This year we will be using technology in multiple ways to support and enhance the students education. Along with this website that we have created to support reading, writing, math, Social Studies, and science, we will also be using Raz Kids, Edmodo, Xtramath, Typing Club, and many more.
Well, as your students have or will learn from becoming detectives on the first day of school, I graduated from Central Michigan University in 2004 with my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. I started my career teaching 7th grade math for 6 years in the middle school. Then I taught 5th grade for a year, 3rd grade for a year, and finally have spent the past 2 years back in 5th grade. All told, I've taught 10 years at Fennville and have had a plethora of amazing experiences at all the age levels that I have taught. In 2008, I earned my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership through Michigan State University. Go Chippewas, Go Spartans!!!
I'm a husband and a father, I've been married to my wife Amanda for 8 years, and have two daughters, Brynlee, who is 5 years old, and Breslyn, who just turned 2. As you can see Bryn loves to dress up for Halloween, that's Merida from the movie "Brave". I love spending my time being active with my daughters; swimming, playing house, tea parties, biking, being an oversized toy and snot rag for Breslyn, etc. I also enjoy reading, playing golf, working out, sports, math, grilling, hunting, and spending time with my family. Oh, we also have a dog, her name is Kiya, but we often call her Shakey the Shih Tzu because she is pretty much afraid of everything. Case in point, it was raining out when I took this picture of her shaking.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUBS
Coming Home Soon!
The first book order of the year is always the most important to getting your child off to a good start with reading, while helping to build our classroom library. By allowing your child to choose a book or more that interests him/her, it will encourage them to want to read more. For every book purchased throughout the year our classroom receives points to redeem for books to put in our class library. For every dollar spent we earn 1 point (20 points = $1 to spend). However, the first book order offers bonus points up to 10,000 if we reach $300. I know that is a lofty goal, but we have hit it before. That would mean we would get 10,300 points or about $500 to spend to build our classroom library. We also receive 10 free recent release books and everyone that orders gets a coupon for a free book the next time they order. I am giving 2 weeks instead of the normal 1 to reach this goal. Therefore, take a look through this Scholastic Books order form with your child and see if their is one or maybe two books you could order to spark their interest in reading this school year as well as benefit our classroom library. This will be the only time I ask you to order from Scholastic since it is such a value to our classroom. Thanks Mr. VanderMeulen Please make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs, or click Book Clubs link above and create an account then enter our classroom code HCC3Z to use a credit card.
When the baby's awake, everyone's awake! Breslyn
Chad VanderMeulen 5th Grade Teacher Fennville Elementary School [email protected]