December+2

=__**DECEMBER 2**__= Thank you to Mr. Gilliland for taking the time to come and visit with our classes about being a lobbyist for the Iowa Business Association. He talked to our classes about what different types of lawyers do and how they help others. He also brought some goodies to share!

Don't forget to purchase the gift for the 3rd grade gift exchange! The gift should be wrapped and not exceed $1.00. The Target dollar bins are good places to look. The gift should be brought to school before the 22nd. Thank you!

**Please return your child's field trip permission slip as soon as possible!** **Parents: Check your calendars and work schedules... and let Mrs. Skahill or Mrs. Volk know if you will be able to chaperone at the Science Center on the afternoon of Fri., Dec. 16. We would like your name no later than this coming Monday, December 5, and we'd VERY much appreciate your help! Thanks!**

== **Cold weather is here! Many children are still showing up in lightweight jackets or sweatshirts. We will go outside unless the wind chill is dangerously cold, so warm winter coats, hats, and mittens are a MUST! When there's snow on the ground, boots and snow pants are needed in order for your child to play in the snow.** ==

__** ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING DATES :**__
**Fri., Dec. 16...Field Trip! Nutcracker in morning and Science Center in afternoon.** **Thurs., Dec. 22...Christmas parties after noon recess. Dismiss at 1:30 p.m.!** **Fri., Dec. 23-Wed., Jan. 4...Winter Vacation.** **Thurs., Jan. 5...School Resumes.**

**If your child is going to be absent for a few days due to a family trip, please let us know with a note in advance so we may gather homework to send with you. We can't always have //everything// ready to go, but it's very helpful to the teachers and the office to be aware of extended absences ahead of time. Thank you!**

** //The new December calendar has been sent home. Read, read, read!// **
 * //Don't forget about the BOOK IT! program!// **

One of our annual, and favorite, assemblies every year is The Old Creamery Theater's Young People's Tour. It is always packed with fun skits and songs, based on a theme. ==== The theme this year is "The Very Best Me". They are looking for original stories, poems, or songs that focus on characters striving to do their personal best by using one or more of the pillars of character. ====

It would be fun to announce a winner from our school when The Old Creamery Theater visits us on April 16!
=== Both homerooms will have a "Homework Club" each quarter. We will keep a chart in our rooms, tracking which students return their homework packets on time each week. Students who consistently return their packets each week will be rewarded at the end of each quarter! ===

=== //We have been informed that the kitchen can no longer store items that need to be frozen or refrigerated. You will need to provide a cooler if your child is bringing treats that require refrigeration. Thank you for your cooperation.// ===

__**LITERACY:**__
We are introducing organization in the 6-Traits of Writing. In reading, we will make predictions and connections. We will use context clues, identify main events, question, and infer. Please encourage your child to read at home.

=
We have started our unit on time and money. Students will be expected to count money, make change, solve problems, and tell time to the minute. Giving your child real life activities/applications with time and money at home would be helpful. ===== Please continue to practice the basic math facts. Many of the errors we see with addition and subtraction of greater numbers are errors in our basic facts, not errors in the process.

__SCIENCE:__
Science assessments on the states of matter have all been completed and sent home. If you did not see your child's assessment, let me (Mrs. Skahill) know and I'll inform you of their score! We followed up on this unit on Monday by learning about the water cycle, and your child now knows a very fun song to illustrate the cycle! Ask to hear it, and be prepared to participate! On Tuesday, we started a new unit on animals. We learned about the needs of all animals, how their bodies are adapted to meet these needs, and how animal homes are also uniquely suited to meet their needs.

= __**SOCIAL STUDIES:**__ =

Please remember to send in an address for our Flat Friend Project.
We have started our unit on the Hopi, Iroquois, Jamestown settlers, and Salem. We will be discussing how resources were used, the problems the colonists had adapting to the new lands, and how the Powhatan helped the settlers. We will also be inviting Living History Farms in to teach us about the Ioway Indians, which will be compared to the Hopi and Iroquois. ==== Check with your child about Daily Detective. The purpose of this project is to not only help the students learn about the countries of the world, but also to help them research. Each day a new clue will go up on our 'detective board'. The students will be able to write the clue down and bring it home so that you can, if needed, help your child to identify the country. The clues start out very broad and as the week goes on, get more specific. Please ask your child about Daily Detective and each daily clue. ==== The Daily Detective has been put on hold but will resume after the Christmas break. :)

__**MRS. VOLK:**__
Book orders are due on the 5th. Please consider ordering on line. Our class code is GXPY2. I will place the order on the 6th so if you are wanting to order for Christmas they will arrive on time (hopefully). Please let me know if the books should be a secret! Thanks

Your child has been registered for Sumdog.com. This is a site that will help your child practice their math facts. Each student was given a username and password. They are encouraged to use this site at home.

Reading calendars for the month of November are due ASAP. Please encourage your child to read at home. Our goal for the month of December is 400 minutes. I sent home a list of questions that may help you facilitate a reading conversation with your child. Thank you for your continued support at home.

**__MRS. SKAHILL/MISS STEPHENS:__**

**__BOOK ORDERS ARE DUE MONDAY, DEC. 5!__** **__Last chance to order before Christmas vacation! You may order online or send money to school on Monday.__**

===** //Please have your child read for December's Book-It. This month's goal is to complete// **** //300 minutes of reading time AND the book report printed on the back of the calendar. The December calendars will be due on Jan. 5, and the new Jan. calendars will be sent home at that time.// **===

** //I'd like to see 100% participation from our class in December! (It's a great excuse to go to Pizza Hut!//!) **
==== Just a reminder: Spelling word lists are handed out at the //beginning// of each unit so they can be studied in preparation for the cloze test. Watch for the word lists glued into the planner. As mentioned previously, we won't be taking a cloze test every week...we work up to tests as we go through the word/phonics lessons in each unit. ====