Week in Review: October 19th -23rd

We had another wonderful week in Lower Elementary! Students enjoyed many activities - both indoors and out!

For language jobs this week, first grade students were introduced to syllables, had further review of articles, and matched pairs of homophones. Second grade students reviewed syllables, explored "helping verbs", and had further work with prefixes. Third grade students were introduced to possessive pronouns and reviewed the meaning of various prefixes.

For math jobs this week, first grade students completed large addition/multiplication problems, counted sets of quarters and pennies, explored fundamental concepts of geometry (point, line, surface, solid), compared fractions, and interpreted bar graphs. Second grade students worked with large multiplication problems, solved addition word problems involving money, found various types of lines (diverging, converging, intersecting) in our classroom environment, converted improper fractions to mixed numbers, and review multiplication facts. Third grade students worked with all math operations, completed money word problems which involved making change, converted improper fractions to mixed numbers, found factors of a number, and identified the missing numerator or denominator in a fraction.

For cultural jobs this week, students heard a story describing the earliest humans during a history lesson. In geography, students further explored map skills. In science, students continued their study of chemistry with an introduction to acids and bases. Students used a red cabbage indicator to determine if common household items were acids or bases.

REMINDERS  

Old Baker's Farm- Lower Elementary students will take a trip to Old Baker's Farm on October 27th and October 28th . Please be sure to send in the permission slip and money for the trip!  Students will need a sack lunch from home on this day!

Halloween Parade- Students will participate in the JBMA Halloween parade at 9:00 on October 30th, 2015. Students will complete a short writing prompt in order to tell about their costume. Students are invited to dress as a book character,  cultural representatives, or a historical figure.

Make- Up Pictures will be made on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015.

No School on Wednesday, November 11th due to the Veterans Day holiday.

Week in Review : October 13th-16fh

Lower Elementary students had a wonderful week learning and working together! We will be glad to return to a more normal schedule this week!

For language jobs this week, first grade students reviewed articles and were introduced to homophones. Second grade students explored verbs of being (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) and looked up the meanings of various prefixes in the dictionary. Third grade students explore objective pronouns and looked up the meanings of various prefixes in the dictionary. 

For math jobs this week, first grade students used triangles to create various quadrilaterals, solved large addition and multiplication problems, compared fractions, counted mixed coins, and reviewed tally charts. Second grade students solved large multiplication problems, solved for unknown variables, began a study of lines, and changed improper fractions to mixed numbers. Third grade students identified the different types of triangles need to make quadrilaterals, solved for unknown variables, changed improper fractions to mixed number fractions, and explored the concept of squaring numbers. 

For cultural jobs, students researched another animal from the Timeline of Life for their history job this week. In science, students began a unit on chemistry. Students discussed matter, atoms, chemical vs. physical reactions, and the periodic table of elements through videos and a powerpoint presentation. Students then completed a science experiment where they combined vinegar and baking soda in order to produce carbon dioxide. 

Next week, students will explore syllables, articles, pronouns, and verbs of being. Students will also have further practice with math operations, counting coins, working with fractions, and prefixes. We look forward to another great week! 

REMINDERS 

Picture Day for Lower Elementary students is October 21st, 2015. 

Old Baker's Farm- Lower Elementary students will take a trip to Old Baker's Farm on October 27th and October 28th . Please be sure to send in the permission slip and money for the trip!  Students will need a sack lunch from home on this day!

Halloween Parade- Students will participate in the JBMA Halloween parade at 9:00 on October 30th, 2015. Students will complete a short writing prompt in order to tell about their costume. Students are invited to dress as a book character,  cultural representatives, or a historical figure. 

Week in Review: September 28th - October 2nd

We had another fantastic week in Lower Elementary! Students were busy at work on quarterly reviews in the areas of Language Arts and Math. Students also self-selected jobs in the areas of word study, grammar, numeration, geometry, and math operations. For cultural jobs this week, students explored the Clock of Eras in History. For geography, students identified the parts of a river. Students explored various facts about some prehistoric animals such as what they ate, what period they lived in, their physical characteristics, and their length in feet during a science lesson.

