January 31, 2014

                                                                      

Dear Parents,

            I want to thank all of the parents and grandparents who went with us on our snowshoeing field trip.  I sure appreciate all the help you gave us along the trail.  I hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did.  It was a wonderful experience for the students.  We really had a workout!! I know I was tired by the end of the day. 

   IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• My class will be using a new computer website called Khan Academy.  This is a free online resource site that helps to teach and enrich student learning through exercises, videos, and tutorials.  Students may access this website from home as well as from school. Please read and complete the information sheet that is in the homework folder.  Only fill out the username and password section if your child already has a Khan account.  For those new to the site, I will create their username and password when I set up my class account.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to connect me at thompsde@sd25.us or 237-4742.

• VALENTINE’S DAY AND BOXES: Students may make a Valentine box at home or they may make a sack at school.  Students may start bringing their Valentine’s cards and boxes to school the week of Feb. 10^th.  Please make sure students have their names on their boxes.  I have put a list of student names for Valentine cards in the homework folders.

• HUNDRED’S DAY: Thursday, Feb. 6^th   Students are encouraged to wear shirts with numbers on them.  This is a fun day for the students with activities that include numbers.

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

• Math: Drops in the Bucket D5
• Math: Homework and Remembering 7-3
• Language: Drops in the Bucket D5
• Reading:  Read nightly and fill out your reading log. 

Have a great weekend with your family!

Denise Thompson 

January 24, 2014

WEEKEND NEWS

January 24, 2014

Dear Parents,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

*        SNOWSHOEING ON WEDNESDAY, January 29th:  If you have not returned the bus and Parks and Rec. Dept. permissions slips, please do so ASAP.  The cost is $10.  Students need a sack lunch (may buy one from school), water, snack, and warm clothing/boots.  We leave at 9:00 and return around 2:00.  On Monday, I need to know how many students will be ordering a sack lunch from our cafeteria. 

*        On Thursday, our class will be participating in a distance learning experience with our new videoconference technology. The program is “Lure of the West”.  Students will explore depictions of the people, lifestyles, and landscape of the nineteenth-century West to better understand this dynamic period of history. Videoconference presenters will guide the class on a free tour of artworks in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection and engage students with questions and discussion.  In February, we will participate in a videoconference about homesteading. 

*        We have been working with long division this week.  Students have been taught several strategies for solving the problems.  They may draw a picture. They may use the rectangle method, the expanded notation method, or the partial quotient method.  They have not learning the “Traditional Method” yet.  PLEASE DO NOT TEACH THEM THIS METHOD YET.  We will be learning it, but not for another week. The students who are still struggling to master their multiplication facts are also struggling with simple division.  It is so important for students to practice these multiplication skills at home.  They were taught multiplication facts 1-10 in third grade and we have been working on the same facts this year as well.  Please help your child study each night. 

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

*    Language:  Drops In The Bucket D4           

*    Math:  Division Set A                                      

*    Math:  Drops In The Bucket D4

*    Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log. 

                                                                                             

Have a great weekend with your family!

Denise Thompson

                                                                               

January 17, 2014

 WEEKEND NEWS

January 17, 2014

Dear Parents,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

·        I have sent home the students’ Native American research reports.  They did a fantastic job researching, note taking, and writing.  I’m very proud of them!!

·        On Wednesday, our fourth graders had the opportunity to participate in a distance learning experience with our new videoconference technology! Former First Lady, Barbara Bush, and the author of Liberty, Lynn Curlee were the featured guests of this videoconference.  Students listened to guest readers read the book Liberty.  This was followed up with a question and answer session with Mrs. Bush.  It was estimated that 55,000-65,000 students participated in this international event. Students from the United States, France, and Canada had the opportunity to ask Mrs. Bush questions.  It was a wonderful experience for our students.  Our fourth graders have two more virtual field trips planned for the end of January and the beginning of February.   

