Highlights of the Week #24

• RP was a great captain.  (CM)
• We finished our Realistic Fiction books. (PR)  They are looking GREAT.  Some people still have to finish their illustrations.  (KG)  We shared the books with the Kindergarteners.  (MA)
• We had a spelling test.  (CN) It was on contractions.  (PR)
• In the library we got to look at the Book Fair books.  (CP)  There were some really big books.  (RP)
• We practiced track and field in gym class.  (TG)  There was a flyer if you want to go to track camp this summer with Mr. B. (PR)
• Our grass seed is finally growing.  (KR) 
• There is a new boy in our class.  His initials are JS.  He seems really nice.  (TB)  Most of the boys showed him where we play football.  (TM)  DS and RP are being tour guides for JS.  (RP)
• Today we had the April Pep Rally.  OS and FH got the prize this month.  They are so proud.  (OS and class)
• DS's mom and dad came in to be Mystery Readers.  (TG)  They read a book called Bread and Jam for Frances.  (PR)
• We celebrated the birthdays of CD and DS this week.  We had some delicious popsicles.  (Miss D.)
• After our spelling test we had a math test.  If everyone gets 100% then we will get a  bonus free time!  (EB) 
• We had a 'Card Party' today after the math test.  (TG)

Peek at the Week of April 26-30

The last week of April, so hard to believe!  We continue to collect Pennies for Patients and Boxtops. 

Reading Workshop: We will be finishing up our unit on story elements by examining the elements of problem and solution. 

Writing Workshop: Thank you to the parents who typed our Realistic Fiction stories over the weekend.  We will be spending time this week deciding on the best placement of the sentences in our books.  Then detailed illustrations will be added to our hardcover books. 

Phonics/Spelling: This week we will focus on contractions.  The words for the assessment are:  can't, I'm, wasn't, it's, you're.

Math: We will be finishing up Unit 8 this week and will have an assessment on Friday.  Only 3 more units to go!

Homework
Monday 4/26
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Purple spelling sheet

Tuesday 4/27
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Math Review Sheet

Wednesday 4/28
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Problem and Solution Book Report

Thursday 4/29
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Study for tomorrow's spelling test

Have a great week!

Highlights of the Week #23

• CN was a really good captain.  (TM)
• We did track and field hurldles at outdoor gym. We practiced using batons like the Olympic runners use.  (TB)
• FH's dad came in to be our Mystery Reader.  (CP)
• The whole school tried to keep the lights turned off for Earth Day.  Mrs. McG's and Mrs. M's classes are in the lead.  (FH)
• We went to a Chinese music concert on Tuesday.  There were 4 musicians.  One of the instruments had a snakeskin cover.  (MA and JMN and PR)
• We made cups for our grass seed planting.  (KR)
• We edited our realistic fiction stories so that the moms can type them up.  We will illustrate the books next week!  (KG)
• We are hoping to plant the grass seed outside today and run around in the spring sunshine!  (MA and Miss D)

Puppet Shows

After doing a unit of study on Characters in Reading Workshop, our class worked in groups to put on a puppet show.  Each group had to select a story, design and make puppets and perform for the class.  The shows were wonderful and creative!

Mystery Reader #19

TB was surprised when his dad came to our classroom to be a Mystery Reader.  He read a great book called "Michael Recycle".

Peek at the Week of April 19-23

Welcome back from Spring Break!  I hope everyone had a fun time with their families. 

The time after April vacation always seems to fly.  There are so many traditional year-end activities that happen during the last 2 months of school.  Here is the list of what I have so far for your calendar planning:

Friday, May 21st:  First Grade Musical of "The Three Piggie Opera" (will most likely be in the morning...exact time TBD)
Tuesday, June 8th:  First Grade Field Day (12:30-2:00)
Friday, June 11th:  Poet Palooza (will most likely be in the afternoon...time TBD)

Reading Workshop: We finished up our Character unit of study and will be learning more about the other story elements of setting and problem/solution.  This ties in nicely with the Realistic Fiction stories that we are working on during Writing Workshop.

Spelling/Phonics: Ahoy Mates (oy/oi):  foil, enjoy, oyster, spoil, choice

Math: We will continue to learn and practice different strategies for addition and subtraction.  This week's math lessons are on:  Solving Subtraction Problems, Using the Vertical Form for Subtraction, Counting Back to Subtract and Counting On to Subtract.

Science:  We will be starting a unit of study on plants.  We will learn about what plants need for survival, the different kinds of plants and the parts of a plant.  We will also be talking about Earth Day which is this Thursday, April 22.
Homework
Monday 4/12
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Purple Spelling Sheet

Tuesday 4/13
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Earth Day Math Word Problems and Graphing (2 sides)

Wednesday 4/14
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Book Report:  Setting Postcard

Thursday 4/15
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Study for tomorrow's spelling test

Have a great week!

Highlights of the Week #22

• TB's dad came in to be the Mystery Reader.  He read a book called Michael Recycle. (CP)
• JMN was a very good captain.  TM subbed for him when he was sick.  (PR)
• We made Easter eggs.  (KR)
• We worked with our Character Clubs to make puppets and put on a show.  (OS)  It was lots of fun.  (DS)  Every group got to practice for 15 minutes.  (EB)
• We had 2 visits this week.  On Monday we went to listen to a poet.  She was really old (81) and has been writing poems since she was in third grade.  (MA)  We also had an author visit.  He lives in Vermont.  (CVI)
• We had a spelling test.  It was really hard!  The 'sorry sisters' are a tough list of words.  (KG)
• We are going to watch a movie for Fun Friday and to celebrate Spring Break.  (FH)
• Miss Dineen talked to us about doing our VERY best on our work.  She says, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well the first time."  We also had a class meeting about friendship problems.  We talked about the strategy of "Take 10 and start again" when we are feeling mad, angry, frustrated or sad.  We are trying to get along and not hurt each others feelings.  (class)

Reading Connection

This month's 'Reading Connection' newsletter is ready.  Click on the link below to access it.

http://www.dpsk-5parents.wikispaces.com/

Peek at the Week of April 5-9

This is the final week before Spring Break and I can tell that everyone is excited to enjoy some sunshine (fingers crossed).

We are collecting pennies for the Pennies for Patients program which supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  For more information about this program:  http://www.schoolandyouth.org/

Reading Workshop:  We will continue working with our character clubs this week.  Each group will be making some puppets and present a puppet show for the class. 

Writing Workshop: We are very lucky to have 2 authors visiting this week, a poet and a story writer.  This will be helpful as we work on our realistic fiction writing.  

Math:  We are starting Unit 8:  Working with Numbers and Operations.  Some strategies we will be learning/reviewing are using doubles plus 1 (ex:  for 4+5 think about it as 4+4 and add on 1)and doubles plus 2 (ex: 4+6 think 4+4 and all on 2).  Also this week we will be solving for a missing addend (ex:  5+___=8.  How can you figure that out?)

Spelling/Phonics: The 'Sorry Sisters':  August, draw, tall, crawl, autumn

Homework
Monday 4/5
1. Read for at least 20 minutes
2. Purple Spelling Sheet

Tuesday 4/6
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Book Report booklet (I notice, I wonder, I think)

Wednesday 4/7
1.  Read for at least 20 minutes
2.  Math:  Doubles Facts

Thursday 4/8
1. Read for at least 20 minutes
2. Study for tomorrow's spelling test

Have a great vacation...see you on the 19th!