Clickers

We got clickers! These are a student response system. They can input answers into the computer and we get immediate feedback on how everyone answered. These allow me, as a teacher, to immediately correct what needs correcting! We have had fun with them. We are all learning together with these and having a ball!!! Enjoy our pictures of our learning to use these tools!

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Grandparents' Day 2010

We really enjoyed our Grandparents coming to have lunch with us!! What a treat and an end to another great week at OES! Enjoy our slideshow!!

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Mrs. Hurst's Class is a Bucket-Filling Class

What an amazing thing for the students! This is a great book. It really explains to the students how to treat one another. This all started with our Kindergarten classes. The teachers shared and lots of us were hooked!! My students are already excited about filling each other's buckets and are working well together. They really enjoyed the book. If you have not read it, I encourage you to read it!! Even we, as parents, have buckets to be filled and we fill our children's buckets every single day!

When I asked the students the question "How can we be bucketfillers?" Their responses were:

**comfort someone who's sad.
**say "thank you"
**share things
**help soneone when they drop things
**if you find money, turn it in to the office
**saying "hello" to someone when you see them
**respecting others' property
**cleaning our room
**helping our parents keep our houses clean
**following rules
**say "good morning" people who may not be your best friends
**help people carry things and open doors for people
**being nice
**help an old person
**apologize if you hurt someone or offend them
**help people reach
**don't dip into other people's buckets

Welcome Back!!

We had a fantastic day today!! We got everything organized and ready for a productive year. I am so excited about my students' excitement! They are going to keep me on my toes!!!

2009-2010

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Summer Post #1

It has been eventful to say the least!! I am missing my students from last year and waiting with anticipation to get my class list of my students for the upcoming year!!! How exciting summer is in so many ways!!!

Zach, my youngest, had surgery at the beginning of summer and has had a long recovery. We actually spent this past weekend in the hospital. He is doing great now and we are getting ready to go to the beach in two weeks!!!

I am taking two classes this summer and can't wait to share with everyone what I am learning!!! I plan on lots of technology projects in the upcoming year!!! Get your computers ready!

I hope everyone is reading and practicing math facts... I can't wait to see my new students and hearing from my previous students!!

Mrs. Hurst

We Met the Governor

Here is just one of MANY pictures from our Montgomery field trip. It was a great day! This was taken on the steps of the Capitol by the Confederate Memorial by Governor Riley's staff photographer. I will post more later.

I want to commend all the students on their EXCELLENT behavior!!!

Montgomery Field Trip

A special thanks to all the parents who went on the field trip!!! Your help was amazing and very much appreciated!! Your children seemed to really enjoy themselves. I can't wait to hear about what they thought Monday when I see them at school!!!

Thank you again!

... Drivers!! Start... Your .... Engines!!!

Drivers!! Start... Your... Engines!!!!

We just finished our AMSTI Motion and Design Unit in Science! It was great fun and is always a favorite of the kids! The students participated in a Design Challenge to build a vehicle. They worked in groups and then we raced them!! To see whose could go the farthest in the shortest amount of time. Here are some pictures from our races!

On your mark... get set.... go!!!
And they're off!!!

Erin and Abbagail discuss their vehicle and how it could go faster!

Dakota prepares to launch his team's vehicle.

We even had some of Ms. Gray's students stop by to join in the race with us!!!



Alexis and Hannah's team may have launched a little too hard... theirs flipped... several times!!!



Tony striking a pose for the camera!!! Of course, I was laying on the floor to get the shots and he was too quick for me!
Kira and Elijah measure the distance their car went, while Alexis and Hannah discuss their strategy for the next race.
Hannah is ready to go!!!

It was great fun for all!!!!

Reading Round Up

Reading Round Up ends Friday morning!! Read, Read, Read!! We want to win the prize!!! I will update with a total tomorrow!!!

Important Reminders!!!

Parents,

This is going to be a BUSY next couple of weeks at school. The end of the year is always full of exciting things going on, but, we are of course still teaching and learning. Please read the list of reminders below. It is important that these things get done!!! Thank you!!!

1. C.E. Hanna Registration Cards (Green cards) must be in to me by Friday morning. If your child is to get a place in a 5th grade class, we must have those Friday.

