August 25, 2017

We use our class meetings to share with our classmates.  On Mondays, kids share weekend news and tell about one fun or interesting thing they did over the weekend.  On Tuesdays, we give a compliment to a classmate or ask to receive one.  On Wednesdays, we tell one thing/person/activity we are grateful for.  On Thursdays, we share our favorite...this week it was song. On Fridays, students voice one joy or one concern.  This practice helps us become more comfortable speaking in front of our peers.  Here's some of what was said:

 - "I want to give a compliment to Ethan for coming in quietly and getting right to work."
 - "I want to compliment John for being a good friend."
 - "I am grateful for my friends and my family."
 - "I am grateful for a good school and for recess."
 - "I"m joyful because we have library today!"

• Monday, August 28th
• Strings begins (Monday/Thursday OR Tuesday/Friday)
• Tuesday, August 29th 
• Last day for chicken coupon collections
• LEAP begins
• Happy birthday to Sophie! 
• Wednesday, August 30th 
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• Thursday, August 31st 
• Mrs. Kleitsch joins us for a counseling lesson.  
• Scout Night @ 6:30 pm in the gym  
• Friday, September 1st 
• All cookie dough fundraiser orders due.  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

Students filled their book boxes with classroom library books & a Reading Journal.  Emmanuelle finds a cozy spot to read.  

Landon gets comfortable with a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. 

Ethan works on making progress in a chapter book to add to his Reading Log. 

In Writer's Workshop, Will & Sophie created personal maps of their basements & backyards, recording important memories they have in these places.  They'll use these maps to refer to when they need topic ideas.  

Molly & Noah share their heart maps, a brainstorm of things they love (or really like).  

Round 2 of the Marshmallow Challenge was awesome!  Students created expectations for working with a group.  

Group Expectations:  1. Focus on the task.  2. Everyone participates.  3. Consider all ideas.  4. Speak at a "Level 2."  5.  Use materials appropriately.  6. Be persistent (don't give up)! 

August 20, 2017

Our first two days of 4th grade were a lot of fun!  We spent time getting to know one another and reviewing some room 36 & Crestwood expectations.

• Monday, August 21st 
• Eclipse Day!  We'll be learning even more about this rare event and venturing outside in the afternoon to observe.  Students will watch this safety video and receive a pair of glasses to wear. 
• Tuesday, August 22nd 
• Fundraiser Chicken Coupon Collection 
•  4th Grade Curriculum Night @ 7:00 pm, room 36 (K @ 5:00, 1st @ 5:30, 2nd @ 6:00, 3rd @ 6:30, 5th @ 7:30), babysitting is available throughout the evening 
• Wednesday, August 23rd 
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• Thursday, August 24th 
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• Friday, August 25th 
• Fundraiser Chicken Coupon Collection  
• Back to School Movie Night @ 8:30 pm 

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

Students used a foam math counter and a balloon to better understand a solar eclipse.  Alex squints one eye to see if his counter (moon) will eclipse a blown up balloon (sun).  

William & Noah work together to find out how many steps apart they must be for the counter to completely eclipse the balloon.  

Caroline & Emmanuelle agree that it's possible for a smaller object to eclipse a larger one if there is enough distance in between the two. 

Josiah, Landon, & Maddy work together to reinforce some spaghetti noodles before building their tower. 

Sophia, Violetta, Will, & Alex were a great team, reinforcing their noodles with masking tape. 

Despite being the tallest, the weight of the marshmallow caused Ian, Etan, Alexa, & Emmanuelle's tower to topple over.  They kept their great attitudes! 

Although it ended up being the lowest to the ground, Molly, John, Noah, & Lydia's tower turned out to be the only freestanding one!  Congratulations! 

May 26, 2017

Dear Parents of Miss Dausmann's 2016-17 Classroom,

We did it!  We completed another year of learning and laughter at Crestwood.  It's been an incredible year filled with progress and growth.  One of my goals as a teacher this year was to not only allow but to really encourage kids to be themselves.  As humans, we're all this beautiful mess of strengths and flaws and preferences and quirks.  Each student contributed something unique to our classroom dynamic this year.  At times we balanced each other, at times we challenged each other, but one thing is for sure:  we made each other better.  I am beyond grateful for each of my 20 students and the experiences we shared together this school year.

Here are a few great summer resources for continued learning.  Please take a peek and encourage your child to use these throughout the summer. 

Sincerely,
Katie Dausmann

May 26, 2017

May 23, 2017

Desmond & Miss Dausmann worked together to catch a Daddy Long Leg spider, and the boys studied it under the glass.  

A HUGE spider joined us for lunch, and Robert was brave enough to catch it! 

In the prairie ecosystem, students used nets to catch butterflies and dragonflies.  

Emma found a very large earthworm on the path, and kids gently passed it around.  

We all took turns catching tadpoles in the pond, and Cyrus managed to find a teeny frog. 

Emma watched a giant frog stay cool in the water.  

Catching tadpoles...

Hailey even lost her hat!  Thank goodness she managed to retrieve it. 

Sandra, Claudia, & Hailey show their tadpoles.