·        SNOWSHOEING ON WEDNESDAY, January 29th:  If you have not returned the bus and Parks and Rec. Dept. permissions slips, please do so ASAP.  The cost is $10.  Students need a sack lunch (may buy one from school), water, snack, and warm clothing/boots.  We leave at 9:00 and return around 2:00.  We are going to have fun!!

·        JANUARY BOOK ORDERS:  orders are due back by Friday, Jan. 24^th.  Scholastic has a free book coupon worth up to $5 when you spend $10 or more.  The coupon is attached to one of the book order forms. Please make any checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. You may also order on-line at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs .  Use this code to order books:  HCWNC.   

·        Remember to send in BOX TOPS and CAMPBELL SOUP labels!!  Have your extended family members save them too.  Help our school earn free money!! 

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

v    Language:  Drops In The Bucket D3           

v    Reading:  Main Idea Story Web “Life Story” worksheet                               

v     Math:  Drops In The Bucket D3

v    Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log. 

Have a great weekend with your family!

Denise Thompson

January 6, 2014

                               WEEKEND NEWS                               

January 6, 2014

Dear Parents,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

·        Thank you to all of the parents who helped with our Christmas party!!  I appreciate your time and help.  It was a fun party and the students really enjoyed themselves!

·        FIELD TRIP INFORMATION:  We will be going snowshoeing on Wednesday, Jan. 29^th!!  On Friday, I will be sending home a Parks and Recreation information sheet/permission slip and a bus field trip permission slip.  Both of these permission slips will need to be returned.   The cost is $10.00 which includes the cost of the bus, snowshoe rental, and lesson/guide fee.  Students will also need to bring a sack lunch that day.  They are also welcome to bring extra snacks and a couple bottles of water. (No large water containers please!  Students will be carrying some of the water as they are snowshoeing.) If your child needs any help with the required clothing, please contact me ASAP and I will try and round up necessary items.  If you have any questions, please call me or e-mail me here at school:  237-4742 or thompsde@sd25.us .  If you would like to go with us, please let me know.  We would love the extra help!  We will be sharing a bus with Mr. Gornichec’s 5^th grade class, so any parent wanting to help will have to drive/carpool to the Mink Creek Nordic Center.

·        AR GOALS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY, JAN. 10^TH. Keep reading!!

·        NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, JAN. 20^th : Martin Luther King Jr. Day

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

v         Language:  Drops In The Bucket C17

v    Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 41

v    Math:  Subtraction Practice Set 20

v    Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

Have a great week with your family!

Denise Thompson

                                                                                              

December 13, 2013



 

 

Dear Parents,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• HOMEWORK AND SPELLING:  There won’t be any homework sent home next Friday.  I will send the homework and new spelling words home on Monday, Jan. 6^th.  The spelling test will be given on Friday, Jan. 10^th.
• Please have your son/daughter read over the Christmas Break. Last day for AR goals and end of the 3^rd 6 weeks is Friday, Jan. 10^th.
• Winter Math Practice: Our class is using a great math site to practice our math skills.  It is www.sumdog.com  .  Students’ usernames and passwords are the same ones they use for the AR reading program.  Here are two more fun websites for Math and Reading practice:  www.coolmath.com and www.funbrain.com  . Friendly reminder: Many students are still struggling with memorizing their multiplication facts 1-9.  They need to become fluent with these facts to help with the multi-digit multiplication we are learning and upcoming long division.  PLEASE have them practice with flashcards each night.  Keep a set in the car to practice too.
• Donuts with Dads:  Thurs., Dec. 20^th from 8:00-8:30.  If you are planning on attending, please return the green RSVP sheet that was sent home earlier this week. Hope to see all of you gentlemen here!

 

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

v          Language:  Drops In The Bucket C16

v          Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 40

v          Math:  2-Digit by 2-Digit Multiplication

v          Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

 

Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!                                               

Denise Thompson                                                                  

                                       

Dec. 6, 2013

 WEEKEND NEWS

DECEMBER 6, 2013

ELLIS MOTTO:   “I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ALWAYS LEARNING!!!”

