Welcome Back

I am looking forward to a great school year together. I know we are going to have many exciting educational adventures. This summer I spent a great deal of time researching our units of study and planning activities for our classroom.

• My responsibility is to provide a positive learning environment and prepare the children academically through experience and discovery.

• Your child’s responsibility is to come to school regularly, on time, and ready to learn.

• Your responsibility is to help your child understand the importance of education and provide the time, space, and materials to practice at home and offer encouragement.

Support in this three-way partnership is crucial to your child’s success. Your child will experience Project-Based Learning. Simply put, this means your child will learn by doing. For example, while reading the first novel, Leepike Ridge, we will also study caverns, rocks, and fossils in science, map skills and historical sites in social studies, and explore figurative language and vocabulary in language arts..

We will simultaneously learn to be good researchers, note-takers, listeners, and readers. This type of immersion in an exciting student-centered topic makes a lasting impression on a child.

I will use a variety of approaches to address different learning styles including videos, music, art, field trips, expert guests, community members, and the Internet.

Students are encouraged to ask questions and pursue the answers selecting sub-topics to study independently. Once students are immersed and knowledgeable, they can demonstrate their learning through various project-based activities. This format allows each child the latitude to work at his or her own pace.

Language Arts

Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are integrated across the curriculum through various themes of study. We will be focusing on the aspects of spoken and written language that will allow the students to become more efficient and independent readers and writers.

• We will continue to build upon spelling and vocabulary skills and learn more about the conventions of grammar.

• We will work on research skills and follow the steps of the writing process to produce descriptive and creative written work. As writing becomes stronger, students will have more responsibility for organizing and revising their own work and proofreading for errors in spelling, usage, and mechanics.

• We will be studying a variety of English sayings and phrases, learning both their literal and figurative meanings and we will be discussing how these sayings and phrases are used in everyday conversation.

Students will continue to learn how to convey effectively their thoughts and ideas using spoken and written words. By building a strong language arts foundation, students will be better able to read increasingly sophisticated literary fiction and non-fiction works and write with clarity and fluency. Students will work each day on building language and listening skills. Students will start each day with non-fiction reading (current event news articles). Additionally, students are expected to read a self-selected book each night and reading conferences will be held weekly.

Social Studies

In social studies:

• We will bring history to life as we study our past.

• We will learn about the colonization of North America and how it transformed human history.

• We will learn about the changes brought about by innovation and discovery.

• We will explore the timeline of the growth of the United States and the colonial decision to declare independence.

• We will explore the history, geography, government, and economy of Ohio.

• Students will investigate family heritage and participate in a project that will involve interviewing a grandparent or "grandfriend" and work with that oral history to develop a book. I call this THE LEGACY PROJECT.

Science

In science:

• We will explore landforms and the changes that result from erosion and deposition.

• We will learn about light, sound, and motion.

• We will learn how light and sound are forms of energy that behave in a predictable way.

• We will explore how organisms perform a variety of roles in an ecosystem.

• We will investigate how all of the processes that take place within organisms require energy.

We will explore fossils and compare them to present-day organisms.

• We will make, create, design, and build.

Math

Students will be working with the ILLUSTRATIVE MATH and Splashlearn math programs.

The programs will be more than just worksheets. The emphasis will be on understanding and communicating math and creating an environment that stimulates learning.

Students will continue to gain a sense of numbers, use estimation skills, solve problems, and learn how and when to use math tools like calculators, compasses, and protractors.

Math lessons will be presented in a spiral format, introducing concepts and returning to them throughout the school year.

Focal points of math include:

• Developing quick recall of multiplication facts and related division facts and fluency with whole number multiplication. Students will use the iPad and the Timed Test Arcade app to help them achieve/maintain fact fluency.

• Develop an understanding of decimals, including the connection between decimals and fractions. Hands-on math activities will be used throughout the year to reinforce these skills.

• Develop an understanding of area and determining the area of two-dimensional shapes.

In algebra, students will identify, describe and extend numeric patterns.

In geometry, students will extend their understanding of the properties of two-dimensional shapes as they find the area of polygons, explore transformations and rotational symmetry.

In measurement, students will measure and classify angles.

In data analysis, students will solve problems using frequency tables, bar graphs, and line plots.

Math instruction will consist of whole-group mini-lessons, small-group instruction, and web-based instruction to meet the student’s individual needs.

Students will have math homework each week to practice skills introduced in class.

Transportation and Drop- Off

Safety in the parking lot is of the utmost concern. Be careful when dropping your child off in the lot.

We will review at the beginning of the school year safe parking lot procedures.

• Students can be dropped off at 8:45 and will be allowed into the classroom at this time to prepare themselves for the day. (Temperatures will be taken prior to entering the building and masks must be worn upon entry.)

