I'm BAAAAACK...mostly!

It's been a rough road the past 3 weeks of being in and out of the hospital, including spending Christmas and New Year's in the hospital, but things are looking up and I'm not looking back. I still have some healing to do, because I have to continue medication in order to avoid an infection from returning, but that is not a problem. Since I've been gone, we will have a lot to catch up on and work to do before STAAR testing in late March and April. I will be very busy this first week back in order to catch up on paperwork and grades and everything else that I've missed. But most importantly, I will be glad to be back with your children again! Last week I was able to Skype with them and I was taken aback by by their concern, sincerity, and desire to have me back. Just know that I miss them as much as they seem to miss me. ;) I was also able to stop by for a few minutes on Thursday and the look on their faces was priceless!

Upcoming Events:

- Just another reminder that Science Fair projects are due January 25th. EVERY child is REQUIRED to complete an experiment. Science Fair Gallery Night will be held January 26th from 5:30-7:30. Requirements for projects were sent home in December and if you more information, you can visit the Austin Energy Website, ask me, or contact Amanda Boyd at Amanda_Boyd@roundrockisd.org.

- 4th Grade will be having our annual Kiss-O-Gram fundraiser from February 7-13. For this fundraiser, a table is set up outside the cafeteria and students are able to buy Hershey kisses for 10 cents each for a friend, teacher, or themselves. The Kiss-o-Grams will all be delivered on Valentine's Day. In order to make this fundraiser great, we will need donations of Hershey Kisses (any variety without nuts) and small Ziploc bags. We will also need parent volunteers to help work the sales table during lunch hours (about 10:45-12:45) and fill the orders. You can volunteer to work part or all of that time once or multiple times. PLEASE let me know if you are available and willing to help out with this. We use this fundraiser to buy supplies for our classrooms and instructional aides to help all 4th graders!

- Like I mentioned in the introduction, STAAR testing is quickly approaching. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions from TEA (Texas Education Agency). This is also the full TEA STAAR Website will lots of information. Here is some quick information about the test...

-- Writing STAAR will be given March 27 and 28 (Yes it is a 2-day test!)

-- Math STAAR will be given April 24

-- Reading STAAR will be given April 25

-- There is a 4 hour time limit on each day of the test (including bathroom breaks, but not lunch).

-- TEA will not send out 'grades' for STAAR tests for 4th graders because standards will be set over the summer after all testing is complete. As far as I know (don't quote me on this), they will still send a report, similar to the TAKS, stating which objectives were answered correctly.

- If you received a tutoring note before the break, I will begin tutoring the week of January 23rd. Please go by the times listed for that week on the calendar. If you did not receive a note about tutoring, it is because I am only opening a particular number of slots so that each student gets the attention they need. If someone is unable to attend, I will invite other students on a needs-first basis. If you have any concerns, please let me know now and we will discuss your child's particular needs and how to make them as successful as possible this year!

- We will have a student teacher beginning this week. Her name is Megan Dzialo and she is currently a student at The University of Texas (Hook 'Em!). She will be in our classroom everyday and I am very excited for the extra set of hands, eyes, and help for every child. I'm also very excited to be helping out a growing teacher the same way a teacher once taught me! There will also be a point in the semester she will be "The Teacher" and I may have her respond to your phone calls, e-mails, etc (on a case-by-case basis). As always, I will still be there for major concerns but I want to allow her practice in addressing classroom concerns and positive communication the same way she will when she has her own classroom in the near future. Mrs. Dzialo also lives in the Wells Branch neighborhood, so I have no worries that she'll be a great addition to our classroom.

Voluntary Challenge:

- Can you create something that will keep a raw egg from cracking when dropped from the second floor?

- You can use whatever materials you would like. This is an at-home project, and students may work together. If you can successfully complete this challenge, I will check out my flip video camera to you to record your success and share with the class. There are many possible solutions to this challenge.

- This is not our current science topic nor part of the science fair, but more of an enrichment/higher level thinking challenge that will also readdress concepts associated with force that we learned earlier in the year.

- I will give extra credit if this challenge is completed successfully.