It's hard to believe that the school year is almost over! It has been such a joy to teach your children this year! I have loved getting to know them and having them as part of my family:)

Here are a few reminders and some important information regarding the end of the year:
-Reminder that there will not be hot lunch served in the cafeteria. Make sure your child brings a packed lunch to school. 
-Monday's lunch recess will feature an ice-cream truck with peanut free, ice-cream treats for the kids. Ice cream treats are sponsored by PTL. 
-Tuesday is Jackson Pollock Day. Wear the regular uniform to school and bring a change of clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting covered with paint. We will change into the messy clothes after lunch recess. It may be a good idea to also have a towel in the car for the kids to sit on, just in case their clothes aren't quite dry. 
-We will clean out desks on Wednesday, please make sure the kids bring their backpacks as a lot of things will be coming home. We will also have an end of year celebration on Wednesday afternoon hosted by our room parents. Our celebration will feature cupcakes and a movie!
-Yearbooks will be sent home on Wednesday
-Thursday is our last day of school. We will dismiss at 10am after a closing chapel service. Thursday is a no backpack day. 

Artist Wayne Trinklein talks to the kids about his artwork

The kids sculpted trees with Wayne Trinklein

2nd-4th grade spelling bee: Great job to Sarah and Lizzie for representing our class!

We learned about perimeter and area in math. The kids designed a picture on a small piece of paper and found their design's perimeter and area. Then they made a large version of their design out of post it notes. 

Memory: This will be our last memory test of the year... For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.    

Romans 3:23

Spelling: High Frequency Words for Quarters 3 and 4. Once again, we will not have a graded test over these words. However, we will have a pretest on Monday, practice the words throughout the week, then have a post (ungraded) test on Friday to see how much they improved. 

2^nd grade HFW list #3 and #4

50 words

1. set                      11. such                21. land                 31. change              41. letters

2. put                      12. because          22. different          32. off                    42. mother

3. end                     13. turn                23. home               33. play                  43. answer

4. does                    14. here               24. us                    34. spell                  44. found

5. another               15. why               25. move               35. air                     45. study

6. well                    16. asked             26. try                   36. away                 46. still

7. large                   17. went              27. kind                 37. animals             47. learn

8. must                    18. men              28. hand                38. house                48. should

9. big                       19. read              29. point               39. America            49. picture

10. even                  20. need              30. again               40. page                  50. world 

Grammar: commonly confused homophones

Reading: non-fiction text features review 

Math: We will be learning about area and perimeter, and having some fun math activities that go along with it

Social Studies: The kids will be doing some research on a potential vacation destination this summer.

Science/Writing: Animal Reports

Important News and Information:

-Gracie's last day was this Friday 5/13. We wish her and her family good luck, and send them lots of love and prayers as they move to Florida. We will greatly miss them!

-Grades 1-3 Spelling Bee will be on Tuesday, May 17th at 2pm. Our class participants will be Lizzie and Sarah!

-Artist Wayne Trinklein will come to our class on Tuesday, May 17th to teach our class about his art. He will also work with the kids to design tree sculptures of their own to take home. 
-Scholastic Book Orders (the last of the year) are due on Tuesday, May 17th by the end of the school day. This way, they will arrive just in time for summer!

-Last day of school is on Thursday, May 26th. We will have a closing chapel service and dismiss as 10am. 
-Our class auction books came in today! They will be distributed on Monday:)
-The school hot lunch program will not be open the last week of school. Snacks will be available to purchase, but please send your child with a packed lunch that week!

Alexander Calder inspired circus sculpters

Sorting Animals by their groups 

Observing an invertebrate--worms!

5/2-5/6

Memory: For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.   1 Corinthians 6:20

Spelling: 2^nd grade HFW list #1 and #2

50 words

1. over                      11. live                21. name               31. much              41. boy

2. new                      12. me                22. good                32. before            42. following

3. sound                  13. back              23. sentence        33. line                  43. came

4. take                      14. give              24. man                34. right                44. want

5. only                      15. most             25. think              35. too                    45. show

6. little                     16. very               26. say                 36. means              46. also

7. work                     17. after              27. great              37. old                     47. around

8. know                   18. thing             28. where            38. any                    48. farm

9. place                    19. our                29. help               39. same                  49. three

10. years                  20. just               30. through        40. tell                     50. small

We will not have a test over these words. However, these are words that 2nd graders are expected to know how to spell. We will practice with these words everyday this week. Please practice them at home as well!

