The Countdown Begins!

Where has the time gone? I can't believe there are only 6 1/2 days left of school. The children have grown so much this year. We have worked hard but had a blast at the same time! We will so miss these precious smiling faces and loving hearts!

Last week was another fun-filled week! We began the week with our crab and squid dissection! Many of the children were able to write their name with the squid's own ink! A big thank you to Julie P., Margie Y., Liz J., and John S. for working with the children on this exciting learning opportunity! On Wednesday, the kids had so much fun at Splash Day! Did you see the pictures on E-bytes? That afternoon, two of our middle schoolers, Jacob N. (a former first grader of mine) and Justin S. brought a number of very cool and interesting specimens from the ocean. The coolest was definitely the baleen from a humpback whale! They taught us so much! The children asked wonderful questions and shared their knowledge as well. On Thursday, we celebrated Iona's summer birthday! On Friday, we dissected dogfish sharks! Many thanks to Kelly E., Mai N., Margie Y., Octavia P., and John S. for helping us with this fishy task! We could not have done it without you! Then, Friday afternoon, we celebrated Quentin's birthday - our last birthday of the year! I have posted a ton of pictures from each activity this week! Enjoy!

This week, Jenn Lewis is rescheduled to give a special presentation on her work with penguins. It should be quite interesting and fun! Thank you, Jenn! We will also have our final compliment party on Tuesday afternoon. Leigh Harting has taken this on if you would like to offer her your help. On Thursday, we will be going to the Florida Aquarium. We will leave at 9:00 a.m. Those parents that are chaperoning may follow the bus or meet us at the front of the Aquarium. Remember, that the children should wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts/skirts/skorts. This Friday, we will have our last Spirit Day. Children may wear green and gold colored clothing.

Next week, we will have our end-of-the-year party on Tuesday. Students should, again, wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts, etc. We will rotate through the three first grade classrooms with different activities in each room. The last day of school will be next Wednesday, June 1st. Dismissal will be at noon.

Please be sure that your child brings the green bag to school each day. We will be cleaning out cubbies, desks, and clearing walls. There will be a lot to send home so we will send a little home each day.

We want to thank each of you for sharing your precious child with us. Each and every child has brought something special to our class. We have watched them grow in every way and they have continued to amaze us. They have brought smiles, laughter, and love. They remind us all the time of why we do this! We will miss each and every one.

Finally, we want to thank our wonderful parents for all the support you have given us each and every day. You have volunteered in countless ways. We could not have done everything that we did this year without you!

Have a wonderful summer!
Susan and Beth

What a Show!!!

Dear Parents:

BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO!!! I can't begin to tell you how very proud I am of your children! They were incredible in Commotion in the Ocean! I could not stop smiling all day on Friday! Then, I could not keep from replaying it in my head all night as I tried to sleep Friday night! Mrs. Rauman took a ton of wonderful pictures from the front row and I made a slide show. However, I can't get it to upload here. If and when I do, I will post it for you to enjoy! In the meantime, here are a few random pictures!

Even though the time is short, we will still be very busy in room 1-4! In addition to assessing the children in reading, language, and math this week, here is a look at what else will be going on:

Language Arts/Reading: We will be reviewing the vast sight word vocabulary that we have learned this year (our word wall) and using those words in different activities. We will be using the many reading strategies learned as we read independently, with Mrs. Owen and Mrs. Rauman, with partners, and in small groups. There will be different centers and activities to choose from to continue practice with the many concepts and skills covered this year. Some include contractions, compound words, homophones, verbs, nouns, alphabetical order, etc.

Writing Workshop: We continue with our non-fiction writing unit. Our main focus is on informational writing... writing books that teach! Last week we wrote "All About" books on dolphins. This week the children are researching and gathering information on a sea creature of their choice and using it to write another "All About" book. They are incorporating many features that they have learned about nonfiction writing, such as titles, table of contents, headings, and labeled diagrams. They may also reflect and add their own thoughts about what they are writing about!

Math: We will be taking our unit 9 assessment. During the next two weeks we will spend a lot of time reviewing many of the concepts covered this year!

Science: We will complete our ocean unit this week. We will be learning about some of the other creatures of the sea such as the crab, seahorse, and penguin. We have two special presentations this week as well. Tomorrow (Tuesday) Jenn, Ellie's mom, is coming for a special presentation on the penguin. She has a power point prepared to show us about her work with penguins. It should be quite interesting and fun! Thank you, Jenn! On Wednesday, a former student of mine will be bringing real whale baleen to share with the children. It will be amazing for the children to see it and just how BIG it is! I will take pictures!

