Good afternoon to everyone!

Going to try to be brief, but so much to share!  I updated the important dates (to the right) for the end of December and January.  It is getting very cold, so please make sure your child has snow pants and snow boots at school now.  Starting December 1, they should just be here in case it is cold or snowy or wet outside.  Please also make sure your child has good warm mittens and a hat or headband.  We do go out every single day in winter unless the windchill is below 0 degrees.

In reading, we read a non-fiction story last week called I Am a Butterfly. The children loved this one since they studied butterflies in SK - there was lots of background knowledge to connect to.  This week we are reading a fiction story called Did You See Chip?  It's about a little pet dog that runs away and gets lost.  He does come back in the end.  Our spelling sound this week is /ar/ as in car - this can be tricky for kids - the vowels are not going to be so straight forward as we continue with our reading and spelling lessons.  We started writing a piece about our favorite memories of 2012 and our resolutions or hopes for 2013.  We should finish those up this week.  Starting in January, you will no longer be recording the kids' reading at home on the regular reading sheet.  We will be having a Reading Adventure.  The kids will bring home coupons, and for each 15 minute reading time, they earn a coupon from you.  You need to sign it and send it back to school with your child.  They will need to earn a certain number of coupons to be invited to our special celebration at the end.  There will be 30 school days during the weeks we do the adventure, and we are asking the children to earn 24 coupons, so it's very doable.  Coupons will come home in your child's folder at the beginning of January.

In math, we are finishing unit 4 this week, and we will begin unit 5 when we return in January.  We will be taking the Unit 4 test this week.  PLEASE look for your child's blue math test from Unit 3 (which came home in the Friday Folder last week) sign it, and return it to school.  About half of the children brought their signed tests back today.  Remember that if a math game bag comes home at the beginning of the week with your child, it must come back at the end of the week (Friday - Monday at the latest).

In Science, we have been talking about our shadows and why they change throughout the seasons.  Last week, we predicted what the length of our shadows would be then actually went outside to measure.  We were WAY off!  It was interesting to talk with the children about why that might be.  We also talked about the sun and how sometimes the sun is out and it's cold!  We also will be analyzing November's weather and temperatures in our science notebook.

In social studies, we have focused on Japanese food and are now looking at homes and language.  This afternoon we have 2 fun special events!  Mrs. Wis from PK (whose grandmother is Japanese), is doing a sushi demonstration for us.  We will all get to taste some sushi at the end!  Also, Cameron's mother and grandmother are coming to do a flower arranging demonstration.  The kids will also get do some arranging themselves!  We are so lucky to have adults around who are willing to share their interets and talents with us!  This Wednesday will also be our Tea Party - lots of people are sending in items to help us experience this tradition.  Feel free to bring things in on Wednesday morning, and we will probably put them on the counter until the afternoon (or fridge or wherever they need to be).  The children are encouraged to wear a kimono, bathrobe, or long shirt if they would like that day.  These will be kept in the children's school bags until the tea party and then they can put them on over their uniform clothing.

Lots of friends forgot to bring Friday folders or Book Bags back today.  Try to make sure those get returned tomorrow so I can have them ready for the end of the week.

Thanks much and have a great day!