Fort Sisseton

Friday is our trip to Fort Sisseton!! 

The students will be wearing pioneer and Native American clothing that day. 

The girls can wear dresses or skirts with leggings or shorts. The boys can wear button down shirts with a t-shirt (in case that many layers gets too hot.) If they have cowboy boots, and their feet will not get sore, they can wear them. It is going to be chilly, so bring a jacket or sweatshirt. 

We will be leaving right when school starts and returning at 3:00. The kids do NOT need to bring a lunch. A sack lunch is being provided. 

No electronics on the bus, please. 

I have scheduled that Sherri Remmers and Michelle Theisen are chaperoning. If you told me you were coming and I forgot, please let me know, so I can have the proper bus count. Thanks 

End of the Year Dates

There are many activities happening at the end of the year.  Here is the list to keep everything straight. 

May 9-13 Dr. Buechler in New Orleans at a reading conference
May 13 - 2nd Grade Zoo Trip
May 15 - Last Day of AR
May 16 - Fort Sisseton Trip (all students)
May 19- 200 AR party (for those who qualify)
May 21 - 3rd Grade DeSmet Trip 
May 22 - 12:20 Dismissal - no hot lunch served, bring sack lunch if you wish

Next Year

Your students will be staying in the multiage program unless you have let Mrs. Morrow know otherwise. There will be a new teacher, but the students will stay in the same classroom.

Upcoming School Year

I am not going to be returning to Jefferson for the 2014-2015 school year. I have been given the opportunity to work with all the elementary schools.  I will be a K-2 Literacy Coach, which means I will be working with teachers to identify students who are having trouble with reading and develop an intervention to help them be successful. I am very excited about this move, but will miss my Jefferson family - especially my students! If you would like to discuss you child's plan for next year, please email me and we can set up a time. 

Box Top Collections

Please send in your Box Tops for Education, Campbell's Soup Labels, and Pop Tabs.  We can earn prizes for our class.  The best news is if we get 10,000 Box Tops, the students get to duct tape Mrs. Morrow to the wall!! 

Talent Show

The Talent Show will at that Extention building on March 27th. Doors open at 5:30 and the program starts at 6:00.  Supper and treat concessions will be available. 

Yearbook Orders

If your child would like a yearbook, please have your $10 into me by March 28th.  An envelope came home last week, but you can just send in a check to Jefferson PTO. 

Music Program

Our music program is on Tuesday, March 25th.  The program starts at 6:30. Please have your child(ren) here at 6:15 in the classroom. If your child has a part, make sure you know what they are suppose to wear (a note went home from Miss Zanter).

Field Trips

There are several field trips planned for this spring. The 2nd grade is going to the zoo on May 13 and our whole class is going to Fort Sisseton on May 16th.  The 3rd grade will go to DeSmet, but I don't have that date as of yet.  I will keep you posted. 

Next Year

I have had many questions in regards to what is going on next year.  I will be meeting with you in April to discuss this transition.  Teacher requests need to be in by April 15th, so the meeting will be before that time. Thanks

HELP!

Our classroom supplies that are running low.  If you are at the store this weekend and would like to help out our classroom, that would be great.  Here is what we need: 

*#2 yellow pencils
*Clorox Wipes (or other brand)
*Skittles 
*Bandaids

Early Dismissal

On Wednesday, February 26th, we are dismissing at 12:20.  Please make sure you arrangements for you child after school (buses will run as normal). 

XtraMath

I am excited to introduce a math program called ExtraMath.  This program is a used to increase speed and accuracy in arithmetic.  It is a great alternative to flashcards. Your child is invited to spend a few minutes each day practicing math on the computer. A note is coming home today with your child's enrollment code.  

New Spelling Groups

I have rearranged some of my reading/spelling groups.  They are now categorized by color.  Please find your child's name and group so you know which groups' words to study.