Grammar: Articles A and An, homophone practice

Reading: Tall Tales

Math: Overall, the kids did well on their subtraction facts and multiplication fact test. However, they did not do very well on their written test. I am not recording this grade in the grade book. Next week, we will review some of those tricky math skills, as well as skills that I've noticed are still giving some of the kids trouble. We may, or may not, retake the written assessment from this week next Friday. I will let you know! 

Science: Animals: We will be learning about the different groups of animals, and following that up with a research project over an animal of their choice. 

Writing: Opinion Writing (if there's time!), and animal research reports. Our kids have mastered understanding the difference between complete and incomplete sentences according to our grammar quizzes. Unfortunately, this skill is not carrying over to our writing:( I have noticed nearly every student is still struggling to remember to capitalize letters, add end marks when needed, and write a complete sentence. We will have guided writing next week during centers, and will focus hardcore on the basics of writing for the rest of the school year!

Important News and Information:
-Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing moms out there! I hope you enjoy your gift:) The kids worked really hard on them! 

-We are down to only 2 1/2 weeks of school left. Please encourage your child to keep reading! We have a lot of AR goals that need to be met!

-If your child participated in the Read to Succeed program, their Six Flags ticket is in their homework folder today!

Acting out our vocab words: stubborn

Acting out our vocab words: possession

Acting out our vocab words: gold rush

acting out our vocab words: remarkable

Graphing the mint date of pennies

Favorite Storybook Character Day! 

April 25-April 29

Memory: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   

Ephesians 4:29

Spelling: This is a chunk that we didn't get to in December, so we are doing it now:)
                ear/ath: hear, near, fear, dear, smear, math, path, bath, aftermath, Sabbath
Grammar: Sentences- complete vs. incomplete sentences, along with learning how to write more detailed sentences.
Reading: We will be wrapping up our poetry unit!
Math: Test Friday...Our 25 fact test will now begin covering multiplication facts. Our 100 fact test will continue to cover subtraction facts.
Social Studies: Chapter 10, How did one community change? With this chapter, we will do a book study over "I Survived the San Fransisco Earthquake."
Writing: Poetry

Important News and Information:
There are a ton of things going on next week! Please go through all of this so that you don't miss anything important!

-Our school theme this year is “Blessed to Serve.”  One way we can serve others is by helping those in need.  A local family recently lost their home and all of their possessions in a house fire and needs our help.  Let’s have a

Change War!

Please bring in your change to add positive amounts to your class’s total and add paper money to other class’s milk jugs to subtract from their money totals.  Collected monies will be given to the family in need.  The Change War will take place May 2-6.  Thank you for your generosity!

-Next week is week of the Young Child. Your child is invited to wear special attire on our special days! If your child decides not to participate, it's okay, just make sure that Kindergarten through Third Grade wear standardized dress instead.

• Monday- Pajama Day! 
• Tuesday-Silly Sock Day! (Jeans are optional)
• Wednesday- Dress Like your favorite Sports Person
• Thankful Thursday (Families are invited to share expressions of thanks on our Thankful Trees) and Favorite Color Day (Jeans are optional)
• Friday-Favorite Storybook Character Day (Dress like your favorite character in a storybook...not a Halloween character).

-Along with your Silly Sock Day on Tuesday, Zion is having a school wide Blues hockey day! Wear your Blues t-shirts to help wish them luck in their first home game of the championship series.

-Thursday May 5th is Ascension Day where we remember Christ's ascension into heaven. Zion is having a special service that evening at 7pm. We will also have a morning chapel to celebrate.

-Information about Zion Summer Camp was sent home in today's Friday folders. Please sign up soon if you are interested!

-You are invited to tee it up for the 34th annual Lutheran Association for Special Education Golf Benefit on Monday, June 20, 2016 at Sunset Country Club.

4/18-4/21

Memory: Every word of God proves true.   

Proverbs 30:5

Spelling: aught/ew:

caught, taught, daughter, jewel, chewable, newer, fewest, interview, nephew, newsletter

Grammar/Phonics: Subjects and Predicates

Reading: We will focus on similes and metaphors in poetry

Math: Test Friday. Please continue to practice those subtraction facts!

Social Studies: How a community changes over time

Writing: Poetry

Important News and Information
-No school tomorrow (Friday 4/22) for a Spring Break Day!
-I will be out of town on Monday and Tuesday next week, so the kids will have Mrs. Linneman as their sub, just so you know. Feel free to email me or call me if anything comes up, however, I do not have a way of contacting Mrs. Linneman. If it is about an absence or dismissal, please email Julie in the office, as well as me. Thanks!

