Weekly Update

Hello Parents,

Be sure to ask your kiddo about our STEAM Expo, and check out the Pinebrook Twitter feed for photos of all the action (@PThiessen_LCPS)!  We visited the Dome Theater, explored Keva Planks, helped Jack get down from his beanstalk, and helped Hansel and Gretel find their way out of the forest.  Thank you to those of you able to help with the STEAM Expo, through both donating your time and donating supplies.  :)

Read Across America Week:

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2nd, we will celebrate Read Across America Week next week at school.  Each day has a special theme to celebrate both Dr. Seuss and the joy of reading:

• Monday:  Fox In Socks -- Wear Silly or Mismatched Socks
• Tuesday:  The Sleep Book -- Wear Pajamas or Comfy Clothes
• Wednesday:  Wacky Wednesday -- Wear Mismatched, Inside Out, or Backward Clothes
• Thursday:  Green Eggs and Ham -- Wear Green
• Friday:  The Cat in the Hat -- Wear Your Favorite Hat

Next Week's Homework:
I am making a slight change to next week's homework.  In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, I am asking your child to create a new cover for a favorite Dr. Seuss book. I will send a piece of white card stock home on Monday, which your child should use to create his/her cover.  The book title and Dr. Seuss's name should be visible on the cover. Covers are due no later than Friday, March 3rd.  Please note...All Pinebrook 1st graders are participating in this project, and the covers will be displayed in the school library during the month of March.  I need to ensure the covers are size appropriate since they will be sharing display space with covers from other classes, which is why it's important for your child to use the card stock I send home. More details will come home Monday. Please contact me with any questions.  

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will explore rhyme and author's message, as we celebrate Dr. Seuss and enjoy some of his classics.
• Writing:  We will explore character traits as we focus on editing our writing for mechanics, punctuation, and proper sight word spelling.
• Math:  We have several math things in our Catch Up Folders.  We will review concepts taught thus far -- such as geometry, place value, addition, subtraction, and fractions -- while we clear out and finish math work in our Catch Up Folders.
• Science:  We will talk about force and motion.  We will explore different paths of motion, ways things move, sound, and vibration.  

I'm not sure about the weather this weekend, but I hope you have something fun planned!  We are having friends over for pizza night!  Friends, food, and plenty of laughs...Hooray!

Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry for not posting Friday; I slept most of the day.  Today is the first day I feel somewhat normal, so I am checking in with a quick update...

No Written Homework for the Coming Week:
Because we are off on Monday, and we have the STEAM Expo all day Friday, we will only have 3 regular learning days in our classroom this week.  I will not introduce a new Sound of the Week.  I will not introduce new Words of the Week either, so there will be no written homework.  PLEASE READ!

It's Not Too Late to Volunteer for the Pinebrook STEAM Expo!

The STEAM Expo is Friday, February 24th!  We are still in great need of volunteers to help our day run smoothly.  Please come spend the day with us to see your child's creativity in action!  Don't be intimidated about volunteering ...we provide all directions, and all materials for each activity.  A teacher is present in each classroom at all times. Please volunteer by clicking HERE.   

Here's a little more information about volunteering at the Expo

• If you volunteer, you will be placed in your child's grade level.  If you have more than one child, you may volunteer and split your time between your children's grade levels.
• We need volunteers for both the morning and afternoon sessions...sign up for just one or both!
• The STEAM Expo is a school wide event...if the grade level for which you'd like to volunteer is full, please consider volunteering for another grade level in need!

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will talk about how good readers use their prior knowledge when they read.  Prior knowledge gives us a context for new learning and new information.
• Writing:  We will continue our informational writing about Presidents as we focus on editing for mechanics, punctuation, and proper sight word spelling.
• Math:  We will finish our Fractions unit.  We will practice identifying the fractions of a set and fractions of a whole.  
• Science:  We will finish our Matter unit.  We will experiment with a variety of liquids and solids to discover how various liquids mix, and whether various solids will dissolve in water.

Please tell the kids hello for me.  I miss them.  I don't like being away from them. 

A couple of items

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for this message...there were a few too many things for Remind...

1.  Tomorrow is Game and Blanket Day.  The kids filled our class marble jar, and chose to bring a game to school to play with a friend.  They may bring a board game or a card game tomorrow, and a blanket on which to sit while they play.  *NO electronics please.

2.  My Savey is sick.  My husband was home today, so I will be out tomorrow to be with him. (We decided Game and Blanket Day would be tomorrow before Savey got sick, so we will continue with our reward tomorrow.)

3.  Tomorrow is "Sunshine Day"...wear yellow and sunglasses.

4.  Please return any completed "Counselor's Kindness Challenge" forms by Friday.

Thank you!

Weekly Update: Full STEAM Ahead!

Hi Everyone!

Shrek was a huge success!  My cheeks hurt today from silly smiling all night.  Here is a photo of my Jonah dressed as Shrek.  About Jonah...Jonah is my "Aspie", which is to say he has Asperger's Syndrome.  (It's a mild form, which often means his Asperger Symptoms read as "quirks" to most people.)  He was diagnosed in 1st grade, and at the time, it was very difficult to process his diagnosis.  But now, I know his Asperger's is a blessing that allows Jonah to live with complete joy.  He thinks NOTHING of what people think of him...he dances like no one's watching and he sings like no one's listening.  Someday, I want to be like him.

Pinebrook STEAM Expo:
Thank you for the supply donations for our upcoming STEAM Expo!  The kids are excited, and us teachers are looking forward to Friday, February 24th!  We are still in great need of volunteers to help our day run smoothly.  Please come spend the day with us to see your child's creativity in action!  Don't be intimidated about volunteering ...we provide all directions, and all materials for each activity.  A teacher is present in each classroom at all times. Please volunteer by clicking HERE.   

Here's a little more information about volunteering at the Expo:

• If you volunteer, you will be placed in your child's grade level.  If you have more than one child, you may volunteer and split your time between your children's grade levels.
• We need volunteers for both the morning and afternoon sessions...sign up for just one or both!
• The STEAM Expo is a school wide event...if the grade level for which you'd like to volunteer is full, please consider volunteering for another grade level in need!

STEAM Expo - Calling All Crafty Kids:

As part of our STEAM Expo, each grade level will complete activities related to a particular theme.  Our 1st grade theme is Fairy Tales!  To help create a Fairy Tale atmosphere, each 1st grade classroom will decorate its door to reflect this theme.  We will work on this project at school, but for those kiddos who love a good art project...well, I invited the kids to work on this at home too!  Anything goes...a coloring book page of a favorite fairy tale character, a free form drawing, a cut out scene.  It's okay to use markers, crayons, colored pencils, glitter, stickers, and embellishments...just remember, the project has to be taped to our door, so nothing too heavy.  This is not a requirement; nor is it meant to be parent homework...just a little crafty project for those little ones who love to sit, draw, and create.

Valentine's Day Party:
One final reminder...our Valentine's Day party is Tuesday, February 14th from 12:45-2:15 pm in our classroom.  All families are welcome to attend.  I sent home a food permission slip in yesterday's Thursday folder; please kindly return it as soon as possible.  

Next Week is Spirit Week:
In celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Week, next week will be a Spirit Week. Here are the themes for each day:

• Monday:  We are a global community!  Wear blue and green to symbolize the colors of the globe.
• Tuesday:  It's Valentine's Day!  Wear hearts, pink, and/or red.
• Wednesday:  Superheroes show kindness!  Dress like a superhero.
• Thursday:  Spread sunshine!  Wear yellow clothing and sunglasses.
• Friday:  Show your Puma Pride!  Wear Pinebrook colors (maroon, navy, and gray) or Pinebrook spirit wear.

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will practice summarizing fiction stories as we enjoy some Valentine favorites.
• Writing:  We will learn about informational writing as we focus on editing for mechanics, punctuation, and proper sight word spelling.
• Math:  We will continue our Fractions unit.  We will practice identifying the fractions of a set and fractions of a whole.  
• Science:  We will begin our Matter unit. We will discuss the 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas).  We will experiment with a variety of liquids and solids to discover how various liquids mix, and whether various solids will dissolve in water.

The calendar is starting to fill as we move into the second half of the year...while I highlight many events in my update, please be sure to check the "Important Dates" section of this blog regularly for the most up-to-date dates and times for our school events.

Have a great weekend!  I'll see many of you on Tuesday at our Valentine's Day party.

Weekly Update

Hi Parents,

Thank you for supporting your child's efforts with our SOL Vocabulary Parade.  The kids proudly displayed their projects, clearly spoke their words, and enjoyed seeing each other's work.  I sincerely appreciate your letting your child independently complete the project.  "Perfectly imperfect" student work is always preferable to "perfectly perfect" parent work!  :) 

100th Day Celebration:
Looking at the forecast, I'm pretty confident we won't have a snow day on Monday, which means we will celebrate our 100th day of school on Tuesday, February 7th!  If you haven't yet returned your child's food permission slip for the 100th day, please kindly send it to school on Monday.

2nd Quarter Report Cards:
Your child will receive his/her 2nd quarter report card this Wednesday, February 8th.  I will put it in the front clear pocket of your child's homework folder.  Please review the report card.  Please detach the slip at the bottom of the last page, sign it, and return it with the report card envelope.  (I do reuse the envelopes.) 

Valentine's Day Party:

Mark your calendar...our classroom Valentine's Day party will be Tuesday, February 14th from 12:45-2:15 pm in our classroom.  All families are welcome to attend.  The kids will exchange Valentine cards at the party.  If your child brings Valentines, please be sure he/she has one for every student in the class.  If your child wants to attach a little "something" to his/her Valentine cards, please don't attach candy or food... little items like pencils, erasers, tattoos, stickers are fine.  Our Room Moms will be providing bags for your child's Valentine cards.  Please watch for more details and a food permission slip soon!

STEAM Expo:

The annual Pinebrook STEAM Expo will be held on Friday, February 24th during our regular school day.  This day is filled with tons of fun and engaging hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math exploration.  We need many volunteers to make the STEAM Expo a success, especially in the afternoon!  Come spend the day with us! Please volunteer by clicking HERE.

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will identify the main idea and supporting details of both fiction and non-fiction texts.
• Writing:  We will learn about opinion writing as we focus on editing for mechanics, punctuation, and proper sight word spelling.
• Math:  We will finish our Geometry unit and begin our Fractions unit.  We will discuss the concepts of equal and unequal, and learn about fractions of a whole and fractions of a set.
• Social Studies:  We will finish our Famous Americans unit, in which we discuss the lives and contributions of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington Carver, Benjamin Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
• ***Tuesday is ALL ABOUT THE 100th DAY!  :)***

Enjoy your weekend!  We are preparing for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to visit.  They are coming to watch my Jonah on Thursday...he is starring as Shrek in the 5th grade musical of the same name!  (I am just a teensy-weensy bit proud of him.)