Class Info, News, & Views
Need to contact me? WORK 258-9146, ext. 132 HOME 258-3424 CELL 231-357-2527
I will be out of the classroom Tuesday the 18th thru Friday 21st. I am having gall bladder surgery and there will be a highly qualified guest teacher in the room. Should you have any pressing questions or concerns, please contact the office @ 258-9146. I am planning on returning to the classroom on Monday, November 4th.
We began our Team Teaching Math Ability Groups this week. So far, the children and I are both excited about the results. All the 4th grade children have been pre-tested for the next Math unit. We compiled all the scores and then organized 4 different Math Groups according to their learning levels. Each group will be taught with several educators in the room specifically trained to the ability level of their groups. At the completion of this unit, the children will, again, be pre-tested and then assigned to ability grouped classes according to their gifts. This system was tested last year and very good results were obtained. We have high hopes and plan to utilize this system for the remainder of the school year.
I will be sending Lexile Letters home this week as well. These letters are the results of the recent NWEA testing. Reading scores we obtained are valuable as they are used in addition to DIBELS and Accelerated Reader results in order to accurately determine each child's comfortable reading level. Each letter contains a "Lexile Range" that your child should be able to read comfortably within from the easiest level up to the challenge limit. I would like to see the children strive to find books within or at the upper range level. That is how real reading achievement and improvement takes place. You may find Lexiled Book Information at this website on the Main Page or by surfing to www.lexile.com and looking it up yourself. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Please view my "Biography" page and check me out.
Our Social Studies curriculum has changed drastically this year. Because of this, please disregard the Michigan History Page and the Michigan History Webquest Page on our main page. They will be changed soon.
It is my policy to mail grades home at the end of each month regardless of mid-terms or report cards. If you do not receive these or have any questions, PLEASE contact me. I can provide you with grades any time you request. Neither you or I want any unpleasant surprises! 4th grade is perhaps the biggest year in a child's life learning to accept responsibility and thinking for themselves. I work hard at teaching the children these concepts. I remind them constantly during the first 9 weeks of the school year, but it is NOT MY POLICY to accept late work or "do overs" after the first report card. Our children are growing up. It is our responsibility to help them.
I have added the entire Accelerated Reader Catalog, either via Title or Reading Level as links to our Main Page. Please click on them to assist you in your search for appropriate reading material for your child.
IF IT IS EASIER FOR YOU, YOU MAY ALWAYS CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL. JUST CLICK ON THE LINK ON OUR MAIN PAGE.
The Kalkaska Elementary PTO serves both Birch Street and Cherry Street schools. They will meet the following times/dates this school year: September 23, October 28, November 25, January 27, April 28, and May 26th, all at Birch Street Elementary Library. Please support this local organization. You can't believe the amount of support we get each year from these fine ladies.
Again this year, the Kalkaska Elementary PTO is collecting for our Cash for Trash Campaign. Please send in any Northland Receipts, Campbell Soup Labels, Spartan Brand Labels and others with your child to our class and they will be collected monthly. The school receives a check twice a year worth 50% of the amount collected. This provides valuable supplies for our classrooms!
As such, this website will provide you with anything you may need to know concerning your child's education. I update this weekly so all of our stuff is fresh. During the year I would like to display online examples, pictures, and even short film clips of several children's work. Any software you need to view these are available for free download by links on our main page. I will be sending home permission slip for this. I must have your permission for this. If you have any questions about liability or security, please read the disclaimer and click on the Kidz Privacy or COPPA links on the main page. You may download or print out any needed forms including permission slips, notes home, spelling lists, and even the Problem of the Week. If you can't find it on here, please call me. I must be slipping.
I also publish a monthly newspaper (Northern Lites) that goes home around the end of the month. Look for this in your child's bag or download it online at our main page.
You can view current assignments at our Class Projects page. Also, check out our School Lunch Menu page. Look for the current edition of Northern Lites and the Students of the Month as well. Patience is the key...depending on file sizes, download times can run from 2 to 15 minutes. Files that require additional software are easily augmented by downloading the free Microsoft or Apple Viewing Software on our main page. I will note this when I post these files.