Keizer Gazette
October 9, 2015
We have started our Global Reading Project this week. Thousands of
classrooms around the world are reading The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
and then having discussions about the book. Wednesday we met the class we are
connecting with through a Mystery Skype. The students had to guess where each
class was located based on a set of questions that was asked by each class. When
the teacher from our mystery class began speaking, several of our students knew
right away that she lived in the south. She had a very thick Southern drawl. The
class we will be working with is from Alabama. We will Skype with each other at
least once a week to discuss the book. During the next five weeks, students will
begin two projects – a habitat research project and a poetry writing unit. I will
send more information about each project next week.
Today we had a lesson about Digital Citizenship. I put the game we used as
part of our discussion on my class website. (http://www.dps61.org/Domain/2643)
It can be found under the tab of ‘Great Websites to Visit’ and then under the
heading ‘Technology.’
If you have not returned your Parent-teacher conference note, please do so
as soon as possible. It really is important for us to meet and discuss your child’s
educational needs.
We had several students become Math Stars with addition
facts last month. This month and the next few months we will be
working on multiplication facts. To become a Math Star this
month, students must correctly answer 70 multiplication facts
within 5 minutes. Students must do each row or column without skipping any
problems. Next month the number of correctly answered problems will increase
to become a Math Star. Facts or fun will now be once a month for 30 minutes
instead of every week for 15 minutes at the end of the month.
Scholastic Book orders are due by Friday, October 16th. You may send the
order in with your child with cash, a check, or money order. The check or money
order should be payable to Scholastic. You may also order online at the following
website:
https://clubs2.scholastic.com/?esp=CORPHP/ib/////NAV/Parents/QLinks/Reading
Club////. You will need the classroom code. It is GQHPM.
October 15th is a fundraiser at Culver’s by Brettwood Village. Ten percent
of all purchases during the late afternoon and evening hours will be donated to
Oak Grove. More information will be sent home about this next week.
There is no school on Monday in observance of Columbus Day.
I hope everyone has a great extended weekend!