Getting ready for the new year!

Hello!  Just about this time every year I start to get excited for the beginning of school.  This post is to share that excitement and check in with everyone out there.  I am so excited to see all of you during the first weeks of school, and wanted to update everyone on a few small tidbits of information.

First off, my classroom has moved, it is now just down the hall from where it was, across from the art room and right next door to Mrs. Gannon!  This move is great for a bunch of reasons:  One reason is it means that my grade alike teaching partner and I will be right next door.  Now this is exciting because a) my teaching partner is Mrs. Gannon, and b) all the fourth graders will be in close proximity to one another which will allow them to interact easily, as well as allow me to see students who are in a different class this year, but whom I love seeing on a daily basis.  Geez, that was sort of a long cascading list of different things...

Second of all I wanted to let everyone know about supplies for the coming school year.  Our classroom will have all the supplies that everyone needs for a successful and engaged year.  That being said, many people still like to have some of their own stuff (I know that I certainly do).  Generally speaking there are only really two physical supplies that are needed in fourth grade: something to write with, and a binder to keep things tidy.  If kids would like to bring their own pencils my suggestion is a simple mechanical one (Bic makes some lovely ones that come in multi-packs for a relatively low price), and a 3 ring binder, I have some wonderful plain black ones for students but some times kids like ones with their favorite characters printed on them, or kittens and unicorns or something, you know what I am talkin' about.

Anyhow, I hope you all have a wonderful final week of summer, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday the 28th.

If you have any questions, drop me a line at dwillard@u32.org.

-Dave

Information coming home and East Montpelier unit.

Hell all, we have had another wonderful week.  We are investigating fractions as a part of one whole, sowing the seed in our garden, learning about East Montpelier, and writing fairy tales!  I have been working to add more photos, and to view them, just check out the photos tab o nthe top right hand side of the blog.

I am also excited to try out and e-permission slip for field trips!  Below is the link for an e-permission slip for a walking field trip we will be taking on Wednesday next week.  Please use this link to give permission for this trip:

https://docs.google.com/a/wcsu32.org/forms/d/1L8I3u7v715WvB9mZwn7V0nD6yELpDIT04kjNK47CdJ0/edit

Also, there is a paper copy in the blue folder your student brought home today if you would rather go "old school."

Thanks and have a great weekend!

-Dave

Blue Folders with Placement forms.

Hey all, please check your student's backpack this evening for a blue folder.  In this folder are the parent input form for next years class placement.  Please fill them out thoughtfully and send them back to me by Friday 5-12-17.

Thanks,
Dave

A new resolution and flower beds!

First off, I have a new resolution, which is to take more photos here at school.  I am not a natural photographer, and am working on adding taking pictures to my repertoire.  So, to that end I have added a photos page to this blog, and will be using this to try to hold myself accountable for taking pictures!

Also, we are beginning an investigation of hardy-annual flowers.  We have done some research, and will be preparing beds and sowing seeds in the next few weeks!  I am not sure if we will see any blooms by the end of school, but please feel free to come check out our garden over the summer and cut a few if you would like!


Dave

Progress Reports and thanks

First off, it was so nice to see many of you at our conferences earlier this week.  Also, on that note thank you so much to those of you who were able to fill out the feedback form.  This was the first time I have used a Google form to canvass parents, and I found it very useful and user friendly.  I also gained some great insight as to what you all find valuable with regard to parent teacher conferences.  Based on the feedback you all gave me on this round I think I will proceed with a "traditional" parent teacher conference in the fall and a student led one in the spring, with the opportunity, for those who wish, to have a student-led in the fall, or a more traditional in the spring.

Also, today make sure to check your student's Friday folder for their progress report.  These are in simple white envelopes with your child's name on the front.  If they forget to give them to you, please ask to make sure you get to check them out.

I hope you all have a restful and refreshing week, and I look forward to seeing everyone on the 24th.

-Dave

Student led conference feedback.

Please use the following link to give me some feedback on student led conferences!  Thanks for doing this, I really take your feedback into account when planning in the future.

-Dave

https://docs.google.com/a/wcsu32.org/forms/d/1-8P3HORHBUjFDTjvJcioUeSK4EeZsN6kvCGdNr9aINQ/edit

A short week and conferences!

We have been enjoying our first week back from February Break!  During this week we have revisited characters in Winn-Dixie, brushed up on some math facts, and focused most of our time on team-building.

We have worked together to move cups with rubber bands and string, build towers out of paper, and lift a very light ball without touching it!  This time of year is great for team building.  It allows our class to re-coalesce and be ready fro the exciting spring that is ahead!

Speaking of exciting upcoming events on Friday March, 31 we will be having our spring conferences.  Spring conferences are a bit different than fall ones as they are student-led.  This affords students the time and framework to reflect on their work throughout the year, and present this work to you.  For student-led conferences there are generally multiple conferences happening at once.  If you would like to have a little private chat with me during this time, it can easily be arranged.  Please also note that a sign up form is coming home this afternoon.  There is a link to the sign up sheet embedded on the "Conferences" page of our blog.  To sign up you can either return the paper copy, or send me an email, and I will get your name on the list (I will keep this list updated throughout the school week).

Have a great weekend!

-Dave