Hello everyone!
We are off to a great start this year! We have been busy getting back into routines, meeting new friends, and getting to know each other. I just wanted to give you all some updates.
FACEBOOK PAGE: Looks like my Facebook page is having some problems. I will let you know when you can start looking for it to join!
FUN RUN: This Friday, 4th graders in the entire district will be meeting at North Ponds Park for our annual Fun Run! It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day! Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately with sneakers. They may also bring a water bottle, but be sure their name is on it. We will be leaving at 9:15 from Klem South, and will be back around 11.
CURRICULUM NIGHT and CONFERENCES: Thank you all who was able to attend last week! We went over a lot of information! If you were not able to come, your child should have brought home a packet of information. If you have any questions, please let me know! As for parent/teacher conferences, I will be sending you information about the times within the next week.
AGENDAS: Thank you all so much for signing your child's agenda each day! We will continue to have you sign for a few more weeks. I have your child do this so that they can get in the habit of completing their homework, as well as letting you know what they have for homework!
That's it for now! Please let me know if you have any questions!! Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns :)
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Hey everyone!
I hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of summer! Hopefully the rain will stay away and we will have good weather!
One of the ways I wanted to keep in touch with parents is with this blog. It is a quick and easy way for me to let you know what is going on, but it won't waste a ton of paper (or get lost in a backpack!). I also wanted to try something a little different this year.
That is where Facebook comes in.
Many people have a Facebook account. You can find businesses, services, celebrities, TV shows and more on Facebook. Klem South Elementary and our PTSA has a Facebook account that anyone can "like" and get updates. I thought if they can have one, why not a classroom? So I made a Facebook page for the parents in our classroom. It is called, Fourth Grade with Mrs. Burns. It is a private page and you have to ask to be invited to the page. If you have a Facebook account, I would encourage you to like Fourth Grade with Mrs. Burns. I will then accept you into the group.
I hope this will be a useful tool for us to use this year! Please let me know if you have any questions! I hope you can make it to our summer open house this Tuesday! It is a great opportunity to drop off those supplies! Come by anytime between 10-12.
See you soon!
I hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of summer! Hopefully the rain will stay away and we will have good weather!
One of the ways I wanted to keep in touch with parents is with this blog. It is a quick and easy way for me to let you know what is going on, but it won't waste a ton of paper (or get lost in a backpack!). I also wanted to try something a little different this year.
That is where Facebook comes in.
Many people have a Facebook account. You can find businesses, services, celebrities, TV shows and more on Facebook. Klem South Elementary and our PTSA has a Facebook account that anyone can "like" and get updates. I thought if they can have one, why not a classroom? So I made a Facebook page for the parents in our classroom. It is called, Fourth Grade with Mrs. Burns. It is a private page and you have to ask to be invited to the page. If you have a Facebook account, I would encourage you to like Fourth Grade with Mrs. Burns. I will then accept you into the group.
I hope this will be a useful tool for us to use this year! Please let me know if you have any questions! I hope you can make it to our summer open house this Tuesday! It is a great opportunity to drop off those supplies! Come by anytime between 10-12.
See you soon!
Monday, August 18, 2014
It's Almost Time!
School is just about ready to begin as we enjoy the last few weeks of summer! I am not sure about you, but my summer has been so busy! We took a family trip to Hershey Park, my son and I went to Cub Scout Camp, we have been visiting family, having campfires, and lots of other stuff!
And now, summer is almost over! It seems like yesterday we were meeting for the first time on the last day of school! Next week, we will be having a Summer Open House. You can stop by to see our classroom, and drop off any school supplies you have. This way, you don't have to bring a ton of stuff on the first day of school! I will be in out classroom from 10am to 12pm. If you can come by, I would love to see you! If you are unable to come, that is ok! Just bring what you can on the first day of school.
For parents.....I will be using our classroom blog this year as a means of communication with you about classroom happenings. I didn't use the blog last year, and found that I missed using it (parents too!). So, we are back to our classroom blog! I will also be starting a private Facebook page for you as well. The Facebook page will just give brief updates, reminders, blog updates, etc. It will be private, so you will have to ask to join. I will be sending more information about it shortly. In the mean time, you can follow the blog with email. Each time I update the blog, you will receive an email, telling you it was updated. This way, you won't miss a post!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! I am looking forward to working with you and your child! We are going to have a super year!!
And now, summer is almost over! It seems like yesterday we were meeting for the first time on the last day of school! Next week, we will be having a Summer Open House. You can stop by to see our classroom, and drop off any school supplies you have. This way, you don't have to bring a ton of stuff on the first day of school! I will be in out classroom from 10am to 12pm. If you can come by, I would love to see you! If you are unable to come, that is ok! Just bring what you can on the first day of school.
For parents.....I will be using our classroom blog this year as a means of communication with you about classroom happenings. I didn't use the blog last year, and found that I missed using it (parents too!). So, we are back to our classroom blog! I will also be starting a private Facebook page for you as well. The Facebook page will just give brief updates, reminders, blog updates, etc. It will be private, so you will have to ask to join. I will be sending more information about it shortly. In the mean time, you can follow the blog with email. Each time I update the blog, you will receive an email, telling you it was updated. This way, you won't miss a post!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! I am looking forward to working with you and your child! We are going to have a super year!!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Summer!!!
