Mrs. Schoeppner's Class Web

Borrowed... but Thought Provoking!

2011-11-22T11:00:00.004-05:00

One of the blogs that I follow had this message posted this morning:

"Someone asked me once where I would be if had to start over again with only what I had thanked God for the night before. Let me tell you, it wasn't a life I was going to want to live. Even if you don't believe in God, it's a thought provoking question, and a good reminder to take the time to reflect on the good things in your life and truly appreciate them and realize how fortunate you are." - The Adventures of Scuba Jack-

The good things in your life... one of the most important is your kids. I am blessed each and every day to be touched by the lives of so many children. Their smiles brighten my day, and their tears tug at my heart. Sure, there are hard days, but there are so many more good things than bad.
Reflect on the gifts that have been placed in your presence. Consider how your life has been blessed by theirs. Cherish each moment. For we do not know what tomorrow brings, be it joy or sorrow. And allow your hear to be tugged on and brightened at the same time. And, more importantly, hug your child, and tell them with real words how special they are. I've never heard anyone say that they wish they wouldn't have loved their children so much. Go ahead... I will join you.
Just a thought... for Thanksgiving.

NEW LINKS

2011-11-15T11:30:00.002-05:00

Check out the new MATH links in the list to the right. Some fun games to play while working on your multiplication facts!

Young Americans!

2011-10-30T08:05:00.003-04:00

The Young Americans are coming! It is going to be an action-packed week for all involved... including me! I am humbled by the opportunity to be able to share my home with a few this week, and anxiously await the stories and experiences they will share with my family! I am also looking forward to hearing stories from my students as they have the opportunity to participate in the workshops! If you participate, let me know, and we will share your stories as well!

Hmmmm...

2011-10-19T21:21:00.001-04:00

Frank Lloyd Wright, the popular and scholarly master architect, was known for his many innovative buildings. Towards the end of his career when asked by a journalist for his favorite out of his many architectural works of art, he responded, "My next one."

Where are you? Are you happy with what you have already accomplished, or is there more to look forward to? Are you energized and excited to start today, to embark on the adventure this day holds for you? Are you learning and growing, even if you are not still in school? I challenge you today to think bigger, think bolder, think more like the designer of Falling Water ... think beyond what you know today and think about what your future might hold.

BACK TO SCHOOL!

2011-08-04T09:57:00.002-04:00

I can hardly believe that it is back-to-school time already. August is here, school shopping is underway, and plans for the classroom are flooding my mind. I am anticipating a wonderful year with amazing students who are looking forward to brain-stretching adventures! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.... see you soon!

For some reason posts are not showing on Explorer... try Mozilla Firefox as your web browser.

2011-04-06T08:02:00.003-04:00

January, Already?

2011-01-07T14:03:00.004-05:00

I feel like I continually repeat myself, but I can not believe that it is January already! There is so much to do and so little time! The second grading period is nearly over, and before we know it PSSAs will be here! Then it is baseball season and summer... oh my! The snowstorm is on the way!
We have started blogging in the classroom. It is so much fun. Many of the students are catching on quickly and are enjoying commenting in their secret names!
We are reading novels about PA history this month and studying the Civil War and the times immediately following. I am looking forward to My Brother's Keeper and The Day It Rained Forever (a personal favorite). These books are usually enjoyed by all, and often I get responses from the parents as well. We will be blogging through these books, so feel free to ask your children to share their blogs with you often.
January snow... quiet, soft, and often a mixture of flurries... enjoy it while it lasts!

Open House!

2010-11-17T19:44:00.003-05:00

Open House.
The words are a concept foreign to many of us.
Tonight our school house was open for any and everyone to come in and see.
I enjoyed greeting new and familiar faces, seeing students from the past, students I am sharing this year with, and students of my future. I enjoyed talking with parents who used to be my classmates, and parents I have never met before.
Open House.
I like the idea.
Stop in anytime, anyone. Share with me my life. Learn about what is important to me.
Have a cup of coffee, a bite to eat. Sit back, visit for a while. Catch up with those I already know, and meet some I do not.
Open House.
For those who missed it, see you next year!

