Newsletter 2017-2018

News & Notes:

Field Trip - We will be heading to UM-D's Environmental Interpretive Center on Tuesday, April 10. We'll be leaving Bennie at 9:00 and returning at 11:30. I could use five family volunteers to join us. We'll be going rain or shine and walking in the woods. Permission slips need to be returned by Tuesday, April 10. (There is an incorrect date on the permission slip. The top date is the accurate one.) Click here for a copy of the permission slip.
Pump it Up - The PTA has a Pump it Up Fundraiser over Spring Break on April 4th. Click here for more details.
Newbery Projects - There were some great Newbery presentations. The assignment will be returned after spring break.

Upcoming Dates:

Tues 4/10 - Field Trip to University of Michigan, Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center
Wed 4/11 - Spring Picture Day
Wed 4/11 - Sports and Fitness Club after school
Thurs 4/12 - Bennie PTA meeting 6:30pm, childcare provided

What We're Learning:

Reading - All book clubs will start new books after spring break.
Word Study - No word study groups have lists that carry over after break. Each day after break two groups will be assigned new words until every group is up and running again.
Writing - Our focus after break will be on writing conclusions.
Math - We will be working on
Studies - We are studying Geography and the United States Regions. We are participating in Journey North's "Mystery Class" project as part of our social studies lesson. Click here to learn more about Mystery Class.
Science - We are starting to study waves.

Wishlist:

32 oz ground beef
2 cups breadcrumbs
2 eggs

Weekly Highlight:

The kids were so excited to win the PBIS March Madness Basketball Shoot Out! The Big Shoe gets to stay in Room 107 for the rest of the year.

Ask Me:

Convert 2/10 to a decimal.
Convert 5 31/100 to a decimal

(Answers - 0.2 and 5.31)

2 Comments

News & Notes:

WhoosReading - Thank you to everyone who supported our PTA fundraiser "whoosreading"! It's not too late to make a donation to this fantastic organization.
Bingo for Books - rescheduled to Friday, March 23. Click here for more information.
Newbery Reports - Newbery Projects are due on Monday, March 26.
Martian Marathon - This great running event takes place on April 14 this year. Click here to sign up to be a part of Bennie's team.
Run Club - It's almost time for our Spring Run Club to get running. Click here to sign up to be a part of this after school club. Registration closes March 29.

Upcoming Dates:

Fri - 3/23 - Book Bingo at 6:00pm
Wed 3/28 - Sports and Fitness Club after school
Thurs 3/29 - 1/2 day for students. Dismissal at 11:40am
Fri 3/30 - Sun 4/8 - Spring Break No School

0 Comments

News & Notes:

WhoosReading - Our PTA fundraiser is in the last seven days. This is the PTA's one fundraiser of the year. If you have not done so already, please consider logging in to your child's account and supporting this critical organization while encouraging your child to read! Clear here for the website. Congratulations to Ashley for being the top reader in the school and to Dylan for being in the top five!
Newbery Project - Chapter notes are due on March 19th for our Newbery Book Report. Click here for more information on the project.

Upcoming Dates:

Mon 3/12 - School Board Meeting at 7:00pm in the LGI room at the high school
Tues 3/13 - Dr. Hall Guest Reader
Wed 3/14 - Kindness celebration at Bennie - wear your PJs
Wed 3/14 - Cooking Zoey's Turos Csusza
Wed 3/14 - Sports and Fitness Club after school
Fri 3/16 - Cooking Katie's Leprechaun Punch & Peyton's Gishy Goo
Fri 3/16 - Report Cards distributed

What we're Learning:

Reading - Based on the recent professional development training provided by our district, our 4th grade team has started to implement guided reading groups into our reading blocks. We are excited about this teaching strategy and believe it will benefit our developing readers!
Word Study - Your child should be bringing home a new set of words each week. Ask them to show you how we sort and work with our words!
Writing - We are focusing on editing our writing for conventions such as capitalization, punctuation, indenting paragraphs, adding headings, and following friendly letter format.
Math - We are starting to multiply fractions and will be also working on decimals for the next two weeks.
Studies - We are studying Geography and the United States Regions. We are participating in Journey North's "Mystery Class" project as part of our social studies lesson. Click here to learn more about Mystery Class.
Science - We are starting to study waves.

