Classroom News: January 17th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

What a snowy day! We took advantage of the snow today and made vanilla ice cream. Ask your child how we made it. I was amazed that it really worked!

Thank you to those who have turned in money for the Charlotte's Web play. If you have not yet turned in the money for your child, please try to have it in by this Thursday, or let me know if you need a scholarship to cover the cost.

We now have enough volunteers to do our zoo trip! Parents are still welcome to join us even if they haven't signed up yet. It is always helpful to have smaller groups. We are hoping the weather will cooperate with us and will let you know if there are any changes to the schedule.

Last week we began making plants to go on our forest mural. The students worked on beautiful Oregon Grape pieces, and we began learning about the Douglas Fir tree. Ask your child about the story of the mice and the fir cone! On Thursday we walked to Tom McCall Forest where the students were detectives, looking for clues to solve..."The Mystery of Which Trees Are Growing in Tom McCall Forest." Students collected, examined and shared clues they found (various cones, branches, acorns, bark, helicopters, nuts and seeds), and we were able to identify several tree species growing at Tom McCall. Ask your child what trees live in the Tom McCall Forest!

During math first graders worked with money and adding teen numbers. They played "Who Has More Cents," to acquaint themselves with coin names and values, to count by 1's, 5's and 10's, and to compare quantities. First graders worked on addition of whole numbers, writing number sentences, exploring addition patterns and developing strategies through problems, investigations and games. Second grade math students reviewed place value, decomposing numbers (476=400+70+6), telling time, and addition problems that call for regrouping. All second grade students should be able to quickly answer all addition problem combinations of two numbers that equal sums of 10 and lower. Please have your second grader practice his or her flash cards that were sent home, as well as work on made-up addition problems that call for regrouping.

We finished the week reading about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and students wanted to make posters to continue sharing Dr. King's message. We had a silent march, holding the posters, as we walked through downtown Forest Grove and through the public library. Ask your child what his or her poster message was. I hope we continue to have a wintery week! If you haven't already yet heard the 'Winter' song sung by your child these last few days, ask him or her to teach it to you!

Home bags will come home as soon as our volunteer is able.

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry