Playing Outside

Playing Outside

December 30, 2010

January 3, 2010

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Welcome Back!  I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break!  I am excited to get back into the groove of things and to see what the New Year brings. 

What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are going to begin exploring nonfiction texts.  We will look for nonfiction text features; compare nonfiction and fiction books, and relate our schema to the new information we learn from the book.

Writing Workshop
This week we are going to start writing our All About Books.  First we will look at other All About Books and make a list of their ingredients.  After exploring various All About Books, students will get to choose their own topic for their All About Book.  You might want to discuss possible topics with your child at home.  Some great examples include dogs, soccer, colors, swimming, etc.  Family journals will be sent home on Friday.  Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the word families –ug, -ut, -un, -um (Yes, these are the same chucks from the week before winter break).  Ask your child about the word family chants for all three.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: not, were, like. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math, we will practice adding two-digit numbers, making shapes with string and our bodies, making different types of triangles, learn about sides, vertices (corners), and angles, and solve subtraction problems.
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
Your child can create patterns with many things found in your home.  The word pattern has many different meanings.  Here it is defined as a simple arrangement of items in which one can tell what will come next if the arrangement is continued.  In school, your child is learning to create, extend, and describe patterns.

Activity:
Collect different kinds and sizes of objects.  Look for buttons, coins, and lids from juice bottles and soda bottles.  Use the objects to make patterns.  Try to describe the pattern to someone.  See if someone can extend your pattern.  Ask someone to create a pattern for you to extend.   



Social Studies
This week we are finishing up our imagination lessons.  They are lessons to help us learn whether or not your child may possess certain gifted and talented attributes.

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday                      PE
Tuesday                     PE
Wednesday               PE
Thursday                   PE
Friday                         PE

December 11, 2010

December 13, 2010

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Our class Winter Celebration is scheduled for December 17th.  Kids are permitted to bring a special sweet treat and drink (NO soft drinks please) to eat at the party.  Kids are not allowed to share treats or drinks due to allergies.

We do not have school for the next two weeks!  I hope you and your family have a wonderful winter break! 

I would love to take a little time to thank our terrific classroom volunteers.  Thanks to Ms. Skelton and Ms. Roberts for being our fabulous room parents.  Thanks to Ms. Zimmerman, Ms. Kastman, Mr. Kastman, Ms. Skelton, Ms. Roberts, and Ms. Pennybaker for volunteering every week to help our kids learn to read.  Thanks to Ms. Roberts, Ms. Skelton, Ms. Crosiar, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Esterle, Ms. Pitchford, Ms. Monarch, Ms. Clingerman, Ms. Jordan, Ms. Zimmerman, Ms. Middleton, Ms. Edward, and Ms. Kastman for chaperoning our field trips.  Thanks to all parents who have provided endless support at home to help your child get ready for school each day and complete nightly homework assignments.  Your support at home definitely shows at school because all of the kids are making tremendous progress as learners and as good citizens in our school community.  Thanks for all you do!

Our class is participating in the annual Husky Holiday Sing-Along!  Kinderpups are going to lead the school in singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town!  For added fun, we decided to dress like Santa.  Please help your child buy, find, or make a Santa hat and wear red or black to school on Wednesday, December 15thWe will make Santa beards at school.  Children will be allowed to wear their Santa hats all day.  We are really looking forward to this exciting event!  (Helpful hint:  I was at Dollar Store last week and they had Santa hats galore for $1). 
Look for your child’s persuasive letter to Santa in the Oldham Era on December 23rd!  The kids worked really hard and are eager to be local “celebrities.”

If your family signed up to donate an item for the Husky Helping House, please the item in by December 15, 2010.  We will be wrapping the gifts with Ms. Whitley’s class on Thursday.  If you have a knack for wrapping and would like to help us, please send me an e-mail.  Our wrapping party will be at 10:20-10:50. 

