Happy Turkey Day

Dear Parents,

This week we spent time talking about the American holiday of Thanksgiving. The students learned that 102 Pilgrims left England in 1620 to live in America so they could prey the way they wanted to. The first year for the Pilgrims was very hard and almost half of them died. They met Indians who taught them how to grow vegetables and survive in the wilderness. They had a big dinner to celebrate everything they were thankful for. I asked the children to tell things that they were thankful for in their lives. They also really enjoyed doing a Thanksgiving word search.

In science we reviewed our chapter about animals. In this chapter the students learned about different groups of animals, how they get what they need to survive, and how they grow and change. The students will take the chapter test at the end of the week.

We also spent a lot of time studying grammar. They learned that singular nouns name 1 person, place, or thing while plural nouns name 2 or more people, places, or things. Also proper nouns are nouns that name a special person, place, or thing.

We read their take home story together in class, called "The Busy, Lively, Sleepy, Quiet Pond". This story tells about many animals that live in and near ponds. The students must read the story to the parents, answer the questions in their student journals in complete sentences, and draw a picture about the story.

For Friday Fun Day we will have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at school. Traditional dinners include turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and many more. If we could just watch American football then it would almost feel like I'm back in U.S.A.

Thanks to all of the parents that made it out to the art showing on Friday night. The students seemed to have a wonderful time there. It was great to let the kids try something different than just doing book work. Maybe there are some future artists in our school?

All the best,

Teacher Andy

INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS:

Austin: Seems to become distracted in class at times. Did much better on his make up vocabulary test. Great job!

Harris: Try to use class time better so that assignments can be completed on time.

James: Still puts very little effort into studying vocabulary. Please spend more time getting familiar with vocabulary.

Lauren: Sometimes becomes shy and does not speak out very loudly. She seems to be more aware of her handwriting.

Lily: Remembers stories very well and likes to participate in class.

Allen: Showing lots of improvement and is very enthusiastic about doing well.

Arvin: Often answers questions and participates in class.

Chanel: Class attitude has gotten much better lately, keep it up!

Chloe: Enjoys participating in class and completes assignments on time.

Jade: Very attentive in class and has a wonderful learning attitude.

Joshua: Gets careless when doing work and taking tests. Be sure to check carefully.

Sam: Very enthusiastic in class and gets work done on time.

Art Showing

Dear Parents,

The past two Fridays for Fun Day the students made drawings of traditional Chinese houses using oil pastels on black sandpaper. They seemed to enjoy making these and we make them available for everyone to see this Friday night. I hope that you will be able to come and see what the students have been making. I hope this was a fun opportunity for the students to try something different.

In the classroom this week we read a story called "The Best Friends Club". In the story Harold and Lizzie are best friends that do everything together and decide to start a club with them being the only members. Lizzie becomes jealous of Harold because he was invited to a birthday party and she cannot go. Lizzie begins to make other rules that will not allow Harold to play with his other friends and classmates. Harold finally gets tired of all the rules and decides to quit the club. Lizzie realizes that it's more fun to be in a club with friends than by herself and starts playing with other kids. The story helps students understand that good things come from sharing and not from being selfish.

In the story the Lizzie and Harold make a cat's cradle, which is a game played with a loop of string. After reading the story, I showed the students how to make a cat's cradle.

For science this week we learned about how animals grow up. They studied the life cycles of a black bear and butterfly. Each has a different life cycle. They learned how butterflies change from an egg to a caterpillar to a pupa to the adult stage of a butterfly.

For take-home readers, we read a story called "Warm and Fuzzy" together in class. As usual, the students are to read the story to their parents, answer the questions in the student journals, and color a picture.

Have a wonderful weekend!

All the best,

Teacher Andy

Individual Comments:

Austin: Did very poorly on his last vocabulary test. He has lots of free time before class and should use it more wisely to study.

Harris: Did well on vocabulary test, remember to stay focused in class.

James: Did very poorly on his last vocabulary test! Needs to try much harder.

Lauren: Made 100 on vocabulary test! Great job!

Lily: Made 100 on vocabulary test! Great job!

Arvin: Getting him to concentrate more on improving handwriting.

Allen: Scored 100 on his vocabulary test! I'm super proud of the progress he has made since the beginning of the year. Keep it up!

Chanel: Hope she gets back on track with studying.

Chloe: Doing a great job in class. Very attentive in class.

Jade: Works hard in class and is very careful with her work.

Joshua: Sometimes catch him not paying attention in class.

Sam: Continues to do a great job with vocabulary, keep it up!

Turning Cold

Dear Parents,

It looks like the sunny days are beginning to go away as winter gets closer. I hope the students stay healthy and not get sick.

This week we read a story called "A Letter to Amy" about a boy named Peter who is having a birthday party. He writes a letter to Amy to invite her but later worries what his friends will think when they only see one girl at the party. As he is taking his letter to the mailbox in the rain, he bumps into Amy, knocks her down, and she runs off crying. He feels there is no way she will come to the party now. It helps the students' understanding of the stories if you can ask them to talk about the stories and explain what happened.

We will take a break from the student journals this week. Instead the students will use their TOPS book. This weekend they are to do Unit 2 in the TOPS book. We will also have a vocabulary test on Monday so please help your child study vocabulary.

We will do more art this week for Fun Day.

Have a wonderful weekend!

All the best,

Teacher Andy

Lemonade For Sale!

Dear Parents,



I hope everyone had a scary time at our Haunted Tree House last weekend! It was nice to have a chance to talk to some of you. This week it was back to hitting the books hard after enjoying Halloween activities last week.



We read a story called "Lemonade For Sale" and in it, 4 kids and their parrot decide to sell lemonade to fix up their club house that is falling apart. Sales are going well until one day a new kid in the neighborhood starts juggling and taking most of the people away from the lemonade stand. The kids in the club ask him to juggle next to their stand and sales go over the top! They invite Jed the Juggler to join their club. I told the students that working together makes things easier for everyone. Since the story was called "Lemonade For Sale" we made lemonade during class time. The students poured in the ingredients, mixed them together, and enjoyed lemonade. Ahhh!



Chanel's birthday was Saturday, so on Monday I played "Happy Birthday" on trombone for her.



The students had lots of new vocabulary words that we will test on Monday. Please help your child study so they can learn the words.



The take-home reader this week is called "What to Do in an Emergency". We read the story together in class and discussed it. They are to read the story to parents at home, answer the questions and draw a picture in their student journals, and bring them back on Monday.

We reviewed the material in science class about different kinds of animals and what they need to meet their needs.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

All the best,

Teacher Andy

INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS:

Austin: Continues to do well with vocabulary. Working hard in class

Harris: Often forgets to bring back vocabulary book and student journal. Please don't forget in the future so you can do your work at the right time.

James: Showing lots more effort to read better. Keep working hard!

Lauren: Hope you had a great vacation! Take me with you next time.

Lily: Doing a great job of adjusting to the Grade 2 level! Work on writing faster.

Allen: Needs to pay better attention when instructions are given in class.

Arvin: Writing is still messy but works really hard in class.

Chanel: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Doing a fantastic job in class.

Chloe: Often participates and raises her hand in class.

Jade: Writing is getting faster. Has wonderful attitude in class.

Joshua: Is very helpful and considerate of others in class.

Sam: Understands new stories very well and gets work done quickly.