Weekly Update 02/24/12

Important Announcements:

*Next week we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday school-wide. We will have Spirit Days each day of the week.

Monday – Dress like your favorite character from a children’s book

Tuesday – One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Day – wear your favorite color and/or number

Wednesday – Green Eggs and Ham Day – wear green

Thursday – Oh! The Places You Will Go Day – dress up as what you want to be when you grow up

Friday – Cat in the Hat Day – wear a hat (special guest reader will be reading to students!)

*Volunteers needed! We will be doing math explorations on Wednesday, February 29^th from 12:40 – 1:15. If you would like to come in and help us out, please let me know! Thanks!

*Mark your calendars! We are going to be doing a special activity in honor of Dr. Seuss. We will be studying The Lorax the week of March 5^th. On Saturday, March 10^th, we will have an optional class outing to the movie! A permission slip and more information were sent home with your child on Friday, February 24, 2012. Please read over it, complete it with your plans for that day, and return it to school no later than Wednesday, March 7^th! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

*New Book-It calendars were sent home on Wednesday, February 1^st. Use the calendar to track the number of minutes your child reads. If he/she reads for twenty minutes, he/she can color in the date on the calendar. In order to earn the free personal pan pizza coupon from Pizza Hut, your child will need to read for twenty minutes, four times a week. The calendar is due back on February 29th. The program will continue through March.

*Come Play with Me will take place on Tuesday, February 28^th during our P.E. time (2:10 – 2:50). This is a chance for you to come in and participate in P.E. with your child. Hope to see you there!

*Spring Fling is March 2^nd and the event is in need of volunteers! There are two shifts you can choose to volunteer for during the Spring Fling. The first one is from 5:50 – 7:30 p.m. and the second one is from 7:20 – 9:00 p.m. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa Myers at 317-374-8148 or myers243@yahoo.com.

A Look at Next Week:

Science/ Health
Weather

Spelling

Words with prefixes re- and pre-

Reading

Story: The Pine Park Mystery play

Skills: Narrative elements with a focus on problem and solution; fluency

Daily Five: Dr. Seuss books and activities

Math

Perimeter, Travel Interview, Capacity and Area, and Area and Perimeter

Social Studies

Unit 5 – Past and Present

English

Present tense verbs

Writing

Writing paragraphs; Star of the Week writing

Weekly Update 02/17/12

Important Announcements:

*On Monday, February 13^th, I did an activity with the students based on the Dr. Seuss book The Sneetches. I gave half of the students stars that they had to wear. The students with the stars received special privileges like lining up first, getting more time for fun activities, getting to do things first, etc. Before lunch, the students had to give their star to a student that did not have one. This new group of students then got to enjoy special privileges. During Social Studies, we read the book and discussed discrimination. We had a great discussion, and I am really proud of the way students made connections to history.

*Next week we are going to be practicing reader’s theater plays. We are going to perform them for kindergarten classes on Friday, February 24^th. Because of the shortened week, we are not going to perform them for parents this time. However, we will have another performance for parents by the end of the school year!

*I sent a permission slip home with your child on Monday for both of our field trips. Please fill it out and return it to school along with the fee of $1.00. The permission slip and money are due no later than Friday, February 24^th.

*Please check with your child to see if he/she needs any of their supplies replenished. Many students are without pencils, erasers, dry erase markers, folders, etc. This will really help us out! Thanks!

*New Book-It calendars were sent home on Wednesday, February 1^st. Use the calendar to track the number of minutes your child reads. If he/she reads for twenty minutes, he/she can color in the date on the calendar. In order to earn the free personal pan pizza coupon from Pizza Hut, your child will need to read for twenty minutes, four times a week. The calendar is due back on February 29th. The program will continue through March.

*Spring Fling will be held on Friday, March 2^nd from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Our classroom is collecting items to create a school themed basket. If you would like to donate any school items such as pencils, erasers, notepads, binders, etc. for our basket, we would greatly appreciate it! Donations are due by Friday, February 24^th.

*Speaking of the Spring Fling, the event is in need of volunteers! There are two shifts you can choose to volunteer for during the Spring Fling. The first one is from 5:50 – 7:30 p.m. and the second one is from 7:20 – 9:00 p.m. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa Myers at 317-374-8148 or myers243@yahoo.com.

A Look at Next Week:

Science/ Health
Weather

Spelling

Take a break! NO spelling next week!

Reading

Skills: fluency and reading with expression

Daily Five: Right Fit books

Math

Using Measurement, Linear Measurements, and Measuring Lengths

Social Studies

President’s Day activities

English

Review adjectives

Writing

Personal narratives, prompts

Weekly Update 02/10/12

Important Announcements:

*Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday. The children are allowed to bring valentines in to exchange with their classmates. I sent home a class list earlier this week. Happy Valentine’s Day!

*On Thursday, February 16^th, someone from McCloud Nature Center will be here to talk with the students about hibernation. The presentation will be from 9:00 – 9:40 a.m.

*Please check with your child to see if he/she needs any of their supplies replenished. Many students are without pencils, erasers, dry erase markers, folders, etc. This will really help us out! Thanks!

*Come Play with Me will be on Tuesday, February 28th from 2:10 - 2:50 p.m. This is a time where you can come in and participate in gym with your child. I know the children really enjoy having their parents come in! Hope to see you there!

