What Have You Been Doing this Holiday?

Please let us know what you're doing. For those who need the website for the Christmas tree circuit game, go to http://www.noradsanta.org/en/countdown.html

Why Should We Be Thankful?

Head to the following link to plan out your persuasive writing that encourages us to be thankful: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/persuasion_map/

This link will not save your work, so be sure to PRINT before you leave the website! We'll post our arguments to our blog when we have completed them, so we can encourage the whole world to be thankful!

Online Help for Reading and Math

We used the following website in class yesterday as a tool to learn more about long division: http://learnalberta.ca/content/me5l/html/math5.html?goLesson=9&launch=true

The students now have their own login names and passwords for the following reading website which will allow them to practice reading skills and strategies at their own pace. This website is http://www.learningtoday.com/corporate/login.asp

Another online tool for the students to use is First in Math. Each child's login name and password has been taped into their homework folder for use at home and school. Go here to access this site: http://www.firstinmath.com/

President Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Check out this website which announces his win: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8290000/newsid_8299100/8299135.stm



Then head back here to tell us what you think about his win!

Want to know more about the Nobel Prize? Click here:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/shortfacts.html

Nutrition Songs: Do You Know Your 5 Food Groups?

(Lyrics from Nutrition Expedition)

Need Help Learning Those Multiplication Tables?

Check out the website www.multiplication.com and look through all their resources. They have online timed tests and explanations of what the multiplication means. Also, check the bottom of the home page for a link to download a free version of a game called "Timez Attack." It's an honest-to-goodness video game which requires them to practice from 2 - 12! An upgrade (for money) is available if you want to vary the scenery, but YOU DON'T NEED THE UPGRADE! Yea! I will be showing this website to the kids next week.

Help Us Earn Free Books When You Order from Scholastic Book Clubs!

Dear Parents and Friends,

Our class earns a FREE book for our classroom library every time a parent orders online!

To order online, go to the Web site below and enter our class’s personalized user name and password.

www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class User Name: steward_class
Password: bolton03

Remember, placing your order online is completely safe and secure. Your credit card payment is sent directly to Scholastic.

When you shop online, you get instant access to over 500 additional titles plus online-only specials and discounts. Of course, you can always use the printed flyer instead and have your child hand in a Club order form and payment at school.

Thank you again for ordering and for continuing to help our classroom earn FREE books. Remember, every time a parent places an order online, we earn a FREE book for our classroom library! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Miss Steward

We, the People

What Are You Expecting from Your Fourth Grade Year?

What Do You Expect to Always Remember about Summer 2009?

There were two things I was really excited about this past summer. The first one was when I had the high school girls from church over for a retreat. It was a lot of work, but I really got to know the girls better through their participation. The second event I will always remember is taking a trip to Boston with my friend from China. I learned a lot more about her while we toured the Northeast and I also got to see first-hand some of the sites connected to our American history! I'm looking forward to seeing what you will remember!

A Teacher's Summer

Here I find myself in the smack-dab middle of the summer, and I'm already stressed about all the things I need to do! I'm sure many of my colleagues feel the same. Every summer I start with a long list of things that I feel must be accomplished before the kids walk back through the door in August. The list: visit family, work on the house, work on the yard, develop some kind of project for my church family, read some professional texts, read something for leisure. And you absolutely must RELAX!

How do you relax when your to-do list is a mile long? I am realizing, however, that what I think I need to do is really only what I want to do. And many times, even in the summer I must prioritize and let go the things that are not necessary. So what, in summer, are the priorities? Family, friends, some professional explorations, and true leisure moments. So there will be some dirt in my house and there will be many weeds in my yard, but if I accomplish the priorities, I will rest in that!