February 5, 2010
Dear Parents,
Hope everyone had a good week! We've been very busy with the science fair and lots of learning. Miss Schmitt (our UT student teacher) has begun taking over some of the teaching this week! She's doing a great job and will gradually take over the teaching until she's teaching everything for 2-3 weeks during her "total teach." Speaking of the science fair, everyone's projects were great and I really enjoyed hearing about all of them as they shared Monday morning. A special congratulations go out to Anna and Shiva for doing so well that they're going on to the regional science fair competition!
Next Friday, February 12, we will exchange our valentines with one another. Participation is optional, of course, but if your child participates, please make sure they have a valentine for EACH student in our class-thanks. I put a copy of the class list on my "Classrooms Handouts" page of my website. A white bag will be coming home in the next week for your child to decorate at home to put their valentines in at school. This is not a party that parents need to come to as the students just spend the time opening their valentines and eating a snack provided by the home room parents.
On Thursday, I went to a half day computer training. I learned how to add a blog page to my website! I showed the students how to use it, and they will be bringing home a 3 X 5 orange card with the password on it. This blog will only be viewed by the students and families of our class. Please help your child to understand not to share our class password so that it stays private. I will be submitting a new blog topic each week, and the students have a week to add a respectful, serious comment to it. I will be keeping track of their submissions and give them a blog participation grade within their writing average.
Also coming home today is a yellow piece of paper about this new website that our district is implementing called Learning.com. It's a really great site where teachers can assign different lessons and assessments that students can complete at home. I showed the students this site on Friday. Please read over this yellow sheet and keep it close to your computer because it has your child's username and password to get into the website. I have assigned them 4 lessons and one quiz to complete at home by next Friday, Feb. 12th. The lessons are about spreadsheets which will help prepare them for using Excel in the computer lab.
I know this seems like a lot of information all at once! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. If you do lose the Learning.com paper or blog password, just email me and I will give those to you. Below you will find a message about the Spicewood yearbook. A big thank you to Jackson and family for sending in some donations for our class store. Have a wonderful weekend! I think we might even see the sun!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jacobs
You couldn't order your yearbook at the beginning of the year, so now is the time. They will only be for sale until February 18th. If you're not sure if you already placed your order or you have any questions, please send an email to
rebecca@hallzone.net . Remember your friends at Spicewood by reserving your copy today. Ordering instructions are at www.spicewoodpta.org.