Holiday Info

Dear Parents,

On the nights of December 10 and December 11, your family will be able to see the Pleiades star cluster just beneath the moon. On December 12 you will be able to see the biggest and brightest moon of the year as it reaches perigee. Try to look at the moon when it is closest to the horizon for the best effect.

A reminder about the Holiday Party:
Our Party will begin Thursday, Dec. 18 at 10am
Please make a donation of $5.00 for the lunch and craft stations
Your child needs to have an 8 x 10 frame by Monday, Dec. 15th.
All children need to bring in 21 stocking stuffers.
We need parent volunteers from 10am-1pm. Please join us
On Friday, Dec. 19th we will have a Polar Express Party. Children wear their P.J.'s and bring a board game
Thank you for all of the extra frames and donations. You folks are on top of things!

Your partners in education,

Michelle Goethe

&

Lara Norton

December Updates

Dear Parents:
Please Check Your Child's Planner TODAY! I've written missing assignments in any child's planner who has a missing assignment. They have until next Friday to make these assignments up. It's also a good idea to clean out your child's notebook and backpack. Send back all tests that are stamped "sign and return". If a paper is graded file it in your "graded papers file".
Holiday Pictures will be Dec. 9th. You must prepay for your child's sitting.
Important Dates:

December 9-12 – Benchmark Testing (grades 3-5)

December 10 – Early Release (FCAT Testing)

December 11 – Winter Musical (2 student performances: Kdg, 1st, and 2nd – 9:00 / 3rd, 4th, and 5th – 9:55

Evening Performance 7:00 p.m.


December 18 – Class Parties (1st, 2nd, and 4th)



This is a reminder to send in an 8"x 10" frame and a

$5.00 donation for the craft stations and lunch.



We will have a Science Test on Ch. 13 next week. This will include both electricity and magetism.

Your Partners in Education,

Michelle Goethe & Lara Norton

15 Days

Dear Parents,
Some of you are receiving this e-mail for the first time. Mrs. Norton and I send out a weekly e-mail to let you know what's going on in class. I wanted to make you aware of a couple websites that will benefit you. Our class blog has the previous e-mails that we have sent out listed as enteries at www.goethe-norton.blogspot.com. Please make comments if you find it helpful or if you need more information. Our school website www.duvalschools.org/tlae. is also very helpful with current school calendars and important dates. Try to check it weekly.
I also wanted to make you aware of important December dates.
12/4 Holiday photos
12/5 Lost and Found donated to charity
12/10 Early Release
12/11 Winter Musical
12/18,12/19 Holiday Parties
Holiday Vacation 12/20-1/4
Our Holiday Party will include a morning of craft stations and then lunch will be served followed by a movie in the afternoon. We will need parent volunteers to man/woman the stations. We have purchased several crafts, but we are willing to have you share any that you think the children would enjoy. Please send in the following for our Holiday Party needs:

$5.00 donation for party supplies/lunch
8" x 10" Frame (they will be making a gift for someone special)
Treats for 22 stockings (the stockings will be hung by the chimney with care)
We also will be enjoying a Polar Express/Pajama Party on the opposite day of the class party. The children may wear their P.J.'s, slippers and robes and bring a board game to play with their classmates. We will enjoy hot cocoa and sweet delights, as well as have a guest reader. The party dates are December 18th and 19th. I'll let you know in my next e-mail of our exact date for each party.

Please let us know if you will be able to volunteer on the morning of the craft stations. We'll need approx. 5 volunteers for each class.

Take a moment and read Mayuri's Reflections Entry on our blogspot. She's quite a writer. We will be posting more student work on the blogspot in the future. Look for updates.

Your Partners in Education,

Michelle Goethe

Lara Norton

Reflections Entry

From the day I decided to participate in the ‘Wow Reflection Contest’ I was pondering what could be the best topic to write about. I was sitting on my couch thinking about the word “WOW” and the reflection contest. That was the moment in my thoughts I saw the reflection of the word “WOW”!’’ Ding !‘’I got my topic the word “MOM” was clear enough visible in the reflection……..