• It is recommended that students are on the passenger side of the vehicle for a safe exit from the vehicle.

• Pull up to the first open spot, never pass other vehicles.

• Pick-up from school will be at 3:00. Students will be packed up and ready at this time. We will dismiss students on the front walk. Parents are to pull around to the front and we will load the students in your cars. Drivers are asked to display a paper with the family name in the windshield to help us load the cars in an efficient manner. Please be OFF cell phones.

• If your child is going to ride home in a different manner than usual, please send a written note. Thank you for your help and patience in the drop-off and pick-up time.

Snacks and Lunches

Snacks

• Students may bring a healthy, mid-morning snack.

• Fruits and vegetables are highly recommended.

• Please avoid high sugar snacks and keep it simple.

Lunch

• Students will need to bring their lunches from home or participate in the purchased lunch options.

•Due to allergies and other concerns - students are not permitted to share food.

• Please pack an additional napkin in your child’s lunch to place on the table as a placemat. This will help make their clean-up easier.

• Students will need to pack a water bottle each day.

If you are at a loss for what to pack check out this site: http://www.parents.com/kids/nutrition/

Classroom Rules

Three simple rules to follow:

• One person talks at a time.

• Follow directions the first time.

• Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

These rules make the classroom operate smoothly.

Need to Contact Me

There are several ways that you can reach me.

•The best method is to message me through the app. I check this at the end of each day and will get back to you within 24 hours.

• Call the school phone: 937-748-9999.

• Or you can message me on my phone.

BEWARE - I typically do not look at my phone during the workday and may not see a message on my phone until after school.

(937-475-1438)

Birthdays

Birthdays are special occasions for all children. I would like to celebrate birthdays in a simple way. Students may donate an indoor recess game or book to the class. They may also bring a healthy snack.

Please—NO SUGARY TREATS. I want to encourage healthy habits in our classroom

Other Information

•Use the BLOOMZ app and keep up on the latest posts.

• I post homework for the week on Sunday evening (I try to always post before 7 pm)

• Our class website is updated frequently with new topics and classroom information. I use our classroom website as a springboard for my teaching. Students can refer back to the website and revisit information or games that we used in the class.

• The website homepage is: https://sites.google.com/view/mrs-macdonalds-class-america/home

• Dress Code— All CinDay students are required to follow the school dress code. The dress code policy is listed in the handbook.

• Parent-teacher conferences will be held in October with another conference in the Spring.

•Students will have access to iPads at school. Due to the expense of the equipment, they will remain at school. I will keep you up to date on the apps we are using and why.

• Students are expected to read for 10 –20 minutes each night. This book can be their choice. We will have reading conferences concerning the self-selected book.

• Our Specials Schedule is as follows…

Monday – Art/Music

Tuesday—Gym

Wednesday– STEAM

Thursday— Spanish

Friday - Art/Music

Gym clothes are worn on Tuesday. Spirit wear may be worn on Friday.

I hope this provides the information necessary to get started on a great year!

A Bit About Me

I love teaching and this will be my 19th year at CinDay Academy with 15 years of experience prior to landing at CinDay.

I have taught all grades from kindergarten through eighth grade. I can’t say that I have a favorite grade because each one offers something unique and special.

My husband Scott and I celebrated our 35th anniversary this year in June. For our 30th anniversary, we went back to the same spot in Ireland where we went on our honeymoon, it is such a beautiful country.

We met in college at Miami University. We have two children. Our oldest, Madison, graduated from Miami University and works for Russell Total Wealth and Wellness in Oakwood.

Our youngest, Ian, graduated from Cedarville University and works at WPAFB as a contract specialist. He is married to Stacey, also a Cedarville grad, and she is a nurse - currently staying home with her two children. In January of 2021, I became a grandma. Oh, what fun! Sean, aka Bubs, will be 4 in January, and is such a delight. He has a brand new baby sister, Cora, that arrived in May.

Scott is the Market President of the Dayton and Springfield Regions for Huntington Bank.

The summer of 2019, we hosted a German MBA student that was unable to return to Germany due to COVID and unable to remain on UD's campus. It was a very interesting summer. I learned a great deal about German culture.

In 2018, I returned to Miami University and completed my MA in Instructional Design and Integration of Technology. I loved being a student! These classes were an enormous benefit to what happens in our classroom.

I enjoy telling you about what is going on in our classroom. I will be blogging on our app throughout the week and posting pictures. It will have explanations of what we did and why.

Sunday’s post will tell you what to expect for homework for the week. I strongly believe my job is to uncover the curriculum instead of just covering it for your child– allowing them to explore and learn to love learning.

I know we are going to have a great year.

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