It is time for our students to create a timeline using events from their own lives! This is a wonderful project that allows the students to visually experience their own past and enjoy talking about the past five or six years with you at home!
Please be creative and include pictures, drawings, and short explanations of different times in your child’s past. The project should be done chronologically starting with birth and showing something from each year of their lives. Some examples of events that will show their growth and development are as follows: holiday pictures, birthday pictures, sport pictures, first day of school, etc. It is best if your project is displayed horizontally.
Have fun and enjoy taking a walk down memory lane with this wonderful Social Studies project!
Please return this completed project to school by January 23rd.
Welcome back! The children did an excellent job getting back into the routine of school! All the children remembered the rules and procedures in our classroom and throughout school. I was very happy with our start to the new year!
**** I sent home the homework packet for next week today because we have no school on Monday. I thought this would help you all to get a jump on the spelling words and math facts, as well as completing the packet.
Next week, I will be out of the building for training on Tuesday and Thursday. Due to my absence, the children will not receive new books in their book pouches next week. Please continue to practice the current books which are in their book pouch.
Please do some NWEA practice with your child over the next few weeks. I had posted a few weeks ago some links for practice, but it looks like all of them except for Prepdog are no longer usable. Please find the Prepdog link below:
Homework has changed a bit. If you need help on how to support your child in completing the packet, please refer to the homework packet instruction video at the link below:
PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD ON READING EGGS AND MATH SEEDS EACH NIGHT!!!! This will be a great way to supplement their learning during the winter break!
If you misplaced your child’s login and need the information again, please email me at dimitrm@dearbornschools.org
Upcoming Events
1/15 No School!!! – MLK Jr. Day
1/17 Late Start – 9:35am arrival
1/17 PTA Meeting 6:00 – 7:00pm
1/18 Haigh School Store
1/19 Spelling Test – is, go, we, big, dig, pig, wig, zig, jig
1/19 + 3 Math Facts Quiz
1/19 Order forms and money due for PTA pizza kits
1/22 SPIRIT WEEK – Pajama Day
1/23 SPIRIT WEEK – Career Day
1/23 Scholastic Book Order Due
1/24 SPIRIT WEEK – Sport/College Wear Day
1/25 SPIRIT WEEK – Crazy Hair Day
1/26 SPIRIT WEEK – Haigh Spirit Wear Day
1/26 Half Day – 11:40am dismissal
1/26 Spelling Test – for, up, look, hop, pop, top, cop, mop, stop
1/26 +4 Math Facts Quiz
1/26 PTA Pizza Kit Delivery Day
1/29 PBIS Celebration – Winter Carnival
1/31 PTA – Magical Wonders of Michigan Assembly
Agenda for the Week
Spelling Words for our next spelling test on 1/19:
is, go, we, big, dig, pig, wig, zig, jig
Plus a bonus word which will be one of the following words: fig, rig
The purpose of the bonus word is to assess whether the children understand the word family pattern of each word ending in the same two letters -ig.
These words will be in the homework which came home today!
Please remember the spelling booklet will come home on the Monday after the children take the test and will be expected to be reviewed, signed, and returned to school on Tuesday. This will be the protocol for the test booklets each week. At the end of the year, the test booklets will be sent home for you to keep.
Reading and Writing: This week we practiced opinion writing a little bit more. I tell the children an opinion is something they think or feel. We also practiced narrative writing while working on our book for the start student of the week. Next week we will work on informational writing. We practiced our spelling words in a variety of ways through writing, reading, and games.
Math: The children took their +2 math test today! Next week, we will focus on learning +3 math facts. Our test will be on Friday, January 19th.
3 + 0 = __ 3 + 5 = __ 3+10=__
3 + 1 = __ 3 + 6 = __
3 + 2 = __ 3 + 7 = __
3 + 3 = __ 3 + 8 = __
3 + 4 = __ 3 + 9 = __
In preparation for NWEA testing, I quickly introduced subtraction. The children will practice this a little bit over the next few weeks, but we will come back to subtraction after we finish our addition facts.
The scope of our math curriculum for the rest of the year will be addition, subtraction, and greater than or less than concepts.
