Friday, December 21, 2012

December 21, 2012

Reading and Language Arts   After break,we will be reading A Trip to the Firehouse. It is a photo essay about a boy named David who visits a firehouse with his class. At the firehouse, they see different fire trucks and even help wash one!

Comprehension Strategies: Topic, Main Idea, and Supporting Details; Question
Vocabulary Words:  chief, dispatch, emergencies, fire engine, firefighters, gear, valves, 
High Frequency Words:  clothes, guess, order
Grammar Skills:  Proper Nouns
Phonics:  Vowel Pairs ai, ay; Compound Words

Reading Logs   Please continue to log minutes with your child for December. December reading logs are due Monday, Jan 7. A reading log for January went home today too!

Math  We took a test on Chapter 11, Probability, today. We will begin Chapter 11, Count Money, when we return from break. Students will find the total value of collections of half dollars, quarter, dimes, nickels and pennies, order coins in a collection by value to find the total value, and they will model the same amount using different combinations of coins.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. To check memorization of these facts, we are taking timed tests. Once your child passes a set of facts, they will move to the next level.  Look in your child's planner to find out what facts they should be working on at home. Here is a website you can try:  

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/thats_a_fact/english_K_3.html 

Science  We will begin a unit on Living Things. We will begin by describing  characteristics that distinguish living and nonliving things. We will sort objects to determine whether they are living or nonliving things. 

Important Dates & Announcements

Dec 21- Jan 6 - Winter Break
Jan 7 - Jan 12 - Map Testing
Mon, Jan 7 - December Reading Logs are due
Mon, Jan 21 - No School - Martin Luther King's Birthday
Wed, Jan 30 - Early Dismissal - School Improvement Day
Mon, Feb 18 - No School- President's Day
Tues, Feb 26 - Early Dismissal - School Improvement Day


*Thanks to Mrs. Bende, Mrs. Prpa, Mrs. Mertens and Mrs. Ying for planning a wonderful Holiday party.  A special thanks to all our parents, including Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Malatia, Mrs. O'Brien, and Mrs. O'Connell who sent in yummy treats, drinks and supplies for our party.  Fun was had by all! 

*After the holiday break we will be starting a math unit on money. Please send the following coins in a small container or ziploc bag clearly marked with your child's name:

20 pennies
10 nickels
10 dimes
7 quarters


Friday, December 14, 2012

December 14, 2012


Reading and Social Studies  Next week we will be completing a unit on Holidays Around the World. The students will be "traveling" to China, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Poland and Sweden to learn about the holidays and traditions that these countries celebrate around this time of year. 

Reading Logs  Please continue to log minutes with your child for December.

Math  We began Chapter 10, Probability. Students will predict an event as certain or impossible, describe an event as more likely or less likely and record possible outcomes.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. To check memorization of these facts, we are taking timed tests. Once your child passes a set of facts, they will move to the next level.  Look in your child's planner to find out what facts they should be working on at home. Here is a website you can try:  

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/thats_a_fact/english_K_3.html 


Star Student of the Week  Xander was our star student of the week.  When he is at school he enjoys math. When he is at home he likes to play video games with his brother Dylan. When he grows up he would like to be a football player.  Xander is a star because he is an all star football player. Thanks for sharing Xander!

Important Dates & Reminders

Thurs, Dec 20 - Christmas Caroling at Fairview Village in Downers Grove - Bring a sack lunch and we will eat at school when we return. 
Dec. 21 - Class Holiday Party
Dec. 24 - Jan 6 - Winter Break- No School

*After the holiday break we will be starting a math unit on money. Please send the following coins in a small container or ziploc bag clearly marked with your child's name:

20 pennies
10 nickels
10 dimes
7 quarters

*Please send in your box tops!

*Please consider donating new mittens, gloves, hats or scarves to Ide's Mitten Tree.  The items will be given to needy families in the area. Donations are being collected thru December 19. Thanks to all who have donated!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

December 7, 2012




Reading and Language Arts  Next week we will be discussing the meaning of persuasion. We will be reading the book I Wanna Iguana. It is about a boy that tries to convince his mom to let him have an iguana. We will go through the steps of writing a persuasive essay together and then the students' will be writing their own persuasive essays.  

Reading Logs   Congratulations to all who earned a reward this month. We celebrated our 21 days of reading in November with lunch and a movie in the classroom on Monday. A coupon for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut was also handed out. Please continue to log minutes with your child for December.

Math  We will continue Chapter 9, Data and Graphs. Students will be learning how to make and read a pictograph, find the range and mode for a set of data, and follow directions to locate points on a grid. There will be a chapter test on Thursday.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. To check memorization of these facts, we are taking timed tests. Once your child passes a set of facts, they will move to the next level.  Look in your child's planner to find out what facts they should be working on at home. Here is a website you can try:  


http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/thats_a_fact/english_K_3.html

Social Studies  We will continue the unit Our Country Long Ago.  Next week we will learn about the expedition Lewis and Clark. They will learn the vocabulary word pioneer and how the pioneers settled the West by traveling the Oregon Trail. They will learn how to read a timeline.


Jr. Achievement  Mrs. Schaal, a volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class this week to teach us about Our Community. We learned about unit production and assembly-line production. We learned the four steps of donut production. We all became a team when we made donuts.

Star Student of the Week  Alberta was our star student of the week.   When she is at school she enjoys reading. When she is at home she likes to read books, do math and homework and watch tv. When she grows up she would like to be a doctor.  Alberta is a star because she is excellent at math. Thanks for sharing Alberta!

Important Dates & Reminders

Wed, Dec 12 - Permission slips due for Christmas Caroling

Fri, Dec 14 - Slipper and Movie Day - Wear your slippers to school and we will                                    watch a holiday movie - School Reading Reward Day

Thurs, Dec 20 - Christmas Caroling at Fairview Village in Downers Grove - Bring a sack lunch and we will eat at school when we return. 

Dec. 24 - Jan 6 - Winter Break- No School

*After the holiday break we will be starting a math unit on money. Please send the following coins in a small container or ziploc bag clearly marked with your child's name:

20 pennies
10 nickels
10 dimes
7 quarters

*Please send in your box tops!

*Please consider donating new mittens, gloves, hats or scarves to Ide's Mitten Tree.  The items will be given to needy families in the area. Donations are being collected thru December 19.

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