Friday, September 30, 2011
Playdoh Power!!!
Teamwork in Action!!!
Math test results were sent home today... if students get their papers signed by a parent and correct their errors (if they had any errors), they may return the test for five Krupa Bucks!
Also, the ALL About Me Posters were sent home. I enjoyed your pictures! Please put them back in a safe palce!
Lots of concentration and effort being put forth on today's End of the Month Notebook / Agenda Quiz
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
When are school pictures and where is our order form? (Answer: Order forms were sent home today) Pictures are on October 5th.
When is the Ice Cream Social? (Answer: Thursday, October 6th)
Good luck on the spelling test! Hopefully, I'll have the math test scores ready to send home on Friday
When is the Ice Cream Social? (Answer: Thursday, October 6th)
Good luck on the spelling test! Hopefully, I'll have the math test scores ready to send home on Friday
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
REMINDER: SEPTEMBER READING CONTRACT IS DUE ON FRIDAY... ALSO, PLEASE ENTER THE NUMBER OF MINUTES YOUR CHILD HAS READ THIS MONTH IN THEIR AGENDA
Don't forget to verify the number of minutes read with your signature....THEN, CONGRATULATE YOUR CHILD ON A JOB WELL DONE!!! THANK YOU!
Good questions to ask your child....
Where was Mr. Krupa today? (Answer: He had a dentist appointment, his daughter had a doctor's appointment, and his wife's car had an auto appointment)
Is your Reading Contract completed? (Answer: It is due on Friday)
See you on Thursday!
Is your Reading Contract completed? (Answer: It is due on Friday)
See you on Thursday!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
Who are the two main characters in the book, On My Honor?
What is the dilemma that one of the main characters is having with the other one?
How does he plan to solve this issue?
Does his plan work?
What benefit would he have had by telling the truth and his real feelings?
When is your first math test?
When is your September Open Notebook Quiz? Are your materials (agenda and notebook) organized and accurate?
Book Checkout is on Thursday of this week.
What is the dilemma that one of the main characters is having with the other one?
How does he plan to solve this issue?
Does his plan work?
What benefit would he have had by telling the truth and his real feelings?
When is your first math test?
When is your September Open Notebook Quiz? Are your materials (agenda and notebook) organized and accurate?
Book Checkout is on Thursday of this week.
Two Hour Late Start - October 7th - Science Day
Thank you Tyler, Aleya, and Kayla for the wonderful birthday treats!!! Happy September Birthdays!!!!
FYI
The September Reading Contract is due on Friday. Don't forget to total up your child's reading minutes for the month and place it on the September 30th entry, along with your signature as verification of the total. Thanks! Also, on Friday, we have a spelling test. The pretest only includes a portion of the words on Friday's test. This is due to the fact that many of the words are repeated and others are discussed throughout the week. Please continue to practice any words that your child misspelled on previous tests. This is one of the many reason why I have them bring home the tests for your signature and to earn the dollars. Enjoy your child's success!!!
News from the Office
Hello, I'm Nate Swenson, principal of Pleasantview Elementary School. Our school year is off to a great start and we are excited about the learning opportunities for students. With an ActivBoard in every classroom thanks to our PTAC and numerous grants, students are excited to come to school and learn with the new technology.
There are a few events coming up that I wanted to make sure you were aware of:
* September 27th at 6 pm is our WatchDOGS pizza night in the lunchroom. Dads and their children are invited - $1 donation for pizza per person
* October 6th at 6 pm is our Ice Cream Social - Everyone is invited for a wonderful evening of ice cream and good conversations.
* October 11th at 7 pm is our second PTAC meeting - WE NEED MORE PARENTS! Please consider coming to this meeting. It is about one hour long and you get to spend time in the staff lounge! (Your children will be so jealous...)
Hope to see you at these wonderful events!
Nate Swenson
Principal
P.S. Picture Day (Oct. 5th) information was sent home today.
There are a few events coming up that I wanted to make sure you were aware of:
* September 27th at 6 pm is our WatchDOGS pizza night in the lunchroom. Dads and their children are invited - $1 donation for pizza per person
* October 6th at 6 pm is our Ice Cream Social - Everyone is invited for a wonderful evening of ice cream and good conversations.
* October 11th at 7 pm is our second PTAC meeting - WE NEED MORE PARENTS! Please consider coming to this meeting. It is about one hour long and you get to spend time in the staff lounge! (Your children will be so jealous...)
Hope to see you at these wonderful events!
Nate Swenson
Principal
P.S. Picture Day (Oct. 5th) information was sent home today.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
When is your September Reading Contract due? (Answer: Friday)
Where do I need to sign on your Dear Parent Letter spelling assignment? (Answer: read letter together, finish crossword, and sign)
When is your math test? (Answer: Thursday)
When is picture day? (Answer: October 5th)
Where do I need to sign on your Dear Parent Letter spelling assignment? (Answer: read letter together, finish crossword, and sign)
When is your math test? (Answer: Thursday)
When is picture day? (Answer: October 5th)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
How did you do on the AR test for Night of the Twisters? (Answer: 22 of our 28 kids took the test today and scored an accuracy rate of between 70 and 100 percent) Six students still need to turn in their comprehension packet and take the paper test before they can take the AR test.
When is your next spelling test? (Answer: Friday. Let's take a look at your list)
Today, we spent 35 minutes in the computer lab working on our September Reading contract. Ask your child what they accomplished.
When is your next spelling test? (Answer: Friday. Let's take a look at your list)
Today, we spent 35 minutes in the computer lab working on our September Reading contract. Ask your child what they accomplished.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
Did you turn in your September Reading contract? (Answer: They were due on Tuesday, Sept. 20th)
Did you show your parents your first spelling test score? (Answer: They were sent home on Monday, Sept. 19th)
Are you working on your Dear Parent Spelling assignment? (Answer: It is due on Thursday)
Did you turn in your math assignment today?
