Week 31

Our story this week is a non fiction one called "How to Be a Nature Detective." The phonics sound to review is long o. The new vocabulary words are:

• clues
• detective
• floor
• nature
• piece
• pulls

This week we will finish out our unit about 2 & 3 dimensional shapes.  We continue to take timed tests to build automaticity on math facts to 10.

Here are some important dates from now until the end of the year.  Some things may change to facilitate the move to the intermediate school.

• April 18 - Walk to Forest Service.  CLASS SHIRTS ARE REQUIRED!
• April 20 - Science Day.  The kids will rotate through all classes doing experiments in each room.
• April 27 - Ronald McDonald and Early Release
• May 1 - Early Release
• May 2-4 - DIBELS Testing
• May 9 - Early Release
• May 10 - Show Choir comes to us at 1:15
• May 11 - Dome Day
• May 16 or May 23 - Walk to the park.  That date is undecided because of moving.  I will give you a final date at a later time.  The kids will need a lunch and to wear their class shirt.  Makes for easy finding of them in a giant group.
• May 21-22 - Early Release for packing and moving
• May 25 - Last Day

You might want to print this schedule and stick it to the fridge!!!


I have lots of parents who have signed up to go on the field trip.  I'd love for all of you to come.  We will leave the school about 8:45.  Please be at the school before then.  If you would rather not go, I have plenty of help.  Just make sure your child knows that you aren't going to come.  

Week 30

It is hard for me to believe that we only have 7 weeks of school left.  The year has flown by.


The kids seem to have settled in well again after Spring Break.  Sometimes that can be a difficult and chaotic time.  This group has done well.


Our story this week is a non-fiction piece called "Fishing Bears." It is an informational story about the Alaskan Brown Bear. The phonics lesson is reviewing the long sound of i, especially in words like kind and wild. The vocabulary list is short, only three words. They are:

• both
• during
• ready

In math we will finish up the unit on money and start working with geometric shapes, both 2 & 3 dimensional.  Some are still having trouble identifying the coins.  The most often mixed up are dime and nickel.  Your child should be able to identify dimes, nickels, quarters, and pennies.  You might do a bit of coin practice at home.

Your child should be on list 20 in spelling this week.  Most are doing quite well, but a few are many lessons behind.  

I have been giving out AR awards like crazy.  Wonder if anyone will make it to 200.  There is still plenty of time for that to happen.  I need to come up with a really good prize for that.  Any suggestions???

Have a great week.

OOPS!!!

I think I have made a HUGE mistake on the homework for tonight.  Just ignore it and don't do anything.  I don't keep a copy on my computer this year since I am retiring.  I hate to clean. . .even my computer.  The world isn't going to end over one Senior Moment.  Enjoy the evening and ignore the homework.

Week 29

I hope everyone had a restful Spring Break.  Mine was very busy.  We went to KS to do some planning for my son's wedding in October.  We now have a venue and menu for the rehearsal dinner, a wedding dress, and material for the invitations. On our way out of town Rick hit a jackrabbit.  It broke the bumper on my car!  We had to come back home and take the truck.  CRAZY!!!

Also my Kansas Jayhawks made it to the final game.  I am beyond excited.  I kind think Kentucky will have them for lunch tonight but it has been a great ride!

Our story for this week is "Frog and Toad All Year." It is a fiction piece that has a story within a story. The phonics focus is long a made by ai and ay. The vocabulary words for the week are:

• caught
• cold
• hurried
• near
• son
• sure

In math we will continue counting money.  We get dimes to count this week.  We will be counting collections of coins.

Remember that Friday is a day off since we didn't use any snow days.  

Let's fill a box for our soldier one more time this year.  I know that he enjoys the treats we send.  It is such a small thing to do for someone who is protecting our country.

Have a great week.

Week 28

We survived last week.  I thought the kids did an excellent job at the program.  They were well behaved and performed beautifully.  Tina Slade is a jewel and should be congratulated if you see her.  She works very hard with our children.


We will be starting our last book of the year. Can you believe that??? The first story is called "The Story of a Bluebird." It is a fiction story about a little bird who is afraid to fly. The phonics focus for this story is long i made by igh. The new vocabulary words are:

• afraid
• flew
• join
• learn
• nothing
• thought
• wonder

We will begin the study of money in math.  I use the touch point method to teach money.  The kids will always count by 5's to count money.  It is too hard for them to change from counting by 1's, 5's, 10's and 25's.  They will learn to do that when they are developmentally ready.  They will draw touch points on each coin, except pennies.  A nickel gets one dot, a dime two dots, and a quarter five dots. Then they just count the dots by 5's.  Then all they have to do is count on the pennies by ones.  I did this last year and everyone was successful in counting money in about 20 minutes.  I now think back on all the  years of fighting the counting money issue!!  Why didn't I think of this!  We will do pennies, nickels, and dimes this week.  Please make sure your child can identify these coins.

