"I Aint Afraid of No Ghost...."

... well ... maybe the dentist!

Spelling Tests

The Unit Three Spelling Tests were graded and returned today. If your child shows it to you and they return it on Friday, they will earn one ticket for the Halloween Auction. Double check to see if they placed their misspelled words in their agenda. Thanks!

Picture Retakes

On Wednesday, November 5th, Lifetouch will be here for picture retakes.

Classroom teachers please make sure your students know the following:

If you had a child absent on the original picture date, please send them down to pick up a flyer.

Students who ordered packages, and wish to have retakes, need to bring the package they already received to the camera with them.


If you have any questions, please let me know.

Ellen Fuller
Pleasantview Elementary School

Signed Contract

Please, please, please be sure to have your parents sign the back of your Reading Contract five times and at least once on the front. Then return it on or before Friday, October 31st. Also, make sure your Reading minutes total a minimum of 400 minutes and are signed by a parent.

The Committee Has Spoken

Our classroom Activities Committee has chosen Friday as Black and Orange Day. The students are being asked to dress in black and orange for Halloween. Also, the students may bring a flashlight on Friday as we are going to share our scary stories in the dark. The students are also being asked to bring a wrapped treat (bag of candy) for our Black Cauldron/Reading Contract Celebration. We gave several suggestions of what they could bring in class today. Examples: Black licorice representing intestines, gummy worms as veins, red licorice as arteries, gummy bones as bones, candy corn as teeth, sugar babies as boggers (that's just gross), and M&M's as witch's warts. If you are feeling creative and want to make a change in your chosen item, go ahead. Just make sure it is a wrapped treat or is purchased in a factory sealed package. Enjoy and thanks!

Lots of Information

Be sure to click on "Older Posts" to view all of this week's information. The Zoom Books took up a lot of space and many entries were pushed to the second and third page. Enjoy!

P.S. Keep working on your Reading Contract and be sure to have your parents sign at least five cells on the back!

Zoom Books For You To Enjoy!

Zoom Books For You To Enjoy!

... continued Zoom Book

Zoom Book Entries

Weekly Fluency and Comprehension Activity

This week's homework from Building Reading Comprehension and Fluency is entitled, " And You Think Your Mom is Strict!" and it is due on Friday. It's a little compare and contrast activity to help us appreciate the 21st century.



The following letter has been reprinted from a previous week...

Reading well is a key to success in school, on state and national tests, and in life in general. We would like to invite you to help us to help your child become a better reader. It's simple. All you have to do is help your child with one short. homework assignment each week.

Each Monday, your child will have a short reading homework assignment that asks your to listen to him or her read out loud and answer a couple of easy questions. Included in the brief instructions will be a hint, or tip, that hou can use to help your child with the assignment.

That's all there is to it!

You will have all week to complete the assignment and your child will get credit for doing the work. Just sign at the bottom indicating that you did, indeed, listen to your child child read out loud and help him of her with the questions.

Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this project. The first lesson is attached and is due back by Friday. Thanks for all your assistance in making your child be the very best student he or she can be!


Sincerely,

The 4th Grade Teachers

Note From the Principal to All

Please remind your students once again that they need to wear their coats and whatever else they brought with them when they go down for lunch. Apparently, many of them wanted to leave the lunchroom to go back and get coats and other things after eating lunch before going outside. I told the lunchroom supervisors that students should not be allowed to go back because they have been told to bring all of their stuff with them.

Also, could you please talk to your classes about eating at lunchtime. We have a group of students, that seems to be growing, of students who are not bringing a lunch and are not taking a hot lunch. They have refused to go through the line. Please remind them that unless we have a note from their parents letting us know that they don't need to eat lunch, the expectation will be that they eat either a cold or hot lunch.

Thanks for your help!

Sue Paasch, Principal

"I Know Who That Is!"

Do you have a bingo, yet? Here is another Mystery Person entry... good luck!