2. Field Day -- Thursday, 5/20/10 -- I need volunteers to help with Free Time games from 10:00 -- 12:00. Please let me know ASAP.

3. Field Trip -- Friday, 5/21/10 -- I have 3 students who still need to turn in permission slips. This is such a FUN day!! I can't wait. I look forward to this trip ALL year long!!!

4. Renaissance Pep Rally -- Wednesday, 5/26/10 -- 1:30 p.m. This is the last Academic Pep Rally of the year. We would love to have you join us!!!

5. Wear Black and Gold Monday, 5/17/10. Our Outdoor Classroom is becoming a certified outdoor classroom by the State of AL!!! What an honor!!!

Thank You!!

This week has been teacher appreciation week! I so have the best class!!! Here are some things I have gotten this week. The little cards have made me tear up every day in the morning!!

1. You make a BIG step in my life. -- Was with a pair of flip flops!! (My favorite summer shoe!)
2. Thank you for always giving me a helping hand -- with a jar of homemade lotion. So sweet!
3. Thank you for making my world spin by being my teacher -- came with a parasail spinner (I think that is what they are called.)
4. A ceramic bumble bee votive candle holder -- that is the "theme" of my room!!!

I am so touched and thankful for my students!! I appreciate them each and every day!

Reading Round Up Guidelines

Students and Parents, below find the Guidelines set forth by 4th Grade teachers for the Reading Round Up. Remember, it is over next Thursday, May 13th. If your child wants his or her minutes to count toward the class total, they must turn their log in Friday, May 14th, first thing in the morning.



Guidelines:



1. This will count their 15 minutes per night from their Reading Log.

2. Public Library Incentive -- information going home today. **Extra 100 minutes available**

3. Read in the mornings at their desks as they come in each morning.

4. Any other free time in class, other than Reading stations/Small Group.

This is above and beyond normal Reading we do each day. They may read their story at night for their Reading Log. In all actuality, they would need to read for 30 minutes a night to earn the 300 minutes.

And of course, we want to be the class to win the class with most minutes read!! So, read in the car, read whenever you can. Always have a book!! Go to the Public Library event. Let's get those minutes and WIN!!!!

Mrs. Hurst

Monday Reminders, 5/3/10

Happy Monday to you all!! Just a few reminders for you for the week.

1. We have LOTS of important reminders coming home in Monday folders today. Please take the time to sit down and go through them all. I know you all have busy days and nights after working, but this is end of the year paper work and we must get it done and in on time.

2. This is Day 5 of the story "Tia Lola." Tomorrow is Day 6 and our Language Test. Wednesday will be Day 1 of "To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers." There are only "To Fly" and "Far Side of the Moon" left in our Reading Book!!

3. Please continue to read with your child nightly. Our District-wide Reading Competition "Reading Round-Up" has begun. All the information is included in their Monday folders.

4. Thank you so much for all you for your children!

Have a super week... we are!!

Love,
Mrs. Hurst

Wow! How they have changed!

It is hard to believe that we have 4 or 5 weeks of school left!! It seemed like in August that we had so much time together!! Every year I think the same thing in August knowing my time with these wonderful children is limited! Mrs. Hale, a teacher at our school, took these pictures back in August. Her daughter Alexis is our class. I came across them and had to share them!!! The last one is my favorite and a testament to how much fun we have together as a class!!!




This one is my favorite of the kids! As you can see, not everyone in pictured in these~~ We have gained a couple of new members to our family as the year progressed. I will take new ones that show our entire "family."



Everyone strike a pose or make a funny face!!


Once again, thank you for your children!! I adore each and every single one of them more they will ever know!!! They have touched my life in more ways than I can explain!

Another Fantastic Friday

Whew!!! I am beat, but what a FANTASTIC day we had today! I am so blessed to teach your children. They are more than just my students... they are my "kids!"

Today, we went on a Measurement Scavenger Hunt in our Outdoor Classroom. It was the perfect day for this! The students have requested that Mrs. Nelson install air conditioning, but other than that, they loved it! They were totally engaged in what they were learning and they were teaching each other.

