PAW PRIDE

Remember tomorrow is Friday.  You know what that means......
PAW PRIDE!  

Remember to wear your orange and black!

Photo from the first Friday of the schoolyear! 

Our "true" bulldog personalities are coming out!

In the computer lab...

We are excited to implement this web-based curriculum called MobyMax in our classroom.  MobyMax is tailored to your child's individual needs, and I think you will be very impressed by how fast your child will excel while using Moby.  Moby's features include:

• Placement tests that accurately identify where your child excels, and where his or her "missing skills" are!

• Targeted instruction to "fill in" those missing skills!

• Systematic review sessions that ensure that your child retains 100% of what he or she has learned!

• The MobyMax site remembers where you left off and the next time you login, you pick right up where you left off!  (Once logged in, your child will immediately start the lessons and begin improving his or her missing skills.)

• The more lessons you do - the more "game time" you can earn!

• At this site we can practice our math concepts, reading skills, and much more!

• Tonight go to "FACT MASTER" and practice math facts!

 The MobyMax site not only practices math, but also reading, language, writing and vocabulary!  It is a TERRIFIC way to practice skills at home if you have the internet!  

Best of all, your child can access Moby from your home computer at any time.

Visit it often!

We have our MobyMax usernames and passwords!

(Check the front of your agenda if you've forgotten)

www.runmoby.com/il1796 

*Mrs. Ziegler can monitor your progress! 
*You can also sign in as a parent as well by selecting "Parent" from the drop-down menu and entering your child's username and password!

Scholastic

Encouraging reading is one of the most important things we can do to help your child succeed. It can be tough finding the right books to keep them interested, which is why I am so excited that our class will be participating in Scholastic Reading Club this school year.

With Scholastic Reading Club:

• Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library
• You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books for your child
• You'll find the best values on a variety of formats

Each month, your child will bring home Reading Club flyers. You can order online or send your order form and payment to me.  All book orders will be shipped to our classroom so we can celebrate the joy of reading together!

Thank you for your support!

•  VISIT scholastic.com/readingclub
•  ENTER the Class Activation Code: GR4YY
•  SHOP for books
•  SUBMIT your order 

OR if you'd prefer...

•  BROWSE the book club flyers 
•  FILL out the paper order form 
•  WRITE your child's name on it
•  SEND  a check (payable to Scholastic) for the total amount 

All catalog orders are due by Fri., August 28.  
Thank you for your cooperation with this.  Happy reading!

Visit http://clubs.custhelp.com for FAQ about scholastic bookorders.

Prefix or Suffix?

Watch this video!

Typing Skills

We will be using Typing.com, an online typing tutor, to teach your child about proper touch-typing techniques and improve their keyboarding skills. Learning to touch type helps students be more productive and better prepares them for success in school and beyond.

On Typing.com, your child can practice and master the keyboard one lesson at a time. It allows them to pick up where they left off in the course and displays a keyboard and hand diagram as they type to reinforce proper finger placement.

I have set your child up with his/her own individual account. S/he can access Typing.com from any computer (with an internet connection and modern web browser). 

From the teacher account, I can monitor and review your child's progress and track important statistics like typing speed, accuracy, and time spent typing.


I look forward to a great year as we incorporate the use of technology into our curriculum. If you have any questions, please contact me. 

In fourth grade WCUSD5 has a keyboarding standard that states "With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting."

By the end of fourth grade, we want to demonstrated these skills with 90%-100% accuracy.

• Demonstrates correct home row position
• Presses keys with correct right/left hand fingers
• Presses spacebar with thumb
• Holds shift key down with “pinky finger”
• Knows the difference between the caps lock key and the shift key
• Uses only one space between words
• Uses only one space after a period
• Demonstrates correct posture
• Student’s palms are off the desk and keyboard

Our speed goals are:

Quarter 1 - 15 wpm

Quarter 2 - 16 wpm

Quarter 3 - 18 wpm

Quarter 4 - 20 wpm

To practice, visit typing.com/student/login

Remember your username and password are in the front of your agenda!

First Day of School!

Here are a few photos from our first day of fourth grade!  

 Today was definitely a GREAT first day of fourth grade!

 Also we had a special recess with Popsicles because it was the first day of school.  

 That was a yummy treat on a hot day and a fun way to mingle with our new friends.

 Check out these GREAT smiles!

 We are making banners to introduce ourselves.

It's a GREAT day to be at Gardner!

Thank You

Thank you to all the students and parents who came to 

Meet the Teacher / Supply Drop Off Wednesday night. 

I really enjoyed meeting you all, 

and I'm looking forward to a terrific year together working as a team!

If you haven't yet filled out the "Introducing Your Child" survey, 

please take a few moments to do so at:

https://docs.google.com/a/wcusd5.net/forms/d/1CYXNp9ZXR6yv1dEObkm78mTOHK7-fJpIw4dccUkVPDk/viewform?c=0&w=1

Parent-Teacher Conference Sign Up

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held Thursday, October 30, 2014 and Friday, October 31, 2014. Please sign up for a 15 minute appointment time. A reminder will be sent to you a few days prior.

Please make arrangements to leave your children at home during these conference times; school will not be in session on these days.

Click to sign up for a conference slot!
http://gardnerelementary.weebly.com/conference-sign-up.html

Gardner Parent & Student Supply Drop / Meet the Teacher Night

Join us for MEET YOUR TEACHER NIGHT on Wednesday, August 12, 6:30-7:30 pm

This is Gardner's big kick-off to the 2015-2016 school year.
You'll have a chance to...
*drop off school supplies
*decorate the inside of your locker (magnets work best)
*tour the school
*and of course...meet your teacher!

Welcome!

Welcome to all the classmates in Mrs. Ziegler's class 2015-2016!

Natalee            Brayden            Victoria

Ashlynn            Charley             Robert H.

Katie                  Taylor               Gavin L.

Madison             Henrey            Garrett

Robert N.           Lauren             Gavin P.

Kaitlyn                Ian                    Kloee

Eli                        Lacey                Justin

 Isaac                   Mariah

I am looking forward to a GREAT year at Gardner!!

Welcome!

Dear Parents, 

I am happy to have the opportunity to teach your child fourth grade this year.  My most important goal is to provide a positive educational experience for him/her.  I set high academic expectations and encourage each student to achieve their fullest potential.  I truly want your child to have a caring learning atmosphere that will encourage respect, responsibility, and success for a lifetime.

During the first days of school, our class will be discussing our daily procedure, discipline, and cooperation.  If you have a concern or question, please feel free to send me a note, jot a message in your child’s agenda, call the school, or e-mail me at mziegler@wcusd5.net  I will get in contact with you as quickly as possible.  

Also, familiarize yourself with these three links:

• The school handbook:  http://gardnerelementary.weebly.com/student-handbook.html  
• Class website: http://missliefer.weebly.com  
• Classroom blog http://mziegler4.blogspot.com 

I look forward to working with you and your child.  Let’s make it a great year together!

Sincerely,
Melissa Ziegler