November 13, 2009
Dear Families,
Welcome to November! Time is flying by! I am looking forward to meeting with all of you next week at our Parent Teacher Conferences. I sent home a confirmation notice earlier this week of our scheduled date and time. If you did not get it, please let me know. If you are unable to keep our appointment, please let me know ahead of time. Thanks!
We also have a 1:00 dismissal all week due to the conferences.
As a reminder, I will not need my Tuesday volunteers this week or next week due to the conferences.
In Reading, we have started a new story, "Exploring Parks with Ranger Dockett." This story is our first nonfiction story. We are learning the difference between fantasy and realism. Ranger Dockett is a real ranger in New York's Central Park.
In math, we are moving right along through Chapter 2. I truly appreciate your patience with the program. It is a learning experience for all of us.
We have also finally started our science unit on Forces and Motion. This unit should continue for a couple of weeks. We are also continuing to work in the Chaparral Garden.
In writing, the students are kicking it up a notch! I am so proud of them! They are really starting to understand how to write a complete sentence and how to add details to their stories. Yipee!
We will not be having a Thanksgiving Feast this year. However, I would like to have a small treat at the end of the day on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day. I was thinking of pumpkin pie, apple pie, cherry pie or a combination. It would just be a small treat for us to share and talk about being thankful for each other. If you would like to donate a pie, please let me know.
I also need 28 bean bags for P.E. if you are able to make them for us.
Have a super weekend!
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October 30, 2009
Well, we had a wonderful Halloween Parade! The costumes were amazing and fun! Thank you to Mrs. Seo for bringing a treat for the kids! That was very sweet of you! We had a fun filled day of playing games, reading stories, music and even a spelling test!
Did you notice our incredible classroom banner during the parade? Thank you to Mrs. Hoon and Mrs. Hagan for creating our Harrison's Hotdog banner! I absolutely love it! All of the classroom banners will be hanging up in the MPR for the rest of the year.
I also need to thank all of you that have donated a book from the book fair to our classroom library! You have been so generous! Thank you!
I will be sending home the Parent Teacher Conference sign-up sheet next week. I promise to accomodate as many of your requests as possible. I am looking forward to meeting with you and discussing your child's progress so far this year.
I went to our district's P.E. training this week at El Roble. I think the program will be fun and engaging! I do have to beg for one item though. If you are able to sew, we need 28 bean bags for the kids. 24 bages for our class and 4 more for Mrs. Chadwick's students that I take during P.E. time. The bean bags can be filled with beans, rice or sand. I would really appreciate your help with this. Thank you!
I did not send home the Behavior Charts this week because we ran out of time to stamp them and pass them out. We were very busy this afternoon.
We have started Chapter 2 in our Everyday Math program. You may have noticed that homework is everyday now. Finally! PLEASE make sure that your child returns the homework on the next day, even if it is incomplete. We do spend part of our routine discussing the homework and going over any problems that were difficult.
In reading, we have started a new story this week. The new story is Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night. Please ask your child to tell you all about it. We will also be taking a new Accelerated Reader STAR test next week in the computer lab. I will compare these results with those in September to see the progress of each student. We will discuss this progress at Parent Teacher conferences.
You have been wonderful! Have a fantastic weekend and Happy Halloween!
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October 16, 2009
Dear Families,
What a busy week we have had! I hope everyone has a very relaxing weekend!
Monday is our annual golf tournament. I hope to see you at the dinner and auction.
On Monday, I will be sending home our first Everyday Math homework assignment! Finally! As a reminder, the Everyday Math homework is different than the math that I have been sending home with the homework packet. The Everyday Math homework needs to be completed the same night that it goes home and returned to school the very next day. The reason it has to be returned to school is that we will spend part of the morning routine going over it and answering any questions that the students may have. I hope this won't be too confusing. Also, part of the assignment is to refer to the Everyday Math Reference Book. Students have already had a chance to play the games in the computer class. Therefore, they should remember how to log on to the Reference Book section. If for any reason you are unable to access the reference book via the Internet, please let me know.
The Red Ribbon Week quilt squares are due on Monday. Sadly I cannot accept the quilt squares after Monday afternoon because I have to turn them in. Thank you!
I will also be sending home our first book report assignment on Monday. It will be included in the homework packet. The book report will be due on October 30, 2009. Please help your child select an appropriate book for their report. Also, please make sure that the book report is completed correctly and is in your child's best printing. The picture should be colored with crayon, colored pencil or marker.
Have a super weekend!
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October 9, 2009
Dear Families,
Thank you for the Golf Tournament gift basket donations! I am sure that our basket will be the best! I hope that all of you will be able to make it for the dinner. Babysitting is available, so bring the kids!
Have you had a chance to log on to the Everyday Math web site? I sent the passwords and user id's home last week. We also spent some time in our Chaparral lab showing the kids how to log on and how to play the games. If you are having any problems, please let me know. I may not know the answer, but I will find out for you.
The web sites were down for a bit, so I wasn't able to update the Volunteer schedule. I will update it now so that you will be able to access the information.