Time Does Fly When You're Having Fun!

2010-09-24T10:53:00.003-04:00

WOW! I can't believe it... next Friday is October 1st! The season of fall is here! Just yesterday, it seems, was the first day of spring. The ALF Festival is upon us, the leaves are changing all around us, the squirrels and chipmunks are scurring madly, and the kids are settling into the fourth grade routines quite nicely. I am pleased with the progress we are making and the plans we have for the months ahead. Band lessons have started...before you know it they will be playing in a concert. Rocket Math has again begun...before you know it they will be doing algebra. Today they are fourth graders... before you know it they will be graduating seniors. So much happens so quickly... and time is gone. Each day is but a moment. I challenge you today dad, mom, grandma, aunt, uncle, whoever-you-are-in-the-life-of-a-child; savor it, relish in it, cherish it, use it to make a difference, and enjoy it while the moment lasts.

One Week Down!

2010-09-03T14:04:00.002-04:00

WELCOME. Welcome to Fourth Grade. I am so glad that you are with us.

WOW! It is hard to believe that we are one week into school already. The week has FLOWN by! I have learned SO much from my students already. Yes, I did write that correctly... I have learned FROM my students. They have taught me about themselves, about social interactions, about thinking outside of the box... I am looking forward to a wonderful year!

PARENTS: Do not forget Back-to-School Night on Tuesday. It is an important night for parents and teachers to connect, get information, and start the year off on the right foot. I am looking forward to meeting each parent. THIS IS NOT OPEN HOUSE. Back-to-School is for parents and teachers. THIS IS NOT CONFERENCE NIGHT. Please feel free to schedule a conference with me at your convenience. We will be scheduling conferences on Tuesday, so bring along your calendar!

WELCOME to fourth grade... welcome to the future.

Back-to-School!

2010-08-27T12:22:00.003-04:00

I can hardly believe that it is back-to-school time already! We have had a hustling, bustling summer, and it seems like just yesterday that I said goodbye to the now-fifth-graders! But despite the speed with which summer seemed to fly for the Schoeppner family, we are excited and looking forward to the start of a new school year.
If you are a student or parent looking forward to being a part of our class this year, please stay tuned for important updated throughout the year. If you are a visitor just passing through, please feel free to stop by and see what we are up to throughout the year, even chipping in to the conversations that may arise. I love to get feedback from all different sources. It excites the class to see who is checking out what is going on in our little corner of the world!
Looking forward to Monday... see you soon!

The Day It Rained Forever

2010-02-23T15:10:00.002-05:00

We are reading the story The Day It Rained Forever by Virginia T. Gross. It is a moving story about a family that is forever changed by the of 1889 flood in Johnstown. Follow our comments as we read...

Christmas Fun!

2009-12-15T11:02:00.002-05:00

I love finding little fun things for the family. Here is one for the music lovers in your family: http://cdn2.libsyn.com/jameshollis/Do-a-rain-deer.swf?nvb=20091215155200&nva=20091216160200&t=06f085087c3285cb41ea3
And a fun puzzle from the archives: http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552. I hope that you enjoy all of the blessings that Christmas has to offer to you this year!

Leaves are Falling... Time is Flying!

2009-10-16T11:19:00.002-04:00

My my! Time does fly by when you are having fun! We are having a great year in fourth grade this year. There are new and exciting things happening, and I have been so busy that I haven't remembered to keep all of you updated! It is almost the end of October, and we have been busy in 201!
POWER math is well under way... today we celebrate 5 "super teams" with the chicken dance! We are learning so much in such an exciting way!
The Weather unit has been completed; there are many interesting weather instruments on display in the room. I love to see what happens when great minds join together (parent and child)! Now we have moved beyond looking at the clouds to watching the moon... it is such a big universe with so much to take in!
I am glad that we are so eager to learn and take in new information this year. It is proving to be a wonderful year, indeed!

Off to a Gr-eat Start!

