Rock Activities

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In addition to sorting and classifying rocks in our rock collections, and creating “pet rocks,” we learned a lot about rocks and minerals! See if your child can answer the following questions:

1. What are rocks made of? (Rocks are made of one or more minerals.)
2. What is a mineral? (Minerals are solid, inorganic, naturally occurring substances.)
3. What is the difference between a solid, a liquid, and a gas?
4. What are the components of soil [Soil is made of organic matter (live animals, such as worms and bugs, and dead plants and animals), rocks and minerals, water, and air.]

Please enjoy these great pictures of our class sorting and classifying our rocks (I didn’t manage to get every child in these pictures, but ALL students are featured in our STEM video in the post below!):
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First Annual Reindeer Run!

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screenshot-2016-11-07-15-56-01We are excited to have our first annual Reindeer Run! We would love to see everyone participating. If you are interested in running/walking the Reindeer Fun Run, please register by this Friday by turning the registration form below in to the office.   
*Every student that signs up to run in 5K walk/run or Fun Run will be in a drawing for a Kindle Fire (we have two of them, one for Elementary and one for Jr. High) 
*Grade that has the most students sign up to participate will receive a Pizza Party from POQA. K-5, and 6-9th will each have one party.  They will use a percentage base to make sure it is fair. 
Thanks for your support on this event!  
We need everyone registered by this Friday!!!

Click on the registration form below to print:
5k-registrationcheers

Be sure to log your minutes each week for the Library Reading Challenge!

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“WHERE IN THE WORLD WILL READING TAKE YOU?”

This year for the library’s reading challenge, we will submit reading minutes to travel across the continents. At the end of the year one class per grade will win the fabulous prize for the most reading minutes. In addition, the student(s) with the most reading minutes will qualify for a prize.

What is your role in this reading challenge?  Simply click on the “Library Reading Challenge” tab on our class blog and complete the online form each week.  Because these reading minutes will only be available to the librarian,  you will still need to complete our regular reading log to receive homework credit for reading.

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Homework for the Week of November 14-18: Reading and Rocks Only

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For this week, there are 2 components required for homework:

1. Reading (20-30 minutes every day!) There is no need to turn in a Homework Form this week.  Simply signing off on the Book Buddy sign-off sheet each day is sufficient.
2. ROCK COLLECTION (due THURSDAY)


ROCK COLLECTION:
This week we are learning about one of our natural resources: rocks!  Please find 20 rocks [most rocks should be very small rocks (about a half-dollar size or smaller), but you can add one or two larger rocks if you find some interesting ones – just please don’t Rocksbring rocks larger than your child’s fist, as they will be difficult for your child to manage).  If possible, it would be great if most of the rocks are different colors/sizes/shapes, etc., as we will be sorting and classifying the rocks by size, color, texture, etc.

The rocks do NOT need to be fancy, rare, or valuable!  Most rocks should be able to be found in your yard, driveway, or street.  Please don’t put too much effort or time into this! It is meant to be fun and enjoyable, not time-consuming or stressful!

Please have your child bring the rocks on THURSDAY in a gallon-sized baggie, labeled with your child’s name. The rocks will return home to you at the end of the day. Thank you!

November Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thurs., Nov. 17th

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Our parent-teacher conferences this month are on Thursday, November 17th.  Below is the schedule for conferences.  If you would like to sign up for a time, please e-mail me: mdunmeyer@questac.org.  

 Thank you so much!

Thursday, Nov. 17thParent Teacher Conference
3:30 – Taylee Wood
3:40 – Kaylee Hammond     
3:50 – Bentley Jensen     
4:00    
4:10     
4:20     

Library Reading Challenge

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“WHERE IN THE WORLD WILL READING TAKE YOU?”

This year for the library’s reading challenge, we will submit reading minutes to travel across the continents. At the end of the year one class per grade will win the fabulous prize for the most reading minutes. In addition, the student(s) with the most reading minutes will qualify for a prize.