Red Ribbon Week will begin on October 26th and run through October 30th. We will be sending home a schedule of the activities that are planned for that week. In the mean time, I am going to be sending home a white paper quilt square for our Red Ribbon Quilt that will be on display in th front of the school. The theme is MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES. Your child can use crayons, markers or colored pencils. Please make sure to put his or her name on the back, room number and my name on the back of the quilt square. Otherwise, we won't be able to identify this work of art.
Speaking of art, Mrs. Donfrio, our art teacher, was here on Thursday for our first Art Masters Assembly. Our Art Master this month is Georgia O'Keefe, one of my favorites! Mrs. Donfrio will be visiting our classroom next week to do the actual lesson with the kids. It will be beautiful!
In math, we are now on Lesson 1-9. As a reminder, we will be having our first Everyday Math homework assignment with Lesson 1-11. In the meantime, the math that is in the homework packet is math that will strengthen skills, even though it isn't actually part of the Everyday Math program.
In reading, we have finished Julius and will be starting our next story Mrs. Brown Went To Town on Monday. I love this story! Make sure to ask your child about it.
In writing, we have started working on our first official formal writing project! So far so good! The students are learning how to brainstorm ideas and how to write a rough draft. I call it a "sloppy copy." Some of us are actually ready for revising and editing. I will be saving these stories to share with you at our November Parent/Teacher conferences.
In Social Studies, we are about half way through our first unit. Students are learning about maps, and how to read them. They are also learning about California resources and landforms.
I think this about covers it. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me or come by the classroom before or after school.
Have a terrific weekend! Go Angels! (and Dodgers!)
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October 2, 2009
Dear Families,
Thank you again for your support! For those of you who did not hear, I was out of class for a day and half with an inflamed rotator cuff and a pulled back! I have never experienced so much pain! Your children are so sweet! They have been picking things up for me and asking if they can help me so that I don't hurt my arm and back! They have been so kind!
Thank you to the parents that have brought in their donations for the Golf Tournament! We have so many cool things that I think that I am going to bid on our basket at the auction! You are awesome!
So many of the kids have been out sick this week. I hope they are well! We appreciate that you are keeping the kids home while they are sick so that the rest of us don't get sick too. Also, the kids have been so good about using the antibacteria gels and washing their hands before and after recesses. I think that this has helped us stay a little bit healthier.
All of the kids have been signed on for a new on-line math program called Math Mania. The trial ended today and it was free. If you would like for your child to continue this awesome on-line math program, it is $10.00 per child. This program offers remedial tutorials as well as challenges so that it meets the needs of all our students and at all of their levels. I wish that I could afford to pay for everyone but I just can't. With your donation, your child will be able to access the program in class, but also at home! So, it is a two-for-one! Please let me know if you are interested. I do feel that it will be a valuable learning tool that will support our new Everyday Math program.
Volunteers start next week. If you did not get a schedule, please let me know.
As always, if you need to speak with me it is best to catch me before or after school. During lunch time is a little rushed because I do not have a lot of time to eat and do what I need to do in order to prepare for the afternoon. E-mails are probably the best way to get a hold of me if you ever have a question.
Go Angels! Yippee! My team is in the playoffs---I will keep my fingers crossed for the Dodgers tonight!
Have a great weekend!
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September 18, 2009
Dear Families,
It was so nice to meet all of you on Wednesday! I hope you have had a chance to read all of the materials I gave you. If you have any questions about anything, just let me know.
CLASP (Claremont After School Program) is available for all students in grades K-6. It is a two hour program (3-5 pm) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This program is mostly for homework assistance, but does include an organized activity and a snack. There is a suggested donation of $70.00 per week, but scholarships are available. The program will start on Monday, September 28th. Applications are available in the office or ask me and I will get one for you.
I have not had a chance to set up the Volunteer Schedule yet. Volunteers won't start until October 8th. As soon as I have had a chance to organize the schedule, I will let you know. Thank you for your patience!
Wish me luck this weekend...my son is off to college!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Harrison
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September 11, 2009
Dear Families,
Welcome! I have truly enjoyed getting to know your children this week! We have had a lot of fun! I am looking forward to meeting with all of you at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. in Room 24. At 6:45 p.m., Mrs. Kerns, our wonderful principal, will be having a welcome meeting in the Multi-Purpose Room to introduce all of the teachers at Chaparral and to give you some important information about our school. We hope that you can join us.
I also have to thank you for all of the supplies that I have received over the past few days! You are awesome! I am overwhelmed by your generosity and kindness! Thank you so much!
I will not be handing out homework next week because I want to explain my homework policies and other information at Back-to-School Night. The "All About Me Tee" poster is not due until Wednesday, September 16th. I think that the posters will truly brighten up our classroom!
I have so much information to share with you when we meet on Wednesday. However, if you ever need to get a hold of me, please feel free to e-mail me or send a note with your child. I also try to be in my classroom before and after school.
Have a wonderful rest of the month!
Mrs. Harrison