This person hopes to someday own a camouflage Benelli Shotgun. He is looking forward to going deer hunting with his dad. He likes to wear FOX clothing and DC shoes. He owns a PSP- 3 and often participates in Motor Cross with Ben. He enjoys swimming at the lake, hunting, skate boarding, and bike riding. He loves steak and potatoes, with corn, fruit, and jello. Pickles are just fine, too! He has a picture of a huge deer harvested in Iowa taped inside his desk. Any ideas? Make your guess on your spreadsheet and come see me when you have a bingo!

"I Know Who That Is!"

Our next Mystery Person is......guess who?

I like to play soccer and go swinging. I had a picture of two Northerns I caught while fishing on my poster. I love ice cream! My favorite colors are purple, pink, silver, gold, gray, and black. I can't wait to go back to Gooseberry Falls! My favorite animals are cats, dogs, brown trout, piglets, and bunnies. I added a picture of Zac to my poster. Who am I? Good luck!

"I Know Who That Is!"

Here is our next Mystery Person!

One of my favorite interests is sports. My first story was about Tommy, the Haunted Hay Ride, and Me. My Zoom Book included things associated with football. My poster had a picture of a Sauk Rapids football player on it. My poster also had a giant red M&M on it. In our classroom I have an eraser named Bobby. The first fish I ever caught was a 27 inch Northern. My dog's name is Nala and I like to go pheasant hunting. Someday, I'll be driving a blue Chevy Silverado. Who am I? Good Luck!

Halloween Story

Yesterday, we brainstormed several plot, setting, and character ideas for our short scary story. Today, we read the beginning of two scary stories and began organizing our story webs for the scary story. These short scary stories are due on Friday. We also continued to discuss our two letters that are due on Friday. The first letter will be written to a friend and needs to include five safety tips for Trick-or- Treating on Halloween night. The second letter should be written to Mr. Krupa and should advise him of several Halloween decoration ideas. Feel free to add suggestions, corrections, or ideas to your child's writing.

Fundraiser Pick Up!!

Please pick up your fundraiser orders in the gym on Tuesday, October 28th from 2:10 - 5:30

Thank you for all your hard work!!

PTAC

Carpooling

Dear Pleasantview Families,
We have a family that is interested in carpooling to Pleasantview and the Middle School. This family lives south of St. Cloud, County Rd 8. If you live in this area and would like to explore carpooling with another family, please call the Pleasantview office and we will pass the information along.

Thank you!

Sue Paasch, Principal
Pleasantview Elementary School
1009 6th Ave. North
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
320-253-0506

Commercial Groups Selected

Commercial Groups


Book Fair
Ally, Erica, and Anthony



Cabin Fever
Madison, Steph, Tayler, and Zack



Carnival
Derek, Lizzie, Tanner, and Kyle



AAA
Alyssa, Courtney, Mikayla, and Mitchel



Food Shelf
Noah, Tommy, Kyler, and Areyanna



Walk 4 Life
Lauren, Samantha, Josh, Michaela



Field Day
Nick, Ben, Savannah, and Dylan

Spelling Test Wednesday, October 29th

Next Spelling Test is on Wednesday.

It's the Dry Weather Season in our Building

You may want to send your child to school with Chapstick. It's that time of year, again!

Stay warm!

Remember to complete five of the following nine items, 400 minutes, two Haiku poems, three AR tests within your reading range, and one visual..

Remember to complete five of the following nine items. Have your mom, dad, or grandparent initial each item on your photocopies RC. Don't forget to return the contract on or before October 31st.


List below the name, address, and phone number of three places where you and I could buy a costume for Halloween.

Create an Autumn Crossword. You may use this web site to assist you or devise your own template http://www.crosswordpuzzlegames.com/create.html

Write a Fall / Autumn poem.

Research Halloween on the internet or in a different resource format. Find out how this event began.

Research chlorophyll and discuss with your parents how it effects the changing color of a leaf.

