2015-16

The school year has started off great!  I'm in a new classroom in the building with much more space.  The 5th graders seem to agree with me that it's much better!!

We are starting by learning about how we think and express knowledge in 5th grade and will be having some STEM fun before we get to Shakespeare.

In 4th grade, we will be focusing on Problem Solving in my class.  Mrs. Fitz will be working on Flight and Ancient Greece with them.

I will be sharing second grade with Mrs. Fitz and we will be having lots of fun!

I'm still waiting for some sweet K/1st graders to join me.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact. me!!

Back to School 2014-2015

I am so excited to be back at South Douglas teaching my gifted kids again!  This year is looking great & I am really looking forward to seeing my kids next week!

I have created a "Glog" that has my expectations and procedures (as well as needed supplies for the classroom) that are also in my beginning of the year newsletter.  The click on the glogster logo below


http://mrshoffmaster.edu.glogster.com/edit/2014-15-classintro/

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! 

Email me: holly.hoffmaster@douglas.k12.ga.us

Call me: 770-651-4500

5th Grade Renaissance Projects

The fifth grade Program Challenge students have been working hard researching different topics about the Renaissance time period.  Each student prepared a "Glog" about their topic and presented it to the class when finished.  Here are some of the Glogs they created...

Flight Link for Kids

My dad was telling me about this website from the US Air Force and it has an interactive kids page...

National Air Force Museum

2012-2013

So excited to see my returning students & meeting my new students.  I am looking forward to meeting our new friends that finished testing soon!!

Check this out!!

A television show just for us!
National Geographic Channel's Brain Games!!
Click here to find out more

Scientists as Kids videos

I found this in a newsletter I got and each video is about a scientist as a kid...



Scientists as Kids Videos


Enjoy!!

First Week of PC

We had a great first week of Program Challenge!!  I really enjoyed getting to meet my new students and see my returning students!!  Thank you to everyone who sent in supplies for the classroom & their student information sheet!!  If you haven't sent in your student information sheet yet, please send it in this week with your child.

This week, we are starting our problem solving unit in all my classes.  1st grade is beginning with the "Draw a Picture" strategy while 4th & 5th grade are starting with "Guess & Check."

If you have any questions, please drop me an email!  holly.hoffmaster@douglas.k12.ga.us

Have a great week!!

Welcome to Mrs Hoffmaster's 2011-2012 Program Challenge Class!!

Dear Parents & Guardians,

I’m very excited to be back again at South Douglas and have my son here in kindergarten!! It really feels like a second home after 11 years :-) We learning some new things with technology this year in all my classes and will be able to share some awesome projects on here!  My goal for all my students is to enjoy enriching units of study while they are challenged to learn at their level.  As always, all groups will work with creative & critical thinking skills throughout the year as well as focusing on problem sloving and our units of study.

Your child will be given an ample amount of time to complete independent class work assignments. If your child does not finish that day, they may finish any class work assignment for homework to be turned in the following morning without penalty. They should ask me for any makeup work as soon as they return to school so they are not behind the rest of the class the following week.  Normally there is not PC homework unless they need to finish something from class.

Your child is allowed to bring a healthy snack and a water bottle to my class. Depending on what time we have lunch, your child will have a set time to have their snack while they work. Please make sure to send healthy snacks like fruit, cheese crackers, etc. and remind them that the trash should go in the trash can so we do not get bugs in our classroom.

Your child is allowed to visit the restroom once in the morning and once in the afternoon using a bathroom pass and sign themselves out so I can account for their location. If they go before coming to my room each time and when leaving for specials, lunch, or recess, this should be enough. If it is an emergency, they are allowed to go anytime.

I am looking forward to helping each student reach their potential and have fun in Program Challenge. In order for this to happen, a few rules must be followed. Please take a few moments to review them with your child.

Program Challenge Rules And Expectations

Behavior that Keeps You or Others From Learning is UNACCEPTABLE

Always Try Your Best

Follow Directions the First Time They Are Given

Take Care of Materials & Equipment

If You Use It, Put It Back Where It Belongs!

