petit1Petit 2
World's Tallest Buildings
CN Tower
Please see our Classroom Meeting Notes for this week attached in the email with the link for the blog :)
Great job Kiddos!
Thank you so much to the parents who were able to attend Back To School Night yesterday evening! I felt that it was a HUGE success - thank you also for your positive, helpful feedback. Please remember that if you should ever have any questions to just send me an email, and I will answer as best I can! To those of you who were unable to attend, a packet of information should have come home today with your child. It will include various items including, but not limited to: daily schedule, UES Behavior Matrix, Spelling Activity Cards, Super Speed Math Schedule, and a Classroom Directory.
Thank you to those of you who were able to contribute to the poll this week! Majority votes for a packet sent home at the beginning of the week. I'll start sending that out next week! Please be advised that there may be some assignments that will need to come back to school before the end of the week - I will be sure to either write these dates on the specific pages, or have the students write the date in their agenda books.
Speaking of agenda books...thank you very much for be sure to sign the pages! Some students were still missing a few components of their assignments. I highlighted what was missing in the agenda book to bring it to their attention so it may be corrected. My goal with this is to establish organizational skills as early as possible. Thank you for your support!
As you are aware, today, September 11, is Patriot Day. A book I love to share with the students is The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. It's a Caldecott Award-Winning book showing an illustrated version of the story of Philippe Petit - a French street performer who walked a tightrope across the gap of the Twin Towers in August of 1974. True story! This, naturally, served as quite the spring board for discussion about Mr. Petit, as well as about the September 11th attacks. There were many "why..." questions - as I'm sure you can imagine.
I did my best to keep the explanations as honest, yet generic as possible. We discussed how planes crashed the towers in New York City, The Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. We discussed how the people who did this were not mentally well. We discussed how maybe the reasons why the attackers did this was because they were jealous of the tall buildings, or they just wanted more space.
Addtionally, on a more positive side, we discussed how airport security has changed drastically since the attacks (which led to many stories of sunblock, medicine, bugspray, etc. getting thrown out at the airport). Also, how even though it was sad that the the Towers and Pentagon were destroyed, at least they left other places alone.
There was also an interest in wanting to see pictures of what happened. I DID NOT share any, as I think that something this graphic should be left up to your decision as a parent.
There was an additional interest to see photographs/videos of Philippe Petit as well. I'm almost positive that something could be found on YouTube - the site is blocked by FCPS, and I couldn't really find anything anywhere else but a few photos. I have attached links of photos of Philippe Petit, and some pictures of tall buildings from around the world.
Also, we earned our first 25 Soaring With Pride stickers! We will be having a popsicle party on Monday :) Yippee!
Thank you so much for your continued support - have a wonderful weekend!
Petit Petit1Petit 2
World's Tallest Buildings
CN Tower
Please see our Classroom Meeting Notes for this week attached in the email with the link for the blog :)
Great job Kiddos!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Happy Labor Day!
Hello all! I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! I just wanted to let everyone know that I plan to show President Barack Obama's address to the students tomorrow. I will be incorporating discussion and reflection around the address. I have also been informed that there is a video contest being held by the Department of Education for students to reflect upon the President's speech. I plan to look further into this contest - and hopefully we can work on some together!
If you do not wish to have your child watch the broadcast, please let me know and he/she can have a silent reading period in the Media Center.
Please take a moment to read the blog entry below, as it as additional information about the beginning of the year.
Hope to see all of you at Back to School Night on Thursday at 7:00! :)
If you do not wish to have your child watch the broadcast, please let me know and he/she can have a silent reading period in the Media Center.
Please take a moment to read the blog entry below, as it as additional information about the beginning of the year.
Hope to see all of you at Back to School Night on Thursday at 7:00! :)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Welcome to the 2009-2010 School Year!
Happy September!
Welcome back! We have had such a fantastic seven days! Thank you so much for all your warm welcomes and support!
This is the BLOG! This will be sent to you weekly with various information on what's going on in class, school, and in the community.
Please take a few moments to explore the BLOG with your child. You'll notice weekly homework assignments, helpful weblinks, links to other Magnet classes, and the option to "follow" are on the left - hand side.
Positive Behavior Support
We now have a new positive behavior program we've designed to meet the needs of Urbana Elementary School. The system includes specific ways students show respect to themselves, others, and to their surroundings. This behavior system is used in conjunction with Character Counts!
Students have the opportunity to earn pride stickers and rewards for their class. When students choose not to follow school rules, they will complete a "Think Sheet". The Think Sheet provides the student the opportunity to reflect on the actions he/she chose, and decide what they will choose to do next time.
