Week 2!

I hope everyone had a fun and restful long weekend! It looks like we are in for a very hot couple of days!

The students worked very hard last week preparing for Back to School Night! Back to School Night is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:30. It will begin in the Miller cafeteria then you will meet me in our classroom, Room 212. I will post the Powerpoint from the classroom portion later this week in case you are unable to attend. Please remember this event is for adults only.

Reminder: Picture Day is Thursday!

Tuesday will follow a Monday schedule. This means we will have Science tomorrow and no Spanish.

Wednesday will follow a Friday schedule. This means we will have PE on Wednesday and Friday this week! Please remember to wear sneakers!

We will begin having homework on Wednesday. We will only have a math worksheet and students will be required to read for 15 minutes each night this week. Next week I will introduce the spelling homework and hopefully MySkills Tutor will be up and running. Tomorrow, I will be sending home the homework policy for you and your student to sign.

I look forward to meeting you tomorrow!

Delayed First Day of School Post!

I am sorry for the delayed post! As I began to write my first day of school post last night I had an unfortunate accident involving a full water bottle and my laptop. Luckily, my laptop dried out overnight and is working again!

The class has now survived 2 days of school! I am happy to report that this class seems great! You all have such kind and hard working students. I know we will have a great year.

I have a few (or a bunch) of updates/reminders:
-Emergency and Medical forms (yellow forms) should be returned to school by tomorrow

-Back to School Night is Tuesday, September 8th 6:30-8:00. It will begin in the Miller cafeteria then I will meet with you in our classroom (room 212). This event is for parents only, please make childcare arrangements.

-Picture Day is on Thursday, September 10th. Forms will be going home tomorrow.

-If possible students should bring in a 4x6 picture of themselves by Tuesday for a project. Please note, this picture will be cut and glued. If your student is unable to bring in a picture of themselves that is ok! They can draw one!

-If your student has not yet brought in their school supplies please have them by Tuesday. This helps students get organized and in the classroom routines.

-Senora Crefeld asked that students please bring in a wide ruled 100 page composition notebook for Spanish. She would like students to bring in the notebook by the end of next week.

-Mrs. Irving, our Science teacher asked parents to please sign up for her NewsFlash. This is one way she communicates to parents about upcoming test and assignments in Science. Click here to sign up!

Please don't hesistate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Email is usually the quickest way: fogartyk@holliston.k12.ma.us

Please remember NO SCHOOL FRIDAY OR MONDAY! I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!

Classroom Tour!

Can you believe it? School starts in less than a week! I know some students get a little anxious before school starts. It is a new year, in a new school, with a new teacher and new classmates. There is no need to worry, I know this is going to be great year for all! I thought it might ease first day jitters if I gave a brief tour of our classroom.

We are a nut free classroom!

View from the doorway. 

Every classroom in Miller has a TV to watch the morning weather broadcast. When you are in 5th grade you will have the opportunity to be a part of Weather Club, which produces the school wide broadcast.

Directly next to the doorway we have the "Did you know?" fact of the day. This is where I post a fun or unusual fact. For example, did you know "time" is the most commonly used noun in the English language?

Next to the doorway we have our sink and water fountain.

Each student has a mailbox that they will check daily for homework and important notices. Two students will be in charge of passing out the mail as their classroom job.

We also have buckets with extra supplies for each group.

Next to the supplies and sink is the Wow Wall! Each student has a chart where they earn WOW stamps towards a prize. Wow stamps can be earned by doing extra work (Wow Work). Each student will have a folder with Wow Work that is meant to appropriately challenge them. Wow stamps can also be earned through answering a Wow question during whole class discussions/lessons. Also, just being a kind and helpful classmate can earn you a Wow stamp!

At the back of the room we have a table for small group instruction. I meet with each student several times a week in small reading, writing, and math groups. Most students I meet with on a daily basis. This is also a spot where any student can join a small group for extra help during math.

We have 4 classroom computers.

Above the computers are magnets. Each student has a magnet to show off their outstanding work!

Students from my class last year wrote letters welcoming this year's students.

The executive office is a desk at the back of the classroom where students can choose to work. Any student can choose to work in this distraction free spot during independent work time.

We have a great classroom library! Thanks to DonorsChoose, we are expecting a delivery of over 50 brand new books during the first couple weeks of school! Students are allowed to borrow one classroom library book at a time. We have a sign out system to help keep from any books getting lost.

Sometimes we do lessons on the rug for a change of scenery.

Clipboards are available for students who want to sit on the rug and work during independent working time.

 At the front of the classroom we have a projector and document camera.

The daily schedule is always posted on the far right side of the board.

I also post the daily homework and important things to remember next to the schedule.

Objectives for each lesson are posted on the far left side of the board.

 Our class is all ready for the 2015-2016 school year. All it is missing is YOU!

Students, I can't wait to meet you on Tuesday! Parents, I am excited to meet you at Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 8th!

Enjoy the last few days of summer!

Welcome Class of 2015-2016!

Can you believe it? School will begin in less than a month! I am so excited to be your new teacher. I hope the information below will help you get ready and excited for 3rd grade!

Please click here to see the supply list. If possible, it is helpful to come prepared with supplies the first day of school. There was a supply list at Fiske's that listed a 3rd grade composition notebook. However, I found these impossible to find this year, so I have taken them off the list. I hope it did not cause anyone unnecessary stress.

As you may already know, I am having a baby girl at the end of October. Administration is working hard to find a great teacher during my absence.

To learn about me click on the "about the teacher" tab. For more information click "our classroom" tab.

Stay tune for a classroom tour!

I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!