2009-09-11T12:56:00.002-04:00

We are off and running, having a great start to our new school year! This year's fourth graders are fun and energetic and seem eager to learn. We are enjoying Power Teaching in Math and using the Smart board, both of which are new to many of them! We have enjoyed viewing the new statue and trees being added to the front of our building out of our best-view-in-the-school window! Mr. Baughman is out there watering as I type! We hope that all of you reading are enjoying back-to-school as much as we are. stay posted for all of the fun yet to come...

African thunderstorm

2009-08-07T21:04:00.002-04:00

This is awesome! This You Tube video is a group from Slovenia using only their voices, hands, and feet to perform. No instruments - really! It is called Capella - performing music without any instruments. Many fourth graders become highly interested in music thanks to Mr. Rembold and Mrs. Nesta and the awesome music program that we have at Keystone. Imagine learning your instrument so well that you can simulate it with your mouth! Watch this - it really is COOL!
African thunderstorm

It's Back-to-School Time!

2009-08-07T00:03:00.003-04:00

Oooh! I am so excited! It is back-to-school just around the corner. Class lists are out, I have read over the names, and I would like to welcome each of you to FOURTH GRADE! I was excited to see how many names I recognized, WOW! It is always great to start out the year with a little bit of background, some from the ball field, some from church, some from around school, and some new names that I am excited to get to know! While you are here, check out some of the Favorite Links on the right hand side- that will give you a hint of what is to come, or look at the archived posts for a peek at what happened in fourth grade last year! Explore; "take chances, make mistakes , and get messy" (one of my favorite Miss Frizzle quotes from The Magic School Bus) and see what you can find!
See you soon...

School is Just Around the Corner

2009-08-03T08:30:00.002-04:00

Today is Monday, August 3, 2009, and I am thinking ahead a few weeks... it is hard to imagine that back-to-school is just around the corner!
I have had a delightful, yet busy summer. I have followed the local 9 and 10 year old Shreffler's Snack Shack baseball team all the way to the Quadco Championship game (runner-up is not a bad place to be!) and have also watched my favorite 10 year old compete in the Western PA Cares for Kids Triathlon! I have shared in the joy with my 7 year old as she "conquered cemetery hill" on her bike and learned to do a back-arch kick-over on her own! I have walked many miles, swam and swam and swam some more, planted a garden (and fed a few local bunnies), watched beautiful flowers bloom, spent time with family and friends, and much much more!

And though all of these enjoyable experiences have been fun, I await, with anticipation, the upcoming school year. I am always excited to meet new faces and remember old ones, to find out what makes my students what they are, to meet parents and important adults, and to watch 3rd graders transform into 4th and then 5th graders before my very eyes! I am always blessed by each and every new year and student, and do not expect anything less this year!

I look forward to this new school year, and look forward to meeting my class very soon! Be safe and stay dry :) and enjoy the rest of your summer!

2009-06-01T14:14:00.001-04:00

HEY KIDS FROM 201:
Mrs. Witkowski would like you to comment on the notebooks that we used during the month of May. I know school is over, but if you get a chance, click on the link below and tell her what you thought!
Have a great summer,
Mrs. S

http://keyknoxtech.blogspot.com/2009/05/are-netbooks-cost-efficient-option.html

So Long, Farewell...

2009-06-01T14:03:00.002-04:00

As I type, my daughter stands beside me and breaks into song... a tune from The Sound of Music. As we wrapped up the school year this year it amazed me to think back on all of our accomplishments. I won't go into all, because most of them are mentioned in earlier posts! Congratulations to the PA Trivia finalists, and to Alexis for coming out on top! Way to go Alexis!!!I wish all of you out there a wonderful, safe, fun-filled summer. If it is warm and sunny, please play outside!!! But, if it is raining check here, you never know, I may add something new!

Notebooks

2009-04-29T11:13:00.002-04:00

When you hear the word notebook, what do you think of? I think of those little manilla colored Composition notebooks with the red binding that have about 50 pages of paper in them. We have used those little notebooks in schools for what seems like forever! I remember being given those notebooks when I was in elementary, and I give them to my students as well.

