Experts Needed to Help Us Learn About the World!

Inquiry Experts Needed!
The children have chosen their Inquiry groups, and the research is about to begin in earnest. I encourage parents, friends, and relatives to come in and share something about our fascinating world with the children. It can be an account of growing up in another country or culture, food, artifacts, clothing, travel tales, stories, a song or dance, pictures--anything you wish. Please, let me know soon if you can help us! Having “experts” in our classroom is a very important aspect of your child’s learning. We hope you will consider sharing with us. I will need some help with the research, too, and will send that sign-up sheet next week.

James and the Giant Peach
This play, based on the book by Roald Dahl, delighted the children. It was performed as a musical and puppet show by a talented cast. Ask your child about it. One student’s reaction was, “That was the best play I ever saw!”

Grandparents’ Day
I want to be sure that every child has a “grandparent” or parent present on Grandparents' Day, Wednesday, February 28. Please complete the form I’m sending home today and return it to me by Tuesday, February 20. Remember, a friend or other relative can be a surrogate grandparent for your child.

Spelling Bee
Your children have been begging for a Spelling Bee for weeks, so we will have one on Friday, February 23. This is a fun team activity in which everyone is a winner. If you do not want your child to participate in this activity, please, let me know. The children will not have regular spelling words next week. Instead, I will send a list of the words for the Bee. Have fun practicing the words with your child. 1st Graders will be asked only words from List 1, unless they request 2nd Grade words as well.

Extra Clothes
I have noticed that many of the children do not have extra clothes in their cubbyholes. Accidents do happen!! Please, send extra clothes with labels if your child does not have any. Mahalo!

Time
2nd Graders have nearly completed their math unit on time. It would be very reinforcing if parents would engage their children in thinking about time and figuring out durations and elapsed time at home. Talk about what time you are leaving for school, have them estimate how long it will take to get there, and then help them figure out the actual elapsed time. If they have an activity, have them tell you the time it begins, talk about its duration, and ask them what time it will end. Regularly, ask them to tell you the time to the minute on analog clocks. All of this will support their learning.

Chinese New Year
On Tuesday, February 20, a Chinese dragon will be on campus to celebrate Chinese New Year with the children. If any of you can bring in a special food or activity for the children to expand their knowledge of this celebration, we would appreciate it! Perhaps someone can come in to tell us about China, a country we will be studying in our Inquiry, or read us a Chinese story. Please, let me know.

Posted on February 15, 2007 4:56 PM | Permalink