March 27, 2009

READING
After spring break, we will be reading a story called Thundercake. It is a realistic story about a girl who is afraid of thunderstorms. When her grandmother decided to make a cake, they must go outside to get the ingredients. By the time the storm finally arrives, the girl realizes that she is braver than she thought.
In phonics we will be focusing on words that end in -ed and -ing, and the silent consonants b and k (n).
Vocabulary words are bolt, horizon, lightning, rumbled, thunder, weather.
Comprehension strategy is sequence of events.
In grammar we will be working on the verbs is/are and was/were.

MATH
In math we are continuing to work on the plane figures. We will learn about congruent figures and symmetry. We will take our test on Thursday, April 9th. Our next chapter will be on patterns.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive capital letters A and O. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Science
After Spring Break we will be studying the life cycle of the butterfly, animals from the rain forest, ocean and desert.

Spring Break
Things to do on Spring Break:
Read with your child.
Enjoy Spring activities with your child!

Supplies Needed
We will be doing a special project in April. We need an empty toilet paper tube and an empty egg carton for the projects. Please send in one tube and one egg carton to school with your child.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mar. 30 - Spring Break Begins
Apr. 6 – Classes Resume
April 7 – Teachers' Institute Day – No School
April 10 - No School
April 23 – Open House

March 23, 2009

READING
This week we will be reading a story called Carousel. It is a realistic story about a girl named Alex whose father doesn't get home in time for her birthday. This makes Alex angry, but after a night filled with strange dreams, she awakens to find that her father has returned.
In phonics we will be focusing on words that end in -y and the un- prefix..
Vocabulary words are angry, fussed, groaned, grumbled, grumpily and promised.
Comprehension strategy is making judgements.
In grammar we will be working on past tense verbs.

MATH
In math we started our chapter on plane figures. Next week we will be sorting plane figures and combining plane figures to make new figures.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive letters z and reviewing the lowercase letters. After spring break we will start learning the capital letters. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Social Studies
Next week we will be learning about the federal government, voting and the constitution.

March 19 - Kyle

Supplies Needed
We will be doing a special project in April. We need an empty toilet paper tube for the project. Please send in one tube to school with your child.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar. 30 - Spring Break Begins
Apr. 6 – Classes Resume
April 7 – Teachers' Institute Day – No School
April 10 - No School

March 16, 2009

READING
This week we will be reading a story called Jalapeno Bagels. It is about a boy named pablo who spends an early morning at his parents' bakery. When Pablo decides which bread he will bring to school for International Day, he chooses one that shows his Mexican-Jewish-American heritage.
In phonics we will be focusing on contractions.
Vocabulary words are bakery, culture, customer, dough, ingredients, recipe.
Comprehension strategy is following directions.
In grammar we will be working on present tense verbs.

MATH
In math we will be finishing our chapter on three-dimensional objects. Our chapter test will be on Thursday. Our next chapter is on plane figures which includes triangle, square, rhombus, rectangle, trapezoid, circle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon and decagon.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive letters y, x, and v. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Science
We will be reviewing the weather concepts and taking our test on Tuesday. I am sending home the Science book on Monday for your child to study. Please make sure they return the books to school on Tuesday.

Social Studies
We will begin a new chapter on our Country today. This unit will focus on the government. We will learn about the local government and the federal government.

Thank you to the PTO for giving us the assembly called Ease to Tease. We learned about teasing others and how it feels to be teased. We discovered better ways to treat others with differences.

Report Cards/Conferences
Thank you for attending conferences this past week. Please remember to sign your child’ report card envelope and return it to school. Thanks.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar. 17 – Stellaluna Field Trip
Mar. 30 - Spring Break Begins
Apr. 6 – Classes Resume

March 9, 2009

READING
This week we will be reading a photo essay called Brothers and Sisters. It is about younger and older brothers and sisters. As we read, we will share information about our families and make generalizations.
In phonics we will be focusing on two syllable words ending in -er.
Vocabulary words are newborn, distract, twins, pest, teenage.
Comprehension strategy is making generalizations.
In grammar we will be working on verbs.

MATH
In math we will be learning about three-dimensional objects and classifying them according to their attributes. We will be focusing on the shapes of sphere, cone, cube, cylinder, pyramid and rectangular prism.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive letters n, m, and y. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Science
We will be measuring weather by recording the temperature and learning about the water cycle.

Student of the Week
Matthew is the Student of the Week! He likes cars, the White Sox, dogs and eating soup. His favorite color is green. When Matthew grows up he wants to be a Scientist.

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

Character Counts
The Character Counts pillar for the month of March is Fairness. I am fair when I play games honestly. I am fair when I share my toys with others. Have your child show their spirit by wearing orange every Friday in March.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar. 10 – Report Cards
Mar. 12 – Early dismissal day
Mar. 13 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – No School
Mar. 17 – Stellaluna Field Trip
Mar. 20 - Spring Break Begins
Apr. 6 – Classes Resume