Mrs. Cahill

Our homework for tonight is:

Math-Study those coins. Can you make change? Make up some simple problems ie: If you have 50 cents and you buy a toy for 48 cents. How much change will the storekeeper give you back?
Also, those flashcards! Test tomorrow on them. Remember, the key is to do all the ones you know "in a flash" and then go back to fill in those ones you are not sure of. Do not get hung up on one you don't know and let those minutes tick away!!! HINT!!!!!

Reading--AR? Some still have to bring in their info on their names and their demonstration props for their How-To paragraph. Congrats to all who demonstrated today! Remember to use those time-order words! I will be listening for them!!!

FYI: I hope everyone received their special delivery thank you by this time!

Dress warmly, it should be cold again tomorrow!

Our homework for tonight is:
Math----flashcards!!!!!

Reading-Some still have to bring in their information about their name. It is due tomorrow.
Use this light night of homework to do some AR reading. Sign up for the test!

Spelling- Do some more great and wonderful sentences. Linking verbs is the focus this week.

FYI:We are now the recipients of a white board!!! No more messy chalk in my contact lenses!!! YIPPEE!!!

I still am missing a few grandparent place of origin sheets. Send those in as the British are waiting to see if there are any common names or birthplaces!
Also, I still have some report cards missing. Send those along too!

Congratulations to Mrs Barb Bosak, who name was pulled out of a hat to join us on our CSO Field trip! Thanks to everyone who offered to go along. I appreciate it and maybe on our next field trip your name will be pulled! I will be contacting you soon Mrs. Bosak!!! Thanks again!

Our homework for tonight is:

Math- flashcards!!! Memorization is the key to success!! You may also want to go onto ixl.com and practice some money exercises. We talked about counting out change today. Some had to finish at home.

Religion-Finish p.121 if you did not get it done in school. Also you can begin to study for the Chapter nine test which will be on next Tuesday!

Reading- Do the vocab. sheet and get it signed after you read the story aloud to someone.You also should discuss with your parents who you were named after and why? Look on page 41 in the reader to see exactly what you need to know! I can't wait to find out who you were named after and what famous person has your name, if any. Write it down on looseleaf paper so you don't forget!

You can start bringing in the items you need to demonstrate your 'How-To" paragraph.

FYI:Thanks to "Super Scientist" Ciaran for demonstrating to us how different each person's fingerprints are! That was interesting. Maybe you will be a detective someday!!!

On Tuesday of Catholic Schools Week, we are having a guest speaker coming in to talk to us about a book she wrote about her dog. HER DOG IS COMING TOO!!! Let me know if this presents a problem for anyone. Allergies??? Fear of dogs???? Sounds like it will be interesting; especially since we are all focusing on all the different types of writing in class in our "Writer's Workshop."

Our homework for tonight is:

Math--Our last fact flashcard went home today!!!! Study it, memorize it!
We talked about the dollar sign and decimal point today. It will show up on the next test! Do you know how to use them properly? Practice writing some amounts at home. ixl.com has some great drills on counting money also. Why not go on and try it out. Some of you have never even gone on at all!! :( This is a fun way to practice what you learned in school.

Spelling--study words and get going on your sentences. This week we are talking about linking verbs! Does anyone remember what some of the ones were that we used in class? Remember, a linking verb is a verb that does not show action. ie: was are were is am,etc.
Spellingcity.com is also a great way to practice those spelling words.

FYI: Thanks to Emmett for the pretzel treat! It came just in time!! We had music left over on Friday! Emmett will be providing us with a pretzel reward!!! Thanks again, Emmett!
Riley showed up with some fruit snacks too! I hope we have music left in the music box by Friday so we can eat them too!!!(If this does not make sense to you, ask your child to explain!!)

Thanks to everyone who sent in their $$ for the 2nd grade field trip on time! I think there may be one or two yet to come!!!

I also wish to take this opportunity to ask for volunteers to help us with this circus adventure! We need lots of helpers in order for it to be a great success. Some of the students are volunteering you here at school but so far I have not received an actual confirmation of this!!! I know how that goes! So, if indeed you really are volunteering, let me know. I know of only 2 so far from my room!
I also am hoping that everyone knows there is an $8.00 fee per student for the circus performers to come here and teach us. There is a cap of, I believe, $20.00 for a family with more than three in the school. Some of the children have said their money went in with siblings and that is fine. Sounds like it is going to be a great time. It is a confidence builder they say to be a part of this.

Our homework for tonight is:

Math-Flashcards!!! A new set came home tonight. Be sure to recite the entire fact family. Also, go on ixl.com to the money section and count some change!!! Know the coins front and back.

Reading-Read some AR books that you got at the library today!!! Some of the children are confused with the points. It shows a running total from the first test they took until present day.Each quarter starts fresh! Just keep on reading and taking the tests!!!

FYI: Thanks to Ciaran for bringing in some prizes for our Treasure Chest!!!Just in time!!! Thanks also to Nieve who has been spoiling us with treats!!!!

Have you had a chance to go on www.cirqueamongus.com yet? It gives an explanation of the circus activities that we will be doing on Feb. 4. We are getting very excited about this. Be sure to send in your payment for this in-school field trip. Sorry that the second grade field trip is requesting money at the same time!!! :( It is just because the Orchestra Hall requires a downpayment well in advance.
We are looking for two or three volunteers per homeroom for the circus on Feb. 4. We are all going to have to attend a Training Session prior to the big day. I believe it is the Wednesday(Feb.3) right before the circus from 3:00PM to 5:00PM. They will be teaching us how to run the various circus events!!!! Sounds like a fun day!!!Please join us!!! Let me know if you can commit to the times!

Our homework for tonight is:
Math-flashcard memorization!!! Only a few did not finish their math page from school so it must be done at home.

Reading- AR reading! Let's not wait to accrue those 7 points.

FYI: Second grade did a great job on their Mass today! The compliments are rolling in. That's another marble in the jar! Remind me Nieve!!!
Today the test packet went home with all your wonderful results from past tests. Don't forget to sign it and return all the tests except the Spelling. That's refrigerator worthy!!

Our treasure chest is getting low again! Anyone who would like to donate is welcome to do so now. We love snacks too!!! Thanks in advance.

Our homework tonight is:

Since we are taking a break from the usual routine, take this light homework night to read an AR book. Only half of my class has actually met the goal of 5 points. :( For this next semester, we will be expecting 7 points!!! I will be pushing for everyone to meet this goal!!! This means you will have to go to the library and take out about 10-14 books and read one every night and take the test the next day. Readers are Leaders!!!

Math-go on ixl.com and do some money lessons. Maybe even count the change in dad's pocket! Just be sure you know the coins and their value (from the front and the back).
Starting this semester, I will be giving a flashcard sheet to be signed nightly by the parents after spending about 20 minutes on the memorization of the facts. Only the people who need this extra help will be asked to do this. Test scores have determined who!

FYI: Second grade will be hosting the Mass tomorrow at 8:45. All are welcome as the song says! Thanks to Frank, Patrick, Julia, Grace, Mia, Brian for reading so spectacularly for us and to Joey for carrying up the wine.

We have been praying daily for the earthquake victims in Haiti and the children want to do something for them. We talked about bringing in money to donate to the Red Cross fund or Catholic Charities with the designation for the Haitians. So if you want to be a part of this send in your money. I will be sure to get it where it will do the most good. The children are deeply affected by this.

We are working on our next phase of writing skills. This time we are concentrating on Explanatory Writing or the "How To Paragraph." We have already completed the first two steps: the list, and the flow-chart that helps us get organized. Now onto the paragraph itself with the use of the "Time-Order" words. Many are almost through. I have been meeting with individuals to edit the draft or "sloppy" copy. We are turning into great writers. I hope we end up with some famous writers someday!!!

I forgot to mention that we are out of uniform on Friday! I was hosting a meeting and completely forgot to write it down. They were all told that we were going to use our "pop-top" out of uniform pass on Friday. Here's hoping!!!

Our homework for tonight is:
Math- new flashcards came home. It might be fun to go on ixl.com and do some of the money lessons.

