The Fourth Grades from Adams School are planning a field trip to Yellowstone National Park on Thur, Sep 22! Why?
Still to come this school year, our fourth grade classes will study geothermal energy especially in relation to volcanoes and geysers and their ecosystems. We also study the effects of the Fires of ‘88 in our reading curriculum.
Our field trip is planned to take us to Old Faithful Geyser, and hopefully we will see elk and other species of wildlife that make up the natural prey of the various packs of Yellowstone wolves.
Our route will also cross the Trail of the Flight of the Nez Perce which will be also studied in depth in Idaho History during the fourth grade.
We will learn that one of the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, John Colter, was one of the early explorers of the Yellowstone area.
Our intent and purpose of visiting Yellowstone Park is to begin the school year with first hand experience these concepts and curriculum we will study.
We will need to bring sack lunches that day. If your student needs to order a sack lunch from school lunch please indicate below.
For your child's safety and comfort, long pants should be worn as well as sturdy shoes or boots (no sandals or open toed shoes). A sack lunch is needed. If at all possible, send a water bottle with your child as there is no water available. A jacket or sweater will be helpful if the wind comes up --- or heaven forbid! A snowstorm! It could happen.
So excited! I love Yellowstone!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
One Week Down!
It's Wednesday, Aug. 31 . . . and we've been in school a week now. Well, depending on how you count but that's a discussion we'll save for a rainy day.
The weather here in Rexburg has been hot and boring but hot and boring is okay! No hurricanes, or flash floods. No evacuations. Just get up and go to school. We like it like that!
Back to School Night is tomorrow, Thurs, September 1st starting at 7:00 pm.
In today's math lesson we learned/reviewed ordinal numbers -- the "first" in September. We are reading about the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in reading and the official symbols of Idaho in Idaho History.
The weather here in Rexburg has been hot and boring but hot and boring is okay! No hurricanes, or flash floods. No evacuations. Just get up and go to school. We like it like that!
Back to School Night is tomorrow, Thurs, September 1st starting at 7:00 pm.
In today's math lesson we learned/reviewed ordinal numbers -- the "first" in September. We are reading about the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in reading and the official symbols of Idaho in Idaho History.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Took my class with me to Europe
No, really! I did and here are the pictures to prove it. By the way, we are in Salzburg, Austria!
Salzburg was the setting for the movie, The Sound of Music. I was so excited to visit this city because that is my all time favorite movie (just watched it again this afternoon).
Thanks to Erin Smith who created this yearbook for me, and since I left for my trip from school on the last day of school, the yearbook went into my purse and went to Europe with me.
In the top picture, I'm standing in the Mirabell Gardens. Several scenes from the Do-Re-Mi song were filmed here. In the next three pictures, the ones with My Kids, I'm standing in front of the fountain where Maria sang part of "I Have Confidence."
Next time someone says, "Put me in your suitcase and take me with you" I'll think of the time I took my class with me in my purse!
Salzburg was the setting for the movie, The Sound of Music. I was so excited to visit this city because that is my all time favorite movie (just watched it again this afternoon).
Thanks to Erin Smith who created this yearbook for me, and since I left for my trip from school on the last day of school, the yearbook went into my purse and went to Europe with me.
In the top picture, I'm standing in the Mirabell Gardens. Several scenes from the Do-Re-Mi song were filmed here. In the next three pictures, the ones with My Kids, I'm standing in front of the fountain where Maria sang part of "I Have Confidence."
Next time someone says, "Put me in your suitcase and take me with you" I'll think of the time I took my class with me in my purse!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Quarter Acre Farm
My cousin, Spring, is the author of a tidy fat little tome entitled The Quarter Acre Farm, How I Kept the Deck, Lost the Lawn, and Fed My Family for A Year. (See last post)
LOL. What a mouthful! But the book is an even a better "mouthful." I took it to bed with me the first night I started reading it. I was giggling so often that I decided it had to be a morning read if I ever thought I was going to get to sleep! Who would have thought that reading about someone gardening in their backyard could be so entertaining? Goes to show, if you have a story to tell, there is someone out there who can't wait to hear/read it!
