Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a FUN summer! I’d love to hear what you are doing on vacation. How about posting what you are doing here so we can all comment and see what everyone is doing? I heard from Char Char and she’s in Puerto Rico! It sounds like they have lots of frogs there that are keeping her awake at night! She’s on her way to the beach in San Juan next… I’m in Oregon with Mr. Gilbert’s family and I’m having a lot of fun! They have chickens, llamas, and cows here so my boys are having a blast! Mr. Gilbert and I get to go check out the coast tomorrow.

Comment and let us all know what you’re up to!

Miss you and love you,

Mrs. G

Battle of the Books 2008-2009

Calling all students going into the fourth and fifth grades next fall to join in a fantastic book adventure, Battle of the Books! Six schools in our area are joining together to engage students in reading books and forming teams for a competition next spring. The books have been selected and if you like to read over the summer you can begin reading now. The student objective is to read at least five of the books on the list and become a book expert who can then answer questions for a judge in the team competition against the other schools next spring. All readers are welcome! The library will have copies of the books available for check out next fall. The book list will be posted in the library as well as on the library webpage. Just select Mrs. Rose Rock in the school staff listing and click on Battle of the books link. Or check below and start reading now!

Battle of the Books 2008 – 2009

Historical Fiction:
Dragon’s Gate – Laurence Yep
Lily’s Crossing (Newbery) – Patricia Reilly Giff
The Whipping Boy – Sid Fleishman
Great Turkey Walk – Kathleen Karr
Fighting Ground – Avi
Worth – A. LaFaye

Fantasy:

Iron Ring – Lloyd Alexander

The Last of the ReallyGreat Whangdoodles – Julie Edwards
Silver wing – Kenneth Oppel
Music of the Dolphins – Hesse
The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan

Mystery:
House With A Clock In Its Wall – John Bellairs
Mystery At Chilkoot Pass – Barbara Steiner

Biography:
Eleanor Roosevelt (DK) – Kem Knapp Sawyer

Science Fiction:
Girl Who Owns the City – O. T. Nelson
Downsiders – Neal Shusterman

Realistic:
Heat (CA Read Nominee 09) – Mike Lupica
Dear Mr. Henshaw – Beverly Cleary
Heartbeat – Sharon Creech
Report Card – Andrew Clements
View From Saturday – E. L. Konigsburg

Adventure:
Running Out Of Time – Margaret Haddix

Classic:
The Black Stallion – Farly
Homer Price – McCloskey

I miss you all already! Have a great summer and keep in touch… Love you… Mrs. G

Tell me, in at least three sentences, what your plans are for the summer. Use details and create a mental image for me! (Do NOT begin sentences with AND!)

We have been using the computers a lot this year. For your blogging assignment this week, I’d like you to think about how you think the computers have helped you learn this year. Tell me the following using complete, super sentences:

1) Which computer project was your favorite this year, and what did you learn from it?

2) Why do you think computers are so important to learning?

3) What do you hope you get to do with computers in fourth grade?

Thank you so much for making Mrs. Cree and me feel so special on Teacher Appreciation Day! Thanks to Mrs. Krochman and Mrs. Hutto for our super posters! We sincerely appreciate all of the thoughtful gifts. We are truly blessed!
·      Make sure to join us for the One-to-one FAQs meeting for all parents who have children entering third through eighth grades next year on Monday, May 19, beginning at 6:30.
·    A permission slip is coming home in the home ed folder on Monday (5/19) for our end of the year celebration. We will be visiting Soak City on June 4 and need a count ahead of time so we can purchase the tickets in bulk. Please sign the slip and send the admission fee  (checks made out to Salem) by Friday, May 23. Adult admission is $18.99 and your child’s admission is $15.99.
·    Calendar of coming events:
May 21   In-N-Out lunch
May 23   Sports Day Dress
May 23   Donut Day
May 26   Memorial Day—no school
May 27   Free Dress begins for rest of the year
June 1     Closing Service 10:45
Spring Musical—meet in our room @ 1:45
(Show at 2:00)
June 3     Vicki Marsha Uniform sales—1:00-6:00
June 4     Soak City
June 5     Talent Show—1:15 in gym
Student Recognition Night—7:00
June 6     Last day of school! Chapel @ 10:30—final dismissal @11:15

We’ve been doing some descriptive writing this week and discussing how important the details are. Some of you found that it was more difficult than you thought to describe your monsters! For tonight’s blogging assignment, I want you to write about your favorite room in your house. Be sure to tell me which room it is and describe what it looks like (i.e. the color of the walls, what furniture it has, etc.). Help me to make a mental image of that room in my mind! Be sure to read over your writing and make corrections before you submit!

You guys are the BEST!! Wow! You sure know how to make someone feel special and loved. Thanks for showering me with hugs, love, kindness, and gifts! I feel very appreciated.

·     Here’s hoping all you mothers had a relaxing, delightful day because you deserve it! We wouldn’t be who we are without your care and love!! We hope you loved the book we created in your honor.
·     Join us tonight (Monday, 5/12) at 7:00 at Lutheran High to learn all about Internet safety—a growing challenge as our electronic world expands.
·     We have begun practicing for our spring musical. The third grade performance is at 2:00 on June 1. Plan on being at Salem by 1:45 on that day. This is a mandatory performance.
·     Hat Day—Tuesday, May 13—free dress is allowed WITH a hat!
·     Talent Show try-outs—May 13-14
·     Come to Salem on Monday, May 19 at 6:30 to have all of your questions answered about the one to one technology program beginning next year. At this time, the computers are scheduled to be passed out to each family on Aug. 22.
·     Memorial Day—May 26—No school
·     We seem to be very tired lately, but we still have four weeks of school! Don’t give up! Please insist on a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast to fight off the grumpies. (A healthy snack and lunch will also help.)