Happy Friday to all!  We have had such a fun week back at school. It was great to see all the kiddos on Tuesday.  This week we have spent some time reviewing our daily procedures and expectations, those things are easily forgotten when away from school for so many days! ;-)  

We continue to fly through the Jolly Phonics curriculum. This week we began working out of workbook number 3!  I cannot tell you enough how proud I am of all of the kiddos for their constant hard work each day!  Just as book 2 was a little more advanced than book 1, the same holds true for book 3.  The daily writing will be longer, more detailed, less guided and more of their own thought process.  We will have more dictated sentences instead of dictated words and while those things are changing the Tricky Words will remain a constant. :-) That's right we will continue to introduce, practice and work with many new words each week. By now I am sure you have noticed that your child's word bag is quite full!  We will continue to add to it each week and so I ask that you continue to work with your child each week on those words.  This takes less than five minutes for them to read all of the words, they could probably say them in their sleep by now!  It is always great to keep practicing. If you think your child has mastered all of these words and you have a few extra minutes each night, draw out ten of the words and asked your son/daughter to write them for you. Our goal by the end of first grade is not only that they recognize and can read these words but write them correctly as well.

In Math we have recently taken a new road, measurement.  We started off by measuring classroom objects with our body: feet, arms, hands, legs and fingers.  We have moved into more standard forms of measurement such as a 12 inch ruler and a 6 inch ruler. The kids have done a great job with this and seem to be enjoying it more and more each day.  

In Social Studies we have been discussing rules that we have here at school as well as rules we have at home and are moving into comparing the past and the present. We will be talking about many different areas such as schools, holidays, clothing, food and traditions.  It is a great time of year to be learning about these things. 

Please remember that the days (most days) are getting colder. We do go outside 3 times a day. All students need to be bringing hats, gloves and winter coats with them to school. We obviously are not to the point where we need snow pants and boots yet but the other items are necessary to keep your child warm at recess.

Monday and Tuesday of this coming week your child does not need to bring his/her writing notebook or sound bags back to school. Please keep them at home and return them on Wednesday, December 5.  The tricky word bags WILL be coming home, please send those back each day.  

Thursday, December 6 we will be going to the Old Creamery Theater for a live production of Winnie The Pooh. If you signed up your child for a school lunch it will be here for them on that day, if you signed them up to bring their own lunch please remember to send it on that day. 

Kalona Elementary Boosters are preparing a beef and noodles supper and dessert auction next Saturday, December 8 from 5:00-7:00 for the meal and the auction will follow.  Their will be activities for you children while the auction is going on. Hope to see you all there!