Reading-Pullout Storybook Look for the vocabulary words!

FYI: Talk about what your dream would be to make the world a better place to live in. Be ready to write it down tomorrow.

Congratulations to everyone for doing such an excellent job on the prewriting stage of our explanatory paragraph! I can't wait to see the finished project!

Our homework for tonight is:

Religion-Study for the test. Be ready to tell one way you can be sorry for your sins.

Reading-Read the story after doing the Vocab. sheet. Get it signed!! Be thinking of a How-To topic to explain in a step-by-step procedure!

FYI: Thanks to Mrs. Bosak who sent in some cute snowman balls for our treasure chest! They are lovin' them!!!

Looking forward to seeing you at the meeting tonight!

Our homework for tonight is:

Math- Study the flashcards! Today's tests were very telling!!!!!

Spelling-Sentences are due. And study for the test.

Handwriting-Some may have had to take their book home to finish up the 'j'.

FYI: Thanks to Mrs Calumet who donated some great prizes for our treasure chest. We love prizes!!! I feel as though I may have missed thanking someone who donated right before Christmas.And now I have forgotten who it was, so.... if you can, let me know so I can thank you on-line!!!!

Our homework for tonight is:

Math-flashcards! New ones are coming. Be sure to memorize the old before the new ones come home tomorrow!

Reading-Read the little storybook from our workbook containing those vocab. words which show up on Friday!

Spelling-- Write some more sentences.Neatness does count!!!!

Social Studies-Color the map showing the different landforms and water. Be sure to put your name on it. Some have to finish designing their own landform on which they want to live. Be sure to answer the question on the bottom.

FYI: Today at Mass we learned about the Three Kings or Wise Men. We made a banner to hang in your house to bring you good luck and happiness in the New Year. See if your child remembers what the initials stand.

Our homework for tonight is:

Reading-Do the vocab sheet and get it signed. Read the story, Nine-in-One, GRR,GRR!!!

Spelling-Study your words and do some more sentences! (Some are opting to use their NO HOMEWORK pass that I gave out in the coupon book!!!)Spellingcity.com is helpful to learn the words through games.

FYI: A big thanks to Mrs. Conte, for coming in to talk to us about our latest artist ,Pissaro. It was fun working with the pastels. Our landscapes turned out great.
We learned how to 'blend' the pastel chalks to get a different effect.

Check the school website to see what to wear for the team, scouts, and drama clubs. Tomorrow is your day.

Happy New Year to Everyone!!!

Our homework tonight is:

Spelling-Get started on your sentences. Try to use some past tense verbs when making them up. ie: watched, walked, ran,etc. You may also want to go on Spellingcity.com and click on teach me or play games!

Math-Today I sent home the Family letter explaining the next unit on money. Why not see if your child knows all the coins, front and back! This is something they have to know and will eventually be tested on it, so......
ixl.com also has some great practice pages to do too!P1,P2,P3, are all great at this time. Check them out!

FYI: I sent home the test packet today. Look over and return it to me as soon as possible. Remember, you can keep the Spelling paper to show Grandma how smart you are!!!

Also, I sent home either a balloon or party hat on which your child has to write: "My New Year's resolution will be to....." Then color or decorate it in a festive way!!! These will be on display in the hallway. Get creative!!! I can't wait to see them.

Reminders: Don't forget to cash in on the coupon booklet I gave at Christmas! Only one person took advantage of it today!

Also, another reminder to you--this Sunday, Jan 10, will be the Communion Candidates Mass of Acceptance.You must come to the 10:30 Mass. Fr. will call you and your child forward onto the altar and ask if you are willing to begin this journey and help them along the way with the preparation. The congregation will extend a blessing over you and your family at this time.

The following Tuesday, Jan.12, is the First Eucharist Parents Only Meeting at 7:00 in the School Hall. At this time we hope to be able to explain all the ins and outs of the Communion Day. Come with your questions!!!

I would like to thank everyone for all the generous Christmas gifts you gave to me! I am writing individual notes that I intend to mail to the homes, be patient with me. I had a very busy, fun-filled vacation!!!!!