Yellow:
Emma B. 
Addison
Carter J.
Zeke
Gracie

Red:
Carter M.
Jarika
Brock
Mallory
Emma E.
Kayson
Evan
Matthew
Emily

Purple:
Emma Brist
Hannah
Joscelyn
Max
Hayden
Parker
Jensen
Carter R. 

Solar System

We used cupcakes to create a model of our solar system and then used Oreos to demonstrate the phases of the moon.  We had fun eating our science projects :)

Famous Person Day

On Thursday, the kids can dress up as their favorite famous person!  They will have a chance to tell about their famous person to the class. The kids will still be going outside and participating in PE so make sure they bring along proper clothes to change into for these events. 

Valentine's Day

We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Thursday, February 13 in the afternoon.  The kids can bring a decorated box to collect the cards and candy.  If you don't want to bring a box, we will have bags available.  If you would like to bring additional treats, that would be fine.  We have 24 kids and 2 teachers. 

1. Addison
2. Mallory
3. Kayson
4. Emma B. 
5. Emma Brist
6. Evan 
7. Matthew
8. Jensen
9. Brock
10. Emma E. 
11. Max 
12. Hannah 
13. Jarika
14. Hayden
15. Carter J.
16. Mason
17. Austin
18. Carter M.
19. Emily
20. Carter R.
21. Parker
22. Gracie
23. Zeke
24. Joscelyn

Math Test

We are having a test over multiplication and division on Friday. The 2nd graders should know facts up to 5 and 3rd graders the facts up to 9.

A study guide and flashcards were sent home last week. 

Book Order

The February Book Order is due on Friday, January 24th.  Please make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs or use the online feature with my code: J2WRP to pay by credit card. 

Division Flash Cards

On Friday, division flash cards came home paper clipped with two coin envelops. Label the envelops "Know by heart" and "Need to practice."  Cut the cards apart, practice and then divide the cards into the two envelops.  

Now you have both the multiplication cards and division cards at home to practice. These do not need to come back to school.  

Menu Change

Thursday's meal (Mac & Cheese) will be served on Friday. 

Dress-Up Day

February 13th is "Dress Like a Famous Person Day"  The kids can choose a person from history or present day to emulate.  More information from the Student Council will be coming soon, but I wanted to let you know it is coming so you can be thinking about it. 

Zumba Kids

Dakota Gold is hosting a Zumba dance day on February 7th.  This is a fun way to exercise for your PE log. This event will be held at the City Auditorium. Cost is $15 

(this is just an informational post on the blog, not a school requirement or a school hosted activity)

Ages 4-6 - 4:00 - 6:00
Ages 7-11 - 6:30 - 8:30

Snow Gear

Remember to bring your snow gear EVERYDAY!  The weather changes quickly and we go outside in all kinds of weather.  Please be prepared. 

Jag Day

Friday, January 17th is Jag Day!  Wear your JagWear and anything with Jaguar print!  Make sure to bring your PE shoes.

Snack Mix

We are talking about division this week and so we are going to divide snack mix ingredients between classmates.  Please send enough of a snack type treat for 6 classmates.  They will be dividing items amongst their table mates.  This could be cereal, popcorn, pretzels, small candies, marshmallows, etc. Please send by Friday, Jan. 17th. 

No Spelling

Due to the snow day and the late start, we will NOT be having spelling words this week.  The words for Week 19 (starting on the 13th) are on Spelling City if you would like to start practicing. 

Midnight Bowling

On Friday, we will be bowling in the dark!  Student council is selling glow necklaces during the week for $1.00 each. Student are allowed to purchase one in advance and then on Friday they can buy additional necklaces if there are extras.  (this is optional)

Welcome!

We welcome to our classroom Mrs. Vicky Gleason.  She is a Mount Marty student teacher who will be with us until mid April.  She is becoming a teacher and is very excited to practice her skills with us!

December 20th

The student council is putting on a fun dress-up day on Friday, December 20th.  The kids can wear elf hats, santa hats and slippers.  In our class, it is also our Polar Express day and so they can wear their pajamas as well!

