November 28th - December 2nd

Language Arts/Reading:

Instead of Writer’s Workshop, we will begin our Giving Unit.  This unit focuses on the importance of giving to others in special ways.  We will read stories such as, The Giving Tree, The Quilt Maker’s Gift, Before You Were Mine, The Night Tree, Something From Nothing, and The Mitten Tree.  We will complete different writing activities to go with the books as well as some very special projects that will highlight the importance of giving back.   

We will be completing mid-year reading assessments over the next two weeks. 

We will also continue with Words Their Way. 

Math:

In math, we will be learning how to describe, and extend concrete and pictoral patterns in order to make predictions and solve problems.  We will also continue skip counting by 2's, 5's, 10's, and identifying odd and even numbers. 

Social Studies:

You all did such a wonderful job on the Pilgrim Dolls!  I loved hearing their presentations and learning where everyone’s family moved from and why they moved here.  

We are now beginning our Landforms Unit.  During this unit, we will be learning about different landforms and bodies of water.     

Reminders:     

*Please consider volunteering for lunch recess!  To sign up, go to :

http://caraway.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=28

*Early Release Day on Dec. 7^th

*Family Art Night Dec. 15, 6:30-7:30

*No School December 19-30 for Winter Break.

*Family Ice Skating Night at Chaparral Ice in Northcross Mall

*School resumes on January 3

*Science Fair January 31

Thank You!!

*Jennie Phillips - Tuesday Folders

*All of you who donated food and other items for our Thanksgiving Feast!!

November 21st - November 25th

Language Arts/Reading:

We have been having a lot of fun reading Autumn and Thanksgiving themed books!

This week, we will be reading more of the same types of books and learning about sequencing events.

There will be no reading homework over Thanksgiving break. The children will probably be thankful for that one!

Math:

We will do our Pilgrim Doll presentations We will be working on odd and even patterns during math time this week.

Social Studies:

We will do our Pilgrim Doll presentations on Monday and Tuesday.  Remember, they are due, so if you haven’t yet completed yours, please do so this weekend.  The dolls stir such curiosity and interesting conversation amongst the children!  They are all looking soooo authentic and original!  If you haven’t had a chance to stop by our classroom and see the dolls, please do!

Note** The students have gotten so many compliments from adults in the school that they have earned a popcorn party! We will be celebrating their outstanding behavior on Monday afternoon! I am very proud of each one of them!!

Reminders: 

*If you signed up to bring supplies for our Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday, please bring it Tuesday morning  *If you signed up to bring a food dish, you can bring it that morning or you can drop it off at 12:30.

*Please consider volunteering for lunch recess!  To sign up, go to :

http://caraway.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=28

*No school:  November 23 - 25

*Pilgrim dolls due no later than Monday, November 21.

*Early Release Day on Dec. 7^th

Thank you!

computer lab - Phillip South

Tuesday folders - Jennie Phillips

Thursday teacher - Vera Djohan

classroom helper - Kari Means 

November 14th - 18th

Language Arts/Reading:
We are continuing with Words Their Way.  Please let your child practice words that follow these patterns throughout the week, as they are tested each Friday. Your child knows the color of his or her group.
Green: h, sh,ch
Blue: sl, bl, pl
Yellow: sl, bl, pl
Red: cvvc patterns containing - ai, oa, ee, ea

In Writer’s Workshop, we will continue writing Procedural Text.  This is where the kids list steps for a particular activity such as making a sandwich, playing a game, putting something together, etc…  We will continue discussing the importance of using pictures and symbols to help the reader understand procedural text.  We have begun writing our own procedural text on a specific topic already, and it has been so fun! I have learned that I need to have a "silence lisence" before I can drive a car, that I need "a big piece of wood" to build a school, and so much more!
We will also be working on some fun Thanksgiving activities during the next week and a half, and will continue with "Read-to-Self" and "Read to someone" time. 

Math:We will begin our unit on finding and analysing patterns.  We have started a new “warm up” activity that will reinforce concepts already taught or concepts we will be teaching in first grade.  Look for those packets each week in the Tuesday folder.  If your child missed any questions, it is always helpful to review and correct the missed problems.  We will continue problem solving as well as reviewing the different patterns in numbers and objects.

Social Studies:Ww are in the middle of our unit on Maps and Globes, and are learning about the different parts of a map, different types of maps, how to read a map, how maps help us.  We have compared maps to globes and learned a fun game of "Simon Says" that helps us remember information that is found on the globe. Next week, we will be designing maps of our bedrooms, and learning about where we are in the big scope of the world.   

NOTE:  We are going through spirals like crazy this year! If you could send any extra spirals, they will be used well and greatly appreciated. All colors are needed.
Also, our popcorn party was a lot of fun today (eventhough it turned out to be a pretzel party)! The children have convinced me to let them "finish the party on Monday". So we will have popcorn for 15 min. on Monday afternoon and finish making our turkey craft right before P.E.
Reminders: *Please consider volunteering for lunch recess! 
To sign up, go to :
http://caraway.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=28
*Pilgrim Doll Project due November 18th  (please send the doll and the pilgrim interview page)

Thank you!*Tuesday Folders- Mrs. Cheryl Borden
*Computer Helper-Mr. Phillips
*Classroom Helpers- Mrs. Jodi Shores, Mrs. Judy Lopato

November 7th - 11th

Language Arts/Reading:

Words Their Way

Please ask your child which group he or she is in, and look for words throughout the week with them that follow the rules for this week's WTW words.  

Red group: Short e vs. Long e (spelled 4 ways)

Blue group: p, l and pl blends

Green Group: c, h and ch

Yellow Group: short o vs. long o

In Writer’s Workshop we will begin writing Procedural Text.  This is where the kids list steps for a particular activity such as making a sandwich, playing a game, putting something together, etc…  We will discuss the importance of using pictures and symbols to help the reader understand procedural text. Each child will write their own procedural text on a specific topic.  We will also work in some fun Thanksgiving activities during the next several weeks.  We will continue with Read to Self time. 

Math:

We are continuing our unit on count on addition strategies.  We have started a new “warm up” activity that will reinforce concepts already taught or concepts we will be teaching in first grade.  Look for those packets each week in the Tuesday folder.  If your child missed any questions it is always helpful to review and correct the missed problems.  We will continue problem solving as well as reviewing the different strategies for adding numbers.   Our focus on math strategies this week will include count on two and count on three for addition facts.

Social Studies:

We had so much fun with our Texas Unit!  We will now begin our unit on Maps and Globes.  We will learn about different types of maps, how to read a map, and why maps help us.  The kids will also get to design their own map of their bedroom!  This unit will go on for the next two weeks. 

**We will also read the book, Molly’s Pilgrim.  The letter went home in last week's Tuesday Folder. The doll parts will be in your child’s Tuesday folder on November 8th.  Hopefully, you have filled out your Pilgrim Interview sheet that accompanied last week's letter, and are ready to begin making your doll. If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask!   

Reminders:

*Harvest Festival is Nov. 5, 12:00-3:00.

*Please consider volunteering for lunch recess! 

To sign up, go to :

http://caraway.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=28

Thank you!

Tuesday Folders - Vera Djohan

Classroom Chores - Cheryl Borden

Thursday Helper - Judy Lopato

Classroom Donations - Lisa Kim (Clorox wipes)