But the students in 201 will not be using pens or pencils as they use notebooks this month. Today we embark on a new adventure, for in the world of technology "notebook" has a whole different meaning! A notebook is a small laptop, for lack of a better way to describe it. They are about 1 inch thick, and take up as much desk space as a tablet... hence the name, I guess! We are trying out a few notebooks for the technology department. We are excited for this opportunity and have several ways in mind already that the notebooks will be put to good use.

April Showers...

2009-04-06T11:14:00.002-04:00

April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring??? OK, the joke punchline is "pilgrims", but in this case it is summer! It is hard to believe that we are in our final grading period of the school year; the final chance for each of these fourth graders to shine! So much is going on in the lives of your students right now, baseball games, soccer practice, band concerts, tough classes, dance recitals, church activities, piano recitals, scouting events, gymnastics recitals and competitions, the list goes on and on. With spring comes many activities, and for some, spring brings spring fever. Spring fever is that feeling of not wanting to study and do the best that you can... but this is not the time to quit! Parents, roll up your sleeves, dig in deep, and encourage your child to do the best they can do and be the best they can be for the next two months... in the end, it will pay off. Encourage them and lift them up, remind them of their strengths on and off the ball field, and continue to instill in them a strong work ethic. And be thankful for them; we have been reminded of just how short life can be - be thankful for the children that bless your lives...

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing!

2009-03-18T14:27:00.002-04:00

Peter Hatcher... a typical fourth grader with a typical two-year old brother... right? Well, maybe not, but his life is quite entertaining! We are enjoying reading about Peter and his little brother, "Fudge". Please join us as we read and read our thoughts in the Comments below to hear all that we are enjoying! Check back often for updates!

A Meeting All Parents Should Attend!

2009-03-17T11:18:00.003-04:00

I Love This Town... I really do. I grew up in this district, and with the exception of the four years I spent in Greenville for college, I have always lived in this district. I am a parent, and my children attend school here. Really, truly, I love this place. And because I live here, work here, and raise my family here, I walk around with my eyes and ears wide open. I know that Clarion County isn't a dangerous place to live, but there are dangers here. As parents, we have the right, no the responsibility, to pay attention to what is going on in and around our neighborhoods, and to educate ourselves so that we can do what is best for our children. I urge you to check out the links below and act.

http://www.keyknox.com/PDF/heroin%20epidemic.pdf
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09060/952437-54.stm

SMART FUN

2009-03-11T17:01:00.002-04:00

We are learning much while having great fun using our SMART Board ! Today we played Tomato Splat to practice our spelling words and Friday we will be trying out The Eyeballing Game... if you want to practice try it out in Favorite Links... it is not as easy as it seems! If anyone out there has any great SMART resources that they would like to pass our way, please feel free to forward an email to me or post a comment!
Thanks so much, and Happy Smarting!

Psst! The PSSA's are here!

2009-03-09T10:56:00.003-04:00

Wow! It is March, and the weather is feeling like April. But, unusually warm or not, it is still March, and March means PSSA is near! As a matter of fact, next Monday we will begin our PSSA testing.
I encourage all parents to ensure that your children get plenty of sleep from now until then, keeping a steady bedtime schedule even through the weekend. Also, please make sure that they eat a good breakfast each morning. Our morning schedules have been adapted to help out as well - band has been cancelled for next week, so no one should have to get up early!
I am asking for parents to pitch in and send healthy snacks as well, if at all possible. Great ideas are crunchy carrots, tortilla chips and salsa, fresh fruits (grapes, apples, bananas), dried fruits (raisins, apple chips) or other such snacks. The less carbs, the more alert they will stay throughout testing. Please let me know if you are able to help with snacks, and I will let you know what day(s) are best.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

2009-03-03T14:24:00.007-05:00

A miracle, really , what happened to Edward. Right? If you're not sure what I am talking about, then you must read it. What, you ask? Why The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane of course. It is truly a wonderful story for readers of all ages. We have just finished it up and are wondering how many other readers out there have enjoyed this story.

