K.I.Dee

K.I.Dee is a character. Really. She is a "new" student that does not know the rules of school. Apparently she arrived for a visit today. Ms. Leom was "in a meeting with Mr. Voshell" and missed the whole thing. Luckily, Mr. Lyon took pictures, and Mr. Greninger's class was able to fill Ms. Leom in on the chaos that is K.I.Dee.

K.I.Dee arrived with her song blaring through her headphones, dancing, singing badly, and plopped into her seat, shoving a second piece of gum into her mouth, dropping the wrapper on the floor, propping her feet on the table, and taking a selfie to text to her BFF and mom ...

Mrs. Arens was having none of that and took her phone and headphones. 

Apparently, rolling your eyes, heavy sighing, pencil tapping, and laying your head on your desk are not acceptable or welcome in fourth grade ...

Getting up and wandering during class ... grabbing other students' things and taking them for your own ... also not ok ...

Finally, Mrs. Arens, thought K.I.Dee should introduce herself to Mr. Voshell, our principal.

Ms. Leom was sure she passed K.I.Dee skipping down the hall on her way to class. We finished with a discussion about Responsibility Cards, Fourth Grade Rewards, and the opportunity to ask questions about both. Ask your fourth grader to tell you more!

Despite the silly and the exaggerated fun, this grabs students attention and opens the door for us to talk seriously about Responsibility Cards, our fourth grade rewards, and our expectations. We have anywhere from 12 to 20 rewards in a school year. They include swimming, hiking the trails, extra recess time, craft rooms, game day, and more. Responsibility Cards are the "ticket" to attend. Students start with twenty circles (credit). They can earn "initials" (additional credit) for responsible choices; like helping the lost kindergarten student find her classroom, picking up a spilled pencil box of items, being ready to go, and MUCH more. Students can earn punches (they take the paper punch and punch a hole in their card) for poor choices: a missing assignment, being disrespectful, or other concerning choices. To attend the reward, students need to have more credit than holes, need to be all caught up with their learning, and need to have followed the school behavior plan with limited Stop and Think 10s and no Behavior Referrals in that reward period. The exact details of our Responsibility Cards where shared in student folders at Open House. We talked about keeping your card safe in the back of your planner, how notes from home don't work, and we answered questions.

(Wait until next week! It is rumored that another character - with SUPER HERO skills will be arriving to eradicate ... getting ahead of myself. Stay tuned! You never know who will visit our classroom!!!)

Next

Fourth grade had to wait to go to lunch. A previous grade on the schedule took longer than expected. In my mental list of "things I LOVE about this class", I have already added, "being flexible". The class was asked to sit in our room and talk quietly until we were able to go down to the lunch room. I happened to be in the room, posting the previous blog post. Look at them!! So respectful! So responsible!! They had more than enough time to eat once they finally made their way down to the lunchroom. Sometimes the plan doesn't go according to plan, and this class were leaders in the grade of making it work!! SO PROUD!!

Our class sits at the "bear" tables in the lunchroom. 

We sit on the northwest side of the lunch room.

Our afternoon ended up filling in our planners. In fourth grade, we add a step. We make a list of all the things we do, then cross off what we complete, and circle or highlight what we need to do (homework).

We had a BIG talk today about homework. We don't have "fits" or "breakdowns" about homework. Our parents work hard at their jobs, at taking care of us, and more. Our parents are not in school with us. They don't "know" what we have exactly to do. It is our job to do homework. If we aren't sure, we can ask for help. We do our best. If we give it an honest effort, and we still don't know, then we have an adult write a note, "gave an honest effort, please help", and Mr. Greninger or I will help in school the next day. This could mean a student misses part of Recess. Missing part of Recess for help is not a punishment. When teachers answer questions, work with students, and are available, it is one way they show kids how much they like their students. Showing kids we care will take time to prove, and our daily actions will be important.

Another big talk today was this is a safe place to make mistakes. Ms. Leom will make a lot of them. We talked about when people make mistakes, how we can "help" them and support them. We will begin introducing and modeling ways to be supportive. Today, Ms. Leom asked students to pull her aside and gently point out her mistake (She said lunch when she was talking about dinner.), so she can be more aware and try to learn from it.

We had a "tour of the room", so we know where to find band-aids, how to check-out a classroom book, what to do if you need a scissors and more - the important stuff.

We also met some people we are working with this year. We have two paras. Ms. Nikki works with us in the mornings and Ms. Sherri. Ms. Sherri works with us in the afternoons. We are SO THANKFUL for these TWO amazing women and their gifts they share!! Both women worked in my classroom last year, so they are experienced, and we work well together!!

