Happy December!

I cannot believe we are already into December!!  Where has time gone?

We have been so busy in the classroom - I haven't had a chance to update the blog!!  Here is a glimpse at what's been happening in Room 13.

Tony Chestnut
As another reminder, if you didn't have a chance to attend Wednesday's Meeting of the Eagles - you missed out!  The children did a fantastic job..and they even got the audience up and moving!!  I sent you a link to view pictures from HCAM earlier in the week, but here it is again: http://www.sceneinhopkinton.org/School/Elmwood-School/Meeting-of-the-Eagles/20234324_ngD5CB#1599269731_Cstr37m

READING
Last week, we read Joan Hewett’s story, A Harbor Seal Pup Grows Up.  This nonfiction selection tells about a seal pup named Sidney who was abandoned by her mother, rescued, and nursed back to health by caring scientists. Sidney was then released back into the wild to live (happily) with other seals. 

With this story, students worked really hard to accurately identify and sequence (put in order) important events.  At this point in time, we are really trying to sequence events according to what happens first, next, and last.   

Suggestion:  To reinforce summarizing and sequencing at home, ask your child to tell you about his/her day (orally).  Encourage him/her to tell you about the important things that happened at school and to tell them in order.  Using time-order words (such as first, next, then, after, finally, and last) will be helpful!

SPELLING
We moved away from short and long vowels last week and looked more closely at consonant blends.  A consonant blend is when two consonants are “blended” together in a word – but you can still hear both sounds.  For example, “st” is a very common consonant blend (think: still, rest, etc.) and you can hear both the “s” and the “t” when you say words with this blend. Although they are frequently found in the beginning of words, consonant blends can be found in the middle and end of words too!

There are many different consonant blend combinations, but this week’s spelling list focused on the following four: 

sp	sl	dr	sk
spell	slippery	dress	skin
crisp	Slinky	drive	task
hospital	slug	drill	basket

Although both sounds are heard, children often forget to include one of the letters when spelling words with these blends.  Slowing down and sounding out words as they write will help! J

GRAMMAR

We spent A LOT of time learning and reviewing the rule for making nouns plural when they end in Y.  Students should have a pretty good understanding of this concept by now, but just in case parents need a review:

Look at the letter BEFORE the y.

If it is a vowel à just add S

            Example:  monkey à monkeys

If it is a consonant à change the Y to an i and add ES.                         

              Example: puppy à puppies

I have been encouraging the children to look at the word when they are done. Does it look funny? Are there too many vowels in a row?  (Example: monkeies) If so, maybe they should take another look at the rule …
Wee DeliverAs I’m sure you know, the Wee Deliver program is in full swing here at Elmwood School!   Students have been learning how to write friendly letters and address envelopes (it’s tricky!). Before Thanksgiving, students created special letterhead in Computer Lab, which we then turned into personalized stationary... and students are taking full advantage of this fancy paper! Please remind your child of the Wee Deliver motto: “Get a letter, write a letter.”

FYI:  Parents/family members are welcome to write letters to students as well!  Wee Deliver stamps were sent home 2 weeks ago, and additional stamps can be requested at the front office.  Letters can be “mailed” in the big, blue mailbox at the front of the building and also at Collelas.  Students in Room 13 have the following address:

Name (first + last)13 Mazilli Manor

Second City, MA 01748

MATHLast week, we began Unit 4, which focuses on more advanced addition and subtraction strategies.  Students were introduced to different diagrams to help them organize important mathematical information – specifically the Start-Change-End diagram (used to organize information about something that changes over time) and the Part-Part-Total diagram (used to help students find the total sum of two parts).
On Friday, we had a Math Lab - facilitated by some wonderful parent volunteers!! Thank you to Mrs. Ambrosone, Mrs. Ullman, and Mr. Miller!  Take a look below to see students hard at work, making coin booklets, thermometers, and playing math games!

SOCIAL STUDIESWe continued our study of maps and globes this week – focusing on the compass rose and cardinal directions.   Earlier in the week, students played Simon Says Directions! and the Suitcase Game (for which they moved around on an alphabet gameboard according to various directions (N, S, E, W) – spelling out fun words)!   I think they are having fun! :)

                                        
Later in the week, students were introduced to the 4 intermediate directions – northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest.  They should now understand that these intermediate directions are found halfway between two cardinal directions - and they provide us with more accurate directions and information. 

MYSTERY READEROur Mystery Reader last week was Mr. Sutherland - Li's dad!  Mr. Sutherland read two great stories - The Louds Move In, by Carolyn Crimi and Regan Dunnick and The Widow's Broom, by Chris Van Allsburg.  Everyone had a wonderful time listening to Mr. Sutherland bring these stories alive - but no one as much as Li!  Thank you for coming, Mr. Sutherland!!