As of Monday, December 13th students will NOT be permitted to go to the cafeteria to purchase a snack during snack time.  Please have your child bring a snack from home.  Several students have been “forgetting” their snack recently and have been asking to go to the cafeteria.  Often they come back with Fruit-Roll Up, Doritos, or other unhealthy snacks.  Later we find their snack from home reappears in their coat pocket or under their folders in their cubby. 



What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are continuing our author study on Jan Brett.  We are going to read several of her books and make text-to-text connections to each of the books.   

Writing Workshop
This week we are practicing writing friendly letters.  Remember to look for your child’s Santa letter in the Oldham Era on December 23rd.   Family journals will NOT be sent home on Friday. 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the word families –ug, -ut, -un, um.  Ask your child about the word family chants for all three.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: not, were, like. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math we are learning to how to use calculators and make shapes with our bodies and string.

Social Studies
We are continuing our unit on Celebrations around the World.  This week we will learn about Christmas and Advent.

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday                      Music
Tuesday                     Music
Wednesday               PE
Thursday                   PE
Friday                         PE

December 4, 2010

December 6, 2010

A note from Ms. Poteet…



On Tuesday we are going to visit the Book Fair at 12:00. Parents are welcome to attend and eat lunch prior to visiting the Book Fair (at 11:29) if they would like. If you would like your child to purchase books please send in a check made out to Harmony Elementary or send in cash. A flyer containing some of the books that will be available at the Book Fair was sent home last week in the Wednesday Folder.


Our class Christmas Party is scheduled for December 17th at 8:30 am. Parents are welcome to volunteer to help out. More information will be sent out soon!

Look for your child’s persuasive letter to Santa in the Oldham Era on December 23rd! The kids worked really hard and are eager to be local “celebrities.”

Please continue to send in non-perishable goods for our Canned Food Drive. All of the food will go to needy families in Oldham County. We are collecting canned goods (soups, meats, vegetables, juice, fruit, pasta sauce, pie filling), cereal, rice, baby food, Jello, pudding, packaged food, beans, croutons, dried fruit (raisins, apricots), nuts, and any other non-perishable food. Thank you for your support in helping out children to learn about caring and sharing with others. The food needs to be sent in by December 2, 2010.

Our class has adopted a 13 year old boy for the holidays. He enjoys playing basketball, football, and soccer. He attends one of the Oldham County’s middle schools. If your family would like to help this boy and haven’t signed up please send me a note or e-mail me. I will let you what the child needs and what size clothes he wears. Please don’t just send an item in, because we want to make sure all of his needs are taken care of. Thanks for all of the families who have already sent in the pink flyer pledging to donate an item. All items need to be sent in by December 15, 2010.

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop
We are continuing our author study on Jan Brett. We are going to read several of her books and make text-to-text connections to each of the books.

Writing Workshop
This week we are practicing writing friendly letters. Remember to look for your child’s Santa letter in the Oldham Era on December 23rd. Family journals will be sent home on Friday. Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond.

Word Study
This week, we will explore the word families –et, -eg, -en. Ask your child about the word family chants for all three. We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: did, what, see. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math we are learning to use a number line to solve addition and subtraction problems, skip counting by tens, making and extending patterns using pattern blocks, and practicing using counters to solve addition problems.

Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
Top-It reinforces number recognition and helps children learn to compare two numbers to decide which one is greater or less. (You may remember this game as War.)
Activity:
You will need a deck of cards and at least two players. Shuffle the deck of cards and divide it between two players, turning the cards face down on the table. Players turn over their top cards and read the number aloud. The player with the greater number keeps both cards. If both players get the same number, they turn over the next card on their stacks until one player wins and takes all of the cards for the round.

Social Studies
The students are going to be overjoyed that we are starting our unit on Holidays around the World. We will discuss our own holiday traditions and learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the legend of the poinsettia.

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes. Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule


Monday Art
Tuesday Music
Wednesday Music
Thursday Music
Friday Music