Merry Christmas parents,
This will be short since I know you all have a lot to do. Your kids will have 2 more assignments due before Christmas. One of them is the final draft of their Book Review (due Wed.). The other one is a letter to Santa that I have instructed them NOT to show you until it is completed. Their rough draft is due tomorrow. I will check it and then they should be able to get a final draft done by Friday. Everything else will be done in class. If they have Redos to turn in I need them by Friday.
Christmas Party
This Friday @ 2pm
(Also don't forget casual for cause on Friday. Bring $1 to support CCLSU
Science
Please check out our science page to see what we've been up to.
Thank you for all of your help and support this semester. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your families!
Love,
Miss Besel
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Week of Dec. 9th
Snow in Missouri is a new experience for me and I must say that starting off with a snow day was not what I expected. Hopefully you all got to enjoy some required time inside with your kiddos on Friday. I'm trying to get a little jump start on the week here with an early blog post.
Tomorrow we will catch up from Friday on:
Memory
Spelling
Santa's Workshop
Thanksgiving Projects
The video links for all the projects will be up on the Social Studies page.
Handwriting
My goal is to have all the kids writing their homework in cursive at the start of 3rd quarter. This means that we are skipping a few pages in their books so we can review capital letters. If you have the chance to write things in cursive at home, please do. This might help them panic a bit less when they have to do everything in cursive.
Advent
Service at Concordia at 7pm on Mon. 12/16 (Please have your child seated with me in our class section 5-10 minutes early.)
Book It!!
I sent home the December calendar last week. I had about 10 kids earn their pizza certificate for November. Remember they need to read at least 20 min. a night 5 days out of each week.
Kirk Care
We need to have all the donated items for Kirk Care by this Wed. 12/11. If our campus reaches 1,000 items by Wednesday the kids will earn a casual day for Fri. 12/20.
I'm sure that I am probably missing something in this blog post because it's Christmas time and there is always so much. Don't worry though, I will put things up as soon as I find out about them. In the meantime, enjoy you're last 2 weeks of school and crazy schedules before Christmas gets here.
I've been talking with the kids about how Advent is the time to prepare for Jesus. It sometimes seems that there is so much shopping, cooking, giving, driving, whining, and fussing going on that we can forget to (or sometimes not even have time to) look at Jesus. I am guilty of it too. Fortunately for you and me, your kiddos are great at remembering. After a crazy day at school we always pray. There are days when I am in a rush and tempted to say the Lord's Prayer myself to speed them along. Of course they all HATE when they don't get to pray out loud, so I give in and let us be late. It's in those moments that someone, without fail, prays "Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for all of us," or "Thanks for my teacher and mom and dad," or "Thanks for a good day and please help us have a good night too with our families." These are such simple things for them to be saying and yet I didn't want to take the time to let them say it. So...if you took the time to read all of this, I challenge you to listen, read, talk to, and pray with your kids this Christmas. They will mess up and a lot of times be the cause of all your crazy days. But they will also be the ones that God uses to help you see HIM day in and day out. God's grace and love just pour out of them. This is a reflection of His Christmas gift, a baby sent to love the world, die for it, and then save it. So simple and cute, yet used in such a gigantic way. Taking the time to focus on this part of Christmas is very hard. However, when you get the chance to, it makes that batch of cookies seem so unimportant compared to reading the Christmas story one more time with your kid (even though they know it by heart). Happy Advent!
Tomorrow we will catch up from Friday on:
Memory
Spelling
Santa's Workshop
Thanksgiving Projects
The video links for all the projects will be up on the Social Studies page.
Handwriting
My goal is to have all the kids writing their homework in cursive at the start of 3rd quarter. This means that we are skipping a few pages in their books so we can review capital letters. If you have the chance to write things in cursive at home, please do. This might help them panic a bit less when they have to do everything in cursive.
Advent
Service at Concordia at 7pm on Mon. 12/16 (Please have your child seated with me in our class section 5-10 minutes early.)
Book It!!
