Sunday, January 20, 2013

Newsletter January 18

We had a winter wonderland week in the Seal Class!  We did lots of snow activities and learned all about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..  We also began our five minute math tests.  We will have a weekly test to watch our progress in addition from 1-20.  Have you heard we are singing "old" songs in the Seal class to practice reading fluency?  This week's song is America by Neil Diamond.



We are learning about:                                                          

  • Dr King
  • place value
  • time to the quarter hour
  • persuasive speeches
  • text features in non fiction books
  • the sound r blends (cr, gr, pr, fr, br, dr and tr) make in words
  • 5 minute math fact practice
  • Antarctica and the Arctic



Some activities we did:

  • made magic e words
  • created posters of Dr. King
  • baked rainbow cookies
  • brainstormed word lists that described Dr King and used these to decorate our posters
  • played Jake the snake
  • solved number riddles with base ten blocks
  • played Brain Pop at computers
  • wrote about our dreams for a better world
  • played a new math game Salute



Poem of the week:  Let It Ring
ipad app:  Concentration

Volunteers:
Wednesday (12:30-2)   Erin Pompeo and Louise Potorti
Friday (9-10)  Kelly Lord

Upcoming Events:
February 1  Report cards come home.  Please sign and return the envelope.

Wish list:
We will be decorating our Valentine boxes soon.  We would love to have any small  Valentine decoartions that may be around the house (stickers, foam cutouts, doilies etc)




Saturday, January 12, 2013

January 11 Newsletter

We had a bit if a sad day in our class today.  We had to say goodbye to our friend Lia.  She is off to a new adventure in a new school.  We wish her the best of luck!

The snow is beginning to melt, however it takes an awfully long time for the playground to become snow free.  It may be a good idea to still pack snow pants and boots.

We are learning about:

  • magic e
  • estimating
  • using the 100s grid to help us add and subtract
  • making ten when adding (8+4=10+2)
  • how good readers use text features in non fiction books
  • why readers choose non fiction books
  • turn around facts


Some activities we did

  • brainstormed ideas about what we could write a  persuasive letters about and who we would send it to 
  • played addition Top It
  • began number scrolls
  • played sight word bingo
  • wrote a letter to Mr. Fosher and Mrs. Ruel persuading them to put a handle on the zip line
  • organized the non fiction books in our classroom library
  • wrote a letter to a friend about recess games
  • used dominoes to create turn around facts in math






Friday, January 4, 2013

Newsletter January 4, 2013

We had a great first week back from vacation!  Please remember to send in snow pants, boots, hats and mittens.  If it is warm enough, we will go out everyday.  It is far more fun to be able to play in the snow than on the hard top.

We are learning about:

  • reading graphs
  • persuasive writing
  • measuring
  • non-fiction books
  • setting new reading goals


Some activities we did:

  • wrote New Year's resolutions
  • decorated New Year hats
  • wrote letters to our classmates
  • played the dot game
  • made a time line of our school year
  • built 3 digit numbers
  • wrote persuasive letters in our circle journals


ipad app:  story time
Poem: A Sled For Christmas

Volunteers:
Monday           Lori Rocha  11-11:30
Wednesday      Jen Dean     12:30-2
Friday:              Robin Walston 9-10