Book Fair

Scholastic Book Fair will begin Tuesday, September 10, and run through Friday, September 13.

Friday is Doodad Day. Doodads will be sold on Friday only.  What's a book fair doodad?  Always included in the book fair are posters, pencils, erasers, and bookmarks. 

All proceeds benefit our middle school library.  

Preview Day was today. Remember, books make great gifts.

In addition, you can also purchase books online during our Book Fair dates.  If you can’t make it to the fair, please use this opportunity to check out the selection. Click the arrow to visit NMS / Scholastic Online Book Fair.

3 G Morning

Norfolk Middle School would like to invite parents to connect with us on a "3G" morning during our book fair. We would like parents to come with their students between 7:15 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. to:

• Greet the student's teacher
• Grab a granola bar 
• Get a great book at the book fair. 

I hope to see you Tuesday morning - September 10.

Students Flip Over Story Elements

During the past two weeks we have been doing a LOT of work with elements of fiction texts . . . setting, characters, and plot . . . WHEW!  We've had several good discussion surrounding how these elements affect the text we are reading.

Students got real crafty and created flip books for our hallway bulletin board. You'll want to check it out at open house next week.  

This year Norfolk Public Schools has a new reading curriculum titled Wonders. Your child will learn how to become a confident and fluent reader in the 21st Century. Already the children are telling me there is a great deal of interest at home. A big thanks for your enthusiasm and support of your child's reading. Students received a username and  password today.  This new program has a digital component that allows learning to continue at home with meaningful practice. Perhaps this weekend you would like to check it out with your child. This video provides a short overview of the school to home connection. 

Planner Police

Thank you, families!  Room 100 is buried in school supplies.  

It is just so exciting to unpack new school supplies. Room 100 has spent the first two weeks getting organized.  As students rotate between several classrooms, organization helps them experience success. Students are learning to maintain planners and binders daily. This task will only feel like a mammoth chore if it is neglected over a period of time. 

 You may monitor your child's progress at home by checking the folders in the binder. Assignments are placed in subject folders and every student carries a labeled Take Home folder. Graded papers and school notes are placed in this Take Home folder. These graded papers may come out of the binder at night. We hope you will take time to discuss your child's work and offer encouragement. 

Organization skills are worthwhile life-long skills. The goal for organization is to eliminate tardiness, forgetfulness, and lack of preparedness.   

The Planner Police make frequent visits to Room 100. Their job is to check students' planners, binders, and desks. Students are ticketed and encouraged to get organized before they get the incentive treat.

Today's planner police treated the entire class to donuts. We are off to a great start. It has been such fun getting to know these kiddos.

Thanks again for equipping students with the needed supplies. I think they all agree that the best part of the back-to-school season is getting school supplies.

New coloring supplies will always make me a happy person. I don't care how old I get! 

Soda-lighted to Meet You!

Today is the start of the 2013-2014 school year.  The middle school is a big change for students. Most kids feel excited and maybe a little sad that summer is over. Some kids are nervous or a little scared because of all the new things. For my students it is their first year in a new building, first day with several new teachers, first day with lockers, first day with new classmates. Clearly,  first day jitters rule.  Luckily, these "new" worries only stick around for a little while.  

I wanted to do something fun for each of the students in my room. I hope to encourage them as they start the new school year. I  got their attention (and smiles) with a soda pop theme.  

To help students learn procedures and locate items in their new classroom, they were given a pop quiz. This quiz got students out of their chairs and exploring the layout of the classroom. 

This year there will be three -yes 3 - teachers in Room 100. Mrs. Fehringer is co-teaching language arts with Mrs. Full. Ms. Neuhalfen joins the team as a student teacher from Wayne State College. These additional teachers bring so much creativity and enthusiasm that I need to take notes to keep up.

Mrs. Full   /   Mrs. Fehringer   /    Ms. Neuhalfen

We are soda-lighted to be teaching your child. It is our goal that your child's fifth grade experience is filled with personal growth as a thinker and learner. There are so many fun things to do and learn in the fifth grade. We are looking  forward to the adventure.   

Please know parents are always welcome in Room 100.

Let the adventure begin! 

Click here for free downloads. 

Summer is Ending

It's that time of year when my thoughts turn to a classroom that's been packed away for the summer. Preparation is under way for the new school year. After three years in Room 102, I am moving two doors west to Room 100. Supplies have been sorted and transported effortlessly. 

I am now a teacher who has the opportunity and the fun of creating the learning landscape for a group of students where the reading and writing inside these four walls will be engaging. It's a BIG job! 

These guys showed up today to help. They're not here to paint, but they will help us Brush Up On Reading! There is a bulletin board waiting for them.

There's a vision of what this room will become. Students will transform this room into a place filled with their learning and their work.  Over time Room 100 will take shape with student work, student interests, student conversations, and student lives. 

August 15th the doors open for a new class of fantastic fifth grade students. Please click here and read the school's newletter. It's filled with information.

I am super excited to meet each of these kiddos. The adventure is about to begin.

A Grateful Heart

Dear Parents,

It has been an amazing year. It was a privelege and a blessing to have your child in my class. This blogging experience has been fun. The highlights from our year have been recorded. As I sit and reread posts, I am reminded of the learning experiences and the eagerness of these studdents to learn. Their smiles speak volumes. I treasure each one of these kiddos.

I appreciate your support this year. There were so many acts of kindness and I thank each of you. The cards, gifts, and thoughtful words brought a smile.  

      Hugs,