What is your role in this reading challenge?  Simply click on the “Library Reading Challenge” tab on our class blog and complete the online form each week.  Because these reading minutes will only be available to the librarian,  you will still need to complete our regular reading log to receive homework credit for reading.

Our Classroom Raffle Basket: FAMILY FUN!

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Our class will be putting together a “Family Fun” themed basket to auction/raffle for the fundraiserbasket-auction-clipart-p6uhx8-clipart in December. We are asking students and families to donate items for the basket that are centered around the theme “Family Fun.” Donated items may be new or gently used, but should be items that you would want to win (not junk or cast-offs). Donations for the basket will need to be submitted directly to our classroom any time before November 29th.
THANK YOU!

Classroom Volunteers: THANK YOU!!

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I just wanted those who volunteer for our classroom to know what a HUGE help they are and how much they are appreciated! We had several parents help out with our Halloween party recently, and we have several parents who come to read with the students each week, spending so much of their time helping students become fluent readers, and I want each one of you to know how much I appreciate you and what an impact you have on the students!  From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU!

thank

Homework for the Week of Nov. 7-11th

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For this week, there are 5 components required for weekly homework:

1. Reading (20-30 minutes every day!)
2. Word Sorts
3. Spelling
4. Math
5. Timed Reading

Each week, print out the HOMEWORK FORM, which is found here or under the “Homework Form” tab above. 

If you would like to reduce the number of necessary printed papers, you may choose to print only page 1 of the Homework Form and use any blank paper for Tuesday’s Writing Sort and Thursday’s Glue Sort (see below).  
  • This form does NOT need to be printed or turned in for credit during weeks that we are doing only READING homework.  Simply initialing the form that comes home with your child’s Book Buddy is sufficient during those weeks.

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A Reading for All Learners (Book Buddy) leveled book will be sent home with your child DAILY. Please have your child read the book (or one story from the books that contain more than one story) at least two-three times and then sign the included form. You may supplement your child’s reading using books at home, library books, etc. to fulfill the minimum requirement of 20-30 minutes of reading per day. 

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Each week, print your student’s assigned Word Sort by clicking here:
CLICK HERE for Sort 1-25

Use the Word Sort for the following activities:
  • Monday: Print, cut, and sort your words with an adult and explain this week’s rule. Sort each word under the correct guide word. Some guide words have a C or V combination on them – C stands for consonant and V stands for vowel.
  • Tuesday: Practice the sort and write it (using the grid on page 2 of the Homework Form).
  • Wednesday: Blind Sort (Lay down the guide words and then read the rest of the words aloud without showing them to your child. Your child must indicate where the word goes without seeing it.
  • Thursday: Sort and glue (sort the words and glue them using the grid on page 3 of the Homework Form).
IMPORTANT: Students do not need to study the spelling of individual Sort Words.  They need only be familiar with the “rule” for each of the guide words so that they can phonetically figure out the spelling for related words.  

CHALLENGE WORDS: Students do NOT need to know how to spell Challenge Words.  They only need to practice reading them as they sort them under the “Challenge” guide word. Thanks!

Be sure to include “sight words” and “challenge words” in the sort. Students should always read every word when sorting. Here is an example of a completed sort:

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  • Study the following spelling and phonics words using any method you wish in order to prepare for the weekly spelling test on Fridays.
  • There is a list of recommended spelling study activities that you can access BY CLICKING HERE for Spelling Word Activities, but, again, you may use any method you wish.  
  • Please write the second list of spelling words (5 words) in alphabetical order on the Homework Form.    
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The spelling words will sometimes repeat:

down
water
some
work
other
more
your

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1.)  Complete this week’s My Math homework pages and staple them to the homework form. The assigned pages are: 

CLICK HERE for My Math Homework Lesson 1
CLICK HERE for My Math Homework Lesson 2
CLICK HERE for My Math Homework Lesson 3

2.) Practice math skills for 20 minutes (in total for the week) using any “Math Activity” listed here: CLICK HERE for Math Activities

