Down the Home Stretch

Today after school Mrs. Myerholtz and I counted how many days are left in the year.  If you include tomorrow (Friday), there are only 41 days of school left until summer!

This week we read a story called Serious Farm.

On Monday we introduced our new spelling words, added a hunk and chunk to our Phonics Dance board (or), and introduced new vocabulary words.  We learned cursive m and n.  We continued our verb discussion from last week and worked on tying up some loose ends from the end of last week as well.

On Tuesday we added another new hunk and chunk to our Phonics Dance board (oo).  This one will help us with our spelling words for next week.  We answered some questions about vocabulary words in our packets.  We read the story for the first time and talked about the problem and solution.  We answered a lot of other oral questions about the story as well.  We completed a verb assessment.

On Wednesday we learned cursive v and x.  We played a "Memory" game with vocabulary words and answered R.A.P. questions.  The morning class read the story with a partner and worked on a brochure with questions from the story.  The afternoon class read the story using the Smartboard, and they began working on problem/solution puzzles.  We discussed subject-verb agreement.

On Thursday we had a "business" day.  We have a lot of things we are trying to get through on Thursdays lately so we have time on Fridays to work on our blogs.  We took our spelling test.  We finished our vocabulary packets and watched Miss Murphy's and Mrs. Schulte's vocabulary video before we took our test.  We read the story again and finished up the projects we started on Wednesday.  We read the book If You Were a Verb... and completed an assessment on subject-verb agreement.

On Friday we welcomed Cole, a new student to our room.  We took our comprehension test and worked on our blogs.  We wrote Star of the Week letters to Amy (for my homeroom) and Nathan (for Mrs. Myerholtz's homeroom).  We added to our blogs, so be sure to check them out this weekend.  Also, make sure you check my Weebly site for important information about your child's blog.  Report cards went home on Friday as well.

Next week will be a crazy, jam-packed week.  We will visit the book fair twice (once for previewing and once for purchasing).  The preview day has slipped my mind, but we will be purchasing on Thursday.  If you want to send money with your child for the book fair, please make sure it is in a sealed envelope or baggie clearly marked with your child's name and "Book Fair."  We have our BABES program with Mrs. Lindquist on Wednesday and Thursday mornings next week.  We also have our dress rehearsal for the music program on Thursday afternoon and the performance Thursday evening.  Please note that the performance is a part of your child's music grade, and he/she is expected to be there.

Our story for next week is The Bee.  It is a nonfiction selection.  We will be focusing on using charts and diagrams when reading nonfiction texts.  Vocabulary words for next week will be pattern, carefully, crowd, disappear, attack, and sealed.  We will be talking about past-tense verbs.  Spelling words will have the oo, ew, ue, and ui spelling patterns.  Words are:
true, grew, suit, smooth, clue, soup, stew, food, group, fruit, nephew, classroom, cartoon, juicy, newspaper, along, might, close, something, seem
Challenge list:
nephew, classroom, cartoon, juicy, newspaper, jewel, suitcase, cruise, balloon, noodle, shampoo, group, true, swimsuit, screwdriver, along, might, close, something, seem

Our specials schedule for next week will be:
Monday - music
Tuesday - gym
Wednesday - library
Thursday - music
Friday - computer

Reading logs will be due next Friday, and are never accepted if they are more than a week late (unless it is late due to absences).  Have a wonderful weekend!