It was another great week beginning with another messy storm and ending with Parent teacher conferences! Thanks to everyone for taking time out of you busy lives to meet with me. If you have any questions regarding your child's Mastery Report, please let me know.
On Tuesday the children did such a wonderful job singing for the residents at Copley Manor. They were respectful and considerate of everyone they met. It takes a lot of courage to perform in front other people, and Mrs. Bellavance and I were both so proud of everyone!
On Thursday the cold temperatures caused us to rethink out ECO Plans. We began ECO inside with a discussion about animal signs. Then each students was given a tracking guide and shared things they noticed on the guide. Next, students watched four short videos with a focus on how animals move. We talked about the four categories: bounders (ex: weasel or otter), hoppers (ex:snowshoe hare, squirrel), walkers (ex: deer, fox), waddlers (ex: bear, skunk). Finally students practiced moving like these different types of animals. After snack, we bundled up and walked to the state park where we spent the rest of our morning focused on animal tracks and signs. It was a wonderful morning filled with awe and wonder! We saw several deer tracks and signs, fox tracks and signs, lots of squirrel tracks, and what we believe were short tailed weasel tracks!
Back in the classroom, some students began working on their Secret Pal projects. Next week we will get into the full swing of projects.
In Math, each grade completed a unit section. First graders have been working on solving all sorts of word problems (add to, take from, comparison), second graders have been solving addition and subtraction problems within 100 in a way makes sense to them (with a focus on place value), and third graders have been learning about area and how it relates to multiplication.
During literacy, we learned about the welded sounds /ing/ and /ang/ (grade 1) and suffix __ing rules for when to double the consonant at the end of the word and when to just add ing. We read a Scholastic News article a girl who follows a tradition of "her people" of playing Lacrosse. Then students identified traditions they have in their own family.
Due to our short week, we will have spelling quizzes on Monday next week.
Our Penny challenge is off to a great start! Students may still bring in coins/dollars to put in their jars through next week. We will conclude the challenge on Monday, December 18th so that we have time to count the money and get a point total. The grade with the most points will get a Pizza party later that week. On Thursday, December 21st, we'll visit NCAL to bring our donation to them. While there, we will tour the facility, and students will read to some of the animals! Please find permission slips in your students folder next week.
If the weather cooperates, I plan to bring the class to the State Park on the morning of Friday, December 22nd to go sledding. Students will need to bring a sled to school that day. In the after noon we will reveal our secret pals and open gifts. If a parent or two would like to send in a special snack that day, please let me know in advance.
Please email your lunch orders for the week.
Family Hot lunch will be provided by the Tartaglia/Smejkal Family (TBD) on Friday, December 15.
Other Announcements
- Library is Monday - remember to bring your books back.
- School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits.
- ECO - Thursday Dec. 14 - Please let me know if you would like to be a parent volunteer. This will be our last ECO until March 21st.
- December 25-29 - No School - December Break
- January 1 - No school - New Years Day.
- Thursday, Jan. 11th- Spruce Peak Theater and outdoor recreation begins - see permission slips in student Friday Folders. Parents: Please use this link to sign a waiver for the Curious Place Theater Program.
- No School Monday, January 15th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day.)
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Students listening to a story being read by one of our resident second graders who used her tickets to "buy" reading to the class! |
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Students passed out homemade cards to residents after their performance. |