Wishlist:

2 8 oz tubs cool whip
1 cup sour cream
1 large can fruit cocktail
1 11oz can mandarin oranges, drained
1 20 oz can crushed pineapples, drained
10 oz jar maraschino cherries, drained, halved and patted dry
1 bag miniature marshmallows
5 3/4 cups refrigerated citrus punch
2 cans (12 oz each) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 quart lime sherbet, softened
1/4 cup lime juice
2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled
2 limes

Ask Me:

Is your mystery class in the northern or southern hemisphere? What have you noticed about your mystery class and others?

1 Comment

News & Notes:

March is Reading Month is quickly approaching. We'll have our second book report (Newbery Book Report) due at the end of the month. Details to go home on Monday.
Poetry Reciting - We'll resume next Friday with our weekly poetry reciting. Ask your child what their favorite poem has been so far!

Upcoming Dates:

Wed 2/26 - Sports and Fitness Club after school
Thurs 3/1 - Bennie PTA meeting 6:30pm, childcare provided
Thurs 3/1 - Cooking Tyler's Swedish Pancakes
Fri 3/2 - Bennie Bingo for Books 6:00pm

What we're Learning:

Reading - 4th grader's need to be able to "Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text". This is a skill we continue to build all year.
Word Study - Some groups were "on hold" during our short week. All groups will have new words by Wednesday.
Writing - 4th grader's need to be able to "With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; " To help develop this skill, some of our writing assignments are done in Google Classroom.
Math - We continue to work on adding and subtracting fractions. We will be multiplying fractions soon.
Studies - We will be studying Geography and the United States Regions through February.
Science - We are starting to study waves.

Wishlist:

pencils
8 eggs
4 cups milk
1 stick butter

Weekly Highlight:

Recess! A definite highlight this week was the ability to go outside for recess again ... no rain, foot and a half of snow or bitter cold. Yeah! We got to run!!

Ask Me:

Tell me about "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World". In what ways did Shackleton show leadership? Tell me about the "letter" you wrote in your Google Classroom assignment.

0 Comments

News & Notes:

Parent/Teacher Conferences - Click here to sign up for a conference.
Parent Training - Thursday, Feb 8 from 6:45-7:30. Join me for a parent training on ways you can support your child in reading and math. My goal is to provide you with tips and tricks that can be easily implemented in your homes! RSVP here.
Valentine's Day/Chinese New Year - We will be celebrating both Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year on February 14 from 1:00-2:00. Families are welcome to join us! We'll learn a little more about Chinese New Year and have Sweetheart Floats as a treat! Please let me know if you can join us.
Scholastic Book Fair - Our book fair will take place next week. Our class will be viewing on Monday and buying on Wednesday. The book fair will also be open during conferences.
PTA Membership - Help your us win $75 in free Books - the class with the most memberships wins! If you haven’t joined Bennie’s PTA yet, PLEASE consider doing so. Joining PTA does not obligate you to attend meetings or volunteer of your time however, your $7.00 does help support educational programs and assemblies! Click here for a membership form.

What We're Learning:

Reading - Each book club has both a fiction and non-fiction book they are reading. In addition, they will have weekly assignments on each book. All assignments can be completed in class. We work on reading and writing every morning for almost two hours.
Word Study - As a reminder, students may retake spelling tests on Friday.
Writing - As a group we have been focusing on brainstorming, developing and editing one piece o writing over a series of days.
Math - We are studying comparing fractions, identifying equivalent fractions. We will begin adding and subtracting fractions next week.
Studies - We will be studying Geography and the United States Regions through February.
Science - Are starting to study waves.

Upcoming Dates:

Wed-Thurs, Feb 7-8 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thurs, Feb 8 - Parent training 6:45-7:30. Please RSVP here.
Thursday, Feb 8 - Book Fair Buying
Wednesday, Feb 14 - Valentine's Day/Chinese New Year Party 1:00-2:00

Wishlist:

2 - 2 liters Red Pop
30 Large red plastic cups
2 gallons ice cream

Weekly Highlight:

Our science investigation on animal reaction time was a huge hit!

Ask Me:

Can you name an equivalent fraction to 1/2? (Hint - think of your fraction strips. How many sixths were we equivalent to 1/2? How many fourths? Can you name others?)

