February News!

Reading:  We continue our reading of non-fiction stories.  This week the topic is various kinds of weather and next week, we’ll read about sound, specifically music.  Our comprehension skill is finding the main idea and key details.  One of the strategies we’ll use is ask and answer questions.  When we use this strategy, we ask questions about text we don’t understand and then re-read to answer those questions. 

The phonics skills for the next few weeks are the long e and long u spellings, antonyms, and using the verbs has and have.

Math:  We are starting a new unit this week.  The children will be learning about graphs, making estimates, and various addition and subtraction strategies.  The children will be learning some new games for practicing these skills as well.

Welcome Sullivan:  Last week Tuesday, Sullivan joined our class.  His family came all the way from Arizona!  The boys and girls are very excited to have him in our class and have been very helpful to him as well.  We now have 12 boys and 10 girls in our class.

Jump Rope for Heart:  Next Tuesday, Feb. 10, our school will be participating in Jump Rope for Heart.  The first and second graders will be jumping from 9:00-10:20 am in the high school gym.  Your child needs to wear comfortable clothing and have gym shoes on.  Your child may bring a water bottle along – the kids get very thirsty from all of the jumping!  Thank you to all of the children/families that have helped raise money for the American Heart Association!

Valentine Party:  We will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Thursday, Feb. 12.  We will be making card holders this week to hold the valentines that the children pass out to each other.  I’d like each child to bring in a cup of a snack item and we will again make a trail mix for our party.  Some snack ideas are cereal, goldfish, peanuts, raisins, etc.  A list of the children follows:

 

                        Girls                                                                Boys

                        Alaysia            Nelly                                       Henry               Calvin

                        Chelsi             Jennifer                                 Hunter               Casey

                        Gabriele        Lydia S.                                   Aidan                 Lucas

                        Lydia K.           Shauna                                  Christopher      Eli

                        Estefany         Karly                                       Evan                   Sullivan

            Miss Kylie (our high school helper)                      Peyton                David

                                                                                                                                                                       

Field Trip to Kettenun Center: On Friday, Feb. 20, the second graders will be going to the Kettenun Center for a day of outdoor fun.  The children will be snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding and learning about outdoor winter survival.  The cost is $5.00 per child and needs to be turned in by Feb. 18.  Each child also needs to bring a sack lunch and drink.  Since we will be spending most of the day outside, please make sure that your child has all of his/her winter attire on that day.

Book Order:  A book order will be going home this week.  If you are interested to buying any of the books, please return the order form and money by Feb. 12.  If you choose to order on-line, go to scholasticbooks.com.  Our classroom code is HM36L.  The order usually return to our classroom within two weeks.

 Dates to Remember:

Feb. 10 – Jump Rope for Heart (9:00 – 10:20 am)

Feb.  11 – 100^th day of school 

Feb. 12 – Valentine party (in afternoon)

                  Book order due

                parent-teacher conferences for some students 4:00-7:00 pm)

Feb. 13 – no school, professional development day

Feb. 16 – no school, President’s day

Feb. 20 – field trip to Kettunen Center