This week in reading, we will finish up Owls in the Family. In math, we will continue with multiplication rotations and speed tests. For social studies, we will work on our northeast region posters, take a NE location test on Wednesday and a NE capitals test on Friday. I sent home a study guide yesterday (11-24) for these tests. In English, we will write to our Adams pen pals and also write to a 3rd grade class in Massachusetts. I will post this week's spelling words on Monday. There will be no more 100 minute reading homework this year (2008). If your child missed a week, this would be the time to make it up. I do take a grade on this homework. I was going to assign it for 2 weeks in December, but decided that December is such a busy month, the children could probably use a break! The week of 11-17 (due Monday, 11-24) was the last week for it.
December is a busy, but wonderful month. We will be doing many Christmas projects! Two of those projects, I need you to help with supplies. If you have not sent the supplies for the gingerbread houses and Polar PJ day, please do so as soon as possible. Gingerbread houses - 1 bag of candy, 6 graham crackers, & 1 round tub of white frosting. Polar PJ day - 1 bar of Ivory soap, 1 box of white sugar cubes. Remember that we will make gingerbread houses on December 12th and have our Polar PJ day on December 16th. We will be doing many more fun things, but those are the 2 that I need volunteers for. I have 1 mom that can help with both days, and 1 mom that can help with Polar PJ day. I still need 4 more volunteers for Polar PJ day and 1 for our gingerbread house day. Gingerbread houses - 1:00 - 1:45 - help with clean up and passing out supplies. Polar PJ day - 9:00 - 11:00 - help with learning stations/crafts. Please let me know as soon as you can, if you can help.
Something else we will work on in the coming weeks, is ARK (ACTS of RANDOM KINDNESS). I feel that we somewhat live in a ME society, meaning what's in it for ME. I want the children to work on doing things for others, and not always thinking of themselves. I hear children for example, say things like: I don't want to pick that up because I didn't leave it there, or If I do this, what am I going to get? I want them to get past the ME/I part and do things simply because it's the right thing to do or it's the kind thing to do. I feel that we need to absolutely praise and reward our children, but not to the extent that it becomes all about extrinsic motivation and there is no evidence of intrinsic motivation. I work on this in my own home with my daughter........trying to find the balance between reward/motivation and simply instilling in Baylee to do things because she should.........it's the right thing to do, not "What am I going to get out of this?" To hopefully help with this thought process, we will be drawing names each week in December. The name that we choose is to be kept secret. All week, we will do nice things secretly for that person. I told the children that the best givers are the ones who give without needing recognition. Nice things could be secretly helping them clean their desk/area, bringing an extra snack, writing a nice note to them. Help us out by brainstorming at home other things we could do. Hopefully, we can all learn a little about giving and kindness in the coming weeks.
If you haven't looked at the previous post and video clip, you might want to. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. God Bless you!
P.S. I wanted to send a Great Big Thank you to Mrs. Howard for sending the awesome OU cookie cake, Mrs. Sturgeon for sending the yummy brownies, and to Mrs. Kang for sending the red chips! You helped make Bedlam Day even better! You rock!
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