Happy Wishes :)

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope everyone has a restful vacation. See you in 2013!

In Case of Snow...

If we get all this snow they are calling for, we may have a 2 hour delay - or even have school called off!

If we have a 2 hour delay, we will only have ONE performance of the play, at 12:30.

If school is called off, we will NOT reschedule the play. I think it would be too hard for the children to remember the lines over 2 weeks. Not to fear though, we will do another play in May, and that play is super cute!!

What we are studying (week of 12/17)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 69
Tuesday - no homework
Wednesday - no homework
Thursday - no homework


Math:
Monday - fact sheet
Tuesday - fact sheet
Wednesday - fact sheet
Thursday - fact sheet


Spelling:
No spelling this week


Reading:
Meet the Super Croc
Please read the stories from page 370 to page 377.

Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
ancient, hopeful, unable, confirm, valid

This Week

With the craziness of the season don't forget:

1.) There is a sight word test on Thursday.

2.) Items for the party can come in anytime. The party itself will be on Friday, beginning at 2:00. Helpers can come in at 1:45 for set-up.

3.) Our play is really coming together! Performances will be on Friday at 9:00 and again at 12:30. Parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, etc.
- ALL ARE WELCOME!

Just want you to know....

My heart has been so heavy with sorrow since the news on Friday. I am sad as a parent and as a teacher. I just want you to know that I am so blessed to have your children in my class this year. I love these children, and I will do everything I can to make them feel safe and loved at school.

Whose Child is This?
Author Unknown

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."

December book order

If you need some last minute gifts or stocking stuffers, I did check on the Scholastic site and found that if orders are placed by THIS Thursday (Dec. 13th) they will be delivered by next Thursday (Dec. 20th). I will be glad to "smuggle" books to you too if you wanted them for presents. Just send me a note if you would like me to do this. Here's the ordering link again:


The five digit activation code is HB2Q6, if you need it.

Sight Word test on Dec. 20th!

On Thursday, December 20th, we will be taking another sight word test. We will test over the following words:
again
against
answer
enough
friend
gone
guess
ocean
question
young

Sentence: It was summer and Jan went fishing.

Holiday things

I am still waiting for Christmas party notes to come in. Once I have a few more of them, I will let you know what I would like for you to send in for the party. I hope to have these notes out by Wednesday.

We are attempting a Christmas play. I am working with the children, reading through the play now. I will know better by tomorrow afternoon whether this play is feasible for a performance. To help make it feasible, it would be really good if the children can practice their lines at home. If we do the play, I would like lines to be memorized. We can use cue cards if we have to, but memorization is preferred.

What we are studying (week of 12/17)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 69
Tuesday - no homework
Wednesday - no homework
Thursday - no homework


Math:
Monday - fact sheet
Tuesday - fact sheet
Wednesday - fact sheet
Thursday - fact sheet


Spelling:
No spelling this week.


Reading:
Meet the Super Croc
Please read the stories from page 370 to page 377.

Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
ancient, hopeful, unable, confirm, valid

Christmas Party Note

Christmas party notes are going home today in the gold folder. Please look for it. The party will be Friday, December 21st at 2:00pm :-)

Some Changes

I am making some changes to our reading schedule. We have been busy, busy with Christmas Around the World. Plus, I THINK that we are going to try to do a Christmas play. So, I am taking the Officer Buckle story and stretching it into next week. This means that instead of testing on this Friday, the test over this story will not be until next Tuesday or Wednesday. Then, the Super Croc story will go mid-week to mid-week and be tested on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

On Monday and Tuesday of next week, we will begin work on our play. I will know after these two days if we will be able to pull it off. If we do go ahead with the play, we will perform it for the parents on the morning of Thursday, December 20th. I will be sure to let you know by next Tuesday afternoon if we are doing the play, so that you can arrange your schedule if you would like to come see the play.

November book-it

If your child did November book-it, please have those calendars turned in by this Friday, December 7th. Please note that each day that your child read needs to be colored in. I am receiving calendars that are signed, but have nothing colored in. December book-it calendars should be going home today or tomorrow.

