Room 5 Harvest

Today we harvested the carrots and onions we have been growing in the Room 5 Garden.

Last Day of School
Tomorrow, June 12th, is the last day of school.  On this day I will do work with the students in the morning and then take them in the afternoon to the field for a picnic starting at 12:30 PM.  The cafeteria will be closed.  Every student needs to bring a sack or boxed lunch, and a towel or blanket to sit on for the picnic.  If you like you can bring something for a potluck.  It might also be a good idea to put some sunscreen on your child in the morning.

Vegetable Soup
Today we harvested the carrots and onions from the Room 5 Garden.  We spent the morning picking our vegetables, cleaning and dicing them, and cooking them in a large soup.  The students did an excellent job.  Thanks as well to Mrs. Krantz and Mrs. Chen.  Pictures of everything we did are posted in the Photo and Video Gallery.   Extra carrots and onions went home with your students.

Field Day.  A Room 5 Student competes in the long jump.

Please Bring Back Your Velcro Book Pouches

Since it is the end of the year I need these back.  Sorry for the late notice. Thank you.

Last Day of School Plans

Our classroom flowers have bloomed.  We are making sure pollen gets exchanged so they complete the life cycle and form seeds.

Last Day of School
The last day of school is Tuesday, June 12th.  On that afternoon students will have a picnic lunch on the playing field.  We are also working on getting kites for all students to fly.  The picnic lunch will be a potluck but I also recommend that each student bring a small bagged lunch in case they don't like the choices available from the potluck--the cafeteria will be closed. 

To make this last day work I need some help from parents.  Here is a checklist of everything your student should bring on the last day of school:
- a towel or blanket that your student can sit on during the picnic.  You might write your surname on the tag.
- a light sack lunch.
- something for the potluck.

Mrs. Krantz, our room parent, should be contacting you shortly about requested items for the potluck.

Field Day
Field day is this Thursday, June 7th.  This is a change from the master calendar due to the rainy weather.  On that day students need wear athletic clothes that they can run, jump, and sit in the grass in.

Curriculum Overview

Literacy - finding the theme or message in fiction books

Math - comparing fractions

Writing - writing our own version of Cinderella

Word Study - are vs. our

Science - studying the life cycles of insects and plants

In-Class Art - a study of Vincent Van Gogh

Thank You for Coming To Open House

After calculating the area of one of the TPES garden boxes we checked our answer using square feet cut-outs.

Open House
Thank you so much for coming to Open House.  The students worked really hard cleaning up the room in anticipation of your arrival.  I wish I had taken some pictures, they were scrubbing, dusting, and organizing--it was quite an effort.

Friday, June 1st
I will be out of the classroom this Friday, June 1st.  TPES visiting teacher, Mrs. Sarabeth Wintringer, will be teaching the class in my absence.


Curriculum Overview

Literacy - finding the theme or message in fiction books

Math - area and perimeter, including the area of right triangles.

Writing - writing our own version of Cinderella

Word Study - are vs. our

Science - studying the life cycles of insects and plants

In-Class Art - a study of Vincent Van Gogh

Open House This Wednesday - 6 PM!

TPES students rocked out at the school dance last Friday.

Open House Schedule
I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday at Open House.  Room 5 students have been working hard to prepare work to showcase for you. 

Below is the schedule second graders need to keep during Open House.  If you have students in other grades their choral performance times will be different.

 5:00 PM - Dinner and snack items will be on sale in food court.  Optional.
 6:00 PM - Classrooms, science room, art room, and library will be open for visitors.
 6:20 PM - 2nd grade students report to the auditorium for their choral performance.
 6:35 PM - Classrooms, science room, art room, and library, will be open for visitors.
 7:30 PM - Open House ends

Basically all classrooms at the school will be open starting at 6:00 PM.  Musical performances will be taking place simultaneously in the auditorium.  The second graders perform at 6:20 PM.  So at 6:20 PM I will temporarily close Room 5 and we will all go over to the auditorium for our performance.

It is a little bit different this year.  If you have any questions please email me.

Photo and Video Gallery
I put many photos from Spirit Week and the school dance up in the Photo and Video Gallery.