Are you ready to take and AR test on NOTT? (Answer: We will finish the book on Thursday and test on Friday- Comprehension packet must be turned in before your can paper test or AR test)
Are you ready to take a test on your first AR book? (Answer: Be A Perfect Person In Just Three Days / Sunset Of the Sabertooth / Class President are the AR options that we are reading)
Spelling test on Friday...keep practicing!
Did you show your parents your first spelling test score? (Answer: They were sent home on Monday, Sept. 19th)
Are you working on your Dear Parent Spelling assignment? (Answer: It is due on Thursday)
Did you turn in your math assignment today?
Are you ready to take and AR test on NOTT? (Answer: We will finish the book on Thursday and test on Friday- Comprehension packet must be turned in before your can paper test or AR test)
Are you ready to take a test on your first AR book? (Answer: Be A Perfect Person In Just Three Days / Sunset Of the Sabertooth / Class President are the AR options that we are reading)
Spelling test on Friday...keep practicing!
Allergies and Pets
Due to student allergies we are unable to have student pets in the school/classroom. Sorry, but we must be considerate of those with conditions that could become serious or uncomfortable due to an exposure to certain animals. However, pictures are gladly accepted!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Good questions to ask your child...
If 6t = s
What does 't' equal if 's' is 24? (Answer: t = 4)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 36? (Answer: t = 6)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 12? (Answer: t = 2)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 66? (Answer: t = 11)
What does 's' equal if 't' is 2? (Answer: t = 12)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 30? (Answer: t = 5)
Have a great evening!
What does 't' equal if 's' is 24? (Answer: t = 4)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 36? (Answer: t = 6)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 12? (Answer: t = 2)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 66? (Answer: t = 11)
What does 's' equal if 't' is 2? (Answer: t = 12)
What does 't' equal if 's' is 30? (Answer: t = 5)
Have a great evening!
An Early Look At Our Conference Schedule
November 1st
3:30 Ethan
3:50- Tyler
4:10 Autumn
4:30 Nathan
4:50 Brock
5:10 Frank
5:50 Sawyer
6:10 Emily
6:30 Kaitlyn L
6:50 Brayden
7:10 Shayna
November 3rd
3:30 Caty
3:50 Jeff
4:10 Julio
4:30 Phimphon
4:50 Adam
5:10 Mady
5:30
5:50 Nathan V.
6:10 Kayla
6:30 Adelyn
6:50 Kaitlyn (Dad)
7:10 Kaitlyn (Mom)
November 4th
7:00 Cole
7:20
7:40 Brandon
8:00 Jeremiah
8:20 Aleya
8:40
9:00 Steven
9;20
9:50
11:00
12:40 Nevaeh
1:00 PM
1:25
2:00
2:20 Kierah
See you, soon!
3:30 Ethan
3:50- Tyler
4:10 Autumn
4:30 Nathan
4:50 Brock
5:10 Frank
5:50 Sawyer
6:10 Emily
6:30 Kaitlyn L
6:50 Brayden
7:10 Shayna
November 3rd
3:30 Caty
3:50 Jeff
4:10 Julio
4:30 Phimphon
4:50 Adam
5:10 Mady
5:30
5:50 Nathan V.
6:10 Kayla
6:30 Adelyn
6:50 Kaitlyn (Dad)
7:10 Kaitlyn (Mom)
November 4th
7:00 Cole
7:20
7:40 Brandon
8:00 Jeremiah
8:20 Aleya
8:40
9:00 Steven
9;20
9:50
11:00
12:40 Nevaeh
1:00 PM
1:25
2:00
2:20 Kierah
See you, soon!
Monday, September 19, 2011
FYI - The Spelling Dear Parent Letter Assignment isn't due until Thursday
Just a reminder to return your signed September Reading Contract on Tuesday. I'll photocopy it and get it back to you.
Good questions to ask your child....
What were your spelling pretest words? (Answer: They are listed in the student's agendas)
What is a compass rose? What social studies homework do you have (Answers: Cardinal directions- N, S, E,and W
Intermediate directions - NE, NW, SE, and SW Homework-Directions packet)
Let me see your first spelling test score? Remember to add your misspelled words to your agenda.
When is the Dear Parent Letter due? (Answer: Thursday)
What is a compass rose? What social studies homework do you have (Answers: Cardinal directions- N, S, E,and W
Intermediate directions - NE, NW, SE, and SW Homework-Directions packet)
Let me see your first spelling test score? Remember to add your misspelled words to your agenda.
When is the Dear Parent Letter due? (Answer: Thursday)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thank You for Attending our PIN Meeting - If you were unable to attend, here is a copy of our ABC's that we reviewed.
Helpful and Interesting ABC’s of 4th Grade!
Agendas - Students will be responsible for completing an agenda each day. In this agenda, students will highlight or write down any work they need to complete. Your child is responsible for sharing the agenda with you and asking you to sign it every day. We will also include a monthly School to Home Responsibility goal. For the month of September, our goal is to MTB. MTB stands for ‘Make the Bed’ and they should respond with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ at the top of their agenda indicating whether they made the bed that day. You may suggest other tasks that they may perform to transfer the idea of being responsible both at home and at school. Students should average reading 20 minutes per night. This does not include weekends, as they are considered a bonus. You may make suggestions to alter this requirement; however, the idea is that this requirement will help them reach their AR trimester goal (11 points/1st trimester). Also, we have an end of the month open notebook quiz that covers the information that is placed in the agenda, monthly notebook, and accordion folder. Reading Minutes (RM’s) are to be added to the bottom of the agenda and verified a parent.
