Tuesday's Thoughts

Tuesday’s
Thoughts

• Reading Workshop- This week we will finish up with Charlotte’s Web. The students have really enjoyed reading and discussing this book. We are focusing on comprehension and vocabulary, although other skills may spontaneously be interweaved into the lesson as we discuss the story together.



• Writing Workshop- We have been using writing workshop this week to finalize our phase three of project. Some students are working on Powerpoints, others on writing scripts for plays or movies.



• Spelling- no new words this week, only a dictation test.



• Math Workshop- first grade is working on a pretend vegetable garden this week. It incorporates geometry, measurement, and computation. Second grade is working on decimals and fractions.

Field Day is Wednesday rain or shine. Please be sure to have your child wear tennis shoes that day, and they may want to bring a change of clothing too.

The volunteer breakfast is also Wednesday morning. Please plan on attending if you are able. This breakfast is for anyone who has helped in any way this school year. I’d love to
see you there.

All library books are now due.

Tuesday's Thoughts

Tuesday’s
Thoughts

• Reading Workshop- We started reading Charlotte’s Web on Monday as a whole group.
  This is a new experience for the class with everyone reading the same book together. Different groups will still be doing different types of activities, and some will be
  reading with parents or me for more support. We will have large and small group
  discussions over the book as well.



• Writing Workshop- Students have free choice writing this week. Many are still working on poetry, but others have moved on to writing books again. Many are
  working together, and a few are interested in writing chapter books.



• Spelling- Everyone has a different list this week based on words they have been spelling incorrectly in their daily writing. A few students are instead studying Greek roots for vocabulary practice.



• Math Workshop- First grade is reviewing perimeter, area, and comparing fractions this week. We will still be working hard reviewing math facts. Second grade is continuing to practice adding, subtracting, and reducing fractions. There will be a quiz on Friday.



• Project- Students are researching their areas of interest and have decided on the method of sharing what they have learned.



• Thinking Skills- We are working with sudoku this week again. Many students have expressed an interest in chess recently. I am gradually teaching the pieces and their movement to the novice players, while the more experienced ones are enjoying playing each other and then practicing with the new learners

Thank you to everyone who has turned in the form to help with Field Day. I know Mr. Beattie is still looking for volunteers.
I need some extra volunteers on Friday this week. We will be doing a messy science activity from 12:00-1:00. Please let me know if you are interested in helping.

MEC is collecting magazines for recycling. Each pod in the school is competing to see who can collect the most. Please continue to send in any recycling you have at home to earn money for the school.

Lunch times have changed this week. Our class will now be eating lunch from 10:45-11:15 each day. Please be aware of the time change if you are planning to eat with your
child.

Wednesday Whatnots

Wednesday’s
Whatnots

• Reading Workshop- this week we are finishing up our fairy tale study. I’m sure you have heard all about our play we are putting on from your child. Next Tuesday our class will be performing “Live: It’s Fairy Tale News!” at 10:30 a.m. in the gym on the stage. I hope you are able to join us. The children have been working hard
  to memorize their lines. If you have any costumes or props at home, your child may be asking to bring them in. I will let you know by Friday of particular outfit needs for Tuesday. You do not need to buy anything.



• Writing Workshop- We are busy selecting poems to put together in a class poetry book. Soon we will have a writer’s celebration for the students to culminate their poetry unit. Details will follow shortly if you are interested in attending.



• Spelling- no new words this week. We will have a sentence dictation
  test on Friday



• Math Workshop- first grade is continuing their study of geometry and working three dimensional shapes this week. We will also be beginning tessellations Thursday.
  Second grade is continuing to use fractions this week, focusing on equivalent fractions and ordering fractions in chapter 25



• Project- we are in stage two, and students are currently researching their areas of
  interest. Students are looking into diseases from around the world, diseases that have been mostly eradicated, specific disease research, comparison of soap and hand
  sanitizer, vaccinations, dental hygiene, and disease prevention

ISTEP for grades 3
and up began this week. Related
Arts times have been adjusted, and the schedule may
look different in every subject this week.
All 2^nd grade students in STRETCH will be joining my class
during testing so that their 3^rd grade classmates can focus on
ISTEP. On Tuesday we played some
thinking skill games and watched a movie from Spanish class. Today we had silent reading time and
played in the gym with the parachute. On Thursday, we will again head to
the gym for some extra exercise and reading.

