LongCHAMPions Log

Tomorrow through Thursday the 4th graders of MBS will be taking their Science NECAPs, for this year.  To help the kiddos be ready for the test I would ask that you have your children get a good night’s sleep and that they have a good “brain” breakfast tomorrow.  These two things will help them to do their best on the test.  I have also told the kiddos that they may bring in gum to chew- during the test- and/ or mints to suck on.  I will also try to get some mints tonight between the softball game and getting my son from the CHS practice of The Nerd tonight. 

Also, on Friday, please remember that our class will be on our Vermont State fieldtrip.  We will leave MBS at 9:00 AM and then return by bus dismissal, at the latest. Please be sure that your child dresses for the weather, as we will be outside during the trip some.  Also, please send in a bag lunch with your child, as well as at least one snack for them to eat, after we leave our Statehouse tour.  Every year we have an awesome trip and I believe that this will be a year of no exception.  The kids are not to bring any “technology” that can communicate with another piece of technology.  In the past we have had difficulties, so not having them makes the day flow nicely.  However, all students are welcome to bring a camera if they would like one.  Mrs. Chittenden and I will have our cell phones, if one is needed.

If you signed up to chaperone please be here by 8:50- 9:00.  We will start our day in a schoolwide assembly and then leave by bus at 9:00, to start our day.  There will be some seats on the bus, I believe, but please be prepared to drive or carpool, too.  Thank you for allowing us to have you on Friday to make our trip that much better.

Sincerely,

Heather

This week was full of changes and surprises!  We all enjoyed our Valentines’ Day celebration, so that you all for helping to make this a great time with all your treats for us!  We truly appreciated it.

This week:

Writing:  The students were introduced to writing a Response to Literature on the book Amazing Grace.  They were told to answer the question, “Why is Grace the best Peter Pan?”  They are to use a direct quote from the literature to help prove their two proof points. This has been a challenge, and they continue to persevere through this assignment, to strengthen their writing skills.

Math:  This week we finished up Unit 7 in our math program.  Tomorrow the students will complete their Unit 7 math assessment.  During this unit we reviewed and learned about fractions, equivalent fractions, fractions and  decimals, compared fractions, and learned about probability (chance).  The children know that they are always to prove to me how they got their answer. 

Math Skills:  This week we played math games to reinforce the multiplication facts that they have been working on learning to memory this year.

Science:  The students have continued on their learning of LAND and WATER through the various experiments that they have been working on in their cooperative groups. We also reviewed this week about how cooperative groups work and that everyone has a voice and that nobody is the boss.  This concept of cooperative groups will be reinforced this year many times.

Reading Skills:  The children have been doing a great job practicing their fluency reads.  Please ask you child what TTQA means.   They should be able to tell you what this stands for, as well as what it means.

Reading:  As I continue to complete an F & P reading assessment with each of your children, the kiddos continue to read their E.B. White book, as well as work on their Reading Menu work.  For their Menu work they are completing a Literature Circle job on their E.B. White book, practice with nouns and proper nouns, complete a NECAP practice using an almanac to find information, complete a vocabulary sheet, as well as a comprehension sheet about the Internet, and complete fluency reads on two African American individuals- Daisy Bates and Andrew Foster.  This may seem like a large amount of work, but they are given 2 weeks to complete these assignments.

FYI-Our class goal is to be  “thinkers of others,” not a “me thinkers.”  We have a marble jar that we move marbles when the teachers find our class being thinkers of others.  As soon as the marbles have all moved into the IN jar our class will be eligible to have the Harmony House Osprey flag proudly displayed on our door, as well as be our class being announced over the intercom that we “met our goal.”  Go LongCHAMPions!

As you can see our class thoroughly enjoyed our Fall Festival.  The kiddos each participated in an apple dunking,  a “Rice Krispy” hand, activities at a table and SNACKS!!!  The smiles in our room were contagious!  Thank you to all the grown- ups who helped with our celebration!  We really are appreciative.

Hello Families,

Wel,l the kiddos are so happy that they are done their NECAPs for this year.  Families will probably get the results of these NECAPs in the Spring.

