January 29, 2010

READING
Next week we will be reading three biographies. We will learn what makes a good biography and trying writing a biography including a time line of the person's life.
In phonics we will be focusing on the r-controlled vowels and the final syllables -tion and -ture..
Vocabulary words are biography, event, information, champion, fact and president.
Comprehension strategies are rereading for understanding, evaluating, and visualizing.
In grammar we will be working on nouns and pronouns.

MATH
In math we will be finishing our chapter on using money. We will have our math test at the end of next week. Our next chapter is on telling time.

Social Studies
Next week we will be studying voting, our country's symbols, along with doing some Presidents' Day Activities.

Student of the Week
Matthew is the Student of the Week! He likes to play basketball and video games. His favorite color is green. His favorite animal is a cat. Matthew grows up he wants to be a Spy.

Character Counts
Our new pillar for the month of February is trustworthiness. Being honest, completing homework independently, playing by the rules, and being on time are some of the characteristics of a trustworthy person. Please have your child wear blue on Fridays during February.

Valentine’s Day Party
On Friday, Feb. 12th we will have a Valentine's Day party. Your child may bring one valentine for every child in the class (21 students). Please have your child sign each card, but DO NOT write individual names on the envelopes. Bring the cards to school in a bag with your child’s name on it.

Helping Haiti
The response to the Helping Haiti coin donation was tremendous! While collecting the coins over a 2-week period, WE RAISED $1482.97!! The students, parents, and teachers at Elizabeth Ide really contributed to raising the awareness about the importance of helping the people of Haiti. Our donation will be donated directly to the Food for the Poor organization.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feb. 2 – No School – Teacher Institute Day
Feb. 12 – Valentine's Day Party
Feb. 15 – No School – President's day
Feb. 25– Spring Pictures
Mar. 1 – Casimer Pulaski Day – No School
Mar. 9– Report Cards

January 22, 2010

READING
Our next story is called Officer Buckle and Gloria. It is a humorous fictional story about a policemen who loves to give safety tips to school children, but nobody every listens – until he brings a dog named Gloria.
In phonics we will be focusing on the the vowel pairs ow and oa, r-controlled vowels or and ar, and the endings -tion and -ture.
Vocabulary words are accident, audience, officer, attention, commands, and safety.
Comprehension strategies are drawing conclusions and monitor/clarify.
In grammar we will be working on nouns and pronouns .

MATH
In math we working on counting money. Next week we will have a test on this chapter on Tuesday. Our next chapter will continue with money. We will be learning how to make change, add and subtract money amounts and learn about the decimal point and dollar sign.

Student of the Week
Peter is the Student of the Week! He likes to play soccer and games on the Wii. His favorite color is blue. His favorite animal is a lion. When Peter grows up, he wants to be an Artist.

Handwriting
Our first cursive letter was lowercase i. Please review the formation with your child and complete the homework sheet that was sent home.

Social Studies
Next week we will learn about the local government, state government and the election process.

Progress Reports
Next Friday Progress Reports will be sent home to those children who are having difficulties with either academics or behavior in the classroom. Not all children will be receiving a progress report.

Thank you to the PTO for the Magic of Books Assembly. We enjoyed the assembly and learned that Reading is Magical!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feb. 2 – Institute Day – No School
Feb. 8 – Iowa Testing
Feb. 8 - 100th Day of School!
Feb. 12 – Valentine's Day Party at 2:00
Feb. 15 – President's Day – No School
Mar. 1 – Casimer Pulaski Day – No School

January 15, 2010

READING
Our next two stories are in our Theme Wrap-Up. The first one is called Grandpa's Corner Store It is about when a giant supermarket opens in the neighborhood Lucy tries to help her Grandfather save his small corner grocery store. The second story is called Barrio: Jose's Neighborhood it is about a San Francisco neighborhood. We will be comparing these stories with the other literature we have read in our theme.
In phonics we will be focusing on the the vowel pairs ai, ay and the endings -er and -est.
Vocabulary words are deliveries, grocery store, flyer, success, grand opening, supermarket, barrio, harvest, customs, fiesta and traditions.
Comprehension strategies are summarizing and making inferences.
In grammar we will be working on special nouns .

MATH
We have finished our chapter on probability. Our next chapter is on counting money. Please make sure you have sent in the following coin in a small container (with name on lid) with the following coins. 20 pennies, 10 nickels, 10 dimes and 7 quarters.

Student of the Week
Sean is the Student of the Week! He likes to play the drums and ride horses. His favorite color is purple. His favorite animal is a dog When Sean grows up, he wants to be a Cowboy.

Science
We are learning about sand, soil and how fossils are made. We will be making our own fossils next week with a Science test on this unit.

Social Studies
We are learning about Martin Luther King Jr., and his beliefs and dreams for a better world. Our next chapter will be about our country, voting and the government.

Handwriting
We started to learn how to write in cursive. I will be sending home homework to practice the letters we are working on in school.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King's Birthday – No School
Jan. 22 – Magic of Books Assembly
Jan. 29 – Movie Night
Feb. 15 – President's Day – No school

January 8, 2010

Happy New Year!

READING
Our next next story will be Jamaica Louise James. It is about a girl who loves to draw and paint. To surprise her grandmother on her birthday, she hangs up her artwork at the subway station where her grandmother works.
In phonics we will be focusing on the the vowel pairs ee, ea and the endings -tion and -ture.
Vocabulary words are booth, station, token, plaque, subway and mayor.
Comprehension strategies are evaluating and making inferences.
In grammar we will be working on nouns that change the spelling in the plural.

MATH
In math we finished our chapter on data and graphs. Our next chapter will focus on probability. We will predict if an event is certain or impossible, record possible outcomes, and solve problems by making predictions.

Dec. 18 - Joey
Dec. 19 – Michelle
Dec. 31 - Erin

Student of the Week
Denny is the Student of the Week! He likes to play PS2 games and eat donuts. His favorite colors are black and blue. His favorite animal is a reindeer. When Denny grows up, he wants to be a Mall Cop.

Reading Logs
Most of the children turned in their reading logs for the month of December and earned a pajama day reward and a Pizza Hut coupon. We will be earning a Six Flags ticket and Ozzie ticket if your child turns in a log for both January and February. I sent home January logs to those who didn't return their December reading log.

Science
We are starting a new unit on the Earth's surface and natural resources. We learned how the Earth changes and how landforms are made. Next week we will learn about sand, soil, rocks and how fossils are made.

Supplies Needed
Your child will need to bring in for math a small container (with name on lid) with the following coins. 20 pennies, 10 nickels, 10 dimes and 7 quarters. Please send this in as soon as possible.

Each child needs to bring in a shoe box for making a valentine holder. The box needs a lid that fits on the box. Make sure your child's name is on the box.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jan. 14 – Vision and Hearing Screening
Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King's Birthday – No School
Jan. 22 – Magic of Books Assembly
Jan. 29 – Movie Night