May 29,

Gillespie Gazette…May 29, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 446-3200

Cell: 801-623-7625

Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

This is the last Gillespie Gazette. The year is over. Wow, time does fly when you are having fun. It has been a lot of work, but in the end, I have come to enjoy this class very much. We have had lots of laughs and good times, we have learned so much, we have grown together and learned to appreciate things about each other. Thank you again for raising caring people.

Conner was our student of the week and kept me on schedule reminding me what was next to do. It was a busy week as I tried very hard to motivate kids to sprint to the end and turn in quality work that they could be proud of. Some will be shopping with Extra Credit work that they have earned this third term and this will be “frosting on the cake” (Idiom) I am sending home all of their work with this Gazette, and asking them to make sure that you are handed it. It has lots of cool writings, journals, Color Journals, and things that you might want to put in their “elementary box’ My children have always got a kick out of going through their grade school boxes and remembering all the different years and teachers. I didn’t save all their papers, but would keep a good sampling of what they had done that year. I strongly recommend you keep the journal pages they have done. They wrote some great things and you will enjoy reading them. You might also notice their improvement over the months.

I have attached a page for you to sign if our child handed you the portfolio. This is important to me and so I will give the students a “prize’ if they bring back this signed paper. You will also be able to better understand the score your child has received on their Report Card by looking over their work. I only wish you could see the work and writing of all the students to compare. This would give you a better handle on why your child received a “4”, “3”, “2” , “1”. However, that can’t happen, so you will just have to trust me that your child has received the score they deserve. Please let me give you a full disclosure on that. When you see a “4”, you will recognize that your child had a tremendous work ethic and did all the required work at an excellent level to earn that grade. Please congratulate them. When you see a “3”, you will recognize that your child had a very good work ethic and tried very hard to follow all the procedures that I asked them to. They did great work and should be congratulated! When you see a “2”, it tells you that your child has an okay work ethic and turned in average work for a fourth grader. They have passed the class and understand the concepts at a typical level for children their age. If your child has earned a ‘1”, I am simply going to tell you that your child has a low focus and low work ethic. I will not sign their Report Card if the Language/Reading Overall score or the Math overall score is a one and will give you a strong warning that your child will struggle in fifth grade. I have worked very hard to help each child advance, but in reality the teacher can only do so much and if the child doesn’t care until the very end, it is very difficult to catch up. However, I have had several children this past week that have proven it is possible. Thank you for your support on this. My Report Cards mean something…I believe in giving the parents a true picture of what is happening with their children. Report Cards will be sent home on Thursday, June 2. School is dismissed at 12:30.

I am quite certain if you attended the Fourth Grade Utah Program, you enjoyed it. Didn’t our kids do great? I am still smiling at how cute they looked in their costumes and doing their great dancing.

The children also enjoyed a fourth grade Kick Ball Tournament. It was great fun to watch them enjoy this.

Congratulations to the following Fantastic Falcons: Tenney, Bailee, Courtnie, London, Nicholas, Conner, Brianna, Braden, Jason, Avie, Danielle, Rebecca, and Ronaldo. Thirteen students went the extra mile and earned this. Parents you are to be congratulated on these students. They went beyond the ‘call of duty’ to achieve this. They used their ‘free time” wisely. I am very impressed with each one.

On June 1, Wednesday, the school will be having a Field Day. Please have the students dress appropriately…tennis shoes and sun screen are smart things. The children will be outside for most of the morning and again between 1:45 and 2:15 playing on a Blow Up Slide Toy. They will be having lunch outside (picnic) and also a Water party. I will need parent volunteers to help during this time. It would be great to have three or more for the morning shift (9:00 to 11:00) and then one volunteer for 1:45-2:15. I know Michelle May (room mother) is trying to arrange that (Thanks). Please know that anyone that can come to help, I will put you to work. I am moving to a new school that is closer to my Provo home and also Year Round Calendar, so I could use lots of help with boxing things up, etc. Thank you to anyone that can spare a few hours either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. It will be greatly appreciated.

Now for a very important announcement and invitation…I will be hosting a Raging Water/Seven Peaks party in July. I will need to have this party on one of the following days...July 9, 10, or the 11^th. Please visit with your child and let me know which of these days work the best with their schedule. I will then have the students vote for their best day whether it be Saturday, Monday, Tuesday of those days and then the majority wins. I will then contact Raging Waters and rent a pavilion and let you know where to meet me. I will be there at the open of the park and will be able to buy tickets at a discount because of the number that will be attending. If you want to pay ahead and have me by the ticket, please call me (801-623-7625) and know that it will save you lots of money (usually about $5.00 off the ticket price) I am extending this invitation to any parents or siblings that would like to come. I serve a lunch at 1:00 and will be there to remind your child to put on sun screen. It is a very fun day for me. Please know that I will stay at the Park until the park closes, but will not be able to give your child a ride home, so make arrangements to pick them up or stay the day and have fun with them. I will enclose a flier about this in the Report Card envelope that will explain details (address to the Park, times it opens/closes, pavilion number, and the date we have chosen for the event. Etc.) Please know that you can pay at the entrance if you don’t want to contact me and pay ahead for the event. It is very key to call me if you want to have me get a group discount ticket for you or your child. Please know that I will provide only the lunch (1:00). If your child wants to eat later on in the day, they should bring food, or money to purchase food there. There is also an extra charge to rent inner tubes from the park. I don’t know the price for that.

Thank you to Damon’s Mom who is arranging to have a Pizza Party for the kids on Thursday, June 1. She works for Pizza Hut and has agreed to do this. If anyone would like to contribute a dollar for this, we can buy Root Beer and cover a bit of the cost for the pizza. This is not required, and Damon’s Mother has graciously agreed to cover the cost of the pizza. I just know that it would be nice to have root beer and help her a bit with the cost of this party. There will be no lunch served in the cafeteria on Thursday, so it will be nice to have this little lunch as the kids will be hungry by 12:00. Thanks for any donation you can send.