Curriculum Overview

Literacy - finding the theme or message in fiction books

Math - area and perimeter

Writing - writing letters welcoming parents to Open House

Science - studying the life cycles of insects and plants

In-Class Art - a study of Vincent Van Gogh

On pajama day I allowed students to do different lessons with their stuffed animals.

Butteryflies / Spirit Week

The Room 5 butterflies feasted on pollen from the flowers you brought me for Teacher Appreciation Day.

Butterfly Life Cycle
The current second grade science unit studies the life cycle of insects and plants.  A few weeks ago we had some caterpillars delivered to the classroom.  Those caterpillars grew and grew until they went to the top of their enclosure and formed chrysalises.  Last week we observed them emerge from their chrysalises as butterflies.  After the butterflies emerged they dried off, flexed their wings, and enjoyed pollen from the flowers you all brought me for Teacher Appreciation Day.  On Friday we released them into the canyon.  More pictures are in the Room 5 Photo Gallery.

Spirit Week
This week is Spirit Week at Torrey Pines Elementary.  Here are the themes, day by day:

Monday - Dress Like Your Idol
Tuesday - Pajama Jammy Jam - Wear you pajamas and bring a stuffed animal.
Wednesday - Crazy Hair Day - Make your hair look crazy!
Thursday - Random Clothing Day - Wear something a little weird!
Friday - Hawaii Day - Wear you Hawaiian cloths!
Friday Evening 6 PM - School Dance.  All grades are invited, every student who comes must bring a parent.  I will likely be there too.

A couple of notes:  You are not required to dress up on any day.  Some days I personally will dress up, other days I will not. 

Mr. Solo also wanted me to mention two things:  On Wednesday students can use colored hairspray on their hairdos but they cannot bring cans of the hairspray to school. On Tuesday the stuffed animals kids bring should be small enough to fit into a paper grocery bag--none of those gigantic stuffed animals.

EVERY day is still a school day.  If your outfit prevents you from reading, writing, or behaving like a student it is probably a bad idea.

The school dance starts at 6PM on Friday.  Any student who wants to come needs to bring a parent.  I will be working there for at least a bit as well.

Teacher Appreciation Day
Thank you so much for the flowers, fruit, wine, and gifts.  I really appreciate it.  Some of the flowers stayed for decoration in Room 5, others were used in the butterfly enclosure, and others went home as gifts to my wife.  On Sunday I shared some of the wine and chocolate with my mother and father for Mother's Day.  The gift cards I am saving for a rainy day.

Important Upcoming Dates
May 23 - Wednesday - Open House
May 28 - Monday - No School, Memorial Day

Curriculum Overview

Literacy - Examine how cultural values are reflected in fiction.  Read different retellings of the story of Cinderella.  Compare their similarities and differences.

Math - square numbers, prime numbers

Writing - Writing about the Cinderella stories we are reading.  Our writing may include the conflicts driving the stories and the feeling the characters have at different points in the books.

Science - Studying The Life Cycles of Insects and Plants.

In-Class Art - A Study of Vincent Van Gogh

These are the remains of the butterfly chrysalises, along with some shedded caterpillar skin.

Students were captivated by the butterflies.

California State Testing Finished

For the state test Mr. Solo provided students with fresh pencils and erasers, as well as a handful of peanut M & M's.  After they finished students read quietly.

CST, or California Star Test
Thank you for your help preparing students for the California State Test.  All of the students in Room 5 have finished all six parts now.  I was impressed with their focus.  During the reading exams, student were reading so carefully, you could hear a pin drop.

Writing Journal
I want your students to complete two shorter entries this week.  Both of the assignments revolve around Cinderella.  I sent home an assignment sheet, I was also able to post it here.  I had meetings today so I was not able to make comments in their journals this week.

Important Upcoming Dates
May 23 - Wednesday - Open House
May 28 - Monday - No School, Memorial Day

Curriculum Overview

Literacy - Examine how cultural values are reflected in fiction.  Read different retellings of the story of Cinderella.  Compare their similarities and differences.

Math - square numbers, prime numbers

Writing - Writing about the Cinderella stories we are reading.  Our writing may include the conflicts driving the stories and the feeling the characters have at different points in the books.

In-Class Art - A Study of Vincent Van Gogh