February Already?

Punxsy Phil did not see his shadow this year.  Will it truly mean spring is just around the corner?  I am sure the Northern folks sure hope so!  Go here to see some interesting background info on Punxsutawney Phil.  We learned about light and shadows and how light travels as we discussed whether or not Phil would see his shadow.  We hypothesized about what we thought would happen to tin foil pulled tight over a bowl with rice on top while I banged on a metal cookie sheet.  This led to a discussion about sound waves and how sound vibrates.

Wednesday is Chapter 8 Test on number patterns.  Please continue to review skip counting with your child.

The Carter house was on cloud nine Super Bowl Sunday!   Mr. Carter is a huge fan of the Packers.  He is even a share holder!  We celebrated with pizza for dinner and snacks during the game.  

Friday your child's valentine boxes are due to school.  We will be exchanging Valentine cards Monday.  If you would like to participate, your child can purchase these or make homemade cards!  The class list is on the homework sheet and the blog as well.  Please make sure to fill in the names and sign your own name.  Start today and this way your child will not have to write so many all at one time.

Your child's "job" is school.  It is their responsibility to pay attention, listen and follow directions, work hard,  and be a productive citizen in our community.  Just as we are paid for our jobs, they are now being paid for their job.  It is a sneaky way to encourage practice with counting money in a meaningful way.  On Friday, they will have an opportunity to shop at our Flea Market from 2:00-2:45 pm.  I am hoping that this will provide a wonderful opportunity to count money, learn the value of money, and the value in saving for something they want until they can afford it.  I spent the better part of this weekend cleaning and organizing my house.  Perhaps you would call it "spring cleaning". :o)  I came across toys my children have never used and some wonderful treasures I am going to be including in the "Flea Market Friday".  Feel free, as you come across odds and ends that are not necessary to your children any longer, to send in any gently used treasures.  As always, your support is truly appreciated.

This Friday, February 11th, Lollipops are going on sale $.25 or 4/$1.00.  You can find these in the front hall or in the cafeteria.  Student Council is running this.

Time is flying! We have come so far this year! Your children are growing and changing moment to moment! I am always amazed at how they transform the minute January ends.  They have become readers.  Their comprehension is off the charts!  The children have the stamina to read to self and take AR tests for nearly 60 minutes.  This provides me with the opportunity to work one on one with students in specific areas of concern.  It provides me with an opportunity to conference with your child and see where their areas of need may be and to celebrate in their accomplishments.  I am pleased to announce that as a class, the children have read aloud 1,810 books as of Friday, February 4.  I am amazed!

We are working on determining importance in fiction. Last week we worked on finding the important things the author was trying to tell us in the book.  Finding the theme was pretty easy for the children.  In the story, Miss Rumphius, the children learned from the author how important it is to make the world a more beautiful place.  Secondary theme the children found was to not judge people or call them names because you do not understand them.

Today, we worked on opening our hearts as we read.  I shared a book called Always and Forever about 3 animal  friends who lose a friend to death.  

I shared with the children that each one of us have had something very sad happen to us.  Sometimes, authors will address really difficult things about life in a story to help children understand what is going on around them.  When I looked up and saw this precious child with tears in her eyes.  I said to the class as a whole, "I just looked up and saw some children with tears in their eyes as I was reading this story.  (She piped up, yes, it was me.) When I saw these children I knew for sure they were doing what good readers do.  Good readers open their hearts as they read."

The children have been filling their busy brains. 

Earlier in the school year the children made some goals.  We are going to reevaluate their goals and set some new ones.  They have far surpassed their original goals!

The children absolutely loved Tacky the Penguin.  Here are a few samples of their Tacky work!

Tacky the Penguin is a total nonconformist who lives with a group of formal, proper penguins.  His behavior is hilarious, inappropriate, and totally without any ill will.  This is what cracks the students up time and time again!  They love the humor and "get" the jokes!
Below are the Tacky Books we enjoyed.  There are so many more out there.  If you happen to come across them, pick them up and share them with your child!  You will find them as endearing as we have!

I am sorry the blog has been so quiet for so long.  I have been not feeling up to par since December.  However, I am pleased to inform that I am doing much better!