Holiday Party

WOW! Thanks for the fabulous response to the party needs.
I just wanted to let you know that for tomorrow's party the following items have already been sent in: juice boxes, plates, cups, and napkins...in case you still had shopping to do. Hope you can make it at 1:30 on Wednesday.

newsletter

should be up to the school website sometime today...my school computer has a virus, so I am not able to post it to the blog myself at this time. sorry.

12.5 Newsletter

newsletter 11.28

http://sps.k12.mo.us/mann/Faculty/Newsletters/ThomasNewsletter.pdf

this week

Newsletter for the Week of 11.14-18

Spelling City

Hello All.
I wanted to send a quick note to let you know I have been putting the spelling words into a website. Spelling City is a great place for your kids to practice, learn, and test on their spelling words each week.

http://www.spellingcity.com/spelling-list-search-results.html?controller=search&searchby=tname&term=maria+thomas

Once here...click on my name and choose your child's list for the week.

Have a great weekend.
Maria

test

just testing out feedburner.

This Wednesday...

is dress like your favorite celebrity or character day. This spirit day benefits the Horace Mann technology committee and costs $1.00 to participate.

Week 9 Spelling Lists 10.17-22

Blue List: moist, gown, bounce, noise, pound, howl, mount, ouch, couch, frown, mouth, and clown

Gold List: envoy, turmoil, sirloin, lounge, stout, oyster, poise, cauliflower, blouse, loyal, doubt, powder

Gold Listers: it's ONLY Hailey this week! Way to go girl!

News for the Week of 10.17-10.21

Happy Monday. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I spent most of it outside in the beautiful weather.
Thanks for another great week with your children. With the end of quarter coming next Tuesday, thanks for continuing to support your child in completion of all assignments. On that note, please remember that students don't have school on Wednesday, October 26 as it is a teacher work and professional learning day.
Our class did great at Missouri State for the Literature Festival on Friday. Both the authors and illustrators had a lot of great information to share with us. Tomorrow we are headed to the Little Theater to see the play "Flat Stanley".
I hope you and your family will be able to make it to our school Fall Festival on Friday evening. Another reminder about the event is coming home today. Cupcakes, chili, and volunteers are needed.
Have a terrific week,
Maria
btw: I will not be at school tomorrow. I'm headed to Kansas City for the birth of my FIRST niece, Lilli. I'm beyond excited!!!

Spelling Words for the Week of Oct. 10-14 and News

Blue List: Gold List:
motor porch
bother hermit
pillar circuit
actor orchard
crazier giraffe
corner garbage
world fjord
sugar numerator
beggar party
thirty orange
germs charge
sister chirp

Gold Listers: Asantae, Milaika, Will, and Rayne

Don't forget we have a field trip this Friday at MSU. Please remember to send in permission slips and $5 for our trip. Students must also bring a sack lunch for the trip.

Testing and a Thank You

Family and Friends.
A huge thanks to all of you that were able to stop by last night for Open House. The kids loved showing you where they "live" each day and I enjoyed talking to you...if even for a minute.

I have added a new feature to the blog which includes an email subscription. You simply type your email in the rectangle at the top of the page and hit submit. Each time I post in blogger you will receive an email with the information.

Thanks.
Maria

Spelling Words and News for the Week of 9/26-30

Blue List:


beast


float


dreamy


soaked


brain


loafer


follower


clean


paint


elbow


mower


cloak





Gold List:


bleacher


seacoast


league


tomorrow


stagecoach


moonbeam


waist


sneak


entertainment


tease


season


growth


gold listers:
zack, sydney, cross, hailey, will, dakota, holley, tim, rayne, dontae, and jesse

everyone else is a blue lister.


Reminder: Tonight is open house. The Mann ice cream social is from 5-5:30 and classrooms will be open from 5:30-6:30.


Tonight is also Texas Roadhouse night for Mann. 10% of all sales come back to our school. Just mention to your server that you are a Mann family.

Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.

go to http://www.chexmixstackup.com/ and play a little game to win Box Tops for our classroom. You can play each day through Nov. 30th to earn Box Tops.

Online Math Resources

Tomorrow your child will receive a password for Everyday Mathematics. This password will enable them to play Everyday Math (EM) games from home, all family letters and homelinks, and to access an online Student Reference Book (their hardback math book). This password will be taped in to the front of their planner.

Go to the following site: emgames.com
Click: at home student login
In the teacher box put: Mrs. Thomas
Enter the child's first and last name and password and then click Start.

Spelling Words for the Week of 9.12-9.16

Blue List:
1. coutry
2. repay
3. cavity
4. survey
5. supply
6. stray
7. trying
8. shy
9. defy
10. library
11. lonely
12. rely

Gold List:
1. midday
2. bylaw
3. hallway
4. cypress
5. defray
6. spicy
7. screenplay
8. lullaby
9. whereby
10. imply
11. happily
12. notify

Gold Listers: shane, cross, hailey, asantae, madison, will, dakota, heidi, rayne, and ethan
Blue Listers: everyone else :)

Tomorrow is Domino's Night

Families,
Tomorrow, and the second Wednesday of every month, will be Domino's Pizza Night at Mann. A portion of sales for the evening are donated directly back to our school. In addition, the class with the most participation wins a free pizza party each month. If you are looking to avoid making dinner tomorrow, here is the information to order. Your child did receive a coupon today with the following information on it, although that might not be accessible when you are trying to order.