I can't believe our year together has come to an end. We have done so many great things this year! We had a number of activities scheduled this month, but Mother Nature did not cooperate. Instead of a full day of field day, our special area teachers did a modified version on our rain date, and the kids had a chance to rotate through four of the games we had planned for outside (including the bouncy house!). We were also rained our for our last Stream Visit, but we were able to watch the movie, Big Miracle. This movie told the story of three whales that were stuck in the ice up in Alaska, and many different people worked together to help them. But some activities went on as scheduled! Our pizza party was a huge success! We ate lunch outside, had Popsicles and enjoyed our time together. We signed yearbooks, played a game of kick ball against Mrs. Coene's class, and wrote letters to our fifth grade teachers!
For the first time ever, Klem South had a moving up day. Students were able to go to their classroom for next year, meet the teacher, see who will be in their class, and ask questions about next year! It was so exciting to do this, and I hope it helped to ease some anxiety about next year!
As you all make plans for summer, be sure to include some reading and practicing of math facts! Go to the public library and stock up on books! It has been a great year, and a pleasure working with you and your child! Have a safe, happy and fun summer!
Enjoy!
Mrs. Burns :)
For the first time ever, Klem South had a moving up day. Students were able to go to their classroom for next year, meet the teacher, see who will be in their class, and ask questions about next year! It was so exciting to do this, and I hope it helped to ease some anxiety about next year!
As you all make plans for summer, be sure to include some reading and practicing of math facts! Go to the public library and stock up on books! It has been a great year, and a pleasure working with you and your child! Have a safe, happy and fun summer!
Enjoy!
Mrs. Burns :)
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tests, Tests and More Tests
As you know, the last two weeks were filled with testing for NYS ELA and Math. We had three days for each, and about 70 minutes per day. It was interesting to hear what the kids were saying about the tests. Some said it was hard, some said it was easy, but overall, they were tricky!
Everyone worked hard this year, learning a new way to look at math, reading for meaning and looking for evidence from the text. There was not one thing we could have done differently this year. Do I think these tests showed what you child really knows and can do? I would have to say no. I am not allowed to discuss specifics of the test, however, I can talk about some things.
First of all, this is the first year of implementing the Common Core State Standards. Whenever you implement a new curriculum, program, etc. there is something called an "implementation dip". That means that when students are given a new assessment for the new program, the scores usually go down. That is not because the program or curriculum or student or teacher was bad, it is just something that happens when something new is implemented. Since we implemented both the ELA and Math, everyone is expecting to see all the scores drop. That is not just here at Klem South, or even just Webster. It is all of the schools across New York State.
Secondly, in July/August, you will receive a letter from the state telling you what your child scored on these tests. Please remember that the scores will be different from last year. If your child received a 4 or 3, they may get a 3 or 2 this year. That is not because your child is not successful in 4th grade. It is because it is new testing.
So, what can you do? Look at what your child is bringing home from school. Look at their report card grades, grades on projects and tests from school. Have your child read to you and discuss the books they are reading. These will show you more about how your child is learning that just one test in one moment in time. We take into consideration your child's daily work, their participation in class, their homework, and numerous tests throughout the year. And as always, if you are concerned, I would be more than happy to talk to you about the other testing we do!
The year is winding down, but we still have work to do....but we also have some other fun things planed as well! One of the things we wanted to do is for this week. Thursday afternoon, we wanted to have a celebration of all the hard work students did for the NYS testing with a sundae bar and movie afternoon! If you would be willing to help out by sending in some toppings/spoons/bowls/whipped cream, please drop me an email. This will be for this Thursday afternoon. Thanks in advance for helping out!
I hope everyone has a great week!
Everyone worked hard this year, learning a new way to look at math, reading for meaning and looking for evidence from the text. There was not one thing we could have done differently this year. Do I think these tests showed what you child really knows and can do? I would have to say no. I am not allowed to discuss specifics of the test, however, I can talk about some things.
First of all, this is the first year of implementing the Common Core State Standards. Whenever you implement a new curriculum, program, etc. there is something called an "implementation dip". That means that when students are given a new assessment for the new program, the scores usually go down. That is not because the program or curriculum or student or teacher was bad, it is just something that happens when something new is implemented. Since we implemented both the ELA and Math, everyone is expecting to see all the scores drop. That is not just here at Klem South, or even just Webster. It is all of the schools across New York State.
Secondly, in July/August, you will receive a letter from the state telling you what your child scored on these tests. Please remember that the scores will be different from last year. If your child received a 4 or 3, they may get a 3 or 2 this year. That is not because your child is not successful in 4th grade. It is because it is new testing.
So, what can you do? Look at what your child is bringing home from school. Look at their report card grades, grades on projects and tests from school. Have your child read to you and discuss the books they are reading. These will show you more about how your child is learning that just one test in one moment in time. We take into consideration your child's daily work, their participation in class, their homework, and numerous tests throughout the year. And as always, if you are concerned, I would be more than happy to talk to you about the other testing we do!
The year is winding down, but we still have work to do....but we also have some other fun things planed as well! One of the things we wanted to do is for this week. Thursday afternoon, we wanted to have a celebration of all the hard work students did for the NYS testing with a sundae bar and movie afternoon! If you would be willing to help out by sending in some toppings/spoons/bowls/whipped cream, please drop me an email. This will be for this Thursday afternoon. Thanks in advance for helping out!
I hope everyone has a great week!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Mystery Class
Around the world, there are 10 Mystery Classes waiting to be discovered! Our class has taken up the challenge, and will use the changing sunrise and sunset times to discover the exact locations of the classes. This investigation demonstrates that, as spring sweeps across the Northern Hemisphere, daylength changes everywhere on Earth. Students see that these dramatic seasonal changes in sunlight affect the entire web of life.
