Today the students chose their animals to research.  We also set up our research folders so we would be ready to take notes in the media center on Monday morning.  We will have two days of fact gathering before we begin writing our papers.  All of the research and writing will be conducted in school.  I explained the 3D animal model to the class today.  There are no directions other than have fun, it should be mostly completed by the child, and it must be easily transported.  If it won't fit in the car and you have to rent a U-Haul, it's too big! :)  I gave suggestions I have seen in previous years like: legos, clay, playdo, styrofoam balls, stuffed animal(made by the student, not purchased), diorama and pottery.  I also said that the sky was the limit, to be creative, and have fun.  The project is due on February 10th.  Everyone will share their project and papers with the class.  There will not be any spelling homework or tests the next two weeks.   Encourage your child to tell you about the animal as you work on the project together.  The projects will be displayed in the media center for a few weeks.  I'll let you know when they'll be heading home again.  I hope you enjoy doing this with your child as much as we enjoy seeing them at school.

Dear Parents,

I just wanted to let you know that, as a gala auction item, I am offering a "Flick with a Friend."

This will be for the auction winner plus 1 guest. Friday, March 2nd.  We will attend a movie at a local theater.  Time and movie to be worked out between teacher and parents.

The Gala Auction will be held February 4, 2012 at Olde Towne Athletic Club from 7 to 11 PM. Tickets are on sale at http://gmefoundation.org - $35 and $45 at the door or you can Download 2012GALATicketformto purchase tickets in advance. Visit the website for a sample of items to bid on. All proceeds go back to GMEF.

The proceeds will be used to improve our school by providing funding for programs such as technology, educational curriculum and facility improvements. The GMEF will accumulate and distribute resources beyond those provided by Cobb County or the PTA, in order to further enhance, foster and enrich the educational experiences of all students at Garrison Mill.

Thank you for your support!

Wow what a day of technology ups and downs we had on Friday.  We attempted to meet our pen pals in Virginia Friday afternoon.  We had a great visual but the sound came and went.  Unfortunately we couldn't quite have the discussion we wanted to.  However, on the upside each child did get to meet his/her pen pal as well as see Mrs. Huffman.  I wish you could have heard the oxygen leave the room when she walked into our pen pals' classroom.  I felt like the class just ran into Justin Bieber based on the oohs, aahhs, and hyper activity.  She sent me an e-mail stating how great it was to see everyone and how grown up they looked as well as how much she appreciated the very enthusiastic greeting.  It is definitely obvious to our pen pals how much she is still loved in Georgia!  Hopefully we'll get the kinks worked out and try again soon.

We have been working on how to revise writing with Mrs. Kantor for the past few weeks.  I was so impressed with the class today.  Everyone did their own revisions on a boring story about going to the dentist.  The changes made were very clever, and filled with great word choice.  Our main focus has been to "spice up" the writing by adding vivid verbs and amazing adjectives, as well as at least one simile.  We also want the students to take generic writing and make it more specific.  Please encourage these skills at home as well.

Wow!  I am impressed with how many constellation projects came in this morning.  What busy little bees we had this weekend!  Please hold on to the projects at home until the due date of January 30th.  Please turn in the rubric along with the project as this will help save a few trees and the copy parent's time.  :)

Just a reminder that diamond poems are due tomorrow (1/24).  We will use the author's chair to share our winter themed poetry this week.  I truly cannot wait to hear and see everyone's poems.  Please have your child practice reading the poem out loud before sharing it with the class.  This will help with the presentation. 

We have High Touch High Tech on Tuesday morning this week.  Our time falls during specials, so we will not be going this day.  Please have your child wear his/her green class t-shirt.

This nine weeks we are learning how to graph in the computer lab.  The past two weeks we have used the program, Graph Club.  After mastering this program each child will learn to graph with the program, Excel.  Hopefully we will all master Excel, as well.

I am sad to report that we lost our trophy for First In Math to Mrs. Schmitter's class.  Let's work extra hard to earn it  back.  Please continue to play a few nights a week.

This week we have learned a lot about Dr. Martin Luther King Junior.  Hopefully your child is able to share many different facts about this famous man.  More will be learned when Mrs. Sanders comes in for social studies in a few weeks.

