February 25

Here are some pictures with Officer Brinker. He is AWESOME! He comes to our classroom and reads ( actually he does that in other schools, too!) He speaks to the kids about important things in life and making good choices. This week he also showed the kids some of his equipment that police officers carry with them.. He let the children try on his vest. That was fun! Each child was given a reading record sheet to encourage the kids to read more. This record is in addition to the 20 minutes per night the kids should be reading. He said he'd like them to read " a little bit more each day". I like his thinking!! :-)

Another week in, and March is almost here - WOW! Unbelievable, isn't it?

We had our Math Chapter test yesterday on two-digit addition. We will be doing more addition next week.

We will soon be gearing up for First Communion! May 1st isn't all that far away. We will be doing many activities and lessons to help prepare for this wonderful Sacrament!

I was pleased to hear how many children brush and floss each day! Our Weekly Reader this week was on tooth care.

Yesterday in Science we did an activity with rock salt and sand to show how Earth can change shape. They enjoyed that very much, and we had fifth graders helping us.

Have a good weekend!

Feb. 22

It was nice to have a few days off!

Just thought I'd share a picture of some of my kids making homemade lemonade! Their reading group read the book HOW TO MAKE LEMONDADE so I brought the things needed to have them follow directions to make some for the class. They enjoyed rolling and squeezing the lemons, but they enjoyed drinking it, too!

February 11

Monday is Valentine's Day! We will be exchanging valentines at the end of the day. You may send treats if you would care to do so.

The kids REALLY have cabin fever after being inside ALL week! We all need them to get out and use up some energy. I'll bet parents feel the same way. IF the forecast is true, we'll be out next week with warmer weather - HOORAY!

Reconciliation went very well on Wednesday night. Both priest said all of the kids were very well prepared. Thanks to Sue Erickson, too! She has a large group to work with this year. On to First Communion preparations now. REMEMBER, make plans now, especially if you will have out of town guests for this special occasion. It is at the 10:00 Mass on May 1st.

We are working very hard at learning our cursive writing. We have only done the undercurve letters, and I have asked them NOT to try writing at home. I want to be certain they are learning it the correct way and not developing habits that are difficult to break. Today they are taking some practice sheets home they traced today. I have tracers showing the correct form, plus we do this on paper without tracing. I show them on the board and place a dot where they begin. I wil continue to have them put the dots until I am sure they are beginning and writing correctly.


I am doing some Math assessments individually to see if they are where I'd like them to be. We've done assessments on number sense and expanded notation. I also do individual oral tests for the facts through the nines. Keep practicing!

Next Friday will be a review spelling test from words in Units 1-18. Many of the words in Sitton repeat from test to test so I continue to encourage students to study. They have weekly words in their planners except for the weeks I do a review test. Then I practice with them during school. I have a sheet with the words they've had in Units 1-18 that they'll be using in school, too. Last time, I gave them a sheet to practice from Units 1-12 and most of the sheets didn't come back, so I won't be sending these home this time.

Wednesday, Bev Hanson, grandmother of Riley, Reece, and Ross Larson, came to our classroom and read the book WHO TOOK THE COOKIE FROM THE COOKIE JAR? The kids loved it and chanted the phrases along with the book. Then Bev gave them sugar cookies and let them frost and decorate them with colored sugar and sprinkles. She also made chocolate chip cookies because that's the kind that the book showed. We are very appreciate of Bev coming in to read and the cookies! Thanks, "Grandma Bev"!

SELL THOSE PIZZAS!!! Have a warm weekend!