:0) Miss Fotidzis 's Classroom Notes
Important Dates to Remember!
Mark your calendars with these important dates to remember:
- Tuesday, November 11, No School - Veteran's Day
- Friday, November 14, Family Fun Night
- Friday, November 21, Trimester 1 ends
- Monday, November 24, Early Dismissal - PM Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Tuesday, November 25, No School - AM Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Wednesday - Friday November 26-28 -- No School -- Fall Break
- December 1, November Reading Log DUE!
Please have a wonderful, fall holiday. Stay Warm! :D
First Book Talks and Reading Logs DUE!!
Just a reminder:
The September book talks (cereal box, and commercial) are due on Wednesday, October 1, 2008!
Reading logs for September are also due that same day. Titles of books read, page numbers read, as well as minutes read, should all be recorded on each day.
I cannot wait to see all the clever cereal boxes, and hear the fabulous commercials! :D
Book Talks and Reading Logs!!!
Every month, your child is responsible for reading at least 400 minutes (about 20 minutes per night). To help them keep track of their minutes read each night, a reading log has been provided. Each night that your child reads, he or she should record the following information in the space provided on the log for that day:
- the title of the book
- the page numbers read
- how many minutes they read
Reading logs are due on the first day of the new month. They MUST be signed by a parent or guardian, and the minutes must be counted up and totaled (there is a space for the total minutes read to be written) in order for credit to be received.
In addition to turning in a reading log, students are responsible for completing a book talk. The criteria and assignments will vary from month to month. Please check with your child to make sure they work on this project consistently throughout the month, and do not save it all for the last minute... as you will find this will quickly become unsuccessful, and quite stressful.
Reading logs and book talks are extremely important! Their report card grades for: "Reads Independently" are solely contingent upon their successful completion of both.
As with anything else, if you have any questions regarding book talks or reading logs, please feel free to contact me.
:0) Thanks, and HAVE FUN READING!!!!
P.S. SEPTEMBER BOOK TALKS AND READING LOGS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008!!!!!
Miss Fotidzis’s News :0)
A PEEK AT A TYPICAL WEEK
Dear Parent(s) and Students,
Welcome to fourth grade! Please check our page each week to find out assignments due, spelling lists, and what skills we are working on.
Classroom Behavior
To assist in managing the classroom, I have set up a pebble jar system. This positive reinforcement technique places the responsibility on the students as individuals, as well as a whole class. It also teaches students to monitor their own behavior, and to encourage everyone to be responsible and do their part. As a class and individually, students may earn pebbles for exhibiting appropriate and responsible behavior. Our goal is to fill our jar each week to our “goal line”. When our goal is met, we will celebrate our responsible behavior with various rewards on Friday afternoons, i.e. extra recess, cookie/popcorn party, movies, special activities, etc.
Please understand that this system is a management tool to assist your child in taking responsibility for his/her own actions, as well as to ensure the successful carrying out of specific classroom duties. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Basic Information
Red Folders
The students' red folders are their designated "Take Home Folders". There are two sides to the folder: a “bring to school/homework” side, and a “keep at home” side. The "bring to school" side should have homework, permission slips, and notes that need to be returned to school. The “keep at home” side does not need to be returned. This could include notes from the teacher, P.T.O., newsletters, etc. It is important to check your child’s folder DAILY. Many important items come home from school each day, including your child’s work, which should be seen by you!
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Assignment Notebooks
Responsibility becomes a big part of 4th grade, and we stress the importance of students being accountable for their assignments on a daily basis. As part of their morning routine, students fill out their assignment notebooks with assignments and reminders they are responsible for that night. Please check your child’s assignment notebook each night, as this is a place where you can find upcoming projects, tests, news, little notes from me, and daily homework assignments.
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Homework
Students will generally have homework each night. Their homework may be to read, study, or complete daily/weekly assignments from varios content areas.
Students should also be reading at home at least 20 minutes a day, about 400 minutes per month. Independent, monthly reading logs are to be kept in your child’s red take home folder. At the end of the month, I will collect the reading logs, which should be kept up to date and signed monthly by parents.
Monthly Book Talks will also be assigned. Each book talk requires reading a chapter book (genres will vary), and completing a project. Parents, please help your student plan his/her book talk schedule. Do not save all the work for the last night. This will quickly become an unsuccessful approach!
Homework should not be a stressful time. If your child has been working at something that is causing frustration, then please stop the activity. Write me a quick note, or give me a call, so that I may address the questions or concerns, and ensure your child’s success with the assignment.
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Thank you for taking the time to visit our classroom blog! I am quite pleased to have your child in my class, and we will definitely have a fantastic year at Hawthorn Elementary North! I look forward to working with you to make this the very best learning experience possible for your child. :0)
Questions, comments, or concerns may be directed to me via notes from home, emails, or telephone calls. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your help and support!
~ Miss Tess Fotidzis
fotidzist@hawthorn73.org