Here are some addition and subtraction videos to support your child’s learning:
Here are some addition videos:
Science: We began learning about polar habitats! The children are very excited for this new unit! We completed a R.A.N strategy (Reading and Analyzing Nonfiction Text). The children talk about what they think they know about the topic (polar habitats). Next, we read books to learn more about the topic and confirm facts that were correct and write down new facts we have learned. The children also learned about many different animals that live in polar climates and completed a few cut, color, and glue activities and crafts. This unit will last the rest of the month. The children will use this unit during their writing to learn how to write informational papers. We will be learning about moose, polar bears, penguins, puffins, arctic foxes, arctic hares, snow geese, walruses, and more!
Social Studies: This month our focus is history. The children will be learning about the past, present, and future. Today, I sent home a note about a timeline project. This is to be completed and sent back to school on January 23rd. Please do not send in the project early as we do not have space in the classroom to store projects. You may choose to create the project however you and your child decide. This is a fun way for them to better understand the past by relating it to their own life and experiences. The children will practice talking about their past through sharing their timeline projects with their peers.
Housekeeping Items:
Snack Time
**** Due to a peanut allergy in our room, please do not send in any snacks that contain nuts.*****
Folders
Please make sure to empty the green folders each night! It is very difficult and time consuming to locate homework or important notes when the folder is full of papers from the day before. Remember to initial the communication log and feel free to add any notes to me!
Please do some NWEA practice with your child over break. I had posted a few weeks ago a few links for NWEA website which help reinforce skills and questions your child will be asked on the NWEA computer test. They will take this test when we return to school in January. Please find the practice websites at the link below:
I also sent home a winter break homework packet. I sent this home on Thursday, just in case families were going on vacation early. These packets are due back on Tuesday, January 9th. If the entire packet is completed and returned by 1/9, your child will receive FIVE hoots!
Homework has changed a bit. If you need help on how to support your child in completing the packet, please refer to the homework packet instruction video at the link below:
PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD ON READING EGGS AND MATH SEEDS EACH NIGHT!!!! This will be a great way to supplement their learning during the winter break!
If you misplaced your child’s login and need the information again, please email me at dimitrm@dearbornschools.org
Upcoming Events
12/25 – 1/5 Winter Break – No School!!!!
1/8 – 1/19 PTA Pizza Kit Sales
1/26 Spelling Test – it, in, said, jet, met, pet, set, net, vet
1/26 +2 Math Fact Quiz
1/12 PTA Ugly Sweater Bingo for Books
1/15 No School!!! – MLK Jr. Day
1/17 Late Start – 9:35am arrival
1/17 PTA Meeting 6:00 – 7:00pm
1/18 Haigh School Store
1/19 Spelling Test – is, go, we, big, dig, pig, wig, zig, jig
1/19 + 3 Math Facts Quiz
1/19 Order forms and money due for PTA pizza kits
1/22 SPIRIT WEEK – Pajama Day
1/23 SPIRIT WEEK – Career Day
1/23 Scholastic Book Order Due
1/24 SPIRIT WEEK – Sport/College Wear Day
1/25 SPIRIT WEEK – Crazy Hair Day
1/26 SPIRIT WEEK – Haigh Spirit Wear Day
1/26 Half Day – 11:40am dismissal
1/26 Spelling Test – for, up, look, hop, pop, top, cop, mop, stop
1/26 +4 Math Facts Quiz
1/26 PTA Pizza Kit Delivery Day
1/29 PBIS Celebration – Winter Carnival
1/31 PTA – Magical Wonders of Michigan Assembly
Agenda for the Week
Spelling Words for our next spelling test on 1/12:
it, in, said, jet, met, pet, set, net, vet
Plus a bonus word which will be one of the following words: wet, let, yet, bet
The purpose of the bonus word is to assess whether the children understand the word family pattern of each word ending in the same two letters -et.
These words will be in the homework which will come home on Monday, January 8th.
Please remember the spelling booklet will come home on the Monday after the children take the test and will be expected to be reviewed, signed, and returned to school on Tuesday. This will be the protocol for the test booklets each week. At the end of the year, the test booklets will be sent home for you to keep.
Reading and Writing: This week we had paper dice and rolled the dice three times to see which animals would be chasing our gingerbread boy or girl. The children were able to choose if their gingerbread was a boy or girl, give it a name, and roll their own dice to determine which animals were chasing their gingerbread. Then the children wrote a story about the three characters who chased their gingerbread and told about what happened in the end. Some stated that the gingerbread got away, while others told a tragic tale of the gingerbread losing a leg… or worse!
The children also worked on writing steps to catch a gingerbread. The children used our transition words first, next, last to tell exactly how they would catch a runaway gingerbread cookie.