Gee, I hope I covered everything.

Love,

Mrs. Gillespie

May 29

Finally, I have been able to post a 'post'. I don't know why it hasn't let me, and perhaps you have all given up on reading this blog, but if anyone is out there...celebrate with me. It isn't because I haven't been trying. Anyway, now that I know I can actually post something, I will write the final Gillespie Gazette and get it on the Blog.

May 23,

First important thing to do is read the Gillespie Gazette below or on paper and sign or comment. Second most important thing to do is to sign Progress Report and return to school ( I will then send it back home) If you would rather keep and just comment here or sign a paper saying you have seen the Progress Report that works also.
Third most important thing to do is math homework page 245(1-7)
Fourth most important thing to do is encourage your child to replace the zero on the progress report with the work due.
Fifth most important thing to do is to do Fix Its in Fix It file.

Thanks

May 23

Gillespie Gazette…May 23, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 446-3200

Cell: 623-7625

Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

We had a wonderful field trip to This is the Place. The students learned a lot and were very well behaved. They represented our school nicely. Thank you for raising enjoyable children. Thanks to all the parent volunteers that added to the enjoyment of the field trip.

They are still taking Fun Run donations. Your child will be giving the prize that matches the donation. Thanks for all you do to help our school do fun things.

Parent Letter #31 and Antonyms/Synonyms are due on Thursday. Please do your best and realize that this will be like a final exam on these papers as you probably will not have a chance to fix them. Everything is due on May 27 (Friday) I have attached a Progress Report for your child to give you a heads-up on what work they will need to complete or fix. Please sign that you have seen this and then I will return the copy to your student so that you will have a copy. If you want to write on a separate paper or on the planner that you have seen the progress reports, that will work also. Remember you will want to encourage your students to fix any zero scores first, then go for the fix its. Also realize that everything must be done by this Friday. They must receive at least a 70% in math and language for me to sign their promotion to fifth grade. “No rest for the wicked” (idiom) this week. You might want to explain what this means if the shoe fits for your child. (Idiom)

Spelling words to be learned by Thursday:

1. noisy

2. crowd

3. council

4. birthday

5. were

6. where

7. environment

8. railroad

9. underground

10. Prof. =professor

11. writing

12. situation

Nicholas had a second turn being the student of the week. He is hoping to have straight fours for his report card. This is the week for all students to prove themselves. If they want to earn a four…Encourage them to do Four Work! Take your time and proof read the work before you turn it in. It is not the first one done that counts. It is the best one done that counts.

Reminder that tomorrow you are invited to come watch our program. They have practiced hard. Pioneers remember to bring Pioneer clothes and hats. Also if you are an Indian, you might want to bring an Indian costume. No stress, parents…if it doesn’t come easy, I have extra costumes for them. Program starts at 10:00 in the gym.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we will be playing kickball and so wear tennis shoes.

Our Fantastic Falcon assembly is at 10:00 on Friday. We have four students that have earned this already and about 12 more that are trying to finish up. Please encourage your student. I will accept all the way until Thursday (the day before)

No school on Memorial Day (Monday)

June 1,Wednesday, Field Day 9:00- 11:00…I need four parent volunteer for this activity. Please help me. I will appreciate it so much. One of the volunteers I will need at 1:45 to 2:15 on June 1 (this is on a Wednesday) this volunteer will be over the Blow Up Slide. This day is also Water Day. So come prepared for all the fun.

June 2…last day of school, dismissal at 12:30. I will send report cards home with them on this day.

One more thing, I always do a Raging Waters (Seven Peaks new owners) Reunion. This is a fun time for me and I will have everyone meet at a Pavilion and serve lunch at 1:00. I need to have students choose the best time in the summer to have this reunion. They will have to pay for their own entrance into the park. However, if I can collect the money before, I can try to get a group discount. More details next week, please just have your students find out from you when you are leaving town for vacations, or when ball games are scheduled, etc. Then they will know what days to vote for and what days to not. I will stay at the park from opening to closing and feed them one meal. Parents and siblings are invited to hang with us and have lunch with us also.

Parent sign____________________

Student name________________________________________

May 19

Math Homework is page 240 (1-23)

Do your best. I will be taking a grade on this from everyone.

May 18

Math Homework due on Thursday is page 237 problems 10-26

Spelling letter #30 and Alphabetized list is due on Thursday also.

May 17

Math Homework is page 281 (3-7)

May 16

Tonight for homework:

Read Gillespie Gazette.
Do math page 279 (3-5)

May 16

Gillespie Gazette…May 16, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 801-446-3200
Cell: 801-623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

I know there is a saying: “Long Time, No See.” I feel like I want to say, “Long time, no hear.” Sorry about not getting to this Gillespie Gazette all week. I think between testing, teaching, tripping (Kanab one week and daughter’s graduation the week before that) I have felt like I have been behind the eight ball (idiom). Anyway thank you for your patience. (May 12) was our last day of testing, so things should be getting back to normal. I am not even sure if I will be able to send this home today…or will I wait until Monday?…hum….decisions, decisions. Okay, I made my decision…send home May 16.

And then, just when I started to get back into the grove of the Blog again, the computer system wouldn’t let me on the very next day. GRRRRRR!

Thank you for your Field Trip Donations and the promptness in getting those turned in, I guess it helped to bribe them with Extra Credit. We will please accept more donations if you can. It is very costly to get buses (we have to pay for them…can you believe it? Well, thanks to the PTA Funds they pay for the buses. But we are having to pay for each child to enter the park and also each parent volunteer. So I hate to announce this, but any parent volunteer will also have to pay (but only $2.00) Please know you are all invited to volunteer and you will love this field trip.