Weekly Update

Monday’s
Musings

Welcome back to another full week of learning. I can’t believe that April is halfway over, and the end of the year is near. Here are some notes for the week:

• Reading Workshop- continuing our fairy tale genre. This week we’ll be looking more at how authors weave different fairy tales together. We will be working on learning a script for a fairy tale play in the next couple of weeks. By Friday, we will have read through the script and assigned parts so that students can begin learning their lines over the weekend. Your child also should have brought home a paper on Friday which details the activities we are doing in class for guided reading. You will see this every Friday, and I hope it gives you more information about our everyday learning.




• Writing Workshop-
  today we wrote sensory poems based on emotions. Students will have time to work on
  their free verse poetry for the rest of the month, but we will be focusing
  more on specific types of poems this week such as haikus and concrete
  poems. Soon we will practice reading and recording our poems, as well as famous ones, for you to upload to your favorite mp3 player.




• Math Workshop- first grade is continuing their study of geometry and working on symmetry with pattern blocks this week. We will also be exploring tangrams after reading Grandfather Tang’s Story on Thursday. Second grade is beginning a review on fractions this week.




• Science- today we did an experiment on
  motion using whirlycopters. Students will be bringing home three
  different designs to study for homework tonight. This is a very fun activity for the
  whole family, so I hope you will be involved in testing the copters on
  speed and rotation. You may keep the whirycopters at home. All that needs returned for homework is the worksheet with the chart on it.




• Project- we are in stage two deciding on our areas of focus.

Wednesday is an early release day. Students will be released from school at 3 pm.

Please be sure to return spring picture orders if you are interested in purchasing them.

Weekly Update

Monday’s Musings

q I hope everyone enjoyed our beautiful weather this weekend. It sure was nice to get outside and play in the sunshine. Here are some notes about the week ahead.

1. Reading Workshop: Focusing on more specific fairy tales and how authors merge multiple tales into one story. (For example, today we read the original story Shrek and compared it to the movies.) finishing up summarizing stories in paragraph form.

· guided reading groups this week include: Double Fudge, Freckle Juice, Henry and Mudge, Magic Tree House, and Animal Ark.

2. Writing Workshop: continue with poetry, focusing on rhythm and feelings

3. Spelling: first grade: shape words, second grade: vocabulary

4. Math Workshop- first grade: plane shapes in geometry, second grade: solid shapes and vocabulary.

5. Project: more phase two experiments, narrowing focus of inquiry for individuals and groups

q Planners are coming home today for all students. There will no longer be a weekly separate homework sheet for writing books read. Please record the books your child reads in the planner on each day under the section of reading. You should check the planner each night and initial it.

q Library books are due tomorrow (Tuesday)

q Celebration: we have reached 10 passports (compliments) and will be having a celebration tomorrow in which the children do not have to wear their shoes. Congratulations!!!

q Please check the blog if you have not done so recently, for news and photographs.

Weekly Update

Monday’s Musings

I am so glad to welcome everyone back from their vacation. I hope each of you enjoyed spending time with your children and families over the break. We have two months left of school, and so much to accomplish. April is sure to be one of my favorite months this year for teaching. Three of my favorite units will appear in April: geometry, poetry, and fairy tales. This week we will focus on:

1. Reading Workshop: The Three Little Pigs, summarizing stories in paragraph form.

2. Writing Workshop: begin poetry and looking at things through a poet’s eyes- not through a scientist’s eyes.

3. Spelling: more homonyms and self-selected words.

4. Math Workshop- first grade: plane shapes in geometry, second grade: solid shapes and vocabulary.

5. Project: phase two experiments, expert speaker on Wednesday.

q Scholastic book orders are due on Friday, April 8^th.

q Library books are due tomorrow (Tuesday)

q Toys…many of the students have been bringing in toys to play with, especially during indoor recess. Now that the weather is getting nicer, we will be going outside most days unless it is raining. Please have your child keep all toys and stuffed animals at home from now on unless it is a special celebration day.

q Shoes- Page 12 of the Student Handbook…For safety reasons students should wear shoes that will stay on their feet. Flip flops, things, backless shoes and platform shoes are unsafe and should not be worn at school.

Have a great week!