Students of the Week 8/28

Congratulations to this week's students of the week!

Micah, Maryam, and Taraiya are three very deserving students of this honor. They are kind to others, are great team members to classmates, and keep positive attitudes even when things get tough. Way to go, kiddos!

Week in Review 8/24-8/28

Happy Friday, ya'll!

This week (surprise, surprise!) we continued to practice what it looks like and sounds like to effectively work in groups. This means listening when someone else is sharing their ideas, explaining your own ideas, and remembering that one student is not more important than the whole team. 

This week in academics:

• We continued reading Hatchet and took a comprehension quiz on major events in the book so far.
• We continued our spelling/vocabulary routine with homework
• We learned about "expanded expanded form" 3,529.8 --> (3 x 1,000) + (5 x 100) + (2 x 10) + (8 x .1)
• We compared and ordered decimals by lining up decimals and place values vertically.
• We identified and used the three verb types. (action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs)
• We learned to used atlases
• We took this year's first round of Galileo Testing, which is a test taken on ipads that shows student growth throughout the year and can help us find areas to improve on in our classroom.

Next week:

• RTI reading/language groups start on Monday.
• Magnet Monday starts on Monday!
• (In two weeks) September 10th is Connect to School Night

Reminders for Tomorrow

Test Corrections and Signatures Due

On Monday, we sent home two recent tests with your child. The attached signature sheet and any test corrections to make up points is due tomorrow, Friday, August 27.

August Birthday Friday

Also, tomorrow is BIRTHDAY FRIDAY! We are celebrating all August Birthdays, but anyone is welcome to bring something to share with the class.

Week in Review 8/17- 8/21

Hey there Fisher Baker Families!

Welp, another week of school to cross off of our calendars. This week we continued practicing the right way to work in groups. We're starting to see a lot of effective collaboration among our kiddos. This means taking turns talking in groups, summarizing things they discuss together, and even disagreeing in constructive ways. We're excited to see these collaborative skills grow even more as the year continues!

This week in academics:

• We bundled groups of ten on place value charts.
• We multiplied and divided numbers by 10/ 100/ 1,000/ etc. by moving digits on a place value chart.
• We multiplied and divided numbers by 10/ 100/ 1,000/ etc. by moving decimals.
• We learned about exponential form
• We started Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Ask your kids about it, it's a nail biter)
• We studied important parts of maps (compass rose, legend, symbols, scale, etc.)
• We added our spelling/vocabulary routine to homework.

Reminders:

• Mrs. Reasor is finalizing Magnet Monday placements. If you haven't turned in your class request form, you will be placed in whatever classes have space left. 

We hope your weekend is spent relaxing with one another. Enjoy!

Ms. Baker and Ms. Fisher 

Students of the Week 8/21/15

Congratulations to Jacob, Emma, and Maya! In the midst of a tough week of following directions, these shining stars have kept positive attitudes and set wonderful examples of what responsible and kind look like. Way to go, you three! We're lucky to have you around!

Week in Review 8/10-8/14

Hey Fisher Baker Families,

We've had a great first full week back. This week we've been continuing to practice very important classroom (and life) procedures like giving our full attention to speakers, not interrupting or shouting out, and following directions. We've seen great progress in these areas this week, but are still working to be the best team we can be.


As academics go, this week we covered:

• alphabetizing and dictionary skills
• synonyms and antonyms
• common and proper nouns
• identifying place value spots
• the difference between value and place value
• standard, expanded, and word form

Next Week:

• Bring back Magnet Monday forms ASAP. Remember, these classes fill up quickly and it is first come first serve in order to secure your top choices!
• We plan on starting spelling next week, so expect to see an additional page of homework coming home each night. If for some reason a spelling sheet doesn't make it home, there are links to all of the spelling sheets on the right margin of this page for you to print.

We hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend!

Ms. Fisher and Ms. Baker 

Students of the Week 8/14/15

Congratulations to Abi, Otto, and Mackenzie! All three of these kids have been helpful to their classmates this week. They have been spotted cleaning up after others, offering to help classmates to understand their work, and holding open doors. Thanks for being so helpful, you three! Your classmates (and teachers) have noticed and appreciate you. :)

Students of the Week 8/7/15

In our short time back, these three students have already shown great leadership qualities. They have helped others learn the ropes of our class, and have set a wonderful example for our new students this week. Way to go, Ruby, Jada, and Sam!

   

Week in Review 8/6-8/7

Hey there, Fisher Baker families!

We hope you had a great first two days back. Here's some of what we were up to.

This Week:

• We started learning each other's names. (There's still a homework pass up for grabs for the first student to be able to name all 56 of us from memory!)
• We got to know each other better by working in partners, pods, and half pods.
• We practiced complete sentences. 

Reminders for Next Week:

• If possible, bring supplies by Monday. The most important items are the 4 notebooks. We're taking math and reading notes Monday!
• Bring back all of that lovely Marshall paperwork asap. 

See you Monday!

Ms. Baker and Ms. Fisher

2015-2016 Supply List

                              School Supply List: Due Monday (8/10/15)

Because of space issues in the classroom, students do not have desks to store items. We ask that students limit their personal school supplies to the required spiral notebooks and folders and a few other things that will fit inside a zippered soft pencil case.  Prohibited items and items that do not fit in the pencil case (excluding the notebooks and folders) will be returned home. Please label supplies with the student’s name to insure that lost or borrowed items get returned to their rightful owner.

