Chinese Characters and the Week of the Dragon

Hello Families,

Highlights of this week include the following:  reading two Chinese folktales about dragons; writing numbers and our names with Chinese characters; and presenting a play called "The Terrible Dragon".  We also had the pleasure of a having a guest come to our room.  It was Steven, a family friend,  from Jason Lin's house.  Steven showed the children how to write some words and the numerals 1 - 10 with Chinese characters.  Then the children made their own poster of the numerals.  Mr. Cogan has also been involved by showing the children how to write their names in Chinese, and how to paint with a bamboo brush using black ink. The children painted scrolls which are just beautiful.   Keep checking the blogsite for photos of art work and Chinese writing.  I'm also hoping to have photos of the play as well. (Only a portion of the class will be in this play which will be presented at Friday morning assembly.)

Next week, we are completing a math unit, and finishing the Explode the Code phonics workbook.  Thus, we will be taking a test for the both of these.  I also want you to know that all second, third, and fourth graders will be taking a mid-year reading test  on the computer as we did in the early fall.  We will take this test on the 19th, this Tuesday morning.  We will still have spelling homework and our regular weekly spelling test on Friday.  So, with this said, your support in insuring that your child comes with a snack each day, and gets plenty of rest will be very much appreciated. 

Thanks again for all of your involvement in your child's learning.



 

Happy New Year: January 2010

Hello Friends and Families,

     We have started the new year off with a unit on China.  As an introduction, we watched a video called Families of China.  It featured the lives of two children, one from a city and the other from the country.  The film showed the daily routines of going to school, homework, play and living in their homes.  We also shared a big book about a Chinese American boy who lives in San Francisco.  We've had lots of discussion, and much interest has been shown.  We've also enjoyed two folktales: "The Master Swordsman"  and  "The Magic Doorway".  We have incorporated mapping skills, and art projects are being planned with Mr. Cogan. 

In math, we have been learning how to add tens and ones using "mental math".  Check out the math papers in your child's folder this Friday.  Ask your child to explain how they got their sums.  The examples shown across the top are helpful illustrations of the steps.  You can also go to www.pearsonsuccessnet.com and login to your child's student book.  Several of the children have mentioned using the site to try the games and activities. 

In science, our new topic is the study of matter, and its three forms of solids, liquids, and gases.  Our first experiment involved melting 500 ml of snow.  We were amazed to see it melted down to 140 ml of water, and that it took about 4 hours to melt.  We will be doing at least one experiment per week to learn about the changes that can occur with each of these states of matter.

Spelling homework is usually sent home on Monday, and should be returned no later than Friday of that week.  Our weekly test is on Friday.  Please continue to check over your child's homework before it is turned in and provide help if needed.  I appreciate your involvement greatly. 

I am also considering math homework that will be sent home on Fridays, and due back on Mondays.  Check your child's backpack as I may start this practice this week. 

Winter Has Arrived, Dec.11th,2009

Hello Parents and Families,

We have had our first snow day, and the children are having fun playing in the snow at recess.  In the classroom, we are still working on our African unit with folktales and non-fiction stories.  Next week, we will learn about an African holiday called Kwanza.  It is celebrated for seven days beginning on Dec. 26th.  Mr. Cogan, the art and music teacher will also be teaching the children about Kwanza.  Of course, we will spend some of our time on Christmas stories.

Speaking of Christmas, I want to inform you that we will have our classroom Christmas party on Dec. 22nd.  That is the Tuesday which is the last day before we go home for Christmas break.  I will be sending a separate request  to the designated families whose turn it is to provide refreshments.  Remember, for our party refreshments, I have divided the class into thirds alphabetically.  In response to the district wellness policy,  I ask those families to consider sending some healthy refreshments such as fresh friuts, cheeses, chips,or pretzels.  Some sugary items are hard to avoid, but it is appreciated if there are some other foods as well.  Please note that there are allergies in the classroom to peanuts and cinnamon. 

For our gift exchange, we will not be drawing names.  Instead, we will have a book swap.  Please wrap the book you wish to include in the swap, and send it to school on the day of the party.  I will provide extra books if it is a hardship to purchase a book.  Please keep the price range no higher than $8.00. 

In math, we are starting a new unit on money.  The children can use practice in counting coins up to one dollar.  The half dollar is also used.  Please let me know if you would like extra practice papers sent home for money.  Also,  please see the enclosed sheet with your child's user name and password which can be used to login at the pearsonsuccess.net math website.  There are activities that I've chosen for the children.  I am not treating this as homework, but rather as extra practice.  Let me know if you have trouble with the login.

Thanks for all of your continual support.  It was wonderful seeing you at conference time.  Let's keep up the great team effort.  Parental involvement makes a huge difference.  

Jason's Pet Story

I wish I had a cat. I would feed it cat food. She would sleep in my bedroom. I will teach her to climb on a fence. I will name her Sally.

Andrew's Pet Story

I have two dogs. Their names are Chester and Timber. They are Chocolate Labs. I feed them dog food. My dogs are really intelligent. Timber is 10 years old in human life. Chester is only 2 years old in human life. Chester and Timber like to sleep on my mom’s bed. Chester can stand on his back legs. I would like to teach him to jump high.

Our New African Unit: Nov. 2nd

Hello Families,

I hope your children have been talking to you about our new unit of study on Africa.  We began last Monday on Nov. 2nd with stories about Anansi, the spider.  We have enjoyed learning about this trickster who came from West Africa.  There are many stories of his adventures.  We have read the following:  "A Story, A Story", "Anansi's Narrow Waist",  "Anansi and his Six Sons", and "Anansi Goes Fishing".  We have located Africa on the globe and on our wall world map.  The children have discovered that Africa is twice the size of North America.
 
The children are also reading many non-fiction books about African animals.  They are writing 5 facts for each animal and drawing a picture of the animal.  We may compile these into booklets, and hope to get a sampling of some of these facts and pictures on the site soon.  Stay posted.

I also hope you noticed in this past Friday's take-home folder a permission slip to go on a field trip to the Colonial Theater in Keene.  We are excited to see a West African show of live music, song, and dance by master drummer, John Hughes.  To learn more about this performance, go to this link:  http://www.thecolonial.org/AfricanKoraJembeStudyGuide.pdf.   The date for this event is Wed. Nov. 18th at 10:45 AM.  Please sign and return the slip as soon as possible.  Also, indicate if you would like to be a chaperon on this trip.  There are only seats for 6 extra adults in our group.  There may be additional seats in another section of the theater, but you would have to call and make your own arrangements with the Colonial.

I also sent in the folder conference confirmation slips.  I hope the selected times work for everyone.  Remember, your child's portfolio will come home on Friday, Nov. 20th.

If you haven't checked the site to see your child's pet story, please do soon.  Many thanks to Rosel's dad for his time and effort in posting them.  I encourage you to leave a comment, too.

Aria's Pet Story

My pets are three fish and three dogs and two cats. I will just tell about my fish. My fish are red, brown and blue. There are spots on two, and stripes on one. They are cold and wet to touch. One is the same size as a small square. One of my fish is the size of a crayon, and the last one is the size of Sean’s name tag. They eat fish food. They sleep in a tank.. My fish can sleep. I would teach then to read. I got them from my grandmother’s house.