My favorite part as a teacher was the end. Oh, not for the reason that you think, but because of the reaction of my students. I had some holding their mouths in anticipation of what was to come, some confused, some in tears. (You know it is a good book if it can bring a fourth grader to tears!) They all could relate, in some way, to Edward and the other characters of the story.

I also enjoyed the story from a personal perspective. "And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love." To truly understand love we have experience it for ourselves. Each experience we have, each person in our life that is special to us adds to the love that we know. It brings us to a place where we can try to understand a love that is greater than no other, and to appreciate it for what it is. For Edward, it is Abilene's love... I cannot tell any more, or I will give it away!

So tell us, what was your favorite part? Was this absolutely the best book you have ever read? Did it bring you to tears, too?

If you haven't read it yet, check it out, set aside an hour or so, and read. It is just shy of 200 pages, but it reads like 100.

Facts and Theories in the World of Education

2009-02-25T18:43:00.003-05:00

Fourth graders are amazing. They soak up so much of the world around them, listening even when adults think that they have tuned out. They are always learning and forming opinions about the world around them based on the games they play, the shows they watch, the videos they search, what their friends talk about, what their teachers say, and what their parents instill in them.
We have recently read a story that has stirred much discussion in our classes about what is true, what is false, and what is simply a theory. As a science teacher, I try to teach my students to be "good scientists" by investigating all things closely, including their textbooks. I show them that what appear to be facts are not always facts, but sometimes theories that are presented in a way disguised to llok like facts. I encourage them to look into the texts, to check the references, and to be sure that they are not being misled. When it comes to theories, we must all make decisions about what side or angle we will choose to look from, and I encourage them to dig deep and look hard, as they make decisions about what theories they are willing to accept and refute.

So this is where you, the reader, comes in. I am always looking for different sites that I can lead my students to to find valued scientific research presented for what it is. If you know of sites that are student-friendly that would be good resources for 10-year-olds to dig through and get information, please pass them my way. Or if you have any insights about bridging this barrier I would love to hear from you.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

February...Not Much Longer!

2009-02-24T14:06:00.006-05:00

February is almost gone, and it seems like it was just last week that Phil saw his shadow! All too soon we will be reminiscing of days gone by in March, as well.

With each passing day, we are one day closer to moving on in the world; one day closer to PSSA tests, one day closer to Spring, one day closer to Easter, one day closer to field trips, one day closer to summer, one day closer to fifth grade, one day closer to driving, one day closer to adulthood...AAHHHHH! We do not want to get caught up in the distant future, for we know not what tomorrow may bring, but to stay focused on what is here and now, what is present and real.

In my life what is here and now and real is being a teacher and a mother. I know the impact that I have on kids can last a lifetime. I know that because I had teachers that made a lifelong impact on me ... some for good reasons others for bad. I urge you to watch the link below and think about the impact that you have on the children in your life.
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=5486ae62fd502645138e

Is It February Already?

2009-02-03T11:02:00.003-05:00

WOW! It is hard to believe that it is February already! There is so very much going on. We have celebrated the win of our own Pittsburgh Steelers as they brought the trophy home to Pittsburgh once again. We learned that Punxsutawney Phil has once again predicted that we will be left in the cold, and are looking forward to the rest of the excitement that February is sure to bring.
Tomorrow we will set aside a special day to honor the memory of a dear member of our school's family, Mrs. Lauren Turk. In here memory we will all be decked out in pink tomorrow, raising awareness about breast cancer.
The Book-in-a-Box project is due on Feb 10. We will begin sharing them on that day and continue on until complete. Keep reading, and have fun with this one! The next book project will not be due until the end of March.
Valentine's Day is also quickly approaching. If your student would like to make a card collection box of some kind and bring it to school with them on Friday, February 13th, we will be having our class party on that day. Class lists are available at school for your child to use to address envelopes.
Enjoy the snow while it lasts... there is so very much of it! It looks like it won't be here much longer, though! Maybe Phil was wrong... we could only hope!