Supplies:

• ·      A container of Clorox wipes or box of Kleenex (to share)
• ·      A solid, neutral colored, cotton/cotton blend, standard sized pillow case  (no king size/ no flannel or jersey)
• ·      Four one-subject wire ringed notebooks
• ·      2 folders with pockets (no binders)
• ·      A soft pencil case that will fit the following supplies:

o   Pencils

o   Erasers

o   A small pair of scissors

o   Colored pencils or crayons

o   Several dark colored dry erase markers

o   A small whiteboard eraser  or piece of cloth

o   Highlighters

o   A glue stick

o   A small personal stapler (optional)

Our classroom is also in need of some good quality staplers, dry erase markers, and hand sanitizer.  Any donations are really appreciated!

Students may NOT have markers, binders, multi-subject notebooks, composition books, Sharpies, or toys.

If you can sew, please let us know ASAP! We need help sewing pillowcases!

Welcome Back!

WELCOME to the 2015-2016 FISHER/BAKER CLASS!

Visit us at fisherbaker.blogspot.com

Welcome to another exciting school year! We hope you had a fun and restful summer and are looking forward to the school year ahead. Please read the following helpful information about Marshall and the Fisher/Baker classroom.

SCHOOL SCHEDULE:

           

Monday-Thursday                     8:35-3:20

Friday                                        8:35-12:25

Late Start Days                         10:35-3:20

Lunch: Monday-Thursday        12:35-1:15

Lunch: Friday                           11:35-12:15

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL:

Children may not arrive at school earlier than 8:15 unless they are enrolled in FACTS. After this time, all students and any parents who wish to wait with their children must stay on the playground until the first bell rings at 8:35. Please remember that students and parents are not allowed in the halls before school. This is time for teachers to prepare for the day, have scheduled meetings, and help with playground duty. Thank you for respecting this time. When the bell rings, students line up outside and are walked in as a class. After the 8:40 late bell, students not in their seats will be marked as absent. 

            If your child needs to be picked up from school prior to the regular dismissal time, please see or call Miss Malinda in the front office. She will have your child meet you in the front office, where you will need to sign them out.

CONTACTING MS. BAKER AND MS. FISHER: 

Please email us at anytime with questions, concerns or to set up an in person meeting. Ms. Baker’s current email address is ekohl@fusd1.org and Ms. Fisher’s email address is efisher@fusd1.org. This is the quickest way to reach us. To contact us by phone, please wait until after teaching hours, call the front office, and ask to be connected to Room 28.

Unfortunately, we do not have time to visit with parents before school or during the day. Getting our students off to a great start in the morning and keeping them focused during lessons is our top priority. We are happy to have visitors after the final bell rings and students have been dismissed from the classroom.  If you need to meet before school, please email Ms. Baker or Ms. Fisher ahead of time to schedule a meeting. 

SNACKS:

            We encourage your child to bring a water bottle to school. Please make sure your child’s water bottle and any other personal belongings (jackets, lunch boxes, etc.) are marked with their name. Students should also bring a healthy mid morning snack each day. No soda, gum, or candy will be allowed in class.

TOYS AND CELL PHONES:

Cell phones and other electronics must be kept off and in backpacks during school hours. If students have these out during the day, they will be taken from the student and kept in our care until an adult can come and pick them up. Personal items brought to school always carry the risk of being lost, stolen, or broken. Please do not allow your child to bring anything to school that would cause a problem if anything should happen to it. 

HOMEWORK:

            Expect your child to have homework Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and occasional weekend projects. Homework usually includes spelling or writing, English or grammar, and math. Students are given a study hall in class each day. This time is specifically for students to begin their homework in an environment where they can work with other students and have one-on-one help from the teachers. Students also have access to daily notes that they may take home and use to help them on their homework. While we do not require an adult to sign agendas for nightly reading, students should be reading at least 20 to 30 minutes outside of class each day: this is one of the best ways for them to improve their reading skills.

A NOTE TO THE FOURTH GRADERS AND THEIR PARENTS:

            The type and amount of work increases dramatically from third grade to fourth grade, and the beginning of the year can be challenging for many fourth graders. In order to be successful in this class, students must come to school each day ready to work, ask questions, seek help when they need it, and use their study hall in a responsible way. Know that, while this is a fourth and fifth grade combo class, the material the fourth graders are assessed on is at a fourth grade level.

THE FUN STUFF:

We have plenty of exciting and challenging activities planned for your fourth and fifth graders this year as we explore topics that include map skills, animal adaptations, ancient South American people, The Civil War, and a literature study on Gary Paulsen. If anyone has special skills or information related to our topics of study and would like to share them with the class, please let us know.

            As the year moves forward, look for more information from us on the two student-led portfolio conferences that will be held this year. We believe that this is the best way for you to see your student’s progress and growth. Because of this, most student work will remain in the classroom until the end of the year.  If you are curious about any work that doesn’t make it home, feel free to stop by after school and have your student share it with you.

We look forward to a successful school year with you and your child!

           Ms. Baker (ekohl@fusd1.org) & Ms. Fisher (efisher@fusd1.org)