Family Newsletter

Dear Families,
The kids are so happy to be back at school again.  It was a strange week for me as I was out for a couple of days with pneumonia, but I hope I turned a corner.  The sun certainly helps!  Warmer weather would be nice too-I think we can all agree!

Our Learning:
Reading:  We will continue to perfect various reading strategies in our guided reading groups for the next few weeks.  It is important that your child continues to read at home very night.  Thank you all for supporting the new rainforest reading log that we have used for the last few weeks.  Next week is the last week we're using it.  The writing is overall great!  I am so pleased with the connections the children are making to the books they are reading at home.  They are truly developing into thoughtful and insightful readers.  Thanks for your support!

Writing:  We slowly started our new writing unit this week.  This time, the students will learn to write opinion pieces.  They will learn how to make convincing arguments in an organized way.  We started our unit by looking at "old" writing samples from years past.  The students worked in partnerships and gathered information about the various features of such writing.  Stay tuned for more information.

Math: First grade mathematicians are currently learning about fractions.  We are exploring halves, quarters and thirds, representing our understanding in both number writing as well as drawings and paper folding.  Please look for the beautiful "Fraction Booklets" the students took home today.

Upcoming Events and Reminders:

•   Reading Restaurant is scheduled for may 19th.  There will be two seatings.  Your child will "work" in our restaurant during your assigned time slot. The first one in at 6pm, the other at 6:50.  I will send information home next week.  I will also send home your assigned time.  If this time does not work for you and your family, please let me know.
• We will attend the play "The Emeror's New Clothes" next Thursday at WCS.  This is a morning production and this will not interfere with our dismissal routine at all.
• Team Harmony will see the show "Celestial Beings" at the Flynn Theater on May 16th.  This is also a morning show.  Please fill our the permission slip, which was sent home last week.  If you need another copy, please let me know.  Thank you!  

Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

This is the last week of school before our Spring vacation which starts next Monday, April 18th.  The students have the entire week off and school resumes again the following Monday, April 25th.  We certainly hope the weather will be more "Spring-like" with more sun and blue skies.

Our Learning:
Reading:  We are very excited to share our love of reading through a series of book recommendations.  If you wish to see some pictures, please scroll down and read a previous post on the subject.  We started reading fictional series in our classroom as part of our read alouds.  I read the first book and if the students find the book interesting, Mrs. Wentz and I help them find the other books in the same series.  If the students like the book, they create a "book award" and share their reasons why they liked the book and why somebody else should read the book.  Their justifications are very thoughtful.  You can see these book awards on our brand new mural in the library or in our classroom.  Please stop by.  Perhaps you can get some ideas for books to read at home with your child?

Writing:  The students are finishing up their rainforest animal research writing this week.  When we return from April break, we will start a new writing unit; Opinion Writing.  More information will follow after teh break.  Our Reading Restaurant theme this year is the rainforest.  Reading Restaurant is scheduled for May 19th, in the evening.  We usually have the first seating at 6pm, followed by a second seating around 6:50pm.  More information will follow in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

This is Ms. Sullivan's last week with us. On Friday, we will have a "Crafternoon" together. We will create various rainforest crafts in preparation of Reading Restaurant and the children will be able to create their own animal for our classroom. We would also like to have a little party with her so we are asking parents to bring in small treats for us to share in the classroom.  If you are able and willing to help us out, the students would like cookies, muffins, juice and some fruits. Thank you again for your generosity.

News and Reminders:

• No School, April vacation April 18-22.
• Reading Restaurant, May 19th in the evening (specific times will be shared shortly) 
• Bookmobile visiting ABS on May 11th and May 19th.
• Trip to the Flynn, May 16th (more information will follow at a later date)  

Best,
Maria 

Shrek at WCS

Here are some pictures from the play Shrek at WCS last week.  The kids at WCS did an amazing job.  It is always fun to visit the school and see the incredible things they are doing there.

Book recommendations

The students started sharing their love of reading and book with the rest of the school through a new Book Recommendations mural in our library.We also have one in our classroom.  The students give the book they want to recommend to another student an award ribbon or a banner upon which they write the reasons why it is recommended.  They are sharing very thoughtful and insightful reasons.  Here are some pictures.  If you want to get some suggestions, please stop by to read them.

Family News-letter

Dear Families,

Laura Sullivan, our fabulous intern from St. Michael's, just ended her solo week.  She will remain with us until our Spring break, which starts the week of April 18th.  She will then finish up her licensing requirements and hopefully find a job!  We hope she will come back and visit us often.

Our Learning:
Science and Social Studies: We started another rotation of science workshops on Team Harmony last week.  The students are currently learning about the tropical rainforest.  In a series of workshops, rotating between the classrooms, they will deepen their understanding of the layers of the rainforest, endangered plants and animals, food we get from there as well as explore the geographic locations of the regions.  The rainforest is our theme for Reading Restaurant, which will take place in mid-May.  As soon as we have a specific date I will let you know.

Writing: The students are almost done with their rainforest animal research!  They have done an outstanding job.  Thank you to all the parents who have helped us in this process as well. Sometime next week, the students will also participate in our annual writing prompt.  If you recall, we did this earlier in the year as a pre-assessment to help us guide and differentiate our writing instruction.  Now all 1st graders and all 2nd graders at ABS will do this again, so we can see the progress they have made.  The students get as much time as they want, as long as they are writing and working.  They do not need to do anything in preparation for this at all, but it is always a good idea to get plenty of sleep and healthy foods every day!

Reading: Our upcoming focus for guided reading groups next week will be a mix of vocabulary strategies work and comprehension skills as we return to fictional stories.  Your child will bring home the first weekly "Rainforest Reading Log" inside his/her homework folder on Monday.  This log is a choice and your child does not have to participate if the writing is too much.  I hope as many children as possible try, at least for a week!  The traditional reading log will replace the Iditarod sheets from last month.  Your child does not have to do  both, of course.  Pick one, and return it on Friday!

Upcoming Events and Reminders:

• We will see the play "Shrek" at WCS on Wednesday, April 6th.  The bus will leave ABS around 12:30 and we will dismiss from WCS. If you need to pick up your child on Wednesday, April 6th, please meet him/her in the front office at WCS.  Students attending the Imagine After School Program will take a bus back to ABS.
• Our related arts rotation will change again.  On Tuesday, my class will start Guidance classes with our fabulous school counselor Ms. S.
• April break starts on 4/18 and lasts the whole week.  Students return to school on Monday 4/25.

Jump Rope for Hearts

What a turn-out!  The kids enjoyed exercising with their Allen Brook friends and friends from 3rd grade at WCS.