It's Already the 5th Week of School!!

Wow ... looks like this school year is going to FLY BY just like all the rest!!  We're already halfway through the first nine weeks!  Guess the saying is true ... time flies when you're having fun, right?  We've been so busy in our classroom which I'm sure has a lot to do with it as well!! 

First of all, I'd like to congratulate Raylee and Rebecka!!!  These 2 students were chosen (along with several other students in our school) as AES's "Superior September Writers."  Their names were announced during the morning announcements and they received an award from Mr. Clark, our principal.  I am SO proud of both of you!!  You continue to make me smile!  I'd also like to congratulate our September Character Trait Award Winner.  September's Character Trait is Responsibility and the award was given to a very deserving student ... Eirami!  Eirami is one of the most responsible students I have ever taught!  She always remembers to do her homework and bring it to school the very next day.  She returns her Thursday Folder on time, as well as all the other papers that need to be signed and brought back.  She gives 110% in all that she does.  Eirami is responsible when it comes to attendance.  In fact, just last year, Eirami's name was entered into a school drawing for students who had perfect attendance for the entire school year.  Eirami's name was drawn and she is now the proud owner of a brand-new bicycle!!  She knows the right thing to do; and she does it.  She is always organized, always on time and always willing to help her classmates.  I'm so proud of you, Eirami!  You will go far in life!  Last but certainly not least is my "multiplication man" ... Sayvon!!  Sayvon is our class leader in our daily timed multiplication tests.  After only 2 weeks of doing this, Sayvon is already on his 8's and I can totally see him finishing all 12 timed tests by the end of next week (and possibly earlier!)  It is obvious that Sayvon is studying his multiplication facts at home (and at school); and he will soon realize how important it is to have these facts memorized when we start division in just a few weeks!  You too, make me so proud!!  Keep up the hard work!! 


We have LOTS going on in our classroom/at our school in the upcoming weeks.  Tomorrow is PICTURE DAY!!  MAP testing begins this week.  My class takes the reading portion of the test this coming Thursday (9/17) and the math portion of the test next Thursday (9/24).  That same Thursday, (September 24), please make plans to attend "Peek In On Your Panda's" night.  I will be available to meet with parents at 4:30 in my classroom and plan to share with each of you lots of valuable information that you don't want to miss.  Then at 5:30, the administration will meet with parents to provide a Title I update as well as to inform you of our school's restructuring efforts.  The BOOK FAIR will be open this evening as well!  Interims will be sent home in Thursday Folders on September 24 and report cards will be distributed on October 26. 


On a sad note, we've had to say "good-bye" to a student already this year.  Javier has transferred to a different school and we miss him so much!!  Javier was in my class last year (along with 15 other students in my current homeroom class) and honestly, we're like one big family!  We wish Javier the BEST of luck and hope he will keep in touch!! 


In math class, we're learning how to collect and organize data to create charts, tables, graphs, and line charts.   We've learned maximun, minimum, range, median, and mode and how to make predictions.  We've also reviewed place value which I've been pretty impressed with.  Although this year, we're learning through the hundred billions place and last year we stopped at the hundred thousands place, everyone seems to be doing well!!  Of course, our little "jingle" comes in handy when we occasionally stumble across a position on our place value chart.  In science, we've been learning about the characteristics and pattern of behaviors organisms have which allow them to survive in their own distinct environments.  Each student created a "biome box" and presented their project to the class.  Currently, we have frogs living in our classroom which are teaching us all about this standard as well! 

 I'd like to end with a quote that is posted on our art teacher's door.  This quote was new to me this year, but it immediately became one of my favorites as it applies directly to everyday life in a classroom. 

"We can learn a lot about crayons;

some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull,

while others are bright,

some have wierd names,

but they all have learned to live together in the same box."

- Author Unknown

I hope to see each of you in my classroom on September 24 at 4:30! 

Mrs. Carey Morris