Week 20

 

Birch Trees painted by the Elmore Students

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through our first month of the new year! We are now in the time of the school year that many would say the most learning occurs.  

This week students continued working on writing their teaching text.  We learned three new ways to for about planning our books: 1) Boxes and Bullets, 2) Cause and Effect or Problem and solution 3) Pros and Cons.  Giving students more tools in their toolbox for planning and writing will allow students to personalize their writing experience to meet their needs and their writing style.  

We continue to work on spelling strategies with a focus on "r controlled" spelling patterns (ar, or, ir, er, ur).  We discovered that ir, er, and ur all make the same sound which makes spelling words with these sounds tricky.  We also learned the "old" and "ind" sounds.  

In math students worked on problem solving strategies using the RDW (read, draw, write) process as well as critical thinking using number talks.  First Grade is working on doubles plus 1 strategies.  Second Grade is working on place value and expanded notation (200 + 40 + 9 = 249) using a number bond, and Third Grade is wrapping up the first module with a focus on multi step problem solving using all four operations (additional, subtraction, multiplication and division).

This week we began reading about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  This past year has certainly brought the history of the Civil Rights Movement into the present day.  Many citizens of the United States continue to speak up for the equality and justice for all.  As we read learn Martin Luther King and his powerful words the students are making connections to their own lives and current events such as Black Lives Matter.  

In science we learned about how plants are pollinated and the importance bees play in that process.  Students learned that pollen needs to get on the "sticky" stigma of the plant in order for the plant to produce seeds, but the pollen needs to mix from another plant in order for a seed to occur.  Thats where bees come in!  As they fly from flower to flower sipping nectar, they transfer pollen from one plant to another plant.  This is called Pollination.  Flowers can only reproduce (make seeds) after they are are pollinated.  

Here are a few "housekeeping" items...

1) A parent has brought it to my attention that cars are parked in front of the school and are idoling for prolonged periods of time during pickup.  In consideration of others and the environment, please turn your ignition off while you are waiting for health screenings in the morning and for your child to exit the building at the end of the day.  Thank you for your consideration.

2) If you and your child are using the playground after school,  please take moment to do a sweep of the playground to pick up any equipment that has been left out.  Equipment should be placed back in the shed the shed door should be secured.  Students pick up after recess during the day, but the equipment comes back out after school.  Last night when I left at 5:30 I noticed the shed door was open and found some hockey sticks and sleds on the ground.  Thank you for helping to keep our equipment stored and our playground neat.  

3) Additionally, I ask for your help with playground safety after school.  I've seen so much creative play and teamwork on the Playground  over the past couple of weeks!  Just a reminder that physical contact such as wrestling, tackling, and holding onto others is not permitted.  Likewise, students are not permitted to throw snow AT each other.  

4) MES is now allowing parents to submit the health screening, including the temperature, at home. Then the child's temperature is taken again when they enter the school building (they do not have morning recess).  To be consistent with MES, on Tuesday we will begin a similar process. 

Parents who wish to complete the health screening at home (including temperature) may do so.  When you arrive at school, students may get out of the car and approach the school where we will meet them to take their temperature again.  As long as it is less than 100 degrees your child will be permitted at school.  Keep in mind that if your child's temperature is greater than 100 degrees, they will need to be kept away from the other children and you will be asked to bring them up.  If you do not take their temperature at home, please have them remain in the vehicle.  We will  come to the car to take their temperature and you may enter it into the form and submit it (or we can still enter the form for you). 

5) There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 18th to observe MLK day.

6) We will have LIBRARY on TUESDAY January 19th.

7) PE is Tuesday and Thursday.  Please be on time and bring sneakers!

8) please email me your lunch orders! 

Wishing you all continued health and well being!

Warm Regards,

Diane