Week 16

As I write this blog posting from my home in Kansas, I realized I forgot to grab the iPod with pictures from the week. Next week's posting will just have lots of pictures I guess!

This week, we worked hard on our nonfiction Natural Disaster books. Next week we will put the finishing touches including the addition of a table of contents, an index, a glossary, and an author's page. I've been impressed so far of the student's work ethic to get their books finished!


Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: Part 1- Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Part 2- Advent Parts, sent home in Friday folders today
Spelling: Chunk oke/ell
Grammar: adverbs
Phonics: obe, oke, ore, ope word chunks
Reading: Context Clues
Social Studies: Chapter 5 Environment
Writing: Natural Disasters Books

News:
Return your November book it calendars on Monday December 1st!

Advent Memory Work was sent home in your child's Friday folder. This is part of their memory work grade for the week.

Information about the Six Flags Read to Succeed Program was also sent home in your child's Friday folder. Keep track of their time spent reading. If they read 6 hours or 360 minutes by February 23, 2015, they will earn a free ticket to Six Flags! Please make sure they are recording their minutes on the book it form (which is taken for a grade) as well as the read to succeed form.

Each year the students and families of Zion have the opportunity to donate to a charity during the Christmas season.  This year, our class is going to donate toys to St. Louis Children's Hospital.  These toys are used in various places throughout the hospital including children's playrooms, emergency unit, radiology, Same Day Surgery, etc.   Your child will have the opportunity to donate new, unwrapped toy(s) until Friday, December 19th.  The following Monday, Dec. 22nd, the toys will be delivered to Children's Hospital.  If you choose to participate, please feel free to purchase any of the items that are listed below: card games, board games, toys such as lego sets, hot wheels, and action figures. 

St. Nick Night at LHS: Where-Lutheran High When-Dec. 5. 2014 Time- 5:30-7:30

 COME AND SEE ST. NICK!

AS PART OF LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL'S

5 TO 5 PROJECT, WE WILL BE HOSTING A TOY DRIVE. BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO LHS, FOR A PICTURE WITH ST. NICK, AND BRING A TOY DONATION. OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE 500 TOYS. ALL TOYS ARE GOING TO LCMS MISSIONS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON! Be sure to bring all toys unwrapped. 

Week 15

This week we learned about the protagonist and antagonist in a story and how those characters can change based on the point of view. We read "The Three Little Pigs" (the traditional tale) and then "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" (which is written from the perspective of the wolf). We compared and contrasted the protagonist and antagonist in both stories and then the kids had to decide if they were Team Wolf or Team Pig. They came up with some great reasons for why they believed each version of the story.

We also learned about persuasive writing this week and the kids had to write a story from the point of view of a turkey and convince everyone why they shouldn't eat turkey for Thanksgiving this year. They turned out great!

Antonym Al and Synonym Sue

Being geologists as we compare and contrast different rocks and minerals

Getting cozy under my desk sorting out the -oo sound

Measuring the length of the hallway

Measuring our own heights

Team Pig!

Team Wolf

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
No spelling or memory
Grammar/Phonics: irregular verbs and syllables
Math: Adapted Mind
Science: Chapter 6 Test Wednesday
Writing: Nonfiction Natural Disaster Reports

News:
The first and second grade classes will be leading an advent service on Wednesday, December 17th. We will lead the chapel service at 10am, and then the traditional advent service that evening at 7pm. Advent parts will be sent home next Wednesday.

Books orders will be due November 30th. Please consider placing an order. If our class places an order totaling at least $50, every student in the class will get to pick out a free book, and it will help me earn free books to add to the classroom library.

Please remind your child to be filling out their November book it calendar. The goal for the month is to read 320 minutes. They can earn a free Pizza Hut pizza, as well as an A+ if they meet their goal. This is taken for a grade.

Reminder that next week is only a 2 1/2 day school week. We will dismiss at noon on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Classroom Wishlist:
Dry Erase Expo Spray
Paper Towels
Pencils

Week 14

This week we had a great time participating in Reader's Theatre. Reader's Theatre is when the students get to practice and perform a skit. The focus is on reading the script in such a way that props are not needed to get the point across. Our skit for the week was "The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything." The kids did a wonderful job! Today, we were able to perform our skit for Ms. Kirby's preschool classroom. It was a lot of fun to see the 2nd graders acting and the preschoolers captivated by the performance! We also began talking about and researching natural disasters. The kids will all be writing a nonfiction book about four natural disasters of their choice.

Just a reminder that guided reading books will go home once every week (usually on Tuesdays) along with some sort of comprehension activity. Please allow your child to read the story to you. Feel free to discuss the comprehension activity with them. The book and activity must be returned to school the next day, completed, otherwise the student will not be ready to participate in guided reading, and therefore will have to do their reading during recess. These books were not sent home last week since it was such a short week, but they will be coming home next week:)

Reviewing for our Science Test is a Team Effort

Science Test Review: Hope you don't have stinky feet!