First offense: sheet is reviewed with Miss Phelps and kept in a file in class. Second offense: sheet is reviewed with Miss Phelps and sent home to be reviewed with parents, and returned with a signature. Third offense: Student and Think Sheets are sent to the office.
Welcome back! We have had such a fantastic seven days! Thank you so much for all your warm welcomes and support!
This is the BLOG! This will be sent to you weekly with various information on what's going on in class, school, and in the community.
Please take a few moments to explore the BLOG with your child. You'll notice weekly homework assignments, helpful weblinks, links to other Magnet classes, and the option to "follow" are on the left - hand side.
Positive Behavior Support
We now have a new positive behavior program we've designed to meet the needs of Urbana Elementary School. The system includes specific ways students show respect to themselves, others, and to their surroundings. This behavior system is used in conjunction with Character Counts!
Students have the opportunity to earn pride stickers and rewards for their class. When students choose not to follow school rules, they will complete a "Think Sheet". The Think Sheet provides the student the opportunity to reflect on the actions he/she chose, and decide what they will choose to do next time.
First offense: sheet is reviewed with Miss Phelps and kept in a file in class. Second offense: sheet is reviewed with Miss Phelps and sent home to be reviewed with parents, and returned with a signature. Third offense: Student and Think Sheets are sent to the office.
Upcoming Events
September 7 ... No School/Labor Day
September 8...PTA Meeting @ 6:30 P.M.
September 9...Parent Volunteer Training @ 9:00 A.M.
September 10 ... Back to School Night @ 7:00 P.M. Parents only please.
September 16...Parent Volunteer Training @ 6:00 P.M.
September 24...Two-Hour Early Dismissal
September 25...No School for Students - Fair Day
September 28...No School for Students - Yom Kippur
October 13-15 ... Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 16... No School For Students
Thank you again for all your help and support! Have a wonderful week!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Happy Friday!
Hello all! Thank you for the great response about the Summer Packets, I think they will be a great way to keep the students on track for next year :)
Just FYI about next week and down the road....
June 9th @ 9:30...Assembly in the Cafeteria/Multipurpose Room to watch our school play - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
June 10th @ 9:30...Kindergarten and First Grades to view a presentation by the State Highway Administration! They'll be bringing in a variety of vehicles for us to explore - cool!
June 10th @ 10:15...Outdoor Band Concert! (BUSY DAY!!!)
June 12th from 10:00 - 12:30 (weather permitting...) Miss Phelps' Class End of Year Class Party!! We will be celebrating our fantastic year together at the wetlands picnic area! All are welcome! Please send in $5.00 to help cover the cost of food, games, and prizes. Please send an additional $2.00 per person (Mom, Dad, sibling) as well. Thank you! Mrs. Lizik has graciously been putting together a Luau-themed celebration for us - looking forward to it! Please dress accordingly! (Also, the rain date for grades 3-5 Field Day is going to be the same day, might be a little hectic, but we'll be far enough away from their Field Day to have plenty of our own fun!)
June 16th...Last Day of School, Magnet dismissal will begin at 12:30! Also, 9:30a.m. will be the Fifth Grade Clap Out! We'll all stand in the hallways and cheer on the 5th graders for their last day at Urbana Elementary School!
Have a great weekend everyone! Stay dry!
:) KP
Just FYI about next week and down the road....
June 9th @ 9:30...Assembly in the Cafeteria/Multipurpose Room to watch our school play - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
June 10th @ 9:30...Kindergarten and First Grades to view a presentation by the State Highway Administration! They'll be bringing in a variety of vehicles for us to explore - cool!
June 10th @ 10:15...Outdoor Band Concert! (BUSY DAY!!!)
June 12th from 10:00 - 12:30 (weather permitting...) Miss Phelps' Class End of Year Class Party!! We will be celebrating our fantastic year together at the wetlands picnic area! All are welcome! Please send in $5.00 to help cover the cost of food, games, and prizes. Please send an additional $2.00 per person (Mom, Dad, sibling) as well. Thank you! Mrs. Lizik has graciously been putting together a Luau-themed celebration for us - looking forward to it! Please dress accordingly! (Also, the rain date for grades 3-5 Field Day is going to be the same day, might be a little hectic, but we'll be far enough away from their Field Day to have plenty of our own fun!)
June 16th...Last Day of School, Magnet dismissal will begin at 12:30! Also, 9:30a.m. will be the Fifth Grade Clap Out! We'll all stand in the hallways and cheer on the 5th graders for their last day at Urbana Elementary School!
Have a great weekend everyone! Stay dry!
:) KP
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Summer Packets
Hi! The summer packets are now available! If you are interested in one, please let me know and I'll send you a copy! Thank you!
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