Saturday, February 1, 2014

February 3rd - 7th, 2014

Dear Families and Friends,

Thank you to all who participated in any way with the Fairy Tale Parade! Was that fun, or what!? For me, there is a great deal of fulfillment in participating in the joy of make-believe with children! I am continually in awe of their creative imaginations once they are draped in fabric that signifies a land far away! They instantly become knights and princess and warriors of all kinds... By the way, Just in case you didn't have the opportunity to notice, the children have been writing fictional stories that are based upon the Fairy Tale structure. These works of art are hanging in the hall! Please stop by and get a few giggles from their cleverness and creativity! Wow! First Graders have LOTS of IMAGINATION!! :)

Math:  This week in math we will be comparing 2 dimensional shapes to 3 dimensional shapes.  We will discuss the attributes and explore 3 dimensional shapes.  Do they roll? Can you stack them? What do their faces look like?

Reading Workshop:  This week we will introduce the students to biographies.  They will learn that biographies are true stories about a real person.  Our focus will be on three characteristics of biographies: 1. Take place during a real historical time period. 
2. Tell about a person's life in chronological order. 
3. Written about people who have made a significant contribution to society.  

Writing Workshop:  This week in Writing Workshop, we will continue writing Small Moments. Small Moments are Personal Narratives that "ZOOM IN" on one important event. We have already begun planning our stories with a beginning, middle, end - before we actually begin writing our rough drafts. As we go through the writing process during the next couple of weeks, we will work on writing what we hear when we don’t know how to spell a word that is not on our Word Wall, sketching a picture instead of drawing before we write, along with planning and adding details to our stories so our readers can get a clear picture in their mind. 

Social Studies:  This week, we will finish up our Texas unit.  We will then begin to read Biographies about a leader in our Community (Sam Houston) and Inventors (Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison).  We will talk about what a timeline is and we will create a timeline of Alexander Graham Bell’s life as well.     

Habit #7:  Sharpen the Saw.  I take care of myself.  I spend time with family and friends.  I find meaningful ways to help others. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
*Library day is Thursday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s homework bag and all supplies on Friday morning.
*It helps us tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag, as we re-use them!

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU - to all of the volunteers who help out in any way, shape or form! There are a few who faithfully fit the Marine Motto - The FEW, The PROUD, The BRAVE! You know who you are, and so do I!! The children's lives are enhanced in many, many ways through the loving care of each volunteer.

Dates to remember:
February 4:  1st Grade PE Program
February 5:  Early Release Day
February 7:  101st Day of School
February 14:  Chocolate Fever Day
       Valentine’s Day Party
February 17:  Bad Weather Make Up Day- We will have school this day!
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day
     Family Skate Night
March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up
April 2:  Spirit Night
May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)
May 2:  Field Day
          Talent Show (4-5)
May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7:  Early Release Day
May 9:  Career Day
May 12-16:  Book Fair
May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!

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