3.) Complete the math facts fluency timing each day, Monday-Thursday, and record the scores for the week on your homework form.  We are on “Mixed”
  • With the fluency timing in the plastic sheet protector, use a dry-erase marker to practice repeatedly.  Record your time (number of minutes and seconds) and number of correct answers each day on your Homework Form. (No need to calculate a percentage score.)
  • The target goal is to finish all 25 problems in 1 minute and 15 seconds, with 90% accuracy (23 out of 25 problems correct).
  • Addition & Subtraction Fluency Timings
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These daily one-minute timed fluency readings will help your student become a fluent reader. Time your student for one minute Monday-Thursday and record the number of words they were able to read in one minute on the front page of the Homework Form.

This week: use the “Lesson 25” page; no need to print it out, unless you’d like to.  You 
can report daily scores on the front page of the Homework Form instead.
CLICK HERE for Timed Reading Passages

Yes, We “CAN!”

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canWow!  Thank you so much for the amazing canned food donations!  Although our grade did not win the free dress-down day, our class brought in 182 cans (which equates to 7 cans per student) of food for local food banks!  Thank you so much for your generous donations!  If you were unable to donate this time and would still like a chance, we will still be collecting canned food donations through November 7th, and these donations will also count toward another possible dress-down day! 

Be Sure to do a Nightly Check for Head Lice!

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HEAD LICE:

FOCUS ON FACTS, NOT MYTHS

Your guide to knowing the facts about head lice, and some tips to help prevent the spread of head lice

Head lice are unwelcome visitors with the potential to turn your whole household upside down. But before you imagine the worst, it may help to separate the facts from the myths about head lice. We will also offer some practical advice to help keep head lice from spreading.

Head Lice Overview


This is what adult head lice look like.

What head lice look like: 6-legged, grayish-white insects about the size of a sesame seed. Nits are often mistaken for dandruff.

See more

This is what adult head lice look like from the front.

How head lice spread: Typically through head-to-head contact. Rarely, through contact with a shared item like a hat, helmet, scarf, or pillow. Head lice do not jump or fly.2

Head lice leave shiny nit (egg) casings attached to hair.

How long head lice live on the head: Up to 30 days after they reach adulthood. Lice do not infest furniture or carpets. Lice don’t live very long off the head, as they need blood to survive.2

How to check for head lice

Why it is a good idea to consult your doctor: Studies show that head lice are becoming resistant to some treatments. Some parents end up self-treating head lice up to 5 times before seeking professional care, so consider getting the doctor’s advice early on.

This information is taken from healthline.com

 

Canned Food Drive: Now through November 9th!

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We are lucky to be partnering with Besst Realty to assist in their goal of raising 100,000 cans of food to help local food banks between now and November 9th. Besst Realty is donating $20,000 to the schools that participate in this service project, and, to date, there are 14 schools participating.  The $20,000 in donations will be awarded as follows:
canned-food-drive-posters-food_drive_logo
1st place : $5,000
2nd: $3,500
3rd: $2,500
4th: $1,500
5th-9th: $1,000 each
10th-14th: $500 each

The grade (K-5 & 6-9) that has the most cans of food donated by Wednesday, Nov. 2 will get a free dress-down the following day. Cans will be counted again on Monday, Nov. 7. The winning grade will get another free dress down day! 

pigIf a total of 5,000 cans (between 5-6 cans per student) are collected, students K-5 will enjoy karaoke during their lunchtime for a day!  Jr. High students will enjoy watching Mr. and Mrs. Smedley (avid Ute fans) wear BYU attire from head-to-toe for a day! When 10,000 cans are collected (11 cans per student), students will enjoy watching teachers participate in a pie-eating contest! And, finally, when 15,000 cans (16 cans per student) are collected, administration be forced to kiss a big, fat pig on the mouth!

Let’s do it!  Please donate to this worthy cause so that you can help our community and help our school!  All donations should be taken directly to our classroom.
Thank you!