Hello Parents and Students!
I am so happy to have so many of you reading my blogs:) I will write updates so you know important happenings in the classroom and at school. We will begin painting in art this week so please send in newspapers and an old shirt, smock or apron that can get very messy. If you still have Entertainment books please send them back or send in the money.

Students need to be studying their times tables- up to the 12's, the 50 states and capitals, and the 50 vocabulary words that are in my previous blog. ALSO each student needs to read at least 20 minutes a night. Students who are good readers have an easier time in Social Studies, Science, and Math.

Send me a note if you have questions or comments. If you would like a phone call I will get back to you as soon as possible:)

Have a wonderful week!
Miss Rubasch

P.S. Do any of you know who invented the light bulb and when?

50 Vocabulary Words

Hello Parents and Students!

Here is the list of our first 50 vocabulary words. These words will take us into January. Students should be studying all of them throughout this quarter and next.

Do not panic. This is the best way to show growth and help kids retain the knowledge of learned information. Every Friday I will take 10 words at random. Technically, we could have the word "abolish" on the next four vocabulary tests. This may sound a little insane, but I like to graph the results in class so every child can see how much improvement our class is making.

abolish
abrupt
accomplish
acquaintance
adapt
advantage
ambition
amuse
annoyance
appointment
appreciate
authority
automatic
boundary
broadcast
campaign
cease
ceremony
circumstance
collapse
communicate
conclude
conquer
consult
contact
contribute
decay
deceive
declare
defend
destruction
distress
elaborate
embrace
endure
esteem
estimate
evidence
exaggeration
extinction
forbid
foreign
formula
foundation
frigid
frontier
function
genuine
ignore
imitate

Good Luck! Have a wonderful week, and look for your child's lists at home. We will be working on them in class a few times a week.

Miss Rubasch

Welome Back to School! Woo Hoo!

Hello Everyone,
I am so excited to start a new school year. Thank you for bringing in all the school supplies. We have a fun group of kids so eager to learn. One special addition to my classroom is Chewy. He is a very special guinea pig that everyone can enjoy, especially on the weekends. Please send in a signed permission if you would like to take Chewy home for the weekend.

Some of the things you can expect your student to learn this year include the 50 states and capitals, the Preamble, Pre-Algebra, Solar System, inventors and inventions, writing, literature, and so much more! Please plan on your student having homework every day (this includes days before long weekends and on days we have field trips).

I look forward to an amazing year. If you would like to reach me, you may email me at amyrubasch@yahoo.com or call the school to set up an appointment (721-4205). I am available for appointments Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00-8:25 AM or in the afternoon from 3:15-4:00 PM.

Miss Rubasch

Fabulous February!!!

Hello Parents and Students!
Progress reports went out today, and I will be available for the next few weeks after school for conferences. Please let me know if and when you would like to meet.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it is all about saying and doing something nice for someone else. Thursday we will decorate Valentine envelopes and if you have art supplies at home (glue sticks, scissors, glitter) we would love to use them! We will have a small party on Friday so feel free to send in your favorite treats to share and a Valentine for each student in the class. I will send out a class list this week.

Love of Reading week is next week and we have activities planned each day. I will be reading some of my favorite books to the class and each student will be reading from their favorite books as well. We will have "poem in a pocket" day, guest readers, and "dress up as your favorite literary character" day. You can help by donating some books you have at home to build up our classroom library.

This time of year it becomes imperative for students to know their times tables and division facts. Please quiz your kid! The more you practice at home, the easier time they will have in school.

Keep reading, reading, reading!! At least 20 minutes a day. We are competing in a Bookman's challenge to earn money for our school library. Students are filling out a small form for each book they read and it is being logged against other schools in Arizona. We have a great chance of winning and I know we can do it!

Science Projects are due next week! Please read the science packet, it has all the information and examples.

Have a great month!

Miss Rubasch