February 13th - 17th, 2017

• Valentines Party, this Tuesday, February 14th 2:30-3:30. Students may design a box, or bag and bring to school that day to collect and hold their valentines. 

• Parent Teacher Conferences are by invitation/appointment only on Friday, February 17th.  If you need to attend, you will receive an email with a link to a sign up genius. If you feel like you would like to sign up for a conference, let me know and I will send you the link and add you will be added to the time slots. 

• PARCC Testing is coming up next month, immediately after Spring Break. The ELA portions are March 20, 21, 22. The math portions are April 10th through 13th. These are state standardized tests, so make sure your child is getting a good breakfast and is well rested! 

Dates to Remember:

• Feb. 14         Valentines’ Day parties
                    Class parties -  Class pictures
• February 17- Early Release (1:00 pm)
• February 17th - Parent-Teacher Conferences by invitation only! (1:00-5:00)
• March 4 - Report Cards
• March 27-31 Spring Break
• April 3rd - Students return from break
• 

Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

Math - Complete the following math fraction problems.  This thinking is due Friday. 

1. Mary and 4 of her friends want to share 6 pizzas. How much pizza will each girl get? 
2. Bob and his 2 brothers want to share 8 cherry pies. How much pie will each boy get?
3. John eats 1/2 of a PB&J every day for 9 days. How many sandwiches did he eat all together?
4. Clarissa eats 1/3 of a Snickers bar every day for 10 days. How many Snickers bars did she eat in all?

February 6th-10th, 2017

• Valentine's Day Parties (February 14th, 2:30-3:30) - If students are planning on bringing in valentines for friends this day, they must bring in a valentine for each member of our 22 student class. Students may create a valentine bag or box to bring to school on the 14th. Thank you Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Drogsvold. 

• Students that take make the time and effort to practice IXL each day or each week have consistently had more success with in class math learning and confidence. Thank you for encouraging your son/daughter to make the time for this math thinking!!
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Dates to Remember:

• February 14 - Valentine's Days Parties (2:30-3:30)
• February 18 - President's Day Weekend, No School
• February 20 - President's Day, No School
• February 14 - Class Pictures
• February 17 - Early Release (1:00 pm)

Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

Math - IXL -J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J8, P10, P11, Q10

 As always, continue to practice your multiplication facts! See the "Classroom Resources" on the left hand side for math games and videos.

January 30 - February 3, 2017

• Valentine's Day Parties (February 14th, 2:30-3:30) - If students are planning on bringing in valentines for friends this day, they must bring in a valentine for each member of our 22-student class. A class list will be sent home in this weeks Friday Folder.  Students may create a valentine bag or box to bring to school on the 14th.  A sign up genius will be sent out soon with an opportunity for you to sign up to help!

• IXL:  Most all students have shown tremendous effort solving the IXL problems in their homework assignment.  Amazing Thinking!  I can definitely see these math skills transferring over in class.  Keep up the good work.  See the new letters to visit this week in Homework. 

• This year Ralston Valley’s Make-A-Wish Week is the week of January 30th - February 4th.  Ralston Valley is fundraising for Make-A-Wish on behalf of a sixth grader attending Van Arsdale. Jennifer’s wish is for her and her family to take a Disney Cruise.  Ralston Valley is aiming to raise an incredible $17,000 in the name of Jennifer and her family.
  Ralston Valley and Van Arsdale will be coming together to fundraise at Texas Roadhouse on Tuesday, January 31st. Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of proceeds to our cause when families eat there and bring in the fundraiser’s flyer, which will be available in friday folders. We look forward to this unique opportunity, and seeing all of you there!
          If you are not available to attend that night or are able to contribute more to this life-changing cause, please submit a donation through our online form. Checks can be made out to Make-A-Wish Colorado and can be dropped off at Van Arsdale or Ralston Valley High School no later than Thursday, February 2nd. 

• Parent/Teacher Conferences, by appointment Only.  February 17th, 1:00 - 5:00.   This conference is designated to allow time for select student conferences and not needed for everyone.  Please feel free to let me know if you would like to schedule a time, otherwise I will contact you if I need to set up a time. 

Dates to Remember:

• January 31st - Make-a-Wish Fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse for Jennifer
• February 3rd - PTSA Parent-Child Dance 6:30-8:30
• February 4th - Spelling Bee at 10:00 a.m.
• February 14th - Class pictures
• February 14 - Valentine's Days Parties (2:30-3:30)
• February 18 - President's Day Weekend, No School
• February 20 - President's Day, No School
• February 17 - Early Release (1:00 pm)
• February 17 - Parent/Teacher conference by appointment only - not needed for all students. 

Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

Math -   IXL Practice:  
P.1, P.2, P.3, P.4, P.5, P.13, Q.6, Q.7, Q.8, Q.9, Q.10.

January 23rd - 27th, 2017

• Students are expected to continue working on their multiplication tables at home until completely mastered! Many students have studied for the in class test, and then have forgotten their facts during math! As we work on division and fractions in our math unit, a complete recall of multiplication facts is critical for success!

• Classroom Supplies: We have run out of spiral notebooks for math! If you have any extra unused spiral notebooks at home, we would appreciate if we could use them for math.

Dates to Remember:

• February 4 -   Spelling Bee, 10:00 LMC 
• February 14 -  Class Pictures / Valentines Parties
• February 17 - Early Release, 1:00
• February 18 - President's Day Weekend, No School
• February 20 - President's Day, No School

• 150 minutes outside classroom reading, due Friday recorded in students planner.
• MATH -  IXL locators:  Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6.  Students that take the time and put effort into this IXL practice are showing significant gains in understanding our in class concepts.  

January 16 - 20, 2017

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a marvelous winter break!

• Van Arsdale night at Chipotle, this Wednesday, January 18th!  The Chipotle on 64th and Ward is offering an amazing 50% of the proceeds back to our school if you show the following flyer!  Thank you Chipotle.  See you there!

• Mrs. Nisely out of the building this week:  I will be out of the building all week!  My dear friend and fellow teacher, Mrs. Burner, will be filling in for me.  I will be at a reading and writing conference on Wednesday and the other days I will be helping my daughter as she just had a baby and is home from the hospital.  I'll still be checking in with Mrs. Burner and also checking my emails. 
• Classroom Supplies: We have run out of spiral notebooks for math! If you have any extra unused spiral notebooks at home, we would appreciate if we could use them for math.
• Genius Hour Update:  Students are currently wrapping up their projects by using Screen Castify and revising as they listen to their presentations.  They are becoming experts by teaching each other and Mrs. Curran.

Dates to Remember:

• January 16- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
• January 28- Spelling Bee

• Remember, students will need to continue to complete their weekly at home reading and record their reading minutes by each Friday in their planners. The requirement is still 150 minutes of reading to meet fourth grade standards!

Science - 

• Please watch the following YouTube videos about the rotations of the planets in the solar system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT49AiYFV98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_RAEESmsrs

• Math:  Students must spend some time on IXL.com this week practicing the concepts we have been learning during Math Workshop.  Our final test on unit 4, algebra will be this week.  Here are the concept letters: J.5, J.6, J.7, F.2, F.4, F.6, G.1, G.2, G.3, G.4, G.5.   These locators are all indicators of what we have been working on.  10 or 15 minutes a day on one of these has proven to be an amazing support!