Blog - We have information and links on our blog (http://mrkrupafourthgrade.blogspot.com) or link to it from the district website. Be sure to check it, especially when the agenda says, ‘Blog Alert’. If you don’t have internet access, let us know so we can send a copy home.
Conferences - We will be meeting two times this year for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our first meeting is in October which gives you the opportunity to learn about how your child’s year has been progressing. I look forward to working closely with you to assure that we are doing our best to meet the interests and needs of your special learner. Please check the Conference Schedule located on the chalkboard to verify your scheduled time slot.
Different end of day schedule - If for any reason your child has a change in their routine at the end of the day, we are required to have a note from you or we will have to send them to their regular place/bus. If it’s a sudden change, please call the office or call me and talk directly to your child and myself. Our Discipline Policy allows for a ‘cooling off’ period if your child is making inappropriate choices. In addition, I provide the student with the opportunity to complete a ‘Write the Rule’ activity which gives me a chance to discuss the situation in further detail with your child. Sometimes consequences need to be enforced immediately and your child’s behavior warrants a parent phone call. I would really appreciate your support in this situation and hope to use the parent phone call option only when the your child is not responding properly with my attempts to correct their behavior. I incorporate a ‘Krupa Dollar’ system which rewards and encourages good behavior. These tickets may occasionally be used as ‘fines’ for repeated inappropriate behavior. If late work becomes an issue, the fourth grade staff may provide ‘Choice Time’ activities that are additional learning opportunities for those that complete their work on time. Students that have late work will not be able to attend, as their time will be spent completing their work or assessing their poor judgment.
Exciting Extras - Field trips provide a wonderful opportunity for learning outside the walls of the classroom. You will hear more about these field trips as they approach. Students will also have the chance to participate in various lyceums and mini field trips around the school grounds throughout the year. Please let me know if you would like to attend as a chaperone as the event nears. You are ll welcome to join us for our Bowling field trip in December!
Focus Events - All of our late starts will be two hours long. School will begin at 9:40 on these days. Each of these days will be a ‘Focus Topic’ day, where the entire school will have activities focused on a certain topic. The first 2 hour late start will be Friday, October 7th.
General Mills Box Tops - Remember to bring in all of those box tops, milk lids, soup labels, etc. that you’ve been saving. Again this year,, we’ll participate in the programs that donate to our school. The money from these program has helped fund many special events at Pleasantview. The Growing Healthy video will be shown in May. Parents will be given an opportunity to view this material before the students. It stresses the importance of good personal hygiene.
Handwriting - We will spend the first few months of school reviewing the individual letters and connections in cursive. After we have reviewed all letters, the use of cursive handwriting will be encouraged, with most assignments being required to be written in cursive during March.
Individuality - Each learner is special and unique in his/her own way. During the day we will strive to offer a variety of activities which will challenge and stretch each learner to his/her potential. Motivation to accept and respond to a challenge is something which must be supplied by the learner. We will be identifying our preferred Multiple Intelligence's throughout the year. I ask that all students participate with their best effort. The Invention Unit begins in December. All students will be required to make and invention, complete an Invention Packet, and share their invention, display board and display board in a presentation to the class. Our Inventor's Congress will be on the last Friday in January.
Join Us for Lunch - Join us for lunch sometime when you are available. Our lunch time is 11:40- 12:35 PM each day. Students will also have the opportunity to apply for monthly and trimester jobs such as Caretaker, Line Leader, Social Committee member, etc. Be watching for the applications.
Keeping Track of Progress - There are several ways we’ll keep track of progress throughout the year. Progress reports will be sent home 3 times during the year, but watch for corrected assignments to come home too! You may want to have your child bring home their accordion folder, three -ring binder, or notebook on occasion to check their progress and view what we having been studying. We will use Krupa Dollars to pay for ‘fines’ and for completing tasks. So far, we have fees for the following situations; Piranha, Blurting out Responses (not allowing others the opportunity to think), excessive bathroom breaks, and loss of materials. We have the opportunity to reward ourselves for bring back sign papers (PS), completing classroom jobs, mastering educational games, and successfully completing the end of the month open notebook quiz. In addition, we utilize a Reward Punch card for participating in classroom discussions and games; such as I Am the Greatest, Dice Endeavors, etc.
Language Arts - Our language program coordinates reading (comprehension, reading strategies, and fluency), word study (decoding and grammar), and writing skills. Throughout the year students will learn about the Six-Traits approach to writing. A variety of reading materials will be used to further develop vocabulary and comprehension skills. There will be time each day for silent reading, this helps develop independent reading skills and allows the students to read something of interest to themselves and at their level. There will be regular Friday spelling tests, however; misspelled words will be written in the student’s Agendas for you to practice with them at home. We will take a pretest at the beginning of the week which will only include a portion of words on Friday’s final test. The philosophy behind the idea of only pretesting a few of the word on the word list, encourages students to actively use the strategies that we have learned throughout the year to spell the additional words not found on the pretest. Also, giving out a list of words at the beginning of the week, encourages students to develop a weekly study habit. All spelling tests will be returned corrected with ‘parent signature’ (PS) stamped on the test. Students are encourage to take home these tests, along with all the others, show them to their parents and return them for Krupa Dollars.
Mathematics - We will complete the Math Expressions curriculum program. It allows for ‘different’ ways of solving problems. We expect all Fourth graders to have mastered the basic facts by the end of the year! Refer to the Math Fact Requirement expectations in our child’s PIN folder. Our plan is to send home math homework every Monday and Thursday night. However, there may be other nights that we have math homework depending on how well your child performed that day. These homework sheets will be printed on blue paper.