1 Comment

News & Notes

Poetry Reciting - It has been a fun start to our 2018 Poetry Reciting project. The upcoming themes for poetry reciting can be found on our Language Arts page.
World Read Aloud Day - This Thursday, February 1 is World Read Aloud Day. Check out this link to Scholastic's website for some fun ideas! If you join us in reading aloud at home that day, take a picture and post to twitter using the hashtags: #WorldReadAloudDay and #KidsinRoom107
Homework - The kids will be bringing their "poetry pal journals" home this weekend to share them with you. These are the journals they use to write letters back and forth from with their pen pals in Mrs. Smalley's class at Arno. Please take a moment to read some of the poems with your child and check out a recent sample of their writing.
Vocabulary Quiz - We will begin weekly vocabulary quizzes starting next Friday. Our first set of words are math terms. Click here for the word list.

Upcoming Dates:

Tues 1/30 - PTA Bennie Family Fun Night 6:00pm
Wed 1/31 - Sports and Fitness Club after school
Thurs 2/1 - Cooking Bridget's No Bake Cookies
Thurs 2/1 - Bennie PTA meeting 6:30pm, childcare provided

What We're Learning:

Reading - We are knee deep in "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World". This exciting true life story is a great way to build our understanding of basic geography concepts as well as our study of waves in science. (Poetry reciting - next week's poem must be about science.
Word Study - As a reminder, students may retake spelling tests on Friday.
Writing - Thank you for sending photos for your child to use as a writing prompt. Students are working on their final drafts of writing and pictures will go home next week.
Math - Most students have mastered 2x2 digit multiplication. We will have a quiz on that concept next Wednesday. We will continue practicing long division in our daily warm ups but will move on to fractions on Monday.
Studies - We will be studying Geography and the United States Regions through February.
Science - We will end our life science exploration this week and will begin to study waves.
Cooking - We will be making Bridget's No Bake Cookies (cooking has been delayed as we have completed mid-year assessments.)

Weekly Highlights:

The kids loved seeing Dylan's big brother (and "kid in room 108 alumni") in the play
"The Secret Life of Toads".

Budding reporter AnnaLeise interviewed author Miriam Peskowitz for our classnewspaper.

Figure This Math Group solved the math problem "How long would you have to wait in line if you were the 300th person?"

Wishlist:

4 sticks butter
2 cups milk
4 cups peanut butter
10 cups quick oats

Ask Me:

What books are your book club reading? Which one is your favorite and why?

0 Comments

News & Notes:

NWEA MAP Test - next week we will be completing the mid-year NWEA reading and math assessments. The results from these tests will be used to guide classroom instruction.
Scholastic Book Club - new book club orders are due Friday, Jan 19. Click here for information on how to order online.
Cold Weather Gear - please send your child to school with boots, hats and gloves. If we can go outside we will! Students who do not have boots will not be able to play on the playground until the weather warms up.

Upcoming Dates:

Mon, Jan 15 - No school for students
Tue, Jan 16 - NWEA reading
Wed, Jan 17 - Sports & Fitness
Thurs, Jan 18 - NWEA math
Thurs, Jan 18 - Cooking Damon's deviled eggs (next week Bridget's No Bake Cookies)
Fri, Jan 19 - Poetry Reciting - winter theme

What We're Learning:

Reading - We have begun our latest whole class book "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World". We have begun our poetry reciting project. Our first week was fantastic!! Next week's poem must be about winter.
Word Study - All new groups have their first words of the year.
Writing - Sometimes where to begin writing is the hardest part of the writing process. I have asked your children to bring in a picture from a family event or trip to use as a "photo prompt" for a writing assignment.
Math - Our focus is multi-digit division. Here's a game from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics that the kids have played during our "math tech" rounds - Quotient Cafe.
Studies - We have begun our unit on Geography and the United States Regions. Please check out the family homework assignment that is due on Tuesday, Jan 16.
Science - We continue to explore how animals use their external and internal structures to promote growth and survival by exploring the phenomenon of a grizzly bear catching fish.
Cooking - We will be making Bridget's No Bake Cookies.