MOM
WOW


So I decided to write about a true story of a son and his love for his mom. Several hundreds of years ago, once upon a time a boy, 24, name Shravan Kumar decided to fulfill his blind parents dreams to go to pilgrimage. Sharvan was very poor barely able to earn two meal a day. Taking your parents on a long voyage to pilgrimage was way too expensive! beyond his dream. But his love for his “MOM” did not stop him. He had come up with a brilliant idea to carry their both blind parents on his shoulder. He made a balance with baskets on each side to carry their parents in each basket (please see picture). And he set forth on foot on a long journey. On the way Shravan will stop in the night, make food, feed his blind parents, massage their feet, and then go to sleep on the bare floor. The journey starts again next morning and continued for one year. Finally Sharvan was happy that he was able to fulfill his blind “MOM”’s dream.

“WOW” !!! wonder if it’s a true story? Don’t believe it? Keep on reading.

Even now a son decided to do the same for his blind “MOM”. The news coverage in the famous Indian newspaper “The Telegraph” is attached.

Moral: Can we all learn from this action to care for our parents who brought us in this world, raised with all the love and care?

By: Mayuri S.

Dear Parents,
Thank you so much for playing 101-200 Bingo with your child this week. You will have the opportunity to play another math game with them next week. The reinforcement of these strategies will really help your child have better "number sense". Make sure you "think aloud" your strategies.
We began our unit on Electricity this week. My homeroom brought home a wire, bulb and battery to make a circuit. They need to draw and illustration of their bulb lit as well as write a conclusion in their science logs. Ms. Norton's class will receive the project Monday.
Remember that we do not have school on Tuesday. We have set an "Americas White Table" in the classroom in honor of our POW and MIA Veterans who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
There is a large white barrel in the lobby for the annual Salvation Army "Can You Care" food drive. We will be collecting food until Wednesday, Nov. 19th. Please encourage your child to bring in non-perishable food to share with those in our community who are less fortunate than us.
I am scheduling our second day of intensive math this Wednesday. For the purpose of remediation and intensive instruction, I have divided children according to their instructional needs. On Wednesday mornings children who need more intensive math instruction will participate in a program in the class room that will ramp up their math skills. Half of the program involves a computer program and the other half will include small group instruction.
Mrs. Norton will be out this Monday as she continues her professional development using a model called a Coaching Learning Cycle. All ELA 4th grade teachers are honing their craft of writing instruction through this opportunity. I too will be involved in some professional development this Friday. I will attend my second Academy of Math.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your partners in education,
Michelle Goethe & Lara Norton

Narrative

Narrative

When I Visit the Mountains
By Madison
October 2008----4th Grade


When I visit the mountains, the fresh, cool breeze hits my face. The mountains curl over the earth around and around again. All of my Mom’s side of the family lives in the mountains. I go through at least ten hugs a day…cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

When I visit the mountains, we go to the park that was named after my great-grandpa and what used to be my mom’s last name…Tate Park. We build dams, play tag and play on the play sets.

When I visit the mountains on the 4th of July, we watch a parade. The whole family and the dogs watch. Some people in the parade even throw candy on the sidewalk for us to eat. Afterwards, we eat lunch at the Banner Elk Café. “Mmmmmmm,” we all would say, bellies full and pleased.

When I visit the mountains, my great-grandma named Margaret, or Mom-mom as we call her, cooks with the help of my mom, Karen and Amanda. I watch my younger cousins. Then, when the food is ready, we eat at the kids table and the adults eat in the dining room. It’s a pretty tight squeeze with all of those 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 year old kids at one table.

When I visit the mountains, we all gather at the Banner Elk Church on Sundays. After church, we either eat out our go to Mom-Mom’s again for lunch.

I love to visit the mountains, but every time we go there, there comes a time when we have to leave. I never visit Virginia or Boston, for I can always visit the mountains and that’s always enough for me.

Planet Projects

Dear Parents,

You all know by now that Planet Projects are due either tomorrow for my homeroom class or Monday for Mrs. Norton's class. I want to remind you of the requirements on the poster:

Planet Name
Picture of Planet
Origin of Name
Planet Characteristics
Distance from the Sun
Other Interesting Information
Things you'll need to Visit the Planet
Supplies/Equipment needed to Visit

I have gone over with both classes the requirements. They were given an opportunity to revise their projects if they turned them in early.

PUMPKINS?

Yes, pumpkins. We will be having the GREAT PUMPKIN CAPER on Thursday, October 30th. This activity requires volunteers, pumpkins, and parents to send in supplies. If you can send in something or can be called upon to help in any way, please reply to this message with your phone number. Our room moms are eagerly waiting for your help.

Most importantly, the kids are going to have a great time and learn a lot.

