And just so you don’t think I only promote reading…

 

 

 IXL Math is the best website I have ever found for improving math  skills. The only drawback is that it isn’t free. A membership costs $9.95 per month. I thought I would share it with you anyway. It might be worth it to join just for the summer months as a way to keep math skills sharp.

 

You can choose New York State Standards as an option. Then you can choose the grade level. All the core curriculum math standards are presented. You can decide which ones you would like for your child to practice.

Each of the practice activities is quick (you choose the number of problems) and provides a short tutorial if the answer is wrong. The graphics are colorful and the feedback is immediate. You get a weekly email update on your child’s progress.There are detailed reports you can print showing strengths and weaknesses. There are also certificates and awards to print as milestones are reached.

Take a look at some sample problems, See what you think. It could be a very positive summer learning experience!

Another Summer Reading Idea

I have always enjoyed reading James Patterson novels. I am a huge fan of murder mysteries. I like to see if I can figure out whodunit before the big reveal. But Patterson is also truly invested in getting children to read. The following is from his website ReadKiddoRead.

A few years ago, I realized my son, Jack, didn't exactly love books. We'd always read to him as a baby, and he was beginning to read for school. When he got home, him going to the shelf and picking up a book was about as likely as his pulling out a notebook and solving quantum physics problems. Actually, the latter was more likely. He's a smart kid.

So Sue and I took it on ourselves to fix the problem if we could.

Starting that summer, and every summer since, we went out and found books that I was pretty sure he'd not just read, but would love to read. That was a big part of the inspiration for READKIDDOREAD.

But, more than that, the experience with Jack got me writing books that I hoped he and other kids would love to read. Before then, I'd always written books just for grown-ups.

In fact, one of my proudest moments as a writer was when I passed him the manuscript of The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Not only did he like it, he told me it was his favorite.

Anyhow, the Daniel X series, the Maximum Ride series, and the Witch & Wizard series were written for just this purpose. Jack got me writing books that I thought other kids would love. To contribute a few books that hopefully, will make kids readers for life.

Patterson has also started a summer reading program. You can go to James Patterson's Book Bucks and print out a pledge. Once children promise to read at least four books this summer (and register at the site), they are entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate redeemable at Buffalo Books in Ithaca.

HURRY! The first drawing will be in early July with additional ones throughout the summer!

SUMMER READING

 

 

 

 

Don’t let the summer slip by without reading!

Check out these programs:

 

Tompkins County Public Library

Dig Into Reading

June 29th- August 24th

Register at the library. Students can read any books they like at home and log how many minutes/hours they complete each day. They will fill in a log and can take the completed one to the library for a prize and a ticket in a raffle. Don’t let this pass you by!

There is also a READ TO A DOG program. Students can go to the library on Wednesdays (July 3-31) and read to a wonderful non-judgmental listener (a dog) at 11:00AM.

Love Legos? Check out the program LEGOS AT THE LIBRARY on Mondays (July8-August 12) from 1-2:30PM.

Go to the Tompkins County Public Library website for more information (http://tcpl.org/).

A Farewell Message from Mrs. Dittman

 

What a wonderful time we had at Field Day! The children were so patient at school while we waited to leave. They read together and worked on a summer fun packet of puzzles and coloring sheets. They looked at and signed yearbooks. We read two of my absolutely favorite poems and giggled ourselves silly. We counted the minutes until rides would arrive.

At the park, the fun quickly started. I was invited to play kickball and managed a double. (If you notice me walking slowly and stiffly today- please don’t comment!) ) Ian and I won the water balloon toss (after being defeated by April and Monique during the first round). I watched the students I adore, who were running wild with enthusiasm on the playground, take it upon themselves to slow down when some preschoolers arrived. I saw them help the little ones on the equipment and brush wood chips off their knees when they fell and help them back up to try again. Their gentleness and compassion was touching. No one asked them to do it. They didn’t know anyone was watching. They just rose to the occasion. At the end of the day, they convinced me to participate in the whipped cream/bubblegum contest. (If that gum hadn’t been so hard to chew, I am certain I could have won!) Go, Joseph!

But where has the time gone?

It is always hard when a new teacher is hired. What will she be like? Will she be kind and compassionate? Will she like my child? How will she be towards the parents? Will she help my child to be successful? A teacher worries too. What if the last teacher was so great I can’t fill her shoes? What if the families don’t like me? What if I can’t reach the children with my style of teaching? New beginnings are stressful for everyone.