Making Geometric Shapes

Making Geometric Shapes

Singing for the Musical! See you tonight!

Practicing some tongue twisters- fun poems with alliteration!

Alliteration tongue twister practice

Alliteration tongue twister practice

We made a bar graph about our favorite ice cream flavors. The kids learned how to ask good mathematical thinking questions about a graph. They took turns being the teacher and asking the class their question. 

4/11-4/15

Memory: My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

Spelling: ee and double consonant:

agree, between, career, deeper, eighteen, middle, anniversary, opportunity, different, support

Grammar: Subjects and Predicates

Reading: Poetry- we will focus on poems with alliteration this week

Math: Math Test on Wednesday

Science: We will finish up our unit over chapter 12 with a unit Test on Tuesday. A study guide was sent home yesterday (Thursday 4/14)

Writing: Poetry

Important News and Information:

-1st-3rd grade musical is Thursday 4/21. Please have your 2nd grader meet in the church basement at 6:45pm to prepare for the 7pm start time. 2nd grade is wearing blue shirts and khaki bottoms.

-No School next Friday 4/22 for a Spring Break Day.

-4th quarter is well under way--please encourage your child to keep reading in order to reach their AR goals for the quarter!
-Week of the Young Child: Parents Day Out through Third Grade will celebrate the Week of the Young Child May 2nd-May 6th! Your child is invited to wear special attire on our special days! If your child decides not to participate, it's okay, just make sure that Kindergarten through Third Grade wear standardized dress instead.

              5/2Movie Monday and Pajama Day! 

             TacoTuesday and Silly Sock Day! (Jeans are optional)

             Workout Wednesday and Dress Like your favorite Sports Person

             Thankful Thursday (Families are invited to share expressions of thanks on our Thankful                           Trees) and Favorite Color Day (Jeans are optional)

             Friday-Favorite Storybook Character Day (Dress like your favorite character in a                  storybook...not a Halloween character).

-Missouri Botanical Gardens: Your schools are invited to our May 12^th Family Night at the Garden from 5:30pm-7:30pm!  And yes, this means the whole school – all students in all grades, all teachers, all staff, and their respective families.  This special evening is an annual event in which we thank our school partners (like you) and our community partners for working alongside us during the school year.

Attendees that night will enjoy:

o   Free admission to the Garden and the Children’s Garden,

o   A light meal and 

o   Activities on the grounds,

o   An opportunity to explore and play in our new Brookings Exploration Center and

o   A chance to experience educational fun in the PlantLab!

Mr. Smith came to talk to us about electricity and electrical safety 

Hunting for geometric shapes in our classroom

The kids worked in groups to design their own city, demonstrating their knowledge of how electricity gets from a power plant to a house. 

April 4-8

Acting out comics that we read. After we acted them out, we wrote out the comics and added quotation marks to them. 

We did an inferencing activity with comics, then wrote out the dialogue using quotation marks.

We took turns measuring each other's height using feet and inches. 

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.    Matthew 24:35

Spelling: ea/ai:

least, appear, really, cereal, repeat, detail, waist, praise, afraid, again

Grammar: As we go through our three (ish) week long poetry unit, we will be studying various skills such as repetition, imagery, line break, simile, metaphor, rhythm, personification, and alliteration. 

Phonics: Review adding the -er suffix to words and how that changes the spelling of the word

Reading: Poetry Introduction

Math: Lessons 101-103, we will not have a test next week

Science: We will have a quiz over electricity on Tuesday. A review sheet was sent home in today's Friday folder. 

Writing: Acrostic Poems

Important News and Information:
-Monday 4/11 is Cardinal's Day at Zion- Kids are welcome to wear jeans and a cardinals shirt to school!
-Wednesday 4/13 is our final inservice day of the year. We will dismiss at noon.
-Friday 4/15 is Zion Spirit Day. Kids are welcome to wear a Zion spirit shirt with regular dress bottoms. 
-Book Orders are due on Friday 4/15
-The Musical will take place on Friday, April 22. 2nd grade will wear khaki bottoms and a solid blue shirt. Please arrive in the church basement at 6:45pm. The musical will begin at 7pm. 
- No School on Friday, April 22 for a Spring Break day.
-Classroom Wishlist: We are now in desperate need of kleenexes (we are down to only one box!). We also need brown paper grocery bags for an upcoming art project, so if you have any at home that you aren't using, we would love to have them!