March 28, 2011

Note from Ms. Poteet…

This Thursday is our Annual Dog Bowl!  The basketball event has been renamed to North Campus March Madness.  It will be Thursday, March 31st.  Doors will open at 5:30 and the game is at 6:00.  Come watch our fifth graders beat the NOMS sixth grade basketball team.  I will be volunteering in the concession stand, so make sure to stop by and visit.  It will be a great family night, there will be pizza and hot dogs, face painting and the high school players will be competing in a three point and dunk contest!  Hope to see you there!  The proceeds will go towards fixing up our playground. 

Aesop’s Fables Field Trip form and money are due Monday.  Please send me an e-mail if you need an extra copy of the form. 

Next week is spring break!  I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe break! 

As the year is coming to a close (I cannot believe it, either), I want to let everyone know I will be offering tutoring this summer.  If your child could use a jump start for next year, please call or send me an e-mail.   

Important Dates this Month:

March 31^st: Dog Bowl and North Oldham High School

April 4^th-8^th: Spring Break

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

In reading, we are finishing up our story element unit.  We will focus on problem and solutions in our stories.

Writing Workshop

In writing, we are continuing our authors as mentors unit.  Students will be writing small moments just like Angela Johnson.  Family journals will NOT be sent home on Friday.  

Word Study

This week, we will explore the word families: -ill, -ell, -all.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: make, two, again.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

In math, we are working on grouping objects into bundles of 10 to make it easier to count, learning about equivalent names for numbers, counting forwards and backwards to 100, and solving addition and subtraction problems.

Social Studies

The kids are so excited to start learning about geography.  We will learn about scale, maps, globes, the oceans, and how to make our own map. 

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

March 21, 2011

Note from Ms. Poteet…

Happy Full First Day of Spring!  The kids had such a blast playing outside last week.  I hope the nice warm weather continues the rest of the year. 

Don’t forget to continue sending in buttons for math!  As of Friday we had collected 148 buttons!  Wow! 

Wednesday is an Early Release Day.  Remember all transportation changes must be made in writing.

Thursday is our field trip to the Louisville Science Center!  We are going to have an exciting time exploring the various exhibits and watching the IMAX: Animalopolis.  Please have your child wear the orange class t-shirt and bring a sack lunch and drink. Please write your child’s name on their bag and drink. 

Mark your calendar for the annual Dog Bowl!  The basketball event has been renamed to North Campus March Madness.  It will be Thursday, March 31st.  Doors will open at 5:30 and the game is at 6:00.  Come watch our fifth graders beat the NOMS sixth grade basketball team.  I will be volunteering in the concession stand, so make sure to stop by and visit.  It will be a great family night, there will be pizza and hot dogs, face painting and the high school players will be competing in a three point and dunk contest!  Hope to see you there!  The proceeds will go towards fixing up our playground. 

Important Dates this Month:

March 23^rd: Early Release Day

March 24^th: Louisville Science Center Field Trip

March 31^st: Dog Bowl and North Oldham High School

April 4^th-8^th: Spring Break

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

We are continuing our unit on story elements.  This week we will focus on character traits, morals, and beginning, middle, and end.

Writing Workshop

In writing, we are continuing our authors as mentors unit.  Students will be writing small moments just like Angela Johnson.  At home, help your child come up with a list of possible writing topics (family events, sport stories, 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: -ed, -est, -ab, -ob.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: their, were, help.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

In math, we are learning to add using the count on strategy and reviewing how to count forwards and backwards from various numbers.

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: Meals and snacks provide opportunities for mathematical learning.  At school, we have been learning about the concept of half.  As you talk with your child about halves, reinforce the idea that two halves or something must be the same or equal size.  Children should try to make halves of collections of food items (such as pretzels in a bag) and halves of single food items (such as a sandwich, orange, or apple).   Activity: Make a half snack. Make a sandwich and cut it in half. Are the two sides equal? Ask someone to cut an apple and give your half.  Check that the pieces you got is the same size as the other piece. Make a pile of raisins or crackers.  Divide the pile in half.  Take one pile and give the other one to someone at home. What other foods could you divide in half?  Try it!

Social Studies

We are finishing up our unit on American Presidents and Symbols.   