We had a super Fund Run Kick Off Assembly this week and your child brought home a flier explaining about it. Thanks for any donations towards that PTA fund raiser. PTA is so supportive of teachers and so thank you for that.

Parent Letter #30 will be due next week on Thursday, the 19 of May.

Here are the spelling words:
1. can’t = can not
2. favorite
3. cockroach
4. typically
5. grinned
6. hurricanes
7. affect
8. effect
9. sunburn
10. it’s = it is
11. its (possessive pronoun)
12. hurts
13. environments
14. potatoe

Please encourage your child to stay focused and get worked turned in every day so they don’t get behind. Last day to turn in all assignments will be May 27. I will try to send home Progress Reports on May 23 to let you know how your child has been doing and what they need to do to have a great Report Card.

Courtnie helped me a bunch last week. She has been a most enjoyable student to work with all week. Oh wait, it was Ronaldo that got to be the student of the week last week. Okay ditto for what I just said about Courtnie. Both of these kids are over the top in cooperation, attitude, work ethic, desire and they get along so well with everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the enjoyable kids I have worked with this year. Wait, wait, wait…wasn’t Brianna my student helper last week. Yes, of course, these weeks have been flying by, I can’t even keep track of all the good helpers I had. Brianna saved my bacon ( idiom) several times during this week as I was trying to stay ahead of the eight ball and catch up. Thanks Student Leaders…I really couldn’t do it without you.

Congratulations to the following students who were the very first to turn in their Color Journals. This has never happened before, but we had a three way tie: COURTNIE, JASON, and BAILEE! This means I have to buy a prize for each of them. As soon as you three get to school on Tuesday, May 17, rush up to my desk and visit with me on what you might like as your prize. I love doing these Color Journals. I hope you enjoyed them as well, I have told the students that I am giving them grade points towards language for them and so they need to dig them out from deep in their back packs or under their beds or under their parent’s beds and start writing. They will get a fine score if they just do this every day until May 27 (All work is due on this May 27, Friday)

You will notice an invite to our 4th grade program. Please come and enjoy your child in this great program and learn tons about our great state of Utah.

This week: May 17, Tuesday (Wear tennis shoes to participate in the Fund Run and bring your donations) Also last day for Library…Please return book.
May 19, Thursday: This is the Place Field Trip


Parent signature______________________________________
Student name________________________________________May 16

May 11,

Oh my gosh. I apologize for not making entries each day. I have been chased out of the building every night for staying too late and I just can't seem to catch up. It is always like this at the end of the year and with CORE Testing. Please forgive. I also apologize for not having time to do Gillespie Gazette...(See above...same excuse) I have been working hard to help students who have gotten behind and well, that gets me behind.

I will post homework for tonight and explain about last night.

I offered extra credit to any of the students who brought back their permission slip and donation. This is because I needed to get it quickly and I didn't have a minute to write the Gillespie Gazette. I also offered to the kids that if they did their homework last night and bring back their permission slip about the upcoming Field Trip to This is the Place. EXTRA CREDIT!

Tonight the students voted to have their Spelling Letter #29 as their only homework and if they want to do math, they could get extra credit for doing page 227 (56-74)

Thanks for your patience. I did send home an important document about the Fund Run and I will also send home a Gillespie Gazette tomorrow? Wish me luck on that. If it happens on Friday or next Monday...don't be alarmed...It is the end of the year...so hey, give me a break.
Seriously thanks for your patience. I am doing all I can to help your children succeed.
Last Utah Core Test is tomorrow Science. Hope we have kids prepared to come to school with a healthy breakfast, good night sleep, and great attitudes to do their best.

Please comment...I am curious how many of you are still reading these entries since I took a little break. Sorry about that.

May 3

Math homework is page 497 (1-9)

May 2

Sorry crazy day today...I didn't get the Gillespie Gazette posted...so read paper copy. Homework tonight is really page 495 1-18. It is wrong what I put in the Gazette, we did that together in class.

Thanks for your patience.

April 28

Math Homework page 479 (1-21)

Please help your child if they missed a bunch on page 466 homework assignments. They can fix it to 100% and that will be a great review for the test tomorrow.

Thanks,

April 27

Math Homework is page 477 (4-18)

Parent letter and Story due tomorrow to play spelling game.

April 26

Math homework is page 466 (1-19)

Please check the score of your child's homework page 422 (1-11)

They are allowed to fix this score to 100%. Please encourage them to do that. They really need to fix it if they scored below 70%. That means they did not understand the concept.

Thanks.

April 20

It is true...I assigned page 422 (1-11) for homework. Remember it isn't Friday and they get homework every day but Friday! (A teacher has to do what a teacher has to do. LOL)

Please make sure your child knows their math facts and has fixed page 376 to 100% so we can be sure they know how to do perimeter and area. Thanks.
Happy Easter!

April 19

Math homework is page 391 (4-23)

Plus check with your child to see if they help in fixing page 376. They are allowed to improve their score to 100% if they take the time to fix it and prove understanding of how to solve for perimeter and area. Thanks.

April 18

Gillespie Gazette...April 18

Blog address: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordandistrict.ut.us

School: 446-3200

Cell: 623-7625

Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Our student of the week, Braden, amazed me by moving up several levels in his instructional reading level. He followed "the plan" and it made a huge difference. He is an extremely bright young man and a leader in our math class. Thanks for your help last week and always. I want to also thank his mother for her many hours in our classroom and at our school as PTA President. Way to go Dara Williams!

Spelling List, Story, and Parent letter number 27 due on Thursday.

1. apartment

2. nurse

3. swallowed

4. taste

5. tomorrow

6. minnows

7. tennis

8. match

9. going to is better than "gonna"

10. hobbey

11. borrow

12. ladder

13. our

14. are

I sent home a book order list a couple of weeks ago and will appreciate any orders made. Thank you.