Night Of the Twisters - We began the year reading a very exciting and interesting novel. Your child will be taking their first Accelerated Reading test sometime next week. Please discuss the story with your child. We believe that communication between school and home is important for the success of this school year. Always encourage your child to be reading AR books to themselves or aloud and taking AR tests to improve their comprehension and fluency. I often list the current book that your child is reading on the blog. Also, I send home frequent reminders of how many AR points your child has earned. Please sign these record sheets and have your child return them for Krupa bucks.
Other Teachers - During each school week, your child will work with specialists in the areas of Physical Education, Music, Art, Computer, and Media. We also do some activities with the other classrooms (Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Bakke, and Mrs. Burski). We may also have a student teacher that will deserve the same respect and appreciation that is given to the regular classroom teachers.
Peanut Allergy - We do have students with peanut allergies in our school and classroom, so please be careful about which snacks you send to school. You can get a list of peanut safe snacks from the school website, or let us know if you need one.
Questions and Answers - Should you at any time have any questions about your child’s progress or any concerns you wish to discuss, you may contact us by writing a note in the agenda or on another piece of paper, or telephoning Pleasantview Elementary School at 253-0506. We can also be reached by e-mail at david.krupa@isd47.org . If we don’t reply to an e-mail in 24 hours, please give us a call - we have had some trouble with our out of district e-mails. Please put srrstudent in the subject line to be sure your e-mail gets past our filter.
Reading - It is very important that students spend some time reading at home. Research has shown that this is one of the biggest contributors to success in reading. I expect them to set and meet a reading contract goal each month! They will be expected to turn in the record of their reading minutes (RM’s) on September 15th. This reading contract should be signed by you and returned no later than Tuesday, September 20th. Their AR goal for this trimester is 11 points and most of my students easily meet and/or exceed this goal. The list of AR books can be accessed through the Pleasantview media link at www.isd47.org or I have a copy in our classroom that all students have access to and may browse to find a book.
Snacks - We will have some time set aside for a snack each day between 9:40 and 10:00 AM. Students who wish to bring a snack for themselves should bring a small, nutritious snack. I allow plastic water bottles in our classroom as long as they do not become a distraction.
Time to Complete Assignments - Homework assignments will usually be the result of work not completed during class time or a special project to be completed at home. If at any time there is a problem completing the assignment or a question arises, please feel free to contact me to discuss the matter. Late slips may be given for work that is not turned in on time or not completed. The personalized poster was due on Wednesday, September 14th. I try to post all due assignments on the blog. Also, we will have Monday and Thursday math homework. Spelling tests are at the end of each week. Usually, I have a Made In A Minute (MIM) activity at the end of each week that students may participate in, if their assignments have been completed. Those students that are not finished with an assignment will be missing the activity to complete their uncompleted work. Students may take AR tests at almost any time of the day.
Unique - Each year of your child’s life is a time of exploration and experimentation. Please remember that your child’s year should be a journey and not a race. Your child will set his/her own pace. He or she may stumble and may even fall a time or two. It is through our combined encouragement, guidance, and support that your child will achieve his/her greatest success. I often mention the term, Valley of Confusion, and use this terminology to discuss moments that your child may feel frustrated or be contemplating with the desire to quit. All of this emotion is natural when learning something for the first time/new. These discussions are meant to help your child overcome these negative feelings and assist them in getting back on the track with a positive attitude; a willingness and eagerness to learn.
Voice Mail - If we’re teaching or not in our classroom, the office will connect you to our voice mail. We’ll return your call as soon as possible.
Weekly Book Check-Out - Our scheduled day for checking out books from the media center is Day 3. I really encourage students to check out books to have for our Read To Self time and to read at home. Hopefully, they’ll discover or expand their interest in reading this year!
eXtra Credit - Many opportunities will be given for the students to stretch above and beyond the required objectives. We’ll have incentives available for going that extra mile!
You and Your Special Child - You are a very important teacher for your child. We look to you for any information you may share that will help us identify your child’s individual interests and learning needs. I look forward to working with both you and your child throughout our year together.
Zeroing in on Successes - During the year we will be celebrating the many good things about being part of 4th grade at Pleasantview Elementary! Please check the blog daily for pictures and words of interest and encouragement!
Agendas - Students will be responsible for completing an agenda each day. In this agenda, students will highlight or write down any work they need to complete. Your child is responsible for sharing the agenda with you and asking you to sign it every day. We will also include a monthly School to Home Responsibility goal. For the month of September, our goal is to MTB. MTB stands for ‘Make the Bed’ and they should respond with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ at the top of their agenda indicating whether they made the bed that day. You may suggest other tasks that they may perform to transfer the idea of being responsible both at home and at school. Students should average reading 20 minutes per night. This does not include weekends, as they are considered a bonus. You may make suggestions to alter this requirement; however, the idea is that this requirement will help them reach their AR trimester goal (11 points/1st trimester). Also, we have an end of the month open notebook quiz that covers the information that is placed in the agenda, monthly notebook, and accordion folder. Reading Minutes (RM’s) are to be added to the bottom of the agenda and verified a parent.
Blog - We have information and links on our blog (http://mrkrupafourthgrade.blogspot.com) or link to it from the district website. Be sure to check it, especially when the agenda says, ‘Blog Alert’. If you don’t have internet access, let us know so we can send a copy home.
Conferences - We will be meeting two times this year for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our first meeting is in October which gives you the opportunity to learn about how your child’s year has been progressing. I look forward to working closely with you to assure that we are doing our best to meet the interests and needs of your special learner. Please check the Conference Schedule located on the chalkboard to verify your scheduled time slot.