The outcomes for the lesson were to measure area and perimeter in customary units of length; Estimate the difference in the height of a column and their own height; compare and contrast two different objects in our outdoor classroom; and answer questions at different stations relating to other subjects we study (such as reading, Alabama History, etc.). Outcomes were met and fun was had by all who were there!! We even had a visit from Mrs. Nelson. The students loved sharing with her what they were doing. This was the assessment of everything we had studied and learned this week. What a great time and they had no idea they were "taking a test!"

Here's a quick look at what we did! There are many more to come!!

Tylor, Abbagail, Hannah, and Carson L. measure
the perimeter of a block of the sidewalk.
















Ozioma, Liam, and Alexis discuss the area of the butterfly stepping stone after measuring it.













Tate and Sydney measuring the area of a plank of
wood on the ramp to the gazebo.
















Alexis, Ozioma, and Liam relaxing in the sun while they
wait for the rotation signal.













Tate and Sydney take a moment to pose for the camera
while they tell Mrs. Nelson what they are doing.














Kira, Conner, and Sarah explain to Mrs. Nelson what they are doing at their station.













Conner, Kira, Sarah, and Elijah finding the perimter
and area of the stage.














Dakota and Chantly discuss with Mrs. Haynes the information they recorded about the benches.















Mrs. Haynes, Chantly, and Dakota practicing measuring
with a yard stick to find the perimeter of the top of the bench.















Mrs. Haynes, Chantly, and Dakota discussing their findings about the benches and looking up the meaning of the word "bench" to see which fits the purpose of the benches in our outdoor classroom.

Scavenger Hunt

We're going on a scavenger hunt in the morning. We will be going out to the outdoor classroom to find perimeter and area and various measurements of things in our outdoor classroom. The students have worked very hard this week measuring and calculating. The students will work in groups/pairs to measure and calculate many things while answering questions related to different things we have studied in other subjects throughout the year. Look for pictures this weekend!! It will be GREAT FUN!!!

What a Great Day!!!

We had a great first day back after spring break! It was great to see all my angels. They seemed as if they grew a foot in a week!

A few notes of reminder for parents:
1. Field Trip permission slips need to be back to me by Wednesday.
2. Plant Sale ends on Friday -- get those pre-orders in!!
3. We started a new story today, so today is Day 1!!

Have a great night!!

We're Back!!!

We are off to a great start today!!! Almost everyone is here and ready to go this morning! We are going to have a great day!

This Week

This week in Reading, we will be beginning the second story of Unit 6, "Jim Thorpe's Bright Path." It is a wonderful story. Please be sure to read it with your children and ask them questions as you read with them.

In Science, we will continue with our Motion and Design Unit. I will be posting pictures of our AMSTI in action from throughout the year.

In Math, we will finish our studying of coordinate grids & points. The students actually created their own towns on a coordinate grid before we left for our break. They turned out really great!!! I will be assessing them in two different ways this week. We then go on to measurement.

In Alabama History, we are studying the Civil War. The students are creating a file to keep forever!! It will be something that they can hang on to for years to come and refer back to later in their education.

As always, we have a busy week coming up!!! It is important to be in school each and every day!

Welcome Back!!

Spring Break was a much needed rest for everyone! I hope everyone got to play outside and enjoy the GORGEOUS weather!! DJ, Zach, and I drove to Arkansas to visit with my older sister, Jenny and her husband, Chris. We had a GREAT time!! I am sure it was a little different for them since they don't have children. The boys and I went to the Little Rock Zoo on Monday and then to the Air Force base where Chris is a Team Sergent for the MPs. We went to see all the planes on display and it was great fun!! Tuesday, we ventured out and found Wal Mart!! The roads in Jacksonville/Little Rock are very confusing!! Then, Wednesday, we loaded up and headed home. However, we got a little detoured on the way back. Going through Mississippi, I noticed signs for an Elvis Presley museum... so you know I had to stop!! I got to see the house he was born in and lived in until he was 3!!!! How awesome!! They boys hated it, but oh, well... they were stuck!! You guys know I loved it!! I love Elvis!! :)

I can't wait to see you all tomorrow!! I have missed you and will be giving out hugs all day long tomorrow!!!

Love you!!

Mrs. Hurst