Yep..these cold temperatures are taking a toll on our first grade kids. Their bodies REALLY need some unstructured play time outside. I have exercise time in the classroom for brain breaks, but most of the kids are flailing their arms and flopping on the ground. They just really want to move. I promise that I am trying.

A funny moment this week was on Thursday. Thursday, February 2 is the silly tradition of Groundhog Day. If it is cloudy and the groundhog doesn’t see its shadow, it will start to warm up early. If it is sunny and the groundhog sees their shadow, then we will have 6 more weeks of cold temperatures. This, of course, is all fictional. The truth is that we had less than .1% of sunshine in January 2023, but on February 2 there wasn’t a cloud to be seen. It was very sunny. So when the kids learned that if the groundhog sees their shadow and we will have 6 more weeks of cold, winter weather. One of the students said, “Oh come on!” I couldn’t help laughing. I had to look down at my lap because that student expressed what we are all feeling.

Hopefully, this does not hold to be true and we can start to get outside. Also, if you can let them run around for a bit too, that will help. Thanks for being my partner during this time.

A letter went home yesterday. We will have just some fun time together on Tuesday, February 14th. The kids really do have a fun time handing out their Valentines and opening them. You can get them at Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Aldi, etc.

When your child is ready to bring their Valentines to school, even if it is this Monday, please send them. I can keep them in a safe spot until we are ready.

Remember this is for friendship. We have 20 students. Your child must do one for each child out of friendship.

• Monday, February 6 – Pizza Monday – 1$
• Tuesday, February 7th – Geer Park will start to sell Friendship grams for 1$ each. They will be delivered to a student that is in another class. Please have their first and last name and their grade so that the PTA can send them to the correct students.
• Wednesday, February 8 – COUNT DAY! Please, please we need all first graders here on this day and they need to be on time. Our funding from the State of Michigan depends on it.
• Friday, February 10 – Popcorn Friday – 1$

ELA

Reading Watch for your child’s book bag. Most of the kids are on target with their reading progress. Please have your child read each day.

Writing We are writing our final “guided” informational piece. This one is about another student in the classroom.

Spelling Please have your child do their spelling homework. I am checking on Friday for all 4. The words for Week 17 are:

• these
• theme
• mute
• flute
• cute
• tube
• cube
• rude
• house
• long
• off
• small

MATH we are finishing up Module 2 this week. We will be using base ten blocks to help us understand place value. Our End of Module 2 assessment will be on Friday. Next week we will begin measurement in Module 3. It is a very short Module

SCIENCE We started learning about the Moon. It is our only natural satellite. There are man-made satellites that orbit the Earth. The moon is made of rock and metals like the Earth. The moon reflects the light from the Sun. Only the stars can make their own light and heat. The Moon seems to change shape as it orbits the Earth. These are called phases of the Moon. We will only learn about 4 of the 8 phases. I will mention that the crescent is important to many cultures though. Cultural awareness is important for everyone.

SOCIAL STUDIES We will differentiate between landforms and bodies of water this week.

Thank you for your constant support. Please send finished valentine’s cards as soon as possible. Have a great weekend and week. Mrs. Korte