Happy Spring Break!

I wish all of my students and families a wonderful, relaxing and fun-filled spring break! The students have worked incredibly hard and truly deserve this week off. I have not assigned any home learning, as I want them to take a break and spend time being 7 & 8 year old children :) If they have time to pick up a book, I highly encourage it!

See everyone on April 2nd!

Best,
Ms. Walker :)

Congratulations to our classmates!

A big congratulations to Cameron LaPointe for placing 2nd overall in the spelling bee!

I would also like to recognize our other class finalists who participated in the bee:

Kristina Aponte, Riley Greenwell,Kylie Martinez, Christian Ovalle, Samuel Ovalle, Kyle Robers and Christian Roman


All of  my students also participated in a school-wide writing contest to win bears made and decorated by Mrs. Spurlock's 4th grade class. Our class had three lucky winners whose essays "wowed" the 4th graders:

Florida Bear: Brock Krueger

Alien Bear and Baby: Gracie Gillespie

Liquidator Bear: Samuel Ovalle


Congratulations to all of my amazing students for their hard work! Job well done, F.R.O.G.S. :)

***3rd Quarter: Extra Credit Opportunities***

Hi Parents-

    As promised, I have assigned a few extra credit opportunities to replace low grades from quarter 3. The students wrote the assignments in their planner today and the guidelines and due dates are as follows:

1) Reading/Language Arts: Favorite Character Report due Wednesday, 3/21

 http://www.abcteach.com/ebwhite/favchar.htm

Students will need to choose a favorite character from the book, Charlotte's Web, and write a report using the adjectives selected in their response. They will also need to explain why the character chosen is their favorite.

*Lowest assignment/test/project grade etc. will be dropped and replaced with this extra credit grade.

2) Math: Enrichment packet unit 10 was sent home earlier this week. Students will receive 10 extra credit points factored into their grade average if packet is completed and turned in by Tuesday, 3/20.

3) Science...due Tuesday, 3/20: Sound lab packet was sent home today. Students are to choose TWO of the labs out of the THREE and complete 4 pages total of the lab packet. Materials are simple and should be able to be found around the house. Lowest science assignment/test/lab will be dropped and replaced with this grade.


Please note: I will be out of town all weekend with no access to email. Also, late work WILL NOT be accepted.

Thanks,
Ms. Walker

Spelling Words week of 3/12

List A:
zipper, antlers, rubber, ladder, wrapper, listener, grasshopper, feather, gander, spider, whiskers, grandmother, answer, wonder, leader

*leprechaun *echoes *Ireland *shamrock *St. Patrick's Day

List B:
never, summer, power, later, sister, zipper, winter, letter, clover, clever, order, number, paper, hamburger, dinner

*leprechaun *echoes *Ireland *shamrock *St. Patrick's Day

A big "Thank You" :)

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your families for coming to support your students at our Live Biography Museum. The students were so dedicated to this project and their efforts truly showed! I was incredibly proud of every single one of them, as I am sure you are too! From reading the book, to writing a report to memorizing a speech and performing in front of their peers, I was blown away by their confidence and ease at which they handled such a big task. Their props and costumes were the "icing on the cake." Colleges better watch out because these students will be ready to handle anything :)

Furthermore, the students received many compliments from other students, teachers and our CCA administration. Everyone was just so impressed with their performances!

Job well done, students (and parents for helping students prepare for this big day) :)

2nd Grade Spelling Bee- March 21st!

Parents-

    A letter was sent home with your child on Thursday informing you of the upcoming spelling bee for 2nd grade. A list of spelling words was attached to the form for your child to review. We will be conducting our preliminary bee in class tomorrow to choose our 8 finalists for the big event on the evening of March 21st. Even if your child is not selected as a finalist, we highly encourage all 2nd graders and their families to come support their fellow classmates.

We are looking forward to our inaugural event :)

Best,
Ms. Walker

**Copies of Charlotte's Web Novels Needed**

We will be starting a literature unit during reading this week on Charlotte's Web. Since this book is an advanced level, I will be reading the book aloud as students listen or follow along. If you would like your child to have their own copy to use as we read and discuss, please send it in tomorrow or as soon as possible this week. We will be reading this book for 3 weeks and it is a big unit, so if you can purchase a copy for your child (it's a classic, so I highly recommend it) or you can borrow a copy from the library it would be greatly appreciated.

I have only a few spare copies, so please let me know if you are unable to get one.


Thanks,
Ms. Walker

Field Trip 4/6: Charlotte's Web at Orlando Shakespeare Theater

**THIS LETTER WAS SENT HOME WITH YOUR CHILD ON 3/5**

PS-- I have already filled 2 chaperone spots with those parents who were first to send in the form and money (and had not been selected for the fall field trip). I am looking for one more to join us.

2nd Grade is going on a field trip!
Hi Parents-

As part of our literature unit, we will be reading E.B. White's classic novel, Charlotte's Web. As an extension on our in-class discussions and activities, we will be going on a field trip to the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre to see this book come to life on stage. The date of the field trip is Friday, April 6th. We will be leaving school promptly after lunch at 11:00 am and will return to school after the performance prior to dismissal. The performance will be at 12:00pm at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre located on Rollins Street. Each classroom will be limited to 3 designated chaperones for the trip, but you may purchase your own ticket separately and meet us at the theater if you wish to enjoy the show with your child.
Please detach the form below and return to your child's classroom teacher no later than March 14, 2012. Be sure to include approrpiate funds in CASH only, please. If you are interested in chaperoning the trip, make note of it on the form.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We are very excited to share this experience with your children!

Best regards,
Ms. Walker

NO SPELLING THIS WEEK!

There will be NO spelling list or spelling home learning this week. I really want to focus efforts on preparing for Friday's museum.

Enjoy the week off from it!


Thanks,
Ms. Walker

REMINDER: Math Enrichment due TOMORROW, Biography Report due TUESDAY!!

Hi Parents-

    Just a friendly reminder that the enrichment packet for Unit 9 is due TOMORROW to receive extra credit for the assignment. We will be moving on to Unit 10 tomorrow which involves fractions and time...an excellent unit!

    Secondly, biography week is here! Please remember that the report portion for your child's biography is due on TUESDAY, 3/6. This has been communicated through a letter home, blog updates, email updates and has been written in their planner for weeks. One letter grade will be deducted for each day late that the work is received. Please make sure your child brings their "fancy copy" of their report on Tuesday (fancy copy means final copy...handwritten neatly on a sheet of notebook paper by the student, in the student's vocabulary capabilities). The outline is NOT the final report in case there's any confusion. It must be re-written in report format.

      Students must memorize their speech for the museum. We will be making flashcards in class on Tuesday and practicing in class Tues, Weds and Thurs. The students will also be bringing the cards home each night for additional practice. I had asked students to memorize their intro last week (name of person, date and place of birth to get started).

       Lastly, students should come to class on Friday IN their costume with a change of uniform clothes. Please make sure your child has their props too! Costume and props are required for their grade :) Please feel free to be creative. If your child has a large prop or needs a specific amount of space, please let me know in advance as we will also be working on placement in the room this week.

OK, I think that's all for now. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Ms. Walker