Thanks, Spring for helping my blog along, for keeping me up at night, and allowing me a peek into your life!
LOL. What a mouthful! But the book is an even a better "mouthful." I took it to bed with me the first night I started reading it. I was giggling so often that I decided it had to be a morning read if I ever thought I was going to get to sleep! Who would have thought that reading about someone gardening in their backyard could be so entertaining? Goes to show, if you have a story to tell, there is someone out there who can't wait to hear/read it!
Thanks, Spring for helping my blog along, for keeping me up at night, and allowing me a peek into your life!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A Note on Writers and Writing from My Cousin
This week is a reading-writing-workshop week and so I thought it was a wonderful, happy accident that a "guest blog" arrived in my email in-box from my cousin, Spring Warren. Earlier she had offered to write a on writing. After all, she is a published author of several works, including her latest on gardening! (She has a sister named Summer, and a brother whose middle name is Winter . . . my parents chose such boring names for my sisters and me!) So, here she is:
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
ARE WRITERS BORN, OR MADE?
One of the questions I get asked the most when I give readings or appear on a panel (where I have to pretend to know something), is if I think writers are born with the talent or if I think that fiction is a learned skill. When I answer that I think storytelling is a skill people are born with I usually notice several people sagging in disappointment. I figure those folks who look bereft are people who likely want to write stories, but have noticed that it isn’t a skill they themselves seem to have been fortuitously born with. I sympathise. I am one of them. And so I clarify.
Humans are born storytellers. Telling stories, both largely factual, or greatly fictional, is how we communicate and so we practice every day. “How was your day?” prompts a story. “Did you hear about the break in?” prompts a story. “Why didn’t you get your work finished?” prompts a story. Even jokes are tiny stories, and maybe the best indication that we are all storytellers at heart. Jokes have characters, a setting, a beginning, a middle, and a great ending. Everyone loves to tell a good joke.
But often someone will point out that lots of people can’t tell a joke well. Admittedly, lots of people can’t tell a story well, either. Lots of people bore the pants off lots of other people in life yammering on about dull stuff or good stuff in disastrous order.
True. Some people are better at telling a story than others. And some people work on it and become better storytellers.
Writers work on it. That they like telling stories enough to work on telling them better is pretty much the thing that makes writers sit for hours, days, weeks, and years in order to make books. So perhaps the real question is, are writers born with the talent for sitting for hours and days into weeks into years? That, I couldn’t guess.
GROWING food AND EATING well on -
www.thequarteracrefarm.com
TURPENTINE!
http://springwarren.com
+ + + + + + +
Check her out at Amazon.com!
Hope you enjoyed these insights from cousin, Spring!
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
ARE WRITERS BORN, OR MADE?
One of the questions I get asked the most when I give readings or appear on a panel (where I have to pretend to know something), is if I think writers are born with the talent or if I think that fiction is a learned skill. When I answer that I think storytelling is a skill people are born with I usually notice several people sagging in disappointment. I figure those folks who look bereft are people who likely want to write stories, but have noticed that it isn’t a skill they themselves seem to have been fortuitously born with. I sympathise. I am one of them. And so I clarify.
Humans are born storytellers. Telling stories, both largely factual, or greatly fictional, is how we communicate and so we practice every day. “How was your day?” prompts a story. “Did you hear about the break in?” prompts a story. “Why didn’t you get your work finished?” prompts a story. Even jokes are tiny stories, and maybe the best indication that we are all storytellers at heart. Jokes have characters, a setting, a beginning, a middle, and a great ending. Everyone loves to tell a good joke.
But often someone will point out that lots of people can’t tell a joke well. Admittedly, lots of people can’t tell a story well, either. Lots of people bore the pants off lots of other people in life yammering on about dull stuff or good stuff in disastrous order.
True. Some people are better at telling a story than others. And some people work on it and become better storytellers.
Writers work on it. That they like telling stories enough to work on telling them better is pretty much the thing that makes writers sit for hours, days, weeks, and years in order to make books. So perhaps the real question is, are writers born with the talent for sitting for hours and days into weeks into years? That, I couldn’t guess.