ROOM 5 MOTTO:  “DO YOUR BEST!!!”

Dear Parents,

           

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• A huge thank you goes out to our Art Moms for a terrific art lesson this Friday! You are amazing ladies.  The students absolutely love their art projects.
• Thank you for supporting our Ellis Food Drive!  It is so exciting to see all of the food that will be taken to the food bank.  We will continue with the food drive next week.
• AR GOALS DUE THE WEEK WE COME BACK FROM CHRISTMAS BREAK! Friday, January 10^th is the end of the 3^rd six weeks.  PLEASE have your son/daughter read at least 20 minutes each night. 
• Many students are still struggling with memorizing their multiplication facts 1-9.  They need to become fluent with these facts to help with the multi-digit multiplication we are learning and upcoming long division.  PLEASE have them practice with flashcards each night.  Keep a set in the car to practice too.
• Upcoming Snowshoeing Field Trip:  Wed., Jan. 29^th.  We will leave by 9:00 and return around 2:00.  Mark your calendars, and remember we love to have parent volunteers for this field trip!  More information to come in January.

 HOMEWORK

v          Language:  Drops In The Bucket C15

v          Reading:  Main Ideas pg. 59 & 60

v          Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 39

v          Math:  3-Digit by 1-Digit Multiplication

v          Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

Have a wonderful weekend with your family!          

Denise Thompson                                                                  

                                                   

Dec. 2, 2013

WEEKEND NEWS

DECEMBER 2, 2013

 

Dear Parents,

            Can you believe it’s December already?!?   Where has the year gone?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ELLIS CANNED FOOD DRIVE:

Ellis food drive for the Idaho Food Bank begins Monday, December 2nd and runs through December 13th.  Week #1- each day will have a theme.  There will be a competition between grade levels.

Monday- “Get Souped Up!”   canned or dried soup, chili, stew and crackers

Tuesday- “Breakfast of Champions!” hot and cold cereals, pancake mix, syrup, honey, jelly, instant breakfast, muffin mix, canned or dried fruit juice, canned or powdered milk

Wednesday- “Lunch Bunch!” canned meats, soup, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly and crackers

Thursday-“Dinner Tonight!” canned meats, pasta, instant potatoes, macaroni & cheese, chili, canned vegetables, biscuit mix, microwave meals(not frozen), pizza mix, spaghetti, ravioli, canned or dried fruit

Friday- “Snack Attack!” granola bars, fruit bars, dried fruit, crackers, pudding cups, fruit cups, and popcorn

ELLIS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM:  We will have 3 performances. Fourth grade students may bring a cowboy hat, a Santa hat, or an elf hat to wear during the program.

Wednesday, December 18th at 9:30 and 1:30

Thursday, December 19th - 9:30

DADS AND DONUTS:  Friday, Dec. 20^th:  8:00 - 8:30  

READING & LANGUAGE SKILLS

STORY:  The Stranger

COMPREHENSION SKILLS & STRATEGIES:

Noting Details:  Readers use important details about the story characters, events, and setting to help with comprehension.

SPELLING/VOCABULARY:  Compound Words & Synonyms

LANGUAGE:  Action Verbs

VOCABULARY WORDS:  autumn, draft, etched, frost, mercury, peculiar, thermometer, timid

WRITING:  The students just finished their Native American reports.  I am so impressed with how well they did researching, note taking, and publishing their reports.

MATH SKILLS

Multi-Digit Multiplication:  students have been taught many different strategies to solve the problems.  They have learned the Rectangle Notation Method, the Expanded Notation Method, the Algebraic Notation Method, and the Short Cut Method (the traditional algorithm).  They are welcome to use whichever strategy they feel most comfortable using.

We will work on solving story problems and continue with multi-digit multiplication this coming week.

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

• Language:  Drops In The Bucket C14
• Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 38
• Math:  Multi-Digit Multiplication
• Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

Enjoy your weekend!

Denise Thompson