Different end of day schedule - If for any reason your child has a change in their routine at the end of the day, we are required to have a note from you or we will have to send them to their regular place/bus. If it’s a sudden change, please call the office or call me and talk directly to your child and myself. Our Discipline Policy allows for a ‘cooling off’ period if your child is making inappropriate choices. In addition, I provide the student with the opportunity to complete a ‘Write the Rule’ activity which gives me a chance to discuss the situation in further detail with your child. Sometimes consequences need to be enforced immediately and your child’s behavior warrants a parent phone call. I would really appreciate your support in this situation and hope to use the parent phone call option only when the your child is not responding properly with my attempts to correct their behavior. I incorporate a ‘Krupa Dollar’ system which rewards and encourages good behavior. These tickets may occasionally be used as ‘fines’ for repeated inappropriate behavior. If late work becomes an issue, the fourth grade staff may provide ‘Choice Time’ activities that are additional learning opportunities for those that complete their work on time. Students that have late work will not be able to attend, as their time will be spent completing their work or assessing their poor judgment.
Exciting Extras - Field trips provide a wonderful opportunity for learning outside the walls of the classroom. You will hear more about these field trips as they approach. Students will also have the chance to participate in various lyceums and mini field trips around the school grounds throughout the year. Please let me know if you would like to attend as a chaperone as the event nears. You are ll welcome to join us for our Bowling field trip in December!
Focus Events - All of our late starts will be two hours long. School will begin at 9:40 on these days. Each of these days will be a ‘Focus Topic’ day, where the entire school will have activities focused on a certain topic. The first 2 hour late start will be Friday, October 7th.
General Mills Box Tops - Remember to bring in all of those box tops, milk lids, soup labels, etc. that you’ve been saving. Again this year,, we’ll participate in the programs that donate to our school. The money from these program has helped fund many special events at Pleasantview. The Growing Healthy video will be shown in May. Parents will be given an opportunity to view this material before the students. It stresses the importance of good personal hygiene.
Handwriting - We will spend the first few months of school reviewing the individual letters and connections in cursive. After we have reviewed all letters, the use of cursive handwriting will be encouraged, with most assignments being required to be written in cursive during March.
Individuality - Each learner is special and unique in his/her own way. During the day we will strive to offer a variety of activities which will challenge and stretch each learner to his/her potential. Motivation to accept and respond to a challenge is something which must be supplied by the learner. We will be identifying our preferred Multiple Intelligence's throughout the year. I ask that all students participate with their best effort. The Invention Unit begins in December. All students will be required to make and invention, complete an Invention Packet, and share their invention, display board and display board in a presentation to the class. Our Inventor's Congress will be on the last Friday in January.
Join Us for Lunch - Join us for lunch sometime when you are available. Our lunch time is 11:40- 12:35 PM each day. Students will also have the opportunity to apply for monthly and trimester jobs such as Caretaker, Line Leader, Social Committee member, etc. Be watching for the applications.
Keeping Track of Progress - There are several ways we’ll keep track of progress throughout the year. Progress reports will be sent home 3 times during the year, but watch for corrected assignments to come home too! You may want to have your child bring home their accordion folder, three -ring binder, or notebook on occasion to check their progress and view what we having been studying. We will use Krupa Dollars to pay for ‘fines’ and for completing tasks. So far, we have fees for the following situations; Piranha, Blurting out Responses (not allowing others the opportunity to think), excessive bathroom breaks, and loss of materials. We have the opportunity to reward ourselves for bring back sign papers (PS), completing classroom jobs, mastering educational games, and successfully completing the end of the month open notebook quiz. In addition, we utilize a Reward Punch card for participating in classroom discussions and games; such as I Am the Greatest, Dice Endeavors, etc.
Language Arts - Our language program coordinates reading (comprehension, reading strategies, and fluency), word study (decoding and grammar), and writing skills. Throughout the year students will learn about the Six-Traits approach to writing. A variety of reading materials will be used to further develop vocabulary and comprehension skills. There will be time each day for silent reading, this helps develop independent reading skills and allows the students to read something of interest to themselves and at their level. There will be regular Friday spelling tests, however; misspelled words will be written in the student’s Agendas for you to practice with them at home. We will take a pretest at the beginning of the week which will only include a portion of words on Friday’s final test. The philosophy behind the idea of only pretesting a few of the word on the word list, encourages students to actively use the strategies that we have learned throughout the year to spell the additional words not found on the pretest. Also, giving out a list of words at the beginning of the week, encourages students to develop a weekly study habit. All spelling tests will be returned corrected with ‘parent signature’ (PS) stamped on the test. Students are encourage to take home these tests, along with all the others, show them to their parents and return them for Krupa Dollars.
Mathematics - We will complete the Math Expressions curriculum program. It allows for ‘different’ ways of solving problems. We expect all Fourth graders to have mastered the basic facts by the end of the year! Refer to the Math Fact Requirement expectations in our child’s PIN folder. Our plan is to send home math homework every Monday and Thursday night. However, there may be other nights that we have math homework depending on how well your child performed that day. These homework sheets will be printed on blue paper.
Night Of the Twisters - We began the year reading a very exciting and interesting novel. Your child will be taking their first Accelerated Reading test sometime next week. Please discuss the story with your child. We believe that communication between school and home is important for the success of this school year. Always encourage your child to be reading AR books to themselves or aloud and taking AR tests to improve their comprehension and fluency. I often list the current book that your child is reading on the blog. Also, I send home frequent reminders of how many AR points your child has earned. Please sign these record sheets and have your child return them for Krupa bucks.
Other Teachers - During each school week, your child will work with specialists in the areas of Physical Education, Music, Art, Computer, and Media. We also do some activities with the other classrooms (Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Bakke, and Mrs. Burski). We may also have a student teacher that will deserve the same respect and appreciation that is given to the regular classroom teachers.
