1. I gave out some misinformation about the Thanksgiving Day meal at
Kellogg. We do not have enough room for families to join us so I am sorry
that parents can't come to the meal.
2. Our supplies for the Writer's Briefcases are accumulating. Thank you to
all the families who have contributed support and supplies. The students
appear very excited about this creative writing activity for our class. They
are already coming to school with their ideas! Parents can sign-up during
conferences for the two week period that their child will have the briefcase
at home. I will have ideas and guidelines in the briefcases.
3. We have started putting out mixed seed cakes in the suet feeders outside
our classroom, and the winter birds immediately found these treats. Along with
the chickadees, goldfinches, and house finches that we have had visiting our
feeding station since September, we have blue jays, juncos, cardinals, and a
downy woodpecker. No birds have visited our window feeder as yet. I think
the chickadees will be the first brave ones. In February, we will be involved
with the Great Backyard Bird Count as a class. If you are interested in
being a "citizen scientist" you can check-out out the Great Backyard Bird
Count website on my links page. One final note, donations of birdseed are
always welcome!
4. Kellogg has a school-wide reading program to encourage students to read at
home 75 minutes a week. Most classes are completing monthly reading
calendars. At the end of the month, if students have completed the monthly
goal of reading at least 75 minutes a week, students will receive a reading
prize (similar the the Mileage Club feet). My class is involved in the same
program, except my class is handing in the reading logs weekly as I have
always done. I am keeping track of the students who are meeting or exceeding
their 75 minutes a week reading goal and handing in all of their reading
logs. These students will be receiving their reading prizes. Please involve
your child in reading at home. It is a lifelong gift.
5. We are working hard to keep a healthy classroom this year. With this in
mind, students can bring a small, personal bottle of hand sanitizer to school
to keep in their desks.
6. We have started our "Fast Facts" for addition. The facts that students
are expected to know with quick recall are: 2+1, 1+2, 3+1, 1+3, 4+1, 1+4,
1+1, 5+1, 1+5, 2+2, 6+1, 1+6, 3+3.
7. Subtraction "Fast Facts" are related facts to the addition facts. They
are in the same "Fact Family." The subtraction facts that the students
should know are: 3-1, 3-2, 4-1, 4-3, 5-1, 5-4, 2-1, 6-1, 6-5, 4-2, 7-1, 7-6,
6-3.
