Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Updates from room 25!

Hello families!
Wow! How about all of this winter weather! I know it has set us back a bit on some projects at school. Thank you for being flexible as we keep our kiddos safe! Here are some updates for you:
- We will have a math test Thursday, weather permitting. Your student should have the review packet we did in class today for practice problems.
- If you would like to donate for the Valentine's Day party, here is the link: 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084EA8A823AB9-valentines1 *Please just send the items to school with your student ASAP*
- If your student would like to design a Valentine's Day box/bag, they are welcome to at home. We will not have time at school, but I can offer a Ziploc baggie to anyone who needs one. We will be passing out valentines before our party. If you choose to send valentines, please only send valentines to class with your child for other kids in our class as we will not have time to trade with other classes. I will send home class lists in Friday Folders this week.
- If you would like to come to our Valentine's Day party, it will be Feb. 13 at 1:45.

Looking ahead...
-  Our class's planetarium field trip will be on Feb. 18. We will be going with Ms. Koonse's class.
- Your child may have come home to talk with you about their Famous Missourian project. We invite kids to dress up and impersonate their Missourians. We also encourage kids to bring some props to set on their desk as they are presenting. It is okay if your student wants to change into the costume at school. For instance, a sports broadcaster may wear a suit and a headset. We do not want you to have to spend a bunch of money. This can be stuff you already have!!
- Speaking of Famous Missourians...we will be showcasing our Famous Missourian projects on Monday, February 24 from 11:15-11:45. We would love for you to join us! This is also the date for Friends & Family day in specials, where families are invited to see some of the hard work our kiddos have been doing in specials classes. Please consider joining us!
- I will be sending home times in Friday Folders for your winter conference. Please let me know ASAP if there is a mistake or conflict with your time. It will be sometime between Feb. 24-27.
- Yearbook forms are due Feb. 27!

Happy snow day!
Mrs. Sanders 

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Updates for the week, Winter Party Information, and More!

Hello, families!

This is such a busy time of year! I want to make sure information is communicated as clearly as possible for upcoming activities and dates to know. Here are some reminders:

  • Our school GeoBee will be January 17 at 10:10. Please encourage your child to work on the review packet and the app in class or at home to prepare for the preliminary test, which will be when we get back from winter break. 
  • Your kiddo could be showcased in one of these pictures on the right...have your student bring in a wrapped book up until winter break!
  • Secret Santa gifts are due Tuesday, Dec. 17. Please email me to let me know if you need support in getting your child's gift. I am happy to help! We will reveal on Friday, Dec. 20.
  • This Friday, Dec. 13 is Holiday Day! Have your child dress as festive as possible to celebrate the upcoming holidays. 
  • Please return donations ASAP to our classroom for our holiday activities. We will be using them very shortly! If you are interested in making 50 sugar cookies for cookie decorating next week, please email me!!
  • If you want to support our Holiday Party, which will be next Friday, Dec. 20, here is a link to the wish list for that. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050548aaa623a02-rbe4th
  • There will be a note in Friday folders this week about snacks. After participating in Mizzou's Nutrition course over the past couple of months, our class is pledging to bring healthier snacks for snack time starting in January. Please help support this by sending your kid with a healthier option, rather than cookies, chips, or other junk food. Students will be asked to take unhealthy snacks back home if they come to school. Thank you for your support with this. 
Thank you all for everything you do! Stay warm!
Mary Sanders

Friday, October 25, 2019

Updates from Room 25!

Good afternoon!
I hope this post finds you well. I enjoyed seeing a lot of families at the Chicken BBQ last weekend. Thank you for supporting our great school! Here are a few reminders and points to make note of:
- Tuesday, Oct. 29 we will be going to the Science Center and Zoo in St. Louis. We will leave at 7:45 and return at 4:45. Please make sure your child has a plan of how he/she is getting home. If your child is going home with another student, please make sure I have a note for that. If you are attending the trip and meeting us at the zoo, you are welcome to sign your kid out and take them home from the zoo.
- Wednesday, Oct. 30 is our 4th grade fall party! There is a sign-up for that and it can be found at this link.
- There will not be homework or Friday folders next week, since it is a short, funky week.
- I will be organizing conference times and getting those to you sometime next week.

Thank you for your support! Please let me know of any questions you have!
- Mary

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Conferences, Reminders, and Updates!

Good afternoon, families!
We have been working so hard in room 25! Here are some updates for you:

- Parent-teacher conferences will be held the week of November 11-14. Please be on the look out for the time preference form coming home in Friday folders next week!

- The students have been diving right in to our Benchmark Literacy Units and have enjoyed the different aspects of the program. I am excited to show you what we've been working on at our conference in November.

- We will have our Unit 2 math test next Tuesday, October 15. We will have a review day this Friday, October 11 and the review will be sent home with your student, and then we also will have review stations on Monday. The review guide has the same kinds of problems as the test does.

- Black and Gold day is Friday, October 11 to celebrate Mizzou's Homecoming this weekend

- Our class will have a Music celebration in Music class on Friday, October 11. Each student may bring a snack and a water bottle.

