Classroom Updates

A busy week is ahead of us at Waukazoo.  Just a few notes for parents...

Today is the first week of the returnable can and bottle drive.  As much as possible, please return the bottles and cans you collect and send in the money collected.  We've only had one parent volunteer to help return cans during the day; more parent help is needed!  Please email me if you're able to assist.

We are all very excited about going to Camp Pendalouan!  Please send in your camp-required health form and your camp fee as soon as possible.  Some of the kids have asked about bringing a fishing pole.  I don't believe we'll have time to go fishing but I will email the camp director and double-check.  Remember the packing list I sent home is a generic packing list so some items are really not needed for one night in the fall.

4th GRADERS


It is COMMON for the 4th graders/new students to miss their old teacher, their old class, their old routines. They sometimes are sad about the change to a new classroom, new teacher, new responsibilities! What should parents do? Be positive about the new environment and be supportive of their ability to get used to the new routines! (Remember how scared we parents all were when we started a new classroom or middle school, high school, college...it WILL get better!)  The 4th graders will soon be pros at managing the Upper Montessori classroom responsibilities.

SPIRIT WEEK PHOTOS
Fun Run--I hope to see everyone at the Waukazoo Fun Run on Friday night. It should be a FUN event!
I will be taking photos throughout Spirit Week! However, I can't guarantee how soon I'll be uploading any photos.  Keep checking the blog every day in case new things show up!

WORKPLAN
These are underway and we are all learning how to work efficiently in a classroom of 27. Students are working at various levels in math and I've seen several examples of students helping other students. Mr. Edwards is showing his skills in math--helping students with difficult problems and reteaching when students have needed the practice. This allows Mrs. Perrien to teach lessons and present new material. You will find that students are reviewing skills they learned in the 3rd and 4th grade. Some of this is due to MEAP review, but at other times I have found that the review is needed as a particular student or group is preparing to move forward. We review as we move forward to promote a deeper understanding of the skills.  We also review if the student has shown a weakness in that particular area.

Workplans from last week will come home without a weekly reflection.  Please sign somewhere on the front of the workplan and return on Tuesday morning.  Some look unfinished.  This is common the first time or two as we are building stamina for our weekly workplan schedule.  I find that this (a late workplan) is common the first 2 or 3 we have. Students are learning to pace themselves + we are working around other demands within the school (MEAP review, testing, Spirit Week, etc.). Make sure to ask YOUR child how efficiently he or she was with workplan time in the classroom.



We are also having to spend a fair amount of time practicing routines.  This is a bit unusual that the class is still having to practice how to go into the hall QUIETLY, clean at the end of the day EFFICIENTLY, put names on our papers, make good work and partner choice, and make a lunch choice on time.  However, as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, we are having to build stamina to be efficient classroom workers.  It is just taking us a little longer to build that stamina!

Conferences--Please make sure to return your scheduling sheet as soon as possible!

FINALLY...CONGRATULATIONS to Katy (former WZ Montessori teacher) and Chris LeClair on the birth of their son, Enzo Christopher.  Enzo was born this morning (Sept. 26) and weighed in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces.  Yay Mrs. LeClair!

Spirit Week Information

Attached to this post is the spirit week activity list.  Along with what to wear each day, the list includes what students are doing what lunchtime activity on what day!

Spirit Week is September 27-October 1.  The fun run is the night of October 1.

Parent Questionaire

Hello parents!

I'm attaching a document for fourth grade parents (and 5th grade parents if you would like to update yours from last year) to complete and send in to school.  This is a parent communication document; it lets me know more about your child, how homework and other tasks are completed at home, as well as goals you have for your child and questions you have for me.

Please complete the questionnaire (typed and emailed or handwritten) and return it by October 4, 2010.  This is an important document!  Thanks for your time.

--Mrs. Perrien

Autumnal Equinox

This is a very interesting article about why this year's autumnal equinox is a special treat.  Enjoy!

Patriot's Day

Fun Run

Parents and Students,

Our class is dead last in the "Fun Run" class contest, let's hope we do better on Friday!  Notice the graph..haha!

A few photos from this week