Ms. Amy and Ms. Hilary’s Monthly News
Let us start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! We hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing break. It is hard to believe that the school year is already half over. Time flies when you’re learning & having fun. We are really enjoying getting to see how much your children are learning and growing as the weeks go by.
STEM Profile of the Month: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce: to use less of something Reuse: to use an item again Recycle: to make new items from old ones
· Trash & Recycling trucks
· Eco Visit
· The difference between trash & recycling
· Watch video on how things are sorted and recycled
· Design challenge
Our STEM profile will change to Lifecycles on January 23rd. We will learn lifecycles by focusing on ants.
Kicking things up a few notches
As we are half way through the year, it is time to kick things in to high gear and see just how much more we can learn. Some of our focuses will include:
· Math- Shapes, Placement words (in front of, behind, on top, under), Number recognition and sorting of shapes
· Writing our names, straight lines, circles and diagonal lines
· We will now review 4 letters a week both upper and lower case. We will also remove the animal picture associated with each letter. Please use the alphabet sheets sent home over winter break to practice letters with your child at home.
· We will be introducing sight words each week.
· Higher goals for STAR Power.
Homework
Be on the lookout for more practice homework. It helps students greatly when work is also practiced at home.
ü Name sheets
ü Sight words
ü Math sheets
Important Dates
January 2-13: Registration Window
January 9: All School Movement
January 12: Love & Logic Parenting Class 6-8pm
January 13: NO SCHOOL (Friday students)
January 16: NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King Day
January 19: $1 PJ day & PBIS Star reward party (board games in the cafeteria)
January 23: New STEM unit, Lifecycles with a focus on ants
January 27: NO SCHOOL (Friday students)
Reminders
· Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather and comes with a coat, gloves and a hat. We do go outside if the weather permits.
· When it is really cold out, you’re always welcome to sign in at the front office and bring your child to class inside as opposed to waiting outside of our door at drop-off.
· Please check your child’s backpack daily and especially on Thursdays for important information.
· Remember to collect the items from your child’s Thursday folder and then to send the folder back on Monday. We put papers in it throughout the week.
· READ, READ, READ and fill out your monthly reading log as you do. Your student can turn in a completed log for a prize. MyON is also a great reading option. Your account information should be on the front of your child’s Thursday folder.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences are coming up in February. Please look in Thursdays folders as the time approaches for information on days and times.
Pick-up
Thank you all so much for making our pick-up routine flow so easily and reminding your child to wait on the wall until you have signed them out.
We couldn’t do it without you!!
Thank you to all of those who continue to donate items to our classroom. We are so lucky to have such wonderful parents supporting us! We would greatly appreciate donations of:
· Playdoh (homemade or store bought)
· Dixie cups (3oz or 5oz)
· Liquid glue
THANK YOU!!
A special THANK YOU to Stephanie (AM class parent) & Kendra (PM class parent) for helping with our winter celebration! Both parties were wonderful.
Upcoming
We are planning on the children handing out Valentines to their classmates. As a home/school crossover we would love you to make a “mailbox” with your child to bring in to collect their valentines. You can use a shoe box or any other sort of container (no plastic bags) to make this. We figured mentioning this now would get your wheels turning. We will send home more details on this project in the February newsletter.