Monday, August 31, 2009

Class News: Aug. 31- Sept. 4

Good news! Our agendas have arrived. Be sure to sign and check your child's agenda every night for homework. If no homework has been assigned, the agenda will read No Homework, or No HW.

Last week we started our first math unit, Landmarks and Large Numbers. We continue this investigation by playing the game "Changing Places" and practicing adding multiples of 10 and 100. A family letter will be sent home explaining more. I hope to upload a copy here as well. In the meantime, you can read much more about the Investigations curriculum at
http://www.pearsonschool.com/live/assets/200738/Investigations%20Parent%20Pages_2321_1.pdf

This week we started learning about matter. We are recording our learning by taking notes and making observations in our Science Notebooks. These notebooks usually stay in the classroom, but can be taken home anytime. Just be sure to bring them back as we use these notebooks almost daily.
We will be having a poppin' good time later on this week!
Upcoming dates:
Sept. 4 and Sept.7 NO SCHOOL

Homework: August 31- Sept. 4

Monday, Aug. 31
Strohecker Math: No homework.

Strohecker Science: No homework.

Baylor Math: No homework.

Baylor Science: No homework.

Tuesday, Sept. 1
Strohecker Math: Student Activity Book pages 6&7
Strohecker Science: No homework.
Baylor Math: Student Activity Book pages 6 & 7
Baylor Science: No homework.

Wednesday, Sept. 2
Strohecker Math: Student Activity Book p. 9
Strohecker Science: No HW
Baylor Math: Student Activity Book p. 9
Baylor Science: No HW

Thursday, Sept. 3
Strohecker Math: No homework.
Strohecker Science: No homework.
Baylor Math: No homework.
Baylor Science: No homework.

Friday, Sept. 4
No School

Monday, August 24, 2009

Welcome to 4th Grade!

Dear Families,

My name is Melanie Strohecker and I will be your child's Math and Science teacher this year. I would like to take moment to let you know a little about me. My husband, Eric, and I live in Columbiana with our children Eli and Mia. This is my tenth year of teaching. I received my B.S. in Elementary Education from The Ohio State University and my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. I began teaching 4th grade and then 3rd grade at Canfield. Eric and I then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where I taught Kindergarten, 2nd grade and Gifted Education. Last year, I had a wonderful experience teaching Character Education to the 4th, 5th and 6th graders. I am very excited to return to the classroom and look forward to a busy and exciting year!

Daily Schedule:

1st Period:















Monday


Tuesday


Wednesday


Thursday


Friday


P.E.


Music, Mr. Bennett


Art


Character Edu


Character Edu



2nd & 3rd Period: Math

4th Period:

















Monday


Tuesday


Wednesday


Thursday


Friday


Music, Mrs. Cowan


Study hall


Computer


Music, Mrs. Cowan


Study hall


5th Period: Lunch & Recess


6th Period: Science

7th Period: Social Studies (Mrs. Baylor)

8th & 9th Period: Language Arts (Mrs. Baylor)

Class Website:

Our class website is: ateachersnotebook.blogspot.com. You can find it listed under Teacher Pages at the Columbiana Schools website.

At the website you will find newsletters, homework assignments, lessons and links to helpful websites. Photos and student work will also be displayed on the website. Your child's safety is my number one priority! I do not post children's names on photos, nor do I use last names. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this. Please be sure to return the Internet release form by the end of the week, along with the other school forms.

Discipline:

On the first day of school, the students and I will create a class contract that outlines the way we want our class to be, including rules that we will follow. Look for a copy of this contract to come home by the end of the week.

Snacks:

I will allow the students to have a healthy snack during our morning Math time. Please send in healthy snacks ONLY, and nothing sticky that could spill. Water bottles are permitted. They should have a lid that can snap shut.

Contact Info:
Please feel welcome to contact me via email at Melanie.Strohecker@columbianaschools.org, or my leaving a message at the school office, 330-482-5354. I always try to respond within 24 hours, if not sooner.


PLEASE RETURN ALL FORMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! THANK YOU!

I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning and discovery with your child!

Melanie Strohecker

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Clipper of the Week:

 

Each week we will take time to learn about each of our classmates. 

The students can bring in photos and "stuff" from home to display in the class.

They will also take home a questionnaire the weekend before to fill out and return.

 

Ideas of what to bring in:

Baby picture, old school picture 

Pictures of family members, pets, special friends, etc.

Ribbons or awards

Special drawings

Hobby items or special collections (just one or two items from the collection would be great!)

 

Aug 24-28    Mrs. Strohecker

Aug

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Windows Live Writer!

Just testing this out. I am very excited as this should make posting class lessons and info. much easier. Now if I can just figure it out. I am NOT liking this new layout. Wait…I should say that I really do think it is very fun, “cool” looking, but I think I need something a bit different. Template Mama has a TON of really great templates so I think I am going to experiment.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Teacher Link Love: MathWire

I have been spending some time searching
for some inspiring math sites and came across this: http://www.mathwire.com/index.html
Amazing stuff! Math games (GOOD math games!), templates, photos of math boards, etc. etc. etc!!!!!!
Definately will have to spend some time here!

Happy Birthday Hans C. Orsted!

Find out more about Hans and his electromagnet work here:
http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/java/oersted/index.html

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Back to school!!!


Back to school!!!
Originally uploaded by Mama Saaty
Spending lots and lots of time in the classroom...getting ready for the next year! I couldn't resist this cute dog photo.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center








Over vacation my family visited The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center . It is really wonderful place on Topsail Island that takes care of stranded and injured sea turtles. They also help protect sea turtle nesting sites.
The biggest surprise during our visit was runnning into Weslie Detwiler volunteering at the center! Weslie is a Senior at the high school and she is participating in the center's intership problem. I am DEFINATELY going to ask Weslie to come and speak to our class about her experiences. How cool will that be?!