HELLO AND WELCOME!!!

Welcome to a NEW YEAR!!! I am so very excited for this new year.
Most already know me, but a quick synopsis....I have been at Emerado for 8 years. I have taught 2nd grade, 1st grade, and now this is my second year teaching 4th grade. I am also the schools librarian, PTO president, German teacher, and middle school art and health teacher (with the exception of 6th grade). I graduated from UND in 2005, and this December I will be graduating with my Masters in Education, emphasis in Elementary Education, from Valley City State University. I am married and have three kids who are ages 11, 9, and 5.

There will be several things different this year that I would like to point out to parents. The biggest thing is...well..you are already here!!!!!
I will be hosting a blog. This is where I post updates, any pertinent field trip information, and just general information about the classroom.
The art students do SUCH amazing things...I really wanted to share it with the world!

Few points to consider....I will be taking pictures....USUALLY I DO NOT take pictures of students. I have an app where I blur faces out, etc. Sometimes I like to get to action shots of students (from the side or back view). This is a public blog....which means that this is a great way for other friends and relatives to see what the students are creating in class! It also means that anyone who has the address can access the pictures.
If you do not want your child's name or even side pose of your child in ANY picture...PLEASE let me know immediately. Example.....if Johnny Bob makes a beautiful mask...I will take a picture of his mask and said "mask made by Johnny Bob". IF you DO NOT want that.....I will just state "mask made by 5th grade student". PLEASE talk with me of any concerns or questions.

My classroom will be a Flipped Classroom this year. This means that the students will be doing "homework" based on the content they will be taught THE NEXT DAY. How is this possible?
A lot of the content will be intro videos I make (especially my German homework) or something the students need to discuss. ALL of the 4th graders-8th graders will have their own Chrome Book for usage during the school day. This makes getting homework done during the day a lot easier! Students can also utilize Encore time for their homework. At home, the students are then able to complete their assignments on a program called Edmodo. Edmodo is like Facebook for school. The students will be assigned into groups and will access assignments, discussions, and anything else they need right on the website. This makes it easy for parents to access the site and see EXACTLY what is assigned (no more having to wonder if little Johnny really doesn't have homework, or if he is trying to pull a fast one)!

My blog has some previous posts about the various technological tools we will be utilizing throughout the school year. I am sure there will be lots of questions, so please feel free to comment directly here, or email me personally at
amy.havelka@emeradok8.com

I am VERY excited and I cannot wait to get this year kicked off with a bang!!!!!!! :)