For the Love of Learning,

Michelle Goethe

On Writing a Memoir

A memoir is not a review of an entire life. It is merely a piece of that life – a snippet, a chunk, an event that has taken place during that person’s life. It's the snapshot, not the album. The events are told from that person’s point of view.


“The writer of a memoir takes us back to a corner of his or her life that is usually vivid or intense.”
Zinsser,W (Ed). (1987). “Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft Of Memoir”


A memoir incorporates a sequence of feelings, thoughts and observations surrounding the chosen event. Often the writer comes to a personal reflection on this event.

How does this event reflect my life?

What feelings, thoughts and observations are keys to this event?

Introduction - in which the author shares important information about the setting, including the time and date of the experience. The information in the introduction usually answers – who, what, where, when and why. The next section lays out the detail of the selected event. Students need to outline and organize the events before writing them down. The final element is a concluding statement, which is an optional extra in a memoir. It may detail a lesson learned, an observation on life, a reflection on the event, following the passage of time.


Questions For Memoirists

• What are your earliest memories?
• How far back can you remember?
• What have you seen that you can’t forget?
• What’s an incident that shows what your family and you are like?
• What’s an incident that shows what your friends are like?
• What’s something that happened at school that you’ll always remember?
• What’s something that happened to you at home that you ’II always remember?
• What’s an incident that changed how you think or feel about something?
• What’s an incident that changed your life?
• What’s a time or place where you were perfectly happy?
• What’s a time or place where you laughed a lot?
• What’s a time or place when it felt as if your heart was breaking?
• What’s a time with a parent that you’ll never forget?
• What’s a time with a grandparent that you’ll never forget?
• What’s a time with a brother or sister that you’ll never forget?
• What’s a time with a relative that you’ll never forget?
• Can you remember a time you learned to do something for the first time?
• What memories emerge when you make a time line of your life so far?
• What are the most important things that have happened to you each year of your life?

Adapted from Lessons That Change Writers, Nancie Atwell

http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

Planet Project

Dear Parents,
You will find a "glue-in" in your child's planner this week. The glue-in shows which assignments your child has turned in and which ones are missing. Please check this before Monday morning and sign it. Your child needs to complete the missing work and return it for credit.
Planet projects are due on the 10th for my class and the 13th for Mrs. Norton's class. I'm attaching a couple things that may help you organize the poster board. All children will come home today with the facts that they have collected in their science logs as well as the poster board that I will provide. Please don't allow your child to roll the poster board.

Mrs. Goethe

Educational Philosophy

Teaching children is my life. I was born into a family of educators and it has been said that, “the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” My teaching style and techniques are evolving daily as I learn through professional development, by studying my peers, and most importantly by listening to my students. To me, a large part of teaching is figuring out how children learn. I am passionate about education because I am a constant learner myself.

I believe that a key element in the elementary classroom is keeping the students excited about learning new things. My personal style of teaching brings enthusiasm, music, inquiry, and teamwork into the classroom to increase learning motivation. I teach with a contagious smile and open personality that helps me to interact with my students as I guide them through their learning process.

My objective as a teacher is to motivate my students toward a level of independence where they develop a desire to learn and think for themselves. Through this type of active participation, students learn and form their own opinions and base of knowledge. I define my approach to teaching as inquiry based since I encourage my students to explore concepts at a hands-on level and develop an understanding through discussion and teamwork.

Graduated From: University of Denver Years Teaching: 23

About Me:

I am married and have two children; Bronson 11, a middle schooler at TLAM and Brock 4, a VPK student at Tutor Time. My husband Brog works for Blue Cross Blue Shield of FL in insurance sales. We have two cats; Boots and GeeGee. In my free time I love to work out, and complete home projects. I enjoy reading and watching movies as well as playing with my children. I regularly travel north to visit my sister in Boston and my Father in Wisconsin. Our next big adventure may be a cruise or a cross country trip to explore the California coast.

Dear Parents,

We've got 16 school days under our belts. Expect to see a progress report next week in all subject areas. I have a few reminders for you:

• Keep sending your child in with healthly snacks. I realize chips are easy; however, please add some healthy choices to your shopping list this weekend.
• Next week your child will have their eyes checked during our vision screening. This does test for nearsightedness, but if your child is having a hard time reading up close you will need to see an eye doctor for that screening.
• We have P.E. with coach twice next week. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately on Monday and Friday. They also need water for P.E.
• We will have our first science test next week. Your child will be making note cards in class to study. Please help them study with these cards.
• Your child is expected to read every night. Mrs. Norton has given them a 20 page requirement nightly. They also should read over the weekend.
• Our multiplication fact focus will be on the 5's and 6's next week. Your child will have a fact test on Friday.
• You will also be playing some math games next week with your child for homework. There will be a form that needs to be filled out to show that you have played the game. This will be due on Friday.
• Please sign and return all tests that are stamped, "Sign and Return".