Coupon Code S17

Medium 1 topping: 5.99
Large 1 topping: 6.99
X.Large 1 topping 8.99

Medium any topping: 8.99
Large any topping: 9.99
X.Large any toppping: 11.99

In addition, there are specials on some of the side items.
Call Domino's at 889.3131 and let dinner be taken care of tomorrow evening!

Thanks for supporting our school.

Learning Fast Facts

I would like to get you involved in something we are doing in our math class this year. Every year, I have many parents tell me, “My child is struggling in math. What can I do to help them get better?”

I want to answer that question with some very boring but important advice. Basic multiplication facts are a major component of the foundation of math in 4th grade and beyond. It is vital for students to have their basic multiplication facts (at the very least through 10, preferably through 12) memorized in order to keep from falling behind and getting overwhelmed this year. If we are doing a difficult, multi-step, multi-operation problem later in the year, and we still don’t know what 4x6 is, we’re going to be in for a very stressful and frustrating experience.

We are setting a class goal to have all of our students get 100% on a 5-minute multiplication test. This is a written test composed of 100 basic, single-digit multiplication facts (3x7, 9x8, etc.). Students have 5 minutes to complete the test. Obviously this will require the student to be able to recite their facts quickly as well as accurately. We will take this test once a week, as well as, daily multiplication tests.

As you might imagine, we are a long way from our goal. This is partially due to the fact that it is still early in the year, students could be rusty from summer vacation, etc. I fully expect that it will dramatically increase as the year progresses. Next week, students will receive goal sheets to take home and go over with you. These goal sheets will show their scores and provide opportunity to make goals for the next 5-minute test. In addition to making a percentage goal, I would also like students to make specific goals for how they can improve. Students will receive extra credit if the goal sheet is turned in and signed by a parent.

I want to share some resources for you to help your child practice their multiplication facts at home. I will do as much as I can to help them in school, but independent practice outside of the classroom will really sharpen their skills. Please feel free to explore the following resources with your child if you have the time:

www.everydaymathonline.com – students have personal passwords for this website, which includes games such as Multiplication Baseball, Factor Captor, Multiplication Top-It, and Name That Number. These games can range from very basic multiplication facts to more challenging ones, depending on the version you choose.

http://www.mathplayground.com/spaceracer_multiplication.html - Space Racer X – You are Space Racer X, an intergalactic explorer and daring captain of a new line of mathematical spacecraft. You are the first person to attempt to reach a distant planet under constant asteroid attack. How far can you guide your spacecraft?

http://www.mathplayground.com/balloon_invaders.html - Number Invaders - The Number Invaders are descending upon the innocent inhabitants of a distant planet. Help Trevor keep the Number Invaders a safe distance away. You'll need instant recall of math facts and a steady hand to win this game!

News for the week of Sept. 6-9

Spelling test will be on Friday.
Blue Listers: Shane, Sydney, Logan, Hailey, Dakota, Holley, Leeann, Sheldon, Heidi, Andy, Timmy, Shaylee, Dontae, Ethan, and Collin
Gold Listers: Caleb, Cross, Asantae, Madison, Will, Rayne, Jesse, and Grace

Blue List:
1. access
2. export
3. explore
4. drizzle
5. aspect
6. clever
7. bother
8. comet
9. usher
10. critic
11. golf
12. missing

Gold List:
1. visible
2. inspect
3. shiver
4. swung
5. ultra
6. exit
7. picnic
8. wring
9. snuggle
10. ember
11. activity
12. eggplant

We will also be having a science test on Friday and a math test on Thursday. A study guide for science will be coming home tomorrow.

This Week's List

our test will be Friday, Sept.2
1.grip
2. knit
3. kept
4. odd
5. struck
6. ditch
7. brush
8. west
9. dock
10. dull
11. drag
12. practice

Welcome to the Fourth Grade

Families,

I have a had a great three days getting to know your children and look forward to the entire year with each one! It seems to be a great blend of children so I know they will grow tremendously!

I will keep our weekly news updated on this, our classroom blog. This is the only week that I will send it in paper form. I have printed copies for each learner to bring home on Tuesday and will do so for another week. Following that, I will only send paper copies to those that request it, so please let me know if you have a need for a paper copy of the weekly news. Instead, I will send a reminder each week containing the web link so you are able to view class news via the internet! We can save a lot of paper doing it this way. Here is the link for the news: http://mrsthomasatmann.blogspot.com/ Feel free to bookmark this on your browser!

This week will bring content, routine, and procedures in all classes! Our planners were passed out today and we are still three short. For now, those kids will have copies, but they will receive them soon. Keep an eye on that planner to know what activities and assignments your child needs to complete each evening as your child will be required to write in the planner in each core class each day. Feel free to email, call, or stop by should you have any questions, too! So far your support has been awesome, and I am thrilled to work with such wonderful families this year!

Enjoy a wonderful week,

Maria