Droms

April 28 - May 9

  Only 20 days of school to go!  We're almost there!  We had a great week testing this past week.  Everybody was here and on time each day.  We have two more testing days with science on Monday and social studies on Tuesday.  Please make sure your child is here and on time both days. 

Even though we have completed the CRCT, we still have work to do.  In language arts, we our persuasive writing projects to complete.  In math, we will be working on hands-on equations.  In social studies we will be learning more about the western frontier in the 1800's and the Civil War. 

The soldier that our class adopted wrote us an email to let us know he was getting our letters.  He sent a couple of pictures of himself and his family and the students really seemed to enjoy getting to see him.  I'm in the process of getting a package together this month.  He told us a few of his favorites so if you could send in any of the following it would be great!   

**Snickers, Cheez-its, Runts, Chocolate Chip cookies, coffee, old or new copies of The Economist, US News, Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, Dove soap (bar), Crest toothpaste***

Last day for book checkout in the library is May 2.  All books are due back to the library by May9.

Specials

Monday - PE                                      Monday (5) -  PE

Tueday - Science Lab                    Tuesday (6) - Music

Wednesday - PE                              Wednesday (7) - PE

Thursday - Computer                  Thursday (8) -  Science Lab

Friday - Art                                        Friday (9)-  PE

Important Dates

April 28-29  -  CRCT

May 2 - Family Luau 6:00 - 8:00

May 13 - Field Day

May 23 - Last Day!

April 14 - 25

  I hope everybody had a wonderful Spring Break!  We have a lot to do in these next couple of weeks so I need everybody here and on time every day.  We are spending this week reviewing and preparing for the CRCT.  If you are wondering how you can help at home, here are a few suggestions:   * complete practice tests on the OAS homepage. (username and passwords were sent home earlier in the year for this) * review math facts (multiplication and division) * ask some questions after your child reads a book (e.g. What was the main idea of the book?  What happened first?  Why did the characters do _____?  etc.)  *get a good night's sleep * eat a good breakfast.

Next Monday we are going on a field trip to the Cobb Youth Museum.  It is very close by and we will only be gone for a couple of hours in the afternoon.  This trip is free so please be sure to return the permission slip as soon as possible.

The CRCT will begin next Wednesday, April 23.  If your child gets to school later than 8:10, they will not be allowed back to the classroom and will have to take that section on a make-up day.

I am still sending letters and packages to our adopted soldier.  If you have anything to donate for packages (cookies, wrapped snacks, magazines, etc.) please send them in.  We greatly appreciate it. :)

Specials

Monday - Art                                      Monday (21) - PE

Tuesday - PE                                     Tuesday (22) - Computer

Wednesday - Music                      Wednesday (23) - Art

Thursday - PE                                  Thursday (24) - PE

Friday - Science                               Friday (25) -  Music

Important Dates

April 21 - Youth Museum

April 23 - 29  - CRCT

March 24 - 28

  The countdown is on!  As we get closer to Spring Break we are really buckling down to get some work done.   In science right now we are working on our solar system projects.  Your child has a planet assigned to them and their partner.  They have a specific list of the criteria that should be included in their presentation.  We are working on the projects here during science time.  Next, in social studies, we will be studying the westward expansion of the early Americans.  In reading groups we are working on author studies.  Ask your student which author they are studying in their group.  In math we are working on 3D geometry and the coordinate system.   

Our field trip to the aquarium is coming up so remember to send in your child's permission form and money.  I'm sure they all want to participate in this exciting experience!

We have adopted a soldier as a class.   We will be sending him a letter or two each week.  We have been writing the letters as a part of our language arts time.  We also will be sending a package every month so if you have anything you would like to contribute, please send it in when you can. 

This Week's Specials

Monday- Science Lab

Tuesday - PE

Wednesday - Computer Lab

Thursday - Art

Friday - PE

Important Dates 

April 2 - Aquarium Field Trip

April 7 - 11  -  Spring Break

April 21 -  Youth Museum Field Trip

April 23 - 29  - CRCT

  Remember, Academic Alerts go out this Wednesday.  If your child has a grade below a B in a subject, please sign and return the slip.

  We have out test on Sound this Tuesday.  Students will be bringing home a review sheet tonight to help them study.

  In Social Studies we're still discussing the Revolutionary War.  Ask your student about the disadvantages that the Patriot army had.

In Language Arts, we are working hard on our informational writing.  Your child should be an expert on their Revolutionary War person or event. 

High Tech/High Touch is tomorrow.  Please send in your money/permission form if you haven't yet.

  I will be sending class lists home with the students today for Valentines.  On Thursday we will use our recess time to exchange Valentines with each other.  If you would like to send some in, please make sure to send enough for the whole class.

This Week's Specials

Monday - PE

Tuesday - Computer Lab

Wednesday - Art

Thursday - PE

Friday - Music

Dates to Remember

2/13  -  Academic Alerts go home

2/19 - 2/20  -  No School (President's Day)

Conference Week

  Thank you so much for coming out for your conferences.  I really enjoyed meeting with all of you.  I appreciate your support

  We are working hard on our Revolutionary War research projects.  Make sure to ask your students who they are researching.  They have found out some really interesting facts!

Please make sure your student is reading for 30-60 minutes at home every night.   

This Week's Specials

Monday - PE

Tuesday - Science Lab

Wednesday - PE

Thursday - Computer Lab

Friday - Art

Remember...Monday, January 28 will be an early release day.  Regular schedule will resume Tuesday.