Each Monday starting January 28th, we will calculate and graph the photoperiod (amount of daylight) from the sunrise/sunset data for Webster. Each Friday, we will use the data from the 10 mystery classes, to find their photoperiod. Beginning in March, we will receive interdisciplinary clues - the climate, history, geography, and more - about the classes.
This investigation will take place for 11 weeks. Once we receive all of the data, we will use the clues to try to determine the locations of the Mystery Classes. Then, we will report our findings to Journey North, and see if we are correct!
If you are interested in learning more about the Mystery Class investigation, go to Journey North to learn more! This investigation is a lot of fun, but we learn a lot!
We are only at the beginning of this investigation, and we already see that Webster's photoperiod (amount of daylight) increased from last week! We are looking forward to see more and learn about where these other classes are located!
Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns :)
Each Monday starting January 28th, we will calculate and graph the photoperiod (amount of daylight) from the sunrise/sunset data for Webster. Each Friday, we will use the data from the 10 mystery classes, to find their photoperiod. Beginning in March, we will receive interdisciplinary clues - the climate, history, geography, and more - about the classes.
This investigation will take place for 11 weeks. Once we receive all of the data, we will use the clues to try to determine the locations of the Mystery Classes. Then, we will report our findings to Journey North, and see if we are correct!
If you are interested in learning more about the Mystery Class investigation, go to Journey North to learn more! This investigation is a lot of fun, but we learn a lot!
We are only at the beginning of this investigation, and we already see that Webster's photoperiod (amount of daylight) increased from last week! We are looking forward to see more and learn about where these other classes are located!
Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns :)
Monday, January 21, 2013
It's Been a While!
I am so sorry to be missing in action the past few weeks. Our class has been so busy!
In writing, we have been working on personal essays. Students chose a topic they felt strongly about, and wrote an essay supporting their thesis. Some of the big ideas that were written about were: family is the most important thing, kids should be able to choose a sport they want to play, students should be able to play video games for as long as they want, surprises are always good, and many others! Once they wrote an introduction, they wrote three supporting body paragraphs, and then a closing paragraphs. We will be taking what we learned from personal essays to start writing an informational piece, that we will organize into books!
Math has been lots of fun! We have been working our way through word problems that have multiple steps. We have learned that reading, and rereading the word problem is a good thing! We also learned how important it was to check our answers with the original question. We found that many times, we answered one part of the question, but there was still something else we needed to do. Checking our answer and asking ourselves, "Does that answer make sense with the question?" will help us to be sure we have correctly answered the problem.
We have also be adding and subtracting multiple digit numbers. You have probably seen the dot arrays the kids were using to "regroup". The dot arrays are just another way of explaining and showing how new groups need to be made when subtracting. The squares represent 100's, the lines represent 10's, and the circles represent 1's. Students are starting to "see" how to use these when subtracting.
In science, we are applying what we learned from our study of text features, to read and understand science texts. Students used a science text book to locate information about ecosystems. The students LOVED looking through the text at all of the neat photographs and information that was in it. While they were reading, they needed to read captions, diagrams, and charts to find information they needed. They also practiced using context clues to find meanings of vocabulary words. Finally, we are getting to wrap up our Package the Pringle Project! Yea! All information from our classes and the classes from Hong Kong are ready for us to calculate the final score of each team and each class. Students will be using calculators to find the score, then analyze their data to determine the winner!
As you can see, we have been busy, but this post hasn't even covered all we have been doing! I promise you will not have to wait as long for the next post!
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Mrs. Burns
In writing, we have been working on personal essays. Students chose a topic they felt strongly about, and wrote an essay supporting their thesis. Some of the big ideas that were written about were: family is the most important thing, kids should be able to choose a sport they want to play, students should be able to play video games for as long as they want, surprises are always good, and many others! Once they wrote an introduction, they wrote three supporting body paragraphs, and then a closing paragraphs. We will be taking what we learned from personal essays to start writing an informational piece, that we will organize into books!
Math has been lots of fun! We have been working our way through word problems that have multiple steps. We have learned that reading, and rereading the word problem is a good thing! We also learned how important it was to check our answers with the original question. We found that many times, we answered one part of the question, but there was still something else we needed to do. Checking our answer and asking ourselves, "Does that answer make sense with the question?" will help us to be sure we have correctly answered the problem.
We have also be adding and subtracting multiple digit numbers. You have probably seen the dot arrays the kids were using to "regroup". The dot arrays are just another way of explaining and showing how new groups need to be made when subtracting. The squares represent 100's, the lines represent 10's, and the circles represent 1's. Students are starting to "see" how to use these when subtracting.
In science, we are applying what we learned from our study of text features, to read and understand science texts. Students used a science text book to locate information about ecosystems. The students LOVED looking through the text at all of the neat photographs and information that was in it. While they were reading, they needed to read captions, diagrams, and charts to find information they needed. They also practiced using context clues to find meanings of vocabulary words. Finally, we are getting to wrap up our Package the Pringle Project! Yea! All information from our classes and the classes from Hong Kong are ready for us to calculate the final score of each team and each class. Students will be using calculators to find the score, then analyze their data to determine the winner!
As you can see, we have been busy, but this post hasn't even covered all we have been doing! I promise you will not have to wait as long for the next post!