Ms. Nikki

Ms. Sherri

Our other gift this year is our high school helper. We learned the new term, "alumni" today. I had this student (and his sister) in my fourth grade classroom, and that makes him my "alumni". I LOVE my KIDS, and I am always thrilled to have them return!! He will be in our room right after lunch for just short of an hour. Today, he is helping me label the lexile and reading levels on my classroom library. This will take at least a week. He will also be helping me organize and keep track of the reading calendars. There will be opportunities for him to support and work with students, and he will work on other random, odds and ends details that make our classroom run smoothly!!

I walked our students to specials (Phy-Ed & Art), and the first job was to sit down and update you to our learning day. I am not able to detail every moment of the day, but as a parent, you just want to know, and when I ask, "How was your day?" to my own children, the answers aren't always the level of details that I want to know!! I hope this helps!!

I am already IN LOVE with this group of students. They are so caring, patient, and ask such great questions!! I can't wait to start a new day!!!

In the Beginning

It has been a busy morning already! I just have a few pictures of the highlights, but I was so involved in all the details, there are moments that were missed!

We started the day with the announcements. Mrs. Vickers, our media specialist is amazing, and this was a clip from Mr. Voshell and Mr. Meyer, our administrators, welcoming us back!

Then Ms. Leom taught us how to tuck in our chairs and quietly transition. We sat on the floor and sang our special fourth grade birthday song. We had a class birthday on Sunday September 6th, so it fit perfectly! Students receive a birthday card and pencil on their special day! Ask your fourth grader to sing the song to you (if they are stuck try to hum the theme for the "Lone Ranger" :) ). We introduced ourselves and told something we wanted to share. Ms. Leom shared how she went for a run in the rain before sunrise and had to run home early when lightning lit her path!

Ms. Leom likes movement. Some listening, then some movement. So we practiced what to do for a firedrill.

We lined up in the classroom.

We walked past the big playground.

We stood near the fence, so she can take attendance.

We also practiced what we do in a Lock-Down situation (sit in the back corner of the room) while she locks the doors and closes the shades.

Next, she had us practice what we do during Severe Weather.

We usually take cover by our lockers.

 That was all before NINE!! Next thing we know, Mr. Lyon and Mrs. Arens brought their classes into our room ... Ms. Leom "left for a meeting with Mr. Voshell" and in walked a "new student", K.I.Dee. She was nothing but trouble! Anything you shouldn't do, she did! Mrs. Arens and Mr. Lyon were busy helping this fourth grader figure it out. We learned all about responsibility cards and rewards. Be sure to ask your fourth grader to tell you more!

K.I.Dee

We took a bathroom break next and learned about the expectations. Then we took a tour of the school.

 We visited the nurses' office and learned we should probably bring our own chapstick to school. Ms. Leom also pointed out the Milaca Hall of Fame. Someday, she wouldn't be surprised to see several of us featured, because Milaca students and community members go out into the world and accomplish great things, and she can see that potential in us!

We had our first assignment after that. We worked on creating family posters. Ms. Leom pulled one table at a time to help us organize our cubbies and label our materials for each class. As a full group, we organized our pencil boxes next.

Then it was time to learn about our weekly reading calendars. Your child will be bringing this green page home.

We had some more work time. She went over a few more details, then it was time for Recess. What an amazing group of students! What an incredible morning!! We are on our way to a FABULOUS year!!

Check back soon! We are just beginning!! :)

The Team

So pleased to introduce the team of fourth grade teachers!!

Mr. Lundeen, Mr. Greninger, Mrs. Arens, Ms. Leom, Ms. Hakes-Anderson, Mr. Lyon

We work together in different ways.

Teaching Teams:
Lundeen and Arens
Greninger and Leom
Hakes-Anderson and Lyons

Subject Teams:
Math:
Lundeen, Greninger, Hakes-Anderson
Communications (Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary, Writing):
Arens, Leom, Lyons

We all meet together at least once a week to plan, brainstorm, share ideas, and make decisions.

Welcome to fourth grade!!

Open House 2015

On Wednesday September 2, our classroom was ready to welcome our students and families to fourth grade.

our view as we enter the room

the back of our classroom

the front of the room

Our families ...

Ms. Leom with her children and her parents

Mr. Greninger with his family

We are off to a GREAT start!! It was so much fun meeting my students and their families!! Welcome to fourth grade!!