We Are SMART!

2009-01-25T16:44:00.002-05:00

We are Smart! Our grant has been awarded and we are up and Smarting! That is, we are using the Smart Board brand interactive whiteboard that has been installed in our classroom. We are journaling as we do activities, and are excited about all of the opportunities that this technology will open up in our fourth grade classrooms. Parents, grandparents... as you hear about our successes (and failures, as there are always failures or we would never truly learn), please post comments to the blog and keep me posted! I am so excited for the direction that we are moving this school year, and I hope that you are seeing growth in your students at home as I am at school.

January Blues?

2009-01-13T11:05:00.003-05:00

We learn in Science and so often hear about people getting the January "blues" because they do not get enough time in the sun. But, in our room we are keeping the blinds up high and allowing all the sun in that we can get! We have been sharing stories of sledding and fun in the snow, and looking forward to the rest that winter has to offer. Please remember to wear the boots... we love to go out even in the snow as long as the air is not too cold!
And while it may be too cold to go out on some of these days, you can still snuggle up with a blanket and a book by a window, why maybe even add a cup of hot cocoa! Our Book-in-a-Box reports are due February 10, so keep reading and collecting all the goodies you will need for the retelling.
January is also a great month to keep those resolutions going or, if you've failed, make a new one! It is fun to bake or make crafts, do some scrap-booking or organize your football card collection. Whatever it is, make it fun. Or, go outside and shovel snow for a neighbor (it is great exercise as well).
We will be entering our third grading period tomorrow, and the switch will be on! We will be headed to Mr. Nellis' room for Science and changing gears from learning about our great state to the regions of the US. Ah... to study the southeast region of our country in February... ok, maybe that is more torture than fun, but we will make it as fun as we can.
Hang on to your horses... second half of the year, here we come!

More on Where in PA?

2009-01-04T18:45:00.002-05:00

I had to post this comment in the form of a post rather than just a comment because I thought it would be great for all to read. This was written by one of my students who will remain unnamed for obvious reasons, but I feel it is truly a testimony to how technology DOES impact education in today's world that we live in.

Words from a student: "... I thought the webinar was going to be very boring but I guess I was very wrong, because it was a blast! I had so much fun! It only felt like it was 2 minutes, though I wish it was way longer. My most favorite part was when we got to do the researching!"

Many of the students have since asked when we are going to do it again! I am so glad they enjoyed the experience!

Back-to-School Resolutions

2009-01-04T18:30:00.004-05:00

Well, here we are. 2008 is over and 2009 is underway! I, personally, am looking forward to the excitement that I am sure the new year will bring. I am not yet back-to-school, but I am looking forward to our new "Smart" classroom and am sure that we will find many exciting ways to integrate our education with the new software.
Hey kids- have you made any New Years Resolutions? I would love to hear what some of your goals are for this new year. Maybe you have a project that you have been wanting to get done, or maybe you have a personal goal like increase your instrument practice time or study more for Spelling! Or maybe you enjoyed the secret pal idea at Christmas, and it has made you want to something kind for someone secretly each day...? Parents, what are some of your goals? Oh sure, we all could lose a few pounds, but do you have any others? Maybe play a game for 1 hour with your kids each week, or turn 1 or 2 days of your exercise routine into a family outing? The bike trail is pretty all year long! We will be talking about resolutions in class a bit this week... something to look forward to!
Have you looked at the map on the lower right hand side? I can not believe all of the hits our blog has gotten over the past few weeks! People all over the US have been checking out what is going on in our class. I am still amazed at how, with the click of a button, we can connect with people every and anywhere! If any of you that are frequenting our site are so inclined, please leave us a comment. We would love to hear what you think and learn what interests you!

Merry Christmas fun for you!