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Mrs. Burns
Sunday, November 25, 2012
I am Thankful
The turkey has been eaten, the pies are all gone, and out come the Christmas trees and decorations. It seems like yesterday it was fall, now the snow is starting to fall! On the eve of the last day of Thanksgiving Recess, I pull out my lesson plans, and start to fill in the blanks I have left to fill. Last week was crazy! Getting ready for Thanksgiving, finishing the essays, meeting with parents for conferences. It seemed like one thing after another, but it was a really good week. It was so great talking with parents about their children. I had such a good time talking with the kids about their essays, and listening to them read! It was busy, but fun!
But I can't help but to wonder....how did the "I am Thankful" essays go over? Did anyone read them to their families during their meal, or did they chicken out? I am looking forward to tomorrow just so I can hear all about them!
Also, don't forget! This Wednesday we are going on our field trip to Helmer's Nature Center! We had so much fun last year, and I am sure the kids are going to have a great experience this year as well. We will be back in time for lunch in the cafeteria, so they can buy if they want to. Part of the field trip will be outside, so please have your child dress for the weather! Let me know if you have any questions!
Have a great week!
Mrs. Burns :)
But I can't help but to wonder....how did the "I am Thankful" essays go over? Did anyone read them to their families during their meal, or did they chicken out? I am looking forward to tomorrow just so I can hear all about them!
Also, don't forget! This Wednesday we are going on our field trip to Helmer's Nature Center! We had so much fun last year, and I am sure the kids are going to have a great experience this year as well. We will be back in time for lunch in the cafeteria, so they can buy if they want to. Part of the field trip will be outside, so please have your child dress for the weather! Let me know if you have any questions!
Have a great week!
Mrs. Burns :)
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Native American Projects
Hello everyone!
Sorry, I am a little late on posting...we have had some busy weeks! As you know, report cards are going home this Friday! Everyone is scheduled for a conference time and I sent home reminders of your day and time this week. If the reminder didn't make it and you need another reminder, or you are no longer able to attend, please let me know asap. We can arrange another time!
Last week, we introduced our Native American projects. Students picked out a project they would like to do. We have had a lot of conversations about these projects! They will be due December 17th, which seems like a long time from now, but it will sneak up on us quickly! I wanted to address some "frequently asked questions" from both the students and parents:
1. What should be included in the project?
Each student's project should contain the following:
* a visual presentation of the assigned topic
* a written (or typed) explanation of the information illustrated by the project
* a list of references (books, websites, etc.) used for the assignment
2. Where can we get examples of past year's projects?
Mrs. Coene has a wonderful page of examples and informational resources that can be used. Visit her classroom webpage HERE.
3. When are the projects due?
All projects are due in school, December 17th. Large projects should not be brought on the bus. Projects can always be brought in before the 17th.
4. How much help should I give my child?
Your child is expected to do most of the work on this project, however, they are going to need some help! This is a great opportunity to work on a project together, but we don't want the parents to do all of the work...you all already went to 4th grade!
5. Do I have to go out and buy a bunch of materials for this project?
We do not want families to go out and buy lots of things and spend a ton of money. Feel free to use materials you have at home. Recycling is a great idea! The native americans used what resources they had to survive. If you choose to go buy things, that is fine, but it is not required. If you are having trouble getting some materials, please let me know and we can work something out.
6. What if we have a question about the project?
Anytime you have a question, please do not hesitate to send me a note, email, or call!
I know there may be more questions, so please do not hesitate to ask! After a few weeks, I will send home a "status check" for your child to complete, to see how much they have done, and what else they need to do. This way, we are keeping tabs on it so they do not wait until December 16th to work on it! Once we get the projects in, we will have a Native American Museum, where students can see what everyone has done and give feedback about the projects. We will keep the projects on display throughout the school, so everyone can see what we have been working on.
I am looking forward to meeting with all of you to talk about your child, and the progress they have made! Have a great week, and a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Burns
Sorry, I am a little late on posting...we have had some busy weeks! As you know, report cards are going home this Friday! Everyone is scheduled for a conference time and I sent home reminders of your day and time this week. If the reminder didn't make it and you need another reminder, or you are no longer able to attend, please let me know asap. We can arrange another time!
Last week, we introduced our Native American projects. Students picked out a project they would like to do. We have had a lot of conversations about these projects! They will be due December 17th, which seems like a long time from now, but it will sneak up on us quickly! I wanted to address some "frequently asked questions" from both the students and parents:
1. What should be included in the project?
Each student's project should contain the following:
* a visual presentation of the assigned topic
* a written (or typed) explanation of the information illustrated by the project
* a list of references (books, websites, etc.) used for the assignment
2. Where can we get examples of past year's projects?
Mrs. Coene has a wonderful page of examples and informational resources that can be used. Visit her classroom webpage HERE.
3. When are the projects due?
All projects are due in school, December 17th. Large projects should not be brought on the bus. Projects can always be brought in before the 17th.
4. How much help should I give my child?
Your child is expected to do most of the work on this project, however, they are going to need some help! This is a great opportunity to work on a project together, but we don't want the parents to do all of the work...you all already went to 4th grade!
5. Do I have to go out and buy a bunch of materials for this project?
We do not want families to go out and buy lots of things and spend a ton of money. Feel free to use materials you have at home. Recycling is a great idea! The native americans used what resources they had to survive. If you choose to go buy things, that is fine, but it is not required. If you are having trouble getting some materials, please let me know and we can work something out.