Create an October Word Search. You may use this web site to assist you or devise your own word search http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/word_search/

Create a spooky Thumb Body cartoon with captions.



Also.....

Reading Contract
For October

I, _________________________ will read at home every day and will keep a log of my daily reading minutes in my agenda. My goal is to read ____400_______ minutes for the month of October.

My parents will check my reading minutes and sign my agenda at the end of every day. I will return it to school daily so my teacher can check it.

I understand that to be eligible for an end of the month Fall Festival / Black Cauldron Reading Celebration, I must read, sign, and comply with the terms of this contract.

Also, I will need to take a minimum of ____three or four____Accelerated Reading tests by Friday, October 31st with an accuracy rate of 80%. My reading range is _____________________________.

In addition, I will need to successfully complete five of the nine tasks listed on the back of this contract. My parents will place their initials next to the listed task after I have completed it.

Finally, I will need to create two Haiku poems centered around the theme of October. These Haiku poems must be accompanied with a visual display that can be put up in the classroom so I can verbally share them with my classmates and teacher.

________________________
Student Signature

________________________
Parent Signature

________________________
Teacher Signature

Note: Signed contracts are due back in school no later than ____October 7th____.

Please return your contract and I’ll photocopy it and give it right back to you.


Write down the words to a Fall song. This web site may help: http://bussongs.com

Read a news article about a local Fall event. Discuss it with your parent(s).

"I Know Who That Is!"

Here is our next mystery person to identify... good luck!

This person likes Brett Favre. Enjoys watermelon, corn, and ice-cream cone cakes. Often visits Nelson's Farm. Loves to go shopping for clothes and has a twin sister. Hmm, I think that was a huge hint!!! Finally, this person enjoys football, baseball, tennis, soccer, and camping. Who is this mystery person. Remember to mark them off of your bingo card. Good luck!

Stay warm on Sunday and continue to work on your Reading Contract....due Friday at 8 AM

AR Reports

The Accelerated Reading reports were sent home today. The students may earn five tickets for returning them signed by Tuesday, October 28th. Just a reminder that they need to read three or four AR books (per Reading Contract and within their Reading Range) and pass the AR tests with at least 80% accuracy. A Taste of Blackberries packets and test should be completed by Friday. Look on your child's AR report to see if they have taken the test and passed.

Landform Booklets

The Landform Books are due on Monday, October 27th. The Landform test will be given on Friday, October 24th. The students may use their landform packet and worksheet to study for the test.

Friends by a student in our class

Friends


One day a girl named Kaylee was going to move from New York to California. She was going to miss all her friends. She thought about it when they were packing.

She had a two-year old sister, a thirteen-year old brother, a mom, and a dad. They were moving in five days. Her mom and dad grew up in California, her brother wanted to enjoy the warm weather, and her sister had no idea. Kaylee didn’t want to move but she had no choice. Five days later they were on a plane to California.

Once they were there they got in the car and drove to their new home. It looked like their old home. Kaylee went inside to check things out. When she got to a room she looked inside. Kaylee liked it. She ran outside and yelled, “I call the first room on the right!”

Logan, her brother, called, “No you don’t!” But Dawn, her two-year old sister, toddled inside and found the room.

“I’ll race you!” said Logan. They ran inside but, when they got there, Dawn was in the room.

“I guess Dawn gets the room”, Logan said. “Yeah, I guess so”, said Kaylee.

Once they got moved in, Kaylee started school. She was in Mr. Jacobson’s class. She sat next to Alex and Leah. One day while at school, Mr. Jacobson asked everyone the names of their friends. When he got to Kaylee, she said she didn’t have any friends.

But then Alex said, “I’ll be your friend.” So they moved on.

