Highlights of the Week 3-16-18

Hello families,

This week went by so quickly! It really is hard to fathom where the time went.

This week we read a few more books about mindfulness: Grumpy Bird, Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses, and Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda. We are trying to be like Happy Panda, just being in the present moment and focusing on what we are doing, when we are doing it instead of thinking or worrying about other things. We also read a fun, imaginative book Not a Box.

This week we began writing in the Opinion genre. Sharing our opinions (which are often not the same) and backing up our opinions with multiple reasons can help us convince our readers to agree with us (but it doesn't always work). We also practice how to disagree politely--this is ongoing learning! This week we wrote opinions about a "best fox" contest. We looked at 5 foxes I have in our classroom and students were the judges for the contest. They wrote about which they thought was the best fox and why. They gave out blue ribbons (1st place), red ribbons (2nd place), and yellow ribbons (3rd place) and shared their reasoning in writing and in conversation with others.

We also had 3rd grade writers visit us to share their "expert" non-fiction books they finished recently. It was fun to hear all they'd learned on their topics, especially since we had just finished our own teaching book unit--our 1st grade writers could relate and see how older students also write this kind of book!

In math we are continuing our unit on place value and time. Students are more consistently telling time to the whole and half hour. Students can represent 2 digit numbers with base ten blocks (10 rods and ones cubes) and on paper with sticks and dots. This week we used these tools to help us begin to add and subtract 2 digit numbers by place value (without regrouping). We also continue to compare numbers and practice reading expressions such as 27 < 72, 44 > 14, 56 = 5 tens and 6 ones.

Top row: Number built with base 10 blocks.
Middle row: Number represented with sticks and dots.
Bottom row: Expanded form equation for the number.

On Thursday afternoon we had an All School Celebration because we filled the HEART monitor again! The whole school played BINGO together in the cafeteria. It was hard because not everyone wins this game of chance but it was also fun to play all together!

Today report cards for the second trimester are coming home. Please read and keep the report card. Sign and return the envelope. If you have any questions fee free to contact me. Thanks!

Dates to Remember:
Friday March 16 - Report Cards go home
Tuesday March 20 - Jump Rope for Heart event (rescheduled due to snow day)
Friday March 23 - Fun Fair (PTO event) 4:30-6:30 pm
Thursday April 12 -- Early Dismissal 11:00 for Family Conferences
Friday April 13 -- Early Dismissal 11:00 for Family Conferences
Mon-Fri April 23 - 27 -- Spring Break

Have a great weekend!
❤ Mrs. Fox