Sock It To Cancer Campaign

Sock It To Cancer Campaign

As some of you may know, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and what better way to get involved then to participate in a school-wide “sock it to cancer” campaign?

Your student was given a sock as part of:

Kellsie’s Hope Foundation- Sock it to Cancer Campaign.

The mission of the Kellsie’s Hope Foundation  is to lighten the load of families that have children suffering from cancer by offering support for trips, and gifts that might otherwise be unattainable to a child with cancer. Kellsie’s foundation is also dedicated to raising funds to support research into childhood cancers such as hers and supporting the nursing field with a nursing scholarship each year.

To Participate:

• The student uses the sock to start collecting change to fill the sock.
• The sock can be decorated in order to participate in the “best decorated/most creative” sock contest, but it is not required.
• Return the sock and it’s contents by Wednesday, September 28th, to your homeroom teacher.

That’s it!

The class that collects the most money will receive a pizza party, provided by the Kellsie’s Hope Foundation.

Every sock collected, whether it have a few coins or it be completely full, helps the mission of finding a cure for Childhood Cancer!

If you want to know more about Kellsie’s Hope Foundation, visit their website at KellsiesHopeFoundation.com .

Book Orders

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 tomorrow! Thurs., Sept 1.  
Thank you for your cooperation with this.  Happy reading!

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

Picture Day

Don't forget Picture Day is tomorrow!

Brush your teeth and practice your smile!

Incentive Chart

Every five days, I total the positive points and put stamps onto the Incentive Charts.  

Each week the student will receive 10 tickets 

(1 ticket=1 positive point; 10 possible points a week).  

For every ticket that must be given up (due to behavior and/or incomplete homework), the student will lose 1 point.  

Students are able to accumulate positive points on their individual incentive charts for special rewards.  Ask to see your child's chart today!

In the Computer Lab...

Go to this Typing Website!
(You can also visit this website at home!)

typing.com/student/login

Our speed goals are:

Quarter 1 - 15 wpm

Quarter 2 - 16 wpm

Quarter 3 - 18 wpm

Quarter 4 - 20 wpm

Keep in mind you may be faster (or slower) than this.
Go at your own pace and set goals for yourself!

We have a goal to get better at typing throughout this school year.

Here we are in the computer lab last week...

*Remember all your log-in usernames and passwords are posted in the front of your agenda*

A few pictures from the first week of school...

Showing off some orange and black for paw pride! 

Showing our true personalities!

Great big smiles!  It's been a great first week!

All packed up after a hard day's work.

We love 4th Grade!

Artwork we made displayed in the hallway.
In this class we are all special pieces of the puzzle!

Science Vocabulary

We are learning about Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores in science!

Check out this website to practice classifying which is which!

http://sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/animaldietgame.htm

Spelling - TEST tomorrow!

Fourth grade spelling focuses on what are called “high frequency words”, or words most commonly used in everyday speech and writing.

Our weekly spelling lists are divided into three parts:

• Core Words Box - the five “new” words for the week.
• Review Words Box - core words previously covered this year and other words we expect our students to have mastered.
• Homophones Box - includes some tricky homophone pairs your child can expect to see on the test.

Words in ALL THREE BOXES should be studied.

We do some weekly practice in class, but the students are expected to study weekly lists independently as necessary.

A simple way to practice at home is to follow these five practice steps:

1. Read the word (Look at the word and say it aloud or silently)

2. Spell the word (Touch each letter with the point of your pencil and say the letter name, aloud or silently)

3. Cover the word (Cover the word and form a visual image of the word from memory)

4. Print the word (Grab a piece of paper and write it!)

5. Proofread the word (Uncover the word and check it letter for letter against the word you wrote)

Word lists are always printed on the back of our classroom newsletter.

It can also be found online at...

http://missliefer.weebly.com/weekly-news.html

Spelling grades come from two types of assessments:

• Cloze tests consist of a fill-in-the-blank type test. The teacher reads the sentences and supplies the words and students write dictated words in the blanks. Grades are based on correct spelling along with correct capitalization when necessary (including words at the beginning of a sentence and proper nouns.) These tests also have a skill of the week. (This week the skill is sorting words into long and short vowel sounds)
• Dictation tests consist of four sentences read by the teacher and copied on notebook paper by the students. Grades are based on the total number of words for that test along with correct capitalization and punctuation.

*Note--The type of test for that week will be indicated next to the list number at the top of each weekly list. (This week is Unit 1C = Cloze test)

Also remember that on supply drop night, you received a copy of words first fourth graders should know for reading, writing, and spelling for you to keep at home for reference and/or practice throughout the year. Your child also keeps a copy of this in his/her spelling folder.

