Extras!

We have a couple of extra, earned rewards coming up in the next few weeks. I like to have some big goals for them to work for at the end of the year. The idea is that it gives them a common goal to work towards as the weather gets longer and their focus gets shorter. :)

Electronics Day

 The students collected their PAWs to have an electronic day. They can bring in their electronic device on Tuesday, May 10 to use at the end of the class period. We have two days out of six where we don't have a special at the end of the day. One of those days are Tuesday, so they will use their electronics at that time at the very end of the day. I asked the students to keep their electronics in their desk on that day. Mr. Riemenapp or I will be in the room the whole time or we will lock the door when we leave to ensure that the electronics stay safe!

Extra Recess

The students are also on their way to earning an extra recess for reading. When the class reached 12 million words I told the they could get an extra recess. We are currently at 11,900,000 so we should easily reach our goal next week. The extra recess is scheduled for Monday, May 16. If the weather is poor we will reschedule though.

News and Notes

Capitol Permission Slips

The Capitol Field Trip permission slips are coming home tonight. We are not able to go to the movie theater this year, so there is no money that needs to go with the permission slip. The field trip will be on Friday, May 27.

Forward Exams

We are all finished with the Forward Exams! The students finished up their last section today. They did a great job of working on those the last couple of weeks. The best news is we had ZERO absences, so nobody will need to do make-up tests.

Kindergarten Buddies

Our year with the kindergarten buddies is winding down. Fourth graders will read to their buddies for the last time on May 6. We will meet with them briefly on May 12 to give them cards, then on May 13 we will watch the kindergarten videos with them. This is fun because we get to watch the current kindergartner's video along with the fourth grader's kindergarten video.

Quick Notes

Chalk the Walk

There was a sidewalk coloring fundraiser scheduled for this weekend, but it will be cancelled due to the weather. The kids have a sheet that was in their folders earlier this week.

Social Studies Test

My class will have their Social Studies test on Friday, May 6.

Forward Exam

We have all finished the language arts and math sections of the Forward Exam. The kids did a nice job of working through those tests. We had nobody absent, which was great.

Next week we will finish up the Forward Exams with the Social Studies and Science portions. We may be able to finish each one in a day, but it may take longer. We will just have to see how it goes when we get in there. The tests are on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week though.

Library Book Checkout

The last day to checkout books will be on Wednesday, May 18. We will have library on May 17, so that will give our class one more chance to check out books at the end of the year.

No School

Just a reminder, the students will not have school on Monday, May 2. I hope you have a great day and have good weather for the day.

Reading Millionaire

Congratulations to Brady for becoming a reading millionaire today! Great work Brady!

We have a few more that will be close to a million words before that end of the year. That is an awesome accomplishment for a fourth grader. We also have many more that will get over a half million.

Calendar Updates

This is just a friendly reminder that the students do not have school on Monday, May 2! It was set up as a possible snow day make-up, but that won't be needed.

Forward Exams

The students took their first forward exam test on Monday. They took the first language arts section and did just fine. Today they will take another language arts section. Then on Wednesday and Thursday it will be the math portion. When we return next week we will finish up with Science and Social Studies.

Standardized Testing

Starting next Monday, April 25 we will begin taking the Forward Exams for fourth graders. Next week we will take one test on Monday-Thursday. On Monday and Tuesday we will be taking the English/Language Arts exam. On Wednesday and Thursday we will be taking the math portion of the text. We took a few practice exams today so the kids could see what the tests looked like. The Forward Exams are all on the computers, some of the questions are multiple choice, some are written, and some are more interactive. A couple of examples of interactive questions the kids had on the practice exam had them place a like in the appropriate spot using a protractor and putting an equal number of books on a bookshelf.

The kids can't study for this and I encourage them to do their best, but not to get stressed out. These are not a part of any grade that I will use. Please try your best to have them get a good nights rest and have a healthy breakfast.

Lumberjack Day

Pecos Bill Play

I have both videos uploaded and ready to view. I put them in the order they were presented.

Pecos Bill - Play 1

Pecos Bill - Play 2

Summer School

Summer School 

 All students were sent home with a letter inviting them to attend summer school at IGEMS this year! Reading, Math and fun activities will be provided. You are able to sign up at Parent-Teacher Conferences outside of the office or sign and return the permission slip that was sent home with your son/daughter. The dates are Monday through Thursday, July 11-August 5th.

Conferences

 Also, thanks to all the parents for coming to conferences. I always enjoy visiting with parents.

Book Swap

Does your child have a pile of books sitting in their room that they have already read? Do you wish you had the opportunity to exchange them for more exciting reading materials?  Then The Book Swap is for you!

How it Works

From April 11th to April 21st, students may bring in any “gently used” books to their classroom for donation.   Each student who brings in books will get a Book Buck to purchase a “new to them” book at the book swap.  Children are invited to bring in extra books so that children who do not have a book to swap can have a chance to choose one.  Each class will have the goal of donating as many books as students in their classroom.  Any additional books will be donated to our “Books on the Bus” program.  We will not be able to accept books after April 21st.  On April 22nd (Earth Day), your child will choose a “new to them book” from the donation table.

Book Criteria

Books will only be accepted under the following guidelines:

·         Books must appropriate for grades PreK-4

·         Books must be in gently used condition: cover on, no rips, or bent edges

·         Books with coloring or writing in them will not be accepted

·         Coloring books, activity books, and sticker books will not be accepted

Please note that the selection of books available will be based on books donated. We cannot ensure specific titles, etc.

Thanks!

Book Fair

The Spring Book Fair is this week! It is the buy one get one free event. Our class will be viewing the book fair on Tuesday from 10:10-10:30. They will create a wishlist then. 

If the students bring in money the book fair will be open on Wednesday from 10-3 or Thursday from 12-8. The Thursday time lines up with parent/teacher conferences, so you can come in and buy books yourself too.

Wednesday and Thursday are the only days to buy though as we have a short day on Thursday for conferences and no school on Friday!

Pecos Bill Play

We will be presenting our Pecos Bill play on Thursday, April 14. That is also the day of the early release and conferences. There aren't enough parts, so we will actually run two separate plays. The first one will run at 10:20 and the second play will run at 10:50. We will invite a younger class to come and watch, since they are our buddies. Also, any parents or grandparents that can come would be great! We will have the play in our classroom.

Who: Mr. Van Overmeer's Class

What: Pecos Bill Play

When: Thursday April 14 at 10:20 and 10:50

Where: IGEMS - Mr. Van Overmeer's Classroom

Why: Because Plays are Fun!

Group 1 (10:20) - Jayden A., Jayden B., Domanyc, Gavin, Charles, Sawyer, Cyle, Meagan, Lilliana, and Kaelyn

Group 2 (10:50) - George, Bentley, Timothy, Rylee, Sophie, Makaya, Brady, Alaina, Harrison, and Elyse

A paper copy of this is also coming home tonight. Hope you are able to make it!