Giving Tree

The student council is asking for canned goods or dry goods to put underneath our Jefferson Christmas tree. The goods will be donated to the Salvation Army. 

All Aboard the Polar Express

      It’s time to get ready for our Christmas party!  This year we will have a Polar Express theme party.  We will have hot chocolate, read The Polar Express, eat treats, watch the movie and see what goodies our classmates left in our stockings.  Of course the students will have to come in their pajamas!! 

We will have hot chocolate and apple cider.  I will provide the drinks, but would like for you to bring in treats or snacks (if you would like).  Sweets are always popular around this time of year (no cake, please), but most students actually like a salty snack when watching a movie (popcorn, pretzels, chips, meat/cheese, crackers...). Please let me know what you would like to bring.  

The party will be on afternoon of December 20th. 

Spelling

There will not be spelling until after Christmas break. 

Week 14 - Spelling Words

Group 1 - Homophones

1. hear
2. here
3. hay
4. hey
5. hi
6. high
7. hour
8. our
9. knot
10. not
11. no
12. know
13. knows
14. nose

Group 2 - Homophones

1. hair
2. hare
3. hear
4. here
5. hall
6. haul
7. heel
8. heal
9. he'll
10. hi
11. high
12. in
13. inn
14. knead
15. need

Group 3 - Homophones

1. dear
2. deer
3. daze
4. days
5. desert
6. dessert
7. due
8. dew
9. die
10. dye
11. fair
12. fare
13. feat
14. feet
15. few
16. phew

Turkey Bingo

Turkey Bingo is on Tuesday, November 26th from 6-8pm.  Doors open at 5:30.  It is at the Codington County Extension Building. Concessions (walking tacos, pizza, nachos...) are available for supper.  Thank you to the PTO for putting on this event. Hope to see you there!

December Book Orders

       Check out the December book orders! There are many great books for under $5.00, even a couple for a buck!  

Order on-line for even easier shopping.  Use my class code, J2WRP, and use a credit card for your purchase.  Saves on sending the forms and check back to school. If you send a check, please make it out to Scholastic Reading Club

www.scholastic.com

Due Monday, November 25th  

Week 13 Spelling words

We are continuing to look at homophones. Most of the words are not difficult to spell, but the trick is to learn the definition and usage to match the correct spelling. 

Group 1 
cell
sell
sent
cent
dear
deer
four
for
great
grate
hair
hare
hall
haul

Group 2
buy 
by 
bye
cent
scent
sent
dear
deer
flour
flower
great
grate
groan
grown

Group 3
sealing
ceiling
cent
scent
sent
cereal
serial
cheap
cheep
cite
sight
site
coarse
course
creak
creek

Big Universe

I am so excited to announce that Jefferson PTO has purchased a school-wide license for an exciting new website - Big Universe.  

This website is an online library of books and a writing program all in one!  Your kids can log-on at home, choose a book to read by choosing from hundreds of books at their level or interest! 

They can just use their regular computer log-in and then type in jes-sd to get into the site.  When the kids return to school, they can take an AR test if they wish.  There are also quizzes built into the site which we take at school.  A writing section is also available, which I have not explored.  If you would like to try it out, be my guest and let me know how you child likes it!

It is a wonderful site which I hope you take advantage of at home, especially if your child has forgotten library books at school.  

Big Universe

Week 12 - Spelling Words

This week all groups are working on homophones - words that sound the same, but are spelled differently. Some of the spellings may not seem difficult  but it is matching the correct spelling to the correct meaning. 

Group 1
ad
add
I 
eye
ball
bawl
bear
bare
be
bee
blue
blew
by 
buy
bye

Group 2 
ball
bawl
bare
bear
beat
beet
blue
blew
board
bored
buy
by
bye
break
brake

Group 3
aisle
I'll
allowed
aloud
arc
ark
alter
altar
oar
or
ore
aye
eye
bald
bawled

T. L. York Visit

Third Grade had the honor of having local author T.L. York visit our classroom. She shared her journey of writing a children's book and encouraged the kids to become imaginative writers.  Below are three sites she recommended for publishing your own book.  

www.lulu.com
www.createspace.com
www.blurb.com

Wall of Flags

You received a white flag cut-out yesterday.  Please write the name of a veteran from your family, alive or deceased, and the war in which they participated. You may include what branch of service and their title.  We will be using these for a "Veterans Wall" to honor those who have served, or are serving, in the armed forces. 