I sent home the December calendar last week. I had about 10 kids earn their pizza certificate for November. Remember they need to read at least 20 min. a night 5 days out of each week.
Kirk Care
We need to have all the donated items for Kirk Care by this Wed. 12/11. If our campus reaches 1,000 items by Wednesday the kids will earn a casual day for Fri. 12/20.
I'm sure that I am probably missing something in this blog post because it's Christmas time and there is always so much. Don't worry though, I will put things up as soon as I find out about them. In the meantime, enjoy you're last 2 weeks of school and crazy schedules before Christmas gets here.
I've been talking with the kids about how Advent is the time to prepare for Jesus. It sometimes seems that there is so much shopping, cooking, giving, driving, whining, and fussing going on that we can forget to (or sometimes not even have time to) look at Jesus. I am guilty of it too. Fortunately for you and me, your kiddos are great at remembering. After a crazy day at school we always pray. There are days when I am in a rush and tempted to say the Lord's Prayer myself to speed them along. Of course they all HATE when they don't get to pray out loud, so I give in and let us be late. It's in those moments that someone, without fail, prays "Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for all of us," or "Thanks for my teacher and mom and dad," or "Thanks for a good day and please help us have a good night too with our families." These are such simple things for them to be saying and yet I didn't want to take the time to let them say it. So...if you took the time to read all of this, I challenge you to listen, read, talk to, and pray with your kids this Christmas. They will mess up and a lot of times be the cause of all your crazy days. But they will also be the ones that God uses to help you see HIM day in and day out. God's grace and love just pour out of them. This is a reflection of His Christmas gift, a baby sent to love the world, die for it, and then save it. So simple and cute, yet used in such a gigantic way. Taking the time to focus on this part of Christmas is very hard. However, when you get the chance to, it makes that batch of cookies seem so unimportant compared to reading the Christmas story one more time with your kid (even though they know it by heart). Happy Advent!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Week of Dec. 2nd
Hi Parents,
I apologize that this is so late this week. I don't know how Monday and Tuesday came and went and it's already Wednesday. Only 2.5 weeks left till Christmas...holy cow that was fast! I am trying to keep up with the new things you learn at a school for each season. This is what I know about Christmas so far:
Santa's Workshop
Our class is signed up to go shop on Friday morning (12/6)
I think somehow we missed getting the envelopes for you to send money in so...
If you don't have an official one, just mark clearly on the outside of a plain envelope how much your child should spend on each family member.
Advent Service
The all school Advent service will be Monday 12/16 at 7pm. Please have your child seated in our class section about 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the service. (They have been practicing songs with Mrs. Killian in music class.)
Teacher Bake Sale
There is a bake sale after the Advent Service full of yummy things made by the teachers. The money raised helps the teachers fund their trip to the national LEA conference.
Wednesday Pick-UP
Inside pick up during Advent
Kirk Care
CCLS is participating in Kirk Care again this year. We will be collecting non-perishable food items and personal toiletry items until Wed. 12/11. If our campus collects 1,000 items the kids will get a casual day on Fri. 12/20.
Our class will be in charge of counting the items for the whole school and updating the graph each day.
Raging Readers
Due back to me by this Friday.
I apologize that this is so late this week. I don't know how Monday and Tuesday came and went and it's already Wednesday. Only 2.5 weeks left till Christmas...holy cow that was fast! I am trying to keep up with the new things you learn at a school for each season. This is what I know about Christmas so far:
Santa's Workshop
Our class is signed up to go shop on Friday morning (12/6)
I think somehow we missed getting the envelopes for you to send money in so...
If you don't have an official one, just mark clearly on the outside of a plain envelope how much your child should spend on each family member.
Advent Service
The all school Advent service will be Monday 12/16 at 7pm. Please have your child seated in our class section about 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the service. (They have been practicing songs with Mrs. Killian in music class.)
Teacher Bake Sale
There is a bake sale after the Advent Service full of yummy things made by the teachers. The money raised helps the teachers fund their trip to the national LEA conference.