Peanut Allergy - We do have students with peanut allergies in our school and classroom, so please be careful about which snacks you send to school. You can get a list of peanut safe snacks from the school website, or let us know if you need one.
Questions and Answers - Should you at any time have any questions about your child’s progress or any concerns you wish to discuss, you may contact us by writing a note in the agenda or on another piece of paper, or telephoning Pleasantview Elementary School at 253-0506. We can also be reached by e-mail at david.krupa@isd47.org . If we don’t reply to an e-mail in 24 hours, please give us a call - we have had some trouble with our out of district e-mails. Please put srrstudent in the subject line to be sure your e-mail gets past our filter.
Reading - It is very important that students spend some time reading at home. Research has shown that this is one of the biggest contributors to success in reading. I expect them to set and meet a reading contract goal each month! They will be expected to turn in the record of their reading minutes (RM’s) on September 15th. This reading contract should be signed by you and returned no later than Tuesday, September 20th. Their AR goal for this trimester is 11 points and most of my students easily meet and/or exceed this goal. The list of AR books can be accessed through the Pleasantview media link at www.isd47.org or I have a copy in our classroom that all students have access to and may browse to find a book.
Snacks - We will have some time set aside for a snack each day between 9:40 and 10:00 AM. Students who wish to bring a snack for themselves should bring a small, nutritious snack. I allow plastic water bottles in our classroom as long as they do not become a distraction.
Time to Complete Assignments - Homework assignments will usually be the result of work not completed during class time or a special project to be completed at home. If at any time there is a problem completing the assignment or a question arises, please feel free to contact me to discuss the matter. Late slips may be given for work that is not turned in on time or not completed. The personalized poster was due on Wednesday, September 14th. I try to post all due assignments on the blog. Also, we will have Monday and Thursday math homework. Spelling tests are at the end of each week. Usually, I have a Made In A Minute (MIM) activity at the end of each week that students may participate in, if their assignments have been completed. Those students that are not finished with an assignment will be missing the activity to complete their uncompleted work. Students may take AR tests at almost any time of the day.
Unique - Each year of your child’s life is a time of exploration and experimentation. Please remember that your child’s year should be a journey and not a race. Your child will set his/her own pace. He or she may stumble and may even fall a time or two. It is through our combined encouragement, guidance, and support that your child will achieve his/her greatest success. I often mention the term, Valley of Confusion, and use this terminology to discuss moments that your child may feel frustrated or be contemplating with the desire to quit. All of this emotion is natural when learning something for the first time/new. These discussions are meant to help your child overcome these negative feelings and assist them in getting back on the track with a positive attitude; a willingness and eagerness to learn.
Voice Mail - If we’re teaching or not in our classroom, the office will connect you to our voice mail. We’ll return your call as soon as possible.
Weekly Book Check-Out - Our scheduled day for checking out books from the media center is Day 3. I really encourage students to check out books to have for our Read To Self time and to read at home. Hopefully, they’ll discover or expand their interest in reading this year!
eXtra Credit - Many opportunities will be given for the students to stretch above and beyond the required objectives. We’ll have incentives available for going that extra mile!
You and Your Special Child - You are a very important teacher for your child. We look to you for any information you may share that will help us identify your child’s individual interests and learning needs. I look forward to working with both you and your child throughout our year together.
Zeroing in on Successes - During the year we will be celebrating the many good things about being part of 4th grade at Pleasantview Elementary! Please check the blog daily for pictures and words of interest and encouragement!
Good questions to ask your child...
When do you use the word 'fewer' in a sentence and when do you use the word 'less'? (Answer: when you can count the items, you use fewer).
Where is your agenda? (Answer: In my classroom. We are taking a look at it during the PIN meeting; 7:30)
See you tonight!
Where is your agenda? (Answer: In my classroom. We are taking a look at it during the PIN meeting; 7:30)
See you tonight!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
What are some examples of words that have a silent 'e' at the end of a syllable?
What are some examples of words that have a silent 't'?
What are some examples of words that have a silent 'w'?
What are some examples of words that have a double consonant and the second consonant is silent?
What are some examples of words that have a silent 'k' in them.
When is the PIN meeting? (Answer: Thursday at 7:30)
What rule did you list that you felt you were good at following and demonstrating?
What rule did you list that you felt you needed to improve upon or do a better job of demonstrating?
What is one way that you can show kindness to others, everyday?
What papers do you need me to sign? (Answer: DLR) How many Krupa dollars have you accumulated?
See you tomorrow night!
What are some examples of words that have a silent 't'?
What are some examples of words that have a silent 'w'?
What are some examples of words that have a double consonant and the second consonant is silent?
What are some examples of words that have a silent 'k' in them.
When is the PIN meeting? (Answer: Thursday at 7:30)
What rule did you list that you felt you were good at following and demonstrating?
What rule did you list that you felt you needed to improve upon or do a better job of demonstrating?
What is one way that you can show kindness to others, everyday?
What papers do you need me to sign? (Answer: DLR) How many Krupa dollars have you accumulated?
See you tomorrow night!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Picture Day-Change in Schedule
We have a change to our picture day, it will be on Wednesday, October 5th not Tuesday, October 4th as previously stated.
Ellen Fuller
Ellen Fuller
Good questions to ask your child...
What are some of the frequent spelling patterns for the long "o" sound? (Answers: 'oa', 'ow', 'old', 'o' at the end of a syllable, and o-consonant-e)
Give me some examples? (Just a few correct examples; float/coast, row/slow, golden/hold, cozy/hotel, whole/joke)
Where is Mr. Krupa putting the posters that are due on Wednesday?