Have a great weekend. Make contact via e-mail. We'll get right back with you.

Your partners in education,

Michelle Goethe & Lara Norton

How Can I Help My Child with Reading at Home?

It is vital that your children have opportunities to do the following:

• Be read to on a regular basis
• Read to someone else
• Witness reading and writing as essential activities in our lives

Read to your child. Research has shown that children who are read to become better readers and thus better students. Have fun! Before reading, look at the pictures and predict what might happen in the story. Talk about exciting parts, your favorite character, or a new way to end the book.

Read with your child. Praise and encourage early readers who can read to you through the pictures! As your child begins to recognize the words, try to focus on what he or she is doing well. If your child comes to an unknown word, give him or her some time before you speak. Rather than immediately telling your child to “sound it out,” try some of these suggestions:

• “What would make sense there?”
• “Skip over it and read to the end of the sentence. Now what do you think that word might be?”
• “Use the picture to help you figure out what it might be.”
• “Look at how the word begins. Start it out and keep reading.”

Or, simply tell your child the word so he or she can keep going with the flow of the story. Above all else, keep reading an enjoyable activity.

Let your child see you read! Show your child that reading is enjoyable. Share appropriate stories you are reading in the newspaper. Talk about the recipe you are preparing. Look at the instructions printed on a board game. Laugh out loud while reading your favorite novel!

Point out reading as you go through daily living. Reading is everywhere! We read for information and assistance. Talk with your child as you look at street signs, billboards, fast-food menus, or directions.

Visit the library with your child. They will value what you value!

Have books in your home that your child can read. Suggest books as gifts from your family at birthday and holiday times. Help your child find or make a safe place to keep his or her special books, away from pets and siblings. Library books kept in this space will be readily available when they are due.

Book Discussion Questions

Questions to promote discussion about a story.

Plot:
What happened in the story? What happened first, then, next, last?
What might have happened if a certain event had not taken place?
Were you able to predict the ending?
Which chapter was the most important to the story? Why?

Setting:
Where did the story take place?
Could there be a place like this? Do you know of a place like this?
When did the story take place? (past, present, future)
How did the writer create the atmosphere for the setting?

Characterization:
Which character did you like best? Why?
How did the author describe the characters?
Find a passage that tells you about a character’s personality.
How did the characters change during the story?

Author Style:
What special words did the author use to help you hear, see, smell, taste, or feel things?
What pictures have the author’s writing left in your mind?
How does the author let you know when and where the story takes place?
What do you like about this author?

Affective:
How did you feel while reading the book? Why did you feel that way?
What was the most exciting/unusual/mysterious incident?
Does the mood of the story change? How?
Why did you select this book?

Why Independent Reading is Necessary

Dear Parents,

Decades of Internationally based research shows that students that read more read better. They develop more expansive vocabularies and achieve higher levels of reading and writing development. This is particularly true for students that have daily opportunities to read, year after year.

Daily time to read in school is not a frill or waste of classroom time; on the contrary, it is one of the best ways for a child to:

• Learn new vocabulary and information.
• Increase speed and fluency (that is, read smoothly and accurately).
• Improve comprehension.
• Notice authors’ writing styles (which in turn helps their own writing).
• Develop a greater interest in reading and learning.
• Develop a love of reading.

Therefore, a major part of our reading program will be daily quiet time during which students read books of their own choosing. During that time, I will be monitoring your child’s reading development through individual reading conferences. Your child will also be expected to maintain a reading record and to read at home each evening. Our reading program will also include whole-class and small-group work.

Your child is expected to have a book at school everyday, one he or she has selected from our classroom library. Our main goal is for your child to enjoy reading for pleasure and information, and to become a stronger, more flexible reader. Please join me in helping create an environment in which our children can enjoy books for a lifetime.