What we are studying this week (week of 12/3)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 61
Tuesday - lesson 62
Wednesday - lesson 63
Thursday - lesson 64


Math:
Monday - fact sheet
Tuesday - lesson 8.5
Wednesday - lesson 8.6
Thursday - lesson 8.7



Spelling:
spin, bump, scrap, melt, smell, quest, art, cord, brush, shock
cook, cluster, drill, fuss, champ, are, said, says, want, what

Sentences: Jim felt the bug on his arm. Which girl made the black dress?


Reading:
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Please read the stories from page 334 to page 365.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
attention, buddy, accident, tip, enormous, obeys

Sight Word Test

Sight word test will be THIS Thursday!!

Progress Reports

Progress Reports were sent home on Friday. Please sign and return these (you can cut the top to keep). This way I know that you are aware of your child's progress.

Holiday Updates

If your child has not brought in his/her bear yet, please send that in as soon as possilbe.

Also, if your child has not sent in $2.50 yet, please send that in as well.

Letters about the Christmas party will be sent home tomorrow or Wednesday. If you would please mark your interest for what you can send in, and then send the letter back to me, I would greatly appreciate it. This will enable me to begin putting the party together! Thanks!!

New Sight Word List

On Thursday, December 6th, we will be taking another sight word test.

Words to be tested:
any
buy
done
every
many
none
only
people
trouble
very

Sentence: The snake will strike out with its fangs.

Holiday Season

Whew! It's hard to believe it, but the holiday season is upon us! I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving, and a nice 4-day weekend. We have 4 weeks to go until Christmas break, and those weeks are going to be jam-packed!

We do have one week left of November, I will be using that time to finish up some Thanksgiving things and to finish our unit on "The past". Starting next week, we will be learning about Christmas Around the World, and that is always super fun!

Some holiday things to keep in mind:

1. Teddy Bears were sent home last week to decorate for our 2nd grade hallway. Have fun with this and encourage your child to use his/her imagination. Those can come back whenever you are finished with them, but for sure by December 3rd.

2. We are also in need of $2.50 for each child for a surprise project. If this money is hard for you to come by, please let me know.

3. In years past, I have always planned the Christmas party and then had parent helpers on the day of the party. I am not opposed to a committee of parents for planning of the party. If this is something that you think you might be interested in, please let me know. If I get a committee together, then we can work on meeting dates for the planning.

What we are studying (week of 11/26)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 56
Tuesday - lesson 57
Wednesday - lesson 58
Thursday - lesson 59


Math:
Monday - lesson 8.1
Tuesday - lesson 8.2
Wednesday - lesson 8.3
Thursday - lesson 8.4



Spelling:
hiss, when, while, whisper, craft, yell, slick, sort, March, stuck
the, thorn, squid, scarf, shark, skin, blond, which, kept, white

Sentences: The thunder woke me up. The grill was made with red bricks.


Reading:
Head, Body, Legs
Please read the stories from page 298 to page 329.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
gasped, attached, frantically, swung, breathe, delicious

What we are studying (week of 11/19)

Another short week without our usual structure. This week we will not have the typical phonics, reading, or spelling lessons.

There will be the following homework on these nights:

Monday: Math lesson 7.5
Tuesday: no math homework

If plans change and I send home more homework, I will update this blog so that you can know what to expect. Until then, enjoy this short week without the stress of homework :)

Pencils and Erasers

Please ask your child how his or her pencil and eraser supply is. I have noticed that many children are using small pencils. I have given out many pencils to children lately, and my supply is just about gone. I do not mind mechanical pencils. However, the first time they become a toy, I will send them home.

Sight Word THIS Thursday!!

On Thursday, November 15th, we will be taking a sight word test over the following words and sentence:

been
bush
does
full
goes
pull
push
put
says
want

Take the milk to the cats in the barn.

What we are studying (week of 11/12)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 51
Tuesday - lesson 52
Wednesday - lesson 53
Thursday - lesson 54


Math:
Monday - fact sheet for homework
Tuesday - lesson 7.1
Wednesday - lesson 7.2
Thursday - lesson 7.3


Spelling:
hill, foot, tooth, vote, luck, moon, five, choke, far, quit
cross, cliff, help, fix, mess, sir, first, birth, skirt, squirt

Sentences: We will vote next week. The first girl in line gets the cat.


