December 18, 2015

Dear Families,
I felt it would be fitting to use our email today to say....THANK YOU!
Thank you for all the support you have shown me from the very beginning of our year together! It is so bittersweet ending our time together today but I know they will continue to flourish and grow amazingly with Mrs. Elseman!
The time that I have spent with your kids is so memorable and I take with me such great memories of them all! 
Thank you also for all of the sweet gifts! I wanted to write individual thank you notes but ran out of time--sorry!
I hope 2016 is the best year for you and your family! Best wishes!

December 17, 2015

Dear Families,
We read the story The Gingerbread Pirates and talked about the characters! 
We finished sharing our dream tradition posters with the class in writers workshop! 
It has been fun exploring how our families are similar and different when sharing our traditions.
We had fun watching The Polar Express and drinking hot chocolate this afternoon! *Thank you Mikah for the hot chocolate mix!*

Reminders:
*Please check backpacks for a "gift" from your kids! I wanted to pass them out today since tomorrow may be hectic! 
*Tomorrow is our winter party 2:00-2:45! 

December 16, 2015

Dear Families,
Today we went to Art and made mobiles using the 3 primary colors! (Eric)
We heard another version of the Gingerbread Man and compared it to other versions we have read this week! (Iris)
Then we made Gingerbread play-dough! (Beckett)
We still are not sure the play-dough worked but it was fun trying to "cook" him up!
We reviewed how to write the letters q and z correctly! (Jada)
More friends shared their dream posters with the class in writers workshop! (Anthony)
In math, we talked about Function Machines! It is a fun way to practice addition and subtraction! (Megan)
It was a great day back!

Reminders:
*Please clean out take home folders and backpacks. Some are getting very full. Thanks!
*Tomorrow is Polar Express Day! Remember to wear your PJs to school!
*Friday is our winter party 2:00-2:45! 

December 11, 2015

Dear Families,
Today we practiced writing Kap and our new word wall words! 
We reviewed how to count syllables! (Cash)
We added our Israel passport stamps to our Holidays suitcase/passport after reviewing the ways we found answers to our questions this week! (Beckett)
We worked on our Dream Traditions posters in writing workshop! (Alicia) We will share these with each other next week in class!
We went to the ABL lab! (Mia)
We traveled to Germany and learned some fun German traditions with Mrs. Wheeler! (Rachel)
It was a great day!

Notes:
We have been working hard to "earn" a Polar Express/PJ day next Thursday! Today we met our goal! Yay! PJs next Thursday!
Anyone able to send in hot chocolate mix for our class? If so please email me so I can plan accordingly! Thanks so much!

December 10, 2015

Dear Families,
We answered our last questions about Israel on our computer. (Xavier)
We traveled to Sweden today and we ate bread and broth with Mrs. Obermiller! (Kap)
For math we played a number game with my dad! (Annie)
In writers workshop we started making our Dream Tradition poster! (Sylyss)

Notes:
Mrs. Elseman has been spending time with us since Tuesday. It has been fun getting to know her! Our classroom is changing so the kids are having fun finding those changes.
Don't forget you are invited to a meet and greet breakfast for Mrs. Elseman on Tuesday, 12/15 at 8:00am-8:20am in our room!

December 9, 2015

Dear Families,
I am leaving to go to a doctors appointment right before dismissal so our email today is from me.
Today we researched Hanukkah more.
We practiced writing the letters x and y.
We went to the computer lab.
We "traveled" to China today!
We saw a puppet show that reviewed stranger danger and how to handle conflicts/bullies.
Today was a great day!

December 8, 2015

Dear Families,
Today we read about Hanukkah and answered some of our questions! (Jack)
We found words that start with x and y in our poetry folders. (Megan)
In writers workshop, we added more "dream traditions" we wish we had in our families! (Jada)
We reviewed how to play the addition dice game.
We "went" to Mexico today and made a poinsettia. (Iris)
We went to the library and got new books! (Jaxson)
Have a great night!

December 7, 2015

Dear Families,
Today we made a list of questions we had about the holiday Hanukkah and Israel. (Mia) We will read stories to help us answer our questions.
We learned about the letters x and y! (Anthony)
We learned about Australia with Mrs. Wilson today! (Eric) Instead of reindeer, kangaroos help Santa there!
In writing workshop, we started discussing what traditions we "wish" we had in our families or a favorite one we have already.
We learned a new dice game to practice addition. (Rachel)

Reminders:
Don't forget library books tomorrow!

December 4, 2015

Dear Families,
Ms. Dawn came to our class to do 2 Jr. Achievement activities! (Josie)
We worked on finding the first sound/letter in words! (Skyler)
Today we solved number stories with our friends! (Hyrum) 
Some of our stories were solved doing addition and some were solved doing subtraction!
We "went" to Italy today and talked about Old Befana! (Ariana)
We went to the ABL lab! (Kenna)

Reminders:
*Keep sending in those family tradition posters so we can learn more about your families! They are so fun to look at in our hallway!
*Please make sure to look at the email I sent you yesterday from Alisa about our upcoming winter party!

Have a great weekend!

December 3, 2015

Dear Families,
Today we reviewed what makes a good complete sentence.
Then we worked on finishing our fall stories! (Annie)
We discussed ways we can solve a number story by drawing and writing number sentences! (Josie)
Today we "traveled" to Africa and talked about Kwanzaa! (Jack) Ask your child about this neat African holiday. 
Tomorrow our kids will "go" to Italy! 

Reminders:
*Keep sending in those family tradition posters so we can learn more about your families! They are so fun to look at in our hallway!
*Please make sure to look at the email I sent you this morning from Alisa about our upcoming winter party!

December 2, 2015

Dear Families,
Mrs. Elseman came to our class to meet the kids this afternoon so I told them that I would write our email today!
This morning we went to the computer lab!
We read more about Africa to see if we could answer some of our questions!
We practiced writing the letters v and w!
We worked on our fall stories!
We reviewed how to play the growing and disappearing dice game to practice addition and subtraction!
We talked about the ways we dress in spring and summer!

Reminders:
*Tomorrow is our late start day! 
*Keep sending in those family tradition posters so we can learn more about your families! They are so fun to look at in our hallway!

December 1, 2015

Dear Families,
This morning we went to Art! We made mice using the 3 primary colors! (Iris)
We read a short story about Africa. We we will research more about Africa to help answer our questions. 
We found words that start with the letters v and w in our poetry folders! (Rachel)
We finished our background pictures in our fall books and started writing sentences in writing workshop. (Jaxson)
In math we worked on solving more addition and subtraction number stories. (Hyrum)
We talked about the clothes we wear in fall and winter today! (Ariana)

Reminders:
Late start day on Thursday!
Please send your families tradition posters if you still have it!