Your students are having a great review on Social Studies. We have studied the book thoroughly and now are playing a "game" for several days to see or re-teach what needs to be re-taught. Behavior Slips are awarded to students and they always love that.

Please continue to help your students with math concepts as they do homework. If they miss even one day, they can get way behind and will appreciate your support.

Math Homework tonight will be on page 376 (Problems 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 13) We do not have to learn about volume so I skipped those pages. Do not have students do 2, 10, 11, 12. Thanks.

Please sign on paper copy or comment on Blog.

__________________________________________

Parent sign_________________________

Student name______________________________

April 13

Math Homework: Page 353 (1-7)

Please help your child correct mistakes on page 334 (1-27)
Thanks,

April 12

Math Homework: page 334 (1-27) Please follow instructions carefully and do your best!

April 11

Major mistake in Gillespie Gazette blog: I wrote the wrong page number for math homework. In reality, math homework is on page 321 (1-6) I apologize for any tears that may have caused. I caught the mistake before sending the kids home Monday and asked them to change it on the paper copy. Hope that happened.

April 11

Gillespie Gazette...April 11

Blog address: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com
Email: anna.gillespie@jordandistrict.ut.us
School: 446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Bailee was our student of the week last week because of always doing outstanding work and trying to earn her Fantastic Falcon. She helped a lot by bringing a pioneer costume from home on Thursday so we could perform so well at the Renaissance Fair for the 6th grade. She also took the time to memorize the song "Oh Susanna" on her recorder so she could be in the performing group. All the kids had a wonderful day at school that day. We had such fun. Thanks to all the parents that helped their child with costumes...that sure helped me.

Spelling List...Practice these words with your child and pass them off!
1. climbed
2. purple
3. dare
4. bottom
5. community
6. having
7. hurt
8. scared
9. their
10. there
11. parents
12. Yellowstone National Park
13. between
14. hurry
15. you're
16. your
17. someone
18. education
19. bowl

Parent letter #26 and Spelling Sport Script will be due on Thursday.

The school is hosting a "Buy one Get one Free Book Fair" this week. The students are allowed to go shopping during lunch hour.

Parents, I need to enlist your help with your children doing math homework. They might need you to sit by their side to make sure they understand the math concepts. We are going at a very fast pace during the school day. So many of your kids do not have their math facts memorized. This is really complicating things as we try to teach them advanced math concepts. You must help them get these facts conquered. They were taught them in 3rd grade and so this is just a matter of constant practice.

Math Homework tonight is page 378. Do all problems. If your child seems to understand the concept, let them work on their own. Encourage them to follow the instructions very carefully.

Thanks.

___________________________

Parent signature__________________

Student Name_____________________April 11

April 7

Math homework...page 313 (1-20)

April 6

Math homework page 301 (1-10) This might seem easy after the hard problems we did in class.

Spelling letter and Spelling sentences due tomorrow to play spelling game.

April 5

Math Homework...the students may need a lot of support on math homework page 297 (1-24)

I am thankful you will be there for them. I will resume the "long-division" concepts tomorrow. They will get it eventually, like we all did back in the day. :)

April 4

Please remember to read April 4 Gillespie Gazette on this blog and comment.

Homework tonight is page 223 (1-4)

Also every student has been asked to fix the mistakes made on page 282 (1-17). The class got very low scores, so they will need some "one on one" help by your side to correct them. Thank you. If they want to give up a recess, I can help them during the first recess tomorrow.

April 4

Monday, April 4, 2011

April 4

Gillespie Gazette...April 4

Blog address: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com
Email: anna.gillespie@jordandistrict.ut.us.
School: 446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Congratulations to Jason who served as Student of the Week and helped me so much! Jason is working on his Fantastic Falcon and I appreciate his fine example.

Here is the spelling list you will need to practice with your student:
1. arrived
2. too
3. to
4. bacon
5. a breakfast
6. usually
7. local
8. an egret
9. jewels
10. spiders
11. dew
12. lacy
13. wrapped
14. an airplane
15. pilot
16. solo
17. while

Please help your child do the spelling letter # 25 due on Thursday.

We have been invited to perform at the 6th grade Renaissance. ( I hoped I spelled that correctly) We will be playing the song "Oh Susanna" Please bring your recorders this week so we can practice all week and perform our best on Thursday.

I am sending home a Scholastic Book Form and hope you will try to order books from it. I do earn incentives (books) for our class library when books are ordered. If you are ordering on line, please let me know and I will call you and walk you through it. I get extra incentives when on line ordering is done.

We will be escalating the math for the month of April. I have tried my best to keep everyone together, but there are so many students that are ready to move on ahead, we can't wait for the others. Please help your child each night with math homework so that they will be able to keep up with the rest of the class. If they don't have their math facts readily memorized, you must spend some extra time with them to help them conquer these. It really will slow them down on understanding the concepts that we will be working on (long division, fractions, etc.) if they continue to use charts instead of memory with these facts. Thanks for helping them.

___________________________

Parent signature_______________________

Student name_________________________

March 30

Math homework is page 261 (1-22)

Spelling letter signed and finished along with the Radio Announcement due tomorrow, Thursday.

March 29

Math homework is page 222 (1-32)

March 28

Gillespie Gazette...March 28

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 801-446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Ronaldo is a student that tries very hard and has been working to improve his reading level and achieved that goal last week. He brought a great poster and I can guess his favorite sport is Soccer. Am I right, Ronaldo? Ronaldo is a very enjoyable student to work with.

Here is the spelling list:

1. appreciate
2. dictionary
3. carefully
4. studied
5. costume
6. you're = you are
7. certain
8. feather
9. awesome
10. against
11. voice
12. surprise
13. paid
14. your
15. are
16. our
17. get
18. trash

Please help your child do spelling letter #24 which I have attached.

