We're on a mission!  Our class is trying to see how many verbs we can find that have an irregular ending.  (These are verbs that DON'T end in the usual -ed or -ied endings when in past tense forms.)  Our goal is to fill up a piece of chart paper with lots and lots of examples.  I've challenged students to see how many they can find on their own.  There's only one rule:  Kids may not go onto the internet to search for lists of irregular past tense verbs.  (Too easy!)  They may ask parents, friends, or other people.  They may look through the dictionary.  My recommendation was to look through books for examples of irregular past tense verbs.

We already have lots of examples.  For a list (in case you're curious), click MORE.  (Kids can also use this list to see if we already have the words they find during their quest!)

 (More)

While cleaning out some old display materials, some of us on the third grade teaching team found a cut out drawing of a cat tail plant growing in the wild.  We looked at it and agreed that the brown puffy part looked more like a corn dog than a plant.  We laughed at the notion of a corn dog plant, and then realized that we had perfect material for a fun expository writing activity!

This morning, I asked the students where corn dogs come from.  They gave a variety of answers, including:

• From the midwest (where corn is grown in large quantities)
• From the supermarket
• From cows and pigs
• From factories

Our next step is to finish organizing/planning the articles and to write the articles.  I hope to publish the articles in our own scientific periodical.  This activity is a great way to practice expository writing - as essential skill for fourth grade.  (Oh yeah - and the kids are having a fun time with it too!  That always helps! ) 

Students are asked to arrive to PGS tomorrow morning at 8:15 for our trip to Old Sturbridge Village.  We will be outside for most of the day, so students are encouraged to wear and/or bring bug spray and sunblock.  For health reasons, students may not share each other's bottles of sunblock or bug spray.  Everyone should bring lunch (in an unbreakable container) and an extra bottle of water.  Students may bring no more than $5 to spend in the general store.  Cameras are permitted, but I STRONGLY discourage students from bringing valuable electronics that might get lost or broken.  Bring them at your own risk.  (Consider a disposable camera instead of a regular, valuable camera.)

Most people think Sturbridge is the REAL destination.  But the truth is that the kids are REALLY looking forward to riding in the coach bus!  :-)  In all seriousness, the coach bus will have TVs with a DVD player.  If you would like to send in any G-Rated movies (with your name on them), we welcome the choices.

We have one remaining spot for a chaperone because of a cancellation.  If you would like to chaperone, please email me ASAP.  The cost is $7, and I'm sure I can find someone for you to drive up with.

A few news items to share today!

• The score sheets for the recent book report are going home today. Great job, everyone!
• Unit 8 Math assessment coming up tomorrow.
• Assessments are being graded as quickly as possible.  Some of the assessments are graded by two teachers (to ensure consistent evaluations), which causes them to take longer to evaluate before scores go home.
• I will be out for most of the day tomorrow for a training workshop.
• Pajama day has been rescheduled for this Friday.
• The budget vote is tomorrow.  Please consider voting at the budget referendum!
• In fourth grade, students will use their planners exclusively for keeping track of homework.  To help prepare them, we will resume using our planners for homework assignments for the rest of the year.  Don't worry, although the Weekly Report is being discontinued, I will continue to communicate with you if I have concerns about behavior or homework completion.
• Please save consider saving your soda cans and redeemable bottles for your child to bring to school.  We are collecting cans and will donate all the money to Gifts of Love in Avon.  Students may bring in their cans any time.  We will have a big box in the front of the school, but for now, students can bring them to the classroom.

Open House is this Thursday, 5/7/09, at 6:30pm.  All students and families and welcome and encouraged to attend.  We have many special projects to share with you!

In order to finish a few remaining projects, I am using flex scheduling this week.  This means that I will schedule in lessons depending on our progress each day.  Homework assignments will be announced one night at a time this week and will be recorded in the students' homework planners.  Please refer to these spiral-bound books when you check what each night's homework assignment is.  For spelling this week, we will have the words for Leah's Pony.  Although we may not get to read this story until next week, the students will benefit from advanced exposure to the story's spelling words and vocabulary.

Update:  Because students will be completing the theme 4 holistic reading assessment this week, I have distributed a review spelling list for practice this week, instead of the Leah's Pony list.  We will work on the Leah's Pony list next week.

Teachers are not permitted to urge residents to vote at the budget referendum in a particularly way.  However, we are permitted to remind residents when and where they are able to vote.  The following information has been approved for distribution. 

Voting is an important civic duty.

VOTE: The town wide budget referendum will be held on

Wednesday, May 13, at the Senior Center, from 6:00 am - 8:00 pm.

Please make sure to participate in this very important process! 

Any one can register up until the day before the referendum and still vote. (Why wait that long? Do it now!)

For teenagers who have just turned 18, this is their first chance to exercise this amazing right and vote.

Make sure you and they participate in the process. If they (or you) haven't registered yet, please do. What a great way for teens to start their political involvement.

For more information on how you personally will be affected by the upcoming budget we will be voting on, you may determine the impact of the proposed Town budget on your personal tax profile going to the following websites and taking the following steps:

Go to www.avonassessor.com or www.town.avon.ct.us/Public_Documents/AvonCT_Assessor/assessor

via "Real Estate Information" under Additional Links on the Assessor page.

Click on your street address, scroll to the bottom of your property “ardâ€and you will see that the comparative data is displayed for the October 2007 Assessment, current mill rate of 26.53, current taxes, October 2008 Assessment, the proposed mill rate of 23.41, proposed estimated taxes and proposed estimated increase/-decrease.

The Tax Calculator Forms are available to the public via the Assessor and Finance homepage and reflect the current and proposed mill rates.

If you have any questions regarding the On-line Property Card w/Comparative Tax Information, please call the Assessor's office at 409-4335.