Weekly Update, May 9 - 13

Hello Smart Pre-Second Graders and Super Pre-Second Grade Parents!

The kids had so much fun with career week last week!  Thank you so much to the parents who were able to come in and tell the kids about your jobs.

I hope all the moms had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday!  The kids planted your daffodil bulbs several weeks ago and they have been carefully watering and taking care of them.  They were so excited to bring them home to you!  They had so much fun making their tissue paper flowers; it reminded them of Eric Carle's art!  I was so touched by the sweet messages they wrote on the petals and I hope you were too!

The PRE-SECOND GRADE SPELLING CHALLENGE continues!  There are only two more spelling tests left!  Will you get an A+?  Will you get an A++??  You can do it!!!

CAMP  LEARNED  A  LOT!
Camp Learned a lot is a fun and exciting way to end first grade and blast off to second grade!  Camp Learned A Lot is a 3 day camp full of games, friends and surprises during the last week of school!  The students have been offered the chance to earn a stay at Camp Learned A Lot.  In order to earn Camp Learned A Lot, the students must:
* Be awesome pre-second graders at all times
* Follow our class rules (we are respectful, we are responsible, we are safe, we follow the Golden Rule) at all times
* Get an A+ report from Mrs. Wakefield, our guest teacher on 5/16
Kids - Camp Learned A Lot is SO MUCH FUN!!!  I know that you will all be responsible pre-second graders and earn camp!

BLASTING OFF TO 2nd GRADE!!!
For the next two weeks in science and guided reading we are doing a unit on our Solar System.  The kids are very ready for 2nd grade and this is a fun science unit to end the year and blast them off to second grade!  Today we learned about the Sun and stars.  Beginning tomorrow, we will study the planets in their order from the sun.  We will study all the planets until we finish next Thursday.  The planets we will study this week are the inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

In writing we are working on making a space book!  Each child will make a page about each planet with different information.  The pictures of the planets are made from tissue paper.  The kids loved this as it reminded them of Eric Carle!

The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow.  This week in making words we are reviewing contractions and learning about abbreviations. 

The kids enjoyed their space centers today!  The centers for the week include:
1.  Listening - The kids listened to "I Can Read About Space," and they made their cover for their space books.
2.  Science - The kids colored different constellations and made their own telescope.  The telescope can actually be used on the constellation paper like a real telescope.  Kids, be sure to show your parents how this works!
3.  Writing - The kids wrote about blasting off to second grade!  They wrote about what it will be like in second grade and what they will do in second grade.
4.  Math - The kids made a space book with different patterns and numbers related to space.
5.  Reading - The kids worked on reading assessments for the report card.

The kids did a great job working on strategies to help increase speed when adding numbers.  We will continue to work on strategies for solving both addition and subtraction problems.  We are still working on place value by writing and identifying large numbers.  The kids have gotten so good at this!

We were unable to go to computers today due to make-up MAP testing in the upper grades.  Computers should resume next week.

Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston