Week of 3/21

Last week was an exciting week, full of creativity, leprechauns, STEAM, and rainbows! This week, we will have more STEAM-focused activities, with another trip to the Makerspace, and some STEAM activities during classroom centers. We also have the Be Seen & Heard assembly on Thursday and Spring Picture Day on Friday. 

Language Arts
This week, we will be looking at words with the "Bossy R" or "R-controlled vowels." We will be studying both ar and or. Words such as form, farm, hard, and corn have that sound. Our sight word this week, are, also has an r-controlled vowel. 

Math 

We began our subtraction unit last week.This is often a harder math concept for children and could use additional reinforcement. Parent tips for this module can be found here.

 

STEAM 

We will return to the Makerspace again this week to use a building tool called the Rigamajig In years past, this has been a very popular activity, as children can create large projects with this tool. Thank you to Emily, Deanna, Agnieszka, and Tiffany for their help on Wednesday. We will repeat this activity again in the MS next Wednesday the 30th. If you're interested in helping, I just opened those slots on the Sign-Up Genius. Just a reminder that you need to be on the pre-approved list to help at any of our class activities. Please contact me if you still need to be added to that list.

In class, we will also be doing a few STEAM activities. Some, we have introduced already. We introduced a new coding app on the iPad last week called Codespark Academy. We will continue using this coding app. We will also use another coding tool in class this week called the Bee-Bot. Additionally, we are excited to introduce using Osmo in class this week.  

Kimochis
This week, your child learned about feeling mad and the Kimochis® kotowaza—or Japanese proverb—that accompanies this emotion: “It’s okay to be mad, but it is not okay to be mean.” This kotowaza validates that it is acceptable to have angry or mad feelings (all humans experience them); however, it is not okay for anyone to express those feelings by being mean or unkind to others. We all know how easy it is to use our eyes, face, voice, body language, words, and actions to express anger. Your child learned a communication tool to express mad feelings in an effective way—namely, to use a Serious Face and Voice to help send a message that is strong and clear, but not hurtful. Your child will need guidance and patience to remember how to use these newfound tools when expressing intense feelings 

**Children should return library books by Tuesday, so they can check out a new book on Wednesday (some children returned them last week).

**We have P.E. every Monday. Please send your children in shoes & clothes appropriate for fitness

**Grasshopper t-shirt day/AV Spirit Day is every Wednesday.

Helpers & Activities This Week
Monday: COVID testing in the cafeteria, PE with Mr. Field
Tuesday: Return library books, Centers (Kassie & Ryan)
Wednesday: Grasshopper t-shirt day, Library time, Rigamajig in the MS, 9:45-10:30 (Emily, Deanna, Tiffany, Agnieszka), PAWS assembly
Thursday: Centers (Kim & Valeria)
Friday: Centers (Alexis & Van) 

Upcoming Events 

Wednesday, 3/23: Rigamajig in the Makerspace

Thursday, 3/24: Be Seen & Heard Assembly (Zoom)

Friday, 3/25: Spring Picture Day

Wednesday, 3/30: More Rigamajig in Makerspace

Friday, 4/1: Spring Fling

4/4-4/8: Spring Break