Did you grab a flashlight?
Did you practice your spelling words?
What papers do I need to sign? (Answer; DLR)
Give me some examples? (Just a few correct examples; float/coast, row/slow, golden/hold, cozy/hotel, whole/joke)
Where is Mr. Krupa putting the posters that are due on Wednesday?
Did you grab a flashlight?
Did you practice your spelling words?
What papers do I need to sign? (Answer; DLR)
Monday, September 12, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
How are you able to see the other side of the dice? (you will need one or two dice)
When is your poster due? Can you finish it at home? (Answer: Wednesday and Yes)
When is the PIN meeting (Answer: Thursday)
What do we need to bring on Wednesday? (Answer: Flashlight, if you have one)
When is your first spelling test? (Answer: Friday) Where is your list of words?
When is your poster due? Can you finish it at home? (Answer: Wednesday and Yes)
When is the PIN meeting (Answer: Thursday)
What do we need to bring on Wednesday? (Answer: Flashlight, if you have one)
When is your first spelling test? (Answer: Friday) Where is your list of words?
Friday, September 9, 2011
Here is an example of the All About Me poster that is due on Wednesday.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Good questions to ask your child...
When analyzing data, how do you find the range? Median? Mode?
Enjoy the evening,
Mr. Krupa
see the message below from the recess staff
Enjoy the evening,
Mr. Krupa
see the message below from the recess staff
Recess Staff - Recess Rules Reviewed
The Kindergarten staff had asked us (Recess Staff) write down the recess rules, so that they can share them with their students, and we thought others may be interested, was well.
The list sounds kind of negative, so please try to share it in a positive way. It is all about safety. Thanks!
First off please remind all student that they need to stay on the sidewalk and inside the yellow safety lines on the way down to the playground.
Students are not allowed in the parking lot or on the road, so if balls or anything goes outside the playground, students should find an adult to assist them in recovering their lost item.
Then there is:
No climbing up the slides.
No jumping off of the slides or the swings.
No playing "Chicken" or standing in front of the swings while others are swinging.
No standing on the tetter tatter.
We do not allow tackling games on the playground.
No throwing wood or tire chips.
No water bottles or food items on the playground.
Share and respect items provided on the cart.
Return toys when you are done playing with them.
When the whistle blows put toys away and line up.
Hands to ourselves.
All of the regular school rules. (No name calling, bad language, etc.)
In the winter there is no throwing of snow, snowballs, or ice.
Please let the student know that Jean and I are there for them. If they need help, have question or concerns they should feel free to come talk to us.
Thanks for all you do,
Kelly Cotten
PV Recess Para
The list sounds kind of negative, so please try to share it in a positive way. It is all about safety. Thanks!
First off please remind all student that they need to stay on the sidewalk and inside the yellow safety lines on the way down to the playground.
Students are not allowed in the parking lot or on the road, so if balls or anything goes outside the playground, students should find an adult to assist them in recovering their lost item.
Then there is:
No climbing up the slides.
No jumping off of the slides or the swings.
No playing "Chicken" or standing in front of the swings while others are swinging.
No standing on the tetter tatter.
We do not allow tackling games on the playground.
No throwing wood or tire chips.
No water bottles or food items on the playground.
Share and respect items provided on the cart.
Return toys when you are done playing with them.
When the whistle blows put toys away and line up.
Hands to ourselves.
All of the regular school rules. (No name calling, bad language, etc.)
In the winter there is no throwing of snow, snowballs, or ice.
Please let the student know that Jean and I are there for them. If they need help, have question or concerns they should feel free to come talk to us.
Thanks for all you do,
Kelly Cotten
PV Recess Para
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Good questions to ask your child...
When is Jersey Day? (Answer: Friday)
What does RM's stand for and mean? (Answer: Reading Minutes - We will be initiating a new Reading Contract next week that states that we have to read 20 minutes per night; weekdays only and weekends are a bonus
What class book did you checkout today? (Answer: Either "Be A Perfect Person In Just Three Days", "Class President", or "Sunset of the Sabertooth". What can you tell me about the story? Who are the main characters? What has happened so far? Haw many AR points is it worth?
Tell me about Chapter 3- Six O'clock in your "Night Of the Twisters" book? What does "the sun doesn't rise and set on you" mean?
What is unique about Arthur's family? How's the weather looking?????
What are you bring and wearing on Friday? (Answer: three items that represent your interests and a jersey)
When is your poster due? (Answer: We'll take it home on Friday and it will be due on Wednesday)
May I see your agenda? (Answer: Sure, please sign here)
Did you MTB?
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
What does RM's stand for and mean? (Answer: Reading Minutes - We will be initiating a new Reading Contract next week that states that we have to read 20 minutes per night; weekdays only and weekends are a bonus
What class book did you checkout today? (Answer: Either "Be A Perfect Person In Just Three Days", "Class President", or "Sunset of the Sabertooth". What can you tell me about the story? Who are the main characters? What has happened so far? Haw many AR points is it worth?
Tell me about Chapter 3- Six O'clock in your "Night Of the Twisters" book? What does "the sun doesn't rise and set on you" mean?
What is unique about Arthur's family? How's the weather looking?????
What are you bring and wearing on Friday? (Answer: three items that represent your interests and a jersey)
When is your poster due? (Answer: We'll take it home on Friday and it will be due on Wednesday)
May I see your agenda? (Answer: Sure, please sign here)
Did you MTB?
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Good questions to ask your child....
Here are some good reflection questions for today's activities.
Do you think you are going to enjoy the book, Night of the Twisters? How did Mr. Krupa's Reader's Theater make you feel? Tell me about the first two chapters. Where is the setting for this story? Answer: Nebraska What are the two main character's names? Answer: Dan Hatch and Arthur What have you learned about them so far?
