BE MINE... February 2015 The 411... Please read this newsletter to find out the latest and greatest about all the happenings of Room 18. “DO YOU LOVE ME ... OR DO YOU NOT? YOU TOLD ME ONCE, BUT I FORGOT.” Dear Parents, It’s hard to believe that we are mid-way through our second trimester of school. February brings us one of my favorite holidays – Valentine’s Day. It’s a joy to celebrate the love and the many friendships in our classroom family. We also have another threeday weekend for President’s day this month, and who doesn’t love an extra long weekend? Our class has several fantastic field trips coming up this month. The fourth graders are heading to Sacramento and our fifth graders will go to the DeYoung Museum. But first, we’ll all head over to Vista Grande on February 3rd for our much anticipated “flag football super-bowl game” It’s a Green Valley tradition and a LOT of fun. It’s a great way to learn teamwork and it provides our students with opportunities to learn about good sportsmanship (let’s hope we’re on the winning side of the learning curve!) The student art project order forms are here! Please look for yours in your child’s Monday Folder this week. The Learning Fund raises money to provide many programs that enhance your child’s education. Your support of the Learning Fund is appreciated and vital to providing a classroom aide, for our Library, the Computer Lab, and the Vocal Music Program just to name a few. I hope you’ll plan on attending the auction with me - let’s get a few tables and show our Room 18 Spirit! Are you interested in helping with our Valentine’s Day party? Please sign up here... I’d LOVE to hear from you! Katie Robinson [1] Looking forward to February... ACTION SHOTS During the next month we’ll continue our focus on reading in books clubs. The most critical piece of reading is comprehension and critical thinking. The students are learning to use “reading sign-posts” to focus their attention on important literary clues that authors use in their work. Ask your child to name the signposts and their significance in reading. Please continue to READ ALOUD to your child to model fluency. Talking about what you have read is the best way to build critical thinking. Our writing stamina has improved dramatically. We are currently writing an opinion essay about serving chocolate milk in school. The students have researched and are now writing a paper that gives their opinion. You will be impressed with their writing! In math we’re spending a great deal of time on long division and problem solving. Soon we will move on to fractions. It is exciting to see the students become more confident mathematicians. Our fifth graders have had one meeting with the counselor from Los Cerros, Mrs. Schubb. She’ll be coming for another visit in March, then again in May. She is helping the fifth graders begin the transition to (gulp) middle school. Next week is the biggest, reddest, mushiest day of the year. We’ll have little party to celebrate. Every child should bring these three things for the party: 1. A decorated Valentine collection box (check out pinterest for some inspiration) An empty box with an opening that allows for easy access is perfect. 2. Valentines for each classmate (homemade Valentines are encouraged!) 3. A small wrapped gift (about $5 value) that is suitable for both boys AND girls (suggestions: deck of cards, notebook, book-marks, markers, origami paper, yogurt shack gift card, erasers, stickers,) In the Process of Learning... • An action shot of the Green Valley championship flag football game during lunch. • Using the iPads to practice math skills with a buddy • We had the best sub EVER... and took a selfie with “Miss Robinson” to prove it! Breakfast Book Club is this Wednesday, 2/4/14 at 7:45. Don’t miss out! RSVP Here It’s National “Words Matter Week” so we’re focusing on using kind words. [2]