What a busy week we had learning about dolphins and other toothed whales. We even learned about the freshwater river dolphin. Ask the students about how they are different from the ocean species. We also had a very special guest dissect sea urchins, and teach us about sea stars. A special thank-you to Mrs. Peck from the upper division and Mr. Schiaparelli for his assistance. We look forward to the other things Mrs. Peck has for us. This week we will be studying about sea turtles. Please help your child memorize their poems and speaking parts. They wrote down their speaking parts onto index cards and brought them home last week. If you do not have them, please ask your child to bring it home again. I sent the poems home a few weeks ago. I will be working on my final reading and math assessments over the next few weeks. We will also be writing All About Books in Writers workshop. I am using their research project, on ocean animals, as a springboard into this writing unit.
Don't forget to return your blue aquarium form if you plan on attending with your $7.00 check.
Have a great week.......WE WILL!

So many things are happening in 1-3. We are studying dolphins this week. The reading folders will be sent home on Thursday. A great big Thank-you to Mrs. Healy for helping us decorate our Earth Day cookies with blue and green frosting. We are researching non fiction texts for more information, and learning all about different kinds of whales. We are practicing daily, for our Commotion in the Ocean play. Please help your child memorize the poems sent home.
The whale blubber experiment was really fun. The students learned about the importance of whale blubber. They stuck their gloved hand in ice water, then put it in a tub of vegetable shortening, also in the ice water. The students learned how the blubber is used as insulation in the cold arctic waters, where whales live. The students also learned why the baleen whales have to migrate to warmer waters and back again to eat. The students also learned how differently whales move; logging, breaching, spyhopping, lobtailing.

Happy Monday! We are beginning our ocean unit today. This week we are concentrating on whales. We are learning how to research, and learn new material from our nonfiction reading. In reading workshop we have learned about special features of the nonfiction texts. What is a table of contents? Chapter titles? Glossary? and how these writing features can help us with our own writing in All About______ books. The students think it is great to skip pages and go directly to the information you need, without having to read the entire book from the beginning. This week our spelling focus has changed. They will need to memorize how to spell the words, in addition to reading them. There is a great whale site to check out this week www.zoomwhales.com.
Our last robust vocabulary is: seized, tiresome, tremendous, outrageous, patient, exhausted
At this point their word card words can also be their robust vocabulary as well.
We had a great week celebrating the arts and going to Ray Jay for the art tour. Please enjoy the pictures. Please check out ebytes for a great fundraiser the SADD club is doing. Water bottles in memory of Jeff Norton.

We are reading all of the time! I would like for you to talk with your child about your reading life! When do you read? What do you read? Where do you read? Why do you read? I also want the children to observe, and find other readers in our community. At stores, malls, salons, anywhere they see people reading. Hopefully, not while they are driving but rather waiting. Reading is lifelong, not just for school.
Robust vocab: wriggle, prickly, interested, assist, construct, cooperative
Our Celebrate the Arts performance is Friday, at 11:00a.m. by the flagpole. The students need to wear jean bottoms and sports t-shirts. We went and previewed the upper division art room this morning, lead by a student in Mr. Runge's art class.
In Math we are working on making change. The students buy an item, pay an amount pretty close to the cost of the item and figure out how much change they will get. We have been working this week with items that cost less than two dollars.
I am sending home a research computer project today. Please check your child's folder for the letter and project due next week. A white t-shirt will be due shortly, for our Commotion in the Ocean program.

Thank-you all for a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Day. Another busy week in 1-3! We have field day tomorrow. The students brought home a paper, with their team color listed, on Friday. Please have them wear that color, so they can be identified, to which team they are on. I am still looking for any parents who would like to volunteer next Tuesday for our field trip to Raymond James. This is an open invitation to all parents who would like to attend.
The Math Reference books will be coming home to use with Tuesday nights Math homework. Please return it to school on Wednesday. I have begun choosing a Neat Writer of the Day recognition award. Please encourage your child to practice neat letter strokes on their homework assignments. I am looking at a variety of pieces to choose from.
Robust Vocabulary: properly, familiar, arrived, numerous, anticipate, vibrant
Please double check your child's homework before they return it to school. I am only checking whether or not they have completed the assignment, not the accuracy. I have noticed rushed work, easy computation errors, and sloppy name writing. Please help me by looking over the assignment before it is returned to school. Have a great week.....Don't forget Celebrate the Arts is next week.