Thursday, September 29, 2016

I am sorry that there wasn't a blog delivered yesterday.  There were some glitches with Google yesterday and my blog wasn't able to be published.


I will be gone tomorrow.  My father died this week and I will be attending the funeral. There will NOT be a blog tomorrow.


There did NOT need to be a drawing held for Madison Chaperones so notes went home today to the parents who will be joining us as chaperones.  Please remember if you want to attend a field trip, the office must have a cleared Criminal Background Check on file.  These can take up to a month or more once submitted to be returned.  This has caused some parents to not be able to join us.  If you are thinking about being a chaperone anytime this school year, please contact the school office to see if your background check is current - they are valid for 3 years - or the secretaries can mail you the link that you need to complete the form.


September Reading Minutes are due on Monday.  October Reading Minute Calendars were sent home yesterday.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections 17 - 18

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Book Orders are due tomorrow, if you would like to purchase anything.


Field Trip Forms and money are due Friday.  We will pick chaperones on that day also.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections pages 15 - 16.  We worked on parts of questions 1, 2 and 3 together as a class.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Book Orders are due Wednesday, if you would like to purchase anything.


Field Trip Permission Slips and money are due Friday.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards

Friday, September 23, 2016

Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections pages 13 - 14.  Students were given 15 minutes to work on the homework today.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

There has been an update on the MAP testing times.  We will take Reading on Tuesday, September 27 after lunch (this is a change) and Math on Tuesday, October 4 after lunch.


Students learned how to read books on Overdrive and Big Universe today.  For some it was new and for others a refresher.   They should be able to use these programs from any device that can link to the Menasha Joint School District web page.


Students also learned how to use Google Docs.  They learned how to insert pictures into their document and how to share with others.  They were cautioned against letting others edit their work, as if it is accidentally deleted by someone else they may not get it back.  They were shown how to share using comments and view only.  Google Docs should also be available on any device that can link to the Menasha Joint School District web page.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

There are more multiplication strategies on today's math homework.  We did work on problems from both sides of the assignment together as a class.  Students were reminded that they need to finish all parts of the directions for their assignment to be complete.


MAP Testing starts next week.  We will begin on Wednesday morning with the Reading test.  Please make sure that your child is well rested so that they can do their best.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections page 11 - 12

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Reminder that Wednesday is Instrument Exploration Night at Clovis Grove from 6:00 - 8:00.


Homework:


Reading - Read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards

Monday, September 19, 2016

We are beginning to learn more strategies. besides memorization, to become fluent in multiplication facts.  You will see two of these strategies on the math homework for today.


Book Orders were sent home today.  If you would like to purchase anything, please place your order online or have it sent to school by September 28.


We saw a presentation today regarding the After School Music Program.  As a fourth grader your child is able to play a String Instrument.  Information went home previously.  The tryout for instruments is scheduled for Wednesday from 6:00 - 8:00 at Clovis Grove.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections page 9 - 10

Monday, September 19, 2016

We are beginning to learn more strategies. besides memorization, to become fluent in multiplication facts.  You will see two of these strategies on the math homework for today.


Book Orders were sent home today.  If you would like to purchase anything, please place your order online or have it sent to school by September 28.


We saw a presentation today regarding the After School Music Program.  As a fourth grader your child is able to play a String Instrument.  Information went home previously.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections page 9 - 10

Friday, September 16, 2016

Homework: 


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Results from last year's state test, Forward Test, were sent home today.  There is a letter and information contained in the envelope that will help you understand the results.


Today was our first library day.  A note was sent home explaining the procedures in the school library.




Tomorrow is Picture Day.  Remember if you would like to order a picture package the form and payment must be turned in at the time the picture is taken.


Homework:




Reading - read 20 minutes




Math - study flashcards

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Reminder that Friday is picture day.  Your child will need to have the order form and payment with them on this day, if you are planning on ordering a picture package.  These forms were sent home last week.  If you have misplaced the form or it never made it home, there should be some extra forms in the school office.


If I did not receive the beginning of the year packet back from your child, I sent another copy home today. 


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A reminder that tomorrow is an Early Dismissal Day.  Students will be dismissed at 12:00.  Remember a bag lunch can be purchased from the school, your child can bring their own lunch or they can simply wait until they get home for lunch.


