I hope all of you are well and enjoying the end of winter and the early signs of spring. I was very pleased with the amount of work the students got done last week and was so appreciative of Zack and Eileen as they kept the academic and classroom rigor at a consistent level. The kids seemed to really enjoy their time with Zack. I had an amazing time in Serbia and have memories that will last a lifetime. 

In 2nd grade math lessons, students utilized 20-frames to master the addition of three addends by focusing on the complement of 20. When a student rolled three 6-sided dice—for example, rolling a 6, a 6, and a 5—they systematically placed counters into the grid to see how close the total came to filling both 10-frames entirely. The exercise pushed students to look beyond small pairings and instead visualize the "missing pieces" needed to reach the benchmark of 20.

In 1st grade math, students explored the world of story problems by navigating three distinct types of addition and subtraction situations: result unknown, change unknown, and start unknown. To make these abstract concepts concrete, they utilized number racks (also known as Rekenreks), which allowed them to slide beads across two rows of ten to represent the action in each story.

During our literature project time, the class engaged in a thoughtful reading of the picture book Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose. The story presented a rhythmic dialogue between a young boy poised to step on an ant and the ant itself, who pleaded for its life by describing its own family and responsibilities. As the narrative concluded on a cliffhanger, it forced the students to grapple with a difficult ethical dilemma: should the boy squish the ant or let it go? The students then used this question to guide their opinion writing focus for the week. It was great to hear their rationales for their opinions. 

We have wrapped up our study of the three states of matter through the sugaring process. To demonstrate their mastery, the students began synthesizing their observations into comprehensive informative posters. These posters served as the final unit assessment, requiring students to:

• Sequence the Steps: Outline the chronological process of making both maple syrup and maple candy.

• Identify Matter: Label the solids, liquids, and gases present at each stage of production.

• Explain Transitions: Describe the role of temperature in changing the state of the maple product.

Once these projects are completed, they will be proudly displayed on the walls outside the classroom. Many of the kids told me that "this was a fun project."

The class enjoyed a special visit this week from Trooper Alyssa Nozka, who shared insights into her vital role as a helper in our community. Rather than just observing, Trooper Nozka jumped right into the classroom's daily rhythm, reading a story to the group and even assisting the students with their science experiments. To the delight of the class, she brought along several "treasures" for every student to keep as a memento of her visit.

Throughout her time in the classroom, the students stayed busy asking a steady stream of questions, which she answered with warmth and enthusiasm. Trooper Nozka shared that she truly loves connecting with children, especially when she can engage with them directly in their own "work environment." This was just the beginning of their partnership, as she plans to visit the class a few more times throughout the school year.

NOTES:

*As you can see we have had a variety of weather over the past week. Please make sure your child has boots/outside shoes, and sneakers for in the classroom. Until the mud is gone, we try to not have muddy shoes all over our carpet. As for clothing, if it is above 40 degrees, I am good with them wearing a fleece, sweatshirt or a long sleeve shirt. Below 40 degrees, I do expect them to have a jacket. 

*Your child does have their Weekly News journal in their backpack today. Most of the kids wrote their entry in 15 minutes. It was quite impressive. Please take a look and send them back on Monday.

*Homework Bags: Please help your child find their homework bag (if needed) and/or remind them to take care of it each evening. It helps me out tremendously if they have them each day. There will always be a book in them Monday-Thursday and just their Weekly News on Fridays.

That is all for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. One more week until spring break.

Peace,

Tommy