Mrs. Morgan’s Class

 

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I graduated from the University of  Utah with a BS in Elementary Education and received my Masters Degree in Instructional Technology from Utah State University. I also have a Gifted Education Endorsement, an Educational Technology Endorsement and a K-12 Library Media Certificate.

 

I am currently in my 24th year of teaching. This is my 5th year at Eastwood Elementary School. I have taught at Oquirrh Hills Elementary School in Kearns, Roosevelt Elementary School in South Salt Lake, and Cottonwood Elementary School in Holladay. I have taught 13 years of 2nd grade, 1 year of 1st grade, and am currently in my 10th year of teaching 4th grade. 

 

I love teaching 4th grade because the curriculum revolves around the state of Utah. I love the diverse and beautiful scenery here in Utah and the rich history and culture. It is a pleasure to share my enthusiasm for our beautiful state with my students. Another of my favorite things to share with my students is my love for art. I have been somewhat of a watercolor artist for about 20 years and I enjoy teaching painting methods and techniques to my students. I am convinced that anyone can produce art if they learn how to see the world through artist's eyes. That is what I try to teach the children in my class. Because I love to write, teaching creative writing is also one of my passions. Reading out loud to students each day is another one of my priorities. I love making a story come alive for young ears.

 

This year, I have teamed with Mrs. Miller to produce the Eastwood Eagle Eye News. It is an exciting project and I am thrilled to be working with Mrs. Miller and learning to use new technology tools such as the teleprompter and green screen. I am the advisor for the 5th grade news team. It has been a delightful experience and well worth giving up a couple of lunch breaks each week to meet with my reporters and anchors and to film the weekly broadcasts.

 

 I am happily married to Kirk Morgan. I have 3 married children. I love being a grandma and spend a lot of time with my 11 beautiful grandchildren. I love to be outside in just about any season. My favorite out of school activities are riding my bike, hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, playing wallyball, water sports, rollerblading, watercolor painting, and reading.

 

Curriculum This Month

February

Language Arts - We will continue our reading and discussion of The Secret Garden and explore the theme of change throughout the book. Students will be writing a variety of poems using various formats and styles.

Math - In math, we will continue our unit on geometry as we explore area, perimeter, and volume. We will also continue learning long division and we will begin a unit on fractions.

Science - As we continue our unit on geology, we will study fossils. We will look at how Utah's fossils tell us about its geologic past. Students will learn the difference between direct evidence and indirect evidence. (trace fossils) They will learn about petrification, carbonization, molds, casts, and dinosaurs. It should be fun!

 Social Studies - Students will learn about land forms and bodies of water and relate these concepts to Utah's geography. they will also be studying explorers, trappers, and traders that are part of Utah's history.

Art - Students will display their Indian Pottery for Cultural Awareness Week. They will also be starting a new painting of a Utah landscape.

 

Assignments

Normal Assignments for Language Class:  Monday - English assignment and study for spelling test on Tuesday;  Tuesday  - Receive new spelling words and weekly spelling assignment; Wednesday  - Writer's workshop and in-class writing assignment; Thursday -  English assignment;  Friday -  usually no homework/comprehension assessment in class.

Language Class

  • How-to Book Report due - Friday, February 26th
  • Reading Chart due - Monday, March 1st

 

Weekly Spelling and Vocabulary Words

Spelling tests will be given every Tuesday. New spelling words will be assigned on Tuesdays after the test. This schedule allows students an entire week to study rather than just four nights. It also puts spelling tests on days when school is almost always in session. The following words will be on the spelling test given on Tuesday, February 9th

Stem –– “pend” -  Latin – means: to hang

1. appendage - projecting part of an animal or plant body

2. dependant - a person who relies on another for support

3. impending - hanging suspended, about to occur

4. pendant - an ornament (as on a necklace) allowed to hang free

5. pendulum – something that swings freely to and fro.

6. tapestry

7. embroidered

8. permission

9. obsequious

10. servile

11. haughtily

12. imperious

13. impudent

14. humiliation

15. luxurious

16. subservient

17. substantial

18. shrubbery

19. curiosity

20. victuals

 

 Dates to Remember

 

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Valentine Party - February 12th

Field Trip to the state capitol - and DUP Pioneer Museum -  February 17th

Beach Day - February 23rd

Cultural Awareness Night - February 25th

Parents and Pastries - March 2nd

Field Trip to Granite Youth Symphony - March 18th

Field Trip to Wasatch Jr. High play - Sound of Music - March 23rd

Field Trip to Great Salt Lake - April 13th

Skate Night - April 22nd

Dance Festival - May 13th

Field Trip to Red Butte Garden  and This Is The Place Park - May 18th

CRT Testing  - April 19- May 28

 

 

 

Approved Snack List

Research shows that eating healthy snacks throughout the day helps children to maintain constant blood sugar levels, helping them to concentrate better and avoid mid-afternoon slumps. The following is a list of snacks that may be eaten in homeroom class. Each student will be allowed one sandwich-sized Ziploc bag of snacks per day. It is also recommended that every student have a water bottle at his/her desk each day.

