Highlights of the Week 1.30.15

Dear Families,

We've had a busy week here in first and second grade! 
Science: Exploring the properties of light and how it travels in investigation stations.
Writing: We've continued writing our star myths. We also read a great book about writing a story to help us add all the right words and punctuation. The book was Little Red Writing--ask your child about it!
Literacy: We got new sight word books to help us read and write sight words more fluently. We also learned a new word work choice, silly sentences, that help us practice writing complete sentences and spell these sight words.
2nd grade math: We continue to work on addition and especially subtraction snap facts. We've also begun two new units of study: 1) telling time on digital and analog clocks (this week we worked on times that were o'clocks and half-pasts); 2) subtraction (this week beginning to use concrete models and visuals to demonstrate the borrowing system in the standard algorithm).
1st grade math: Continued work on addition strategies and they've been extending they knowledge to the number line.
Handwriting: We practiced a few more vowels for fluid writing and also began practicing first and last names written neatly!

Important Notes:
I sent a note home this week about our 100th day. Here it is again in case you didn't read it:

                As the 100^th day of school approaches we’d love your help with a task at home. Please help your child bring in a collection of 100 things (i.e. baseball cards, toothpicks, beads, pennies, grains of rice, lego pieces, etc). We will be doing activities measuring and comparing our collections. If your child chooses a nut-free food item to collect, please know that we’ll be using them on the floor and tables—collections are not for eating at school! (Sometimes there are some disappointed kiddos when they realize their 100 chocolate chips are now dirty!)

                At school we’ve talked about some ways to make sure you have exactly 100 in your collection. Accuracy is important! Ask your child how they can be sure they have 100 in their collection. Please have your child bring in his/her collection next Wednesday, February 4^th for our 100^th Day!

Please also remember that next week we have a teacher inservice day on Friday so there is no school for students on Friday the 6th!

I'd also like to have a small celebration for Valentine's Day, on Friday Feb. 13th. Coming home today is a list of the students in our class. Please note that if your child would like to hand out valentines at our celebration they must give one to each student (not just a few). This is important so feelings are not hurt. I'd like a few treats/snacks for this celebration too. Please let me know if you can bring: fruit (not strawberries), cheese & crackers, cookies, juice, cups, napkins, plates.

Dates to remember:

Friday Feb. 6 - Inservice--NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Thursday Feb. 12 - Author Visit

Friday Feb.13 - Valentine's Day Celebration

Feb. 23 - Mar. 3 - WINTER BREAK