February 27th Newsletter

                    

 Important Dates

March

            6 – Papermaking Assembly

            13 – Report Cards Go Home

          19 – Early Dismissal – 12:00

26 - First Grade Music Concert 

          30 – Spring Break Begins

April 7 – Classes resume

         

Author of the Month

     Patricia Polacco is our author for the month of March.  Many of her books are about events that happened to her and her family when she was growing up.  These books discuss problems & feelings that many children have but may be afraid to talk about, such as being bullied, not being able to read, and sibling rivalry.  The children enjoy listening to these books and discussing them as we go along.

Rainbow Fish Field Trip

     Our field trip to see The Rainbow Fish went very well. It took us a while to get there due to the snow, but we made it there just in time. The children enjoyed it and were well-behaved. 

     Our next field trip, which is to Blackberry Farm in Aurora, is tentatively set for the beginning of June.  I will send home more information on that once our plans are finalized and the date gets closer.

Reading

        This week we read Adelita by Tomie dePaola.  It is the Mexican version of the story of Cinderella. We worked on questioning before, during, and after reading the story.

        The vocabulary words for this week were:

fiesta, stunning, company, unison, whim, meager, and vamanos

Comprehension Strategies

          We will be working on questioning and visualizing what they are reading.

Phonics Skills

We will be working on vowel pairs ow and ou.

Grammar Lesson

We will be learning about final blends.

Spelling Words

The spelling words for next week are:

Box, job, bulb, own, grow, elbow, yellow, other, were, snowman

     Caleb will be our “student of the week” for the week of March 2nd.

Have a relaxing weekend!

February 20th Newsletter

           

 Important Dates

February

          21 – Snowflake Ball   6:30-8:00

          26 – Field Trip – Rialto Square Theater

          27 – Dr. Seuss Day

         

    Mick will be our “student of the week” for the week of February 23-27.

Summer Birthdays

   If your child has a summer birthday and would like to celebrate it during the school year, just drop me a note or an e-mail.  You do not have to send treats.  We usually let that person be the line leader for the day and also give him/her a sticker & a pencil.  It just makes them feel special for the day:)

      

  

   Each student in our classroom received a new iPad mini to be used in class, as well as at home.  We have used it to work on RAZ kids and Xtramath so far.  We noticed that some of the iPads were missing certain apps, so we are working on getting those loaded onto all of them.  Mrs. Foellmer will also be coming into our classroom to teach us how to do our calendar activities on our iPads using a nearpod.  Please remember to charge the device at night and to send it to school in the morning.  Thanks.

     

         

            This week we read Stars and Constellations by Elizabeth Bennett. We learned about the constellations, Orion, Great Bear, and
Great Dog.  We discussed how stars can be different colors and which colors of stars were the hottest or coldest.

            The vocabulary words for this week were: Sirius, Orion, universe, ladle, constellation, humongous, and gaze

           

Comprehension Strategies

     We are working on questioning before, during, and after reading a text. We are using the objects that you sent in the paper bags to help us practice this skill.  We also use questioning skills when I read books to them during snack time.

Phonics Skills

      In phonics, we will be working on the long /i/ sound spelled with a “y”.

Grammar Skills

We will work on describing words.

   

Spelling Words

The spelling words for next week are: win, sit, stop, fry, dry, crying, sky, more, before, myself

       On Friday, February 27, we are celebrating Dr. Seuss Day as a part of our reading incentives.  Children may wear mismatched clothing or their shirts backwards to celebrate it.  They may also bring in a Dr. Seuss book to read that day.  

February 12th Newsletter

                       

        

 Important Dates

February

          13 – No School

          16 – President's Day – No School

          19 – Spring Pictures

          21 – Snowflake Ball   6:30-8:00

          26 – Field Trip – Rialto Square Theater

          27 – Dr. Seuss Day

         

           

Black History Month

          Since February is black history month, we have been reading some books to go along with this theme. 

          The class really enjoyed the book called Almost to Freedom.  It's a story about slaves escaping to the North as told from a doll's point of view.  Ask your child to tell you about it.

Math

       We have been taking timed addition tests approximately 2 times a week. We have been practicing every day during math centers.  I have noticed quite a bit of improvement this past week.  Please have your child practice these basic facts at home also. He/she may use the Xtramath app on the ipad to do so. Thanks. 

Sophia will be our “student of the week” for the week of February 17-20.

Reading

    This week we read The Planets by Jeff Bauer. We learned about the inner planets, outer planets, and what a space probe was. The book gave us a sentence to help us remember the planets in order.  It is:

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Noodles.

The vocabulary words for this week were: combination, dwarf planet, orbit, space probe, telescope, and vertical

Phonics Skills

          Next week the children will be working on the long /i/ sound using -ie and -igh.  They will also be reviewing the oo sound and compound words.

Grammar Lesson

We will be working on adjectives.

Spelling Words

The spelling words for next week are:   lip, his, went, night, high, might, light, any, many, frightening

      We have collected many books for Mr. Lazar’s old school.  I’m sure they will appreciate them.  Thanks for your generosity.

Enjoy the long weekend!

February 6th Newsletter

 

Important Dates

February

          10 – Conferences (as needed)

          11 - Early Dismissal – 12:00

              - 100^th Day of School

          12 – Valentine's Day Party – 2:00

          13 – No School

          16 – President's Day – No School

          19 – Spring Picture Day

21 - Snowflake Ball 6:30-8:00

          26 – Field Trip – Rialto Square Theatre

         

    Computers

   This week, we worked on making a word search using the names of family members. The children typed in names during computer time and printed it out. Your child may use this program (with your permission) at home also.  The website is:   

                www.puzzlemaker.com

Have your child show you how to do it.  They were very excited about this program.

Author of the Month

          Tomie dePaola is our author for the month of February.  We have been reading his books every day during snack time for the past week. The children really enjoy his books about Strega Nona and Big Anthony.  We also had a good laugh after reading his book entitled, Tom.  Many of his books are about his life when he was growing up. Ask your child to tell you about some of them.

Reading

          This week we read The Sun by Justin McCory Martin.  We learned that the sun is the center of the solar system and that it is really a star. We are still charting our phases of the moon each day.

          The vocabulary words for this story were: billion, distance, energy, gas, orbit, and solar system

Comprehension Strategies

          Next week we will work on asking good questions while reading a book (before, during, and after).

Phonics Skills

          We will be working on the long e sound spelled /ea/.

Grammar Lesson

We will be working on nouns.

Spelling Words

       Our spelling words will be:

Met, web, spin, tea, heat, leaf, each, who, which, seashell

   

     We will not have a student of the week next week since we will be gone on Friday.