Updates and Report Cards

Well, as usual, my high ambitions for getting a kagillion things done over break were distracted by these two cuties: 

Can you blame me?!

Grades

So my goals for this upcoming weekend is to ignore my adorable children (or just work hard during naptime!) to get caught up on entering grades into the computer.  Report cards need to be turned in by Jan. 20th - and I want to give you time to look over what's in PowerSchool before being shocked by the final results that get sent home.  

*Correction:  The semester ends Jan. 20th.  I have until Jan. 27th to get grades turned in!  They will come home after that*

MP3 Players

I was able to transfer all of my story cd's onto my computer - now I'm working on organizing them onto the players.  Keep an eye out for our Listening Center Ribbon-Cutting ceremony, perhaps later in January. 

Snacks

We're down to our last bit of pretzels.  If you're willing/able/interested in donating a big tub of treats to our class, our hungry friends would much appreciate it!!

Multiplication

Please, please, please practice this with your child.  If you have flash cards, they should be part of your daily routine!! 

Math

We're working on Time right now.  Please practice this as well! 

Writing

We are about to begin our new unit of study on essay writing. Essay-writing has become a hot topic in schools, especially because many standardized tests, including the SAT, have added a writing section, usually in the form of an essay. Students are asked to write essays well into their college years, and I believe it’s crucial that they get a strong start, learning the skills and strategies to craft compelling essays, as well as developing a positive attitude toward the genre.

Your children will become essayists over the next several weeks, and they’ll start by collecting essay ideas in their notebooks for a little bit of time. Then they’ll develop their ideas through the now-familiar writing process, choosing an essay idea and turning it into a draft that will be revised and edited until it becomes an essay to publish.

Science

Animal Reports -- today your child chose an animal that they're interested in - tomorrow the real fun begins!  We'll do the best we can with the resources here, but if you are able to look up some facts/details about your child's choice online and print them off, that would be so helpful for them! 

That's enough updating for today I think.  

Happy Wednesday!