2008-12-26T13:35:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas to all of our faithful bloggers out there! I hope all of you had a great holiday yesterday and enjoyed the day's festivities. Click on the link below for a fun Christmas puzzle (Compliments of A-1's mom!)http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552 Enjoy the rest of your vacation, and check back. I may post some more surprises!
Merry Christmas from Mrs. S!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21T22:36:00.004-05:00

Wow! It was not too long ago that we were looking forward to the webinar, and now we are in the midst of the holiday season and looking forward to the new year! It has been a year filled with adventure, to say the least, and after break we will embark upon a new one!
I received very exciting news a short time ago... after Christmas we will be receiving a Smart Board interactive white board and projector for our classroom! It will have a wireless connection through bluetooth technology to the computer in my classroom, opening up a whole new world of possibilities. I am very fortunate to be awarded this system by means of a grant through the Keystone School District Education Foundation. I am truly honored to be a recipient of such an opportunity! I am sure that this will revolutionize the way that education occurs within the walls of our classroom! I will be sure to let all of you know when it is up and running, maybe even post some pics for you to see!
Enjoy the holiday season. Parents, grandparents, and other loved ones who keep up with us through this site, please take a moment over this break, and look at the gifts that you have been given, and give thanks for them. No, I do not mean the ones that are under the tree or opened on Christmas morning, I mean the gifts that you have been blessed with that enter my classroom each day. Enjoy them; talk with them, play with them, and most of all learn from them. Although I am their teacher, I learn from them each and every day. Enjoy the time you have with them, for life is so short. Love them, and know that some day, all too soon, all of the hard work that you put in will pay off.
Merry Christmas to you this holiday season!

Where in PA?

2008-11-24T08:03:00.003-05:00

WHEW! What an amazing experience! Our 2 hour webinar was a huge success. We all learned so much, and not just about PA geography. It was such an exciting experience. Read Comments below to find out how the students have viewed the whole experience, and be sure to check out our school homepage (go to Blogs, then Keystone Tech Talk) to get Mrs. Witkowski's perspective. A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Wit. We could not have done this without her!

Webinarday

2008-11-18T16:50:00.004-05:00

Today is Tuesday... then Wednesday, Thursday, Webinarday! I can not believe that we are only a few short days from the big event! We have been working hard, it will be so exciting to see it all come together. I hope that all we have been learning pays off and that there are are no ice-cream stickies that day! :) Parents, please be sure to send in the field trip tshirts asap and NO giveaway clothes ( Steeler shirts, CUP sweatshirts, etc) on Friday! All of the students are very excited! Check back on Monday to see how the big day went!

WEBINAR!!!!!

2008-11-10T08:05:00.002-05:00

Wow! It is so hard to believe that we are just 12 short days away from our webinar. I am so excited! After visiting with a few of you at O.H., I realized that many were confused about what all this webinar would entail. On Friday, November 21, our class will be one of 5 fourth grade classes in the state of PA participating in an online seminar. We will have 5 minutes to present information that will give the other 4 schools clues about where we are in PA. The clues fall under the categories of transportation, landforms, human-environment interaction, location, history, and place (population, climate, landforms, tourist attractions). Then each of the other schools will do the same as we take notes. Following all presentations, we will have 30 min to research the information given to us. Then we will have a big reveal! Great on-line fun, and a wonderful opportunity to learn about the geography of our state. If you have any other questions, just drop me a comment or email.
Looking forward to GREAT FUN!

2008-11-03T11:06:00.003-05:00

Well, here we are in November. We have changed our clocks, completed our first grading period, survived Halloween, and are looking ahead to another great month in fourth grade. WE had great fun dressing up in our career costumes for Halloween, and I have been nicknamed "Coach" by a few! We are working hard to prepare for our webinar this month; the 21st will be here before we know it! We also are looking forward to Open House this week and an extended weekend for Thanksgiving Break.
With two full months of school behind us, it is hard to believe that we have been here that long. It seems like just yesterday I was introducing myself to the class. We have journeyed through much already and are preparing to continue on our way, focusing on what lies ahead. I am proud of the accomplishments that my class has made so far this year, and I urge you parents to continue to encourage them as they grow in height and in knowledge! Keep up the great work!