Before lunch, Mr. Jacobson said the school would be having a spelling bee. Spelling was Kaylee’s best subject. At recess, she played with Alex and Leah. Kaylee would play with them. Leah would go to the swings or the slide. Kaylee and Alex would follow her. By the end of the day, Kaylee thought Leah did not like her. It was true. Leah only wanted one friend. When Kaylee got home, she asked her mom if the same thing happened to her. Her mom said, “No.”

Three days later, the spelling bee was on. Kaylee was excited. Unfortunately, Leah was the best speller in the class. The spelling bee started. It finally came down to three people: Cole, Leah, and Kaylee.

The word was dictionary. It was Cole’s turn. He went up and spelled it.

“Dictionary,” he said “D-i-c-i-o-n-a-r-y Dictionary.”

“I am sorry that is not correct,” Mrs. Honey said. Then Leah went up “Dictionary,” she said. “ D-i-c-t-i-o-n-r-a-y Dictionary,”

“I’m sorry that’s not correct.” Mrs. Honey said. “If you spell “dictionary” correct you will win a pizza party for your class.” Kaylee went up and spelled it right. They won a pizza party!

After they had the pizza, Alex handed out invitations for her birthday. It was a sleepover. When Kaylee got home she asked if she could go and got permission. It was the day of the sleepover birthday party. Kaylee got Alex a Webkinz™. When it was time to open presents Kaylee went first. Alex opened her gift and loved it. Then Leah went. She got Alex two Webkinz™. After a while the girls got in their sleeping bags. Alex was the first one to fall asleep. Then Leah said “I’m sorry I didn’t play with you at recess. I thought you could only have one friend.”

“It’s okay,” Kaylee said. “I’m sorry I beat you at the spelling bee.”

“That’s okay,” Leah said. “Friends.”

“Friends,” said Kaylee.

On Monday Leah said to Alex, “Kaylee and I are friends.”

“That’s good,” said Alex. “I really hoped that you would get along. Now I don’t have to worry about it any more.” They all laughed. As soon as Kaylee got home she told her mom and dad. She told Logan and Dawn even though she would not understand.
THE END

"I Know Who That Is!"

Here are the clues to identifying our first mystery person.

This person went to Disneyland in 2005. This person has a brother that is in the fifth grade. This person once owned a black dog, but now has two black and white cats. This person enjoys playing Wii Bowling. This person has four people in their family and they all enjoy boating. This person also enjoys reading and singing in their free time. Who is this person? If you think you know, you may cross their name off of your bingo card. Good luck!

A Small Piece of our Commercial Discussions.

Name the Product

Directions: What products do these symbols or slogans stand for?

"Betcha' can't eat just one."

"Just do it."

Golden arches

"Where's your mustache?"

Swoosh symbol

"Have it your way."

"Snap, Crackle, and Pop"

"Do the Dew."

"It's not delivery, its..."

"I'm lovin' it."

"Think outside the bun."

"Must see TV."

"NIck is for kids."

"They're G-r-r-reat!"

"Better Ingredients. Better Pizza"




Name three things that commercials are intended to do for the viewers.

Correlation

Relate several experiences in your life to this story and make a correlation to it. In other words, make a connection to the authors thoughts and ideas that she is trying to convey to the reader. Explain in detail how your experiences remind you of the experiences of the main characters in this story. For example, have you and a friend ever learned how to do something fun together, like Jamie and the main character learning Morse code?

More Questions to Discuss

How did you feel when you read that Jamie was dead?

Why do you think the author has not told the reader the main character’s first name?

Questions to Discuss

How many times did Jamie get stung by a bee? What emotions do you think Jaime experienced when he saw the bees emerge from the ground? How would you have reacted if the bees were about to swarm around you?


How do you think the main character’s mom should tell the main character the sad news?


How would you want to be told?

Zoom Books

The Zoom Books have been graded and returned to the students. There were some very creative ideas! Please have your child show you his or her book and grade.

Friday, October 24th

The kids council has chosen this Friday as Sports Day. Wear your jerseys, sweatshirts or any other comfy clothes you have to support your favorite team.

