News From Our Classroom

       I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to wish you a Happy Mother's Day in this newsletter last week.  I forgot because I did my newsletter early, and this newsletter is a day late.  Well, a late Happy Mother's Day !!! I hope your family spoiled you rotten!  ;)
       So, what have we been up to this week?  Have you seen the new bulletin board we made?  Each child made a composite picture using pattern block shapes, and then wrote a story to go along with the picture.  These works of art have filled up a little more than half the board, and the tangram animals pictures  (and their subsequent stories) will  fill up the second half of the board when we complete them this coming week.  The kids really did a nice job, so I hope you have a chance to take a look.  We've started learning about fractions this past week.  First, we learned that fractions involved things cut into EQUAL parts, or divided into EQUAL groups.   Right now, we are just learning what "half", "a third", "a fourth", and "a quarter" mean.  Mrs. DeCarolis has taught us that the line that separates the top number (the numerator) from the bottom number (the denominator) means "out of".  So,   1/2  means 1 out of 2--one piece out of a whole cut into two, or  one group of things divided into two groups. We've also been practicing keeping the same denominator but changing the numerators to see how that changes the "look" of the fraction we see.  Sometimes, when we change the denominators and keep the same numerator, we notice that the larger the denominator, the smaller is our "piece of the pie" because the more cuts there are.  For the last day or two, we've been using playdough and shape cutters to practice partitioning shapes into halves, thirds, fourths, quarters, and eighths.  We discovered that cutting into "thirds" is tough.  Luckily, with playdough, we can just scrap our mistakes, mush it back into a ball, and try again.  What fun!  This coming week, we are going to learn about linear measurement using inch and centimeter rulers.  We learned a little bit about symmetry on Friday afternoon, and we will review it again this coming week.
       The NWEA schedule is out.  Our Math test will take place Tuesday morning, May 23 beginning at 8:10, and lasting until 9:10.  This is your child's chance to show all he or she has learned in first grade in Math. The scores will be used to help place kids in like-groupings for Math next year.  Our Reading test is on Friday, May 26 at 9:10 am.  It will be one of two instruments used to help group kids for Reading next year. (The other one is the DRA your child will take in about two weeks.)  Please talk to your child about these tests.  In the past, we have tried to decrease the stress kids feel at test-taking time, and have downplayed the importance of these tests.  Unfortunately, many children saw this as an opportunity to rush through their tests, marking any old answer.  Their test scores reflect that attitude, too.  While I don't want to make anyone anxious about these exams, I do want to encourage everyone to TAKE THEIR TIME TO DO THEIR BEST.   If a child can say that he or she took time and really thought about each and every answer and TRIED to do their best, then I am happy.   But it kills me to stand behind them looking over their shoulder and see them answer three questions in a minute, and know that although they KNEW the material when we did it in class,  half the answers picked were not the correct ones.  If they are a good guesser, then they are likely to end up in a group that is too hard for them.  If they are a bad guesser, they will end up in a group that is boring because it is too easy for them.   This is their opportunity to show what they know.  The tests are best done 1) after a good night's sleep  2) after having a good breakfast  and 3) when kids take their time and really THINK about what is being asked.  The class has 60 minutes to complete each test, and if that is not enough time, individuals can "finish up" with another group.   The kids will hear me say,  several times before we actually take the test to TAKE THEIR TIME, AND TRY THEIR BEST.  That is all I want from them.  This is not a race, and being first one done is usually NOT a good thing.
       As you can see from work coming home, we have been continuing to talk about and work with Facts vs. Opinions.  Some kids "get" this concept, while others are continuing to try to grasp it.  We will do more of this work.  In addition, we have been learning about synonyms (words that are similar in meaning), antonyms (opposites), and homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings.  In Reading groups, nonfiction books will be finding their way home to be reread.  I know these are only paper copies (and not very good ones), but please return them to school as you would our regular readers so we can reuse them.  I must include sets of nonfiction books in my budget over the next two years, but until then, these copies are all I have.
       Homework, for all practical purposed,  will be ending the weekend of Memorial Day.  When we return after Memorial Day, I need to begin end-of-the-year assessments, so I won't be holding regularly scheduled reading groups.  One of these assessments is for Spelling, so it will end at this time, too.   The only homework that will still be coming home is work not completed during the regular school day.  It needs to be completed that night, and returned to school the next day.
       I want to remind you that Ms. Nadeau, the head of our cafeteria, asked me to let you know about a menu change for this coming school week.  On Tuesday, the cafeteria will be serving the roast pork meal.  The cheeseburger is being moved to Thursday.
       That's all for this week.  Have a good one!