6. What if we have a question about the project?
Anytime you have a question, please do not hesitate to send me a note, email, or call!
I know there may be more questions, so please do not hesitate to ask! After a few weeks, I will send home a "status check" for your child to complete, to see how much they have done, and what else they need to do. This way, we are keeping tabs on it so they do not wait until December 16th to work on it! Once we get the projects in, we will have a Native American Museum, where students can see what everyone has done and give feedback about the projects. We will keep the projects on display throughout the school, so everyone can see what we have been working on.
I am looking forward to meeting with all of you to talk about your child, and the progress they have made! Have a great week, and a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Burns
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Pringles, Pumpkins and Parties...oh my!
This past week has been filled with lots of activities! First, our Xerox Science Consultant came on Wednesday to do some pumpkin measurement. We reviewed finding the circumference and height of their pumpkin using rulers and tape measure. We also reviewed the terms diameter, radius, mass, weight, and volume. While the kids were finding the circumference and height, small groups went up to find the mass of their pumpkins in grams. Once everyone made their measurements, our friend Maizy took her pumpkin up to the table to find the volume of her pumpkin. Since pumpkins don't have a set length, width and height, we had to find the volume another way. Mr. Asarese brought a HUGE beaker with him. It will filled with a certain amount of water. He showed everyone how to find the correct amount of water in the beaker by getting eye level with the water, then read how much was in it. Then we placed Maizy's pumpkin in the water until it was covered completely. Mr. Asarese had to hold it down under the surface of the water, because pumpkins float! Then Maize read the new measurement of the water. When the first amount was subtracted from the higher amount, we would find the volume of the pumpkin! We were not able to do that with everyone's pumpkins since we ran out of time, but we had a great lesson reviewing measurement, and everyone got to keep their pumpkin!
About a week and a half ago, Mrs. Coene and I brought 12 packages to the post office in Webster. Boy were the workers glad to see us! We sent all of our packages to Hong Kong. I keep checking with Mrs. Smith to see if she has received them, but no word yet! My fingers and toes are crossed that they will make it ok. The workers looked at Mrs. Coene and I a little funny when we told them that they each contained one Pringle potato chip!! This week, we will be opening the packages from Hong Kong to see how their Pringles made out! We will post data as soon as we finish.
Friday, Klem South had it's annual Halloween Costume Parade! There were safari guys, witches, gangsters, boxers, angels, dolls, and werewolves just in our classroom alone! We were even visited by Finn from Adventure Time, Carmen Santiago, and Harry Potter. We all had a fun day and had wonderful treats. One of the favorite activities was Digging For Worms. For this activity, we put a gummy worm on a paper plate and covered it with some whipped cream. Then the plates were placed on a table, with a student at each one. The goal was for each student to find the gummy worm and eat it....all with their hands behind their backs! It was loud, fun, and everyone was laughing! I will be posting pictures of the worm activity on the class web page very soon!
This week, there seems to be more excitement. Sandy is on her way, and who knows what that will bring! Not to mention, Halloween is this actually this Wednesday. Wednesday we will be keeping things low key, since we already had our party last week. Until next blog update, have a great week, and stay safe!!
Mrs. Burns :)
About a week and a half ago, Mrs. Coene and I brought 12 packages to the post office in Webster. Boy were the workers glad to see us! We sent all of our packages to Hong Kong. I keep checking with Mrs. Smith to see if she has received them, but no word yet! My fingers and toes are crossed that they will make it ok. The workers looked at Mrs. Coene and I a little funny when we told them that they each contained one Pringle potato chip!! This week, we will be opening the packages from Hong Kong to see how their Pringles made out! We will post data as soon as we finish.
Friday, Klem South had it's annual Halloween Costume Parade! There were safari guys, witches, gangsters, boxers, angels, dolls, and werewolves just in our classroom alone! We were even visited by Finn from Adventure Time, Carmen Santiago, and Harry Potter. We all had a fun day and had wonderful treats. One of the favorite activities was Digging For Worms. For this activity, we put a gummy worm on a paper plate and covered it with some whipped cream. Then the plates were placed on a table, with a student at each one. The goal was for each student to find the gummy worm and eat it....all with their hands behind their backs! It was loud, fun, and everyone was laughing! I will be posting pictures of the worm activity on the class web page very soon!
This week, there seems to be more excitement. Sandy is on her way, and who knows what that will bring! Not to mention, Halloween is this actually this Wednesday. Wednesday we will be keeping things low key, since we already had our party last week. Until next blog update, have a great week, and stay safe!!
Mrs. Burns :)
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Stream Visit #1....Success!
What an awesome day we had in 4th grade today! Right after specials, we got on our rain boots and old sneakers, gathered our equipment, and headed out to Mill Creek at Webster Park. Our class, Mrs. Coene's class, and Ms. Hanson's class did three different tasks today. One group went with Mrs. Coene. Their job was to gather macro-invertebrates to bring back to school. They needed buckets and nets to get what they needed! A second group worked with me. My group collected the following data: water temperature, water pH, levels of nitrates and phosphates, stream depth, stream width, clarity of the water, and flow rate of the stream. We used LabQuest sensors, a clarity tube, meter stick, and string to help us measure those things. The last group broke into smaller groups with Ms. Hanson, Mrs. Richardson, and a number of parents, to complete visual surveys of the area around the stream. It is important to record information about what is in and around the stream, to help us draw our conclusions about the health of the water in that stream. These groups walked the length of the stream right to where it met Lake Ontario. One of the neat things we saw was the salmon that were working their way upstream!
