Weekly Update for Week of November 28th- December 2nd

November 28, 2011

A note from Mrs. Horn…

Hope you all had a bountiful Thanksgiving, with good food and even better loved ones!  Now it’s time to prepare for the holidays.  We will do our best to maintain our learning routines during this busy season, as well as have fun with holiday traditions. 

We will be going to see, “Nutcracker in a Nutshell,” on Friday.  The performance will be held at the Louisville Palace.  We are learning about what it means to be part of an audience, manners and how to enjoy a live performance.  As this is a theater, our class has voted and decided it would be appropriate to “dress fancy”.  They are very excited to see the ballet and dress up for the occasion.  This is going to be so much fun!  We will eat lunch at school, but it would be helpful to pack a lunch, as we will eat in the classroom.  We will have PE later that afternoon, so be sure to put sneakers in your child’s school bag.

Please continue to send in non-perishable goods for our Canned Food Drive.  All of the food will go to needy families in Oldham County.  We are collecting canned goods (soups, meats, vegetables, juice, fruit, pasta sauce, pie filling), cereal, rice, baby food, Jello, pudding, packaged food, beans, croutons, dried fruit (raisins, apricots), nuts, and any other non-perishable food. Thank you for your support in helping out children to learn about caring and sharing with others.  The food needs to be sent in by December 2, 2010. 

Need some adult time? December 9^th is our class “Pretend Sleepover.”  We will have s’mores, popcorn, watch a classic movie and have a great time with friends in our P.J.s.  Send me an email or a note along with a $25 check (made out to Harmony PTA) if you would like your child to join us on this fun night.  Proceeds go into our class budget, and will be used for instructional materials.

The next Scholastic Book Fair is coming next week; we will preview the fair on Thursday.  WE will shop at the book fair on Wednesday, December 7^th at 10:00.  Please feel free to join us. 

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

We will learn more about Schema, and how to use our background knowledge to make connections. We will visit the school library on Monday.

Writing Workshop

This week we will continue to develop our persuasive letters to Santa, or a special person.

Handwriting

Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following word families:  -op, -od, and -ot.

Word Study

This week, we will explore the word families -op, -od, and -ot.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: could, when, have. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

We will complete our on comparing numbers and begin our unit on addition and subtraction strategies, and we will begin using addition and subtraction symbols. 

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: “Top It” reinforces number recognition and helps children learn to compare 2 numbers, to decide which number is more or less. (You may remember this game as “War.”) Activity: 1.          Shuffle a deck of number cards (or a regular deck of cards with the face cards removed) and divide the cards evenly between 2 players, face down. 2.       Players turn their top card over at the same time.  The player with the greater numbered card keeps both cards.  If the cards are equal, turn over the next card to see who has the greater card.  3.       Play continues until one player has all or most of the cards. 4.       Vary game play by playing for the least numbered card.

Social Studies

What are maps and what do we use them for?  We will learn the difference between political maps and physical maps, as well as how to make maps.

Important Dates

* Friday, December 2^nd: Field trip to, “Nutcracker in a Nutshell.”

* Wednesday, December 7^th: our class shopping day at the Book Fair

* * Friday, December 9^th:  items for Husky Helping House are due.

* Friday, December 9^th:  Pretend Sleepover 7 – 10 p.m.

*Saturday, December 10^th: Donuts with Santa.

Reminders

*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day.

* Always dress appropriately for outdoor recess. 

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night.

* Library book due every Friday.

Related Arts Schedule

Monday         -Friday PE