GROWING food AND EATING well on -
www.thequarteracrefarm.com
TURPENTINE!
http://springwarren.com
+ + + + + + +
Check her out at Amazon.com!
Hope you enjoyed these insights from cousin, Spring!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Algebra in Fourth Grade!
I learned last week that according to the guidelines / math standards which are being taught to these days, in the near future Algebra will no longer be taught in High Schools. It has become something to be mastered in Junior High so students will be able to go on to Advanced Math courses, such as Trigonometry and Calculus during their high school years. The bar has been raised and we need to work harder to be ready to successfully clear the hurdles when we get there!
So, back here in fourth grade, from now until the end of the school year, we are going to be stepping up the pace and practicing-hard / experiencing-first-hand-what-we-can the Algebra Standards which are outlined in the Idaho State Math Standard 3: Concepts and Language of Algebra and Functions which, if you have nothing more exciting to do with your time can be accessed by clicking on http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/content_standards/math_standards.htm (or copying and pasting into your browser).
The standard specifically lists Identity Property of Multiplication, Zero Property of Multiplication, missing factor equations, and understanding the relationship between the different ways division problems can be written.
Another skill we'll be working on from here to the end of the year will be working with fractions. We will rename fractions, add and subtract fractions, and even multiply fractions.
The basic skill our students need at this point is to know their multiplication facts. These facts are as important to the algebra, division and fraction work we will be doing as the alphabet is to reading!
Whew! Life just gets faster and faster!
So, back here in fourth grade, from now until the end of the school year, we are going to be stepping up the pace and practicing-hard / experiencing-first-hand-what-we-can the Algebra Standards which are outlined in the Idaho State Math Standard 3: Concepts and Language of Algebra and Functions which, if you have nothing more exciting to do with your time can be accessed by clicking on http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/content_standards/math_standards.htm (or copying and pasting into your browser).
The standard specifically lists Identity Property of Multiplication, Zero Property of Multiplication, missing factor equations, and understanding the relationship between the different ways division problems can be written.
Another skill we'll be working on from here to the end of the year will be working with fractions. We will rename fractions, add and subtract fractions, and even multiply fractions.
The basic skill our students need at this point is to know their multiplication facts. These facts are as important to the algebra, division and fraction work we will be doing as the alphabet is to reading!
Whew! Life just gets faster and faster!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Spring . . . around the corner
Aren't we all sick of winter? I liked that the roads were fairly clear all winter long -- at least the one between my home in Archer and Rexburg's city limits, but I am weary of the cold. I am looking forward to wondering if I should put our air-conditioner in the kitchen window or not! ;) That'll be sometime in July.
Seed planting time is here. Hubby and I are going to take the big leap this year and start our own tomatoes and peppers "in the house" and not a green house either. He has his doubts. I say what's the worst that can happen? He says the cats or the grandkids can dump the growing trays! Oh, well, that has happened before.
AND second trimester is almost over -- tomorrow it will be gone. Wow!!! The end of the school year is staring us in the face. Hope your plans for summer are super!
Idaho History Home Projects are coming in. We've got a great covered wagon and have had several loaves of very yummmmmmmy homemade bread. One was all whole wheat from a recipe perfected by much practice! Very good. A couple of white loaves were deeee-lish (as was the butter and jam brought as well) and today's loaf was part white-part whole wheat. . . . I'm thinking there is no such thing as a bad loaf of bread!
Monday, March 7th, is the first day of Third Trimester. It's always great to be starting "anew" -- no missing assignments, promises of Great Things to Come!
Seed planting time is here. Hubby and I are going to take the big leap this year and start our own tomatoes and peppers "in the house" and not a green house either. He has his doubts. I say what's the worst that can happen? He says the cats or the grandkids can dump the growing trays! Oh, well, that has happened before.
AND second trimester is almost over -- tomorrow it will be gone. Wow!!! The end of the school year is staring us in the face. Hope your plans for summer are super!