*New Book-It calendars were sent home on Wednesday, February 1^st. Use the calendar to track the number of minutes your child reads. If he/she reads for twenty minutes, he/she can color in the date on the calendar. In order to earn the free personal pan pizza coupon from Pizza Hut, your child will need to read for twenty minutes, four times a week. The calendar is due back on February 29th. The program will continue through March.

*Spring Fling will be held on Friday, March 2^nd from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Our classroom is collecting items to create a school themed basket. If you would like to donate any school items such as pencils, erasers, notepads, binders, etc. for our basket, we would greatly appreciate it! Donations are due by Friday, February 24^th.

*Speaking of the Spring Fling, the event is in need of volunteers! There are two shifts you can choose to volunteer for during the Spring Fling. The first one is from 5:50 – 7:30 p.m. and the second one is from 7:20 – 9:00 p.m. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa Myers at 317-374-8148 or myers243@yahoo.com.

*Student Council will be selling Hearts for Riley each day in the main lobby before school starts Monday, February 6th– February 13th for $1.00. All proceeds will benefit Riley Children’s Hospital.

*The cold weather is definitely upon us! Many students have been coming to school with only a sweatshirt. Please make sure your child is properly dressed with a warm winter coat, hats, and gloves. Thanks!

*Inclement weather is definitely a possibility as we get into colder weather. If there is a two hour delay on a Wednesday, students will NOT be dismissed early. They will be sent home at the normal time (3:35 for car riders and 3:45 for bus riders).

*Mark your calendars! We will be doing the Micronauts training at the Challenger Learning Center on Friday, March 9, 2012. For this training, we will need at least ten parent volunteers. We will be leaving school around 9:00 a.m. and returning in time for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Permission slips will be sent home closer to time.

*Field trip announced! We will be going to McCloud Nature Center on Friday, April 27^th. More information and a permission slip will be coming home soon.

A Look at Next Week:

Science/ Health
Weather

Spelling

Adding –ing and -ly

Reading
Story: The Emperor’s Egg

Skills: KWL chart, suffixes, reading comprehension practice

Daily Five: Review procedures; fluency practice

Math

Fractions of Regions, More or Less than ½, Fraction word problems, review, Unit 8 test on Friday

Social Studies

Famous Black Americans

English

Words that compare

Writing

Personal narratives, Star of the Week writing, prompts

Weekly Update 02/03/12

Important Announcements:

*Words cannot express how thankful I am for the outpouring of love, support, comforting words, and prayers during this difficult time for my family. The children have been so sweet, and I was welcomed back with hugs and big smiles. I will never be able to thank each of you for all you have done. It has certainly reminded me what a blessing it is to work at Delaware Trail Elementary and to have all of you in my life.

*Please check with your child to see if he/she needs any of their supplies replenished. Many students are without pencils, erasers, dry erase markers, folders, etc. This will really help us out! Thanks!

*I will need at least two volunteers to help with math explorations again next week. I would need you on Tuesday, February 7^th. You would need to be here at 12:40 and would be finished no later than 1:30. Please let me know as soon as possible if you would be able to help out! Thanks!

*Do not forget the moon assignment is due Wednesday, February 8^th. Feel free to make it a family activity!

*New Book-It calendars were sent home on Wednesday, February 1^st. Use the calendar to track the number of minutes your child reads. If he/she reads for twenty minutes, he/she can color in the date on the calendar. In order to earn the free personal pan pizza coupon from Pizza Hut, your child will need to read for twenty minutes, four times a week. The calendar is due back on February 29th. The program will continue through March.

*I know things were forgotten due to having a substitute for so many days. The January book-it calendar was due on January 31^st. The last day I will accept it will be Monday, February 6^th.

*Spring Fling will be held on Friday, March 2^nd from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Our classroom is collecting items to create a school themed basket. If you would like to donate any school items such as pencils, erasers, notepads, binders, etc. for our basket, we would greatly appreciate it!

*Speaking of the Spring Fling, the event is in need of volunteers! There are two shifts you can choose to volunteer for during the Spring Fling. The first one is from 5:50 – 7:30 p.m. and the second one is from 7:20 – 9:00 p.m. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa Myers at 317-374-8148 or myers243@yahoo.com.

*Wednesday, February 8^th will be another Student Council Snack Sale. Snacks are $0.50.

*Student Council will be selling Hearts for Riley each day in the main lobby before school starts Monday, February 6th– February 13th for $1.00. All proceeds will benefit Riley Children’s Hospital.

*The cold weather is definitely upon us! Many students have been coming to school with only a sweatshirt. Please make sure your child is properly dressed with a warm winter coat, hats, and gloves. Thanks!

*Inclement weather is definitely a possibility as we get into colder weather. If there is a two hour delay on a Wednesday, students will NOT be dismissed early. They will be sent home at the normal time (3:35 for car riders and 3:45 for bus riders).

*Mark your calendars! We will be doing the Micronauts training at the Challenger Learning Center on Friday, March 9, 2012. For this training, we will need at least ten parent volunteers. We will be leaving school around 9:00 a.m. and returning in time for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Permission slips will be sent home closer to time.

A Look at Next Week:

Science/ Health
Weather

Spelling

f to ves

Reading
Story: Cool Ali

Skills: Antonyms and problem/solution

Daily Five: Review procedures; fluency practice

Math

Equal parts, Fractions of Shapes, Fractions of Collections, and Shading Fractional Parts

Social Studies

Review Unit 4 and test

English

Words that tell how many

Writing

Personal narratives and Star of the Week writing