Thursday, December 4, 2014

December 8, 2014

A note from Mrs. Tabor…

      Thank you for helping us collect cans during our canned food drive.  I can honestly say that I’ve never seen so many cans!  We will let you know later this week about our total.  As we get involved in holiday activities, please remember that every day in school is an opportunity to grow as a learner.  With that in mind, please stay as close as you can to normal after school routines.  This will ensure that your children are well rested and ready to learn! 
It’s not too late sign up for the 2nd grade Girl party! This fundraiser for the Girl Party is next week! The link to sign up is: 
Girls - http://vols.pt/E5uoyZ
·         Scholastic Book Fair is here this week.  Our shopping day is Friday, December 12th at 10:30.  If you have time to help with shopping, I could use a parent or two to help.  However, parents should not feel obliged to shop with your children this time.
•    Please send in all items for the Husky Helping House child by Tuesday, December 9th.   
•    Box Tops – please send them in!!!  For every Box Top we collect, 10 cents is added to our class budget!
·         Holiday sing along: you may hear your child talk about our sing along, but this is a student-only activity.  Our gym doesn’t have the capacity to hold students and parents.
•    Our class holiday party will be on Friday, December 19th at 9am.  Students should bring in their own sweet treat and drink to enjoy during the party.          


 Reminders
*Keep Flat Stanley going! We are really enjoying the letters that we have received so far.
*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day!
*Now that the weather is turning colder, please make sure your child comes to school with a coat, hat, and gloves.  There have been many days recently where students have come to school and not been prepared for outside recess.  Our recess is at 10:00 or 10:30am, and we will go outside unless it is below 32 degrees (with the wind chill factor). 
*Be sure to sign and return your students planner every day! Don’t forget to record their reading!

What are we learning?
 Reading Workshop
Last week we began our fourth ELA Unit ”The Wild West.”   This week, we will begin exploring how literary elements help us understand tall tales, and relating to life in the 1800s.  We will also learn about collective nouns (i.e. a herd, a tribe, a flock).
Writing Workshop
We will continue to examine literary elements of tall tales in Writing Workshop, as well. We will learn about hyperboles, and how they are used in tall tales.  Lessons this week will lead into writing our own tall tales after the winter break.

 Word Study
This week’s word wall words are: 
Wash, hot, sing, enough, week
Long vowel group:  short and long u (spelled u_e)
Other vowel group:  short e and long e  (ee, ea)
r-influenced vowel patterns group:  or, ore, oar

 Math
We will continue to practice using frames and arrows to solve addition and subtraction problems.  We will also learn about using a function machine to determine how to solve addition and subtraction problems, as well as practicing subtraction strategies.

 Social Studies
This week we will continue our social studies unit on westward expansion.  We will start with the 13 colonies, then learn about the Louisiana Purchase, Louis and Clarke and Sacajawea.

Habit of the Week:  We will be focusing on how important it is to be grateful for what we have, and how to help those in need.  We will tally our canned food collection, and wrap gifts for our Harmony Helping House friend.
Related Arts Schedule
Monday-Friday
Art