Classroom News: February 27th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

Last week we continued working on our forest animal research and fiction animal stories. We are making good progress on these projects. During math, the first graders learned two new games, "Ten or Bust!" and "Count and Compare Coins." These games introduce and reinforce the skills of finding number combinations that add up to 10, counting sums of money to 25 cents, and comparing sums of money, as well as offer opportunities for students to develop strategies and practice facts. Second graders used their outdoor number lines to help solve subtraction problems. They also worked on plus ten, plus nine and minus 10 facts. On Thursday we spent the afternoon in The Backyard. We broke up our time in the garden into garden work and poetry writing. The students worked in small groups preparing the garden beds for spring planting. We cleared the leaves off the top, and mixed the soil and fertilizer together. Students found cozy spots to tuck in and write poetry, using the garden space for inspiration.
We will be working in the garden fairly regularly on Thursday afternoons, so please help your child dress so that he or she stays warm and dry while we are out.

As you know, we have two all day trips coming up in March! Both trips are on Wednesdays, to the Tillamook Forest. The first trip will be guided by the staff at the Forest Center on Wednesday, March 14th. The second trip, on Wednesday, March 21st, will be an exploration of the forest. We need several volunteers for each of these trips and we would love to have you join us! The Forest Center requires that we have at least four extra adults for each of these trips. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are available for either of these outings. These may be our last all day trips of the school year. We're looking forward to gardening and will spend many afternoons learning in the school garden.

This Friday is an All School Meeting day/Spirit Day. The theme for the day will be pajama day. Your child may dress up if he or she is interested.

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: February 21st

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

We have two big trips coming up in late March! Level one will be visiting the Tillamook Forest twice. The first all day trip is on Wednesday, March 14th and the second trip is the following Wednesday, March 21st. We will be leaving the school for both trips close to 9:00 and returning to school by 2:15. Would you like to join us? We will need 5-6 parent volunteers for each trip. Thank you families!

Last week we started out making Valentine holders for collecting cards. On Tuesday we had our Valentine party. The students exchanged cards, had some healthy snacks and played a Valentine dancing game. We continued to research forest animals. The students fiction stories are really coming along, and are about ready for publishing. In math, the first graders learned a couple of new games that teach and reinforce counting by 5's and 1's, coin value, regrouping by 5's and 25's, mental arithmetic - adding and comparing quantities to 25, addition facts, counting on and graphing. Second graders worked on subtraction and learned how to use a number line. Outside, students drew large number lines on the sidewalk with chalk and solved subtraction equations by jumping from number to number. The students really enjoyed and seemed to learn a lot from our Out & About to Diane's fiber studio, and Greg's organic farm (Wildberry Organic's - you can look for their stand at the Forest Grove Farmers' Market this spring). Diane showed the students a variety of animal fiber, and discussed how the different types of fur and hair an animal grows provide different protection against the elements. We got to see how she spins wool into yarn, and then the students got to spin a little yarn for themselves. Greg talked about how organic farmers use things in nature to control unwanted pests. The students got to harvest carrots, and try a winter vegetable soup. We ended the week with an All-School Meeting. The Barn Swallow class shared facts about Earth Worms, and the Kestrel class did a skit about the new Vermiculture Worm Bin that they will be setting up for the school, the Puffins entertained us with a song about all 50 states, and the Great Horned Owls taught us a dance.

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: February 13th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

We have two volunteers to join us on our two part trip to an organic farm and wool art workshop. We will need at least one more volunteer to make this trip a success. Would you like to join us? We would love to have you!

We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Tuesday. If your child brings Valentine's cards, please have them bring one for each student in the class (a class list was sent home on Thursday). You may send a healthy treat for the party if you would like to.

Last week we continued working on fiction writing. The students worked on adding interesting words and details. We worked on capturing the readers attention at the start of the story, and we began to talk about editing. The students are working on researching their forest animals. They are reading to find out what their animal eats, where and how it makes it's home, how it survives in winter and other interesting facts. We spent Thursday afternoon in "The Backyard" planting peas. We saw MANY worms! In math, first graders wrote and have been solving each others' crab and sea star story problems. They are very adept at showing how they solved a problem, and many of them can demonstrate multiple ways of solving a problem. Second graders worked on single digit subtraction. They played subtraction games in small groups and worked on subtraction flash cards with partners. Students also learned about measuring in inches and made three dimensional models of nest boxes for the classroom birds. (The nest boxes were 9 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and had a hole with a 3 inch diameter.) We have been checking in on our peas to see the growth that they've made. The students are recording this data in a plant journal.

Please remind your child to bring a coat to school each day. Some days start out clear and then change. We'd like for the children to be prepared to go outside no matter the weather. Many of you have already returned your child's report card envelope. If you have not, please keep the report, but sign and return the envelope. We will use them again to send out reports in June.

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Classroom News: February 6th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

On Thursday, February 16th we will be going on a 2-part Out & About to a fiber artist's studio and to the adjacent organic farm. The fiber artist will give us a demonstration of how she works. She will set up stations and the students will be able to try out different techniques. We will need parents available to help guide at each station after it is introduced and demonstrated. We will need 4-6 parent volunteers to be able to make this a successful experience for the students. If you are available to help with this, we would love to have you! Please email s.reuter@fgcschool.org and let me know.

Last week we read for information. The students looked for specific information in the read alouds that will help guide them as they begin their own animal research. The students were excited to begin writing fictional stories. We reviewed, beginning, middle and end; writing a beginning that hooks the reader, and using interesting words. We added more foliage to our forest mural. On Thursday we walked to Tom McCall Forest and the students imagined themselves as the animals that they have chosen to research. Staying in character, the students had to find shelter and food, and create a bed for themselves. Finally, with a partner, the students acted out a fictional story, with a problem and solution, that their animal characters starred in. The students did a great job staying in character.

We will be having a small friends celebration on February 14th. I will be sending home a class list that the students can use to write Valentine cards. Please do not include candy or sweets. Hand made cards are always a good practice for your first or second grader! If your child would like to bring a healthy snack for the party (on the 14th) they can.

Thank you families!

Sincerely,

Sherry