Well, was last week a short week or what?! While the students did an exceptional job of adjusting to the changes in schedule, I am looking forward to a more typical week this week. Although, since it is Literacy Week, I'm sure there will be much excitement!
Speaking of Literacy Week, here are a few things to keep in mind throughout the week:
- Each day the Scholastic book fair will be open in the morning from 7:45-8:30 and after school is dismissed. It will also be open on Friday evening during the Taste of New Danville event.
- Tuesday is "Night Owl Day"! So send students in their pajamas with a flashlight! They may also bring one other "snuggly" item (blanket, pillow or stuffed animal).
- Thursday is "Read My Shirt Day". Students are invited to wear a shirt with words on it for others to read.
Also, just a reminder that the Taste of New Danville is on Friday! I'm very excited for this event and can't wait to taste all of the yummy dishes! Please bring your own dishes and silverware for this event.
A Peek At Our Week:
- Math --- This week, students will be extending their knowledge of 10-complements, practicing addition with multiple addends, investigating weight, and practicing double-digit subtraction. There's a lot on our plate, but we'll break into small groups and go at a pace that works for us.
- Language Arts --- We are continuing our study of verbs, using context clues to understand unfamiliar words, introducing similes, and continuing to learn about synonyms and antonyms. Our Writer's Workshops will continue to focus on using author Angela Johnson's work as mentor texts to improve our own writing.
- Bible --- During this last week of February, we will wrap up our unit on showing love to God and others (though, of course, we will always continue to work on this!).
- Science --- This week, we are transitioning our focus from air to the weather outside. We will be completing activities involving temperature and clouds.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
News & Notes {and some science fun!
Happy weekend!
It always amazes me how much can happen in one week of school. I'll be honest. At the beginning of the week, I felt like a needed some sort of motivational pep talk. Yet, this group of students has a way of turning my days around, and by the end of this week I said goodbye to each student with spirits high and am already looking forward to next week. You have some pretty spectacular children!
I have many items of note, so grab a pen and paper to make yourself a list. :)
--- Please return your Taste of New Danville RSVP if you have not already done so. (It was on yellow paper.) We need all families to respond regardless of whether or not you intend to attend. Please respond by February 12. This will be a great time of fun and fellowship... and some yummy food!
--- I am planning to provide a low-key time on Thursday, February 12 for students to exchange valentines if they wish to. I do encourage children to bring a small box or paper bag to set on their desk so that they may receive valentines. Below is a list of students in our class (there are 23).
- Asaad, Nora, Mya, Raylin, Caleb, Caleb W., Jordan, Bethlehem, Meckenzie, Isaiah, Ava, Arturo, Olivia, Isaac, Zachary, Aliyah, Nya, Alaina, Zoey, Kordell, Amerti, Sinim, Evan
--- Sherrie Strange Pratt, a New York City soprano, will be joining New Danville for chapel at a special time: Friday, February 20, 9:15a.m. She will be focusing on African-American spirituals, sharing not only her voice but stories of the songs. It's not often that we get to hear a world-class soprano, so please do feel free to join us!
--- There are several days coming up during which students will not have school, making for one big extended weekend for them. Check out the "Calendar" tab above if you need to double-check those dates.
--- Mark your calendars! Grades 2-5 will be holding student-led conferences this spring (March 12)! I am excited to walk through this new conference format with you and your children. More information to come. I haven not yet made students aware that they will be leading conferences, though they are unknowingly already preparing for them. I wanted to share the news with you first. :)
A Peek At Our Week
--- Bible --- Students will be studying the greatest commandment in conjunction with their Bible memory. We will discuss how we can show love to God, our families, and our friends.
--- Science --- Continuing our study on air, students will be building balloon rockets (a highlight each year) to help them understand air pressure and how it can be used to propel objects.
--- Math --- We will finish Unit 6 with a few more lessons on multiplication and equal sharing. Then, we will take a short respite from typical lessons to learn traditional addition (the way you and I learned in school)! Yay! After those lessons, students will generally be given the freedom to choose which method of addition they prefer --- partial sums or traditional addition. Surprisingly, it's usually a 50/50 split!
--- Language Arts --- Students will be analyzing the different structures of nonfiction and fiction texts as well as completing a variety of activities about verbs and homophones.
I don't want to overload one post with pictures like I did last time, so I'm going to post a few now and some more later this weekend. Here are the science highlights of the week!
It always amazes me how much can happen in one week of school. I'll be honest. At the beginning of the week, I felt like a needed some sort of motivational pep talk. Yet, this group of students has a way of turning my days around, and by the end of this week I said goodbye to each student with spirits high and am already looking forward to next week. You have some pretty spectacular children!
I have many items of note, so grab a pen and paper to make yourself a list. :)
--- Please return your Taste of New Danville RSVP if you have not already done so. (It was on yellow paper.) We need all families to respond regardless of whether or not you intend to attend. Please respond by February 12. This will be a great time of fun and fellowship... and some yummy food!
--- I am planning to provide a low-key time on Thursday, February 12 for students to exchange valentines if they wish to. I do encourage children to bring a small box or paper bag to set on their desk so that they may receive valentines. Below is a list of students in our class (there are 23).
- Asaad, Nora, Mya, Raylin, Caleb, Caleb W., Jordan, Bethlehem, Meckenzie, Isaiah, Ava, Arturo, Olivia, Isaac, Zachary, Aliyah, Nya, Alaina, Zoey, Kordell, Amerti, Sinim, Evan
--- Sherrie Strange Pratt, a New York City soprano, will be joining New Danville for chapel at a special time: Friday, February 20, 9:15a.m. She will be focusing on African-American spirituals, sharing not only her voice but stories of the songs. It's not often that we get to hear a world-class soprano, so please do feel free to join us!
--- There are several days coming up during which students will not have school, making for one big extended weekend for them. Check out the "Calendar" tab above if you need to double-check those dates.
--- Mark your calendars! Grades 2-5 will be holding student-led conferences this spring (March 12)! I am excited to walk through this new conference format with you and your children. More information to come. I haven not yet made students aware that they will be leading conferences, though they are unknowingly already preparing for them. I wanted to share the news with you first. :)
A Peek At Our Week
--- Bible --- Students will be studying the greatest commandment in conjunction with their Bible memory. We will discuss how we can show love to God, our families, and our friends.
--- Science --- Continuing our study on air, students will be building balloon rockets (a highlight each year) to help them understand air pressure and how it can be used to propel objects.
--- Math --- We will finish Unit 6 with a few more lessons on multiplication and equal sharing. Then, we will take a short respite from typical lessons to learn traditional addition (the way you and I learned in school)! Yay! After those lessons, students will generally be given the freedom to choose which method of addition they prefer --- partial sums or traditional addition. Surprisingly, it's usually a 50/50 split!
--- Language Arts --- Students will be analyzing the different structures of nonfiction and fiction texts as well as completing a variety of activities about verbs and homophones.
I don't want to overload one post with pictures like I did last time, so I'm going to post a few now and some more later this weekend. Here are the science highlights of the week!
Air fountains! (Sorry that some of the pictures are a bit blurry... it was a quick capture.)
Here you can see what they are actually doing... using air to shoot green water! What could be better on a Friday afternoon?!
Before students created their air fountains, they explored the idea that air takes up space using water.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)