April 9th - 13th

We are continuing to temporarily taking a break from Words -Their-Way in all groups except for the Orange Group and Red Group. The spelling tests over the next several weeks are currently based upon the results of your child's Word Wall Words assessment that was taken last week. Please ask your child which group he or she is in weekly. If you have any questions as to which group your child is in, please feel free to call or email. It is so clear to me that MANY of you have been working with your child at home on their weekly spelling words since I have added them to the weekly blog!  Please keep up the hard work, as it is helping your child greatly!!

SPELLING:Spelling tests will still be taken at the end of every week. Please ask your child what color group he/she is on this week so you can work on the spelling words at home.

Green Group: so, some, than, then, their, there, these, this, they

Blue Group: these, they, to, two, very, were, which, us, you, your
Orange Group: (ee and ea - long e) keep, green, sweep, teeth, week, clean, speak, teach, weak, leaf
Red Group: dry, crow, blind, school, jail, soak, scene, drew, light, pool, way, feast

Language Arts:

This week during language arts, we will be revisiting the personal narrative. We will complete the full writing process from planning and writing our rough drafts through publishing. Personal narrative writing is an important skill that gets better and better with time. Each child will go through this process at different rates of speed. As your child completes his or her writing, it will be graded and sent home in the Tuesday Folders.

Hatching Chicks and Silkworms:My oh my! We have so many living creatures in our classroom during this time of year!! We have now added silkworms to our collection. The children have completed the What they Know and What they Want to know columns of our class KWL chart. We will be searching for the answers to the questions that they have about silkworms, as well as adding new questions as we continue watching and reading about the exciting stages of  metamorphosis. If you have access to a mulberry tree, would you please be so kind and share mulberry leaves with our silkworms, as that is their only source of nourishment?

Through the candling process, we have been able to see the little life that is growing inside of one of our chicken eggs. It is so exciting to be able to see and share the changes that are happening inside of the eggs with the children. We are expecting our chicks to hatch around April 11th.

MATH:

Problem solving is the focus during our math unit this week. Students will use mathematical language to help answer questions and solve problems during this mixed review of skills that have been taught throughout the year.

We will be choosing strategies, solving problems, and explaining our thinking process with written words (focusing on mathematical language).

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:

Our research projects were a big hit! I was so impressed with the various research, presentations, and creativity that was shared in the classroom this week through our study of weather and objects in the sky unit! The children shared and learned so much from each other. This was a fantastic opportunity for each child to be the expert!

We will be learning more about needs vs.wants while identifying examples of people wanting more than they can have, and learning how to make wise choices when buying goods and services. We will also be learning more about how technology changes the ways families live today.

IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS:

Wednesday: Library day. Please return the library books.*

*April 12   6-8pm PTA hosts Science Night for Families

*April 19   6-8pm Family Skate Night, Playland Skate Center    
                                                                  
*April 22   Earth Day   
                                                                                                                           
*April 27   6-7pm Family Fun Night    
                                                                                                
*May 2     Early Release Day 12:45pm

Thank you!  You are amazing!!

Tuesday Folders - Cheryl Borden

Classroom Helper - Cheryl Borden