March 3, 2009

READING
This week we will be doing a reading/writing workshop. We will be writing a narrative essay about a personal experience. We will be writing an introduction, beginning, middle, end and a conclusion.

MATH
In math we will learning times of events in the A.M. and P.M., showing how time elapses on a clock, and the calendar. We will be finishing this chapter and our test will be on Friday. Our next chapter will be on geometry, patterns and measurement.

Fast Facts
We are finished with fact facts. Please make sure that you continue to practice flashcards with your child. Thank you to Mrs. Maschio and Mrs. Zimmerman for helping us with the fast facts this year.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive letters o, c, and q. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Science
Our next unit will be about the weather. We will be observing and recognizing weather patterns, learning about the tools needed to measure weather and the water cycle.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conference slips went home with your child. Please return the slips as soon as possible. I am not meeting with everyone this trimester. If you feel a conference is not necessary you can mark that on the form and send it back to school.

Student of the Week
Adam is the Student of the Week! He likes playing basketball, soccer and reading books. His favorite colors are blue and green. When Adam grows up he wants to be an Illustrator.

Supplies Needed
We need 3X5 index cards for science. Please send a package to school. Thank you.

Stellaluna Field Trip
We are going on a field trip to see Stellaluna on March 17th. Please fill out the permission slip and send it in an envelope along with the $7.00 to school.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar. 2 – Casimer Pulaski Day – No School
Mar. 10 – Report Cards
Mar. 12 – Early dismissal day
Mar. 13 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – No School
Mar. 17 – Stellaluna Field Trip

February 23, 2009

READING
This week we will be reading two stories about dinosaurs. Little Grunt and the Big Egg is a fiction story and Mighty Dinosaurs is a non-fiction story. We will be comparing the literature and discuss cause and effect.
In phonics we will be focusing on words with nd, nt, mp, ng, nk and the vowel pairs ow and oa.
Vocabulary words are disaster, earthquake, erupting, lava, pitch, volcano, fossils, packs, prey, remains and reptile.
Comprehension strategies are cause and effect and drawing conclusions.
In grammar we will be working on singular possessive nouns and plural possessive nouns.

MATH
In math we will be finishing our chapter on money. Our test will be on Tuesday. Our next chapter will be on time. We will be exploring minutes and hours.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive letters a, d, and g. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Science
We will be finding out how to take care of natural resources, pollution and how to reuse materials and not waste them. We will have our unit test on Friday.

Student of the Week
Kyle is the Student of the Week! He likes camping, Christmas and snow globes. His favorite colors are blue, green and red. When Kyle grows up he wants to be a Scientist.

Feb. 20 - Matthew

Supplies Needed
We need 3X5 index cards for science.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feb. 26 – Spring Pictures
Mar. 2 – Casimer Pulaski Day – No School
Mar. 10 – Report Cards
Mar. 12 – Early dismissal day
Mar. 13 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – No School

February 17, 2009

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 biograph, 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 on using money, comparing money amounts and adding and subtracting money problems.
Social Studies
We will be studying government and presidents next week along with doing some Presidents' Day Activities.

Science
We will be finding out how to take care of natural resources, pollution and how to reuse materials and not waste them. We will have our unit test on Friday.

Student of the Week
Megan is the Student of the Week! She likes dogs, Barbies and eating M & M's. Megan wishes that she could have another dog. Her favorite colors are pink and purple. When Megan grows up she wants to be a Teacher.

Iowa Testing
Thank you to the PTO for the delicious tangerines and juice boxes. The children enjoyed the treat!

Valentine’s Day Party
Thank you our Valentine’s Day parties were great! Thank you to all the helpers who organized our games and those who provided snacks. Your support and generosity are greatly appreciated! The children had a wonderful time!

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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feb. 26 – Spring Pictures
Mar. 2 – Casimer Pulaski Day – No School
Mar. 10 – Report Cards
Mar. 12 – Early dismissal day
Mar. 13 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – No School

Happy Valentines
Day!

February 9, 2009

READING
Due to the Iowa testing all next week, our class will not have a spelling test on a new set of words. We will also not begin a new reading story.
Next week will be busy (and tiring!) for your children, so make sure they get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.
Our class will resume with a new story and spelling words the following week.

MATH
In math we will be finishing our chapter on money and taking our chapter test some time next week. Our next chapter will be on using money, comparing money amounts and adding and subtracting money problems.
We will be studying government and presidents next week along with doing some valentine activities in between the Iowa testing.

Student of the Week
Amelia is the Student of the Week! She likes flowers, candy and chocolate cookies. Amelia wishes that she could have a million dollars. Her favorite color is purple. When Amelia grows up she wants to be a Super Model.

Supplies Needed
wet wipes
donations to a reward bin

Valentine’s Day Party
On Friday, Feb. 13th we will have a Valentine's Day party. Your child may bring one valentine for every child in the class (19 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.

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.

Service Project
We are collecting “spare change”, soup, jelly and peanut butter for the Woodridge food Pantry. We will be collecting these items until Feb.12th. Thank you.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feb. 9 -shoe boxes are needed
Feb. 9 – Iowa Testing
Feb. 16 – President's Day – No School
Feb. 26 – Spring Pictures
Mar. 2 – Casimer Pulaski Day – No School
Mar. 12 – Early dismissal day
Mar. 13 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – No School

Happy 100th Day of School!