Math: The children took their +1 math test today! The children did well and are getting used to the testing format.
When we return after break, we will focus on learning +2. Our test will be on Friday, January 12th. You may choose to practice these math facts over break with your child:
2 + 0 = __ 2 + 5 = __ 2+10=__
2 + 1 = __ 2 + 6 = __
2 + 2 = __ 2 + 7 = __
2 + 3 = __ 2 + 8 = __
2 + 4 = __ 2 + 9 = __
Remember, the flashcards sent home two weeks ago for the +0’s were just an example of how you could help support your child’s learning. Please have your child practice the answers on paper. You could give them a practice test! This will help them get used to writing the answer by themselves and prepare them for the test.
Here are some addition videos to support your child’s learning:
Here are some addition videos:
Science: We continued learning about weather and focused on reading thermometers.
After break we will begin learning about Polar climates and the animals which live there!
Housekeeping Items:
Snack Time
**** Due to a peanut allergy in our room, please do not send in any snacks that contain nuts.*****
Folders
Please make sure to empty the green folders each night! It is very difficult and time consuming to locate homework or important notes when the folder is full of papers from the day before. Remember to initial the communication log and feel free to add any notes to me!
Reminder: Tomorrow is our spelling test and our +1 math fact quiz.
**Spelling booklets will not come home until after our third spelling test on January 12th. You can review and sign for the second and third test on 1/12.**
Tracking says that the book order should be delivered today! Hopefully there will not be a delay. Either way, the order was scanned in at the Livonia post office this morning, so if it does not arrive today, it should be here tomorrow. YAY!
It looks like there was a delay in the shipment of our order. The shipment should have arrived yesterday or at the lastest today. The tracking is unavailable at this time and I am not sure if these books are going to come in before school closes on Friday. I am really hoping so because I ordered some gifts for me nephews and niece. I will be calling Scholastic later to find out the status of our order. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Hopefully the order will be delivered before close of day on Friday.
Just wanted to send a quick reminder that tomorrow is late start. Arrival is at 9:35am.
Tomorrow is also our Polar Express and Pajama day. Your child may choose to wear pajamas. If they would like to bring a small blanket or towel, that will be fine too! Tomorrow your child may bring in for themselves a special snack, if you would like. We usually try to keep our snacks healthy each day, but tomorrow they may bring in whatever they like.
We will watch some of the movie in the morning and finish it in the afternoon!
As you read in our newsletter, we have been comparing different versions of the gingerbread man. We read one book called “Catch that Cookie” where a class makes gingerbread cookies and then they run away. The gingerbread men leave clues all over the school for the students telling them that if they could find them, they could eat them. Our gingerbread cookies ran away and left clues all over Haigh for us. We had to solve the riddles they left to figure out where they were hiding. Each clue led to the next, until finally we found the gingerbread men in Mr. Short’s office! We brought the cookies back to the classroom and made them our snack! We decorated our gingerbread cookies and then we took our first bite and graphed which body part we bit off first. Then we gobbled up the rest of the cookie!
Afterwards we did a science experiment where we put asked ourselves, “Could the gingerbread cookie have crossed the river without the fox?” We made predictions about what we thought would happen to the gingerbread man once he got wet. We put a gingerbread cookie in a big tub of water and watched. He became soggy and began to break apart.
The children had a fun time with all of our gingerbread activities! Here are a few pictures:
PTA did not accept any popcorn money today. If you sent in popcorn money it is coming back in your child’s green folder. There will be more popcorn sales in the future.
The school store was supposed to be open yesterday. Due to the snow day, this did not happen. There will be another opportunity for school store next month.
It is a long morning from 8:35 when the children arrive until 12:40 when we go to lunch. Those little tummies get hungry! Please remember to send a snack to school with your child, even on days when they are buying a lunch.
Please make sure that your child has their green book pouches with them each and every day. These are an important part to our Daily five learning. Thank you for your support in making sure the children are prepared with all of their learning materials each day!
PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD ON READING EGGS AND MATH SEEDS EACH NIGHT!!!!
If you misplaced your child’s login and need the information again, please email me at dimitrm@dearbornschools.org
Upcoming Events
12/18 – 12/20 Candy Gram Sales
12/20 Late Start
12/20 Polar Express and Pajama Day (more information coming home soon)
12/22 PBIS Celebration – Movie Theater (at Haigh)
12/25 – 1/5 Winter Break – No School!!!!