Reading:
There's Nothing Like Baseball
Please read the stories from page 266 to page 295.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
tryouts, coach, practices, uniform, imaginary, starting

School Spiritwear

School spiritwear is on sale until Monday. Your child took home a green order form a few weeks ago for this. The school has been assured that these orders will be delivered in time for Christmas. If you send in an order with your child, we will make sure that the order reaches the office!

November 9th Due Dates

Tomorrow is the deadline for our Scholastic Book Order. If you want to order and need more time, please just let me know.

Also, if your child read book-it for October, tomorrow is the last day to turn in those calendars.

What we are learning (week of 11/5)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 46
Tuesday - lesson 47
Wednesday - lesson 48
Thursday - lesson 49


Math:
Monday - lesson 6.3
Tuesday - lesson 6.4
Wednesday - lesson 6.5
Thursday - lesson 6.6
**These lessons are tentative. This topic seems to be harder for the children. If I notice in class that the children need more time for understanding, I will slow down and take 2 days to teach a lesson.


Spelling:
slug, jog, wept, slush, start, than, trim, blast, crisp, trust
crib, kit, best, jam, stand, were, from, where, of, was

Sentences: Where is her sister from? Were milk and corn on the list?


Reading:
Farfallina & Marcel
Please read the stories from page 232 to page 261.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
giggled, fluttered, peered, recognized, vanished, snuggled

Veterans' Day Program

Hebron Elementary's Veterans' Day program will be held on Monday, November 12th at 9:30am, in the gym. The community is invited to attend.

Reading Counts Update

Here it is the beginning of November and we are moving right along with Reading Counts. We have 4 children who have read over 30,000 words, and 4 children who have read over 50,000 words. One of these children is very close to moving over 100,000 words! Exciting!! Keep reading Everybody!!

Sight Word Test

On Thursday, November 15th, we will be taking a sight word test over the following words and sentence:

been
bush
does
full
goes
pull
push
put
says
want

Take the milk to the cats in the barn.

Book Order

Don't forget, the November book order is due on November 9th. You can either send in an order to me, or you can order online. The link is as follows:

Homework changes

Ok, I'm not sure what I was thinking last week...

I changed my mind about math homework for Monday. There will not be any math homework on Monday. The only homework on Monday is 1 phonics sheet.

Because of the music program Tuesday night and trick-or-treat on Wednesday, homework on those nights may very well change too. It will depend on how well we work throughout those days.

If anything, just trust that the sheets in your child's red folder is what is for homework that night.

What we are studying (week of 10/29)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 41
Tuesday - lesson 42
Wednesday - lesson 43
Thursday - lesson 44


Math:
Monday - fact sheet for homework
Tuesday - lesson 6.1
Wednesday - lesson 6.2
Thursday - lesson 6.3


Spelling:
ham, plot, stamp, grit, frog, thump, crash, tuck, theft, rich
shin, dart, storm, bus, lost, turn, curb, burst, hurt, burn

Sentences: A red pup is in the barn. Set the cup on the shelf.


Reading:
A Trip to the Emergency Room
Please read the stories from page 220 to page 227.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
serious, broken, personal, informs, heal

Music Program

Don't forget about the music program next Tuesday night. Every child needs to be in costume, and each child is welcome to bring a carved pumpkin to the music program to display on the stage. (Please bring to the program, NOT to school that day!) The audience is welcome to attend in costume too :)

Fall Break - Yippee!

We have made it through the first 9 weeks and now we are rewarded with FALL BREAK!! I hope everybody has a great four day weekend and that we all come back rested and ready to tackle the holiday season.

Here's a fun fact:
When we return from break, we will have:
3 full weeks of school
a 3 day week for Thanksgiving
and then 4 full weeks until Christmas vacation

Where does the time go?? I just don't know!

Conferences...

It was very nice getting to meet with so many parents. It's always nice for me to put faces to the names that I hear so much about from your children. I get good insight from parents too, and I appreciate that so much.

I apologize again, because I am truly an airhead when it comes to staying on task during conferences. I think there is so much that I want to tell you, in such a short amount of time, that it makes me jumble up my thoughts a bit. I hope that the typed up sheet helped with this.