Congratulations on all the great work done on the Wax Museum. I am sure if you attended you were very pleased with the things you saw. Please know your child was scored on how well they did on their fact recital (after button was pushed...oral language grade) I also scored their poster and will be reading all the reports and giving them a grade. The reports I read over the weekend were wonderful. So I look forward to reading the rest.

Spring Pictures are scheduled for March 31. I have attached a flier to remind you.

Math Homework is page 255 (7-35)

_____________________________________________

Parent signature___________________

Student Name_______________________

Or comment on the blog. Thank you.

March 24

Math Homework: page 213 (55-70)

Finish up report, make poster, get costume ready, and practice reciting three facts about person and speak in the first person if their button gets pushed. We will practice it tomorrow in the morning before we go to the gym to set up.

Thanks for your support and please come and enjoy these great kids.

March 23

Math homework is page 235 1-3

Spelling letter # 23 and matching assignment due tomorrow.

Wax Museum report, poster, and costume due Friday. (10:00 to 10:45) Hope to see you there.

March 22

Math Homework is page 212 (25-54)

March 21

Please remember to read the Gillespie Gazette and sign or comment.

Math Homework is page 209 (1-12)

Please encourage your child to write the spelling words three times each at home tonight (if time) so they can receive the Matching assignment first thing in the morning which is due on Thursday.

March 21

Gillespie Gazette...March 21

www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us
school: 446-3200
cell: 623-7625
Home: 1-801-375-0024


Dear Parents,

Ethan earned his turn for student of the week. I think he will continue to have his parent spelling letter signed each week by Thursday because HE LOVES TO PLAY THE SPELLING GAMES! All the students do, so please help them reach this goal each week. Tonight I will be sending home Letter #23. Here are the words they will need to conquer by Thursday:

1. except
2. cabin
3. were
4. where
5. business
6. work
7. I'm = I am
8. you're = you are
9. your
10. which
11. basketball
12. waiter
13. earthworms
14. owner
15. excitement

I believe they are extending the Jump A Thon contest for any online donations. Please encourage your child to sign up and send emails out. I have attached a flier (to the paper Gillespie Gazette) to explain the process. Anyway, I am hoping to attach it. (if I can find it)
We are a bit short compared to last year, so we are hoping we can get a few more donations turned in via email.

I will be attaching the SEP goal that you and your child decided on. This is a copy for you to keep. I have a copy here. Thanks for reviewing this goal with your child and keep reminding them to achieve it.

Last Friday, we had perfect attendance, so I sent home the Color Journals to give everyone a fair chance to win this contest. Steady Eddy is usually the winner, so stay with it. Good Luck.
Remember, I will write on the red page. Students will write on the purple page, and parents on the green. Have fun communicating through the written language.

Our Wax Museum is this Friday. How is everyone doing on their report, poster, and costume? March 25 is the day everything is due. Come join us at 10:00 to see a spectacular display of students learning. I have encouraged the students to use Elmer's Tri-Fold versus the flat poster paper. It will stand on its own instead of having to tape onto a wall or desk. Thanks for helping your child with this. I do have some costumes that I might be able to help your child with. Please let me know if I need to help them. I will bring costumes on Thursday so they can check them out. The museum will be held from 10:00 to 10:45. See you there.

I am attaching a "School Lunch Deposit" page to help your child when they need to bring lunch money. It is very time consuming when they have to do it at school. Please help them with this.
______________________________________________________

Sign on line that you have read this_____________________________

Student name ___________________________

Or check out blog and comment. Thanks!

March 17

Math homework...page 208 (1-26)

March 16

Math Homework...page 211 (1-24)

Spelling poem and parent letter #22 due tomorrow.

March 15

Math Homework...Finish page 205 (12-43)

March 14

Please read Blog Gillespie Gazette...March 14 and comment.

Math homework...page 199 (1-3)

March 14

Gillespie Gazette...March 14

www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com
email: anna.gillespie@jordandistrict.org
School: 446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 1-801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

It might seem like Danielle has been our student leader for several different tries, but in reality she has served different times during short weeks. She is a great leader and "secretary" for me, so it is tempting to get her over and over...however, I also want to get all students to have at least one turn before the end of the year. Please encourage your student to do their part (as discussed during SEP) so that they will earn the right to be a student example and leader.

Parent Spelling Letter # 22 is due on Thursday along with the Spelling Poem they are composing with a spelling list sent home today (attached).

Also attached is a yellow reminder about how to help with the Jump A Thon and get the students to go Online to register and help them get donation. They must have at least $5.00 donated by Wednesday to qualify for participation in the Jump A Thon (see Fantastic Falcon and ways to win prizes) If they have donated at least $5.00 by Wednesday, they will be invited to the Jump A Thon activity in the gym. We hope that you will help with this fund raiser.

Thank you ever so much for all the students and parents that attended SEP last week. I will need to have you return any SEP goals that have been agreed on and signed by parents. I also hope that you enjoyed reading your students Language Test writings and their portfolio work. I also encourage the students to do their Extra Credit Packets and hope that parents will check it over before turning in. If there are still mistakes on Second Term work, it will be the last time I will look at them. Please make sure they are correct.

I will also need to have all Wax Museum forms to prove your child will be starting to get their reports done. The Wax Museum Book Report is due on Friday, March 25 at 10:00 until 10:45. Parents are invited. Please reschedule if you were not able to attend SEP conferences. This conference will give your child a huge advantage during last term. Thank you.

March 17...wear green.

Study spelling list because if your child doesn't know their word, they might not have good luck on Thursday and get pinched for misspelling a word. (Hint, hint)

March 10

Sorry about not posting last night's homework...too busy with SEP until late at night.