Beginning our research on Natural Disasters

Next week:
Memory: Lord I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. Psalm 26:8
Spelling: chunk or, ea
Reading: Protagonist and Antagonist
Grammar/Phonics: Antonyms and Synonyms, present and past tense verbs
Math: TEST Tuesday
Science: Chapter 6 Earth's Resources

News: 

Chapel--We continue to support Pastor Sam Thomson and the CRC, Christian Resources Center in India.  So far this year we have collected $1,263 in offerings to support the ministry in India.  Pastor Sam shared with us the mission of the CRC is to GO- to the villages where the children are at PREACH- Jesus is the true God who wants to love and save them, and TEACH- the Bible through Bible studies, Village groups, and 150 special events throughout the year.  Pastor Sam shared a story about a boy who didn't know about and umbrella and how to use it.  Pastor Sam told us we need to use the Bible, we need to open it, read it, and study the Bible so that we can know about Jesus.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Pastor Sam and the children of India and the CRC.

Next Wednesday, Nov. 19th, our chapel offering will be a food drive for Thanksgiving baskets for Seminarian Families, as well as for local food banks. 

Items for Thanksgiving Baskets: Canned Vegetables (careful on the green beans!), Canned Sweet Potatoes (yams), Canned Fruit, Boxed Potatoes, Gravy, Cream of Mushroom Soup, French’s Onion, Cranberry Sauce, Marshmallows, Cans of Pie Filling, Jello/Pudding mixes

Items for the Food Bank:

• Baking Items (flour, sugar, etc.)
• Drinks (tea, coffee, etc.)
• Canned and Dried Fruits
• Canned Meats (tuna, chicken, etc.)
• Canned or Dried Beans
• Breakfast Items (cereal & oatmeal)
• Sauces (syrup, hot sauce, bbq sauce, etc.)
• Condiments (pickles, jelly, ketchup, mustard, etc.)
• Snacks (granola bars, pretzels, etc.)
• Canned Soups/Broth
• Pastas/Rice
• Toiletry Items
• Household Items (cleaning supplies, dish soap, fabric softener, etc.)
• Paper Products (paper towels, facial tissue, toilet paper, etc.)

Spirit Day on Friday Nov. 21st! Wear a zion t-shirt and regular dress bottoms as we celebrate being a bobcat!

Week 13

What a wonderful week we had! We had a pep assembly to send the varsity volleyball team off to state- the kids had a lot of fun cheering and giving high fives to the Bobcat mascot. We also had a lot of fun in the classroom this week. We learned about character traits and how a character can be defined by their appearance and also by their personality. The kids created a map to display some of their own character characteristics. On Friday the kids split up into book clubs to read a story, discuss the main character and their traits, and then design a poster to present to the class. 

Reading our Books for Book Club

Fancy Nancy

Rufus Goes to School

The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town

Lily's Purple Plastic Purse

Miss Nelson is Missing

In religion this week, we learned about Samuel's call from God in the middle of the night, and about David and Saul. From these Bible stories, we are taught that through the good times and the bad, God is always there for us! 

In honor of Veteran's Day next week, our class paired up with Mrs. Smith's class. They created an American flag painting (inspired by artist Jasper Johns), and then wrote letters to veterans thanking them for their service and sacrifices for our country. The paintings and letters will be mailed to veterans of the armed forces all around the country. It was so cool to see their heartfelt thanks portrayed in their letters, as well as their faith.  Many of the kids included favorite bible verses, the truth of Jesus, and the words "I am praying for you" throughout their letters. What a great way to be a witness! 

Next Week:
Grammar: Review of Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, and Types of Sentences
Reading: Reader's Theatre
Math: Lessons 52-54
Science: Chapter 5 TEST on Wednesday

Important Information: 

Reminder: Next week is a short week. There will be no school on Thursday or Friday. All of us teachers are off to a teacher's conference. 

A little side note: we are in desperate need for pencils! There's been a lot of writing going on, and we have totally whittled away our supplies from the beginning of the year. Donations would be greatly appreciated! 

It’s auction time! Zion Lutheran School Auction, to be held at Old 

Hickory Golf Club on March 27, 2015. In preparation, the Auction Round Up will be held from November 17th –21st. During this week, families can bring in items to be donated before school. At the end of the week, the two 

classes that donate the highest dollar value will enjoy an afternoon of pizza and ice cream treats. The money raised this year will be used to support Zion staff with resources for their classrooms, teacher’s aides, tuition assistance, and much more.

The NLSW committee is collecting clear pretzel tubs (like the ones pretzel rods from Aldi are in). We are in need of 25 tubs. 

TJs order pick up is November 18 from 3 - 5 in the Commons!

If you are not available on Nov 18 please make arrangements for pick up as we do not have freezers available. We ask that you check in upon arriving into the Commons and please check your order for accuracy before leaving.