Sunday, January 22, 2012

Week of January 23, 2012




Dear Parents:

Happy National Handwriting Day! Today we read the book, Hallie's Horrible Handwriting, and talked about how our handwriting says a lot about us. We then practiced our handwriting, of course. We all made promises to always try our best.

The children were in for a real treat on Friday when our parent reader, Kimberly Burke, came to our classroom to read. The children loved the books she brought to read. But most of all, they LOVED the mad libs she did with them! They had such fun filling in the blanks and then hearing the funny and nonsensical stories they helped to write! I wonder if they realized they were learning and practicing things like nouns, verbs, and adjectives...

You received a Relay for Life Letter and Flyer in your child's folder last week. The letter explains the cook-out, class links, and donations to the American Cancer Society. The hot dog cook-out will be on Wednesday, February 15. There will be no Sage Dining offered that day. Please complete and return the form indicating whether your child will be bringing a bag lunch from home or purchasing a hot dog lunch.

What do you know about sun safety? Have your child write a winning essay and maybe win a shade structure for our school! There is a contest for Florida elementary school students. They write an essay of 500 words or less on why you should protect yourself from the sun and why your school should be awarded a shade structure. If your child would like to try writing an essay on this, the essay needs to be returned to me no later than this Friday, January 27th. You may get more information at fsdds.org or emailing sunshadecontest@fsdds.org or by calling the FSDDS office at 904-880-0023.

What else is going on in our classroom this week?

Language Arts/Reading Workshop: We are working on words with the long a sound spelled ay and ai .During reading workshop, we will be learning that readers make sure they understand what they are reading by reading tricky parts aloud. We'll also work on our reading fluency by reading in a voice that sounds like we are talking and by reading text in phrases to make our reading sound smooth.

Writing Workshop: This week we are working on stories about our grandparents or special friends that we will publish and put up to share with them on Friday!

Math: We continue to work on turn-around facts, easy facts, and will be introducing the "What's My Rule?" routine.

Science: Gung Hay Fat Choy! Or... best wishes and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year! Today we learned how the Chinese follow a lunar calendar based on the phases of the moon. This is the Year of the Dragon and those born this year are good friends because they listen carefully to others. We also looked up our birth years. Those born in 2004 in the Year of the Monkey are very funny and are also good problem solvers! Those born in 2005 in the year of the Rooster are hard workers and deep thinkers!

We will also continue to learn more about the planets of our solar system.

Other important things to remember:

After school programs/clubs begin this week!

Grandparents/Special Friends Day is this Friday! Noon dismissal - If your child is leaving before noon, please make sure they are signed out in the classroom.

"Aesop's Fables" will be performed in the Recreation Gym on Tuesday, February 7th at 1:00 p.m. You are welcome to join your child in watching the performance.

No school on Friday, Feb. 17th - Professional Development Day for teachers
No school on Monday, Feb. 20th - President's Day

Science Week: February 27 - March 8

Class Picture Day - Wednesday, February 29

Field Trip to the Science Center Planetarium - Wednesday, February 29

Volunteers this week:
  • Tuesday - Art - 12:05 - Jill Emerson
  • Wednesday - Math Game - 1:15 - Kimberly Burke
  • Thursday - Library Check-out - 12:05 - Kimberly Burke
  • Friday - Parent Reader - 11:30 - Julia Wenniger
Have a terrific week!
Susan

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