How do you play, I Am the Greatest?
On what days do you have P.E.? (Answer: Days 3 and 5)
What is the first thing you do when you enter the classroom in the morning (after you say good morning to Mr. Krupa:-))?
(Answer: First: Make your lunch choice. Second: Hand in any assignment, notes, etc. Third: complete the agenda, monthly notebook, and morning questions. Fourth: Assemble for WAEL)
Please let me know by Friday if your child spoke of any difficulties they may have had today or if they didn't understand any of the rules, routines, or activities and I will pull them aside and make sure they feel confident and secure.
Do you think you are going to enjoy the book, Night of the Twisters? How did Mr. Krupa's Reader's Theater make you feel? Tell me about the first two chapters. Where is the setting for this story? Answer: Nebraska What are the two main character's names? Answer: Dan Hatch and Arthur What have you learned about them so far?
How do you play, I Am the Greatest?
On what days do you have P.E.? (Answer: Days 3 and 5)
What is the first thing you do when you enter the classroom in the morning (after you say good morning to Mr. Krupa:-))?
(Answer: First: Make your lunch choice. Second: Hand in any assignment, notes, etc. Third: complete the agenda, monthly notebook, and morning questions. Fourth: Assemble for WAEL)
Please let me know by Friday if your child spoke of any difficulties they may have had today or if they didn't understand any of the rules, routines, or activities and I will pull them aside and make sure they feel confident and secure.
Dear Parents/Guardians
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We had a wonderful day today! How do I know? Well, your child brought home this note and gave it to you! Thank him or her for being responsible!!!
Here are just a few things to ask your child about and a few things to review with your child to make sure they comprehend the routine of our school day. It was a very busy day and I want to make sure that all of the really important things are embodied within your child’s memory. Thanks for your help!
What is your lunch PIN number?________
What time is snack? ________
How many times during the day do we have the scheduled opportunity to use the restroom?_________ If it is an emergency, just take the pass, tell the teacher, and go!
What is your route home? Bus number, Safety Zone, etc. ________________
What is our classroom blog address?_________________
Did you turn in all of your forms? ___________
What three items are you going to bring on Friday?____________ __________ ____________________
What does WAEL stand for and mean? _________ ________ __________ ____________
What is your Media/Computer password_____________
What does MTB stand for and mean? ______________ _______ __________
Enjoy the first week!
Sincerely,
David Krupa
Fourth Grade
We had a wonderful day today! How do I know? Well, your child brought home this note and gave it to you! Thank him or her for being responsible!!!
Here are just a few things to ask your child about and a few things to review with your child to make sure they comprehend the routine of our school day. It was a very busy day and I want to make sure that all of the really important things are embodied within your child’s memory. Thanks for your help!
What is your lunch PIN number?________
What time is snack? ________
How many times during the day do we have the scheduled opportunity to use the restroom?_________ If it is an emergency, just take the pass, tell the teacher, and go!
What is your route home? Bus number, Safety Zone, etc. ________________
What is our classroom blog address?_________________
Did you turn in all of your forms? ___________
What three items are you going to bring on Friday?____________ __________ ____________________
What does WAEL stand for and mean? _________ ________ __________ ____________
What is your Media/Computer password_____________
What does MTB stand for and mean? ______________ _______ __________
Enjoy the first week!
Sincerely,
David Krupa
Fourth Grade
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Happy Labor Day Weekend!
Happy Labor Day Weekend!
I'm excited and eager to get started! It won't be long now and I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Just a couple of reminders:
1-Have your child bring a small snack with them each day this week. Snack cart will not begin until the second week of school. This snack is just for your child and it will not be shared with others
2-Remind your child how they are to get home after school on Tuesday. Your choices are: Bus, Back safety zone, Front safety zone, Kidstop, Walk, or meet you in the office.
3-If you attended Open House Night you received a red folder with some very important pieces of information. All of the paper work is due on Tuesday, Sept. 6th.
4- Watch for your child's agenda to come home each evening. Your responsibility is to read what was written, sign the bottom portion of the page and make sure it is brought back the following day. A great routine is for your child to place the agenda in the same place each evening and putting it back in their backpack when it has been signed.
5- Don't forget to bring three items on Friday that represent your interests and hobbies
Another way to keep up with what is going on in our classroom is to check out the class blog. I try to update it nightly, but there are times that it might not happen.
mrkrupafourthgrade.blogspot.com
I'm looking forward to the new school year and look forward to forming a great relationship with all of you.
Thank you for your support,
David Krupa
I'm excited and eager to get started! It won't be long now and I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Just a couple of reminders:
1-Have your child bring a small snack with them each day this week. Snack cart will not begin until the second week of school. This snack is just for your child and it will not be shared with others
2-Remind your child how they are to get home after school on Tuesday. Your choices are: Bus, Back safety zone, Front safety zone, Kidstop, Walk, or meet you in the office.
3-If you attended Open House Night you received a red folder with some very important pieces of information. All of the paper work is due on Tuesday, Sept. 6th.
4- Watch for your child's agenda to come home each evening. Your responsibility is to read what was written, sign the bottom portion of the page and make sure it is brought back the following day. A great routine is for your child to place the agenda in the same place each evening and putting it back in their backpack when it has been signed.
5- Don't forget to bring three items on Friday that represent your interests and hobbies
Another way to keep up with what is going on in our classroom is to check out the class blog. I try to update it nightly, but there are times that it might not happen.
mrkrupafourthgrade.blogspot.com
I'm looking forward to the new school year and look forward to forming a great relationship with all of you.
Thank you for your support,
David Krupa
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