Thank you for your continued support!
Mary Sanders

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

PTA Meeting, DOT Day, and More!

Good morning families!
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to update you with a few bits of information:
- Tonight is our first PTA meeting of the year at RBE! Come and show your support, I'll be there! :) See you at 6:00 pm in the Media Center!
- DOT Day is Friday, Sept. 13. Students can participate by wearing polka dots. The idea of Dot Day is based on Peter Reynolds book "The Dot" which tells the story of a student whose teacher encourages her to express herself. Although I will be absent Friday, there will be lots of celebrating, including a Dot Day Breakout activity in our classroom!
- RBE will be having a Chipotle Fundraiser night NEXT Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 4-8pm. Chipotle will donate 33% of sales to RBE. Come show your support for our great school!
- Our first math test will be Thursday, Sept. 12. Your student has an orange review packet coming home. The packet is for reviewing purposes. I will not be collecting it back at school, but I want everyone to feel well-prepared for the test. Please encourage your student to work on the packet and/or review the concepts within the packet in preparation for the test. We will also be reviewing tomorrow during math time in class.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
-Mary Sanders

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Updates from Room 25 for the week of August 30

We've almost survived another full week of school! I have enjoyed getting to know my class even better as learners and kids. I am so grateful to have such a good group this year. Here are some updates for you!

Curriculum:
Math- We are quickly making our way through unit 1 in math. We've focused a lot on place value, number stories, and estimating. We will plan on taking our test over unit 1 the week of Sept. 9 at some point. More information to come.
Science- We have been doing a lot of activities that focus on experimental design. We also have studied about the Missouri River in preparation for our field trip tomorrow. Check out these pictures from the activity "What happens to the mass of a piece of bubble gum as you chew it?" That was a fun one.


Writing- We have done some responses to our reading to practice summarizing and using proper writing techniques. We also have done some writing prompts to get ideas flowing.

Reading- We have been working on reading stamina. Students were also introduced to some reading apps this week when they received their iPads. We have focused on the idea of Author's Purpose this week and have identified reasons behind why books are written.

Homework:
- Please make sure your child has a 1 1/2 inch 3-ring binder before Tuesday, Sept. 3. I am happy to supply binders for kids that need them. Please contact me and let me know so I can get them this weekend!

Other updates:
- Our MO River field trip is TOMORROW, Aug. 30. Please make sure your child dresses comfortably.
- We have picture day on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Please send in your order forms or an online confirmation.
- 4th grade will be hosting a Curriculum Chat on Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 7:40-8:15. Come and hear about all the things your child will be doing in 4th grade!

Have a great long weekend!
- Mary Sanders



Friday, April 5, 2019

Updates for the week of 4/1-4/5

Hello families!
I hope everyone had a relaxing, restful spring break. Our class has been easing back into our routines and procedures this week. Here are a few reminders and updates:


  • In math, we've been talking about liquid capacity units like gallons, quarts, pints, and cups. We've been using this handy graphic to help with conversion problems. We have also worked on multiplying fractions by whole numbers. Our next big topic will be multiplying mixed numbers by whole numbers. 
  • In reading we read books by Loren Long, an author an illustrator that will be visiting our school next Friday, April 12. He wrote the "Otis" books and has illustrated a number of books.  We are excited to welcome him to RBE this week!
  • In writing we have jumped into opinions. Students practiced forming opinions and having reasons for their opinions. We will start the actual writing process next week, responding to the prompt "Are zoos 'cool' or 'cruel'? as a follow-up from our zoo trip in the fall.
  • In science we've talked about circuits and electricity this week. We have formed circuits with hands-on labs. Next week we will begin talking about slow changes of our Earth, focusing on the Missouri River in preparation for our field trip at the end of the month.
Some housekeeping notes...
  • Our MAP testing schedule for fourth grade has been posted. We ask that you avoid scheduling appointments during these times if at all possible. Here are the dates and times we will be testing: 
Tuesday, April 16 8-10: Language Arts
Wednesday, April 17 8-10:30: Language Arts
Thursday, April 18 8-9 and 10-11: Language Arts
Tuesday, April 23 8:15-9:15: Math
Wednesday, April 24 8:30-9:30: Math
Thursday, April 25 8:30-9:30: Math
  • If you are interested in providing a snack and drink for our class during MAP testing, please visit this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4baaa828a5fc1-maptesting2
  • Just a reminder that the CPS calendar has been changed a bit. Next Wednesday, April 10 will be a FULL day instead of the previously scheduled early release. Also, the last day of school is now 28. It will be a half day.
  • If you are interested in volunteering on Field Day, Ms. Moore would love to have your help! Please reference the flier being sent home in this week's Friday folder for more information.
Dates to know: 
4/8: Choir after school
4/11: Choir concert at 6:30
4/12: Loren Long visits RBE & RBE Spirit Day
4/26: Missouri River Day field trip (morning only)

Have an amazing weekend! 
-Mrs. Sanders