Tonight's homework is page 195 (1-7)

I apologize about this week's homework that may have caused stress (ball players ...pitcher, first base, etc.) I just looked at the top part and figured that would be easy enough for most of the kids and then didn't look down at (1-4) where it talked about groups, etc. I felt bad when kids said they spent a long time trying to figure it out. Darn...mud on the face for me. (Idiom) However, this will be a good time to remind you that if, after 30 minutes of math homework...there is ever stress on the part of the student or parent...everyone is to close the book and say good night and let me tackle it with them the next day. Thanks.

March 8

Math homework is page 195 (1-4) and to also finish page 201 (5-33) Most of the students got a good start on their page 201 but might need a few minutes to finish tonight.

See you at SEP. Thanks.

March 7

Math homework is page 191 #4. Only one problem. I think they can handle that. I wrote the Gillespie Gazette on the Blog an then copied and pasted onto Word so I could print. And then, I forgot to publish. Sorry about that. Everyone will only get the paper copy this time. Oops! Too big of a hurry today with getting Report Cards, SEP Schedules, and teaching kids all on the same day.

March 3

Please encourage your student to start out the new Third Term right by doing all the assignments beginning with this one that is due on Monday, March 7: Math homework page 190 (1-42)

Thanks.

March 2

Math homework...page 183 (57-76)

Everything due tomorrow for Second Term.

Dictionary and Spelling letter due tomorrow.

March 1

Math homework...page 189 (2-8)

Everything is due on Thursday for Second Term work. Good luck!

Feb. 28

Gillespie Gazette...Feb. 28

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com
Email: Anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us
School: 446-3200
Cell: 801-623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024


Dear Parents,

I am trying to catch up on all the great student helpers I have had lately. Did I tell you about Citlalic? Cute, Cute, Cute! Cute face, cute clothes, cute personality, and cute poster. We love our Citlatic. She is reading at home every night to follow my reading plan for her. Thanks, Citlalic.

Spelling letter #20 and Dictionary spelling assignment is due on Thursday, March 3 and it will be the final day for all Second Term work to be handed in. I have to have all assignments from all subjects turned in. I have attached a Progress Report for each student. Carefully read the Progress report. At the top, it will have the student' name and the subject. I am sending home progress reports for language, math. and science. Spelling, penmanship, and writing all fall under Language. There is an over-all grade at the top of the page on language arts/reading. Next there is a spelling grade total. Then there will a list of spelling assignments. If the student has 100%...great, if they have a 50%...that is great too because all they have to do is fix the few mistakes and the grade will be changed to 100% after Friday. (Report for final grade will be sent home on Monday the 7. No School on Friday so I can have time to grade papers and enter grades and print off report cards. If the student has a zero next to an assignment, that is not so great. This is something that has to be done. They are missing that assignment. There might be a few students that will tell you that they took care of those zeros in class today (missing tests, etc.) and I just haven't had time today to grade them and enter in the new grade...so be patient about this. If they have a lot of zeros, you can be sure they have been slacking a bit and will need to "put their shoulder to the wheel" (idiom) and get busy. I will need a parent signature returned to me to let my know you have seen the report. I have made a copy for you to keep, so you can help your child succeed.

SEP Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on March 9 and 10 in the evening.

Your student will be tested on Utah Environments on Thursday, March 3. Please help you child prepare for this test by studying their notes. Mr. Davidson has been teaching them this course.

On March 2, the students will be having the Jump A Thon Assembly at 2:00. Some are performing, they know who they are because they tried out. I am asking them all to wear (the performers) black shirt and blue jeans. Thanks.

Congratulations to seven students that have been notified that their poems were selected to be published: Tenney, Ethan, Rebecca, Danielle, Jason, Courtney, and Avie. Please be aware that there might be more, so please keep your eyes open to any mail coming from Anthology of Poetry and then let them know.

We are having a Wax Museum on March 25. We will be going to library and checking out biography books after students have selected someone that they will want to read about. See yellow flier attached for details. Thank you.

Spelling List:
1. there
2. one
3. fossil
4. express
5. conference
6. especially
7. someone
8. could
9. babies
10. thirty
11. turned
12. we'll
13. voiced
14. opinion
15. unless

Averee and Danielle have been great help to me as student leaders. Thank you so much.

Please sign the Gillespie Gazette or go to my blog and comment.

Feb. 24

Math Homework...page 179 (30-39)

Feb. 23

Math Homework is another fast and easy one. Sorry about posting the wrong page last night (did anyone notice?) Usually the students whose parents are reading this blog are also the students that are organized in writing down the math homework before they leave for the day...but any who...tonight's homework is officially on page 175 (1-9)

Some finished in class cause it was so short.

Also tomorrow the students will only have to turn in their Cursive Spelling Test (three times each in their best cursive penmanship) to be allowed to play in the Spelling Game. I hope that we have 100% participation.

Feb. 22

Homework page 161 (1-9)

Feb. 17

Math homework is page 164 (1-24) Quite a few finished in class because I actually announced it early during the day. If your child said they finished in class, it is true.

Feb. 16

Homework...page 185 (1-23)

Feb. 15

Math tonight is on page 161 (57-72) Student don 't have to do the bottom page (1-2)
Thanks,

Feb. 14

We had a great Valentines Party. Thank you to all the parent volunteers.

Homework tonight is to read and sign the Gillespie Gazette or Blog.

Math Homework is page 160 (1-56) Sounds long, but if they know their multiplication facts, it will be done in minutes. If they don't please take some time to practice and drill on the facts.

Parent letter and spelling crossword puzzle is due on Thursday...please review spelling words as needed.

Feb. 14

Gillespie Gazette...Feb. 14

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.district.k12.ut.us

School: 446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Happy Valentines! Do you know how much I love your children? I hope you know my entire heart and soul is dedicated to given them a great fourth grade education! They are beautiful children and each one has unique characteristics that make me smile every day I am with them.