Thursday

Thursday is Hoodie Day!

Unit Three Math Family Letter

The Unit Three Math Family Letter was sent home today in my math class. Our homework included Study Link 3.1 and 3.2 (which was printed on the back, but not labeled). Journal page 53 was also assigned as homework, if it was not completed in class. We will correct page 53 on Tuesday. Today, we also worked on double digit times triple digit math problems which included some the following problems.

How much money would it cost to fill a truck with a 26 gallon gasoline tank, if the price of gas was


$2.89 a gallon?

$2.55 a gallon?

HInt: .34 * 26 =

How much money would you save with this thirty-four cent discount?

How much would you save if the price were $2.49 instead of $2.89?

HInt: .40 * 26 =

Keep practicing!

Weekly Fluency and Comprehension Assignments

Reading well is a key to success in school, on state and national tests, and in life in general. We would like to invite you to help us to help your child become a better reader. It's simple. All you have to do is help your child with one short. homework assignment each week.

Each Monday, your child will have a short reading homework assignment that asks your to listen to him or her read out loud and answer a couple of easy questions. Included in the brief instructions will be a hint, or tip, that hou can use to help your child with the assignment.

That's all there is to it!

You will have all week to complete the assignment and your child will get credit for doing the work. Just sign at the bottom indicating that you did, indeed, listen to your child child read out loud and help him of her with the questions.

Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this project. The first lesson is attached and is due back by Friday. Thanks for all your assistance in making your child be the very best student he or she can be!


Sincerely,

The 4th Grade Teachers

After-School Program

Yippee, the net is up and running once again!

The After-School Program flyers were sent home at conferences and today. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for the students to improve and hone their skills. This program also provides the students with the opportunity to work with former teachers, as well as possible future fifth grade teachers. Please consider this opportunity and return the signed forms before Wednesday.

Thanks!

Definition for Haiku

Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Haiku poets, which you will soon be, write about everyday things. Many themes include nature, feelings, or experiences. Usually they use simple words and grammar. The most common form for Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn't rhyme. A Haiku must "paint" a mental image in the reader's mind. This is the challenge of Haiku - to put the poem's meaning and imagery in the reader's mind in ONLY 17 syllables over just three (3) lines of poetry!


The Rose
Donna Brock

The red blossom bends

and drips its dew to the ground.

Like a tear it falls




A Rainbow
Donna Brock

Curving up, then down.

Meeting blue sky and green earth

Melding sun and rain.

Ideas for our Landform books

Here is a website that will be helpful for studying and creating the landform book
...http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/landforms/glossary.shtml

Look under "Favorite Websites" and click on the link

Fire Prevention Week

We will be discussing fire safety on Friday. Your child may want to view this website to access additional information.

www.sparky.org.


Stay safe!

Hats are Permitted on October 9th

Our classroom is conducting a data collection survey on Thursday and the students may wear a hat for this activity. Just a reminder: Math Study Guides are due on Friday.

First Story

Our first stroy is due on Monday. The rough draft is due on Thursday. They may write on anything that is interesting to them. Our second story is a "Zoom" book and we are discussing the trait of Organization. It is due on Monday, too!



Enjoy!

Spelling Test Results

Today, we had our second spelling test. Your child has been asked to take home the results and show them to you. Please sign their test and have them return it to school by Thursday to receive two tickets. Also, check their agenda to see if they wrote down the words they missed so they can continue to practice them throughtout the upcoming weeks. Most of the words appear again on another spelling test.

Conference Reminders

Conference dates and times were sent home on Friday. Please return the yellow copy with your approval or give me a call so we can reschedule.


Thanks!

More Questions for T.O.B.

The main character uses sarcasm to answer Jaime’s statement about where you should be in a thunderstorm. He states, “Oh, sure. Just snap your fingers and your chauffeur will appear.” Describe a time when you used or heard a sarcastic remark. Put the sarcastic comment in quotes. How did this comment make you feel?

