Hello My Name Is...
Amber Kasper
March 25, 2013
HAPPY SPRING BREAK! I hope that all my students and co-workers have a wonderful and safe spring break. Please make sure your little bundles of energy get plenty of rest, though, because when your child comes back to school we will be in HIGH GEAR! It's almost the end of the year and we have a lot left to learn!
While your child is on break, and when your child is with you, here are some things that you can do to support his/her academic progress:
1. READ, READ, READ - let your child read to you as much as possible. Write sight words on sticky notes or index cards and post them everywhere (on the fridge, bathroom mirrors, bedroom doors, on the tv, etc.). If you are in need of sight word lists or books for your child to read, just let me know and I will gladly get you some resources.
2. MONEY - Encourage your child to identify coins and bills and allow them to manipulate money on a regular basis. Try to keep change around the house and ask your child to both identify the coins and count them.
3. REST - I can not stress enough the need for your child to get a good night's sleep. Please try to get (and keep) your child on a regular night-time schedule. At this age, your child needs at least 9 hours of sleep per night. The need for regular, restful sleep is often overlooked, but it is very important to your child's academic progress, as well as his/her physical and mental well-being.
As always, if you have any questions, you know where to find me. :)
Also, feel free to give me a call at 740-776-2920, ext. 27 or e-mail me at amber.kasper@sea.k12.oh.us
August 20, 2012
Welcome back! As I prepare to begin my first day of the 2012-2013 school year, I reflect on the craziness of the last school year for me, personally and professionally. On March 5, 2012, my precious daughter, Emmalee Grace, entered the world and made my life a little sweeter. She is now approaching six months old and I cannot, for the life of me, tell you where the time has gone. My son Elijah just turned four years old in July and I cannot fathom that that is even a real possibility!?! Being a mother to my two precious babies is one of the highest honors I hold in this life.
Another honor that I have is the opportunity to assist in the education of the many wonderful students at Sciotoville Elementary Academy. I love my job! I am thankful to work with such dedicated teachers and staff members and I am really looking forward to the wonderful year ahead!
As we prepare to begin the school year, please know that your child is precious to me and I appreciate the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of my students. If at any time you have any questions of concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at 740-776-2920 ext. 27, send me an e-mail (amber.kasper@sea.k12.oh.us), or stop in and see me. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Go Tartans!
February 1, 2012
Happy Digital Learning Day! Check it out: www.digitallearningday.org.
- Mr. Miller's 3rd grade math class played interactive football using the CPS student response systems - reviewed math vocabulary and had a blast!
- In Mrs. Ater's class, we did an interactive lesson on fact/opinion - the students in my group were very engaged and did a great job!
- In Mrs. Conkel's kindergarten class, the students displayed their Mobi skills (impressive, by the way) by completing interactive shape sorts.
Great job, Tartans - your participation in Digital Learning Day is appreciated!
January 30, 2012
Happy New Year! I apologize that I have not posted sooner. As we are nearing the end of January, I cannot help but think about the upcoming month, February, the month of LOVE. I wanted to take a moment to simply say THANK YOU to each and every SEA parent/guardian for allowing me to take part in your child's education. I LOVE teaching your children!!! The time that I have with them certainly feels like only a drop in a bucket; however I genuinely try my best to impact your child's life in a positive way. In the words of Forest Witcraft: "A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove,
what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but
the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life
of a child." It is my hope that when you, as a parent/guardian, look back on your child's academic career, you will be able to recall some degree of positivity that I have had on your child's life. Have a great week!
November 29, 2011
Hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving! I simply cannot believe that we are days away from December. We have three full weeks before Christmas break - let's learn!!!
November 21, 2011
Thanksgiving week - I cannot believe it! There is so much to be thankful for here at Sciotoville Elementary Academy...great students, great staff members, amazing technology, and wonderful Fall OAA scores. Have a great Thanksgiving week!
November 18, 2011
Inservice Day at Sciotoville Elementary Academy! I hope that all our students have enjoyed their day off...we are busy trying to become better teachers! We can all become better - every day, that should be our goal. Movin' on up! :-)
November 10, 2011
Allow me to take this time to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who have served and fought for my freedom. Words are not enough to express my gratitude, but it certainly is the least that I can do. If you have the opportunity to thank a veteran, please do so...and not just on Veteran's Day, but every day! God bless America, land that I love!
October 25, 2011
We have an exciting week - visits from Fordham (our sponsors), field trips to Furhman's Orchard, and as always, FUN & LEARNING in the classrooms!
Also, please be encouraging your children to try new fruits and vegetables made available to them twice a week through our Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP). This is an awesome program meant to expose your children to fruits and vegetables that they may be unfamiliar with as well as encourage them to TRY NEW THINGS!