October News

2008-10-13T08:37:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful first week of October! We had so much fun. We celebrated Walk-to-School Day by walking together for over a mile, and, I must say, it was great to see the whole school out there enjoying the autumn splendor together as me move toward being more physically fit! We loved our trip to the Dome Theatre, feeling more like we were on a theme-park ride than sitting on our own gymnasium floor! I especially loved the trip through the volcanoes... ok, maybe I was feeling a little nauseated at that point, but it was still an awesome ride! And, it leads us right into our Sun-Moon-Earth unit! We also successfully performed a musical, Stone Soup, directed by our elementary music teacher, Mrs. Nesta. We especially loved "Grandma" Dalton's rendition of the waltz! Now that made me laugh so hard that my sides hurt!
We are looking forward to further fun this month as we team up with our buddies in K-108. We will have lots of fun reading and doing activities with them. We will also celebrate Apple Crunch Day on October 22. Then, we will be ending our month with a week-long celebration of Red Ribbon Week, passing on a strong anti-drug message to the students that will hopefully make an impact on the decisions that they choose to make in their futures. That will be a week filled with theme days, so be sure to dress the part!
Looking forward to a great October!

Words that mean "said" that aren't "said"!

2008-10-02T15:18:00.006-04:00

We had fun doing a book search this week during our Language class. The following is a useful reference list of what we have found!
OUR LIST OF WORDS THAT TAKE THE PLACE OF SAID:
Agreed Answered Asked Barked Begged Breathed Called Chatted Chattered Cheered Complained Complimented Coughed Cried Croaked Demanded Echoed Exclaimed Explained Frowned Gasped Giggled Growled Grunted Laughed Moaned Mumbled Muttered Offered Ordered Panted Pleaded Repeated Replied Sang Screamed Shouted Shrieked Sighed Snapped Sneered Sniffled Snorted Squeaked Stammered Stuttered Tattled Told Tweeted Wailed Warned Whined Whispered Wished Wondered Yelled

Can you find any more as you read? If so, please send us comment so we can add yours to our list!

What's Up In the Clouds?

2008-09-19T10:58:00.004-04:00

We are four weeks into a new school year and very much underway in our learning! We are deep into our Weather Unit, learning how to make weather predictions based on watching everything going on in our atmosphere! We are looking at clouds and identifying them and weather associated with them, we are learning about low and high pressure and warm, cold, occluded, and stationary fronts, and watching their movement and how they change. Next week we will be talking about weather instruments and how they work... maybe checking out the link to weather Channel Kids as well! Keep watching those clouds to see what the day will bring!

Where in PA?

2008-09-09T11:17:00.006-04:00

I am so excited! We have been chosen to participate in the Where in PA? webinar being held on November 21. Kids - you don't want to miss it. We will be meeting 5 other fourth grade classes from around Pennsylvania via the internet and sharing information about our own Clarion County with them! Ohh... this is so cool! We will begin preparing for the webinar in the upcoming weeks. Parents - I will keep you posted via the blog of all that is involved.
Stepping forward... through the 21st century!

Bully Prevention Program

2008-09-05T10:52:00.004-04:00

Today we kick off our Bullying Prevention Program with an awesome assembly! We will be implementing the Olweus (pronounced ull vay us) Bullying Prevention Program, the best known program available in the U.S. Parents, check out your child's homework folder for further details. Community members, join the team and help us end bullying not just in school, but in our communities as well. Join me and the rest of Keystone Elementary as we put an end to bullying and ensure that school is what it should be - a safe environment where your child can focus on learning ALL that he/she can!

Welcome!

2008-08-29T11:00:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Fourth Grade.

There are many interesting and exciting things that go on in our class throughout the year. I encourage the students to "take chances, make mistakes, and get messy" as Miss Frizzle would in The Magic School Bus. I am looking forward to the many exciting lessons we will learn and the friendships that will be formed.

If you missed Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30, please feel free to contact me through the home page for further information.