We look forward a wonderful week next week which will include our first field trip of the year to the Children's Theater. Students will also be working on writing a friendly letter, comparing fractions, identifying parts of speech (articles and pronouns), counting coins, geometry (polygons and quadrilaterals), prefixes, and editing.

REMINDERS

No school for students on Monday, October 12th due to the Columbus Day holiday.

Progress Reports- Progress Reports will be sent home Wednesday, October 13th. 

Conferences: First quarter conferences will be held Thursday, October 15th and Friday, October 16th.  Students will be dismissed at 1:00 on these days.

Children's Theater- Lower Elementary students will be visiting the Children's Theater on Wednesday, October 7th for one group and Thursday, October 8th for another group. Please be sure you have signed the permission slip and have returned it to school. 

Halloween Parade - JBMA Halloween Parade is one of our annual traditions where students have an opportunity to dress up as a character and learn from each other. This year the Lower Elementary students are looking forward to the Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th .   

Students are invited to dress up only as a character from a book, a historical figure, or cultural representatives.  We aim to keep Halloween light-hearted and fun for everyone, and therefore will not allow weapons, blood, or anything scary.  Our costume parade brings all ages together and we need to respect the needs of the younger children. 

Week in Review: September 21st - 25th

We had another wonderful week in Lower Elementary! It is hard to believe that the end of the first quarter is upon us. We have so enjoyed working with your students and watching them grow as learners.

For language jobs this week, first grade students worked with synonyms, matched animals to their homes, and classified words by putting them into the correct group. Second graders edited a text for capitalization of common and proper nouns, worked with past tense irregular verbs, reviewed the different types of sentences, and practiced matching prefixes to the correct root word.  Third grade students edited a text for capitalization of common and proper nouns, reviewed pronouns, reviewed the different types of sentences, and practiced matching prefixes to the correct root word.

For math jobs this week, first grade students practiced large addition or multiplication problems, counted sets of dimes, wrote number words for 41-50, build quadrilaterals with the stick box, found the missing variable in addition equations, identified fractions, and were introduced to tally charts. Second graders worked on large addition or multiplication facts, used the stick box to built plane shapes, wrote numbers in expanded notation, and used tally charts. Third grade students worked with all math operations, were introduced to coordinate grids, used tally charts, and found lines of symmetry in plane figures.

For cultural lessons, students completed research on an animal found on the Timeline of Life. Students were introduced to the parts of a mountain in a history lesson. In science, students discussed and viewed different types of fossils.

Reminders 

Personal Timelines- In conjunction with our study of the Timeline of Life, we invite all students to create a personal timeline. Students should select one photo from each year of his or her life and include a brief description (one to two sentences). Any size paper may be used to create these timelines. They will be displayed in the hallway for all to enjoy! Please turn in the timelines by Monday, September 28th.  

Homework- Homework is given out each Friday and should be returned the following Friday. We will return the grey student composition notebooks on Mondays to allow time for us to read the student's writing prompts.

Open House - Thursday, October 1st from 6:00-7:30 

Children's Theater- Lower Elementary students will be visiting the Children's Theater on Wednesday, October 7th for one group and Thursday, October 8th for another group. Please look for a permission form coming home soon!

Halloween Parade - JBMA Halloween Parade is one of our annual traditions where students have an opportunity to dress up as a character and learn from each other. This year the Lower Elementary students are looking forward to the Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th .   

Students are invited to dress up only as a character from a book, a historical figure, or cultural representatives.  We aim to keep Halloween light-hearted and fun for everyone, and therefore will not allow weapons, blood, or anything scary.  Our costume parade brings all ages together and we need to respect the needs of the younger children. 

As it gets closer to the event, a writing prompt about their character will be assigned to the students which they will share with the class after the parade.    

