Earth Day Celebration

Friday, May 24 @ 9:00

Dear Families & Friends,
Please join our class for a celebration of Earth Day.
Friends and families are welcome. If you are over 18, you must
have a background check on file. You can fill one out in the
office.
The students have worked very hard to prepare for our
celebration. We will begin promptly at 9:00 on Friday. The
students will perform plays and poems. Then, we will show a
movie created by the students. They wrote the script,
performed the scenes, and made the presentation. I will also
have them talk about their recycling projects and I will award a
winner. We will finish will snacks and some fun Earth Day
activities.
I hope that everyone will find the time to join us. This is
going to be the last celebration of the year and the students
worked VERY hard to prepare for you.
Thanks,
Mrs. Ernstes

Please check and return this bottom form.

Students Name _________________

_____ We will be attending. How many? _____

Does everyone have a background check on file? Yes or No

_____ We will not be attending.



Name:
Grading Period: First Nine Weeks


Reading Strategies
! I can explain what it means to visualize and give an example.
! I can give the meaning of predicting and give an example.
! I can explain making inferences and give an example.
! I can explain what a summary is and give a good example.


Grammar
! I know the difference between a letter, a word, and a sentence.
! I can tell the difference between a sentence and a sentence fragment.
! I can write a complete sentence.
! I can capitalize the first letter of a sentence.
! I can use the correct punctuation for a statement.
! I can use the correct punctuation for a question.
! I can use the correct punctuation for an exclamation.
! I can define nouns and give examples.
! I can define plural nouns and give examples.


Science
! I can name the five senses.
! I can identify nonliving things.
! I can identify living things.
! I can name what plants need to live.
! I can identify all the plant parts.
! I can explain the function of each plant part.



Math
! I can count to 100.
! I can write to 100.
! I can read the numbers 0-10.
! I can put the touch points on the numbers 1-9.
! I can write a number sentence.
! I can add using touch points.
! I can add using a number line.
! I can write a number sentence in any order.
! I can answer adding 0 math facts quickly.
! I can answer adding 1 math facts quickly.
! I can answer doubles facts quickly.


Reading
! I can identify all the letters.
! I can identify all the letter sounds.
! I can read CVC words (3 letter words).
! I can read CCVC words (4 letter words).
! I can produce rhyming words.
! I can read level ____ books.
! I can read ____ words per minute.
! I can read ____ sight words.


Handwriting
! I can write legibly.
! I can form all the letters correctly.




Students Name: Type Name Here Grade: Type Grade Here
Teacher: Teachers Name Here



Strengths:
! Type Strengths Here


Areas of Concern:
! Type Concerns Here

Assessments and Data
First Nine Weeks

Reading Math Spelling Penmanship Citizenship

Reading
PSF CLS WWR TRC
Goal 40 Goal 27 Goal 1 Goal B


Math
Counting Number ID Next Number Missing Number Qty. Discrim. Number Facts
Goal 83 Goal 44 Goal 20 Goal 20 Goal 30 Goal 6




" Follows directions
" Struggles completing work
" Participates
" Tardy/Absent frequently
" Receives extra intervention
" Kind to others
" Missing homework
" Helpful
" Behavior needs improving
" Loses focus easily


Dear first grade student,

This special treat is to remind you that Im glad you are in
my class! Before you eat your treat, read the special
message. Search the bag for the marshmallow shapes
hidden inside! You should find:


A star to remind you to always shine!

A pot of gold to tell you that youre worth a
million!

A rainbow to remind you to always do your
best!

A blue moon, to tell you that once in a while, we
all make mistakes and that is okay!

A green clover to give you good luck as you
begin first grade!

A purple horseshoe to remind you that U matter
to me!

A red balloon to remind you to soar above the
clouds and try new things!

And most of all---a pink heart to remind you that
as your teacher, I care about you!

Love,
Mrs. Ernstes

Dear first grade student,

This special treat is to remind you that Im glad you are in
my class! Before you eat your treat, read the special
message. Search the bag for the marshmallow shapes
hidden inside! You should find:


A star to remind you to always shine!

A pot of gold to tell you that youre worth a
million!

A rainbow to remind you to always do your
best!

A blue moon, to tell you that once in a while, we
all make mistakes and that is okay!

A green clover to give you good luck as you
begin first grade!

A purple horseshoe to remind you that U matter
to me!

A red balloon to remind you to soar above the
clouds and try new things!

And most of all---a pink heart to remind you that
as your teacher, I care about you!

Love,
Mrs. Ernstes


Welcome to fourth
grade! I am excited
to be your childs
teacher this year. I
am providing this
pamphlet to help
answer questions you
may have concerning
conduct and
News
You will receive a weekly newsletter with
information about upcoming events,
weekly spelling and vocabulary words,
and other important information. You
can also find the information on our
classroom website

The address will be on our
newsletters.