I am especially proud of how well they did for our Half Time Show on Friday and for our Basketball Team winning the championship for the entire fourth grade team! It was pretty awesome. Congratulations. I hope any parents that made the effort to come were completely entertained by all the cute fourth graders. Didn't they look great in their black shirts and blue jeans. I was soooooo proud of them!

I have attached the Spelling Letter #19 for you to help your child with. Thanks for all you do to guide them through these spelling concepts. The spelling list that will be tested on Thursday is below. I can always tell the students who have studied these words and have been drilled by parents before Thursday. You are doing just what they need to succeed.

Spelling list:
1. chimneys
2. should
3. quarter
4. dictionaries
5. fond
6. found
7. activity
8. activities
9. studied
10. recite
11. enough
12. favorite
13. because
14. refugees

We appreciate Bailee's mom for putting together the Valentine's Party and for all the many parents who donated and came to help with the party. The kids love these parties.

We celebrated Asia Day on Friday and students were using chopsticks to eat the rice out of their bowls they made here at school. It was a fun time for all.

Averee was sick the first part of the week, but she sure helped us when she came to school. Thanks for your service and thanks for your great cheer leading skills!

Please take a moment to look at the attachments from PTA and the Science Club.
______________________________________________

Parent Signature_________________________

Student Name__________________________

Or comment on Blog

Feb. 10

Math Homework: Page 181 (1-17)

Feb. 9

Math Homework page 177 (7-43)

Parent letter and Cartoon Strip due tomorrow.

Feb. 8

Thanks to all the many parent volunteers for the Valentine's party. Michelle May will be in charge and I will have her contact you for how you can help. Thanks again, it will be great. Kids love it when their parents (grand-parents) are involved.

Math Homework: page 171 (12-42)

Feb. 7

Math Homework is page 157 (68-83)

Letter number 18 and Cartoon Strip due on Thursday along with knowing how to spell the words.

Read Gillespie Gazette on Blog Feb. 7. Thanks.

Feb. 7

Gillespie Gazette...Feb. 7, 2011

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

Email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Spelling Letter #18 due Thursday. Parents, please do your student a favor and help them with the spelling concept and completing it correctly by following the complete instructions.

We had a wonderful 100th Day. I think everyone had a great time. Our Ice Cream Party was a great success because of all the donations and parent help. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Special thanks to Rebecca's Mom, London's Mom, and Ronaldo's Mom. I don't know how I could have managed without them. And another huge thank you to Brianna's parents who gave a very generous donation to the class!

I would like any volunteers for the Valentine Party that will be next Monday, Feb. 14. Please let me know via, phone, email, or blog comment, or a note in you child's planner if you can help us. The party will be at 2:00. Students can bring Valentines. I will not be giving them a list, however, they can make a list by writing down everyone's name in their free time.

I was so impressed with Zach because he did all he could to raise up his scores and proved he was working on his SEP goal. He served as a Student of the Week and even though we didn't get to see his poster, he is a great kid and very enjoyable to work with. Keep it up, Zach!

Your students will be taking a Science Test on Weather on Thursday. You might suggest your student bring home their Science Binder with all their Weather notes in it and study for this test.

And now for the BIG NEWS...FRIDAY IS OUR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT! Make sure you wear tennis shoes and come dressed in Black Shirts and Blue Jeans. Parents are invited to this event! I know they are excited!

Please sign below and return or comment on Blog.

_____________________________________

Parent sign________________

Student name______________________

Feb. 3

Math Homework: page 156 (23-67)

Please continue to work with your students that still don't have a quick handle on the multiplication math facts. I am worried about how many of the students just don't know them well. I am probably speaking to the choir. But if your child did not pass off their twelves with me for the ice cream party...I am speaking to you. Please help them.
Thanks.

Feb. 2

Thanks for all the thoughtful gifts for my birthday party. I was pretty surprised.

Don't forget the 100th Day and Ice Cream Party on Thursday. It is going to be a blast! Thanks for all your donations!

Homework tonight is page 169 (1-18)

Feb. 1

Math Homework...page 167 (12-38)

January 31

Don't forget to read and sign the Gillespie Gazette.

Math Homework is page 153 (7-40)

Please help your child practice their times-tables.

I will need help with ice cream goodies. I just had a comment from Courtney's mom who said she would bring vanilla ice cream and crushed Oreos. Thanks, Katie! I will need more ice cream than one gallon or tub...so please consider donating.

Parent letter #17 due on Thursday and the Spelling Antonym/Syn. assignment.

Any one able to come help on Thursday at 1:00 to dish out ice cream? Thanks,

January 31

Gillespie Gazette...January 31,

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School; 446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Parent letter # 17 is due on Thursday. Wouldn't it be great if all the students got to play in the Spelling Game on our Hundredth Day of School? This would tickle me pink! I will have a super fun game planned for them. Hope you help them be successful. I encourage you to actually read the instructions with the student so that the concept is taught and the page is done correctly. I expect because you have signed it, that you have helped them to reach 100% success!

I hope they will also pass off the spelling words to you. They will actually have a chance to win the spelling games if they know how to spell the following words:
porcupine
sloth
these
freeze-dried
partner
target
pulled
bowstring

Such a short list...surely they can memorize each one.

Avie was a great leader. She actually took time to help her fellow students be successful and get their work done and turned in. Thanks, Avie and we will enjoy your poster.

We have had a lot of effort to review the multiplication facts. Thanks for encouraging this. We have several girls that have become trained to help me pass off: Rebecca, Tenney, Danielle, and London. They have passed off to their twelves and will be invited to eat as much ice cream and toppings as their tummies can hold. I am hoping some boys will join them before Thursday.