Wish List:

2 dozen eggs
4 sticks butter
2 cups milk
4 cups peanut butter
10 cups quick oats

Ask Me:

Describe the relative location of the United States. (Answers can include - north of Mexico, south of Canada, north/west hemisphere)

0 Comments

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! I feel so fortunate to be teaching your children this year. They are a special group of kids and I am grateful to work and learn with each one of them. Enjoy your vacation and see you in 2018!
Mrs. Klein

0 Comments

News & Notes:

Biography Projects/Presentations - All projects are due on Wednesday, December 20. Students have had time most days after lunch to work on their projects. I'm looking forward to learning about the people they studied!
Mitten Tree - The Rose Grudzinski Mitten tree is back by the Cafeteria! Bennie families are invited to donate new hats, gloves, and blankets at any time during the holiday season.
Field Trip Account - In lieu of gifts to me this holiday season, I would like you to consider donating to our class Field Trip Account. Mrs. Magee in the office is keeping track of the money. She will inform me of who donates to the fund, but not the amounts—so I may recognize the students with thank you notes. We will use the money from our Field Trip fund to offset the costs of future field trips.
Holiday Happenings - check out all of the holiday happenings in Room 107 here.
Christmas Bird Count - the Michigan DNR is promoting a Christmas Bird Count. Looking for a winter activity over the holiday break, check out this article from the Department of Natural Resources.

Upcoming Dates:

Wed 12/20 - Field trip to Heartland Nursing Home

Wed 12/20 - Biography Projects/Presentations due
Fri 12/22 - Cooking Joey's Individual Pizza Pies
Fri 12/22 - Room 107 Holiday/Family Potluck Lunch 12:00-1:00

Wishlist:

13 English muffins
2 cans pizza sauce
2 bags pepperoni slices
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
assorted veggies to top a pizza

Weekly Highlight:

Our trip to

Ask Me:

Show me how to multiply 34 x 15 using the box method.

1 Comment

News and Notes:

Toys for Tots - On Tuesday, December 12 we will be participating in the Toys for Tots Holiday Party at the High School. We will be making cookies this week and next to bring to the party. Students are invited to bring in a book, toy or money to donate to the event. It is a great way to celebrate the season and give back to our community!
Mitten Tree - The Rose Grudzinski Mitten tree is back by the Cafeteria! Bennie families are invited to donate new hats, gloves, and blankets at any time during the holiday season.
Field Trip Account - In lieu of gifts to me this holiday season, I would like you to consider donating to our class Field Trip Account. Mrs. Magee in the office is keeping track of the money. She will inform me of who donates to the fund, but not the amounts—so I may recognize the students with thank you notes. We will use the money from our Field Trip fund to offset the costs of future field trips.
Holiday Happenings - check out all of the holiday happenings in Room 107 here.

Upcoming Dates:

Fri 12/8 - Bennie Gives back at 6:00
Fri 12/8 - Report cards go home
Tues 12/12 - Cooking Jacob B's brownies
Tues 12/12 - Dr. Hall guest reader
Tues 12/12 - Toys for Tots holiday part at the High School
Wed 12/13 - Sports & Fitness Club after school
Fri 12/15 - 1/2 day dismissal at 11:40

What we are learning:

Reading - Students have the opportunity to work on their Biography Projects every day right after lunch for 15 minutes. Project and presentations are due on 12/20. Click here for more information on the Biography Project.Biography Report
Word Study - Word Study groups will be changing slightly next week.
Writing - 4th graders are expected to use proper punctuation and capitalization. It is a skill many still need to master.
Math - We are working on double digit multiplication. Here is another video on one of the multiplication methods we have been using.
Studies - We are ending our study of civis with our Congressional Hearing on December 8th
Science - We continue to explore how animals use their external and internal structures to promote growth and survival by exploring the phenomenon of a grizzly bear catching fish.
Cooking - We will be making Jacob's brownies to take to the Toys for Tots party with us on Tuesday.

Wishlist:

8 eggs
1 1/3 cup cocoa powder

Weekly Highlight:

So many highlights this week. Our guest speaker Billy Cayo and his Google VR classes were definitely one of them!

Ask Me

We have been reading "Esperanza Rising" and discussion characters in the story. Ask your child:
How has Esperanza changed since the beginning of the story? What was her life like in Mexico and how is it different from her life in California? (This story has some elements of a Cinderella-type story ... Esperanza was quite wealthy and lost everything.)

1 Comment

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Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! I feel so fortunate to be teaching your children this year. They are a special group of kids and I am grateful to work and learn with each one of them. Enjoy your vacation and see you in 2018!​Mrs. Klein

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Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! I feel so fortunate to be teaching your children this year. They are a special group of kids and I am grateful to work and learn with each one of them. Enjoy your vacation and see you in 2018!
Mrs. Klein