This afternoon, we carefully went through our stream samples of water to identify the different macro-invertebrates we collected. Some macro-invertebrates are very sensitive to pollution, so if we find a large number of those macros, we can conclude that the water in that stream has little amounts of pollution. The students had a super time searching for macros, and sharing their findings with the others. Our next step is to post all of our data to our Stream Team Wiki, and analyze what we found!
Today was a great day of learning! I would like to thank Mr. Egerton, Mrs. Willmott, and Mrs. Kidane for joining us today. We couldn't have done it without you! Enjoy the rest of the week!!
Mrs. Burns
This afternoon, we carefully went through our stream samples of water to identify the different macro-invertebrates we collected. Some macro-invertebrates are very sensitive to pollution, so if we find a large number of those macros, we can conclude that the water in that stream has little amounts of pollution. The students had a super time searching for macros, and sharing their findings with the others. Our next step is to post all of our data to our Stream Team Wiki, and analyze what we found!
Today was a great day of learning! I would like to thank Mr. Egerton, Mrs. Willmott, and Mrs. Kidane for joining us today. We couldn't have done it without you! Enjoy the rest of the week!!
Mrs. Burns
Friday, October 12, 2012
Catching Up
It has been a while since my last post! We have been very busy here at Klem South. A few weeks ago, we went to the 4th Grade Fun Run. The kids did great! It was fun to see them all do their best and cheer on their classmates. We took some great pictures of the kids toward the finish line. I will post them soon!
We also started our spelling program. We are using Words Their Way. This program helps ensure that children have a spelling program to meet their individual needs. Your child was assessed using a spelling inventory and has been placed in a group that will work on the patterns he/she has not yet mastered. On Mondays, the students are placed in their groups, and the sort is introduced. On Tuesday, they sort their words into the patterns and record the sort in their Word Work Journal. Wednesdays, they choose 6 spelling words and write complete sentences. Thursday, they do a teacher choice activity, or rainbow words. Rainbow words is where they write 10 spelling words in their journal, then write the word again using 4 different colored pencils/crayons. Fridays is their spelling test. Again, it is not about memorizing a list of words for a test on Friday. We talk about how those words work, and how the words sound. We find other words that fit the patterns they are working on. This way, when they are writing, they can apply what they learned in spelling new words. Students are expected to practice their spelling by doing an activity each night. The activities are listed in their Homework Binder, and they do not have to bring the activity they do at home to school the next day.
We have also received packages from Hong Kong! The fifth graders we are partnered with sent their Pringle Packages. The kids are so excited to open them! Ours are finished and ready to be mailed today! Next week, we will be making our videos to introduce ourselves to our new friends, and we will be opening the packages!
Next week we have our first Stream Team field trip! We will be going to Mill Creek at Webster Park on Tuesday, October 16th. Students will be measuring temperature, water clarity, stream depth/width, flow rate, nitrate/phosphate levels, and completing a visual survey of the surrounding area. We will also be collecting macroinvertebrate samples to bring back to school to identify. We will leave after specials (10:45) and be back at 12:00 at the latest. Thank you for sending in the permission slips! We even have a few parents who volunteered to go with us! If you change your mind and want to join us, just send me an e-mail!
The PTSA is also sponsering a family science night, Tuesday, October 16th. It sounds like it is going to be a ton of fun! Check out the Klem South PTSA blog for more information: http://klemsouthptsa.blogspot.com/
Here is some more dates to remember:
Wednesday, October 17th: picture day!
Friday, October 26th: PTSA Meeting (8:50 am)
Klem South Costume Parade (9:20 am)
Class Fall Party **More info about our party is coming soon!
That's about it for now! Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Burns
We also started our spelling program. We are using Words Their Way. This program helps ensure that children have a spelling program to meet their individual needs. Your child was assessed using a spelling inventory and has been placed in a group that will work on the patterns he/she has not yet mastered. On Mondays, the students are placed in their groups, and the sort is introduced. On Tuesday, they sort their words into the patterns and record the sort in their Word Work Journal. Wednesdays, they choose 6 spelling words and write complete sentences. Thursday, they do a teacher choice activity, or rainbow words. Rainbow words is where they write 10 spelling words in their journal, then write the word again using 4 different colored pencils/crayons. Fridays is their spelling test. Again, it is not about memorizing a list of words for a test on Friday. We talk about how those words work, and how the words sound. We find other words that fit the patterns they are working on. This way, when they are writing, they can apply what they learned in spelling new words. Students are expected to practice their spelling by doing an activity each night. The activities are listed in their Homework Binder, and they do not have to bring the activity they do at home to school the next day.
We have also received packages from Hong Kong! The fifth graders we are partnered with sent their Pringle Packages. The kids are so excited to open them! Ours are finished and ready to be mailed today! Next week, we will be making our videos to introduce ourselves to our new friends, and we will be opening the packages!
Next week we have our first Stream Team field trip! We will be going to Mill Creek at Webster Park on Tuesday, October 16th. Students will be measuring temperature, water clarity, stream depth/width, flow rate, nitrate/phosphate levels, and completing a visual survey of the surrounding area. We will also be collecting macroinvertebrate samples to bring back to school to identify. We will leave after specials (10:45) and be back at 12:00 at the latest. Thank you for sending in the permission slips! We even have a few parents who volunteered to go with us! If you change your mind and want to join us, just send me an e-mail!
