New Challenges

Building Boats
Today, the letter about our Cargo Challenge went home. The competition will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday during science time. Every student should make a boat of some sort, even if it is just made out of paper plates or play dough. Be sure to stick to the regulation size detailed on the sheet.

Data Collection
In math today, we began talking about collecting data. We learned the words minimum, maximum, mode, and median. Tonight for homework, students are going to collect 5 pieces of data at home and make a bar graph out of the data.

Word Sorts
While we did not have time to meet in our word sort groups today, the new sorts were passed out and the kids had time at the end of the day to cut them. Please make sure they finish cutting, putting their student number on the back, and put them in the baggy in their home binder. We will spend time discussing words in our groups tomorrow during literacy time.

Word Work
This week, we are continuing to practice using the dictionary. This is a valuable life skill that will help your child understand how to use resources for learning. If you have a dictionary at home, give your child any word to look up and spend a few minutes with them figuring out strategies to find words quickly. Always have them identify the guide words at the top of the page to help find the word. Read the part of speech and the definition. Practicing earning a new skill in a different environment with different people and using different materials will create a stronger understanding of the skill. Thank you for your support with this at home!

Books, Books, and more Books!
Book orders from Scholastic came home yesterday. Thank you to those of you who supported our class and purchased books, either online or the traditional way. You helped earn 1500 points for me to purchase new books for our classroom. As you may have heard from your child, anytime you would like to donate books to our classroom (old ones your child has outgrown or lost interest in), we welcome any and all donations. I asked the kids to get a quick note from you, signed, saying that you support and are aware of this donation, just to make sure your child doesn't clean out their bookshelf at home! Young's Book Fair is taking place next week! Come in to purchase some wonderful materials and help our school earn a percentage of the sales. I LOVE the book fair! Come check it out!

Treasure Box
I am sure most of you have heard about your child's purchases this week at our Treasure Box. This is a chance for the students to use the Dolphin Dollars they have been earning this year for little prizes. I pick up items here and there at Target, Oriental Trading, Goodwill, garage sales, etc. to put in my Treasure Box. The kids had fun going through to pick their items. If anyone is ever at Target and sees fun little items that your child would love and they are marked on sale (REALLY far on sale!), if you are comfortable buying them for me and send it in with the receipt and I will happily reimburse you! Kids also will have the chance to spend their Dolphin Dollars for next week on either Stuffed Animal Day or Dance Party Lunch - in the room for $20.