Spring Break 2018

🌷Happy Spring Break!  It sure was great to see so many families at conferences.  I was truly amazed at the number of parents who not only came to conferences, but who also reached out to make other arrangements to make a conference happen.  This has been a great group of involved parents and I want to let you know how much I appreciate you all!  If you were not able to make your conference for any reason, and would still like to touch base after break, please feel free to contact me and we can make it happen.  Here is what will be going on in our class when we return on Monday, March 25th:

Math:  We will be returning to place value, using dimes and pennies to represent tens and ones.  We will also be working on comparing quantities of two digit numbers and how to write the symbols to correctly compare those quantities (>, <, =).

ELA:  This will be week two of our Bee unit.  Therefore we will continue with our Hartcourt story, "Busy Buzzy Bee."  In addition we will read different bee books to enhance our bee studies.  This week we will really focus on the lifecycle of a bee, which will include some writing to show our learning.  Instead of a normal spelling test we decided to have a "fun" spelling test with some bee terms.  There will be 2 bonus words that will be the "4 pointers" in lieu of the spelling sentences this week.

Science:  We are beginning our earth science unit on air and weather.  This is a really fun unit in which the students really discover how air works and how if affects many aspects of our life, including the weather.  

Social Studies:  More maps.  When we return they will be doing a "Me on the Map" activity, tying in with their prior knowledge from our previous story.  This will give them a better understanding of where they live on this great big planet, and where exactly the city of Flagstaff sits. 

Extra Scoop of Information:

We are in need of snacks and hand sanitizer!  If you are able to contribute with either of these items we would greatly appreciate it!

I am hoping to try some different seating options in our classroom by the end of this year.  I want to try flexible seating and see how it works for our students.  The idea behind flexible seating is to give students an array of seating options, and everyday they will choose the option that they feel will best suit their educational need for that day.  Of course, as with anything else this will be preloaded with learning about how each seating option will work, the rules and agreements on how they will use ("behave" with) flexible seating, and the understanding that if their choice is not working to optimize their learning and that of others, I have the ultimate right to pick their seating for the day.  Before we can get to all of this however, I need to purchase our seating.  I have set up a fundraising account with a company called donorschoose.org.  Basically, anyone can click on the following link  

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/sitting-for-success/3120256/

and give any amount of money to help with the purchase of these items.  I would greatly appreciate it if you could share this link with any friends or family members who you think would love to support this cause.  I do not have facebook or any other social media, so I am a little limited on my ability to reach out to a large amount of people.  Please let them know that if they give within the next few days and use the code LIFTOFF donorschoose.org will match their donation up to $50.  What I really do not want is for you all to give your money to this.  I feel my families already give so much to our class and to your child's education that I want you to understand I really am not asking for you to give to this as well.  I just need help spreading the word to a large audience!  The cool part of this organization is that once they post it publicly, other foundations can view and match funds, and from my understanding this happens often.  Of course, if this project does not happen this year, I will probably end up purchasing most of the items myself over the summer.  This is just something I thought I could try to get a little financial help, and to see if I could make it happen on some level for this years kiddos.  Thank you for helping spread the word, that is all I need from my families!  

Save the Dates:

• Thursday, March 29th - Family Fitness Night - 5:30-7:00 So much fun, I really hope you make time to attend.

• Tuesday, April 3rd - 1st grade Suzuki performance at FHS - Details will be in letter going home Monday! 

• Saturday April 14th - Flagstaff Sights and Sounds at the Mall - We have decided we will set up a display to promote our robots, and parents will not have to sit and "man the booth" so to speak.  

• April 16th - 20th - Scholastic Book Fair in the Library - More details to come.  

• Monday, April 23rd and Tuesday, April 24th - School Closed (Currently) Snow Make Up Days.

I hope everyone's Spring Break is off to a great start.  I hope families and students find time to relax and ways to refill and rejuvenate mind and soul.  I will see you all Monday, March 25th. -Ms. Shaw