The PTSA is also sponsering a family science night, Tuesday, October 16th. It sounds like it is going to be a ton of fun! Check out the Klem South PTSA blog for more information: http://klemsouthptsa.blogspot.com/
Here is some more dates to remember:
Wednesday, October 17th: picture day!
Friday, October 26th: PTSA Meeting (8:50 am)
Klem South Costume Parade (9:20 am)
Class Fall Party **More info about our party is coming soon!
That's about it for now! Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Burns
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Curriculum Night and Pringle Update
Last Thursday night was curriculum night for grades 3-5 at Klem South. Thank you to all the parents who attended! The kids were so excited to get a note from you! For those parents who were unable to attend, I put the powerpoint presentation on our class web page and sent home the handouts with your child. The powerpoint has lots of information on how our curriculum has shifted with the common core and how you can help your child at home. If anyone needs paper copies of anything, please just send me a note, and I would be happy to send home printed versions!
Another thing we did at curriculum night was sign up for parent/teacher conferences in November. There are still days and times available. If you have not signed up for a conference, I will be sending home a note of the available days/times. I will ask you to mark three choices. I will do all that I can to have your first or second choice for our conference.
Our Package the Pringle project is in full swing! Students were organized into their teams, and have started to plan how they will build a package to get that Pringle to Hong Kong with little damage! This week, the groups will finish their plans, and start building their packages. They will have the opportunity to test their package and make adjustments throughout the process. Our goal is to have the packages mailed to Hong Kong next week! I have just heard that our partner class in Hong Kong will be mailing them to us very soon! The kids did VERY well last week working with their groups. I heard lots of excitement, encouragement, and big plans coming together!
This week should be another exciting week! Don't forget....this Friday is the fourth grade Fun Run! All fourth graders in Webster will be at North Ponds Park for a mile fun run. It is a great event and we are sure to have fun! Have a great week!!
Another thing we did at curriculum night was sign up for parent/teacher conferences in November. There are still days and times available. If you have not signed up for a conference, I will be sending home a note of the available days/times. I will ask you to mark three choices. I will do all that I can to have your first or second choice for our conference.
Our Package the Pringle project is in full swing! Students were organized into their teams, and have started to plan how they will build a package to get that Pringle to Hong Kong with little damage! This week, the groups will finish their plans, and start building their packages. They will have the opportunity to test their package and make adjustments throughout the process. Our goal is to have the packages mailed to Hong Kong next week! I have just heard that our partner class in Hong Kong will be mailing them to us very soon! The kids did VERY well last week working with their groups. I heard lots of excitement, encouragement, and big plans coming together!
This week should be another exciting week! Don't forget....this Friday is the fourth grade Fun Run! All fourth graders in Webster will be at North Ponds Park for a mile fun run. It is a great event and we are sure to have fun! Have a great week!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Package the Pringle and Kisses
How many parents thought I was crazy when I sent home the information about our engineering project, Package the Pringle? We will be working with Mrs. Smith (a former 4th grade teacher here at Klem South) and some of her classes at Hong Kong International School. Mrs. Smith and her family moved to Hong Kong this July to teach at HKIS as a science/math specialist at the upper primary school. This project will allow the students to become engineers as they design and create a package that will protect a single Pringle potato chip as it is shipped overseas to their partner classroom. We will be working with Ms. Abercrombie's fifth grade class. Throughout the process, students learn and experience the engineering design process, employ problem-solving skills, and work cooperatively with team members. We will be creating a video to introduce ourselves to our partner class in Hong Kong as well as document our progress, make spreadsheets to collect package measurement data from each team, and create and analyze graphs of their data. This week we will be starting by having our groups brainstorm how we can create a package and what materials we will need to create this package. Friday, September 14th we would like all materials in school, so groups can start creating and building next week! This is sure to be a fun learning experience, even if Mrs. Burns is a little crazy!!
As we go out to the busses each day, I tell the students that we need to be sure to say good bye to each other. We spend all day together, and saying good by is not only good manners and polite, but it is a great way to end the day! As the students go off, we say good bye with a hug, handshake, high five, fist pump....whatever they are comfortable giving. Fridays I like to do something different. This past Friday as we were lining up, I told the class that on Fridays, not only do I like to say good bye with a hug, handshake, high five, etc., but I like to give a kiss as well! You should have seen the looks on their faces! The shocked lookes on their faces turned into giggles when I explained that the kiss I like to give is a Hershey kiss! Since I began teaching in 1998, I gave all of my students a Hershey kiss on Fridays. It was just a little something to say good work for the week and to let them know that I care about them and appreciate their hard work. Sometimes we run out of time and I can't pass them out, or I forget to pick them up at Wegmans when I am grocery shopping! But for the most part, I pass out one Hershey kiss to each student who wants one on Fridays. If you would prefer that your child not have a piece of chocolate, or your child can not have it, please send me a note so I can be sure to do something a little different for them.
