Room 111 Newsletter

Room 111 Newsletter

Tuesday, November 8, 2011                                                  

Hello families!

Below are some reminders, as well as updates on what’s been going on in class.

Field Trips

I was unable to secure a spot in a timely fashion at Centro de la Raza’s Dia de los Muertos exhibit… sorry folks, they didn’t get back to me in time to make it work.  However, we will be attending The Steadfast Tin Soldier on December 9th.  I will send home permission slips the week of 11/28.

Please remind your child to bring in a photo, or item from a family member or pet that has passed on.

Because we were unable to attend a Dia de los Muertos exhibit, and because we had done some reading about altars and ofrendas, and what they’re all about, I decided to have the kids bring in a picture of a family member or pet, or item from a family member or pet that will help your child remember them.  We are setting up a small altar on the back table to honor those family members (pets included) that have passed on.

Art request…

Please continue to send in cleaned and dried ½ gallon paper milk cartons which will become the base for our lanterns.  We need 17 more… keep ‘em comin.’J

Friendship Group

We have started a friendship group in class which will happen twice per week.  The first day will be on Thursdays at 10:30 working for about 30 minutes with Nancy Shah in the classroom.  On Fridays, Nancy will take a small group (which all students will rotate through) to the cafeteria or family room to plan role-playing scenarios that those kids will then bring back to class and demonstrate.

Math

Second graders are continued addition/subtraction fact triangles practice, have begun working with money, and have worked on estimation, and continued playing math games. 3rd graders are continuing their work with multiplication and division in equation form and using arrays for understanding.  3rd graders have also learned a new division game. 

Literacy

Word sorts have continued, and the kids generally keep advancing especially with the extra practice being sent home. Handwriting practice has continued and will just into the New Year.  Both handwriting and your child’s current word sort will be coming home for additional practice and which is to be kept at home.  The kids have chosen their favorite narrative to publish, and will soon be sharing it aloud in class.  The kids completed a rigorous self-evaluation to see how well they are actually doing with their work.  Their writing partners also participated.

• Please be aware that I occasionally send home extra work that doesn’t get finished in class.  Please be sure to ask your child if they have any, and if so, what it is, and if they need any assistance with it.  Usually, this work is to complete writing revisions, spelling, etc or for math practice.

Scrounge Art Still Needed!

Please send in clean and dried recyclable items for scrounge art on Fridays for Choice Time.  These things can be stored in one of the lower cabinets in the back of the classroom.

Donations Still Needed!

We need a few new kick balls, a smaller basketball and a couple of soccer balls for the classroom… used ones are fine too, thank youJ

Snack Sign-up:  Thank you to all whom have signed up for snack, and are remembering to bring it in on your assigned weeks… it is really helpfulJ  This week’s snack is from Sophia’s family.

Mark your calendars:

Friday, November 11th –No School! Veteran’s Day

Monday-Wednesday, 11/21-11/23November Conferences

Thursday-Friday 11/24-11/25Thanksgiving Holiday

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• Auction Coordinator(STILL OPEN) – one-time job (coordination of classroom project created by the kids to sell at our next auction). Anyone??? Bueller???

I will send a separate email to those families whom have expressed interest in volunteering in the classroom.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week, and see you soon!

Sincerely,

Dave

Room 111

Salmon Bay School

252-1751