Week 11 - Spelling Words

Group 1 - ee and ea and sight words
1. dead
2. feed

3. read
4. sweet
5. sweep
6. bread
7. does
8. another
9. head
10. sleep
11. great
12. heart
13. reed
14. heard
15. November

Group 2 - g and j sounds and sight words
1. giraffe
2. huge
3. stage
4. engine
5. badge
6. ginger
7. gerbil
8. giant
9. jellybean
10. juggle
11. jogging
12. because
13. enough
14. jacket
15. November

Group 3 - Months of the year and sight words
1. January
2. February
3. March
4. April
5. May
6. June
7. July
8. August
9. September
10. October
11. November
12. December
13. because
14. children
15. guess

The Witch and the Broomstick Choral Reading

Skeleton Choral Reading

Zombies Choral Reading

Goblins, Gremlins, and Demons Choral Reading

Football Playoffs

The Watertown Arrow's football playoff game will be held this Thursday, October 31st.  Activity tickets will not be accepted.  The price to attend the game is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. 

Conferences

Here is the conference schedule. Please let me know ASAP if your time slot will not work. 

Thursday, Nov. 7th
4:15 - 4:30   Mason
4:30 - 4:45   Carter M. 
4:45 - 5:00   Emily
5:00 - 5:15   Katie
5:15 - 5:30   Austin
5:30 - 5:45   Kayson
5:45 - 6:00   Zeke
6:00 - 6:15   Matthew
6:16 - 6:30   Gracie
6:30 - 6:45   Emma Shay
6:45 - 7:00   Mallory
7:00 - 7:15   Brock
7:15 - 7:30   Addison
7:30 - 7:45   Emma B.

Tuesday, Nov. 12th
4:30 - 4:45   Hannah
4:45 - 5:00   Emma E.
5:00 - 5:15   Carter J. 
5:15 - 5:30   Max
5:30 - 5:45   Jensen
5:45 - 6:00   Jarika
6:00 - 6:15   Joscelyn
6:15 - 6:30   Hayden
6:30 - 6:45   Carter R.
6:45 - 7:00   Parker
7:00 - 7:15   Evan

Flashlight Reading

On Wednesday, October 30th, we are going to have a special reading day - Flashlight Reading!  The lights

will be off in the classroom and the skylights covered.  The kids will bring a pillow, a stuffed animal and a flashlight!  The morning will be full of comfy, fun reading!  

Change for Books

This year during the book fair, each class has a change jar in their classroom.  Kids can bring in any loose change which will be used to purchase books for our classroom.  You do NOT have to participate, only if you wish.  
(The teachers will also have our book wish lists posted as we have in the past.) 

Student Council

If your 3rd grader is interested in running for our Class Representative, the permission slip needs to be turned in by Monday. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Preorder

The newest Diary of a Whimpy Kid is coming out on November 5th.  We have the opportunity to purchase the book before they go on sale to the general public.  The books are $8.49 + .51 for tax. Please have your money and order form to Mrs. Zemlicka on or before October 30th. 

Chalk on Monday

Mrs. Olson, our art teacher, is going to be using chalk in art on Monday.  Please do not wear any good clothes since it is a bit messy. 

Label hats, coats and boots

With the snow arriving, it reminds us that we need to be labeling all winter gear so that it can be returned to the proper owner if misplaced. 

Also, please let your kids know that we should not be sharing hats, scarves, or coats.  I do have these items in my room, if they are forgotten, and I wash them after each use.  Thanks. 

Contractions

Fire House