Dirt!

Weekly Update for 05-02

·      Thank you for the cereal boxes. We are in need of about 10 more. If you have not raided your pantry, please do so!

·      We will be celebrating our “digging in the dirt” party this afternoon, stay posted for some sweet pictures.

·      We welcome May, Mrs. Smith and myself are looking forward to the last month together!

·      We are looking for 2 items to be sent in on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Please send in a bar of unscented Dove bar of soap and an apple. Details below as we review our history plans.

·      SAVE THE DATE! Friday, May 13^th we will be celebrating our westward movement unit with a Frontier Friday! The first grade party will be from 8-11:10. We will be looking for 6-10 volunteers and will be asking for supplies to make the day a great one! Our party will include frontier food, a photo booth, games,  and crafts.

Next week:

Math

I am eager to share that we will be onto our week long money unit! The students will be identifying coins, counting using $1 amounts, and using various combinations to create totals.  We are going to put the fuzzies on hold next week as for the students will be earing money instead. Each scholar will have an opportunity to shop in a small classroom store at the week comes to an end.  They will be earning coins and dollars for scholarly actions and choices! I cant wait to reward and see them shop!

Literature

Continuing on with a different Pooh adventure! Those cereal boxes will be put to good use next week. Each student will use a cereal box to make a book report. On each side of the box we will be writing about various literature elements.  They will take home their Pooh book reports on Friday.

Science

A week long study of Thomas Edison!

History

We have loved our weeks spent reading and writing about Daniel Boone.  Next week we will discuss, read, and write about the importance of the Louisiana Purchase and the effect it had on the United States.  As the week progresses we will be able to read and write and discuss about the goals, needed supplies, and journey of Lewis and Clark! We will be working on and in a hand-crafted journal through out the week.  I would also like to provide each scholar with 2 hands on frontier activities, whittling and food dehydration. I do ask that you send in a bar of unscented Dove soap bar and an apple.  We will be completing these activities towards the end of the week. If you could send I both items by Wednesday that would be very helpful! 

Counting back within 100

Weekly Update for the week of 04-25

Reminders

-Fine Arts and French night TOMORROW from 5:30-8:00.  Please come and be amazed with our artistic abilities and French studies!

-Our book fair continues through tomorrow, students can pop in before school, during the day, and after school.  If you would like to pack money in an envelope and label and place in their HW notebook, Mrs. Smith can hold it and help with the shopping.

-No school next Friday, April 29^th

- We had a discussion yesterday as the day came to a close.  Mrs. Smith and myself took the time to remind the scholars that we are expecting active learning, and scholarly behavior though our last days together. If you could have a brief discussion as well at home it would be greatly appreciated!  I know the anxious feelings and excitement are at a high as summer approached! :]

- We will be spending some of our afternoon tomorrow celebrating Earth Day!

I am really looking forward to next week! LOTS of fun concepts, people, and stories!

History

Spending the week reading and learning about our trailblazer, Daniel Boone! We will be working through an activity packet, reading about his travels, acknowledging his accomplishments, and even making a pop up craft in our history notebooks!

Science

We are ending our electricity unit with conductors and insulators.  A unit assessment will take place on Thursday.  Thank you Noah for bringing in a super fun and fascinating circuit! If you have one at home please feel free to send it in! 

Literature

Winnie the Pooh! What a feel good classic! We will be reading our Winnie story and making a fictional book review brochure.   I will take their brochure and sharing it as a work sample for next school year. I will be checking for accurate copy work, complete sentences, neatness, and overall completion with attention to details.

Math

I am happy to say that we have been working well with our math counters, whiteboards, and explanations when adding and subtracting within 100! I will check for understanding with a unit assessment towards the end of next week. *correction* The following week-May 2nd, we will start our money unit!  Students will be expected to recognize bills and count money up to $100. I have some great money counters to work with! Students will also be expected to read money amounts and compare prices. So much fun!

Partner Reading!

This morning we are reading about light with partners! The scholars are also taking reading notes as they make connects with the text! 

Drummer Boy Details

We were able to complete our life size Drummer Boy posters! 

A Special day!

Today was fun filled! We played Jeopardy for our history review (the kids LOVED it). Today was also my birthday, I felt beyond loved and spoiled! Thank you families for all your love and thank you Mrs. Allan for getting all the goodies together!

American Symbols

On Friday we made our very own bald eagles! 

 

Weekly Update for week of 04-18

-       Spring book fair will take place next Wednesday-Friday! Please stop by during the scheduled times to purchase some fun new books. I have also composed a wish list for our class. If you would like to purchase and donate a book be sure to sign and date the inside cover. I enjoy looking and remembering the kind gesture each time I open it up to read to the kids!

-       Asking for any circuit boards from home! If you have one or have a kit to build one we would greatly appreciate it if it was brought in. Observing electricity can really spark some curiosity and make some connections!

-       Save The Dates:

o  Half Day THIS Friday, April 15^th

o  Book Fair April 20-22^nd

o  No School Friday, April 29^th

-       Monthly poem teams have been assigned; your child will need to memorize 1 stanza to recite. They all know which one is theirs!

-       Virtue of the Month: Integrity

Looking into next week…

Math

We have done such a GREAT job using our counters to show regrouping. We will finish this week and work into next solving within 100 using written form. Vertical alignment when adding. Subtraction is to follow!

Science

Continuing on with circuits, illustrating and labeling series and parallel circuits!

History

American history has been so exciting!  We LOVED learning about our American symbols!  On Friday a study guide will be sent home to review before our unit assessment on Tuesday, the 19^th.  Wednesday will be the start of our Westward Movement unit, expect to be notified of a party as our last unit comes to an end. 

We would like to have a morning, much like our Egypt party. Volunteers and supplies will be needed so stay tuned!

Literature

We loved reading “Sam the Minuteman”!  I have seen such progress with transitions, fluency, and expression when popcorn reading as a class.  There will be no more books to bring in as the school year comes to an end.  Next week we will be participating in 2 read a loud stories, “George the Drummer Boy”, and “Why the Owl Has Big Eyes”.  Continuing to work on comprehension, fluency, and parts of speech while reading.  Reading group helpers have been AMAZING! We appreciate all of your time and patience, as it has been a special time for the children to get such small group instruction time. Reading groups will take place for 2 more weeks. Starting in May the class will transition back to whole group Literature time as the year comes to an end.

Coffee Conversations

Join the headmaster and a 2^nd grade teacher this Thursday morning at 8am for coffee conversations.  Learn more about what 2^nd grade will look like for your student and see the new renovations to our school library!  Please sign up here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084da5a929aa8-coffee2

Adding within 100

Today we are adding with and without regrouping. Such as 76+6 and 76+3.

Weekly Update for 04-11

·      Thank you all for your support and a huge thank you to Mrs. Smith for keeping everything on track, happy, and comfortable for our kids while I was away!

·      Virtue of the month: Integrity 

·      I look forward to seeing all of our sweet kids tomorrow morning!

Next Week:
Math: Adding tens within 100 and adding two, 2 digit numbers within 100. We will be using our math tubs this week to help with these concepts!
Science: Continuing with electricity!  Reading about currents and circuits.
History: What a fun filled week of American history, we will be reading and getting artistic while learning about Betsy Ross, The Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, the White House, and Mount Rushmore!
Literature: I will be sending home a new monthly poem.  This week we will be reading from “Sam the Minuteman”, if you have not already sent it in, please do so tomorrow. Thanks!

5th grade buddies

We were able to read with our 5th grade friends this afternoon!