Thanks for a Great Year | Friday Dismissal at 10:50 AM

Students relaxed after completing their tie-dye shirts today.

It's been a great year, thanks for all your help and support.

Blue and Clear Book Bags
Get those book bags in so I can use the home reading books again next year.  I will reach out to you on Tuesday if they haven't yet come in.

Portfolio of Work
Look for a folder of student work, including work from both our Expos, to come home with students on Thursday.

No Backpacks or Lunchboxes This Friday
Students are not to bring anything to school on Friday.  This is a school-wide request, no backpacks, no lunchboxes.  I will provide a morning snack.

Friday Dismissal at 10:50 AM
This Friday, 6/16/17, students will be dismissed at 10:50 AM.  They will take their report cards home then as well.

Curriculum Overview
Science - We are studying what living things (plants and animals) need to survive.  Last week we created animal cards and this week we are sorting them by domestic vs. wild as well as learning about classifications like mammals, birds, amphibians, etc.

Math - This week I will work with different math groups to cover topics where students still could use additional support and instruction.

Literacy - We are reading books that help us understand how maps represent different locations.  The book we are reading right now focuses on the great lakes and surrounding region.

Writing - As a final assessment students are writing about a special memory they have of doing something with their family.

We had a tie dye party today in honor of our fundraising for the Color Fun Run.  After binding their shirts students chose different color dyes.

NWEA Tomorrow / Summer Kick-Off on Sunday

The vertical garden students planted is really doing well.

NWEA
The students worked hard on the NWEA last week, please thank them for their hard work. Many students will be finishing their literacy assessment tomorrow (Tuesday).  Make sure they have a healthy breakfast, a good night’s sleep, and are ready to do their best as they finish this exam. 

Tie Dye Shirt Volunteers
To honor the amazing job we did in the Color Fun Run fundraiser we are having a tie dye t-shirt party on Monday, June 12th from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.  If you would like to help kids make their shirts at this party please send me an email.  Let me know as soon as you can.

Return Books To Ms. Reader
Many, many students still have library books due.  If there is a book still out Ms. Reader sent home a note with the picture of the cover last Friday.  She does a great job keeping our library stocked and current, let’s get those books back in to the school this week.

Have Kids Wear Old Clothes
On Wednesday I believe the students will be glazing their pottery in art class again.  I am told that the materials they will use can stain clothing.  Don't send the students to school wearing something really nice.  On Monday, June 12th, we will be having our Tie Dye party (see above).  It is highly likely that students will stain their clothes on that day as well.

Summer Kickoff!
The 2017 A2 STEAM Summer Kickoff is this Sunday, June 11th from 5-7:30 p.m.  There will be free ice cream for the students and Ray's Red Hot Dogs will be available for purchase.  The PTO needs volunteers to pickup & deliver ice cream, setup the event, sign people in, sell tix, kick the ball, scoop the sweet stuff and clean-up!  Go here to volunteer.

If you have any questions about the Summer Kickoff feel free to email PTO president Robyn at emailvolunteer@a2steampto.org

Curriculum Overview
Science - We are studying what living things (plants and animals) need to survive.  We are learning about how animals can be classified by their food needs (i.e. herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores). 

Math - This week I will work with different math groups to cover topics where they still could use additional support and instruction.

Literacy - We are reading books that help us understand how maps represent different locations.  The book we are reading right now focuses on the great lakes and surrounding region.

Writing - As a final assessment students are writing about a special memory they have of doing something with their family.

Word Study - This week students are reviewing syllables and other word study topics we have covered earlier this year.

NWEA This Wednesday and Thursday

When Leslie Science Center visited us last week, students learned about the habitat and needs of Madagascar cockroaches.

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

NWEA
The students will be taking the NWEA reading and NWEA math assessment this Wednesday (tomorrow) and Thursday.  Make sure they have a healthy breakfast, a good night’s sleep, and are ready to their best on this exam.  We will also likely be finishing things up on Friday too.

Book Swap!
Two weeks ago a pink flier went home about an end of the year book swap.  Basically you bring in old children’s books up until May 31st (tomorrow) and then kids will have a chance to choose new (to them) books to with Ms. Reader.  There is a collection box set up in our classroom.  For every book a student brings in they are able to choose a different book to take home.  Even if you can bring in just one, that is great!

Curriculum Overview
Science - We are studying what living things (plants and animals) need to survive.  We are learning about how animals can be classified by their needs (i.e. herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores).

Math - This week we will review measurement and clocks.

Literacy - We are using features of nonfiction texts to learn about the needs of living things for our Project Based Learning unit.

Writing - In conjunction with our project on living things students we will be writing about our experience with the Leslie Science Center last week.

Word Study - This week students are working on understanding synonyms and antonyms.

Room K-3 students during the Leslie Science Center presentation.

Color Fun Run / Understanding Plants

As of this weekend our class raised over $800 which is an impressive amount.  Thank you.  You can still donate, even a little bit, up until 3PM, today 5/22.

Thursday and Friday
I will be out of the classroom this Thursday and Friday.  Ms. Nehlman and Ms. Maier will we teaching in my place.  Ms. N worked in our classroom extensively this past fall.  On Thursday I will be at STEAM, getting ready for next year incoming Kindergarten class.

Volunteers Needed
This week our study of living things is moving from plants to animals.  On Friday between 9:45 AM and 10:45 AM the Leslie Park science center is bringing different animals for us to learn about.  If you would like to join the class for that event, email me and let me know.  I will not be at school that day but if would be good to have parents there helping the presentation go smoothly.

Book Swap
Last week a pink flier went home about an end of the year book swap.  Basically you bring in old children’s books up until May 30th and then kids will have a chance to choose new (to them) books to with Ms. Reader.  There is a collection box set up in our classroom.  For every book a student brings in they are able to choose a different book to take home.

Memorial Day
There is no school scheduled for Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.

Curriculum Overview
Science - We are studying what living things (plants and animals) need to survive.  Last week we went into the Leslie Park forest diagrammed some wild geraniums and spotted painted turtles, American robins, frogs, ants, and other animals.  See our twitter feed for some pictures.  This week we will turn our attention to animals.

Math - This week we will review 3-dimensional shapes, fractions, and place value.

Literacy - We are using features of nonfiction texts to learn about the needs of living things for our Project Based Learning unit.

Writing - In conjunction with our project on living things students we will be writing about seeds and plants, and our experiences planting and growing vegetables.  Look for our work on Seesaw.

Word Study - This week students are working on different word sorts aligned with their academic next steps.  Students are working on letter sounds, blends, and vowel spelling patterns.

On the field trip to Leslie Nature Park students drew and diagrammed wild geraniums.  More pictures in our twitter feed.