The class Voki (The beautiful lady off to the right!) has a new message for visitors. Make sure to see what she has to say!
I just found these Christmas party photos on the school camera, enjoy!
18 January 2012
15 January 2012
New Montessori Classroom at Waukazoo!
I am excited to share the news that West Ottawa Montessori is expanding to include a Montessori section of all-day-every-day kindergarten! This will allow us to offer the West Ottawa community, and surrounding neighborhood school districts a complete Montessori elementary experience from grades kindergarten-fifth.
To enroll your kindergartener in the Montessori kindergarten option please contact Suzanne at 616-786-1800. Share the news with your friends, neighbors, and others that might be interested!
Some of the current Montessori staff will be available to answer questions at Kindergarten Round-Up. This takes place this Thursday, January 19, at Waukazoo!
To enroll your kindergartener in the Montessori kindergarten option please contact Suzanne at 616-786-1800. Share the news with your friends, neighbors, and others that might be interested!
Some of the current Montessori staff will be available to answer questions at Kindergarten Round-Up. This takes place this Thursday, January 19, at Waukazoo!
Classroom Updates
We have a lot going on and a lot to share. First, students are completing their first semester benchmark assessments this coming week. We are looking at fluency, reading comprehension, and writing. The purpose behind these assessments is for the student to demonstrate growth in these areas. I am confident our class will do well on their ELA assessments.
We are also looking at growth in math. Students recently completed a piloted assessment in the delta math program, a computerized assessment in math. Most did well, although many of the 4th graders struggled to adapt to the timed nature of the assessment. However, it was good practice for them as timed assessments (in all areas) are a part of their educational future! 4th graders struggled a little bit with their math facts; please continue to monitor a few minutes each day of math fact practice in multiplication and (especially) division. 5th graders could stand to spend a few minutes each day practicing the kill of reducing fractions. Students can make their own flash cards or a Google search of "reducing fractions worksheets" will provide valuable practice.
BUTTONS
I have recently discovered how to add "blog buttons." I can't believe it took me so long to figure this out! These will appear to the right on the blog and will probably fluctuate as some will be moved to my reading workshop blog. I have found a few parenting blogs and organizational blogs for parents that I'll be adding to this site.
TECHNOLOGY MEETING
I am planning to add a technology night for parents, some time in February. I had a few parents express interest, enough that I think it would be fun and helpful to meet. I have to check dates with my accountant husband before getting it on the books.
PRESIDENTS
Students have completed the in-class research of their president. (Most students..) If not at home already, they will be bringing these forms home to begin their project. Prezi's, PowerPoints, and poster presentations were the definite winners when it came to picking projects. If anyone would like to use the tri-fold boards to display their poster work, please send me an email. I would prefer these to stay at school, but will have one available for assembly when the time is right! Projects are due on January 31st!
BRACES
I will be out of the classroom on Wednesday this week. Evelyn is getting her braces! (Yikes!) Mr. Edwards will once again be filling in for me, so I don't expect the kids to miss a step of their work plan time!
Have a wonderful week, let's enjoy the beautiful snow! (Yes, I am a winter girl!)
Mrs. Perrien
We are also looking at growth in math. Students recently completed a piloted assessment in the delta math program, a computerized assessment in math. Most did well, although many of the 4th graders struggled to adapt to the timed nature of the assessment. However, it was good practice for them as timed assessments (in all areas) are a part of their educational future! 4th graders struggled a little bit with their math facts; please continue to monitor a few minutes each day of math fact practice in multiplication and (especially) division. 5th graders could stand to spend a few minutes each day practicing the kill of reducing fractions. Students can make their own flash cards or a Google search of "reducing fractions worksheets" will provide valuable practice.
BUTTONS
I have recently discovered how to add "blog buttons." I can't believe it took me so long to figure this out! These will appear to the right on the blog and will probably fluctuate as some will be moved to my reading workshop blog. I have found a few parenting blogs and organizational blogs for parents that I'll be adding to this site.
TECHNOLOGY MEETING
I am planning to add a technology night for parents, some time in February. I had a few parents express interest, enough that I think it would be fun and helpful to meet. I have to check dates with my accountant husband before getting it on the books.
PRESIDENTS
Students have completed the in-class research of their president. (Most students..) If not at home already, they will be bringing these forms home to begin their project. Prezi's, PowerPoints, and poster presentations were the definite winners when it came to picking projects. If anyone would like to use the tri-fold boards to display their poster work, please send me an email. I would prefer these to stay at school, but will have one available for assembly when the time is right! Projects are due on January 31st!
BRACES
I will be out of the classroom on Wednesday this week. Evelyn is getting her braces! (Yikes!) Mr. Edwards will once again be filling in for me, so I don't expect the kids to miss a step of their work plan time!
Have a wonderful week, let's enjoy the beautiful snow! (Yes, I am a winter girl!)