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               Music

Thursday                   Music

Friday                         Music

March 14, 2011

A note from Ms. Poteet…

I hope everyone had a chance to go outside and enjoy the spectacular weather this weekend.  I am looking forward to spending our recesses outside (unless it rains) for the rest of the year.  I am sure the kids are too!  Tuesday is Picture Day!  We will be taking our class and individual pictures.  Fortunately we have one of first time slots at 8:10 am so we will still be looking our best! Please make all efforts to send you child to school.  There are no make-up days for spring pictures and we don’t want your child to miss out on our class picture.  This Thursday is Saint Patrick’s Day!  The Irish Dancers will perform for us in the gym.  Don’t forget to have your child wear green!

For the next two weeks we will be collecting buttons for math.  Each day students send in buttons we will add them to our our class collection chart.  The students are practicing counting, collecting data, and displaying data.  Start looking for buttons around your house and send them in! 

Please keep up your nightly reading routines at home.  I know when the weather is nice, sometimes nightly reading gets pushed to the back burner.  Children learn about the value and importance of reading from you.  Whether reading a book, sharing a story, using a recipe, making a shopping list, or reading a stop sign, children observe the value of reading.  If you are running out of books to read, stop by our local library.  Often they will have suggestions of great books for your child to read.  You may also try checking out book on tape or CD. Children can track the words as the tape is playing.  This could be a great activity for your child to do when you are cooking dinner.  The Mahan Library has a great selection of books on tape and a few books on CD.  The Main Oldham County Library (in LaGrange) has an even better selection of books on tape and CD.  Children can even read aloud to you when you are driving in the car or folding laundry at home. 

Several parents have asked be to provide them an updated school calendar.  Click here for the revised calendar.  Hopefully it will not change due to more snow days!  

Important Dates this Month:

March 15^th: Class and Individual Pictures

March 17^th: Irish Dancer Performance in the Gym

March 23^rd: Early Release Day

March 24^th: Louisville Science Center Field Trip

April 4^th-8^th: Spring Break

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

We are starting our unit on Story Elements.  This week we will focus on two elements: characters and setting.  This would be the perfect time to start asking your child to identify the main and secondary characters and setting during your nightly reading.   

Writing Workshop

This week we are starting our Authors as Mentors unit.  We will read several books by the same author and use their writings strategies as models for our own writing.  We are going to start by reading a couple of books by Angela Johnson and try to stretch our stories and add dramatic tension by using ellipses just like her.  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 word families: -in, -ing, -it, -im.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: jump, away, by.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

In math, we are learning to exchange coins (pennies for nickels and nickels for dimes), write our own number stories, make 2-D and 3-D shapes with marshmallows and toothpicks, and learn about the quarter.

Social Studies

We are continuing our unit on Presidents and American Symbols.  We learn about the Pledge of Allegiance, Washington Monument, Capital Building, and White House.  

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                     Art

Wednesday               Art

Thursday                   Art

Friday                         Music

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

We read the book Cat and the Hat and made hats!

March 7, 2011

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Thanks to all of the parents who signed up for parent-teacher conferences!  Parent-teacher communication is key to student success!  Conferences also give me a chance to gloat on your child!  If you have any questions about what is going at school, never hesitate to call me! 

Important Dates this Month:

March 9^th & 10^th: Kindergarten Registration

March 15^th: Class and Individual Pictures

March 17^th: Irish Dancer Performance in the Gym

March 23^rd: Early Release Day

March 24^th: Louisville Science Center Field Trip

April 4^th-8^th: Spring Break

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

March 2nd was Dr. Seuss’s birthday!  This week we are going to read several of Dr. Seuss’s books and complete activities to go along with each book. 

Writing Workshop

We are finishing up our ABC books this week.   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 consonant blends: pr, tr, dr, br, cr, fr, gr.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: put, too, where.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

In math, learning to measure time, skip count by 2 on a calculator, create movement patterns, and continuing to learn about halves.   

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: Counting by numbers larger than 1 can make counting more efficient and help children recognize and understand number patterns.  These skills are beneficial in later grades.  In school, we call this skip counting.  Children are learning to skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s.  Look for opportunities to help your child practice skip counting.   Activity: Counting by 2s -      Look for things around the house that come in pairs (socks, shoes, eyes, and mittens).  You can count the pairs by 2s. Counting by 5s -      Count the fingers in your family by 1s.  Now count them by 5s.  Count the nickels in your money jar by 5s, too. Counting by 10s -      You’ve had lots of practice counting fingers by 10s.  Now count toes.  Try to count dimes by 10s, too.

Social Studies

We are continuing our unit on Presidents and American Symbols.  We learn about the Statue of Liberty, the Pledge of Allegiance, the White House, and the Liberty Bell.

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                   Art

Friday                         Art