Week in Review: September 7th - 11th

We had another fantastic week in Lower Elementary! Students were very busy this week, despite the fact it was only four days! It is a true privilege to work and learn alongside them!

For language jobs, first grade students had continued work with antonyms, nouns, and sight words. Second graders reviewed synonyms and antonyms, worked with past tense verbs, and reviewed grade level sight words. Third graders worked with adverbs and reviewed synonyms and antonyms.

For math jobs, first grade students continued work with adding large addition problems, practiced addition facts, counted pennies, and wrote number words for 21-30. Second graders solved large addition or multiplication problems, wrote number words, and practiced addition or multiplication facts. Third graders worked with all math operations, solved addition word problems, and wrote numbers in expanded notation.

For cultural jobs, students began a unit on rocks and minerals in science. In history, students continued their study of time by looking at a calendar year and it's parts. In geography, students worked in land and water forms such as island, lake, isthmus, strait, cape, and bay.

Reminders 

Personal Timelines- In conjunction with our study of the Timeline of Life, we invite all students to create a personal timeline. Students should select one photo from each year of his or her life and include a brief description (one to two sentences). Any size paper may be used to create these timelines. They will be displayed in the hallway for all to enjoy! Please turn in the timelines by Monday, September 28th.  

Homework- Homework is given out each Friday and should be returned the following Friday. We will return the grey student composition notebooks on Mondays to allow time for us to read the student's writing prompts. 

Week in Review: August 31- September 4th

We had a wonderful week in Lower Elementary! It is hard to believe that it is already September!

For language jobs, first graders spelled color words, were introduced to antonyms, and practiced spelling sight words with the moveable alphabet. Second graders wrote sentences with sight words, worked with verb tenses ( past, present, future), and had further work with antonyms and synonyms. Third graders located synonyms and antonyms in a thesaurus and had further work with adverbs.

For math jobs, first graders solved large addition problems, spelled number words, worked with fractions, and compared numbers up to the thousands place. Second graders practiced solving large addition and multiplication problems, read number words, found equivalent fractions, compared numbers, and practiced counting coins. Third graders found equivalent fractions,  practiced all math operations, read number words, compared numbers, and solved addition word problems involving sums of money.

For cultural lessons, students explored clocks, calendars, and the concept of time in History. In Geography, students discussed and then labeled the layers of the Earth. In science, students took a trip to the Middle School science lab for a lesson on microscopes.

Next week, students will practice will all math operations, synonyms/antonyms, grammar symbols, and counting coins. We look forward to our first Peace Ceremony on Friday, September 11th.

Reminders

- Reading Logs are to be recorded each night after your child has read for 20 to 30 minutes. Please write down the title of the book and initial the log.

-Speech and Hearing Screenings will take place on Wednesday, September 9th for those children who have signed up to be screened.

- Our first Peace Ceremony is Friday, September 11th. Lower Elementary is hosting this first ceremony of the year!

Week in Review: August 24th -28th

We had another wonderful week in our room! The students are busy at work growing and learning as a community!

For language arts jobs, first grade students worked with compound words, sorted nouns,  and placed words in ABC order. Second grade students identified consonant blends, reviewed verbs and edited sentences for capitalization and punctuation. Third grade students reviewed how to compose a paragraph, practiced dictionary skills, and identified the different types of adverbs.

For math jobs, first grade students practiced solving addition problems, wrote numbers words 1-10, reviewed basic shapes, and were introduced to fractions. Second grade students practiced solving addition/multiplication problems, practiced telling time, and reviewed fractions and quadrilateral shapes. Third grade students reviewed fractions, solved multiplication problems using the checkerboard, completed a study of triangles, and reviewed elapsed time.

For cultural jobs, students continued to experiment with the three states of matter in science. In History, students acted out the next Great Lesson - The Drama of the Archeozoic Ocean. Students created a world map in Geography.

Next week, students will work with math operations, explore grammar symbols, identify antonyms and synonyms, work with microscopes, explore the layers of the Earth, and much more! We look forward to another wonderful week!