May 22, 2009

READING
We will be reading two stories called Join the Circus and Raymond's Best Summer. Both stories focus on special talents of children.
The vocabulary words are athletic, performance, circus, pyramid, contraption, somersaults, ability, intermediate, certificate, laps, paces and demonstrates.
In phonics we will be focusing on the vowel pairs oo, ew, ue and ou.
Comprehension strategy is the author's viewpoint, noting details and problems solving.
In grammar, we will be working on adjectives including a, and and the.

MATH
In math we are learning about adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers. We will be solving problems with and without regrouping. We will have our chapter test on Thursday . Our next chapter is on multiplication.
Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive capital letters G, S and L. Please review the letters with your child.

Science
We are learning about energy. We will be learning about heat, light and color.

ABC Countdown
Tuesday: Rock and Roll Day
Wednesday: Sports Team Day
Thursday: Take a Break Day
Friday: Under the Desk Day

Thank you to Mrs. Pakowski, Mrs. Rios and Mrs. Zimmerman who supplied our ice cream, lollipops and push-ups for our ABC Countdown. We loved eating them!

Field Trip
We enjoyed our field trip to the Morton Arboretum. We had a beautiful day filled with learning about ecosystems. Thank you to Mrs. Maschio and Mrs. Zimmerman who helped with our field trip.

June 11 – Brock
June 23 – Antonio
July 9 – Amelia
July 17 - Jeny

School Picnic
On May 29th the PTO will be providing a McDonald's lunch for the students. We will be having a hamburger, chips, fruit snacks and a juice box. If your prefers you can send a sack lunch that day. We will be having a fun-filled afternoon with games and activities.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 25 – Memorial Day – No School
May 29 - School Picnic
June 5 – Last Day of School

May 18, 2009

READING
We will be reading the story called The School Mural. This is a story about a group of children who celebrate their school's 50th anniversary by painting a mural on one of the walls in the school.
The vocabulary words are event, mural, pride, project, scene and sketches.
In phonics we will be focusing on words with the that drop the final e before adding the endings -ed and -ing..
Comprehension strategy is problem solving.
In grammar, we will be working on adjectives.

MATH
In math we are learning about fractions. We are learning how to write fractions, compare fractions and use fractions to solve problems. Our chapter test will be on Wednesday. Our next chapter is on 3-digit adding and subtracting.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive capital letters Q, T and F. Please review the letters with your child.

Science
We are learning about energy. We are learning how wind, the sun and water affects energy. We are learning what things are powered by electricity. Next week we will be learning about light and heat.

ABC Countdown
Monday: Movie and a Munchie Day
Tuesday: Neatness Day
Wednesday: Outside Day
Thursday: Popsicle Day
Friday: Quiet Day

Field Trip
We will be going to the Morton Arboretum on Friday, May 22nd. Please make sure your child has a sack lunch and dresses appropriately for the weather.

Thank you to Mr. Kukulski for arranging our assembly on how to stay healthy. We enjoyed it!

June 21 – Endia

ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 18 – Visit to Prairie View School
May 22 – Field Trip to Morton Arboretum
May 22 – Library Books are due
May 25 – Memorial Day – No School
May 29 - School Picnic

May 11, 2009

READING
We will be reading the story called Moses Goes to a Concert. This is a realistic story about a deaf boy names moses, who goes to a concert. The deaf percussionist helps Moses and his classmates realize they can be anything they want.
The vocabulary words are deaf, instruments, signs, hearing, percussion, vibration.
In phonics we will be focusing on words with the long i vowel sound (igh, ie).
Comprehension strategy is noting details.
In grammar, we will be working on adjectives.

MATH
In math we are learning about measurement. We are learning how to measure objects in ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms, liters, cups, pints, quarts and gallons. Our chapter test will be on Thursday. Our next chapter is on fractions.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive capital letters X, I and reviewing the capital cursive letters we have done so far. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Science
We are beginning a new unit on exploring matter. Everything in our universe is made up of matter. We will learn what matter, liquids, solids and gases are and how they can change their physical and chemical forms.

Our High Touch High Tech field trip was fun! We learned about gems, rocks and minerals and where they come from. We were prospectors as we were panning for gems.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
A special thank you to the PTO for organizing all the special treats this week. I love teaching your children. They are very special to me. I have truly enjoyed working with each one of them this year. I will be sad to see them go on to first grade. I will miss them very much.
Thank you to all of you who participated in this week’s meals. The food was very good and it was so nice of you to think of the teachers. It was very much appreciated!

ABC Countdown
Monday: Hair Day
Tuesday: Ice Cream Day
Wednesday: Jump Rope Day
Thursday: Kick Ball Day
Friday: Lollipop Day
We are still in need of lollipops for Lollipop Day, let me know if you would like to donate lollipops to our class.

Happy Mother’s Day!

ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 15 – Movie Night
May 18 – Visit to Prairie View School
May 22 – Field Trip to Morton Arboretum
May 25 – Memorial Day – No School
May 29 - School Picnic

May 4, 2009

READING
We will not be reading a story next week. We will be doing a reading/writing workshop on letter writing. We will be writing a letter to our 3rd grade pen pals.

MATH
In math we are working on measuring using rulers and yardsticks. We measured objects to the nearest inch, foot, yard, meter and centimeter. Next week we will learn about perimeter and area. We will be finishing our chapter and taking our test on Thursday. Our next chapter is on weight, mass, temperature and capacity.

Handwriting
We will be learning to write the cursive capital letters Z, V, and W. Please review the lowercase letters with your child.

Social Studies
We will be learning about the expedition of Lewis and Clark, pioneers and slavery. We will learn about important Americans who helped others escape to freedom.

Science
We let our butterflies out into nature. We enjoyed learning about them and watching them grow and change.

ABC Countdown
Monday: Cookie or Cracker Day
Tuesday: Dance Day
Wednesday: Earth Day
Thursday: Funny Feet Day
Friday: Green Day

We will be celebrating summer birthdays before the end of our school year. Write me a note and we can pick a date to celebrate your child’s summer birthday.

Mother' Day Project and Field Trip
We are collecting $5.00 to cover the remainder of the High Touch/High Tech field trip and a special Mother's Day Project. Please send this to school as soon as possible. Thanks.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 7 – High Touch/High Tech in-school field trip
May 15 – Movie Night
May 18 – Visit to Prairie View School
May 22 – Field Trip to Morton Arboretum
May 25 – Memorial Day – No School
May 29 – School Picnic