February!!!  It is hard to believe!!!

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!! The biographies came in and everyone seemed so pleased with their report!!  They will be displayed in the hallway.  If your child needed their report to do their "film box", I have made a copy of their report for them-they should have it.

Homework for L.A. - due next Monday-February 8, 2010 - is the film box.  Your child has been painting their box-we will finish the painting today and they will take the box home tomorrow.  Today they will have the film strips to start their project.  You have the directions and we have gone over them many times in the classroom-they should know what to do.  We have painted the box, but the boxes should be further decorated with illustrations, scenes, prompts, etc. as your child wants.  At least nine film frames  should be completed.  They should be illustrated with a short phrase or word or date(s) to go along with the pictures.

Thanks for the snacks coming in-your children appreciate them.

*Just an early notice- I have planned a field trip to see a play "Henry and Mudge" April 28th-a Wednesday at Copernicus Center 5216 W. Lawrence.  Just to let you know ahead of time-mark your calendar, but I will send permission slip later-the cost is $12.00.  This covers the play and the bus.  Thanks.

Language Arts:  Besides the African American Project we will be reading stories each day about African Americans or stories that have been written by African Americans.  Last week, in writing, we practiced writing an introduction- 1.  Starting with a  "grabber" - an interesting sentence-, the second sentence actually answering the question being asked, and the third and fourth sentences giving 2 previews or generalizations of what the next two paragraphs will be.

Example:  How would you change the lunchroom.  Start with a grabber.  Then name two changes-say noise level and furniture (or food, or whatever).

This week we will write our first paragraph - our intro - then move on to the next two paragraph and give details about our two previews - say the noise (one paragraph, giving how we would improve the noise level) and the furniture (second paragraph giving detail about what we might change and how)  All week we will work on the two detail paragraphs using different prompts each day.

We are also working in our ISAT language arts book-at least three lessons this week.

I have asked your children to review with you

Homework:  Again, the "film strip" with box due next Monday.  I will again send three cursive worksheets today, due Friday.  I received many complaints from your children that they did not get any last week!!  Most of the kids seem to really want to practice.

Math:  Unit 6, lessons 1 through 4.  Look for the parent letter Unit 6 today.  In addition we will cover 3 or 4 ISAT lessons in math, grading and reviewing as we go along.

Homework each night, Monday through Thursday.