Agenda for the Week
Spelling Words for our next spelling test on 12/22:
to, am, you, can, man, tan, pan, ran, fan
Plus a bonus word which will be one of the following words: van, plan, Dan, Jan, ran
The purpose of the bonus word is to assess whether the children understand the word family pattern of each word ending in the same two letters -an.
These words will be in the homework which will come home on Monday.
The children did well with taking their first spelling test and are learning good test taking strategies and skills for the future. The spelling tests are taken in a spelling booklet. This booklet will come home on Monday and will be expected to be reviewed, signed, and returned to school on Tuesday. This will be the protocol for the test booklets each week. At the end of the year, the test booklets will be sent home for you to keep.
Reading and Writing: We are all done with the letters of the alphabet! Please be sure to still keep your child accountable for writing the letters correctly and on the line.
This week we continued working on text connections. We reviewed text-to-text connections, and text-to-self connections. We really focused on text-to-text when we read many different versions of the gingerbread man, The children loved comparing the stories and identifying things that were the same from story to story and things that were different. We read versions of The Gingerbread Man that were very similar to the story we all know, we also read stories about ninjabread men, gingerbread girls, gingerbread babies, gingerbread men lose in the school, and so many more!
The children worked on retelling and used character prop masks to act out the characters in the original version of The Gingerbread Man. We thought about how we could be actors just like the actors that we saw on our field trip at Pete the Cat.
At the end of the day today, one of our gingerbread stories came to life! In the story Catch that Cookie, a class makes gingerbread men cookies and they run away. The cookies leave clues for the boys and girls in the class and if they are able to find them, they can eat them. I hid clues around the school and hid gingerbread cookies. The class was very excited to run around and try to find the cookies. The children just couldn’t believe that the cookies had run away just like they did in the story!
Pictures of this event will be posted soon!
Math: The children took their first math test today! These tests will come home on Monday. This was a good experience and the children are learning test taking skills for the future!
Next week we will focus on learning +1. Our test will be on Friday. Here is an example of equations which will be on the test: 0+1, 1+1, 2+1, 3+1 or it may be written 1+3.
We talk in class about how it can be written either way when adding numbers together. 1+4 OR 4+1 — the answer is still the same!
Remember, the flashcards sent home last week were just an example of how you could help support your child’s learning. Please have your child practice the answers on paper. You could give them a practice test! This will help them get used to writing the answer by themselves and prepare them for the test.
Here are some addition videos to support your child’s learning:
Here are some addition videos:
Science: We continue learning about weather and the four seasons. We learned about thermometers and how they measure how hot or cold it is outside. The children all did well on their science test today!
Social Studies: We are learning about economic goods and services. This concept is a little difficult for the children to understand as most of them do not go out and pay for things themselves! We have discussed many places you could go and pay for a service such as a restaurant, nail salon, hair salon, etc. We have also discussed buying goods, which is a little easier for the children to understand paying for something and taking it home such as food from the grocery store, toys from the store, etc.
Housekeeping Items:
Parents need to sign in at the office if you want to enter the building with your child. This is for the safety of all children at Haigh Elementary and is a district policy.
Cold Weather:
The cold weather is upon us and so comes the days of hats, mittens, scarves, boots, and maybe even snow pants. Many of these items can easily become lost throughout the day with them being taken on and off for arrival, recess, lunch, dismissal, etc. Please label your child’s belongings in order to help these items find their way back home in the event that any should be misplaced.
Also, it would be a huge help if you could practice zipping and unzipping coats, putting on and taking off hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, snow boots, shoes, and snow pants. Please consider the time it takes you to get one child ready for the cold weather and multiply that by 24!!!! Help me foster independence in your children by practicing all these skills at home in order to make them self-sufficient at school.
Additionally, Mr. Short has asked that no parents enter the building unless they have signed in at the office. This means that your child will need to enter the building without you and independently unpack and take off their winter accessories by themselves. This will help your child get ready for First grade! We want to send big, independent children to First grade!
Thank you for all of your help and assistance in helping the children become more independent!
Snack Time
**** Due to a peanut allergy in our room, please do not send in any snacks that contain nuts.*****
Folders
Please make sure to empty the green folders each night! It is very difficult and time consuming to locate homework or important notes when the folder is full of papers from the day before. Remember to initial the communication log and feel free to add any notes to me!
Tomorrow evening the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is coming to Haigh! They will be teaching all of the teachers how to facilitate different experiments and activities which include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics!
Please considering bringing your child to this fun event at Haigh!