Volunteers this week:

* Tuesday - Art - Mai Nguyen (12:05)
* Friday - Parent Reader - Mai Nguyen (2:15)

Other Important Reminders/Dates/Information:

This will be the last week of the formal homework calendar and the red reading folder.

Splash Day this Wednesday, May 18th with a rain make-up date of May 25th. Please send a towel to school with your child and be sure that he/she either brings an appropriate swimsuit to school to change into or wears the swimsuit to school under the uniform. Please remember that each child must wear their regular school uniform at all times except during PE that day. Please also apply sunscreen to your child before coming to school. That will save us time! You may also send a hat with your child as well.

Field Trip to Florida Aquarium May 26th - Students should wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts/skirts/skorts.

Last Spirit Day - Friday, May 27th - Children may wear green and gold colored clothing.

End-of- the- Year Party - Tuesday, May 31st - Students should wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts, etc.

Last Day of School - Wednesday, June 1st, noon dismissal

See you Friday!
Susan and Beth

"Commotion in the Ocean" is finally here!

Dear Parents:

The kids were so excited this morning! We began rehearsing in the theater for our big show on Friday! I hope that you will all be able to be there! We will have a dress rehearsal on Thursday morning for the lower school students and teachers. Please have your child wear jean shorts, skirts, or skorts on both Thursday and Friday this week. We will have the t-shirts they made waiting to put on them Thursday morning. They will only wear them for the dress rehearsal so they will stay clean for Friday. We will send the t-shirts home on Thursday afternoon so the children should come to school dressed in them Friday. Please don't forget!

I want to thank you for practicing the speaking parts with your children. They came back to school last Tuesday and did a great job! Please continue to practice with them this week on volume and expression!

This week in...

Reading/Language Arts: The spelling and wall words this week are vocabulary from our study of dolphins. They are toothed, bottlenose, echolocation, flipper, dolphin, trap, safe, slap, turn, and sound. Please be sure to practice these words daily with your child. Again, the children need to be able to read them, spell them, and know their meaning. We continue to read mostly non-fiction books and learn how to use all the features to help us research, find information, and learn from these texts.

The children will be bringing home books about the dolphin in their reading folders this week. Don't forget the "making words" activity in the reading folder. This is a part of their assignment. Please make sure that this assignment is complete and turned in by Monday.

Writing Workshop: We continue with our non-fiction writing unit. We hope to publish our "How-To" books and begin our "All About" books.

Math: We will review fraction concepts, compare fractions, and introduce the idea that fractional parts of a whole have many names (equivalent fractions).

Science: Did you see us in e-bytes? The children enjoyed learning about whales last week and seeing just how big they are! They particularly enjoyed experimenting to see how blubber helps keep the whale warm in the cold ocean waters. Check it out if you didn't read it yet! I put some pictures in this blog as well. Our main focus in our ocean unit this week will be dolphins which, as your child learned last week, is a toothed whale. We will be reading and researching about these gentle and intelligent creatures, writing about them, observing them in video, and exploring many attributes about them. You will be amazed with all the children have learned! Our show is this Friday and promises to be an exciting adventure through the sea!

Volunteers this week:

* Tuesday - Art - Kristen Danielson - Kristen is out of town this week. Is there someone that would be able to replace her? (12:05)
* Library Check-out has ended. All books are due back by this Wednesday!
* Friday - Parent Reader - Dean or Gretchen Walsh (2:15)

Other Important Reminders/Dates/Information:

Our last library check-out day will be this Thursday! All library books must be turned in by this Wednesday, May 11th!

First Grade Program: Commotion in the Ocean is this Friday, May 13th at 8:30 a.m. Children will wear jean shorts/skirts/or skorts with their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts.

Splash Day May 18th with a rain make-up date of May 25th.

Field Trip to Florida Aquarium May 26th - Students will wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts/skirts/skorts. If you would like to join us, please send in your reply with a check for $7.00 by this Friday, May 13th. Parking will be $3.00 per car. Unfortunately, parents may not use Aquarium memberships for admission.

End-of- the- Year Party - Tuesday, May 31st - Students again may wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts, etc.

Last Day of School - Wednesday, June 1st, noon dismissal

See you Friday!
Susan and Beth