Students were reminded today that on their math homework they must show their thinking and not just give answers.  Any student not showing their thinking will be given back their paper to do so.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections 7-8

Monday, September 12, 2016

Wednesday will be an early dismissal day.  Your child will be given the opportunity to purchase a bag lunch at school to be eaten before dismissal.  You may also send a lunch if you would like for them to eat during this time.  Students do NOT have to bring a lunch; it is fine if you wish for them to wait and eat after dismissal.  We will be working on Math while they are eating.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards


Social Studies - 3 items in a bag

Friday, September 9, 2016

Information went home today regarding the walking school bus and school pictures.  Please check your child's take home folder for the information.


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections 5 - 6.  We did the first two problems together in class and students were given 25 minutes to complete the rest in class.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Permission slips for the Madison Field Trip went home today.  We asked students to highlight important information.  Please take note of the arrival time at school.  Buses will not be running this early in the morning so you will need to make arrangements to make sure that your child is at school by 6:20 a.m.  Please also note the chaperone guidelines.  The sooner you make a decision regarding chaperoning the better.  If you do not already have a criminal background check done, do so as soon as possible.  These may take up to a month to clear, which is cutting it close to the field trip date.  We are only able to take 6 chaperones per classroom so if we have more than 6 parents volunteer we will hold a drawing to pick our parents.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards


Please fill out the beginning of the year packet, if not already done so.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Your child should be bringing home their first Math homework sheet given last Friday.  Students correct their own papers because it helps them reflect on their mistakes and gives a great opportunity for Math talk in my room. The students are asked to place a star next to each Math item that is correct, that way they are focusing on the positives and their strengths instead of being discouraged about items they need more practice with.  If I check the papers they typically just recycle them without taking notice of their mistakes and the mistakes are more likely to be repeated over and over and over again.  I do check over each Math paper before returning it so that I can gather data about who needs extra help and who has mastered a skill.




We had our first all school assembly today.  Ask your child about it.  It was certainly a moving experience.




This week we are continuing to establish routines, and procedures.  We are also getting to know a little bit more about each other.  Next week we will begin switching classes.  Mr. Viotto will be teaching your child Science, Mrs. Borowski will be teaching Social Studies and Mrs. Cunningham will be working with Spelling.  I teach all the Reading 2, which is grammar, author studies and genre studies, to all 4th grade students.




Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes




Math - study flashcards
Home/Connections pages 3 - 4.  Students only need to do the EVEN problems but can do them all if they like.  Students were given 15 minutes to begin their homework in class.




Please remember to fill out the Beginning of the Year packets, if you have not already done so.  These were the packets given to you in the manila envelope.  If you need another one, please let me know and I will send your child to the office to get one.  These packets are extremely important.  Many of you remember the unplanned early dismissal last year because of the water main break.  The information contained on the Emergency Release form was the way we communicated with parents/guardians.

September 6, 2016

Multiplication flashcards went home today.  Your child should practice these daily or at least on the days they do not have a math homework sheet.  They can do these with another person or by themselves.  Memorization is only one strategy that we will be using this year to help your child become fluent with their multiplication facts.  As the curriculum for Bridges progresses throughout the year there will be additional strategies taught.


If you ever have any questions or concerns throughout the school year and would like to communicate through e-mail. please use my school email address:


fritschs@mjsd.k12.wi.us


I only use the email connected to this blog for the purposes of publishing the blog.  I do not check the email so if you would send something there I would not see it.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - study flashcards


Please fill out and complete the beginning of the year packet, if you have not already done so.

September 2, 2016

A reminder that there is no school on Monday because of Labor Day.


Thank you to the parents who have already filled out and sent back the beginning of the year packet.  If you have not done so, please do so as soon as possible as there is important information that the school needs to have.


Students received their first math homework assignment today.  It can be found on my webpage if you need a copy of it.  They were told that it needed to be complete as soon as they walked into the room on Tuesday morning.  They would not be given breakfast time to finish it.  Students were also told if the assignment was not complete that they would owe a ticket and need to finish the assignment during their lunch time, which is consistent with the other fourth grade classrooms.  With the Bridges Math Series it is common to have homework every two days instead of each night.  Also the homework is called Home Connections.


Homework:


Reading - read 20 minutes


Math - Home Connections pages 1-2

September 1, 2016

Welcome Back to Clovis Grove.  I am so excited to see all the smiling faces and eager learners that are in my class.  I can already tell this is going to be a productive year for learning academically, as well as socially.

There is information going home today, so please check your child's folder.  I hope that you find my webpage and blog useful as the year goes on.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes