GeoBread Houses

Families...

Today your students should have brought home a letter about an upcoming project.  Starting the week of December 19th, we will begin planning and building "Geo"bread houses using concepts taught during our upcoming geometry unit.  In order to make this project happen we need your help!  Please donate any of the items from the list (or any other items that would work).

(image of the letter that hopefully you have seen by now)

Here are some pictures from last year
to give you an idea of what's to come!

             
   
       

Dance of the Hats

On Monday, students were FINALLY able to participate in the Red Thread Dance of the Hats.  Since our field trip was canceled last month, Springboard, artists and our hats came to visit Wyland.  The 3rd graders were able to watch our students show off their dancing skills!  I was impressed at how well the students remembered the dance steps, since we rehearsed one afternoon for 90 minutes...back in OCTOBER!

Rehearsing with our choreographer...

Students practicing their dance steps.

Lining up with their hats.

Starting the dance...

Musician and choreographer leading the dance.

Finishing the dance...

Our hats connected to the giant red thread.

4th Grade Miners

While studying the Western Region of the United States, students pretended they were a group of miners from Leadville, Colorado during the 1880's.  Their task was to write a song about their life as a miner, including information about grooming/fashion, work, living conditions, weather and leisure.

Below is one of our class favorites!  Enjoy!

Help Prevent Bullying

For the next few weeks, Miss Jenny will be focusing on the topic of bullying during her weekly SPIRIT lessons.  Please have ongoing conversations with your child about what they are learning.  These skills are not only important in 4th grade, but will be helpful throughout their lives. 

Definition of Bullying:

"A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself."   - quoted from Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

This week students have a brief bullying assignment that should be completed with an adult family member.  Please sign and return it to school by Friday.

Mastering Multiplication

We have been working hard to memorize our multiplication facts!  Students are making progress.  Today we used this site to evaluate which facts still need practice.  Use it at home anytime you'd like.

www.mathfactgenius.com

Conference Notes

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to schedule a conference--notes went home today.  Check Friday Folders!  Please select which evening/morning you'd prefer and send it back to school Monday.  Thanks!

Wednesday, October 26 -evening
Thursday, October 27 - evening
Friday, October 28 - morning only

Curriculum Night!

Curriculum Night is this Thursday, August 25th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.  It will begin with a brief welcome and introduction by Mrs. Pfeifer in the upper gym from 6:30 - 6:50.  Then you will be given time to visit your child's classroom.  Two thirty-minute sessions will be held, incase you have more than one child attending Wyland.  The first session will take place from 6:55 - 7:25.  The second session will last from 7:30 to 8:00.  It is imperative that you attend!  I look forward to seeing you all there!

Ice Cream Social

WOW--Parents in room 207 sure do care about their children (and perhaps their ice cream too)!  It was so wonderful meeting all of you tonight!  I can't wait to get the year started...and I look forward to getting to know you and your children more throughout the year.  Welcome to 4th Grade!

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Here is the link to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website which features some pictures (received via Springboard) and a press release featuring our 4th graders!

LLS - RedThreadProject

Thought you might enjoy seeing this!

Dance of the Hats

Yesterday the 4th graders took a fieldtrip to Laumeier Sculpture Park to celebrate the completion of our Red Thread Project.  Wyland chose to donate their hats to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of St. Louis.  Below are some photos and a video from our day!  Look closely to possibly locate your "famous" child!

Click the links below:
Dance of Hats - Video
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3

You're Invited....

The Red Thread Kick-Off  Event at the Park — Connecting Communities Through the Arts

This Saturday, April 16, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

 

Please join us for an afternoon of art activities including knitting hats, weaving, music, storytelling and an opportunity to benefit the community. Knitters, artists of all ages and the creatively curious are invited to work on their own projects or create items for donation to local charities.

  

Based on a Chinese proverb that describes how an invisible red thread connects us all, artist Lindsay Obermeyer’s The Red Thread Project®, as presented by Springboard, is a community art endeavor involving hundreds of students and adults in creating art while performing a community service. It visualizes a community’s interdependence through the making, connecting, exhibiting and distributing of handmade hats.

This is a free event and will take place rain or shine...

I hope to see you there!

http://www.redthreadproject.com/ - More information about the Red Thread Project
http://theredthreadproject.wordpress.com/ - Read the blog about our current project

Inside a Box

For Black History Month earlier this year, our class studied Henry "Box" Brown.  Students from my nephew's school also studied Henry and completed a project which is now on display at the Missouri History Museum through November 27, 2011.  Check it out!

More details at the Missouri History Museum website.

So much to say...

1.  Field trip - Our WiseWrite field trip will last pretty much all day on Friday.  Students should dress nicely (similar to something they would wear for Picture Day...)  Also, lunches will be provided, so no need to send one with your child!

2.  Multiplication Facts - Earlier this week a letter went home showing how your child is doing with multiplication (and division facts).  Please continue working with your child at home!  This is an extremely important skill!

3.  Red Thread Volunteers - The 4th grade is looking for adults who are interested in helping attach the hats our students have knitted to a "red thread."  Students will not be involved in this part of the project.  A letter went home today.

When: Tuesday, April 19   9am - 12pm(volunteers will take shifts and will not be expected to stay the entire time!)

Where: Wyland Elementary

4.  Red Thread Family Day - This event will take place on Saturday, April 16th from 1 pm - 4 pm at Laumeier Sculpture Park in Sunset Hills/South County.  There will be many activities for children and family members of all ages.  Please mark your calendar & plan a special family outing!  Note: This event will take place rain OR shine...  Hope to see you there!

WiseWrite Fieldtrip

All 4th and 5th graders will be going on the WiseWrite fieldtrip as long as their permission slips are signed.  The fieldtrip takes place on Friday, April 8th.  Lunch will be provided and they should dress nicely.  Permission slips went home today!  Please sign and return them to school by Tuesday, April 5th.  Thank you!

Conference Reminder

Conferences start tomorrow night! I will send home a reminder the night before your scheduled conference.  If you are unsure about your time or are unable to make it, please contact me so we can reschedule.  Also, feel free to bring your 4th grader to the conference with you.  It's important for them to hear about their progress, strengths and areas of concern.  I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Engrade

As many of you know, I keep an online gradebook to keep track of student grades.  During fall conferences I informed parents how to sign up and access their child’s grades.  

Today, I decided to give students the ability to create a username and password for engrade with me, so they have the freedom to check their grades on their own.  I am hoping this will increase their effort and grades, especially if there is room for improvement.  Perhaps students will be more likely to take ownership and responsibility for their grades, learning and overall education.  Feel free to ask your child for the information so you are able to access their grades as well.

If you already created a username and password for engrade, we were unable to make another one.  Please share that information with your child, if you'd like...I will be giving students the occasional opportunity to check their progress here at school.

Your support is always appreciated!

Kleenex

Our supply of Kleenex is running low--and we still have about 3 months to go!  We would appreciate it if you could send in a box.
Thank you!

4th Quarter is here!

Monday, March 7th was the start of 4th quarter!  Can you believe it?  I hope to see students put forth their best effort as they wrap up their fourth grade experience!  Please continue checking in with your child (assignment books, homework, grades, behavior, etc.)  This time of year can cause students to get "summer fever," especially as the weather becomes nicer and the end of the year approaches.

Spring Conferences

Spring conferences are scheduled for:
Tuesday, March 15 - evening
Thursday, March 17 - evening
Friday, March 18 - morning

I look forward to meeting with you and your fourth grader to discuss progress and goals. Reminders will be sent home next week. If you are unable to make your scheduled conference time, please let me know as soon as possible so we can reschedule. Thank you!

Hello Blog World!

Hello to my wonderful students and families!

I've decided to start a blog--Why?  Well, why not?!?  I hope this will enable me to keep families more aware of what's going on in our classroom.  I also plan to post my monthly newsletters, "Mrs. A's Memo," for parent viewing.  It would be great if blogging would simply increase the open lines of communication between families and myself.

Please feel free to comment, question or respond to posts at anytime.  I look forward to blogging with you!