I hope it has been obvious how much I love your children. I love when they roll their eyes when I do something outlandish. I love watching as the tinder of understanding is sparked and the fire starts to rage because they are curious and excited. I love showing them that they can do anything, no matter how hard it might seem, if they just take it one small step at a time. I love hearing them sing the “Helping Verbs” song and having them ask if they can please listen to the School House Rock tape. I love when they really get the humor in the poems we read each day and can’t help giggling as they read it aloud. I love how organized they have become---checking the schedule and the homework board and the morning assignment board the minute they arrive in the classroom. I love their questions and their responses and their enthusiasm. They are a wonderful class and are certainly destined to do great things. It was my sincere pleasure being their teacher. I will miss them greatly.

So, before I become a blubbering fool, let me thank you for sharing your children with me. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and for supporting what I tried to do in the classroom. Thank you for your kind words when you found out I was returning to Pennsylvania. You will also be missed.

I told the children that I wrote to my 3^rd grade teacher (who is the reason I do what I do) for more than 30 years. I think she enjoyed being a small part in the many milestones of my life. I know I would truly enjoy hearing from you and your children. I can only imagine the adventures that are in store for each of you!

God bless you-

 

May Crowning

Thursday will be a very busy day!

First, grandparents (and other important adults) will be welcomed into our classroom at 10:30AM. Students will give their visitors a tour of our classroom and then a tour of the school.

At 11:00AM, we will meet in the gym for a delicious pasta lunch. (If your child is unable to eat pasta, please be sure to send a lunch as none will be available from the cafeteria.) After lunch, those who made their First Holy Communion this year as well as the class representatives will change into dress clothes. The rest of the students will have a few minutes to play outside before we prepare for the May Crowning. We will meet near the library at 12:35PM for our May Crowning procession. (Weather permitting, we will be outside.)

If you have any flowers blooming in your garden that you would like to donate, please send them to school with your child Thursday morning. They will be made into bouquets for the girls in the procession.

I am looking forward to celebrating with all of you…

Making May Marvelous

 

Awesome alliteration has been deeply discussed as part of our everyday English efforts !

How about that?!?

 

 

The third and fourth graders have been very busy. We all survived the New York State exams. This was accomplished without tears, without erasing holes through papers, and without vomiting (yes, you hear a lot of horror stories). The tests were definitely difficult, but your children really applied themselves. I was very proud of the effort they put forth each day of the exams. I was required to go to Rochester on April 29th and May 6th to help with the scoring of the tests. (I did not see any of our exams---new rules for scoring prohibit teachers from scoring students from their own school.) I do not know when the scores will be made available.

In Math, we have been working on measurement, both customary and metric. After each lesson, the fourth graders are working together in small groups to solve multi-step problems. Each group member is expected to contribute and all the members must agree before an answer may be recorded. It has been a wonderful learning experience. As you all know, I am also pushing the multiplication tables. It is boring rote learning (I know) but so necessary as a foundation for future math. The time required for each 100 problem homework assignment is decreasing, a very good sign. Students are also taking a daily math quiz of 60 multiplication problems. The goal is to increase the number correct by one each day. Your children are definitely improving in this area!

In ELA, we have just completed the novel Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. (I also checked out a number of Creech’s other novels that the students have been borrowing independently from the classroom.) The students really seemed to enjoy the character of Jack from Love That Dog as his story is both funny and sad. The novel is written in free verse with references throughout to very traditional rhyming poetry, shape poems, and free verse poems. Students have been practicing their hand at writing their own poems in various styles. As a follow-up, I purchased and am reading the companion book Hate That Cat. It is hilarious!

Students presented their simple machine drawings with the explanations of their projects in class yesterday and today. They did a terrific job. I cannot help but think they were truly inspired by the presentation on simple machines made a few weeks ago by Mr. and Mrs. Rutzke. We are now moving on to cycles in Earth and space. There are a lot of interesting experiments in our future!

Social Studies will provide opportunities to further explore the early history of New York and people and their communities. Religion continues with more exploration of the Holy Spirit and the role God and Jesus play in our every day lives.

The school year is definitely winding down…

The following are some important dates to keep in mind:

May 9    Ascension Thursday Mass at   12:10PM

May 10  Scones with Moms

May 16  May Crowning and Grandparents Day (see your family envelope for more information)

May 22  New York State Science exam for 4th graders

May 24-27  NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day vacation)

 

A Note about the Week of March 18th

 

 

 

Correction: spelling test will be on Thursday, March 21st.

 

Friday (March 22nd) we will start the day by going to Mass. When we return, we will take our Simple Solutions Quiz and the test on Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man. In the afternoon, 4th grade will be taking a science quiz and 3rd grade will be taking a social studies quiz followed by music class and health.

Although it will be a very big day for us, it does mean students will get only math for weekend homework.