Thank You

It's hard to put into words how bittersweet the end of the school year is. It has truly been an honor to teach this group of fourth graders. I heard great things about these kiddos last summer as I was preparing the room for them. They have all surpassed my expectations and each and everyone of them have truly left a mark on my heart. 

It breaks my heart that I wasn't able to be with them the last two days of the school year. I was really looking forward to sharing their last moments of 4th grade with them and sending them off at the end of the day. I find peace in knowing that I'll get to see a couple at summer school and that most of the students have younger siblings, which means they still have an excuse to come to NDLC and visit me. 😊 When they get home today, please give them an extra hug from me!

Most of all - Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your child this year. Thank you for letting me teach them, get to know them, laugh with them, and probably irritate them a little bit. Ha! Thank you for supporting, loving, and encouraging them to work hard each and everyday. I loved coming to work each and everyday this year because I was surrounded by your 4th graders. They are a really special group and I can't wait to hear about all the amazing things they do in their future! 

Field Day & Bike Hike Photos

 Here are some photos from Field Day last week!

Here is our group photo from yesterday's Bike Hike! Be sure to check out NDLC's Facebook page for more photos!

Weekly Wrap-Up (May 20th)

 What a week! I am proud of the kiddos for pushing through all this testing and finishing their iReady tests this week. It's amazing to see another data point of how they've grown throughout this year. Their Reading iReady scores will be coming home today, but be on the lookout for their Math iReady scores early next week

We went to the Grignon Mansion yesterday! It was so fun! Thank you so much Maranda Wendel, Kelly Hoppe, Julie Scholl, & Josh Larson for joining us! I think we made a pretty awesome soccer team against the kids after lunch! ⚽ Here are some photos:

Today we spent time outside cheering on for the athletes of the Breaking Boundaries triathlon!

 

Upcoming Events:

Monday, May 23rd: Moving Onward Concert at 6:30pm (Remember, you can bring your bike for the bike hike at this time)

Wednesday, May 25th: 4th Grade End of the Year Celebration Bike Hike to La Follette Park

Thursday, May 26th: Rain Day for Bike Hike if weather cancels May 25th Bike Hike

Friday, May 27th: 1/2 Day & 4th Grade Human Growth & Development Lesson

Monday, May 30th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, June 1st: Kaukauna Public Library Walking Field Trip ($1.50)

Thursday, June 2nd: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (11:30am dismissal!)

Have a great rest of your day! 😊

Carly Burris

Weekly Wrap-Up (May 13th)

 Happy Friday! I hope you've had a wonderful week and enjoyed the taste of summer weather we've been having! Check below for some important end of the year updates!

On Monday, May 2nd, you received a packet of permission slips for end of the year field trips as well as the  human growth and development lesson. The total for all of these field trips is $3.50.  The field trip to the Grignon Mansion is $2.00 and the field trip to the Kaukauna Public Library is $1.50 (for our Dicks Drive-In treat on the walk back!). I apologize for the Kaukauna Public Library permission slip not clearly stating the $1.50, I hadn't realized until all the packets were made and ready to be sent out. 😅 Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! 

Hello parents!!

Just a reminder that the 4th grade concert is Monday, May 23 at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive by 6:10 pm that evening. If possible, students should dress in something nice. The students are really working hard to prepare a great concert for you!! Hope to see you there!

Sing-cerly,

Mrs. Krueger

On Monday May 16th NDLC will be collecting clothing and shoes for the Community Clothes Closet.  The Community Clothes Closet serves all of the Fox Valley with FREE clothing and shoes for those in need.

We will be collecting clothing and shoes of all sizes, newborn through adult.   

May 16 is right after the Kaukauna rummage sales so please donate your leftover clothing items!

Date: Monday  May 16

Time:  330-7:00 p.m.

Where:   NDLC’s parking lot. The Community Clothes Closet will have a huge truck at the school.  Families will drive up and unload their car right into the truck. 

Volunteers:  We are looking for volunteers to help with the traffic flow and unloading/loading. Click here to sign up to help unload cars and load donations into the truck from CCC.  Please sign up for a 1 hour time slot or more. 

Questions: Contact Kristin McEneany, kristin.mceneany@gmail.com. 

Note: We will only be collecting clothing and shoes for this event. Please have items in bags or boxes. 

Wow! Look here! The first 3 fourth graders to earn their black belt were from our room! Awesome! Way to go, Raina, Morgan, & Dalton!

On Tuesday, we celebrated finishing our first bend of our graphic novel unit. We had the opportunity to share and inform Mrs. Karls' 2nd graders about graphic novels! So fun!

Upcoming Events:

Monday, May 16th - May 19th: Spring iReady testing

Wednesday, May 18th: Purple/NDLC Wear Day

Thursday, May 19th: Grignon Mansion field trip ($2)

Friday, May 20th: NDLC Field Day!

Wednesday, May 25th: 4th Grade End of the Year Celebration Bike Hike to La Follette Park

Thursday, May 26th: Rain Day for Bike Hike if weather cancels May 25th Bike Hike

Friday, May 27th: 1/2 Day & 4th Grade Human Growth & Development Lesson

Monday, May 30th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, June 1st: Kaukauna Public Library Walking Field Trip ($1.50)

Thursday, June 2nd: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (11:30am dismissal!)

Curriculum Updates:

Reading: We are continuing to think about perspective as we read. This week, fourth graders have considered the perspective of minor characters, determined the point of view the author wrote in, thought about why the author chose to tell the perspective of the story in the way that they did, and more! The students have really enjoyed reading Crash by Jerry Spinelli together as a read aloud. It has prompted some great conversations. We are about half way through the book and I am hopeful that this book will help launch them into finding a book they love for summer!

Math: We took our second Quick Quiz on Wednesday. We learned about pictographs this week and how we can use them to solve and create equations. We've also been working hard to understand and solve multi-step problems. Students are taking careful consideration when reading a word problem and identifying what type of equation to solve. I appreciate all the students effort and motivation even as we enter these last few weeks of school. 

Writing: Most of us finished up our first graphic novel! The pictures above our celebration with Mrs. Karls' classroom. We are moving on to our next graphic novel! For our next graphic novel, we are creating a graphic novel based on a personal narrative. Students are working through the graphic novel writing process once again, but more independently this time. I am working hard at reminding students that it is okay that they aren't the worlds greatest artist, as long as they are trying, have a clear storyline, and are following the writing process.

Enjoy your weekend! ☀

Carly Burris

Weekly Wrap Up (May 6th)

I hope you had a wonderful first week of May! I can't believe we are in the final month of school!

On Monday, May 2nd, you received a packet of permission slips for end of the year field trips as well as the  human growth and development lesson. The total for all of these field trips is $3.50.  The field trip to the Grignon Mansion is $2.00 and the field trip to the Kaukauna Public Library is $1.50 (for our Dicks Drive-In treat on the walk back!). I apologize for the Kaukauna Public Library permission slip not clearly stating the $1.50, I hadn't realized until all the packets were made and ready to be sent out. 😅 Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! 

Hello parents!!

Just a reminder that the 4th grade concert is Monday, May 23 at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive by 6:10 pm that evening. If possible, students should dress in something nice. The students are really working hard to prepare a great concert for you!! Hope to see you there!

Sing-cerly,

Mrs. Krueger

Fang's Reading Club wrapped up on March 29th. If your student has hit a "HOME RUN" and completed the Reading Club assignments they will be sent home with a ticket voucher to the Timber Rattlers game on May 31st. Below are the directions on how to redeem the vouchers. 

Upcoming Events:

Monday, May 9th: Sports Wear

Tuesday, May 10th: Bring Stuffies & Blankets

Monday, May 16th - May 19th: Spring iReady testing

Wednesday, May 18th: Purple/NDLC Wear Day

Thursday, May 19th: Grignon Mansion field trip ($2)

Wednesday, May 25th: 4th Grade End of the Year Celebration Bike Hike to La Follette Park

Thursday, May 26th: Rain Day for Bike Hike if weather cancels May 25th Bike Hike

Friday, May 27th: 1/2 Day & 4th Grade Human Growth & Development Lesson

Monday, May 30th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, June 1st: Kaukauna Public Library Walking Field Trip ($1.50)

Thursday, June 2nd: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (11:30am dismissal!)

Curriculum Updates:

Reading: We've shifted from thinking about Power to thinking about the Perspectives of the characters in our stories. Students have been working to create identity maps for the characters in their stories. We've been doing this work, as well, with our read aloud "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli. I've really enjoyed the discussions with students and understanding where they see power in their own lives and if they themselves feel like they have power. 

Math: So far in this unit we've been working to understand algebraic notation as well as how using inverse operations (adding & subtracting and multiplication & division) can help us. Students took there first quick quiz this week and it was...a little rough. So, we took a pause and spent time this week practicing writing out equations with variables and solving them. It seems like that extra support was exactly what they needed, but I plan to just continue to pull small groups and practice this work!

Writing: This Graphic Novel unit has been a BLAST. Students have been so invested in their writing with words and pictures, it has been truly amazing. The extra bit of creativity I have seen come alive this unit has me in awe. Our first bend of this unit focuses on graphic novels with younger audiences in mind. With that, students have been working to create graphic novels and storylines that could be understood to a 1st or 2nd grader. To celebrate the end of the bend, next week we will venture over to Mrs. Karls' 2nd grade classroom to read them our first published pieces. Up next, we will create graphic novel personal narratives!

Enjoy your weekend! ☀

Carly Burris

Weekly Wrap-Up (April 29th)

 Happy Monday!

On Monday, May 2nd, you will be receiving a packet of permission slips for end of the year field trips as well as the  human growth and development lesson. The total for all of these field trips is $3.50.  The field trip to the Grignon Mansion is $2.00 and the field trip to the Kaukauna Public Library is $1.50 (for our Dicks Drive-In treat on the walk back!). I apologize for the Kaukauna Public Library permission slip not clearly stating the $1.50, I hadn't realized until all the packets were made and ready to be sent out. 😅 Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! 

We are running low on Flair Pens here in the classroom. If you have any, we'd love to take them! If you'd like to donate some to the classroom, we'd really appreciate it!

Hello parents!!

Just a reminder that the 4th grade concert is Monday, May 23 at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive by 6:10 pm that evening. If possible, students should dress in something nice. The students are really working hard to prepare a great concert for you!! Hope to see you there!

Sing-cerly,

Mrs. Krueger

Fang's Reading Club wrapped up on March 29th. If your student has hit a "HOME RUN" and completed the Reading Club assignments they will be sent home with a ticket voucher to the Timber Rattlers game on May 31st. Below are the directions on how to redeem the vouchers. 

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, May 19th: Grignon Mansion field trip ($2)

Wednesday, May 25th: 4th Grade End of the Year Celebration Bike Hike to La Follette Park

Thursday, May 26th: Rain Day for Bike Hike if weather cancels May 25th Bike Hike

Friday, May 27th: 4th Grade Human Growth & Development Lesson

Monday, May 30th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, June 1st: Kaukauna Public Library Walking Field Trip

Thursday, June 2nd: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (11:30am dismissal!)

Curriculum Updates:

Reading: 

Math: 

Writing: 

Have a great weekend and week! 😎

Carly Burris

Have a great weekend! ☀

Carly Burris

Weekly Wrap-Up

Happy Friday!

Here are the winners of the Tallest Tower challenge in STEAM last week with Mrs. Krueger! Way to go Claire, Celia, & Clara! 

We are running low on Flair Pens here in the classroom. If you have any, we'd love to take them! If you'd like to donate some to the classroom, we'd really appreciate it!

We had a BLAST last Wednesday before the long weekend! We participated in the famous NDLC Egg Crack-Off as well as crafted a fun little egg and chick!

We were invited into Mrs. Kocourek's classroom this week to help the third graders celebrate the end of their unit! The fourth graders did an amazing job of listening, complimenting, and giving tips!

Hello parents!!

Just a reminder that the 4th grade concert is Monday, May 23 at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive by 6:10 pm that evening. If possible, students should dress in something nice. The students are really working hard to prepare a great concert for you!! Hope to see you there!

Sing-cerly,

Mrs. Krueger

Fang's Reading Club wrapped up on March 29th. If your student has hit a "HOME RUN" and completed the Reading Club assignments they will be sent home with a ticket voucher to the Timber Rattlers game on May 31st. Below are the directions on how to redeem the vouchers. 

Upcoming Events:

Monday, April 25th - Friday, April 29th: Forward Exam Make-Up Days

Monday, April 25th: Unit 7 Math Test (Math Review is due this day as well)

Tuesday, April 26th: Class Colors Day (4th Grade wears BLUE)

Friday, April 29th: Ms. Burris out for the day!

Curriculum Updates:

Reading: Students are off to a great start in their book clubs. Before break, the kiddos were grouped and selected a book to read with their club members. This unit we will be focusing on power and thinking about the question "Who makes the rules?" Students will be encouraged to think of this question in various situations throughout their reading. They will also try to think about power in their 9-10 year old lives. I am very excited for the conversations that the students come up with when their book club meets. 

Math: We've wrapped up Unit 7! This unit took a bit longer with testing happening at the same time, but I believe the students really were able to take advantage of how long we spent on it and really understand fraction and decimal relationships. We spent the week preparing for our Unit 7 Test which will be on Monday. Students received the Math Review packet on Tuesday and were reminded that they have all of the days leading up to the test to complete it.

Writing: We will be diving into our Graphic Novel starting next week. Testing has altered our schedule a bit, but I am excited to once again have a solid amount of time to do this work with students! We will begin our unit by thinking about how the writing process changes when we write graphic novels. We will then draft different potential graphic novel ideas that we could create. The first audience we will be writing for is 1st and 2nd graders!

Have a great weekend and week! 😎

Carly Burris