Well, it is the last week until we show what we know!  These kiddos have been working SO hard.  I couldn't be more proud of them.  Between new knowledge and review, they have been real troopers.  Their work ethic remains strong...this week will fly by!
I will be sending home an envelope with your child.  Please write a letter of encouragement to your child and seal it in the envelope.  I'll have it on their desk the morning of our first test, Tuesday, April 23rd.  PTO has some encouraging goodies planned as well, and of course the teachers have an OAA assembly planned just for the kids.
I'll have some tips next weekend to get them relaxed and ready for test week. Strategies work for reading and math! It's so important to keep them on their schedule, getting lots of sleep, keeping hydrated and eating well, and most importantly-keep reading!  They cannot have enough exposure to new vocabulary.

Quarterlies done-check.
Nine weeks completed-check.
Test in..........20 days!  Woohoo!
Our OAA will be April23rd and 25th.  I'll send home more information as we get closer.  Right now we will continue with new learning and test prep.  Conferences are coming up next week, and if I don't send a slip home and you'd like a conference please text or give me a call!
Here are some really good websites for test prep-some are online practice and some are printable activities.  Let me know if you have any questions-a little bit each night will be a fun way for them to review.  Check your child's agenda book for passwords.
ODE test portal -actual OAA test practice!
Prepdog
Scootpad -password needed
Learnzillion -password needed
EasyCBM -password needed
Internet4classrooms
Have a wonderful Spring Break!  

Thank you...room 17 has THE best parents in the world!!  We had a fabulous Valentine's Day celebration.  Exhausting...but fabulous!

I'm counting the days until March 2nd... 

What's March 2nd?  The Iditarod!!!   We will be investigating, recording, following, charting, reading, writing, computing, measuring, exploring, tasting(!) everything Iditarod. 

Check it out...Iditarod: The Last Great race  We will be reading Balto,  Stone Fox(get your tissues ready), Akiak, and learning about the people who run this great race, as well as those magnificent dogs.  Keep having those great conversations with your little ones.  We should have a lot to say!

We have three students that were selected to talk about the Seven Habits at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Feb. 28th.  Rachel, Abbey, and Trenton will represent us and share how we use the Leader in Me everyday in every way!

Keep practicing those multiplication facts.  So important to review them every night for 5-10 minutes.  We are starting fractions and measurement,  both great conversation starters at dinner.
As always, thanks for being a partner in your child's education.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!  "Tis the season for colds and flu, and I know absences can be frustrating for all involved.  Don't send your kiddo if he or she has a fever, and don't forget those written excuses.  We also take the time to organize your child's missing work, so please look for that paper that lists missing assignments.  I try to make up as much as possible at school.  We also are diligent about hand washing and using hand sanitizer.  It will be spring before we know it....right?

Our school is in the running for a grant from NBC4.  Everyone can vote once a day for the Pink Shoe Club at this link: 
http://nbc4i.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=65509

$10,000 would go a long way for this cause!!

Also, if you haven't had the chance to come to one of our leadership/CHAMPS assemblies, give it a try!!  Mr. Thornsberry does a great job making these kids feel as special as they are!
This Friday is Hat Day at Worthington...if you donate $1, your child can wear a hat all day on Friday, Feb. 8th. 

We are excited to be back in the swing of things!  Hopefully, everyone had a great break with family and friends.  I feel refreshed and ready for the next half of the year.
Our homework will be changing starting this week.  In order to start preparing for the OAA in April, we will start reviewing skills that we have learned.  On Mondays, we still have Number of the week, which is still due on Friday.  We also will have an OAA-formated story from past tests to complete.  Parents are encouraged to work on these skills with your kiddos. Tuesdays, we will practice language skills with worksheets about a robot called Mosh...this has been a favorite of my classes!  They will also practice attacking word problems using different strategies.  On Wednesdays,  we will tackle OAA frequently tested skills, and practice a math skill from out practice book.  On Thursdays, they will continue to practice those multiplication facts, and they can have a free reading evening!  Over the weekend, I send home a short Read-Aloud worksheet that has comprehension tips for you to discuss.  This looks like a lot of work, but hopefully it is reviewing skills we have mastered.  This should only take 30-40 minutes each evening.  If it gets to be frustrating, please let me know and we can discuss the best way for your child to review.
Next week is quarterly testing week.  Our class will be busy reviewing what we learned right before break, and will be taking the test online again. 
Thank you for getting you children to school on time every day!  Hopefully the flu and runny noses are behind us(she said wistfully)and we can regain the Attendance Trophy that has eluded Room 17 lately!
As always, thank you for being a partner in your child's education.  Involved parents make such a difference!  Thank you, thank you.

Just a quick post this week.  Please know that the faculty at Worthington Elementary  are committed to keeping our children safe. 
We have a high school orchestra concert tomorrow morning.  The symphonic choir will sing through the halls on Wednesday.  Thursday brings the class breakfast and the Jaycee's Secret Santa and sing-a-long.  I was able to get everything on our child's list- a bike, skateboard, rip sticks, and clothes.  Many, many thanks for your generosity!
Thanks, also, to Johanna's momma and grandmomma.  They brought in stollen and gingerbread cookies for us to sample after we studied the traditions of Germany!  
We won't have a spelling test this week, nor a number of the week.  Please continue to practice those pesky times tables!  We have introduced 2, 5, 3, and will start 4 when we get back.

I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Enjoy those babies...I will surely miss them these next two weeks!

Just a reminder to talk about the Seven Habits...

	Habit 1 — Be Proactive You're in Charge I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
	Habit 2 — Begin with the End in Mind Have a Plan I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.
	Habit 3 — Put First Things First Work First, Then Play I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.
	Habit 4 — Think Win-Win Everyone Can Win I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in others’ Emotional Bank Accounts. When conflicts arise, I look for third alternatives.
	Habit 5 — Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Listen Before You Talk I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
	Habit 6 — Synergize Together Is Better I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than anyone of us can alone. I am humble.
	Habit 7 — Sharpen The Saw Balance Feels Best I take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I find meaningful ways to help others.

It's hard to believe that we only have 9 more days until Christmas break!  SO glad that I got that nasty flu out of the way...we keep washing those hands and sanitize our desks often.  Our class seems to have been spared...fingers crossed.
This week we will be reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.  It is a favorite of mine that I love to share with the kids each year.  It brings a beautiful message about acceptance and the meaning of giving.
 We also will be "traveling" around the world studying the traditions of many different countries.  We get to board our Polar Express and explore how different cultures celebrate this time of year.  Make sure you check out our passports and luggage tags!
Please keep sending in donations for our Secret Santa!  I'd like to get our child's shopping completed this weekend, and it would be nice to get most of the things on the list.  So far, I think we are at $60.  The kids have been so kind and generous...anytime they find change on the playground, it goes into the  jar!!
Kelley, Lukas' mom, is planning our Christmas breakfast that will be Thursday, December 20th at 9:00.  If you didn't sign up to donate to this party and would like to contribute, please get in contact with her or send a note to go home with Lukas. 
We've got lots of fun(educational in disguise!)activities in the next two weeks...we'll be keeping busy and getting things done! 

Thanks for being a partner in your child's education!