Be Kind to Others & Yourself

Be Prepared for PC Class !!

If you CHOOSE to break a rule:

1st Offense: Warning & Loss of PC Bucks

2nd Offense: Action Plan & Loss of PC Bucks

3rd Offense: Note Home & Loss of PC Bucks

4th Offense: Call Parent & Loss of PC Bucks

5th Offense: Parent Conference & Loss of PC Bucks

6th Offense: Office Referral & Loss of PC Bucks

These consequences will be enforced during ALL Program Challenge time. Students will get a fresh start every week.

 Each student should bring the following to the first day of Program Challenge

* Student Information Sheet!

* #2 Pencils

* Markers

* Loose Leaf Notebook Paper or a perforated notebook

* Box of Kleenex

* A Flash drive would be advantageous

Classroom Wish List

The following items are things that we can always use in the classroom. However, your student is not required to have any of these items, so please do not feel obligated to purchase any of them. Any of these items would be greatly appreciated anytime of the school year if you’d like to make a donation.

* Ream of Copy Paper

* Clorox Wipes

* Ziploc bags (gallon, quart, pint, or snack size)

* Handheld Pencil Sharpener

* Thin Markers

* Umbrellas

* Colored Pencils

* Collegiate Dictionaries (Paperback)

* Dry Erase Markers

* Dry Erase Eraser

* Expo wipes

* Large bag of Skittles or M & M’s

* Small toys for treasure box

* Stickers

* DVD-R or CD-R

If you would like to volunteer in my classroom by making copies or cutting stuff out, please let me know on the student information sheet that you received at Sneak A Peek or the first week of school.

Feel free to send a message to my school email
holly.hoffmaster@douglas.k12.ga.us
if you have any questions. Thanks for your help in enriching your child!

 Mrs. Hoffmaster

Create your own sms poll at Poll Everywhere

Create interactive meetings at Poll Everywhere

Great Parent Resource

This is a link to a page that has 60 links that Gifted Parents (and really anybody) can use.

Click here!

Link to SENG News

Great Gifted Education Blog

Found this on Profrock Press (a company that sells materials for gifted education) and think it looks great for supporting our gifted students!
http://resources.prufrock.com/GiftedChildInformationBlog/tabid/57/Default.aspx

Douglas County Association for Gifted Children

DCAGC has a new website - please visit it to learn more about our gifted programs, links on gifted children's needs, and tips for parenting a gifted child. http://dcafgc.info

DCAGC Parent Meeting

Dont forget to attend the Douglas County Association of Gifted Children's meeting this coming Tuesday October 19th at 7pm.  The new associate superintendent will be speaking about our gifted programs and gifted in general.

Awesome Link for Kids & Parents!

Stimulate your brain with a little Sudoku

New Parent Resources

Check the Resources tab to find some new parent resources I located yesterday!

Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program)

The Duke TIP 4th/5th Grade Talent Search provides academically talented students in the 4th or 5th grade an opportunity to enhance their academic abilities. Participants and their families are offered resources and encouragement to supplement their educational experience.  Eligibility for enrollment is an honor and indicates outstanding intellectual ability. Registration begins December 1 of each year. Enrolling students must be in either the 4th or 5th grade. If you enrolled as a 4th grader you do not need to enroll again as a 5th grader. Benefits of participation continue through the participant’s 6th grade school year.  Click Here to learn more!

Weird Science!!

University of West Georgia is offering an awesome opportunity for our kids to play with science!  If you would like to know more about IMPACT, please click the link to the pdf below...

IMPACT Science

Vocabulary

I will be adding the lists of vocabulary words that the 4th & 5th graders are working with on the 4th grade & 5th grade tabs above.  Every 2 weeks, they will get a new set of words that have a common "root" based on Greek & Latin languages.  By the end of the year, the list will be impressive :-)

Followers

Parents,
Please check this regularly & be sure to click on the follow the blog button on the right side.  You can follow it anonymously or create/use your own profile.