March definitely came in like a lion....which is leaving us with a soggy month.  The kids need to have all their snow gear but it is getting quite wet.  An extra pair of socks in their backpack is a good idea.  No matter where they go there are endless possibilities of getting soaked.

We have just finished learning about American symbols.  The kids chose which symbol they wanted to research and I set up some on-line sites for them to use.  They shared out with the rest of the groups and made some fun projects to report out what they learned.  We are now focusing on "Where we Live" and "Maps".

We normally start our "Rocks" science unit but have decided to wait until the end of March in hopes that the kids can actually find rocks outside.  

I am very excited to share reading and writing progress with you at conferences.  They are becoming so independent!

I will also be sharing the 5 Math tests we have taken during the past semester.  We have been working on fact fluency and facts up through 20 more then ever.  If you are looking for a car ride activity have your child count by 10s going backward and forward starting at random numbers.  This works for counting by 2's and 5's also.  Skip counting forward starting at the beginning is easy...challenge them to start anywhere up through 120.

I have had many inquire about the zoo.  Letters will be coming in April.
See you next week at Conferences!
Mrs. Heinitz

February

February is a short month but busy as usual!  

We are wrapping up our Water Unit with a fun Field Trip to Lakeside Lab.  Our class is going Feb. 19th at 12:15.  We get to explore the solid ice and see that the lake doesn't freeze all the way down.  We also get to see all the microscopic critters that live under the ice in Winter and Summer.

We have been looking at the 7 Continents along with Landforms and Forms of Water.  We decided to focus on "Mountains" since it is what we are least familiar with in Iowa.  The kids have come up with their own questions and we are having fun with all sorts of research to find out the answers!

Math is focused on Fact Fluency, Graphs, 3D shapes and continued use of strategies.

It has been wonderful the way the kids have improved on their reading!!  We read as much as we can all day long and are starting to incorporate many more comprehension lessons.  I have been reading lots of Fractured Fairytales and they love them!

We will have a Valentine's Day party on the 14th at 1:30.  I e-mailed instructions to do cards at home along with a class list.  If you need that again let me know!

Mrs. Heinitz