I just wanted to tell you a few quick things:

• Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 19, our class will be redoing our class picture, as we were not all able to be  present last time.  I love to have all of our class together, if I can.
• Thursday, October 20, will be pajama day at MBS.  The kiddos are to wear appropriate pjsand slippers,  if they wish.  They may also bring a small stuffed animal and /or a small blanket to spend the day with .  The children know that they may only have these additions if they are able to continue their learning day with them.
• Friday, October 21, is a Teacher Inservice day.  The kiddos do not have school this day.  However, it makes them smile when they know that the teachers have school, but not them.
• A phone call may be made to you soon regarding our Fall Festival, so don’t be surprised if you hear from our room mom.

Have a great, relaxing weekend + off with your wonderful child, if you can.

I will see the kids back on Monday!

Mrs. Longchamp (Heather)

This week has been exciting, to say the least.  Yesterday was Walk to School day and it was wonderful seeing all the kiddos walk and make the choice to do so.  The children received a pencil, sticker and tie pull from many different people at our school, upon entering our building. Champ also came to help us with this exciting day!

Reading:  The students took time to practice for the upcoming NECAP assessments.  We also discussed test taking skills which they will use for the rest of their lives.

Reading Skills Time:  Some of the students are working very hard on improving fluency, while others are working very hard on reading skills that they still need help on, such as cause and effect, comparison/ contrast, drawing conclusions, etc. 

Math:  We finished unit 2 this week and have assessed it.  When the assessment comes home would you all please look over your child’s work, with your child  and then sign the assessment.  The children then bring the assessment back to me and then I check off in my book that a grown- up has seen their assessment.  Thank you!  We also did complete some NECAP practice for math, too.

Math Skills Time:  During this time the students are working hard on memorizing the multiplication facts.  They have been assessed, so that they are  working  on the facts that they do not know within 3 seconds.  Please have your child practice their math facts for about 10 minutes nightly, as they will need to know these facts for the rest of their life.

Writing:  This week the children were writing about pickles.  They also wrote about their favorite space outside of school.  Then they all typed (are typing) their paragraph up on the computer.

Social Studies:  We have been learning how Vermont came to be the state she is now.  We started our history lessons with Samuel de Champlain coming to this land in 1609 and are now discussing how the colonists will band together to get the English rule out of this land.  How did Vermont become her own country for 14 years and why did this happen?  Why is the Connecticut River called the Connecticut River?   These questions will be answered very soon.

Spelling:  ALL of the fourth graders receive an on grade level spelling lesson weekly or bi- weekly.  Then the students continue to work on the lessons that they need instruction on.  Some of your children stay with me and some of your children have their spelling instruction with Mrs. Chittenden.

Oral Reading:  We are currently reading Green Mountain Hero.  We are at the part when Amos and Solomon are looking for another bear for the winter and they now have honey to take them through the winter, until the sap flows.  They are also going to build furniture for the homestead, during the winter time.  They are almost ready to have the rest of the family come to the new homestead from Connecticut.  Boy, they hope that Ann likes the new loghouse.  Be sure to ask your child what welse is happening in this book.

Reminders:

NECAPs are happening next week!  3 reading sessions and 3 math sessions, for 4th graders.  Please have your child get plenty of rest and also have a great breakfast each morning.  We are just asking them to do their best!

There is no school for students on Friday, October 21.  This is a teacher in-service day.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Heather

            Hello, my name is Mrs. Longchamp and I would like to welcome you to fourth grade. Our classroom number is 200, in the Harmony House.  This will be my 14^th year teaching at Malletts Bay School and I am excited to begin with you all.  This summer I will be taking a technology class, right here at M.B,S., as well as having some family time.   Our family loves to swim in our pool, go fishing in Lake Champlain and in the ocean, see our extended family, read, etc. This will be a very busy, but hopefully wonderful summer for all of us. 

            When summer is over and fall is approaching, you can look forward to a very exciting year.  We will learn with our house mates and also with our fourth grade friends in Mrs. Chittenden’s classroom.  Just as a reminder, Mrs. Miles and Mrs. Schroeder will be teaching 3^rd grade, Mrs. Chittenden and myself will be teaching 4^th grade and Mrs. Rogers and Mr. Renner will be teaching 5^th grade.