Geometry, geometry, and more geometry!  We learned about solid (3D shapes) today.  We focused on faces (flat part), edges (where two faces meet), and vertices (where 3 edges meet).  Please try to reinforce these definitions at home by counting them on household items (tissue box, ball, can, etc.)  It's essential that everyone have a solid understanding of this key vocabulary.

Any takers on gumdrops and toothpicks?  I would love if anyone is willing and able to donate one of these items so we can create 3D models of cubes in class.

Just a reminder that the diamond poem projects are due on Tuesday, 1/24.

Upcoming Projects:

Constellation Project due Monday 1/30 (information going home on 1/20)

3D Animal Model due 2/10 (information going home on 1/30)

Heroes Writing Contest Paper due Friday 2/24 ( Information was sent home today.  It will be the only homework assignment the week of 2/13-2/17.)

I know this is a lot of projects in a short amount of time, but I know they are all valuable learning experiences, and hopefully fun as well.  If you have any questions about them after receiving the directions, please let me know.  I look forward to seeing and hearing about them!

Social Studies:  How did Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Junior influence civil rights?

Reading:  How do I read to learn?

Writing:  How do I write to inform and explain what I've learned?

Science:  How do the Earth, sun, moon, and stars relate to each other?

Math:  What is a fraction?  How can addition help me know if I subtracted correctly?  What is the effect of combining and separating numbers?  How can I measure and compare lengths of objects?  How can graphs, charts, and tables help me organize and understand data?  How do I know if I have been given the correct change after buying something?  How can I use money as a medium of exchange?

Technology:  How can graphing help me organize data?

Health:  What is the difference between primary and permanent teeth?  what are the effects of heredity and environment on growth and development?

It just occurred to me that I didn't formally thank the class for my wonderful Christmas present!  I hope you know it has nothing to do with appreciation and everything to do with a very busy schedule!  You were very generous and it was greatly appreciated!!

On Thursday, I read the class a new Jan Brett book called The Three Little Dassies.  It is similar to the story of the three little pigs.  Please ask your child about the similarities and differences.  January's author of the month will be Jan Brett, again.  The class voted to keep her as our author one more month since there were still so many books left to read.  We will change authors next month.

It's project time!  The class learned how to write a diamond poem today.  Their assignment is to write or type a diamond poem using the format sent home.  The poem should also be illustrated.  The project is due on January 24th.  Please do not send in projects early.  If you need a piece of construction paper, please let me know.  Have fun!

It's that time again.  Report cards will be sent home on Thursday afternoon.  Please autograph the signature card and return it to school in the envelope provided.  The report card and comments are yours to keep.  If you have any questions please e-mail me directly.  My e-mail address is stephanie.latimer@cobbk12.org .  Please don't e-mail me from the blog as the e-mails go to Mrs. Schulman not to me.

We completed our first geometry unit and took the test today.  The test covered: angles (right, acute, and obtuse), plane shapes, sides, vertices, and combining shapes.  The test also covered regular vs. not regular shapes.  I discussed this with the class and included it on the test.  However, if your child didn't master this vocabulary it didn't count against him/her as this was an extension lesson.  Kudos to those who got it!  Our next unit will also be a geometry unit.  We will learn about 3D shapes.  I would love to do an in class project that requires gum drops and toothpicks.  We will build 3D shapes in order to see the sides, angles, and faces.  If you are willing and able to donate either of these items please let me know.  I would like to do the project next week and would greatly appreciate the donation of the supplies.  Thank you in advance!

We did not get to Tuesday's time test.  Our next test will be on Friday.  I hope we didn't get rusty over the break.

There is no school on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Here are some more pictures of classmates enjoying the holiday break.  It's not too late to send yours in.  We love seeing them!

     

Cameron & her sister at         Liliana and Santa

Disney World

What a great day we had back in school!  The children enjoyed the A.R. movie, which nobody had ever seen before.  We celebrated our top 5 point earners: Katie (86.1), Dylan (30.5), Marc (27.7), Cameron (18.1), and Kate (16.3) by awarding them with an extra treat.  The new A.R. goal is to earn 7 new points by March 14th.  Have fun reading!

A great big happy birthday to Dima, Katherine, and Casey!

Don't forget to wear your pajamas to school on Tuesday.  What a fun way to return to school after a two week break!