I had a parent ask me if I let parents know reading levels as I retest in January and May. Usually, I do not do this. But, if in January (towards the end) you are curious about your child's progress, please email me and let me know. I'll be glad to get that information to you.

Thanks again for making the time to come in and meet with me!

New book orders are going home today. These will be due on November 9th.

What we are learning this week (week of 10/22)

Well, this week will be a little odd, and will not have the usual structure. This week we will not have the typical phonics, reading, or spelling lessons.

There will be the following homework on these nights:

Monday: Math lesson 5.6
Tuesday: Math lesson 5.7

If plans change and I send home more homework, I will update this blog so that you can know what to expect.

Cursive

We have started cursive in our classroom, yea!! I am having children tell me that they have been practicing at home. I would prefer that children NOT practice letters until we have learned them in class. Once a child gets used to forming a letter a certain way, it is hard to get them to form the letter the way that the handwriting book teaches. I know this sounds trivial, but it really makes a difference in correct letter formation. Around December, I will beging working with each child on the letters in their name so that they can THEN begin writing their name in cursive. Thanks for your understanding with this.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conference times have been sent and these times have been sent home. I am looking forward to meeting with everyone! If you are not sure of your time, drop me a voicemail or email, and I will get back to you with your time.

Report Cards

Today is the end of the first 9 weeks. Report cards will be going home on Monday. If you conference on Monday, please look for it in your child's folder before you come.

Another sight word test

On Monday, October 22nd, we will take our second sight word test. The children will need to know how to spell the following words:

their, there, would, should, could, don't, won't, something, were, your

They will also need to know how to spell the following sentence:

The bird sat in an elm tree.

Chapstick/Lip Balm

With the weather turning, I do not have a problem with your child bringing in chapstick or lip balm. This actually will help save trips to the nurse, if your child brings his/her own in. My rule with this is that it stays in the bookbag, and it can be used during our breaks in class.

What we are studying this week (week of 10/15)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 36
Tuesday - lesson 37
Wednesday - lesson 38
Thursday - lesson 39


Math:
Monday - lesson 5.2
Tuesday - lesson 5.3
Wednesday - lesson 5.4
Thursday - lesson 5.5


Spelling:
drum, west, shift, left, dust, past, flag, thick, ranch, slumber
camp, lid, must, ox, slept, bird, third, dirt, girl, shirt


Reading:
A Harbor Seal Pup Grows Up
Please read the stories from page 190 to page 215.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
young, examines, mammal, normal, hunger, rescued

Conference Times

Parent-teacher conference assigned times are going home today. If your time does not work, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can reschedule another time. Thanks!!

What we are studying (week of 10/8)

Phonics:
Monday - lesson 31
Tuesday - lesson 32
Wednesday - lesson 33
Thursday - lesson 34


Math:
Monday - lesson 4.4
Tuesday - fact sheet
Wednesday - fact sheet
Thursday - lesson 5.1


Spelling:
cash, shelf, shut, pinch, chick, math, fifth, this, stack, smack
upset, until, index, contest, cactus, vest, twin, trot, stump, print


Reading:
The Tiny Seed
Please read the stories from page 156 to page 185.
Also make sure that your child can read the following words:
burst, drifts, desert, drowns, gently, neighbor

This and That

Several items went home this week:

Book-it: This started for the month of October. Children can color in for every night that they read. Once they have read their goal minutes (300 for the month), you can send back the calendars and we will make sure that pizza certificates go home in return.

Conference slips: I am still needing a few conference slips back. Once I have assigned times to everyone, I will send home the assigned times.

Last Call: If your child wanted to write to Ms. Megan from Buckley Homestead to tell her the meaning of Orthography and Deportment, I will take those letters on Monday. I would like to drop off a package in the mail on Tuesday to Ms. Megan sinced she promised a surprise for those who took the time to look up these two words.

Book Order: If you wanted to order from this month's Scholastic book orders, the last day to do that will be Wednesday, October 10th.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Letters will be going home this Wednesday for parent-teacher conferences. These notes say that they need to be returned by Wednesday, October 10th. Really though, if you need a certain time, it would be beneficial to send the form back in as soon as possible. Once I have all of the conferences scheduled, I will send you your assigned time.