MrHowd.com

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 1-3 are available and due on Monday.

Reading: We used our reading time to create our class mission statement. We look at some mission statements from different companies. Some were short and easy to remember; some were very wordy. We chose a short one. We thought this explains our mission this year: “Every student in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.” Homework: if you haven’t yet, now would be a good time to get your student back into the habit of reading 20 minutes a night!

Writing: Students created an “Authority List” in their Google Docs and started to add some ideas. This is a list of topics that each student knows about and has learned about (people they know, places they’ve been, sports, they play, books they’ve read). We’ll use this list for some writing ideas this year.

Our first piece of writing, a personal narrative, will be due Friday, September 20. We’ll start prewriting it tomorrow. Homework this year in writing will be to work on writing for 15 minutes on weekdays.

Math: None today. We did choose a class math goal: to improve our class average math level and to grow a year or more by the end of the year. We’ll use STAR Math tests to measure our progress.

Homework on weekdays this year will be to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy. We will start using these tools this week.

Science: Students received science notebooks today. Each student will need a poly envelope to store their notebook in.

Social Studies: None today.

Notes:

• If you want to order a new McGrath shirt or other spirit wear, do that here before Thursday!
• No school this Friday; it’s Ally Partnership Day.
• Buy chromebook insurance for $25. Due by September 26. Here are more details about chromebook insurance.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
• The Science, Social Studies, and Technology pages were recently updated.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Today was Team Day! The class had to work as a whole class team and in smaller teams to solve a series of challenges. They had to persevere and not give up, and most of the challenges were solved with hard work!

The students came up with these Top Teamwork Tricks after Team Day:

1. Encourage others.
2. Persevere; don’t quit.
3. Keep talking.
4. Think together.
5. Listen to others.
6. Help the team.
7. Focus on the problem.
8. Be selfless. Other people matter.
9. Stay calm.
10. Learn from mistakes.

We also finished playing a game called Win as Much as You Can. During our first try, the class only earned $900 out of $5,000. In this game, when teams agree to work together, everyone wins, but when some teams try to “get ahead” of the others, not only do some teams lose, but the whole class loses out. This game has 10 rounds and it took until the final rounds before the class started to think about how everyone could win, not just a few. We played again and learned from our mistakes, scoring $5,000 the second time. We learned that we need to find a way to “win-win,” so that everyone can win, not just a few.

We watched a video called, Crash and Learn:

Students learned that it’s okay, and sometimes even necessary, to crash and make mistakes. But champions LEARN from their crashes, instead of repeating them over and over or giving up.

Notes:

• Thanks for everyone that helped with Team Day today!
• If you want to order a new McGrath shirt or other spirit wear, do that here before Thursday!
• Here is the School Supply list. Students will need these supplies next week, especially two poly envelopes (I have them in class for $0.50 each), a folder for take home papers, a pencil box or bag, and a dry erase marker.
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine. Earbuds are preferred over large headphones that are hard to store and usually more expensive to replace.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
• Things to do if you haven’t don’t them yet:
  • Complete your yearly online registration.
  • Fill out a Volunteer Registration form if you want to volunteer or chaperone a trip this year.
  • Sign up for a fall conference.
  • Fill out the Household Info Report so everyone at our school qualifies for free breakfast and lunch.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

Today was filled with more get-to-know-you activities and procedures:

Rules?

We talked about if we should have class rules this year. I told the class that maybe we didn’t need them. Many cheered. Then we made a list of what kids could do in a class with no rules. Almost everything on the list was something bad or hurtful. We figured out it wouldn’t be fun to be in a class with no rules.

So then we made a list of 27 rules! That was a little much. We figured out we could cover everything on our list, good or bad, with one simple rule: “Follow the High Fives,” which are respect, responsibility, empathy, integrity, and perseverance. If we do that, we should be in good shape.

Class Agreement

We also created a Class Agreement:

1. Turn and look at the speaker.
2. Use your time wisely.
3. Follow directions.
4. Talk at the right time.
5. Keep pace with others.

Students that struggle with the class agreement may bring a behavior letter home to their family.

Teamwork

We started playing a teamwork game called, “Win as Much as You Can.” So far, our class isn’t doing too well. We’ve only won $200 out of a possible $2,500. Maybe Team Day will help us work as a team more!

Notes:

• Team Day is tomorrow, Friday, September 6 from 9 – 10:30 am. The class will be completing team-building activities in student groups. Thanks to the family members that are helping tomorrow. Activities will be outside; students, dress for the weather!
• Here is the School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine. Earbuds are preferred over large headphones that are hard to store and usually more expensive to replace.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
• Things to do if you haven’t don’t them yet:
  • Complete your yearly online registration.
  • Fill out a Volunteer Registration form if you want to volunteer or chaperone a trip this year.
  • Sign up for a fall conference.
  • Fill out the Household Info Report so everyone at our school qualifies for free breakfast and lunch.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

Today was filled with more get-to-know-you activities and procedures:

• Students got new seats.
• We talked about what makes a good team captain and elected team captains.
• Each team also started to help in our classroom by receiving a class job and an area of the room to manage.
• Students selected locker partners, made locker signs, and got moved in.
• We practiced some line-up procedures and walking in the hallway.

Notes:

• Team Day is Friday, September 6 from 9 – 10:30 am. The class will be completing team-building activities in student groups. Can you help? Instructions will be provided!
• Here is the School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine. Earbuds are preferred over large headphones that are hard to store and usually more expensive to replace.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
• Things to do if you haven’t don’t them yet:
  • Complete your yearly online registration.
  • Fill out a Volunteer Registration form if you want to volunteer or chaperone a trip this year.
  • Sign up for a fall conference.
  • Fill out the Household Info Report so everyone at our school qualifies for free breakfast and lunch.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

Welcome! I’m looking forward to working with you and your student to make this a great year!

At the beginning of the year, most parents have questions about curriculum, procedures, policies, and ways to stay informed. Problem solved: check out this website!

Here you can find everything you need to know about the class, including ways to contact me, check grades, find out about procedures, see class photos, and check out student work.

You will also be contacted periodically by an automated phone message system. I’ll use this for class reminders in case you aren’t able to check the class website, or your student’s backpack ate the class notes!

School Supplies

There is a full list of school supplies at MrHowd.com/supplies. Your student will really only need pencils, pens, dry erase markers, a folder for take home papers, and two poly envelopes. I have the markers and envelopes in class for purchase, or you can get these at any office store.

Who’s in class?

Our class is made up of people with unique talents and experiences. We should have pride in that! So we can be proud and get to know each other, I’m giving students the opportunity to bring in three things that show who they are, to put up on our Pride Board. This board will end up looking like a scrapbook. Students can bring in anything that can be stapled to or hung on a board with pushpins, and that is reasonable in size. Photos, postcards, medals, etc. would be perfect.

Students will also be asked to decorate a writing portfolio with drawings and photos. So start digging up those photos now! I’ll send that folder home next week.

Team Day

Friday, September 6, from 9 – 10:30 am, our class will participate in some team-building activities to start the new year. Parents are needed to help run the activities. Instructions will be provided. If you can help, please contact me or RSVP in the email you were sent. Thanks!

Class activities

Today was filled with get-to-know-you activities and procedures. Here are some highlights:

• We played a game to share some news from the summer.
• Students took the Mr. Howd test; many failed (but one student said she got an A!). I told students that failure will often result from not preparing, but hard work is usually rewarded!
• We attended technology and music, and an assembly about the new year.
• Students received their planner. There are a few papers near that beginning that need student and parent signatures.

Notes:

• Team Day is Friday, September 6 from 9 – 10:30 am. The class will be completing team-building activities in student groups. Can you help? Instructions will be provided!
• Here is the School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine. Earbuds are preferred over large headphones that are hard to store and usually more expensive to replace.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
• Things to do if you haven’t don’t them yet:
  • Complete your yearly online registration.
  • Fill out a Volunteer Registration form if you want to volunteer or chaperone a trip this year.
  • Sign up for a fall conference.
  • Fill out the Household Info Report so everyone at our school qualifies for free breakfast and lunch.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects