Classroom News: January 30th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Last week we finished our mid-year writing samples. It is amazing to see the progress that they've made as writers. We continued working on our forest mural. As we learned about the ways in which animals adapt to the winter weather, we experimented with fat as an insulator, used loupes to take a closer look at wool fibers, and tried to spin yarn with our hands. We began looking in books for information about forest animals, and each student is beginning to choose a forest animal to research. On Thursday we went to Theatre in the Grove to see Charlotte's Web. Hopefully, your child has shared some highlights from this experience. If not, please be sure to ask your child to tell you about it.
This Friday we have an All-School Meeting in the morning, which also meaning it is "Spirit Day." Your child can participate by dressing up like their favorite book character (remember no weapons, masks or scary costumes).

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: January 23th

Dear Families,

Last week turned out to be a very unusual week, with the holiday, late start, snow day, and a very wet zoo trip. It was definitely an adventure, and made for a short week together. We began the week talking about similes and metaphors, and finding examples of them in text. We reviewed the criteria for, "What makes an interesting personal narrative." On Thursday we headed off to the zoo. At the zoo, we took a class called, "Critter Coverings." We discovered how different body coverings help different creatures to survive. In the class we were introduced to a duck, a snake and a hedgehog. Each child was given the opportunity to pet each of these animals. We were able to visit the Pacific Northwest exhibit and saw wet eagles, beavers, otters, and a few other animals that were willing to come out! It was a wet day, but I think that everyone had a great time. We continued working on our forest mural. We finished the week making visits to our pea plants and recording observations in plant journals. It was a short week, but we managed to get a lot done!

Don't forget, this Friday there is no school, as the teachers will be working on report cards.

Thank you families!

Sherry

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

Classroom News: January 9th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Great news! Level 1 will be visiting Oregon Zoo on Thursday, January 19th to learn about how Oregon animals stay warm in the winter. We'll leave the school by 9:00 am and return at about 2:15. If you are interested in going please let me know. Our class will need at least 4-6 parent volunteers and we would love to have you join us!

I will be sending home envelopes for payments for the Charlotte's Web play today. The Barn Swallows are looking forward to going! Please remember that scholarships are available. Contact me with questions.

Last week we read a book about skunks to gather information. Students practiced gathering information and retelling facts in our own words and writing. Ask your child if he or she remembers any facts about skunks. I also had the chance to tell my own true skunk story, complete with photographs, captions, and a happy ending! On Thursday, we walked to Pacific University Library to view the Level 3 students Garden Art Exhibit. The students were very observant and shared many details that they noticed about the work. After viewing the artwork, we took advantage of being on campus. We identified Oregon Grape, Salal, and students even spotted Licorice Fern growing high in a tree! We observed spunky squirrels chasing each other around the trees and then, right after talking about the Acorn Woodpecker, it flew right over our heads! Students found branch debris on the lawn that had acorns tucked into woodpecker-made holes. It was like we were looking at the Acorn Woodpecker's pantry! As we were seeing how many students could hold hands and fit around the trunk of a sequoia tree (19), we realized that there was a raccoon 'bathroom' at the base of it. Apparently, raccoons use a tree many times as its scat location. We discussed how nature might have designed it that way to feed the soil, which would then feed the tree. Students found sprouting acorns, as well. We were able to take advantage of so many 'teachable moments' and students were making a lot of connections! On Friday we planted peas and started a journal to keep track of their growth. We used the calendar to predict when the peas would be ready to harvest and counted the seeds by groups of ten. We had more than 500 seeds! We will let you know when they germinate. We also planted one of the sprouting acorns. Students hope to plant the young oak in the school forest.

In math the first graders got to act out stories, and visualize subtraction problems, as they took on the role of hungry sharks. They also began learning coin names and values, as we played, "Who Has More Cents?" Second graders worked on addition problems that call for regrouping and worked on telling time in their new time packets. At home, you can make up and practice double and triple digit addition problems that call for regrouping. Telling the exact time on analog clocks is also great practice.

If you or someone you know is interested in sharing sewing, knitting, or crocheting skills with the class, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: January 3rd

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Happy New Year! We had a busy week before winter break. We were an audience at level three's science expose' and then interacted with level two at their Potlach project at the UCC. Students worked on retelling a story in their own words, which called for students to summarize pages from a non-fiction book read aloud about turtles. Students made snow people watercolor paintings and used salt to create a 'snow effect' in the wet paint. We ended the week with our publishing party, where students read aloud their narratives. During the afternoon the Barn Swallows were free to do a range of creating. Students made pins, sock puppets, chalk art, snowflakes, and many yarn creations.

In math, first graders made a sea star quilt. They looked for visual and number patterns, counted by fives, read numbers to 100, and described and extended patterns throughout this project. Second grade math students learned about how ones and tens 'regroup' when adding higher numbers. Students practiced addition story problems that call for regrouping. They continued to practice telling time to the exact minute, as well as reviewed the terms: half past, quarter to, and quarter after. Please have your second grade student continue to practice the addition flash cards that were sent home. Ask your child to explain the 'got it' pile and the 'not yet' pile. You can also make up double digit addition problems that call for regrouping and have your child practice at home. Telling time on analog clocks at home is also great practice!

On Thursday, January 26th, at ten o'clock, level 1 classes will be going to the Charlotte's Web play at Theatre in the Grove! Tickets are $5 per student. Please send your payment to the classroom (not the office) by Thursday, January 19th. If you are unable to pay, please let me know, as there are a few scholarships available. We are looking for one parent volunteer to join us. If you are interested, we would love to have you!

Home Bags will be coming home tomorrow!

Thank you families,

Sincerely,

Sherry