Valentines,                                                                                                               Conferences,

 and Projects,

OH MY!

Valentines Day

We will be having a pot-luck Valentine’s breakfast on Monday February 14^th.  Please send your child with simple and healthy finger foods to share (ex: muffins, fruit, cheese, yogurt, etc.).  We will also be exchanging V       alentines.  These can be handmade or store bought, but the golden rule is:  They must have one for every child in the class! We have 30 children in our class and valentine cards often come in packages of 26, which we know is not so convenientL.

Here is a math problem for you:

30 kids

2 microwaves

20 minutes for lunch

Each child heats up approx. 1 minute . . .

K +M – 1min (30) = 5 minutes for your child to eat lunch!

Please help us reduce the amount and length of heat-ups. Please avoid items that are frozen or take more than 30 seconds to heat up.

PROJECTS

We are all aware of the importance of your child remembering to bring their orange folder to and from school every day, but it is especially important when we are working on projects. If your child forgets their folder or project materials at home they have nothing to do while the rest of the class is working.   In addition, if they are not keeping up which each step of the project as we assign them it can all build up really quickly and leave your child feeling behind and overwhelmed.  Please have your child bring all materials to class whether or not completed at home.

Here is our class List:

Skylar

Grace

Aspen

Milo G

Amri

Javon

Abby

Louisa

Bella

Lucas

DaDreon

Ada

Tobin

Xavier

Xochilt

Imi

Selen

Salvador

Kade R

Anna

Olivia

Milo C

Oliver

AJ ( Amurri)

Alec

Paul

Stella

Tate

Gaia

Raymond

CONFERENCES

Conferences start next week.  Please select your top three choices from the following times:

• 2:45- 3:10 Monday 2-14-11
• 2:45- 3:10 Tuesday 2-15-11
• 2:45- 3:10 Wednesday  2-16-11
• 2:45-3:10 Thursday 2-17-11
• 8:30-8:55 am Friday 2-18-11
• 9:00-9:25am Friday 2-18-11
• 9:30-9:55am Friday 2-18-11
• 10:30-10:55 am Friday 2-18-11
• 11:00 – 11:25 am Friday 2-18-11
• 11:30 – 11:55 am Friday 2-18-11
• 1:00 – 1:25pm Friday 2-18-11
• 1:30- 1:55pm Friday 2-18-11
• 2:00- 2:30pm Friday 2-18-11
• 2:30-2:55pm Friday 2-18-11
• 3:00-3:25 Friday 2-18-11
• 3:30-3:55 Friday 2-18-11
• 4:00-4:25 Friday 2-18-11
• 4:30-4:55 Friday 2-18-11
• 5:00 -5:25 Friday 2-18-11
• 2:45-3:15 Tuesday 2-22-11
• 2:45-3:15 Wednesday 2-23-11
• 2:45-3:15 Thursday 2-24-11

Cut here  – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – *careful not to cut your class list

Your Child’s Name________________________________________________

Your Name ______________________________________________________

Your Top 3 choices for conference times:

1._____________________         2._____________________        3.____________________

(I have received 2 emails saying you read this… thanks go out to both of you!)

The BIG DEAL THIS WEEK is….

Thursday’s field trip to the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum.

Important things to remember for Thursday Morning!!

1. BE ON TIME! We have important safety and organization to cover in morning meeting on Thursday before the field trip so we recommend that all kids are here by 7:50! We will drive away at 8:30. If you are not here by then, you will have ” missed the bus.” 
2. NO HEAT UPS – This is a sack lunch sort of day. We will be eating on the grounds of the State Capital. (No microwaves or water available)
3. If your child must have a car seat and you didn’t indicate it on the permission slip, PLEASE, let us know ASAP! so I can make sure the kids will fit where I placed them in the drivers cars. Also, you must leave your child’s car seat with then that morning.
4. FUN,Fun, FUN!!! The rest is just that we follow all school rules on the fieldtrip so everyone already knows the expectations.

See you all there! I’m so glad everyone has permission and you parents were SO on the ball about getting everything turned in!

See you then!

Natalie and Patricia

I am excited to announce that we are planning a field trip to the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum, Thursday January 27th. Below is a copy of the permission slip and info sheet. We will need about 10 drivers in order to go on this trip. You can let us know if you are available on the permission slip itself.

THIS MUST BE RETURNED TO US BY MONDAY, JAN. 17TH in order for us to have time to get everything in order. 

Transportation Needs – If you would like to drive, you will need to have a current ID and Auto Insurance to Deborah in the office by no later than Friday, Jan. 19th. Then on the day of the field trip you will meet for a short Field Trip 101 with Lydie to go over safety regulations. We are really excited about this trip and know the kids will be too!

We will contact you with more details when you volunteer.

OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR CLASSROOM

In case you are wondering how you are going to fill your volunteer hours… here are some things that would be really helpful to us.

Drivers for the field trip

Library organizer

Making Copies

Chair repair

filing and labeling folders

Hiking with us on 2nd through 5th Fridays or 1st Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:20

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AT A GLANCE

Literacy -

We are still working in small reading groups. You may see some reading projects coming home to be worked on in the next few weeks as Natalie’s reading groups finish up their assigned reading.

Spelling – A change has been made. Spelling is now given to the students on Fridays. It is due on the following Thursday. Check in with your child to see if they need your help.

Writing – We have been working on sentence structure and conventions this last week. We will continue on weaving that in with our learning to Breathe Life Into Essays – Lucy Calukins.

Free Write journals are still getting more and more full every day. By the end of January we are raising our expectations. More info on the way.

Read Aloud- We are currently reading Wait for me, Eula Bee by Patricia Beatty    This book tells the tale of 4 children that face the challenges of life as a captive of the Comanche people. It is historically based and directly tied into our Social Studies investigations.

Social Studies – We have just begun our first major Project Based Learning … project. We are beginning the investigation into the lives of three Native American tribes that lived in the area inwhich we all live, (the larger geographic area between San Antonio, Austin and the coastline), the Comanche, Tonkawa and Lipan Apache. If you know anyone that belongs to one of these tribes and would like to meet and talk with our class please let us know!! We had a special Comanche speaker today. The kids were very excited. (It is Patricia’s brother! Who knew!)

Also, if you happen to have any reference material that we might borrow, especially on the Tonkawa, we would greatly appreciate it. They are underrepresented at the public library and in most books available to children. (at least in MY opinion)

Your child will be doing research in class and will more than likely be needing some support at home that could include going online to reputable sites, going to the public library for books, vidoes and books on tape, and / or searching Netflicks for appropriate documentaries. This can be a fun family learning experience.

For more information about Project Based Learning contact Leigh or Claudia of our administration.

Math-

We have taken the fall bench marks and are proceeding along at a good pace. Check your childs orange folder for homework, notes and activities that might be sent home to help suppliment and reinforce concepts already taught in class.

Dress warmly! We do go outside every time we possibly can! If it is dry and above freezing we will do our best to still have outdoor recess. Kids REALLY need that! So, PLEASE let your child know that yes they DO need that coat, hat etc. even if they insist that they aren’t cold. Blue children are not happy children.

We had a great sock monkey making day before the break with many thanks to all of you for donating your socks, buttons, batting, yarn, needles, and time!!!

Sock Monkeys ARE allowed in our classroom!!! They have a special place in our classroom to live during academic time. They make great companions during recess and lunch. So, if your child says they can bring their monkey, YES, WE CAN! (HOWEVER, sockmonkeys are not toys in OUR classroom. We follow school policy and do not allow TOYS to be brought to school they do not have a special spot in our room and are distracting.. Just wanting to clear away the grey line and let the sock monkeys hang out in the library!

Check your child’s orange folder for the Field Trip Permission Slip this Thursday the 13th.

Thanks for everything you do!

Happy Winter!

Natalie and Patricia

J