Week of 4/25

Last Friday, I took the class through the Art Vista Show in the cafeteria. There were so many wonderful projects on display, and it was so great to have the Art Show back! I hope many of you were able to enjoy the Art Show & the STEAM Fair on Saturday. Thank you to Agnieszka & Tiffany for their work as Art Vista docents this year. 

Language Arts
This week, we will focus on the dipthong ow, which has two sounds. It has a long sound like in show, throw, and blow, and can also make another sound like in how, cow, and owl. Our sight word this week is yes.  

We are beginning our butterfly unit this week. This week's book focus is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We will read many stories in the upcoming weeks, both fiction and non-fiction, about butterflies. We will also have some caterpillars in our classroom soon that we will watch transform into butterflies! 

Math 

We are beginning to review all the concepts we've learned this year, with a focus on addition & subtraction fluency.

 

Mother's Day

A reminder again to all our moms that we will be having a Mother's Day celebration in class on Friday, May 6th at 1:00. We will have a short presentation that includes songs, poems, and a mini play. We hope you can all join us!

STEAM
This Wednesday, we will head to the Makerspace again to make Lego mazes for Hexbugs. Children will create a maze for the Hexbugs to navigate through. We will be in the Makerspace from 9:45 to 10:30. I could use a couple of helpers for this activity. If you are available, please email me. Since there is a short turnaround on this activity, you would already need to be on the pre-approved list of helpers.  

Book Fair
Beginning Tuesday, and running through Friday, the Book Fair is open in the Alta Vista Cafeteria. Unfortunately, the after school hours are after grades 1-5 get out except on Wednesday. If you'd like to take your child to the Book Fair, Wednesday is probably your best bet. There are many great selections of the newest children's books at competitive prices. Check it out!

Kimochis 

This week, your child learned about frustration and the Kimochis® kotowaza—or Japanese proverb—that accompanies this feeling: “Bounce back.” This kotowaza inspires and encourages children to be resilient when faced with frustration. Frustration is the tense, unhappy feeling that results when you can’t do something you should be able to do or want to do. Outbursts that look like anger can be triggered by frustration because young children do not have the language to express their frustrated feelings. It is important for children to persevere with tasks to completion. However, they also need to learn that they can ask for help when they have tried to alleviate frustration on their own, and they do not make progress. Your child learned the following four steps as a way to help work through frustration: 1. Stop and take a breath. 2. Say, “I’m frustrated.” 3. Take a breath and try again. 4. Ask for help if they need it.

**Children should return library books by Tuesday, so they can check out a new book on Wednesday

**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 & Shaneil)
Wednesday: Grasshopper t-shirt day, Makerspace 9:45-10:30, PAWS assembly
Thursday: Centers (Ryan & Matthew)
Friday: Centers (Carlene & Virginia)

Upcoming Events
4/26-4/29: Book Fair in the Cafeteria
Wednesday, 4/27: Trip to the Makerspace
Friday, 5/6: Mother's Day Celebration @ 1:00
Friday, 5/6: Multicultural Fair
Wednesday, 5/18: Open House