Saturday, August 26, 2017

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Good morning and happy Saturday. I hope all is well with you and your families. For a quick update: My wife Meagen is doing well and has stabilized for a few consecutive days, so I am flying back to Fairbanks tomorrow afternoon to prepare for class on Monday. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be with the kiddos, especially knowing baby is still cooking and Meagen is okay!

Last week

It was a was productive one. Mrs. Wartes got our spelling program started, and I will be making some slight modifications to it when I return. Brainstorming for summer reflections has begun, and math is underway. You will see an increase in homework and classwork as we progress. I have signed all the students up for Kahn Academy, which is a supplemental part of my math program. Spelling City, Typing Agent, and Google Classroom will get going soon as well...We will get into all that some more during Back to School Night in September. 

This week

The Pearl Creek Olympics have started and the kids are working hard with Mr. Dunavin in PE. Our first round of statewide MAP testing will be on Wednesday and Thursday. While the timing is not great (with my return), we have a small window to do this, and these are the mornings that we have the computer cart. Please make sure the kiddos have a good breakfast and are well rested. 

I feel great with where the kids are at right now, and this week will be dedicated to garnering routines, expectations, assessing diagnostics, and developing a rapport with the kids, all while progressing through curricula. I am ambitious, motivated, and eager.

Coming up

I have started planning our first excursion of the year - Thursday, September 7, 2017 - to Ballaine Lake where will will do some field observations and rotation stations, specifically studying aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates while implementing art and poetry. Feel free to join us for the learning and fun. We will be going as a fourth grade cohort, so Mrs. Hammer's and Mr. Carlson's classes will be joining us.

Monday looks like:

9:00 - 9:10

New Seats

New Jobs

9:10 - 10:30

Class Meeting

Hey there...where ya been?

Getting to know you...getting to know me

Classroom Collaboration

10:30 - 11:10

PE

11:00 - 11:40

Read Aloud - Frindle

Begin - "Perspective Art"

11:40 - 12:10

Lunch

12:10 - 12:40

Recess

12:40 - 1:55

MATH BLOCK

1:55 - 3:30

Writer's Workshop - Cursive and Summer Reflections

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS

First Draft - Summer Reflections
Spelling Quiz Friday - Lesson 2

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK

By Friday
Spelling Packet Lesson 2
Summer Reflections Draft One - If not finished in class
Pick first book for Quarter One Book Report - we will discuss this more

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)

Due On
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-3
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-4

Thursday, August 31, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-5
Friday, September 1, 2017
--Practice Practice/Enrichment 1-6

ONGOING INFORMATION

READING LOGS
Reading logs are a regular part of our class. Students will receive "points" for for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday).
The logs will be due on a rolling basis and should have dates read on them. I will give credit as they are turned in and filled out correctly (please initial these). The points students receive will be added to their overall reading grade, counting towards their final grade.
It is simple, if students read and turn in their logs, they will see their grade improve significantly while naturally benefiting in fluency and accuracy. If they do not, they will not be given a "0" on the assignment, they simply will not receive any points.
Please look for these to come home this week. I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs. Email me with any questions or concerns please.

GOOGLE DRIVE - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon
You can access all of your student's digital assignments online and work at home if you would like. Just go to www.gmail.com and type in their email address and password. Then find the Google Menu (where you will find the Drive, Docs, and Slides) icon in the top right corner (it is a nine square grid next to their s-number). This is where they will make their Google Slides Presentation for their Biography Book Reports. It is as follows:

Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)

Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)

DATES TO REMEMBER

Monday, September 4, 2017

No School - Happy Labor Day

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Field Trip - Ballaine Lake (Exploration of Aquatic and Terrestrial Invertebrates)

Friday, September 8, 2017

Annual Pearl Creek Harvest Festival

Friday, September 22, 2017

Picture Day - Intermediate Students (Primary on Thursday)

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Back to School Night - 5 to 6 PM

Friday, September, 29, 2017

Teacher In-service (No School)

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

Welcome to our classroom!

Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Welcome back to school and welcome to 4th grade!

PUFFINS TAKE FLIGHT!!!

I had the opportunity and pleasure to meet several parents/guardians during the annual Ice Cream Social and it was a huge success. Thank you for attending and if you were unable to make it, I am sure we will meet one-on-one in the near future (Parent/Teacher conferences in October). If you have not yet, please read through our classroom handbook.

I mentioned that I would maintain a class blog for you to see a "snapshot" of what lessons and activities we do in class. I will also include a rough sketch of our schedule for the week, highlighting some of our main events, but please keep in mind that things may change from time to time. At the bottom of the blog post, I will list the homework that is due for the week, for your reference.

Also...if you would like to subscribe to the blog and receive this in your email weekly, enter in your email address at the bottom of the page or in the side bar to the right, where it says "Follow By Email." You will receive an email from Feed Burner confirming your participation. Follow the instructions and check your spam folder if you do not receive an email. This will set you up for the email campaign.

So...As you know, I have not been at school since we have started. To keep things brief, last Wednesday, my wife was Medevaced to Providence Medical Center due to pre-term labor. She is almost 28 weeks, so things are very delicate and complicated at the moment. I have a lot to be thankful for including how far we have come.

Meagen and I enjoyed reading the sweet card and kind sentiments from the students over the weekend. It lifted our spirits. Since we have been down here, we have received many emails, phone calls, and words of encouragement from the Pearl Creek community. A special thanks to Mrs. Erin Wartes, who is brilliantly covering the class in my absence, and to the principal, Mrs. Kate LaPlaunt for being so helpful and compassionate. Also, thanks to Mr. Matt Powers and Mr. Brent for including the class in some fun activities. Meagen and I are fortunate to have amazing friends and colleagues in our lives.

As of now, baby is not here yet, and that is a good thing for development. The more time that goes by, the lower the risks are for a lot of things. We are still very much day-by-day, even hour-by-hour, and on alert. We are in the best place we can be for all scenarios.

Besides the obvious, I am feeling additional angst right now. As you know, the beginning of the year is crucial to bonding, routine, and expectations for a new class. I am looking forward to getting things going, but I have to be here for my family. I have a tentative plan in place for my return; your child's education is important to me. For now, please be patient, and know that your student is in great care and surrounded by people who are very kind, knowledgeable, and capable. I have daily communication with the school and Mrs. Wartes, and I am aware of all the activities happening, so we may pick up where we need to.

Thank you for your understanding and compassion during this difficult time in our lives.

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman