Off-Track Homework Overview

September 20, 2010

Dear Students and Parents-

Wow! I cannot believe it is already our first off-track break. I am proud of the hard work and growth students have demonstrated. It has been fun to get to know the students individually. I have been amazed at the progress they each have made in their learning adventures.

Seeing this growth leads me to encourage the students and you to continue to use skills we have learned to keep their academic skills sharp and enhance their learning when they return. I appreciate that many families have things planned besides schoolwork during this time, which is needful. I hope you can find time in your fun off-track activities to take time for these suggested activities and even them include them in the fun!

If you have any questions about the assignments during the off-track time, please feel free to contact me at my email address below. I will be checking email whenever it is possible.

Off-track Suggested Continued Learning Activities:

1. READING

· Independent Reading: Please read at least 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes a day and record your reading in your school planners as you usually do, including parent initials. I will be entering these reading minutes for a grade when we return as usual. Reading is an essential practice of a lifelong skill.

2. MATH

· Multiplication time tables learning and practice: It is critical that students keep practicing their Times Tables. This can be done with flash cards, using the internet game “Times Attack”, or timed tests.

3. SCIENCE

· Plant and Animal Photo Scavenger Hunt: While exploring the neighborhood or on travel adventures, look for plants and animals we have studied. Take a picture and bring it to share with the class.

4. SOCIAL STUDIES:

· County Report: Take time on your break to read, research, and complete your county report. You may even choose to visit if it is nearby – a family field trip! J The detailed instructions for the report are attached below. The time students take to read about their county may count towards their reading minutes.

5. TECHNOLOGY

· Keyboarding: Students may use their off-track time to practice their keyboarding skills using the school’s KBK program that all students are familiar with. The link to the website is:

· http://www.keyboardingonline.com/epco/schoolInfo.do

· Entry Login and password: butterfield and butterfield.

· Personal Password: student lunch number

Have a great break and keep learning!

Mrs. Yates

Wonderful Walkers

Dear Parents and Students,

Way to go Bobcats! Students were amazing super heros during our BCE Spirit Week. It was fun to see the students celebrate our school with pride. Thank you for supporting your students during the week's events at school, restaurants, and the Walk-a-thon. Our Bobcat spirit will carry us to success!

Last Wednesday, the 4th grade had the privildge to see the Utah Symphony at Hillcrest High School. All dresssed up, the boys and girls looked so handsome and pretty. They enjoyed the concert's "Magic of Music" performances, including "Harry Potter," "Midsummer's Night Dream," and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." During the field trip students explored visualizing images through the movement of the music.

This week BCE will be participating in a wonderful hands-on social studies investigation on Wednesday. Students will join the upper grade students in an assembly, interactive activity, and follow-up assembly presentation. During this activity, students will learn about American immigrants. It will be a great learning experience for all!

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Story Elements- Plot and Conflict

Spelling: Long/Short Vowels & Accented Syllables

Writing: County Report Brochure

Math: Multiplication

Science: Classification

Social Studies: Utah Rivers and Lakes

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates

Spirit Week!

Dear Parents and Students,

Let's go Bobcats! Welcome to BCE Spirit Week. Students are invited to participate in Butterfield Canyon Elementary's Walk-a-Thon. In leading up to this event, students will have the opportunity to express their school spirit in activities throughout the week. Some of the events include:

Monday: Super Hero Dress-up Day

Tip a Teacher @ Chili's

Tuesday: Crazy Hat, Hair &/or Socks Dress-up Day

Dinner @ Chick-Fil-A Wednesday: School Colors Dress-up Day Dinner @ Wendy's Thursday: Bobcat or Team Jersey Dress-up Day Pizza Social after the Walk-a-Thon To add to BCE Spirit Week, the 4th grade has a field trip on Wednesday to see the Utah Symphony at Hillcrest High School. All students in Jordan School District will be participating in this annual event. It is a neat opportunity for students to attend a symphony performance. Due to the nature of the event, students are asked to dress in their "best dress." I always enjoy seeing the students dressed up. What fun! This past week we continued to explore story elements, specifically plot conflict. There are 4 main types of conflicts in stories including, human vs. human, human vs. self, human vs. society, and human vs. nature. It was neat to create connections of types of plots to story titles. Your students are great connectors!! As part of our plot conflict lesson, students learned about the central theme of good vs. evil, whether inside or outside. We discussed how a character's actions and choices, not their abilities, shape who they are. It was neat to see the students explore how this central theme is true to everyday life. Stories and books are great teachers of life's important lessons! I am excited to continue our exploration of story elements. I hope you will take time to travel a new adventure with your students as they read with you.

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Story Elements - Plot and Conflict

Spelling: Long/Short Vowels & Accented Syllables

Writing: Animal Investigation

Math: Multiplication

Science: Classification

Social Studies: Utah Regions & Landforms

Thank you for all your support with emails, phone calls, donations, and notes. I appreciate the opportunity to teach your students. They are truly amazing!

Mrs. Yates

The Magic of Reading

Dear Parents and Students,

This week our class will continue to explore the magic of reading. Last week we flew to "Neverland" with Captain Hook and Peter Pan as we investigated character behavior and physical traits. Together we leared about the importance of both a character's behavior and physical appearance in creating their character in a story. After all, what would Hook be like if his character was kind and adventurous instead of mean and revengeful. It was enchanting to learn about character traits this week. Students shared the pixie dust magic of reading with their creative connections, exciting expressions, and magical memories. I exploring the magical "Neverlands" in each book with my students. I hope you will take time to travel a new adventure with your students as they read with you. It was also a special day on Friday for students to use the "mobile lab" of laptops. They were so excited to have the opportunity to use these technology tools in our classroom. I know students are looking forward to using them again soon!

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: story elements - predictions

Spelling: Long/Short ee & accented syllables

Writing: Animal Investigation

Math: Multiplication

Science: Classification

Social Studies: Utah Regions

Thank you for all your support with emails, phone calls, donations, and notes. I appreciate the opportunity to teach your students. They are truly amazing!

Mrs. Yates