May 6, 2018

  

• ALEKS Pizza Party - In Math class, students work on the ALEKS program to review their Math skills.  Students earn fun coupons as they complete different slices of the ALEKS pie (no shoes, use the teacher's chair, bring a stuffed animal, etc.).  Students who complete the ALEKS pie will participate in a pizza party to honor their focus and hard work.  Pies must be completed by Monday, May 14th, in order to participate.  

• Monday, May 7th 
• Happy birthday, Miss Dausmann!
• Library Day, Scholastic Book Fair Preview 
• Tuesday, May 8th 
• Scholastic Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, May 9th 
• Scholastic Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair
• Nurse's Day 
• PTO Meeting @ 6:30, Crestwood Library 
• Thursday, May 10th 
• Scholastic Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair
• Friday, May 11th 
• Field Trip to Ulysses S. Grant home 

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

Students observed a mother red-shouldered hawk resting in a nest high in the tree tops.  

When transitioning from the prairie to the forest, students spotted a turtle crossing our path.  

Mr. Bruns, from the Missouri Conservation Department, answered students' questions about Maple trees.  

The pond was full of turtles, some of which were as curious as the kids! 

Not much can top an outdoor lunch with friends!

April 27, 2018

• MAP Testing - Students worked incredibly hard on MAP Testing this week, and I am so impressed with their focus.  We know that testing is not the most important part of our children's schooling, but it's amazing to see them take the challenge so seriously and do their very best.  We have finished the ELA (Reading, Writing, & Listening) sessions and will complete Math next week.   
• ALEKS Pizza Party - In Math class, students work on the ALEKS program to review their Math skills.  Students earn fun coupons as they complete different slices of the ALEKS pie (no shoes, use the teacher's chair, bring a stuffed animal, etc.).  Students who complete the ALEKS pie will participate in a pizza party to honor their focus and hard work.  Pies must be completed by Monday, May 14th, in order to participate.  
• Mindfulness - We have been using a website called Calm to help us practice some moments of mindfullness throughout the school day.  Click here to check out the "7 Days of Calm" and some other calming activities that students have practiced this week.  This is a great resource to use at home! 

• Monday, April 30th 
• Math MAP Testing @ 1:00-3:00 pm  
• Tuesday, Mary 1st  
• Leadership Academy after school-4:00 pm 
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, May 2nd 
• Math MAP Testing @ 9-11 am 
• Thursday, May 3rd 
• Strings Rehearsal during the school day and performance @ 6:00 pm, LHS 
• Friday, May 4th 
• Field Trip to Claire Gempp Nature Conservation Area, students need to bring a sack lunch 

Questions for Kids

• What is a specialized structure and how do they help animals or plants to survive?  
• What types of things did you discover in the outdoor classroom?  What tools did you use to observe? 
• Tell me about Number the Stars, your new read aloud book.  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

To prepare for our field trip to Gempp Conservation Area, students explore the outdoor classroom.  

Kids use a variety of science tools including thermometers, bug nets, bug jars, and magnifying lenses.  

We explore living & non-living things and record our observations.

Kids jot down questions and wonderings about their discoveries.  

Science groups work together.

April 22, 2018

• Looping to 5th Grade - I am very excited to be moving to 5th grade for the 2018-2019 school year and to have the opportunity to loop with our entire class!  On Friday, Mrs. Oliver sent home a detailed letter explaining this concept along with a short Google Form email for you to complete.  Please be sure to read both carefully and respond this week.  Contact myself or Mrs. Oliver with any questions you have. 
  
• MAP Testing - We will begin MAP testing on Monday, April 23rd, and the students are ready!  Throughout the school year, we've prepared for this assessment.  Over the past few weeks, we've perfected our test-taking skills and completed some online practice tests to get comfortable with the program.  Remaining test dates include April 25th, 26th, 30th, and May 2nd.  Thank for expressing confidence in your child and ensuring reasonable bedtimes and healthy breakfasts. 
  
• Midterm Reports - Midterm Reports will be sent home Monday, April 23rd, to reflect students' 4th quarter academic and behavioral progress.  If your child completed "Not Yet Note" corrections and turned in last Friday (or will turn in Monday), the midterm will not reflect these corrections.  I will check and adjust grades this week. 
  
• ALEKS Pizza Party - In Math class, students work on the ALEKS program to review their Math skills.  Students earn fun coupons as they complete different slices of the ALEKS pie (no shoes, use the teacher's chair, bring a stuffed animal, etc.).  Students who complete the ALEKS pie will participate in a pizza party to honor their focus and hard work.  Pies must be completed by Monday, May 14th in order to participate.  

• Monday, April 23rd 
• Library Day 
• ELA MAP Testing, 1-3 pm 
• Tuesday, April 24th 
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, April 25th 
• ELA MAP Testing, 9-11 am 
• Thursday, April 26th 
• Happy birthday, Maddy! 
• ELA Map Testing, 9-11 am 
• Friday, April 27th  
• Grant's Farm Night, 6:00-10:00 pm 

Questions for Kids

• Can you share some examples of living and non-living things you observed in the outdoor classroom?  
• How does a protractor help you to measure and draw angles? 
• Tell me about Frindle, your last read aloud book.  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

April 13, 2018

We reviewed self-control during our Class Meetings this week.  Students watched short videos of themselves from different times throughout our daily routine:  transitions in the classroom, lunch time, lining up in Art, etc.  We pinpointed exactly what self-control looks like.  We noticed many kids ignoring distractions, keeping their voices at appropriate levels, and using their bodies safely.  We also set goals for those times when self-control can be a bit more challenging.  

