Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Mrs Eriksson's class email & phone list

Hello, It has come to our attention that a couple parents are interested in a class email and phone # list. This could come in handy for bday invites,play dates,carpools.. Mrs Eriksson provided me with a email list and over the next couple days we will be putting together a hard copy for everyone to take home.
If you would like to be on this list could you please email one of us back and include which emails you would like to be distributed as well as if you would like your phone # included. If you can include your childs name to match with email that would help as well.

Theresa Willy (Seth's mom) and myself Jenifer Jenkins (Kalebs mom) have signed up to be the room parent helpers.
Hopefully something like this list can help everyone out. I will be in the hall after school the next couple days with a list as well. Thanks :)

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Saturday June 5

I am always amazed at how fast the end of the year comes after spring break. I have so enjoyed working with your children. It is always so exciting to see their growth through out the year. From reading to read to reading to understand, from knowing their numbers to adding and subtracting with confidence. From writing a few words or sentences to writing wonderful stories full of imagination. Although it is sad for me to see them leave, I am confident they are going to do amazing work in second grade.

Storyline:
Culmination: Thursday, June 10 at 5:00. It will be in the classroom and then move to the gym.

Please make sure your children at there by 4:45.

We will be having a semi-dress rehearsal on Wednesday, June 9. If your child is a character, I would love it if you could send his or her costume to school on Tuesday or Wednesday. I will send it home on Wednesday.

For the culmination, please have your children come dressed in their costumes. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PLEASE WORK WITH YOUR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN SPEAK THEIR PARTS WITH CONFIDENCE AND WITH VOLUME! IF YOUR CHILD IS A CHARACTER, HE OR SHE NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR PARTS MEMORIZES. NARRATORS CAN READ THEIR PARTS OR MEMORIZE THEM.

Due to the impending decision about the cancellation of the last two days of school, our first grade team has decided to cancel the Carnival. We will not know what the end of the year is going to look like, which makes planning difficult. SO we are going to plan for school ending on June 15.

Volunteers:
I am still looking for people to help with the graduation headbands for the fifth grade. If you can come and join in on the fun, please do!

If you have a fun things to put on the headbands and would like to donate them to our class that would be wonderful!

If you have an extra paper or plastic bag (grocery size)that you can send to school, that would be wonderful. I am going to start sending things home and bags are always a good thing to have on hand.

Have a great weekend!
Becky

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Saturday, May 23

Storyline:
We are working on creating the song Gabriella sings on her adventures in Venice. The children have been working really hard on composing both the musical and instrumental components of the song. I am really excited about what they have done. I think you will be amazed at the end product.
As I have mentioned earlier, the children will be putting on a modified play/retelling of Gabriella's Song. Your children will be bringing home scripts later this week, hopefully by Wednesday. It will be very important that they practice reading their parts at home.

MATH:
Due to the fact that we are coming to the end of the school year as well as entering the "preparing for the culmination" stage of the year, I may be sending math journals home with the children as homework. So, if your child brings his or her math journal home, it may be for one of two reasons. He or she either did not get it done during the given class time or everyone is taking it home for the day. Please let me know if you have any concerns about this. I will not be sending home homelinks and math journals on the same night.

HOMEWORK:
Completing homework is expected. Not completing homework occasionally is fine. We all have those days and nights! However, not turning in any homework assignments for the week in not an exception, it is a pattern. As your child moves through school, homework will continue to be expected. Please help your children with this aspect of school, support them and give them the guidance that they need. Help them develop good habits now and life will be much easier later!

Some tips~
Check your child's homework folder nightly. (Some children have items in their folders from APRIL!!!)
Have your child share what he or she completed during the school day.
Sit down and complete the homework together.
Don't expect them to remember that they have homework. Set up a time each evening where everyone sits down and does work together. Adults can read, work on a crossword puzzle, complete projects for work or home, pay bills etc.


Have a happy Sunday!

Becky

Saturday, May 15, 2010

May 16, 2010

Storyline:
This past week we have been focusing on playing the instruments the kiddos brought in as well as instruments from the music room. We are working on creating the sounds of Venice. It has been fun to watch and listen to the children work.

As I mentioned earlier, the children will be putting on a "retelling" of Gabriella's Song, the book we are using as a base for our storyline. It is my goal to have the parts picked out by early next week (not this week). The children will have to practice their parts at home. Some will have speaking parts and some will be narrators.

We will want the children to "dress for the part". This will not involve anything extravagant. Hopefully, everything you need can be found in your home!

Spelling:
Each week your child brings home note cards with words on them. In the past, the children have been practicing reading the words. Starting two weeks ago, we began working on spelling. Every Friday, your child will have a spelling test on the words he or she brings home. Please be creative in helping your child learn his or her words. There is also a spelling program link on the left hand side of the page that some children are finding fun to use. The words that the children are getting are taken from their writing journals and from the first 100 and second 100 sightword list.

Great Gondola Race:
The children are making great progress in this event. The last day to turn in Gondola slips is Friday, June 11.

Scholastic Book Orders:
I will be ordering books on Monday, May 17. Please turn in any orders or order online.

I hope you have a great weekend.
Becky

Sunday, May 9, 2010

One more thing - check out the website on the left hand side. It is created by the San Francisco Symphony. It is a fun place for kids to explore the orchestra!

Becky
Check out the new links on the left hand side. They focus on Orchestras.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Saturday, May 8

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Storyline
There is a famous composer named Giuseppe Del Pietro who lives in Venice. He is very frustrated because he has been working for months trying to create a symphony that he must perform in a couple weeks at Piazza San Marco. He has worked and worked and has not been able to create the simplest tune. For the first time in his career, he could not create the simplest tune. Frustrated, he walked to his second story window, and like a miracle, the music found him. Gabrielle's song greeted him from down below. As he listened to her song, he became inspired to continue his work. Giuseppe still need help. That is were we come in. The children of Venice, along with Gabrielle will now help Giuseppe create a symphony for his concert. To prepare, we have been learning about the different elements of music which include: duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre (pronounced tambre),and texture. This week we will be working on pitch and structure. This week, we will also begin to work on the different instrumental families in an orchestra.

In the coming weeks, we will begin working on a modified play that tells the story of the book Gabriella's Song, which will be presented at our culmination. There will be musical parts as well as speaking parts. If your child ends up with a speaking part, they will have to memorize their lines (it won't be too much). The children will learn what parts they are playing by the end of this week or at the beginning of next week. I am playing around with how the culmination will look, we might actually have two plays (two groups doing the same play). We will see......

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Pam Bird, a local artist will be working with our children this week and one day next week. We will get a to work with Pam a total of six hours. Last year she worked with our first grade classes and the art they produced was amazing! They will be working with a variety of media. It should be a fun week!


I have heard a lot of positive feedback from the Gondola Race. The children are doing a great job. Remember, if the children's gondola sheets are not signed by a parent, I will not move them forward. If you feel your child is struggling, please let me know. I have some "alternative routes" available :)


Scholastic Book Orders are due Friday, May 14. If you want to order on line, go to the link I have posted on the left hand side of this page. If you would rather send a check to me that is fine as well. I will do one more book order before the end of the year.

Have a great weekend!
Becky