I am begging for ice cream donations and toppings. The more the better. Also spoons, napkins, and bowls will be appreciated. We will have the party on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 1:00. Could I beg for some adult parent help in scooping ice cream for them all? Please, please, please! If you can start sending in the toppings and also commit to what ice cream you can bring, I will know how much I can plan on buying myself Wednesday night. Thank you ever so much. The kids will have a great day on Thursday (100th Day)
See attached flier.

Book order attached and also I will appreciate any Box Tops so I can recoup any money I might have to spend on the Ice Cream Multiplication Party. Thanks so much.

_________________________________________________

Please sign this page of comment on blog.

______________Parent signature

_______________Student name

January 27

Math homework is page 143 problems 1-6.

Remind your child to read twenty minutes every evening.

I am probably preaching to the choir, but please take care to help your child understand the directions and concepts on the Spelling Parent Letter. I am counting on this. If I see a signature, I assume the concept was taught and the child did excellent work on it. Today I was a bit disappointed at all the mistakes and lack of following instructions on Parent Letter #16.

January 26

Just two problems on page 142 tonight for math homework. I gave the students time in class to start it and finish. I hope everyone gets to play the spelling game tomorrow. Please help them with the parent letter if you haven't done it yet.

January 25

Tonight's homework should be pretty easy (page 159 problems 1-23) But please encourage your child to review the math facts for speed and accuracy. We must have them conquered and learned.

Please remember if any math homework takes longer than 30 minutes, and the student is showing signs of frustration to close the book and let them take a break. I will help them the next day. Please remind them of this.

January 24

Gillespie Gazette...January 24

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

School: 801-446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

Math Homework tonight is on page 141 (1-4)

Parent Letter #16 and alphabetize list is due Thursday.
If your child can't spell the words below...practice with them until they can...PLEASE!

Spelling List:
outer
flies
landing-gear
head start
she
sister
playstation
we're
control tower
station wagon
smoothly
space shuttle
then
than
daydream
monkey
chattering
howling

Danielle had a chance to be the student of the week, it was a short week and because she was an awesome leader, she will get another turn to finish her week...either by the next short week, or another good long week. We love you Danielle!

I am about to teach your students how to do long division. It is going to be very difficult for them if they do not have their multiplication math facts memorized to the families of 12's. Please insist on them practicing and passing them off with you every night (work at least ten minutes after they have finished their math homework every night.) Then encourage them to come and pass them off with me during the school day (2-minute breaks, recess time, in line on the way to lunch, in the morning before school starts) We are working towards a ice cream sundae party. If they pass off their zeros, they will get a bowl, if they pass off their ones, they will earn a spoon, if they pass off their twos, they will get one scoop of ice cream, if they pass off their threes... two scoops, if they pass off their fours, they receive three scoops of ice cream. If they pass off their fives, they earn a topping, (their choice). If they pass off their sixes, they get a second topping choice, sevens...three toppings, eights...four, nines...five toppings, tens... six toppings, elevens...seven toppings and if they pass off their 12's they get to have as many toppings and as many helpings as they want at the party.

Your student went to Mrs. Muhlestein's class for Science the last three weeks and learned about soil. They are now attending Ms. Mullen's class and will learn about weather. They only get three weeks to conquer these concepts and then they take a test that will determine their science grade for this term. Please encourage them to do all assignments and listen well in Ms. Mullen's class during science to be able to do well on the test at the end of three weeks.

____________________________________

Student name__________________
Parent signature________________________

or make comment on blog
Thanks,

January 20

Math homework is page 155 (1-22)

The students were given time in class to write an essay on Generosity. They were taught about the six traits of good writing and were instructed about writing complete sentences and sentence fluency. They will be marked down if there are any incomplete sentences.

Most students did finish their essay in class, but there are a few that did not and will need to get that turned in soon.

January 19

Math Homework is page 139 #1 only.

Generosity Essay due by January 21. The students will be expected to create great sentences in writing this essay.

All students were given the opportunity to see what their scores looked like after I spent the weekend grading and entering scores. I have encouraged all those that are below 3 or 4 to do "Fix Its" and also do missing assignment. Please check up on your child's scores.

Thanks,

January 13

Math homework is on page 138 1-27.

January 12

Math Homework is page 151 (1-23)

Tomorrow is Thursday, your child should have the parent letter completed with your signature and the advertisement assignment due tomorrow.

January 11

Math Homework is page 133, problems 43-61

January 10

Don't forget to read and sign the Gillespie Gazette Blog below or the hard copy sent home with your child.

Math Homework is page 132 (1-42) I gave the students a bit of a head start during class...hope that helped.

Parent letter #15 due on this Thursday.

Three times each and advertisement due on Thursday.

Gillespie Gazette, January 10

Gillespie Gazette...January 10

Blog: www.gillespiegazette.blogspot.com

email: anna.gillespie@jordan.k12.ut.us

Phone: 801-446-3200
Cell: 623-7625
Home: 801-375-0024

Dear Parents,

I was glad to see Nicholas reach his SEP goal and be our student of the week. Thanks for the great poster.

We had a great time at our Utah Birthday Party Activity. Your kids got some great toys for Christmas!

Parent letter #15 is due on Thursday...wouldn't it be great if every member of our class played the spelling game?

Spelling List for January 10 is:

1. answer
2. unit
3. due
4. littlest
5. dew
6. diligence
7. humor
8. preview
9. continue
10. restart
11. regular
12. yesterday
13. hole
14. whole

___________________

Parent Sign______________

Student Sign________________

Or comment on Blog

January 6

Math Homework: page 149 (4-14)

January 5

Math Homework is page 137 (6-11)

Spelling Letter #14 due tomorrow and Wordsearch.

January 4

Math Homework page 124 (1-4)

January 3 Homework

Don't forget to sign the Gillespie Gazette.

Math homework is page 135, problems 1-22