• Monday, April 16th 
• 
  
• Tuesday, April 17th  
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, April 18th 
• 
  
• Thursday, April 19th  
• Dad's Club @ 7:30-8:30 pm, Library 
• Friday, April 20th  
• 
  

Questions for Kids

• How are parallel & perpendicular lines different from each other? 
• What is your opinion about students being required to play a musical instrument in school?  Give three reasons to support your opinion. 
• In Flyer Family, you heard the book Chocolate Milk, Por Favor!  What are some ways you can make a new student to feel welcomed and included?  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

William & Cooper use their "smart chart" to identify different figures of geometry.  

Caroline & Sophie team up to draw lines segments, parallel lines, and perpendicular lines. 

As part of practicing writing to a prompt to help prepare us for MAP Testing, students wrote of the perspective of a donut on Dads & Donuts day.  

We did a "fold the line" activity that allowed us to share our donut writing with a new partner. 

Art Class 

Art Class

Students reviewed some important elements of partner work this week. Every day, we work with another student during at least one subject.  Working with a partner allows us to practice communication skills, work on patience with one another, and get comfortable explaining our thought process.  Plus it's FUN!  Good partners stay focused on the task at hand to ensure productivity.  They pick a spot to work, stay there, and control their bodies.  Teamwork includes "ping-ponging," taking turns reading or solving problems.  

• Monday, April 9th 
• Library 
• Chess Club after school-5:00 pm 
• Tuesday, April 10th  
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, April 11th 
• Flyer Families; wear t-shirts
• Early Release @ 1:40 pm 
• Literacy on the Lawn @ 5:00-6:30 
• Thursday, April 12th  
• Dads & Donuts @ 8:00 am 
• Growth & Development presentations with Nurse Eva 
• Read, Right, Run after school-4:30 pm 
• Friday, April 13th  
• 
  

Questions for Kids

• How can you find the perimeter of a figure? 
• What study strategies work best for you when preparing for a vocabulary test? 
• What details did you use about hats, bandannas, or other articles of clothing during your prompt writing practice?  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

Noah & Alex "flash write" together.  This involves talking through your writing plan before you put your ideas onto paper.  

Lydia & Ethan talk about the details they will "grab & slab" from the passage to made their writing evidence-based.  

Caroline & Maddy take turns asking each other questions to pull more information from the text. 

Kids work together using Quizlet to study new vocabulary words. 

Students use flashcards to practice parts of speech, spelling, & definitions of new words.  

Mrs. Snowbarger works with a group to review nonfiction text features. 

In Music, kids "circle the donut" and perform a group dance with Mrs. Caughlin. 

March 30, 2018

At Class Meetings this week, we spent a lot of time discussing positive self-talk.  Students created a mini-poster to attach to their desks with their own personal positive self-talk to read as needed. Here's what some students wrote:

• I have many talents.  I am good at many things. 
• Mistakes are okay because they help me learn.
• I can do better next time.
• I will smile at people today!

• Monday, April 2nd 
• Chess Club after school-5:00 pm 
• Tuesday, April 3rd 
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, April 4th 
•  
• Thursday, April 5th  
• Happy birthday, Will F.! 
• Counseling lesson with Mrs. Kleitsch 
• Read, Right, Run after school-4:30 pm 
• Friday, April 6th  
• 
  

Questions for Kids

• What are some units of length (inch, yard, mile)?  What are some units to measure capacity (fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, gallon)?
• What are some responsibilities that citizens have (follow laws, get an education, participate, work together)? 
• What is prompt writing (one sitting, about an hour, follow a given question or direction, use a checklist or improve, paper or computer)?  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

March 9, 2018

This week at Class Meeting, we learned about our "upstairs" and "downstairs" brains.  Different parts of our brain have different functions, and our stress level affects from which areas we can operate.  Check out this interesting article on how to teach kids more on this topic.   

• Monday, March 12th 
• Chess Club after school-5:00 pm 
• Tuesday, March 13th 
• Archery after school-4:45 pm 
• Wednesday, March 14th 
• PTO Meeting @ 6:30 pm, Library 
• Thursday, March 15th  
• Counseling Lesson with Mrs. Kleitsch 
• Read, Right, Run after school-4:30 pm 
• Spring Parent Teacher Conferences @ 4:00-7:00 pm 
• Friday, March 16th 
• Early Release @ 11:50 am
• Monday, March 19th - Friday, March 23rd
• Spring Break, NO SCHOOL 

Questions for Kids

• What is the responsibility of a jury during a trial?  *Parents, if you've served jury duty, share that experience with your child!  
• How would I write "9 hundredths" as a decimal?  What about "9 tenths?"  
• Where is the main idea of a paragraph usually found?  

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

Students celebrated completing their Informational Text Google Slide presentations this week!  Parents & other Crestwood adults were invited to come read through the pieces.  

Caroline works with Mrs. Steele to explain how to navigate a slide show. ;) 

Mrs. Bridwell was able to stop by to read Sophie's Kittens text with William.  

Even Nurse Eva came by to read and compliment the students' incredible work.