Sad Endings

Oh B-11 Parents,

I have been so grateful to be your child's teacher this year.  Each and everyone of the students has touched my heart in some way and I appreciate them all so much! 

It makes me sad to have to say that I will not be at Lee next year.  My position has been cut by the district due to budget constraints and I will truly miss watching your child grow up in the years to come.

Thank you for the opportunity to teach your child.  The magic in their eyes keeps me hoping for their future.  I know that they have special talents that will continue to be sparked by future teachers. I will miss each and every one of them.

With Love and Respect,

Suzanne Carey

CLOUDS!!

As you can see from the blog, I love clouds!  Springtime has the most amazing skies and I am so inspired when I look out the window to see yet another type of cloud forming.  Here at school we will be doing out study of clouds and watch how the kids will start looking up and announcing some very sophistocated words they have learned.  School is the best place!!

Planting

We have successfully planted our seeds and they are growing in our window sil.  Many of them have started to grow already.  This would not have happened without the help of Markie Sage, Josh's mom.  Thank you so much for your help with the kids planting project!  We all bloom better when we bloom together!

WORMS! WORMS!!

We need Worms for our compost!

RECYCLED MATERIALS

Please send some recycled materials to school for art projects. Example include:  egg cartons, paper towel tubes, toilet paper tubes, washed milk cartons, washed plastic tubs, wrapping paper tubes.

OH YES!  If you have some spare scotch tape that the kids can connect items together, that would be wonderful! 

Thank you for helping us create here at school!

Snack

From now until the end of the year, the students will need to bring their own snack to eat in the mid-morning.  I will have a limited supply on hand and it would be great for you to please supply a healthy snack for your child.  Thank you so much!

Reports!!

Great Job, B11 Students and Parents!  The reports were really top notch and the kids did such a great job presenting them.  Thank you for all of your hard work!  It matters to your child!

It's Body Talk

The children will be coming home with our latest project.  They will be writing a report on a particular part of the body.  I will be sending home their chosen report topic, paper for writing the final draft and their research that was conducted in the computer lab.  Keep in mind that the list of body parts was generated by the children and they chose their topic to learn more about.  The guidelines and expectations are spelled out on the handout.  Presentations will be the week of April 18.

Looking Ahead!

No School on Friday, April 15.  It is a Furlough Day for Teachers.

At Home Help Needed

 If you have time to come in and learn how to look up books on the computer and locate some Call Numbers for many of us, we would be grateful.  After you learn the process from Mrs. Costa, our Media Specialist, you can work on this project at home at your convenience.  Thank you in advance for your efforts.  

GEOMETRY TIME

Last week we reviewed attributes that describe both two and three dimensional shapes.  Our State Standards require the children to be familiar with terminology such as:  straight, congruent, curved, corners, verticies, edges; all the two dimensional shape names including rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon, as well as all of the three dimensional shape names including rectangular prism, triangular prism, peramid, cone, cube, cylinder and sphere.  Please reinforce these concepts at home as well.

This week we are talking about symmetry with two dimensional shapes.  We'll be talking about symmetry side by side as well as the difference between being congruent.  Sometimes shapes are flipped and can be both symmetrical and congruent.  Fun learning ahead!!

HOMEWORK:  Please find things in nature or outside that have symmetry and send to school.

More Math At Home

Guess the Box:
Gather a few small boxes and cans that are different sizes and shapes.  Take turns describing the shape of one container.  The other person tries to figure out which can or box is being described.

Sandwich Shapes:
Make sandwiches and cut them in half (or thirds or fourths) before serving.  What different shapes can you make?

Grocery Store:
When you take your child to the grocery store, look at some of the boxes and describe their shapes.  Can you find boxes that have square faces, rectangular faces, or circular faces?

WRITE ABOUT EVERYTHING!!

The Shape Of Things - Geometry

Just as numbers are the words that let us speak the language of math, shapes like squares, triangles, and circles are the vehicles--let's call them "spaceshapes"--that launch us into a whole new mathematical dimension.  Mathematicians and scientists are continually using the things they learn about shapes in nature to come up with handy inventions.  A bottle of roll-on antiperspirant works the same way as a ball-and socket joints in our boddies!  And so does a ballpoint pen!

So, get ready to discover lots of things about geometric shapes.  Let's start by READING TRAFFIC SIGNS.  Long before you can read the words on a sign, you can often tell what signs are going to say just by looking at their shapes.  Please look for signs that are shapes.  Try to determine if the are WARNING shapes, YIELD (or give way) shapes, CROSSING shapes, or REGULATION shapes.  Please make a list and draw the shapes and be able to describe what the signs mean.  HAVE FUN!!  Write about your findings and send to school.  Please use complete sentences with correct punctuation, capital letters and spacing.

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY. MARCH 11

We will be having a grading day this coming Friday so the students will not be having school.  Thank you so much!  Have a great, long weekend.

SPELLING

I know that some of you may be continuing to wonder why I choose the words I do for their weekly spelling list.  I go through their writing for the week and take a look at their writing pieces and if I continue to see words that are misspelled in their daily writing, then I will list it again on the list to study.  I am working on giving the kids a variety of tools to apply their spelling words in order for them to make sense in context to a sentence with the hopes that they will make the transfer to their personal writing. I'm not discouraged.  I'm quite encouraged at the growth your child is making here at school.  Be looking for spelling homework to come home in the Friday Folders on March 4.

http://www.spellingcity.com/ 
Sign In:  B11Carey
Password:  kxgghyb8

DIRT!

Our class will be making dirt AND we will need your help!   Please send peelings from carrots, potatoes, flower blossoms, leaves, and yes,  WORMS to help our dirt begin composting.  We will be doing this for two months and end in early May with planting flowers in the dirt we created.  Hopefully the ground will soften a bit so the kids can start hunting for worms to share with our compost bin.  Thank you and happy digging and collecting!  There's just nothing like digging in the dirt!

BIRDS IN WINTER

If any of you have books about birds in winter and would be willing to let us borrow them next week, we would love it!  Our writing will celebrate birds in late winter and the coming of spring.

Music Program Change

As you know, we have changed the first grade program to Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 pm.  Please have your child here in our classroom at 6:40 pm that night.  You won't be disappointed!!

Book Character Day - March 2

Wednesday, March 2 is Book Character Day at Lee Elementary. We'll have a great time that day becoming a favorite character from a favorite story.

Classroom Need

We are in need of a rug to go in our classroom.  I am thinking of a 4 x 6 rug with a kid theme that you are through with using at your home.  It could be 5 x 7 and work great as well.  We have a cold floor spot that I plan on having the kids use for a word work spot.  Thank you so much!!

Homework packets/books

I am very happy with the response to the homework packets that are sent home each day.  Most of the children are returning them promptly the next day and we are able to give your child a new reading assignment or new book to take home to read. 

Your involvement is making a HUGE difference.  Sitting down and reading with your child is sparking a wonderful delight and importance to the value of reading.  There truly is nothing like getting lost in a good book!  Thank you so much for your effort in helping your child be successful!!

100's DAY ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

It's the day we've been waiting for!!  We'll be celebrating our 100th day of school on Tuesday.  Yes, there still will be more schooling after that day. (It's funny that the kids think this is our last day!)

Please send a ziploc bag filled with a collection of 100 things.

Plural Words

We are also noticing what happens to words in order to make them plural (more than one).  For homework, please have your child find words from books at home and make them plural:  One cap, two caps.

Note:  words that end in s, sh, ch, x, or z you add an "es".  Some words that end in y like "bunny" you change the y to "i" and add "es". 

Isn't our language a challenge!!  Good luck and explore words together!

Fact Families

All this week we have been building Fact Family Houses.  Ask your child what a Fact Family House is and have him/her make some on scratch paper or a white board.  Do not go higher than 20 for a challenge but for most up to 15 is great. The concept is simple.  The family lives under one roof and switches spots at the dinner table.  The same family lives together.  Have your child make some Fact Family Houses on scratch paper and turn in for homework credit.
For example:  5 + 6 = 11; 6 + 5 = 11; 11 - 5 = 6; 11 - 6 = 5.  I used boxes for missing numbers and let the children figure out what numbers were missing and had them fill in the blank.
Have fun!

Spelling Words

The spelling list continues to be posted on spellingcity.com.  Please refer to the website for the latest list.
Reminder:  spellingcity.com
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Password:  kxgghyb8

Early Spring Homework

I'm beginning to notice new signs that spring is peeking it's sleepy head out from under winter's blanket.  When you child notices these things ( like flowers poking up through the soil, plum trees blossoming, shrubs beginning to burst into color) have your child write down what he/she sees.  This is a great opportunity to make homework real and meaningful.

100's Day

It will soon be the 100th day of school.  We will celebrate by having you bring a collection of 100 things to school in a ziploc bag that we can count on Tuesday, February 22.  Thank you for your participation in this very fun day!

VALENTINE'S DAY

Our class will be having a Valentine's part at school the last hour beginning at 2:00 pm on Monday, February 14.  If you would be willing to bring a treat and come in to help on that day I would welcome your participation.  In the meantime, start early in filling out the Valentine cards for each student.

Names:  Addison, Cadence, Colin, Connor, Dallon, Elise, Emma, Josh, Justin, Kaden, Kaitlyn, Kameron, Leah, Logan, Makaelyn, Matthew, Olivia, Tanner, Trevor, Tristin, Toby, Victoria

Book Mobile Visit

I need two parent volunteers to help with the Book Mobile that will be at Lee next week, February 9 from 1-2:30.  Please email me as soon as you can if you are able to come and help.  The kids really like this event and I truly appreciate your help.

BASKETBALL WEEKENDS

If your child is playing basketball games, please send me his/her schedule and I will do my best to try and make some games this season.  I absolutely love watching basketball and would love to come to see and support your child.  My son is playing tournaments on the weekends and I will do my best to make all the games of my students as well.

Homophones

Thank you to all of you who sent homophone homework back to school.  The response was great!  We are going to be compiling a class book of homophones so if you come up with more, please sent them to school with your child.  For those of you who need a reminder of what a homophone is, its words that sound the same and have different meanings AND are spelled differently.  Example:  four, for; won, one; past, passed.  Have fun!

Library Cards

Our Media Specialist, Mrs. Costa has the opportunity to get library cards for students.  This form was a blue, half sheet attached to a while Salem Library form.  If you still have the sheet and want your child to have a library card the forms need to be sent back by Monday, January 24.  Mrs. Costa will be mailing them to the library in order for them to receive the applications by Tuesday.  This is sure a painless way to obtain a library card!  Thank you to those of you who have already sent them back!

Biographies

Those biography papers didn't make it home last week and we'll give it another try this week.  Your job is to help make a poster of the person.  Their writing will be done at school.  Thank you once again for helping with your child's poster of his/her person of interest.  The only requirement is that the drawing, cut outs or photos fit nicely on the poster and is displayed in an eye-pleasing manner.  In other words, your child should LOVE IT!  Thanks again, parents!!

Spelling City

This week you may be wondering why there are such simple words on the spelling list.  These words are taken from the kids actual writing and, like research indicates, are high frequency words.  It is these words that continue to be bugs in the kids daily writing.  They may ace the words on the test, but the spelling doesn't carry over to their own, personal narrative writing. So, here we are back with familiar words that may seem simple but are necessary to ingrain in their little minds to where they are automatic in their daily writing.  Happy Spelling!!

Biographies

It's now the season to begin our study of famous people.  Here at school, your child will be researching someone famous and writing a report about why the person is well known.  We will be doing the research and writing at school and I will send home a copy of your child's work to practice reading fluently for the oral presentation.  Your child will also create a poster at home to accompany his/her presentation.  I recognize that your time is precious with your child and the time you spend helping to create a visual makes learning important and meaningful.  Thank you in advance for your participation in the poster.  I will send them home the week of January 18.

Homework for January - Do one item a night and it's OK to repeat!!

During our study of penguins, you can reinforce many things at home......

Measure your child's height and record it on a piece of paper.

Compare two different things in the news.  For example, compare humpback whales to orca whales.
Compare different ski resorts snow levels. Compare and contrast the difference between a trip to the beach and a trip to the mountains. etc..

Weigh different items in your house and record your answers.

Practice counting backwards from 50.

Practice subtraction exercises from numbers 1-20.

Pretend to go on a trip or think of one that you have taken.  Chart your course on a map and write where you traveled.

Make a list of different temperatures that are in different parts of Oregon or the world.  (Here at school we are comparing the ocean temperatures around the world. We are also talking about the different daytime temperatures we been experiencing lately.)

Practice 'counting-on' from 10.  For example, add 10 + 5 by beginning with the number 10 in your head and 'counting-on' from 10.

Make a list of addition problems adding 10 and subtracting 10 and making note of the patterning that takes place.  19 - 10 = 9 (subtracting the ten from the numeral leaves 9)

Practice doing a lot of adding and subtracting using flash cards.  Use tokens or manipulatives if your child needs the items to count.

Go on Worldbook Kids to research penguins and get to know other species.
Log In:  salkeiz   Password:  media 

Cut out a picture of a magazine of an animal, place or interesting thing.  Write out as much information that you can learn about the

Homework for January - Do one item a night and it's OK to repeat!!

During our study of penguins, you can reinforce many things at home......

Measure your child's height and record it on a piece of paper.

Compare two different things in the news.  For example, compare humpback whales to orca whales.
Compare different ski resorts snow levels. Compare and contrast the difference between a trip to the beach and a trip to the mountains. etc..

Weigh different items in your house and record your answers.

Practice counting backwards from 50.

Practice subtraction exercises from numbers 1-20.

Pretend to go on a trip or think of one that you have taken.  Chart your course on a map and write where you traveled.

Make a list of different temperatures that are in different parts of Oregon or the world.  (Here at school we are comparing the ocean temperatures around the world. We are also talking about the different daytime temperatures we been experiencing lately.)

Practice 'counting-on' from 10.  For example, add 10 + 5 by beginning with the number 10 in your head and 'counting-on' from 10.

Make a list of addition problems adding 10 and subtracting 10 and making note of the patterning that takes place.  19 - 10 = 9 (subtracting the ten from the numeral leaves 9)

Practice doing a lot of adding and subtracting using flash cards.  Use tokens or manipulatives if your child needs the items to count.

Go on Worldbook Kids to research penguins and get to know other species.  www.seaworld.org is another great resource.

Cut out a picture of a magazine of an animal, place or interesting thing.  Write out as much information that you can learn about the animal.  Compare it with another animal that is a favorite.

Find out what can live in Antarctica.  Make a list. (Don't forget a heading)

PRACTICE PERFECT PENMANSHIP - Make a habit of doing a simple sentence written perfectly without floaties, using capitals (accept when appropriate) and include finger spacing and punctuation.
Write on lined paper things like your address or what you like about school. : )

Here We Go To Antarctica!!

Our class is going to do a two to three weeks studying penguins.  Our study involves mathematical concepts including measuring, weighing, addition and subtraction, counting backwards and counting on from 10.  Please refer to the homework section for more details.  Ask your child about their new Penguin Folders and be ready to learn a few things about different species of penguins.  I know I'll learn more than I did last year!

My Apologies!

I've been a bit slow in posting this weeks spelling and other topics we are studying. Thank you to all of you dedicated parents for keeping up with what is important.  Spelling City is up and ready for practice with our current spelling words.

Remember the sign-in is:  B11Carey
Password:  kxgghyb8

Happy New Year To Our Class Family!

It is so wonderful to be back with your child this week.  It is wonderful to hear about their holiday fun and the memories that are imprinting on their hearts!  Nice job, parents for making the winter break so special!

This week we are getting used to the routine again and we had to say goodbye to our class family member, Madison on December 17.  We will miss her bright and sunny disposition a great deal!

We have a new class family member this week nmes Kameron and he comes from Mary Eyre Elementary School here in Salem.  Welcome Kameron and his family to B-11.  We are delighted to have him.