Miller’s Memos
Susan_miller@sarasota.k12.fl.us
January 6, 2010
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a wonderful, healthy, restful,
happy break. As I have told your students this is the end of the 2nd quarter,
we are halfway to being 5th graders. Since we are halfway to 5th grade you
will see our pace pick up, expectations rise, and the push toward more
independent work and increased responsibility taking place. Your student
should be responsible for keeping track of homework and deadlines getting
completed work to school on times. Please support your child, but allow them
to grow with these new expectations, they will be better prepared for 5th
grade.
AR Reading: There are a number of students that already reached their
goal! AR points for the quarter are due on January 15th so encourage your
readers to continue to read and test.
Math: We are working on Ch. 20 Algebra and we will be completing this
Chapter by the end of the week. Your student will be responsible for studying
for multiplication tests and retests, I will no longer be checking logs. We
will be having our Sundae Party at the end of January. My hope is that
everyone earns their ice cream. speed drills are a great way to check for
automaticity. Please follow along with your child’s math class by logging
onto www.ehartcourtschool.com. This site offers additional practice problems
that support our curriculum.
Writing: We are currently writing Narrative stories. Overall your
children are turning into descriptive storytellers before my eyes. Please
encourage them to write with detail. We will be switching back and form to
Expository writing this month so that we are reacquainted with both forms
before our state testing in February.
Spelling Packets: Our new Spelling packet will go home Friday and is
due completed in class by Thursday, January 14th.
FAIR Assessments: We are in our second round of the FAIR Assessments
for Reading. The results of these tests will help us determine your child’s
new AR level and goal for the 3rd quarter.
Folders: Please make sure to empty and sign weekly work folders. Make
sure to review & sign all returned tests. Return the tests in the folder.
Please sign week 8.
Field Trip: Field trip forms for our trip to Spanish Point on Feb. 16th
are going home today, please sign and return as soon as possible. If you are
PALS approved and would like to attend please let me know. This is a great
field trip and the weather is USUALLY quite nice that time of year.
Expectations: As we progress through the year toward 5th grade I will
be loosening my ties on their apron strings. Starting with 3rd quarter if
your child routinely has their homework and does not have a color change then
I will stop signing their Agenda. I would encourage you to continue to check
their Agendas for notes and making sure they are still writing in their
homework. I will be sending a note home with students who have earned this
freedom. Hopefully all will be there by the end of the third quarter.
We are happy to welcome our newest addition to room 624, Kris Schumann.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Miller
Upcoming Events
January 5-8- FAIR Assessments
January 15- Second Quarter Grading Period Ends
