March 3-7

Hello March, where did you come from?!?!  Think Spring...it's got to warm up and some point, right?!?!?  :)


March 3-7

Word of the Week: Can

# of the Week: 26

Book: Carlos Joins the Team

Weekly: 

*Practice personal info/Edmark words 2-3 times a week.

* On early dismissal days, please send a snack (we still have a snack time)

* Library on Thursdays

Upcoming dates:

3/1/14: Casimir Pulaski Day: No School

3/12/14: 11:35 dismissal

3/14/14: 70's Disco Day

3/21/14: Hawaiian Day (Spring break kick off!)

3/24-3/30: Spring Break: classes resume on 3/31/14

4/8/14: 4th grade music program (this is the concert my students participate in)

I have started the students state testing.  My kids take the Illinois Alternative Assessment (IAA).  Please make sure the kids have a good breakfast, get plenty of sleep the night before, and come ready to rock and roll!

Big News!  We have a new class pet.  Gumball is our class fish.  She is a Guppy.  She had a rather interesting day today: as I was changing out her water, she jumped out of the small bowl I had her in.  She jumped out onto the counter, then to the floor.  I of course was freaking out, and ran down the hallway for help.  Help arrived and Grumball is back in her bowl and seems to be doing well.  If she can live through that, she's amazing!!! ;)

We scream for Fact Family Ice Cream!!!

The kids have been learning about Fact Families in math.  Today we made Fact Family ice cream bowls!  They were given 3 numbers and had to show the fact family (2 addition and 2 subtraction sentences).  They then created their delicious looking ice cream bowls.  I won't lie, it makes me REALLY want some ice cream tonight!  What a fun and yummy way to learn fact families! :)

Farewell Mrs. H!

February 21st was Mrs. H's last day at CCIS.  Mrs. H is retiring to watch her cutie pie grandson.  We all wish her well and look forward to Skyping and personal visits soon! :)

February 24-28

Word of the Week: Me

Letter of the Week: Z

# of the Week: 25

Book: Bonk's Loose Tooth

Weekly: 

*Practice personal info/Edmark words 2-3 times a week.

* On early dismissal days, please send a snack (we still have a snack time)

* Library on Thursdays

Upcoming dates:

2/28/14: Fav Sports Day

3/1/14: Casimir Pulaski Day: No School

3/12/14: 11:35 dismissal

3/14/14: 70's Disco Day

3/21/14: Hawaiian Day (Spring break kick off!)

3/24-3/30: Spring Break: classes resume on 3/31/14

4/8/14: 4th grade music program (this is the concert my students participate in)

February 17-21

Word of the Week: Not

Letter of the Week: Y

# of the Week: 24

Book: Going to the Dentist

Weekly: 

* Practice Edmark/personal info cards 2-3 times a week

* Give your child 2-3 weekly house chores: putting toys away, helping with laundry, putting dishes away, helping take out trash, etc.

* On early dismissal days, please send a snack (we still have a snack time)

Upcoming dates:

2/17/14: No school: President’s Day

2/19/14: Family Reading Night 6:00-7:30 @ ECC

2/23/14: Fine Arts Festival 1:00-4:00 @ CCHS 

Reminders: 

Library: Thursday mornings

More Alike Than Different

I saw this video at the conference I attended today, and I thought it was too awesome not to share.  It is about people with down syndrome, but I think it truly relates to all people with disabilities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cA3t1HW1Ow

Mobility

I have a friend with CP and she posted this video on Facebook and I wanted to share it with you.  How AMAZINGLY awesome is this?!?!  Enjoy! :)

http://www.nationswell.com/babiesdrivingracecars/

February 10-14

Word of the Week: Blue

Letter of the Week: X

# of the Week: 23

Book: Dogs at Work

Weekly: 

* Practice Edmark/personal info cards 2-3 times a week

* Give your child 2-3 weekly house chores: putting toys away, helping with laundry, putting dishes away, helping take out trash, etc.

* On early dismissal days, please send a snack (we still have a snack time)

* Students MUST have snow pants, snow boots, coat, gloves, and hat to play in the snow.

Upcoming dates:

2/11/14: Book Fair day (students can bring $ to buy)

2/13/14: 11:35 dismissal, Valentine's Day party, PT conf. 4:00-8:00

2/14/14: No school: PT conf. 9:00-1:00

2/17/14: No school: President’s Day

2/19/14: Family Reading Night, 6:00-7:30 @ ECC

Reminders: 

Library: Thursday mornings

Miss Vahle gone @ conference on 2/12/14

Chinese New Year

The students have been learning about Chinese New Year this past week.  We learned that 2014 is the Year of the Horse.  We learned that fireworks and the color red scare off bad luck.  Chinese New Year goes for 15 days, and ends with a parade and lantern launch.  

To celebrate Chinese New Year, the kids made their own lanterns.  Each student's lantern has a picture of a horse on it.  The kids had fun leaning about a different culture and making their lanterns.

100th Day

Tomorrow (2/4/14) is our 100th Day celebration and PJ day!!  The students have been working on a 100 book.  They also made ice cream cones while counting by 10's.

Another fun 100th day activity the kids made were 100 Gum balls for the 100th day.  There were 10 different colors of paint, and each student put 10 "gum balls" of each color on a paper plate to create a gum ball machine.

Wednesday, the students will be making 100th day trail mix with 10 different snack foods.