Wednesday Pick-UP
Inside pick up during Advent
Kirk Care
CCLS is participating in Kirk Care again this year. We will be collecting non-perishable food items and personal toiletry items until Wed. 12/11. If our campus collects 1,000 items the kids will get a casual day on Fri. 12/20.
Our class will be in charge of counting the items for the whole school and updating the graph each day.
Raging Readers
Due back to me by this Friday.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Field Trip Money
I don't have much to update you on right now except for our field trip.
- I will need $12.50 for your child (and yourself if attending) as soon as possible. Make checks out CCLS please.
- We will be leaving at 8:30 am. and return somewhere between 2 and 2:30 pm
- Bring a sack lunch!!!
Interesting Read!!
Hello Parents,
I am constantly finding different articles and things that I think will help me out in the classroom. I have 2 very interesting finds that I thought I'd share with you parents this week.
Stability/Exercise Balls
I have been doing an experiment in our room this last week, and I can't help but be excited about it. The 4th graders have moved to using only stability balls as chairs in the classroom and they love it. The basic idea of the ball is to help give students a way to channel their energy and fidgety bodies into something that is less distracting. They have to constantly be moving a little bit to keep their balance on the ball while they sit. This makes it so they are less tempted to act on those impulses like tapping their pencil, poking a friend, or constantly getting up to get a kleenex (even though they don't need one). The last week that I have tried this with just one ball, I've seen remarkable improvement in attention for the child sitting on the ball. Those kids have even told me themselves that it helps them. Here is my proposal:
Currently I have 1 ball in my room that will rotate each day. I would love to give the kids more of a chance to use this tool. I am willing to buy 2 more myself for the room, but I want to give you a chance to help out as well. If you like this idea and want to donate a ball or 2 to 3rd grade, I will absolutely not turn you down. The balls would be a donation and stay here after the school year is over. The 4th grade teachers already have enough for all of their students, so your kids will still get to use one next year. I'd love to eventually have enough so that all 21 kids can have their own, but we'll see what happens. The balls cost about $10 a piece at Wal-Mart. If you want to just send in $10 I can go pick them up too. Unless we end up with 21 balls, I will just rotate them among the kids each day.
I know that you all are giving an awful lot right now with the Thanksgiving feast coming up, so please don't feel obligated. We are very appreciative of all you have done already!
The following link gives you more information on the research behind this.
Stability Balls in the Classroom
Food for Thought
I also found this video clip/article on food that I thought was very interesting. Enjoy!
Think Food Doesn't Affect Kid's Behavior...???
I am constantly finding different articles and things that I think will help me out in the classroom. I have 2 very interesting finds that I thought I'd share with you parents this week.
Stability/Exercise Balls
I have been doing an experiment in our room this last week, and I can't help but be excited about it. The 4th graders have moved to using only stability balls as chairs in the classroom and they love it. The basic idea of the ball is to help give students a way to channel their energy and fidgety bodies into something that is less distracting. They have to constantly be moving a little bit to keep their balance on the ball while they sit. This makes it so they are less tempted to act on those impulses like tapping their pencil, poking a friend, or constantly getting up to get a kleenex (even though they don't need one). The last week that I have tried this with just one ball, I've seen remarkable improvement in attention for the child sitting on the ball. Those kids have even told me themselves that it helps them. Here is my proposal:
Currently I have 1 ball in my room that will rotate each day. I would love to give the kids more of a chance to use this tool. I am willing to buy 2 more myself for the room, but I want to give you a chance to help out as well. If you like this idea and want to donate a ball or 2 to 3rd grade, I will absolutely not turn you down. The balls would be a donation and stay here after the school year is over. The 4th grade teachers already have enough for all of their students, so your kids will still get to use one next year. I'd love to eventually have enough so that all 21 kids can have their own, but we'll see what happens. The balls cost about $10 a piece at Wal-Mart. If you want to just send in $10 I can go pick them up too. Unless we end up with 21 balls, I will just rotate them among the kids each day.
I know that you all are giving an awful lot right now with the Thanksgiving feast coming up, so please don't feel obligated. We are very appreciative of all you have done already!