 

crackers - Wheat Thins or Triscuits

raisins or other dried fruit

mozzarella or cheddar cheese sticks

carrot sticks

pretzels

apple slices

Cheerios (no milk)

celery, plain or with cream cheese

Goldfish Crackers

grapes

popcorn (without butter or greasy coating)

nuts (if nobody in the class has a nut allergy

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News Team Assignments

 

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Week

News

Weather

Sports

 

November 16-20

Joseph

Garrison

Cassidy

November 30-Dec4

Julian

Abby

Jonathan

December 7-11

Kathy

Gabby

Megan

December 14-18

Brock

Graham

Daniel

January 4-8

Isabela

Walker

Olivia

January 11-14

Oliver

Erin

James

January 19-22

Matthew

Dakota

Max

January 25-29

Jacob D.

Zane

Jacob F.

February 1-5

Emerson

Halley

Madison

February 8-12

Jacob H.

Mackenzie

Zac

February 16-19

Andy

Joseph

Garrison

February 22-26

Cassidy

Julian

Abby

March 1-5

Jonathan

Matthew

Erin

March 8-12

James

Jacob D.

Dakota

 

 

Student Star Assignments

2nd Term

 

November 16-20

Andy

November 30-Dec4

Isabella

December 7-11

Mackenzie

December 14-18

Graham

January 4-8

Olivia

January 11-14

Joseph

January 19-22

Kathy

January 25-29

James

February 1-5 Jonathan

February 8-12

Gabriella
February 16-19 Matthew
February 22-26 Abby
March 1-5 Zac
March 8-12 Julian

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Parent Volunteers

 

 

Links

Online Utah  http://www.onlineutah.com/counties3.shtml

Utah History for Kids - Counties http://historyforkids.utah.gov/homework_help/counties/

Utah Climate Summaries - http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmut.html

UEN Counties of Utah - http://www.uen.org/counties/utah.html

Museums in Utah - http://www.onlineutah.com/museums.shtml   and  http://www.utah.com/museums/ and

http://www.censusfinder.com/utah-historical-museums.htm and http://www.vpa.org/museumsut.html

Hospitals in Utah http://theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Utah.htm

Libraries in Utah http://www.publiclibraries.com/utah.htm

Utah Counties UEN http://www.uen.org/counties/

State of Utah Symbols - http://www.apples4theteacher.com/usa-states/utah/facts/

Utah 4 Kids http://www.slco.lib.ut.us/kidutah.htm

Utah Census Data http://www.kidscount.org/cgi-bin/aeccensus.cgi?action=profileresults&area=49S

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Documents

Documents for students to download - book reports, reading charts, songs, etc.

 

List of  Suggested Supplies

1 11X15 inch tablet of watercolor paper (Make sure it's watercolor paper and not just a sketch pad.)

1 double-wide magazine holder (I'll have one for you to see at your SEP conference)

1 large box of facial tissue for the classroom

1 pump bottle of antibacterial hand soap

1 -2 quart sized Ziploc plastic bag to hold all of your pencils, crayons, etc. (NO PENCIL BOXES, please. They take up too much room in your desk!)

1 set of colored pencils (sharpened)

1 set of markers (not permanent ink)

1 small hand-held pencil sharpener

1 glue stick

Parents: Please send me a message at my school email address from the email address at which you would like to be contacted. That will make it easy for me to create a class mailing list. On that message, please tell me both parents' names and let me know if you have any special skills you could share in the classroom or any type of volunteering you'd like to do. Also, I would appreciate knowing about any special needs or circumstances that your child has so I can be sensitive to those needs from day one.

Students: Please send me a quick note to my home email address telling me a little bit about yourself so I can begin getting to know you before school starts. I'd love for you to send me a current digital picture of yourself if you can get one.

Things I'd like to know about you:

Do you go by your given name or a nickname? What would you like me to call you?

What are some of your favorites?

What have you done this summer?

What are your talents and interests?

Are you close friends with others in the class? Who?

What do you think will be fun about 4th grade?

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Last updated on: Tuesday, February 2, 2010