How would you have responded when Jamie climbed in the car beside the driver and hoisted Martha to his knees. Would you have let your sister and yourself get in the car with a stranger? Explain

Jamie tells the author’s mom that the driver was Ed Chambers before the author can answer his mother. What does this tell you about Jamie? How would this make you feel?

Who tells Jaime to quit messing with the bees? Why does she say this? How does Jamie respond to her directive?

What do you think the doctor will give Jamie to make him feel better? What condition do you think he has?




******************************************************************************
Relate several experiences in your life to this story and make a correlation to it. In other words, make a connection to the authors thoughts and ideas that she is trying to convey to the reader. Explain in detail how your experiences remind you of the experiences of the characters in this story. For example, have you ever ridden in an ambulance or been to the hospital?

PV Newsletters

We would like to inform you that in the future all PV newsletters will be posted on the district web site. Please go to www.isd47.org and click on Calendars/News and go to Building Newsletters.

Enjoy the week!

Ask Your Child About Our Current Class Book

Here are some good questions to ask your child about Chapter One...

Describe what the main character means when he states, “for my best friend he surely did aggravate me sometimes”.


The books states that , “Jamie’s face was crimson.” What does crimson mean and why was his face crimson?


Would you have crossed the fence to snitch some apples? Why or why not?


List one or two of your friends that you think would have chosen not to steal the apples and explain why you think they would have made that choice.


List one or two people that you know who you think would have made the choice that Jamie made and stolen the apples. Why do you think they would have made that choice?


The main character states,” I knew I could get the kids to help anyone else. But Mrs. Houser?” Why do you think the main character is going to have a tough time convincing people to help Mrs. Houser?


Relate several experiences in your life and make a correlation to this story. In other words, make a connection to the authors thoughts and ideas that she is trying to convey to the reader. Explain in detail how your experiences remind you of the experiences of the characters in this story.



Current and upcoming vocabulary terms to discuss with your child.

Morse Code
Prism
tragedy
thicket
clasped
snatched
which-a-way
snitching
skimmed
cradled
scramble

October Reading Contract

Reading Contract
For October

I, _________________________ will read at home every day and will keep a log of my daily reading minutes in my agenda. My goal is to read ____425_______ minutes for the month of October.

My parents will check my reading minutes and sign my agenda at the end of every day. I will return it to school daily so my teacher can check it.

I understand that to be eligible for an end of the Fall Festival / Black Cauldron Reading Celebration, I must read, sign, and comply with the terms of this contract.

Also, I will need to take a minimum of ____three or four____Accelerated Reading tests by 8 AM on Friday, October 31st with an accuracy rate of 80%. My reading range is ______________-_______________.

In addition, I will need to successfully complete five of the nine tasks listed on the back of this contract. My parents will place their initials next to the listed task after I have completed it.

Finally, I will need to create two Haiku poems centered around the theme of October. These Haiku poems must be accompanied with a visual display that can be put up in the classroom so I can verbally share them with my classmates and teacher.

________________________
Student Signature

________________________
Parent Signature

________________________
Teacher Signature

Note: Signed contracts are due back in school no later than ____October 7th____.

Please return your contract and I’ll photocopy it and give it right back to you.






List below the name, address, and phone number of three places where you and I could buy a costume for Halloween


Create an Autumn Crossword. You may use this web site to assist you or devise your own template http://www.crosswordpuzzlegames.com/create.html

Create a Fall poem

Research Halloween on the internet or in another resource format. Find out how this event began.

Research chlorophyll and discuss with your parents how it effects the changing color of a leaf.

Create an October Word Search. You may use this web site to assist you or devise your own word search http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/word_search/


Create a spooky Thumb Body cartoon with captions


Write down the words to a Fall song http://bussongs.com/


Read a news article about a local Fall event

Math Unit Two Practice Pages

The Math Unit Two Practice pages are due on Friday. There are four pages which are run back to back.