Idaho History Home Projects are coming in. We've got a great covered wagon and have had several loaves of very yummmmmmmy homemade bread. One was all whole wheat from a recipe perfected by much practice! Very good. A couple of white loaves were deeee-lish (as was the butter and jam brought as well) and today's loaf was part white-part whole wheat. . . . I'm thinking there is no such thing as a bad loaf of bread!
Monday, March 7th, is the first day of Third Trimester. It's always great to be starting "anew" -- no missing assignments, promises of Great Things to Come!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Presidents Day
I am always confused at whether there should be apostrophes in the names of some holidays. My grandma always wrote October 31st like this: Hallowe'en. I like Valentine's Day. But am wondering about Presidents Day. Shouldn't it be Presidents' Day? Oh, well, not according to my calendar, so on to more weighty matters.
Just two weeks left in this trimester. On March 3rd, all homework assignments for this trimester will be due. Many, many thanks to the students and parents who make sure those assignments are back every week!
So, hubby and I went to Bozeman over the weekend. Saw an old friend and visited with some new ones. We drove home just ahead of the snowstorms. Lucky us!
Hope your weekend was the Best Weekend Ever!
Just two weeks left in this trimester. On March 3rd, all homework assignments for this trimester will be due. Many, many thanks to the students and parents who make sure those assignments are back every week!
So, hubby and I went to Bozeman over the weekend. Saw an old friend and visited with some new ones. We drove home just ahead of the snowstorms. Lucky us!
Hope your weekend was the Best Weekend Ever!
Monday, February 7, 2011
On to February!
Great to see so many parents last week at Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences. Amazing that there are students who have the nerve to tell their parents that they "never have homework" and that "correct and return" is just a suggestion! ;)
Time out to thank the Awesome Moms who volunteer in our classroom. Mrs Allen and Mrs Jones: the best Music Moms Ever! Mrs Richards, Mrs Warner and Mrs Gentile: the best Art Moms Ever!
Valentine's Party is coming up . . . on Valentine's Day. Since the 14th is Monday and Monday is early out, we'll start the festivities at 11:00 am! Our class list: Carter, Carlie, Sadie, Claire, Issy, Giovani, Curtis, Sarah, Dylan, Trinity, Caleb, Kyson, Jacob, Alisha, Sam, Briar, Chad, Yuki, Connor, Ashley, Camille, Kohlier, Katelyn, Paige, Avonlea, Peyton, Erin, Hunter, Ethan, Christian.
I wonder just how winter will be with us! Spring will be welcome anytime!
Have the Best Week Ever.
Time out to thank the Awesome Moms who volunteer in our classroom. Mrs Allen and Mrs Jones: the best Music Moms Ever! Mrs Richards, Mrs Warner and Mrs Gentile: the best Art Moms Ever!
Valentine's Party is coming up . . . on Valentine's Day. Since the 14th is Monday and Monday is early out, we'll start the festivities at 11:00 am! Our class list: Carter, Carlie, Sadie, Claire, Issy, Giovani, Curtis, Sarah, Dylan, Trinity, Caleb, Kyson, Jacob, Alisha, Sam, Briar, Chad, Yuki, Connor, Ashley, Camille, Kohlier, Katelyn, Paige, Avonlea, Peyton, Erin, Hunter, Ethan, Christian.
I wonder just how winter will be with us! Spring will be welcome anytime!
Have the Best Week Ever.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Good-bye, January
I thought blogging would be easy! Exciting! Awesome! hummmm . . . . staring at the blank screen in from of me, reality sets in!
Wednesday and Thursday of this week are Parent-Teacher Conferences. Several years ago, Mrs Hancock and I learned about Student Directed Conferences and decided to try them. For me, it's a different experience from running through my meetings with parents at what seems to be breakneck speed, but always being 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule no matter how fast I talk!
I really enjoy watching the interactions between my students and their parents. Together they review the student's progress. Read some samples of the student's writing. Look at some art projects. Talk about books the student has read in the past few months. Look over the student's progress report. And I am here to answer questions, address concerns, or explain why a student has a "1" in Daily Assignments" under Language Arts ( . . . tsk, tsk, tsk . . . little or no homework back).
