April 19, 2010
Newsletter
Parent Open House
Please join us this Friday, April 23, as the children become space experts and tell you about their topic of choice. The students will present their projects beginning at 2:30 and lasting until 3:00. Come join us in our classroom to see the wonderful projects the children have created.
Spelling
First grade is looking at words with the –ai and –ay letter pattern. Second grade will be working on words that have the –aw and –au letter pattern. The bonus words for this week are: feet, pitch, perimeter, ruler, and homophones
Reading
This week first grade and second grade are reading fiction stories. At-home reading will also be fiction stories. This homework will begin to come home on Tuesday.
Writing
Students will begin writing about their favorite object in their house. The students will complete a draft, edit with a peer, and produce a final draft. The students will be encouraged to describe their object using as much detail as possible.
Math
This week we will focus on measurements with the metric system. First grade will begin with centimeters and then move into area, weight (grams and kilograms). Second grade will begin with centimeters and meters before moving into area, weight (grams and kilograms).
Science
We will continue our science unit on sound. We will conduct experiments to hear and see how sound travels through objects. We will use nails to observe how the size of the object effects the sound produced. Finally, the students will use rulers to observe frequency of a sound.
Character Counts
On Tuesday, Laura Jones is coming to talk to the class about Trustworthiness. The students will be receiving Trustworthiness "tickets" for you to fill out at home. Please take time to encourage your child to practice this character trait by filling in the "tickets" and returning them to school for us to post on our Trustworthiness board.
Art Mom
On Wednesday, Chris Merkle will be coming to our room to discuss another famous artist. Please ask your child about the presentation and the special characteristics of this artist's work.
Nature Lady
Today the students had a Nature Lady presentation about Turtles. Ask your children questions about turtles. They learned many fascinating details about the life of turtles!
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Scholastic Online Ordering Information:
Dear Parent,
I have exciting news. You can now place your Scholastic Book Clubs orders online!
Browse all the great monthly Book Club selections at low prices and order online. Plus, our class earns a FREE Book every time a parent orders online.
Here's how it works:
To get started, go to the Web address below and enter our class’s personalized user name and password in the sign-in fields on the right side of the page. Note: You do not need to create your own user name and password.
User Name: sztelle
Password: bookorders
Ordering online is the most convenient way to use Scholastic Book Clubs. You can order anytime, right up until the online order due date. You'll also get instant access to over 500 additional titles plus online-only specials and discounts.
And don't forget: Every time a parent places an order online, we earn a FREE book for our classroom library!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
KATHY SZTELLE
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Basic Classroom Information
August 2009
Dear Families,
Welcome to our classroom! We are so happy to start the new school year with 23 happy faces. On the back of this letter you will find the names of the children in our class. This may help in arranging play dates! (This is not available online, if you need another copy please contact me!)
I encourage you to send a HEALTHY snack and water bottle with your child each day. North Barrington encourages snacks with no processed sugar or artificial colors. We will once again stick strictly to the healthy snack rule! The children will be allowed to eat their snack each morning as they work at their seats and they may keep the water bottles on their table all day to get a drink as needed.
Our year will begin with getting to know each other and developing our classroom community. Our second graders also requested we study dinosaurs to start our school year. We will touch on all the subjects during the first week of school; however we will only begin sending home reading and spelling homework during the second week of school.
Our specials schedule is as follows-
Monday: Library and Gym
Tuesday: Music and Gym
Wednesday: Music and Gym
Thursday: Art and Gym
Friday: Library and Gym
Please send your child with gym shoes that can be left in his or her locker. The children will also need an art smock for art class.
This will be an exciting year! Please phone or email me with any concerns or questions you may have. Also, check our website each week to find classroom information (http://www.barrington220.org/north/teachers/Brady/index.htm). We will have many volunteer opportunities which we will arrange during back-to-school-night which will be on Tuesday, September 1st, 7:00-8:15! We hope to see you then.
Sincerely,
Kathy Sztelle
(847) 381-4340
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Book Report Project Example for a topic such as: Friendship (book reports will begin in September)
Friendship
by
Name
(children should just draw a picture, I used this just as an illustration)
In the book, Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend, Henry and Mudge show friendship when they spend the weekend together building a castle in the basement and enjoying each other’s company. Henry also shows friendship towards his parents when they all laugh and play together during the long rainy weekend.