Wednesday 5/28

It's great to be back with the kiddos!  I had a wonderful (what felt like a very, very long) weekend away.  Here's the beautiful backdrop for the vineyard wedding we attended.

Today Mrs. Cummings led another fun activity about the importance of descriptive words.  We looked at how one description can be drawn in three different ways.

The kids are working on a new trailer on iMovie… A book review!  They don't ever want to stop doing their projects… Even when it's time for snack or recess!!! 

We are almost done listening to Charlotte's Web. Right now everyone is at the fair… Ask your child to tell you about the story.

End Of Year Events

A big thanks to Lauren for organizing our end of the year events! 

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0D45A4A82EA02-endofthe

• Thursday, June 5th: Author Celebration 8:15-8:30...
• ...immediately followed by Mexican crafts from 8:30-9:30 to accompany the unit on Mexico. (we could use 4 volunteers to prep the crafts and 4 volunteers to run stations.  All are welcome to stay!) 
• Thursday, June 12th: School-wide BBQ 
• Friday, June 20th: Afternoon of fun 1:00-2:00 (4 volunteers to run activities, need donations of snacks, all are welcome to stop by! )
• Monday, June 23rd: End of Year Breakfast & Sharing of Animal Projects 8:15-8:45 (please sign up if you can bring breakfast food)

Scholastic Book Orders

Dear Families,

Our final Scholastic Book Order is due Friday, June 6th.  This is a great time to order some new summer reads for your child. 

There is a classroom wish list if you'd like to make a donation to our classroom.

Remember, for every book you order, our class earns a FREE book.

Thank you for your support!


Ordering online is fast and easy:

•  VISIT scholastic.com/readingclub
•  ENTER the one-time Class Activation Code J73DP
•  SHOP from a carefully curated selection of the best books, value packs, and Storia eBooks
•  SUBMIT your order and earn FREE Books for our classroom
•  All book orders will be shipped to our classroom so we can celebrate the joy of reading together!

Wed. and Thurs.

The kids have been exploring iMovie trailers.  They spent a lot of time the last 2 days making some really terrific trailers. 

We loved watching the finished All About Me trailers.  I'm amazed at how great they are coming out!! We look forward to sharing them with you at our next Author Celebration. 

Word time with Mrs. Cummings-

We learned why it's so important to use descriptions when telling a story.

The kids have been busy writing book reviews. Each child gave an award to a book. Stop by and see our bulletin board.

I made it to CA... I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend!  I look forward to seeing the kids again on Wednesday morning :-)

Free Fun Summer Ideas

Check out this article for Free Summer Fridays all around MA.

Tuesday 5/20

The kids started their morning with word games- some new games as well as a few old favorites.

For writing, the kids explored trailers on iMovie. They are creating an all about me movie.  They are practicing the process so they will be ready to make a polished trailer about a book. 

One of the math stations was tricky today!  Breaking apart 20 into 3, 4, and even 5 addends.  We thought about how 10+10=20 and then kept breaking down each 10.  It makes it convenient that we have 10 fingers! 

I'm off to the Red Sox game... Enjoy this beautiful evening. 

Monday 5/19

We ended our day in a very exciting way.. We played the mystery number game on Skype with some second graders from Alabama!  Ask your child how to play. Try playing as a family at home.

Our class in the news!

May 5 showcase: Article

May 2 forum: Article

A big thanks to Bob Sprague for featuring our class! 

We've Got Mail!

Our buckets are SOOO full!   Some kids said their buckets were overflowing or even too heavy to carry!  What a sweet group of kids :)

Next week: Screen-Free Week!

The 5 W's of Screen-Free Week

(aka TV Turn Off Week)

Who:             Thompson School students and their families who want to participate will join others for this nationwide event.

What:            Choose activities other than screen time for one week. 

                        Translation: no TV, no computers, no video games, no iPads, etc.  (work and schoolwork exceptions allowed)

When:           May 19 - May 23

Where:          Everywhere

Why:              We could all use a healthy break from screens and could benefit from a little                       more interpersonal connection.

Thompson School Events During Screen-Free Week

May 19 - 23

Daily Log -  Students will receive a daily log in their backpack folders to keep track of their screen-free days.  Please have them return the completed log on Friday May 23.  We will tally the number of screen-free days for each class and a winner will be announced.

Tuesday May 20 - Bike Safety Program   1:15 - 2:30 PM (early release day)

Please join us for a Bike Safety Program on early release Tuesday!  Come have fun and bike with your friends!  You will learn biking hand signals, rules to biking and bike path rules.  The parking lot on the corner of Everett and Purcell streets will be blocked off for all bikers.  Ride the obstacle course!  Bring your bike, helmet, closed toe shoes, and a water bottle.

Thursday May 22 - Walk-a-Thon   2:30 - 3:45 PM

At 2:30 we will kick off the Walk-a-Thon in the Thompson field.   Students will walk (or run or even dance)  around a designated course on the field for up to 30 minutes  and parents will be there to cheer them on and provide popsicle sticks for them to keep track of their laps.  Please have students bring a water bottle to school Thursday for the walk.   The festivities will include music, a friendly competition between grades with small prizes awarded to the grade who walks the most, and popsicles after the walk.

Tuesday 5/13-Friday 5/16

Thanks to the first graders who continue to be fabulous even with so many changes this week!

After reading A Pet for Petunia and watching this video clip

The kids then turned and talked and shared why they would or would not like to have a pet skunk.

We made a list of reasons why... 

Then we went on the "yes" or "no" side and debated back and forth.  A few kids were persuaded to join the other side!

Finally, each child wrote an opinion piece which was posted on Kidblog.  Their goal was to "convince the reader" and I think they did a great job at it!! 

Check out our bucket filling painting in the hallway. 

We have been working on missing addends/change unknown problems during Math.  Here's our favorite subtraction song.  Find ways to practice subtraction at home- For example, during dinner.. We started with 20 carrots in the bowl.  We ate some.  There are 11 left in the bowl.  How many did we eat?

Listening to Charlotte's Web on the patio has been a big hit! The kids are completing journal entries after each chapter.  Ask your child about Wilbur's new friend!

 Permission slips for the Charlotte's Web play and zoo trip will be sent home today...

Monday 5/12

Hope everyone had a nice Mothers Day weekend!

Today the kids practiced telling time to the hour.  Keep practicing at home.  Ask your child to try to catch the clock when it's showing o'clock!

We are currently on chapter 3 in Charlottes Web!  The kids are working hard on adding details to their pictures and words in their journal.

We had a very special visitor today, Liz Buchanan!  The kids had a blast singing along.  Thanks for organizing this, Ms. Liza!   Check out her website here.

Thurs. 5/8 & Fri.5/9

My techies taught Ms. Hinckley's second graders how to use Kidblog!  I was impressed with how articulate my first graders were.  They were very proud of themselves, as they should be!

All students are working hard to be bucket fillers!  See our bulletin board in the hallway.

A new spelling rule:

If the noun ends with -ch, -s, -sh, -x, or -z, add -es to form the plural:

singular	plural
bench	benches
bus	buses
fox	foxes

We noticed the -es makes an extra syllable on the word.

The kids are finishing up their review pieces on restaurants, stores, games, movies and toys.
Everyone wrote an opinion piece about someone they are celebrating on Sunday (wink, wink!)   They came out SO cute!!

Our week ended with some relaxing time reading with our 5th grade buddies.  Have a great weekend!  Happy Mother's Day! :)

Thank you!

Thank you for thinking of me during Teacher Appreciation Week.  You made me feel so special!  Take a look at these pictures to see all of the wonderful, thoughtful, creative gifts and cards I received.  I'm so lucky to have such a caring group of students and parents!

Note from Nurse Tami

The SMILE dental clinic is coming to Thompson on May 21st.  They come twice a year and we are still accepting forms for your children to have their teeth examined and cleaned. They will come again in the fall. We have timed it so students can get both their cleanings (6 months apart) during the school year. This is such a beneficial program in that children do not have to miss school time to visit their own private dentist and it also reaches families who don't have health insurance or dental coverage.

Our past week in pictures!

Math Centers

Our new favorite subtraction song: When you subtract with a pirate

Penguin Activities

Word Games

Art project: What do you like to do to fill someone's bucket?  They will be up on the hallway bulletin board soon. 

Bucket Filling Song

Skype with Bella's Uncle Simon from Arizona... He's an artist!

Visitors from Japan dancing at our assembly.

Tech Forum

First Graders presenting on stage!

 AEF Tech Night

 

A visit from Dr. Bodie!

 Stop by and see our spring poems!

Thank you!

Thank you all for your donations towards the Mother's Day gift bags.  Together we filled all 23 bags!! :) 

We're famous.... on Facebook

 and in the Wish Newsletter! 

My trunk was full! 

Here are the kids busy filling their bags.