I update the website weekly. It may be
a couple of weeks before I get the
website set up.
Welcome
to
Fourth Grade
With mrs. ernstes
2013-2014


Fourth Grade
Handbook
209 Washington Street, North Vernon, IN 47265
(812)-346-3445
St. Marys School


behavior
! I expect all my students to
be respectful and responsible
young adults.
! I enforce a no bullying
policy in my classroom.
! I like to take a positive
approach to handling
behavior.
! I use a lot of positive
reinforcement.
! I will be using classdojo
this year. This is a website
that allows me to award
points for good behavior and
remove points for poor
choices. You will get more
information later.
Data Binders
My personal goal this year is to improve communication about students progress and behavior.
By keeping everything in one place, the data binders will be a convenient way for us to
communicate. You will be able to find the newsletter, self-reflections from your child, homework,
and other important information in the binder. You will need to sign the comments page every
week. These will come home every Monday beginning in a few weeks.
Bucket Filling
Each child has an invisible bucket above
his/her head. The bucket is empty when the
child is being bullied. The bucket is filled up
when the child is being praised.

We will be working to fill each others buckets
in the classroom. The children will have
opportunities to praise one another and show
gratitude towards them.
Grades
If a student receives a 75% or
less he/she must correct the
paper. This gives them a
chance to practice the skill
further. We may do this in
class or I will send it home for
homework.
Dear Parents/Guardians,

It's hard to believe but it's that time of the year againthe
beginning of a new school year. Welcome back! While you
aren't part of the teaching staff, you are just as important to
your child's education as we are.

Your children receive the best education when you and our
dedicated teachers work as a team. It's a parents
enthusiasm, support, and involvement that inspires children
to do their best; as well as a teacher's ability to teach what
they need to learn. Together we can achieve wonderful
things.

There's a lot of excitement ahead of us, including new field
trips, new books to read, new friends to meet, and new skills
to master...and I look forward to you sharing in those exciting
times. I have prepared information sheets to inform you of
our classroom rules, schedule, homework routines, and
more. Please read over all of the papers and fill out and
return the appropriate forms.

In closing, I encourage you to fully embrace the moment and
urge you to take the time from your busy schedule to
become familiar with our school, as well as create a
homework-friendly home environment that will allow your
children to excel.

Thank you for your commitment to your child's education and
I look forward to seeing you in the very near future.


Sincerely,
Mrs. Ernstes
Dear Families,

In our classroom, your children are going to be learning reading strategies, which will help
them become good readers. Research shows that emphasizing strategies can bring beginning
readers to the point of reading independently. Strategic readers think to themselves about reading in
ways that enhance and build understanding.
Reading-strategy instruction is integrated throughout your childs class work. Often, the whole
class comes together while the teacher models new strategies that the children will practice
independently later. However, strategy instruction through carefully planned, small group activities is
taking place every week.

Why small groups? Small group instruction gives each child the chance to practice strategies using
texts selected specifically for each child. Children learn best when they use books that are just right
for them. These are books that are not too difficult or too hard for them to read independently.

How are groups determined? Careful observations and assessments provide the information
needed to develop the reading groups. Your children will be in groups with other children who need
help with the same skills or children who are at the same reading level as your child.

Why are small groups effective? They are effective because they are based on your childs
immediate needs and reading level. They ensure that your child is receiving instruction that is using
texts at the just right reading level. They also provide the best setting for explicitor direct
instruction. Your child will have numerous opportunities to observe and practice a variety of
strategies that will help him or her become a life-long reader!

Here is a list of some of the reading strategies we will cover:
Building fluency Checking Chunking Confirming
Cross-Checking Focusing Forming Sounds Monitoring
Predicting Previewing Questioning Rereading
Self-Correcting Skipping Sliding Stretching
Summarizing Synthesizing Thinking Aloud Tracking (or Pointing)
Visualizing Accessing Analyzing

As we begin a new strategy I will let you know what the strategy is and give you a brief description.
Please talk to your child about the strategies. You can ask What do good readers do? or What
does that mean?. This week we have been focusing on visualizing. Visualizing is creating mental
visual images to keep your mind focused as you read or listen. Visualizing helps readers with
comprehension (understanding the story) by conjuring up images of a story as it is being read.


We need your help!
As part of our reading strategy instruction, we will be using sticky notes!
Lots of them! If possible, please send a pack or two to school at your
convenience. Your help is greatly appreciated. We need the normal sized
ones, but more importantly we need the Post-it Page Markers, Ultra
Colors, 5 pack available at Walmart and Office Max.




Sincerely,
Mrs. Ernstes !