This week we have been taking a practice New York State ELA exam.

The students are completing all three booklets.

I have told them to try their very best…but not to stress out about it.

There are many purposes for us to be administering these test. First, it  is helpful for the students to get a glimpse into what they are expected to do in three short months. Second, the data will be used to help drive my instruction in order to help them to be prepared for the ”real thing”. 

These are not the only reason, however they are the two that I shared with the class. I wanted to be sure to share it with you (their parents) as well.

:O) Mrs.  Spata

Our theme this year is current events! PARP will go for two weeks this year! January 9th-20th.

Feel free to read anything regarding current events…newspapers, magazines, or check out the links in our new current events section on the bottom right of the blog screen.

If you choose to complete the optional Current Events Project…it is due on Mondays.

If you and your child can read together for 15 minutes 4 times a week and write me a note stating the days you read with your signature on it…and we have 100% participation as a class…I have promised the class an in class movie as a reward!!!

I know that reading together is difficult to do with everyones busy schedules, but weekends count too. Plus it is invaluable time to spend with your child!!!

:O) Mrs. Spata

There is an issue with all of my interactive widgets…the things on the right side of my page

I am working on fixing the problem. Sorry for any inconvenience!

The links are still up and running.

:O) Mrs. Spata

Happy New Year to all of you!!

May 2012 bring you and your family all the most wonderful things!! 

:O) Mrs. Spata

This time of the year always flies by so quickly!!! :O)

We will have two special events to help celebrate the holiday season this year. We are in need of some volunteers to donate supplies for these fun days. Please post on here or email me if you are able to send in any of these supplies.

Thank you and have a happy and safe holiday season!!!

On Monday, December 19th we will be decorating gingerbread cookies with our kindergarten book buddies.

Supplies Needed:

2 packages of peel apart twizzlers -donated already

bag of mini M&Ms -donated already

bag of mini chocolate chips

2 bags of coconut shavings donated already

On Friday, December 23rd we will have a class winter ice cream party.

Supplies needed for 25 sundaes:

bowls -donated already

spoons-donated already

 2 gallons of ice cream (flavors to be voted on) -donated already

whip cream donated already

 chocolate syrup -donated already

 cherries -donated already

sprinkles -donated already

any yummy toppings

 gummy monkeys  -donated already

kit kat bars -donated already

M&Ms  -donated already

Native American Day was a huge success!! Thank you to all of our parent volunteers! Without your help, we could not have had such a fun-filled day!!

Have your child tell you all about the day! They rotated around three activities in the morning. Then we concluded the day with a “pow wow” together with Mrs. Franz’s class. We used the instruments that we made as we participated in a traditional rain dance!

:O) Mrs. Spata

Be sure to look at the pictures on the “photo gallery” page!

Today I gave a pop quiz on the Native American unit.

As I have said since the first day of school to my students and to their parents at meet the teacher night…it is next to impossible to cram last minute for our units of study this year. They are long and complex.

There may be times during the year where I will score these pop quizzes as “real” quizzes. This time I set it up as an opportunity for extra credit. I wanted to reward my students who have been studying through out the unit with an opportunity to earn additional points on Tuesday’s Social Studies test.

It is now possible to earn a 105% on the Native American Test next week!

Congratulations to those of you who earned all 5 points today!!! I am very proud of you!!!!

:O) Mrs. Spata

Tasting Tuesdays

Tasting Tuesdays will be on every Tuesday until April. Once again the PTA will be offering a sample of a little healthy snack during lunch time period for kids who returned their permission slip into their teachers.  If your child does not want to have the sample tasting day but did return the permission it is totally ok.  But we will not be able to serve your child unless we have your signed permission slip. 

            If moms want to participate in serving healthy snacks please contact either Diane Sarrocco at dsarrocco@aol.com or Maryellen McCutchen at mccutchensix@aol.com.

Your publicists,

Viva and Amanda

Tackan PTA and Student Council invite you to be a part of our Harvest Food Drive.

Our class has been asked to donate large size canned sweet potatoes and marshmallows for special thanksgiving Baskets. These baskets will directly help families within our Tackan community!

:O)

It was neccessary this week to begin to implement “Weekend Old Work”.

Students are given ample time in class to complete all assignents. They are even given, since it is still early in the year, some “old work catch-up time” that is dedicated specifically to allow students to be successful as we begin to build the amount of work they are responsible for.

We are now half way into November and I have some students that are not completing their work by the end of the week. Not all assignements need to be completed by Friday. Some are long assignments that will be given additional time the next week.  However, many can and should be completed that day if not the next.I sent home work that is 2 weeks old today. Please check your child’s backpack or ask them if they have work to do.

I appreciate your continued support as we help your son/daughter learn to be accountable for their assignments and successful in fourth grade!!

:O) Mrs. Spata