Sincerely,

Lara Norton & Michelle Goethe

Labor Day

Dear Parents,

We had a very busy week back after the storm. Here's what's happening:

• Your child is taking a diagnostic test in Math.
• We're starting our unit in science on Space.
• Students have taken their first Daily Math Practice Quiz and have done quite well. Please sign and return all tests that are stamped "sign and return".
• We had an exciting "LIFT OFF" rocket launch yesterday! All of the children pledged to read one million words (25 books+).
• Next week we will begin our intensive study/review of multiplication facts. Your child will have a fact drill every other Friday on the facts assigned. Have them practice their facts by counting by each number (3, 6, 9, 12, ...). They can also visit http://www.mathfactcafe.com/. Have them practice their facts through the 12's.
• We will be sending home the Code of Conduct next week. Please review the dress code. We will put a label on the front cover to remind you what pages to sign and return.
• District Benchmark Testing for Grades 3rd, 4th, and 5th will begin September 8th.
• Our first WildCat Chat went home yesterday. Did you get your copy? Check your child's Daily Folder in the Notes Home pocket. A copy of the Chat is also on-line at www.duvalschools.org/tlae.
• Please return all White Cards, Blue Cards, Health Questionnaires, and PE/Health Screening Forms by Tuesday, September 2. We need this information to assist us in the clinic and for early dismissal of students.
• Important Dates to Remember:
  September 1 – Labor Day (no school)
  September 4 – Open House Grades 3-5
  September 5 – Flag Raising
  September 8 – District Benchmark Testing begins
  September 10 – Early Dismissal
  September 11 – Open House Grades K-2
• OPEN HOUSE IS THIS COMING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th @ 7PM.
• Please sign your child's planner daily.
• We are short 30 composition books. Every child was suppose to bring in 4. Please add them to your shopping list.

We hope you enjoy your long weekend. We look forward to another great week of learning!

Your partners in education,
Michelle Goethe
Lara Norton

Dear Parents,

Thank you for getting your child to school today prepared after our unexpected vacation. We were able to assemble our spheres in class today. They look just awesome hung in the classroom.

Your child has math homework this week. They will be writing a short (three paragraph) biography of themselves. I'm attaching a copy for you in case they can't find it. The Mathography is due this Thursday. Your child will also have their first math test this week. This test will include the content that we've covered in our Daily Math Practice work. They will bring the first two weeks home on Thursday. Please study the problems from these first two weeks with them. I will give them a ten question quiz.

We are on an EARLY RELEASE schedule this Wednesday. Car Riders and Extended are released at 1:30. Bus riders are released by 2pm. Our lunch is also a half hour earlier (12:00). Although these days are shorter we still have a full schedule and expect your child to attend.

A reminder from Mrs. Robertson to use the paper plates to identify your car rider. Place your child's name and grade level on the paper plate and place it in your front right window.

Our Million Word Reading Kickoff is this Friday. Your child will be expected to read at least 25 books this year. 125 pages is considered one book. Readers are Leaders.

Mrs. Norton would like your child to read for at least 20 minutes each evening. They should be reading from the chapter book that was assigned in class. Have them read to you!

Your child should have all of their paperwork and supplies in at this time. I'm so impressed with how together they all are so early in the year.

Your partners in education,
Michelle Goethe & Lara Norton

Fay is In the Way

Dear Parents,

Mrs. Norton and I are so excited about the coming school year. We have been working hard to make this first week a very special one for your child. Please use this e-mail address as your contact with both of us. Mrs. Norton should be up and running shortly then I'll forward you her e-mail address.

Thank you all so much for coming to orientation. We appreciate your time and can tell from your attendance and attention that we're going to have a great year. We'll take good care of your child. We're here if you need us, don't hesitate to call or e-mail.

Thank you Mrs. Houpert and Mrs. Mendez for volunteering to be room-parents for my class. Please let me or Mrs. Norton know if you are willing to fill that most prestigious position.

Remember that school starts at 8:30. I always suggest to my student's parents to drop them off at 8am. They can come upstairs at 8am and you miss all of the traffic that starts after 8:10. Lunch is $1.50. Feel free to send in a snack for them. Our snack time is around 10:30.

Your child is getting a really neat project this week. They may need your assistance in cutting out the circles and answering the questions. This project will help us get to know each other better. Do not have them construct the sphere. We will do that in class.

I'm so excited about seeing all the kids tomorrow. I always have a tough time sleeping before the first day. Let your child know that Mrs. Norton and I can't wait to see them.

Your partners in education,

Michelle Goethe & Lara Norton

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