The following link gives you more information on the research behind this.
Stability Balls in the Classroom
Food for Thought
I also found this video clip/article on food that I thought was very interesting. Enjoy!
Think Food Doesn't Affect Kid's Behavior...???
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Week of Nov. 11th
Field Trip
I still have one spot for a parent to join us on the field trip to the Daniel Boone House. We will be leaving at 8:30 am and be back at school by 2:30 pm. Let me know if you would like to join us!
Thanksgiving Feast
Kati Connell and PJ Lowry have graciously agreed to help us organize the 3rd Grade Feast. We will be needing quite a bit of help, so please take a minute to sign up. We will need food, donations, and actual people to come in and help make the pies. Also, please remember to RSVP if you are able to come and eat with us on Tuesday 11/26. Thank you so much for all the help you have already given our class!
Thanksgiving Unit
Mr. Fishburn and I have decided to mix our classes together for the next 10 days and do a Thanksgiving unit. The basic idea of the unit goes like this:
1. The kids will be mixed together and put into groups based on their choice of project. Each project is different and covers a different aspect of Thanksgiving.
2. Half of the days will be spent in groups researching and completing their project.
3. The other half of the days will be spent in homerooms doing things as a whole class with Thanksgiving themed Reading, Math, and Religion.
4. The kids will be presenting their projects to the parents using various types of technology at the Feast on Tuesday.
There will not be very much outside homework that is given this next week due to the nature of the projects.
Other Items
I still have one spot for a parent to join us on the field trip to the Daniel Boone House. We will be leaving at 8:30 am and be back at school by 2:30 pm. Let me know if you would like to join us!
Thanksgiving Feast
Kati Connell and PJ Lowry have graciously agreed to help us organize the 3rd Grade Feast. We will be needing quite a bit of help, so please take a minute to sign up. We will need food, donations, and actual people to come in and help make the pies. Also, please remember to RSVP if you are able to come and eat with us on Tuesday 11/26. Thank you so much for all the help you have already given our class!
Thanksgiving Unit
Mr. Fishburn and I have decided to mix our classes together for the next 10 days and do a Thanksgiving unit. The basic idea of the unit goes like this:
1. The kids will be mixed together and put into groups based on their choice of project. Each project is different and covers a different aspect of Thanksgiving.
2. Half of the days will be spent in groups researching and completing their project.
3. The other half of the days will be spent in homerooms doing things as a whole class with Thanksgiving themed Reading, Math, and Religion.
4. The kids will be presenting their projects to the parents using various types of technology at the Feast on Tuesday.
There will not be very much outside homework that is given this next week due to the nature of the projects.
Other Items
- Operation Christmas Child - Shoeboxes need to be brought in by Wed. Nov. 20th. (info sent home today)
- FIELD TRIP!!! - Monday Feb. 3rd to the Missouri History Museum to learn about slavery and the 1904 World's Fair/Olympics. 9am - 11:30 am (no limited chaperone spots)
- No School - Wed. 11/27 - Fri. 11/29
Monday, November 4, 2013
Week of Nov. 4th
Happy Book Fair Week! Here's all that you need to know about the Book Fair:
Book Fair Dates:
· Monday, 11/4 thru Thursday, 11/7
· Wednesday: “Breakfast with a Buddy” at 7:30am – Students are encouraged to invite a relative or special friend!
· Thursday: “Family Enrichment Night” at 5:30pm – Fair will be open!
· Online Book Fair runs through 11/8.
All of the teachers have filled a bucket of books they can use for their classrooms. If you would like to donate a book to our room check out my bucket!
Family Enrichment Night
You should have received an email about Family Enrichment Night. There will be things for kids and adults as well as catering by Bogearts. Make sure to RSVP!
Book IT!!
I am starting Book It with the kids this week. The November calendar went home tonight. Here are my requirements for getting a pizza certificate:
Read at least 20 minutes for 5 nights a week. (They cannot count DEAR time, it must be done AT HOME)
Return the calendar to me at the end of the month signed by a parent to receive the certificate.
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