There will be a public meeting on the possible closure of a school and the 4 day week at 6:00 in the HS Multi Purpose Room.  If you have feelings on these subjects be sure to go and express your opinion.  The thought of closing the Primary School makes my stomach hurt.  Of course, I am the only teacher left that moved into the school when it was brand new and has taught there continuously since.  I love that place.  Guess it might be fitting that I opened it and I closed it!

Many of the kids have kind of gone on a 'brain break'.  My big time readers have become my big time players, etc.  It seems in the last week a few have returned to their old ways.  Hope more of them return to the work mode.

Congratulations to Kimball for being the first one to earn a Sonic card for passing 150 AR tests.  Several are close.  Hope I can give away another one or two before break.  

Have a great week.  Remember that next week is Spring Break (as if your kids would let you forget).  Enjoy yourselves and be safe.

Week 27

This is going to be a really busy week.  Good luck to us.  Among all the extra things we will try to do some academics.


This week we will be reading 'Busy Buzzy Bee." It is a non fiction story that will give us lots of information about bees. The phonics focus is long o made by o-e. The new vocabulary words are:

• another
• change
• field
• touch
• twelve
• wait
• wild

We will be relating addition and subtraction this week in math.  Also continuing with timed test for addition and subtraction.  

Now for the busy part of our week.  This is the calendar:

There is a survey on line at elks.net.  It will give you a chance to express your feeling about school and the district.  There is also one on the 4 day week inside the school. Please come in and express your feelings.

Our program will be this Friday at 1:30.  Please come and look at these cute kiddos doing their thing.  If you want a good seat, come early.  We will be doing a practice for the school on Thursday at 1:30 if you can't make it on Friday.  

Thanks to all who came for conferences.  I still have a few to catch up with.  If you couldn't come would you please contact me about rescheduling.  I really do need to see you.

I think there are many books out that aren't being returned.  I know that I am retiring but my supply will be passed on to another teacher.  Please check your house to see what yo might find.  I seem to lose more every year.  I'd like to send on a good legacy.

Picture day is on Tuesday.  These are the ones that you don't need to prepay for.  They will be sent home and then if you want them, you can purchase.  

Like I said, I hope we have time for school this week.  There will be expectations but probably lots of whole group work rather than small group.

Somewhere in all this we will try to have some fun with St. Patrick's Day!!!

Have a great week!

Week 26

This week we are reading "Little Bear's Friend." It is a fantasy story where animals talk and take on human qualities. The sound for the week is the long i sound made by the letter y at the end of a word as in why. The new vocabulary words are:

• again
• blue
• high
• love
• opened
• hello

Math moves into the addition facts to 18.  We will be doing doubles, doubles +1, and completing to 10 to find the answer.  Math problem solving and timed tests will continue.

We should be on List 17 in Spelling this week.

This will be a crazy week with 2 early release days.  I will be doing conferences on Tuesday.  I am not meeting with everyone this time.  If you didn't get a note don't worry about it.  If you got one please let me know if you can come.  If you are unable to please call me to schedule an alternative time.

Are their any moms or dads who have an extra hour during the week.  I would really like for everyone to earn an AR shirt this year.  I have a few strugglers that need some help.  If you have any extra time, just drop in and I will give you a child and a computer.  Some just need the reassurance of someone sitting with them.  

We have hit the winter blahs.  Our work and behavior have deteriorated noticeably.  Moving your name no longer matters. . .neither does quality work.  Right now we are on a 'zero tolerance' policy.  The rules are:  whisper, do not talk at the computer, and do not be mean to your classmates.  If you are you have to spend a couple minutes with your nose to the wall (they hate that).  I had to find a consequence that worked.  Our room has really calmed down, work is much better, and it is quiet enough that people can think about their or work or what they are reading.  Plus I don't get a headache!!!  I have a mom that is going to bring in a treat one day this week for those who do not have to go to the wall.  

We are RAPIDLY going through glue sticks.  I bought 200 when school started and you all must have sent at least 100.  I am guessing that there are less than 50 left.  You may need to send a couple more with your child.  

We had a great Dr. Seuss Day on Friday.  Everyone liked the green eggs and ham.  The Oobleck made a horrible mess.  I went to school this morning and scrubbed.  I tried to find the vacuum but I don't know where Bob keeps it. . .better make him some cookies.  My floor looks horrid.  It should come up pretty easily.  It is just cornstarch and water.  The Cat in the Hat even showed up to read to us.

Report cards will come home with your child on Wednesday.  Happy weekend to me!!!

Enjoy your week.