Monday Memo 10/19/15

Good morning!

Assembly

Hope you can join us TODAY at 9AM for the assembly.  Our class will perform "The Watercycle Song."

Weather

Our cloud observation on Friday was awesome!  The clouds were actually moving across the sky as the children sketched.  We saw cumulus, cirrus, and stratus.  It was a fun time sitting on the blacktop outside our classroom, watching the sky and drawing. 

The students also created three-dimensional cloud posters this week with cotton balls and cotton batting. 

Writing

Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats was our mentor text this week, and we discovered some of the good author crafts Keats used in his writing; for example, strong verbs like stretched and whispered.  I also read my personal narrative Stapled! to the class, which is the story of when I got my ears pierced.  They helped me revise by finding a better words for said (a student suggested "moaned"), and using better details, like replacing the word "gum" with the more specific "Big Red".

Book Fair

Our class will visit the Book Fair on Thursday afternoon.  You are welcome to send in money.  Some families prefer their child make a list of books they are interested in, and then make the purchases together at the Movie Night on Friday at 6:30.  The Book Fair will be open then as well.  Many thanks to the PTO for coordinating both the Book Fair and Movie Night.

Vision and Hearing

Ms. MacDonald, the school nurse, will conduct the vision and hearing screening on Thursday for our class.  If your child wears glasses, please be sure he is wearing them on Thursday.

Buddies

Our class is creating a three dimensional autumn forest with our buddies!  This two week project will be completed on Friday and will be displayed in the school library.

Field Trip

Just a reminder that the field trip was rescheduled for Friday, October 30. 

A new permission slip must be signed with this new date.  If you need a copy, please click here.

Thank you for reading.  Have a great week.

Miriam

Monday Memo (Tuesday Edition) 10/13/15

I hope everyone had a lovely long weekend.  Wasn't the weather fantastic?  Here are a few things about our week:

Assembly

We will perform the second grade classic "The Watercycle Song" at the assembly on Monday.  We have been practicing the words and our choreography every day.  I sent home a copy of the words with your child today so they can practice.  Click here if you need another copy.  Hope you can join us!

Field Trip

We are so excited!  A reminder notice and email will be sent home on Thursday about the field trip.

Writing

Using our Writer's Notebooks as a resource, we are writing small moment stories (personal narratives).  You can help by brainstorming memories and ideas with your child about times in their lives that would make an interesting story.  First times, last times, and times with strong feelings are best.  Great ideas the students have thought of include the first time I rode my bike, when my cat died, the first time I rode a roller coaster, etc.

Math

We just finished our unit on Addition and Subtraction through 20, and we will now embark on a place value unit.  Math Stations have begun in our classroom!  If you are interested in coming in to help for an hour on a Monday or a Thursday, please click here.

Science

We conducted a fun experiment blowing bubbles and observing how they behaved in air.  We also learned about a weather instrument called an anemometer.  The windy weather on Friday really helped us out, and we were able to see the anemometer in action, spinning around and around to measure wind speed.

Have a great week!

Miriam

Monday Memo 10/5/15

Happy October!

Homework

Click here for the October Homework Calendar. 

​Please remind your child to write their NAME and DATE on all assignments.  Thank you​.

Conferences

Thank you for signing up.  I'm excited to begin our discussions this week about your child's progress.

Global Cardboard Challenge

It was a blast. Hope you like the slideshow!  We couldn't have done it without you and without all of your tape and cardboard donations.  We talked alot about the three C's:  collaboration, cooperation, and compromise.  Your children really rose to the challenge in creating fun games out of cardboard and tape.  Our fourth grade buddies enjoyed playing them with us!  The Cardboard Arcade, run by the fifth graders during recess on Friday, was lots of fun, too.  So many students made a donation to Room to Read, the charity for which the fifth graders were raising money.  It was a great day!

Field Trip

We are getting very excited for the trip!  The torrential rainstorm last week was a perfect opportunity to introduce an important weather instrument:  the rain gauge.  We measured two inches of water in a three hour period!  Wow!​

Thank you to so many of you for offering to chaperone.  I will email you today if you were selected.
 ​

​Writing

Children are sharing their beautifully designed Writer's Notebooks.  We are currently working on a piece based on The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown.  This week, we will begin Small Moment stories, our personal narrative unit. 

Have a great week!  Please let me know of any questions or concerns you may have.