Mrs. Perrien
04 January 2012
Pink Out and Hat Day
West Ottawa's third annual Pink Out is planned for Friday, February 10. This is a wonderful fundraising opportunity that also brings our district together in a special way as we are raising funds for cancer research! This year many of the Waukazoo teachers got together and decided to sponsor a player's jersey in memory of Mrs. Art (Claudia Hayes-Hager).
Students have the opportunity to pay $1 to wear a hat to school on February 10. I will be collecting money that morning but also ahead of time. If your student would like to wear a hat to school on February 10 please send in at least $1 by the Pink Out date. Watch for more Pink Out news in the next few weeks! The classroom store will have a few LIMITED EDITION Pink Out items for sale very soon!
Students have the opportunity to pay $1 to wear a hat to school on February 10. I will be collecting money that morning but also ahead of time. If your student would like to wear a hat to school on February 10 please send in at least $1 by the Pink Out date. Watch for more Pink Out news in the next few weeks! The classroom store will have a few LIMITED EDITION Pink Out items for sale very soon!
Vocabulary and Other Updates
New vocabulary is ready! We tested today. The word list can be accessed here. Students took their pretest today, which is really just a test to help them determine what words they already know and understand. Our final vocabulary test will be taken on Friday the 13th!
HELP--we are in need of spiral bound notebooks for writing workshop. I am asking that each family consider donating two of these notebooks to the classroom for writer's workshop. Students are flying through these books this year! Most everyone is on their second notebook and a few have already started on their third; the 48 notebooks I bought over the summer are already gone! If you are able to help, please donate a couple. (The following link will show you what we need, although they are usually cheaper than the price quoted on the Internet. See here: http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/notebooks-pads/spiral-notebooks/product-ARS21790.
Finally, if you are an eater of any large glass-jarred food, we need the jars! Meaning, if you eat jarred spaghetti sauce or applesauce (or something in a similar container) please save your jars and bring them to school. We need the jars for a class project that we'll be doing at the very end of May or the beginning of June.
The President projects will be due on January 30.
HELP--we are in need of spiral bound notebooks for writing workshop. I am asking that each family consider donating two of these notebooks to the classroom for writer's workshop. Students are flying through these books this year! Most everyone is on their second notebook and a few have already started on their third; the 48 notebooks I bought over the summer are already gone! If you are able to help, please donate a couple. (The following link will show you what we need, although they are usually cheaper than the price quoted on the Internet. See here: http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/notebooks-pads/spiral-notebooks/product-ARS21790.
Finally, if you are an eater of any large glass-jarred food, we need the jars! Meaning, if you eat jarred spaghetti sauce or applesauce (or something in a similar container) please save your jars and bring them to school. We need the jars for a class project that we'll be doing at the very end of May or the beginning of June.
The President projects will be due on January 30.
03 January 2012
Reading is Thinking
I've updated my Reader's Workshop blog with a discussion covering Schema. Have a great night!
--Mrs. Perrien
--Mrs. Perrien
January Project: President Research
Back-to-School! During the month of January students will be researching a president of their choice (already assigned) and preparing a presentation for the classroom.
Students have a research form already started. We will be in the computer lab this week to begin our investigations as well as next Monday or Tuesday afternoon. The research form will be due at the end of next week. Below I have listed a couple of websites recommended by students. Your son or daughter may also ask you to take them to the library; however, our school library has many presidential biographies. Students have been encouraged to go to the library for books about their president.
For the presentation part of the project students are asked to create a presentation about their president. This could be a poster presentation, Power Point or Prezi presentation, a skit or short play (with a written script), or a video creation. The presentation part of the project will be a homework project, although students may work on their project in class when other work is completed. Students may ask you for poster board, etc., to help prepare their presentation. (If you need materials, please let me know.) They will bring home their research form on or before January 13.
President Research Sites:
• www.whitehouse.gov
• http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident
***Websites courtesy of former students. I have not verified their usefulness.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Mrs. Perrien
Students have a research form already started. We will be in the computer lab this week to begin our investigations as well as next Monday or Tuesday afternoon. The research form will be due at the end of next week. Below I have listed a couple of websites recommended by students. Your son or daughter may also ask you to take them to the library; however, our school library has many presidential biographies. Students have been encouraged to go to the library for books about their president.
For the presentation part of the project students are asked to create a presentation about their president. This could be a poster presentation, Power Point or Prezi presentation, a skit or short play (with a written script), or a video creation. The presentation part of the project will be a homework project, although students may work on their project in class when other work is completed. Students may ask you for poster board, etc., to help prepare their presentation. (If you need materials, please let me know.) They will bring home their research form on or before January 13.
President Research Sites:
• www.whitehouse.gov
• http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident
***Websites courtesy of former students. I have not verified their usefulness.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Mrs. Perrien
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