Thanks in advance for your assistance with weekly spelling practice!!

Here we are reading a poem and listing long/short vowel words

We made charts with lots of words!

Math Game: TOP IT!

Use playing cards to do math!
(remove the kings, queens, jacks)

Ace = 1
10 = 0
All cards are face value
2=2
3=3
4=4
and so on....

Deal out the cards

Set up a problem

Do some scratch work and solve that problem

You can use a calculator to CHECK your work

Compare who has the larger number

Have fun!

Tidy Tuesday!

It's "Tidy Tuesday" today!
If your child's desk was organized they would have received on of these...

 
Proudly display this little certificate on the refrigerator or home bulletin board!
Celebrate starting the year out on a good foot!

Science Vocabulary

We are learning about Producers, Consumers, and Decomposes in science!

Check out this website to practice classifying which is which!

http://sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/producersconsumersgame.htm

Math and More!

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 FLUENCY" 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.  

You can use the fact fluency for MIF!

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!

What is RIF and MIF ?

R.I.F. = Read 15 minutes for “Reading is Fun” program.  Inside the take home folder, the students are given a form to keep track of their “RIF” minutes each month.  The goal is to read for 15 minutes five nights a week.  This requirement is flexible, as long as the students meet or exceed the goal by the end of the month.  The minutes will count toward reading incentive programs and the students will receive a grade in reading for their participation in “RIF.”

M.I.F. = Review math facts for "Math is Fun" program.  Review multiplication facts daily. (You can also practice basic addition, subtraction, and division to fit your child's needs).  Use flashcards, paper/pencil practice, apps, computer websites, board games, card games.... the possibilities are endless!  Short on time? Do oral practice while driving in the car.  Or ever think of this.... you usually quiz the 4th grader…so reverse the roles and have the 4th grader quiz the parent!  When students are “being the teacher” anticipating an answer, they are studying too!  Throughout the year, I will teach the students math games they can play to review concepts and recommend websites.  The goal is to practice five nights a week.  This requirement is flexible, as long as the students meet or exceed the goal by the end of the month.  The students will receive a grade in math for their participation in “MIF.”

E-Script

ATTENTION SCHNUCKS E-SCRIPT CARD USERS!
If you have not already done so, please take a minute to go online to change or add Gardner Elementary to the group.  If we do not do this, all funds will continue to go to Rogers! :)

Golden Spatula!

I am so proud! In the cafeteria we earned the "golden spatula" because of our excellent behavior!

Way to go! Keep it up! Let's always be respectful, responsible, and safe! I have the BEST class!

Agenda

A few notes about the agenda....

Science...
We use dry erase markers at school.  A sock, small cloth, or rag works great to erase the dry erase marks.

Social Studies...
In the front of the agenda is a place where we keep important logins and passwords.  It also has a place to fill in your address information.  Several students weren't sure where they live (or how to spell it!)  Tonight, please help them fill this out.  One of our first units in social studies explores where we live.

Box Tops...
Tonight an orange paper is the take-home folder for Box Tops.  Start clipping those little things and saving them!

The puzzle pages are NOT homework.  They were "icebreaker" activities this first day.

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!

  We are making puzzle pieces to introduce ourselves.

  Check out these GREAT smiles!

  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.

It's a GREAT day to be at Gardner!

Welcome!

Click here to see tonight's slide show!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dovhjba4AYFs_oqoVBYZkf4l58ciZWZULaRrOz4g4l0/pub?start=false&loop=true&delayms=3000

Welcome to Team Ziegler!

Welcome to Team Ziegler!

We are a T.E.A.M where Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

I am so excited and honored to be your child's fourth grade teacher. I am looking forward to an awesome school year with everyone!

In order to make this a successful year, please take a few minutes to fill out this form:

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

Also remember Supply Drop is Monday, August 15 between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m.

Stop by any time during those hours and help your child get his/her desk and locker organized.  In addition check out the classroom and go on a scavenger hunt with your child around Gardner Elementary.  It will be a fun evening!

Looking forward to meeting you Monday night!

Countdown: 10 Days until the first day of school!

Hi! Welcome to our classroom blog, and welcome to all the classmates in Mrs. Zieger's 4th grade 2016-2017 class! I am very excited to start a new school year with you! Gardner is a great place, and we will have a wonderful year together! I've been busy preparing the room for an excellent new school year.
See you soon!

Parents - Want an email update from me when there are new posts to the blog?

Please type and submit your email address in the box to the right!

Then check your email! There should be a message to verify the address!

It's that simple! 

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