So far, we have been having a great time in 4th grade! We are learning the routines and getting ready to be back into full swing very shortly! Thank you all so much for all of the help and support you give your child! Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns
As we go out to the busses each day, I tell the students that we need to be sure to say good bye to each other. We spend all day together, and saying good by is not only good manners and polite, but it is a great way to end the day! As the students go off, we say good bye with a hug, handshake, high five, fist pump....whatever they are comfortable giving. Fridays I like to do something different. This past Friday as we were lining up, I told the class that on Fridays, not only do I like to say good bye with a hug, handshake, high five, etc., but I like to give a kiss as well! You should have seen the looks on their faces! The shocked lookes on their faces turned into giggles when I explained that the kiss I like to give is a Hershey kiss! Since I began teaching in 1998, I gave all of my students a Hershey kiss on Fridays. It was just a little something to say good work for the week and to let them know that I care about them and appreciate their hard work. Sometimes we run out of time and I can't pass them out, or I forget to pick them up at Wegmans when I am grocery shopping! But for the most part, I pass out one Hershey kiss to each student who wants one on Fridays. If you would prefer that your child not have a piece of chocolate, or your child can not have it, please send me a note so I can be sure to do something a little different for them.
So far, we have been having a great time in 4th grade! We are learning the routines and getting ready to be back into full swing very shortly! Thank you all so much for all of the help and support you give your child! Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The First Day of Fourth Grade
Today was a great first day of school! We had fun making new friends and learning about what 4th grade was all about. Here are a few of the things we did today: we spent time going over our daily schedule, went to physical education with Ms. Forsey, learned about the expectations for walking in the hallway, had lunch in the cafeteria, and organized our supplies. In the afternoon, we went outside for recess. We will be going outside for recess every day (unless it is raining or too cold). We also spent a lot of time working on our agendas. We started writing in the special area classes and went over what they will be doing for homework tonight. Tonight's homework was writing in some important dates. One of the goals for our class is to learn how to be responsible and organized. The agenda will be a valuable tool for your child. As a reminder, they will need to bring their agenda to school everyday. We will be using them a lot!
One question that I got over and over again was, "When are we going to start homework?" My answer to that was, "Tonight!" Tonight they needed to complete their Get To Know Your Agenda activity, where they were inputting special dates into their agenda (we only did important dates through December...we will do the remainder of the dates at a later time). We will gradually add more homework each night so we can ease into the routine of doing some work each night. We will also be bringing home our agendas, red take home folder, as well as their homework binder. We will talk more about the homework binder in the next few weeks.
Overall, we had a great day! As we were lining up to go to the busses at the end of the day, I asked everyone to raise their hand if they had a great day. All hands were raised!! They also told me that they will be back tomorrow...I know I will be!
As always, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions/concerns. We are going to have a great year!!!
One question that I got over and over again was, "When are we going to start homework?" My answer to that was, "Tonight!" Tonight they needed to complete their Get To Know Your Agenda activity, where they were inputting special dates into their agenda (we only did important dates through December...we will do the remainder of the dates at a later time). We will gradually add more homework each night so we can ease into the routine of doing some work each night. We will also be bringing home our agendas, red take home folder, as well as their homework binder. We will talk more about the homework binder in the next few weeks.
Overall, we had a great day! As we were lining up to go to the busses at the end of the day, I asked everyone to raise their hand if they had a great day. All hands were raised!! They also told me that they will be back tomorrow...I know I will be!
As always, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions/concerns. We are going to have a great year!!!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Summer Open House
Last night my family and I did a "campfire" with our neighbors. It was a chilly evening, so sitting by the fire, chatting with my neighbors and helping kids make smores was so much fun! At 9:00, we realized how dark it was. It seems like just yesterday, it was still light out at 9:00! I guess summer is finally winding down.
We know what happens when summer winds down....school begins! I have been in our classroom a lot more, getting it ready for the year. Did you get your letter from me? I hope you did! We will be having a summer open house on Wednesday, August 29th, from 10:00 - 12:00. If you can, come on by to drop off your school supplies and see the classroom! If you need another copy of the supply list, there is a copy on our class web page. You can click here it see it: http://www.websterschools.org/webpages/eheotzler/news.cfm?subpage=7739 Let me know if you have any questions about anything.
Well, I hope you enjoy the last few days of summer. I can't wait to meet all of you!
Mrs. Burns :)
We know what happens when summer winds down....school begins! I have been in our classroom a lot more, getting it ready for the year. Did you get your letter from me? I hope you did! We will be having a summer open house on Wednesday, August 29th, from 10:00 - 12:00. If you can, come on by to drop off your school supplies and see the classroom! If you need another copy of the supply list, there is a copy on our class web page. You can click here it see it: http://www.websterschools.org/webpages/eheotzler/news.cfm?subpage=7739 Let me know if you have any questions about anything.
Well, I hope you enjoy the last few days of summer. I can't wait to meet all of you!
Mrs. Burns :)
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Welcome
Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be using this blog to update everyone on the awesome things we will be learning and doing this year. I just know we are going to have a fantastic year together! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! My family has kept me very busy but we are having a great time. Next week we head to Cape Cod for a family vacation. July seems to be flying by!
While you are enjoying your summer, be sure to mark your calendars...Wednesday, August 29th will be our summer open house! You will be getting a letter in the mail from me with more information, but on this day, you can come in and see our classroom. You can even bring in your supplies so you won't have to bring it the first day of school. Be sure to look for your letter in the mail with the times to come in.
Feel free to send me an e-mail or even post a comment below to say hi! Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I will see you soon!
Mrs. Burns :)
While you are enjoying your summer, be sure to mark your calendars...Wednesday, August 29th will be our summer open house! You will be getting a letter in the mail from me with more information, but on this day, you can come in and see our classroom. You can even bring in your supplies so you won't have to bring it the first day of school. Be sure to look for your letter in the mail with the times to come in.
Feel free to send me an e-mail or even post a comment below to say hi! Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I will see you soon!
Mrs. Burns :)
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