See you then!
And best of all, we are one month closer to spring, the Best Season of All!
Wednesday and Thursday of this week are Parent-Teacher Conferences. Several years ago, Mrs Hancock and I learned about Student Directed Conferences and decided to try them. For me, it's a different experience from running through my meetings with parents at what seems to be breakneck speed, but always being 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule no matter how fast I talk!
I really enjoy watching the interactions between my students and their parents. Together they review the student's progress. Read some samples of the student's writing. Look at some art projects. Talk about books the student has read in the past few months. Look over the student's progress report. And I am here to answer questions, address concerns, or explain why a student has a "1" in Daily Assignments" under Language Arts ( . . . tsk, tsk, tsk . . . little or no homework back).
See you then!
And best of all, we are one month closer to spring, the Best Season of All!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Mrs Daisson - The Best Student Teacher Ever
Now that I've figured out my blogging password (again), this would be a great time to introduce our class's student teacher, Mrs Tammy Daisson. She's here finishing her studies in Elementary Education from BYU-I.
She is excited to be teaching in our class. I wonder if it because my class is so wonderful, or if because finally the "end is in sight" (as my mother used to say). She loves Idaho History, just I do. She has four kids just like I do, only she has four daughters, and I have three daughters and a son. Her youngest daughters, a set of twins, are in fourth grade at Lincoln school. They think it's fun to compare notes with their mom about "what we did in school today."
She will be here in the afternoons and evenings of Student Directed Conferences on Feb. 2nd and 3rd and looks forward to meeting you.
She is excited to be teaching in our class. I wonder if it because my class is so wonderful, or if because finally the "end is in sight" (as my mother used to say). She loves Idaho History, just I do. She has four kids just like I do, only she has four daughters, and I have three daughters and a son. Her youngest daughters, a set of twins, are in fourth grade at Lincoln school. They think it's fun to compare notes with their mom about "what we did in school today."
She will be here in the afternoons and evenings of Student Directed Conferences on Feb. 2nd and 3rd and looks forward to meeting you.
January - The Best Month Ever
Of course, it's the best month ever! It's my birthday month . . . although, now I'm beginning to wonder why I'm so excited about getting older.
Here are a couple of dates to keep in mind:
Friday, January 28 - Book Orders/Money due. Since this is the first book order of the year, it might seem I have something against them. Far from true! I was going to say that I spend too much money on books when I do send out book orders, but what is too much money? Isn't having too many books about the same as having too much fun? There is no such thing!
Wednesday and Thursday, February 2 and 3 - Student Directed Conferences.
At a Student Directed Conference, students visit with their parents about the things they are learning and share with them examples of projects and assignments. To do this, the students will need to come to the Conference with their parent/parents. Please bring your student with you at any time the afternoons of Wednesday or Thursday between 2:45 PM and 7:30 PM. Come and enjoy sharing this time with your student.
I look forward to seeing both you and your student and will be right here to visit with you if you have questions or concerns.
If you feel you must see me without your student, please call to schedule a time for either afternoons. You may call me directly at 359-3335, ext 1810.
;) Looking forward to seeing you!
Here are a couple of dates to keep in mind:
Friday, January 28 - Book Orders/Money due. Since this is the first book order of the year, it might seem I have something against them. Far from true! I was going to say that I spend too much money on books when I do send out book orders, but what is too much money? Isn't having too many books about the same as having too much fun? There is no such thing!
Wednesday and Thursday, February 2 and 3 - Student Directed Conferences.
At a Student Directed Conference, students visit with their parents about the things they are learning and share with them examples of projects and assignments. To do this, the students will need to come to the Conference with their parent/parents. Please bring your student with you at any time the afternoons of Wednesday or Thursday between 2:45 PM and 7:30 PM. Come and enjoy sharing this time with your student.
I look forward to seeing both you and your student and will be right here to visit with you if you have questions or concerns.
If you feel you must see me without your student, please call to schedule a time for either afternoons. You may call me directly at 359-3335, ext 1810.
;) Looking forward to seeing you!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)