October 12, 2011
Halfway through another week - this nine weeks is flying by!!! With cold and flu season upon us (an ever-changing weather), I would like to really encourage everyone to use some of these helpful hints on how to stay healthy this winter:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, being with ill people and especially before you eat
- Avoid sharing objects
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes
- Get enough sleep and avoid getting "run down"
- Reduce stress
- Use tissues for coughs and sneezes and dispose of them immediately and appropriately
- Eat right and get regular exercise
(adapted from this University of Wisconsin website -
http://www.uwhealth.org/flu/10-ways-to-stay-healthy-during-cold-and-flu-season/10371)
October 3, 2011
Tomorrow the 3rd graders will be participating in the OAA Reading Assessment. Make sure that your child feels supported and try to make sure that your child gets a good night's sleep tonight. Below are 10 test-taking tips for students from the website TeacherVision.com. Feel free to look over them and really encourage your child to use these strategies tomorrow . Together, we can make your child's OAA day a success!
Top Ten Test-Taking Tips for Students
Here are the top ten tips to success!
1. Have a Positive Attitude
Approach the big test as you'd approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.
2. Make a Plan
The week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? If you've been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.
3. The Night Before
Cramming doesn't work. If you've followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late!
4. The Morning of the Test
Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.
5. Test Time
Before the test begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you're allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you're not sure of the answer? Read the instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.
6. Manage Your Time
Scan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.
7. I'm Stuck!
Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don't lose points for wrong answers.
8. Multiple-Choice Questions
The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.
9. Neatness Counts
If your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.
10. I'm Done!
Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.
Follow these test tips, and you'll know you did your best - congratulations!
Read more on TeacherVision: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/study-skills/teaching-methods/6390.html#ixzz1ZjPBL62r
September 29, 2011
Happy Thursday...is it really almost Friday?!?! I just wanted to let everyone know that S.E.A. is now on Twitter - feel free to look me up - @AmberKasper.
September 26, 2011
Is it the end of September already?!? Where has the time gone. We are in full work mode here at S.E.A., teaching and preparing for the Fall OAA. I would like to encourage you, as a parent/guardian of a student at S.E.A., to take a look at this site provided by the national PTA. Included on this web-page is a Parent Guide, by grade level, to give you tips on what your child will be learning this year as well as some ideas for you to assist in your child's academic success. Click here--> PTA Parent Guides
September 12, 2011
Week #4!!! Wow!!! I simply cannot believe how quickly time is passing. As we approach mid-terms, I would like to encourage you to talk to your children about all of the exciting things that are happening in school. The third grade students are busy preparing for the fall administration of the OAA and all grades are in full swing - settling in to a routine and taking care of business. For more information about the OAA, click here ---> Ohio Department of Education
September 9, 2011
I just wanted to take a moment and say that I will never forget the events that occurred nearly 10 years ago. On September 11, 2001, I was a senior in high school and I will never forget the moment in which my class was told of the first plane that hit. Just like then, I am so proud to be an American and I am eternally grateful to all of those brave people who have fought and are currently fighting to protect our nation and our rights. God bless America, land that I love!
September 6, 2011
Good morning! I hope that you all enjoyed your long Labor Day weekend - mine was filled with River Days festivities. Congratulations to Miss Emily Howard from East High School, the 2011 Second Runner-up. I cannot believe that we are already in out THIRD week of school - time flies when you're having fun!
As you go through this week, please take the time to check out this wonderful website designed to assist in letter recognition and phonemic awareness ---> Starfall
August 29, 2011
A great Monday morning to you all! We are entering our first FULL week of school - how exciting! I can't believe how quickly last week passed. The Intervention Team is in full swing, getting ready to make our morning rotations and I am anxious to see my kiddos.
I wanted to take a minute to invite you to check out this fantastic website, filled with Dolch sight word resources - if you are looking for something to do with you child at home, this is a GREAT place to start. Check it out here -----> Mrs. Perkins - Dolch Sight Words
August 23, 2011
Well, here we are...at the beginning of another school year! I am so excited! As I look ahead into the next few days, I am just amazed at how quickly time has passed. I look at the students that were here our first year and they are so GROWN UP! I am delighted to watch these children grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Throughout the year, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me (740-776-2920 ext. 27), e-mail me (amber.kasper@sea.k12.oh.us), or stop in and see me in the Resource Room.
A little about me...
- Where were you born? Scioto Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth, OH
- Where did you go to school/college etc? Obtained Bachelor's Degree from Shawnee State University; Currently pursuing Master's Degree through Western Governor's University
- What is a favorite memory of your childhood? When I lived in Kentucky, there was a family who lost an infant child just days before Christmas. The family was devastated and, due to funeral costs, were not going to be able to provide their other children with Christmas gifts. With the help of my mother and her co-workers, we were able to do a food/toy/clothing drive and give those kids the Christmas of their dreams! Best feeling ever!
- Who was your favorite teacher? There are so many...but just to name a few...Kathleen Fannin (Garrison), Deborah Pemberton (Fairland), Kathryn Locke (Shawnee State)
- What do you do for fun? Sing, take pictures, hang out with friends...but mostly, I love spending time with my two favorite fellas - my son, Elijah, and my husband, Richie.
- What is your favorite book? The Giver
- What is your favorite music? Southern Gospel
- What is your favorite food? Chinese...or bacon... :)
- What is your favorite TV Program? Law & Order
- What is your favorite movie? Pay It Forward
- What is something that most people don't know about you? I recorded a CD in Nashville when I was a teenager. ;)