Happy New Year!

  Welcome back!  I hope everybody had a wonderful holiday season.  Thanks again for all of the wonderful gifts.   Our class made a resolution that we would all be more organized in the New Year.  Students should be writing down all assignments in their agenda and they check them off when they are completed.  If your child completes all of their work at school, then they will not have any homework.  They should still have assignments written down in their agenda though. 

  In science right now we are finishing up our unit on light and sound.  Ask your students the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque.   In social studies, we will be learning about the birth of the United States and the Revolutionary War.   In Language Arts, we will be reading and writing informational texts.  The students will be assigned a Revolutionary War era event or person to write a report on.  In math, we are beginning our unit on fractions.   

  The school-wide spelling bee will be this Friday (Jan. 11) at 8:30.  Our class representative is Taylor.  Good luck Taylor!!

  Conferences will begin January 22.  A letter will go home with your student this week with your conference time.  If you have more than one student at Dowell, we worked together to make sure your conferences are back-to-back.

  There will be NO PTA this month.  The technology night has been rescheduled for April.

  This Week's Specials

Tuesday - Science Lab

Wednesday - PE

Thursday - Computer Lab

Friday - Art

Dates to Remember

January 11 -  School wide Spelling Bee

January 21 - MLK Day  No School

January 22 - 28  - Conference week    12:20 dismissal

  Only four more weeks until our Winter Break!  We discussed some of the fun things we will be doing during this time but we also discussed the fact that we still have a lot of work to get done. 

In math we are in the middle of a geometry unit. Check out the following sites if you want to work on it a little more at home.  http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/rubber_geometry_vocab_match/

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/rubber_geometry_vocab_match/

In language arts we are working on our book reviews and reading novels in our reading groups. 

In social studies we are learning about colonial America and the different regions.

In science we are finishing up our unit on simple machines.  Ask your students about the wonderful experiments we did with Scientist Q. 

PTA is having a breakfast with Santa next Saturday, December 8.  They will be making crafts, serving breakfast, watching "The Polar Express", and Santa will be there.  Tickets are $3 a child and will be presold until Dec. 6.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  We hope to see you all there.

I have had a few questions about the holiday party.  We will be having a celebration with all of 4th grade on Friday Dec. 21.  Each class is asked to bring in donations of different things.  I will be sending home a letter explaining all of this next Friday.  If you would like to help out, please send me a note or email.   

This Week's Specials

Monday - Computer

Tuesday - Art

Wednesday - PE

Thursday - Music

Friday - PE

  Can you believe it's almost time for Thanksgiving?!  We do still have another week and a half so make sure your child is here every day on time.  Since Mrs. Morrissey left our school, we now have both science and social studies in our room.  We completed our explorer projects and the kids did a great job!  If you want a copy of our class's performance just sned in a blank DVD and I'll be happy to burn you a copy.  We are now beginning our colonial America unit.  Perfect timing for Thanksgiving!   In science we are learning about simple machines, force, and motion.   We just finished up our division unit in math and we will begin geometry next week.   In language arts we are working on writing book reviews. 

We have a fabulous program coming to us next Wednesday.  High Tech High Touch will be coming into our classrooms and doing some great hands-on science experiments with the kids.  Please make sure that you have sent in your child's permission form and money for this wonderful experience.  Our next field trip will be to the Fox theater on December 3rd to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  Be on the lookout for information on this one. 

As the weather is getting colder, please make sure that your child has a jacket every day.  We will continue to go outside as long as the weather is nice and not too cold. 

This Week's Specials

Monday - Computer

Tuesday - Art

Wednesday - PE

Thursday - Music

Friday - PE

Dates to Remember

November 14  -- High Tech High Touch

November 21-23 -- No School-Thanksgiving Break

November 26 -- Academic Alerts

Week 5

  It's hard to believe we're already a month into the school year.  We've accomplished a lot so far.  The students did great region presentations for social studies and completed posters on the water cycle for science.  Now we're in the middle of another great social studies unit.  We're learning all about early Spanish explorers.  Ask your child which explorer they are researching. 

  In Language Arts, each reading group is just starting on a great novel.  Make sure that they're reading at home.  Thirty minutes a night is best.  We're working on a new writing project right now too.  Each student is writing a personal narrative.  They've picked their prompt and done some prewriting.  Now they're drafting. 

  We have a field trip coming up.  We're going to Red Top Mountain to learn all about how early pioneers lived.  The permission slip has been sent home.  Please send it back along with the money as soon as you can. 

This Week's Specials

Monday - PE

Tuesday - Computer

Wednesday - Art

Thursday - PE

Friday - Music

Dates to Remember

September 14 - Academic Alerts

September 19 - Early Release

September 28 - Field Trip to Red Top Mountain

Email Notification Service

Parents
The service that we use to automatically notify you when the blog is updated has changed their terms of service in such a way that an ad will begin showing up at the bottom of the email that comes to you. Your email address is still not being shared with anyone other than the school! The mere placement of advertising in school communications is of concern to us, especially since we have no control over what the ad may be.

We are exploring other means of providing this service to you at this time. For now, we ask your patience as we work through the concern. In the meantime, if you receive an ad that is objectionable to you, we would appreciate your notifying the school, and holding onto it so that it may be forwarded to proper personnel.

Thank you for your patience!