What We've Been Up To
Duval County Celebrates Literacy Week
We had a fantastic time during Literacy Week. The students really enjoyed bringing their pillows and blankets, and curling up for some quiet reading time during Readers Workshop. They especially enjoyed buddy reading with Mrs. Brown’s Third Grade Class on Friday. Mrs. Brown and I want to schedule some future buddy reading visits, because the students had such a wonderful time reading together. It was a very successful Literacy week at John Stockton.
He Did See His Shadow!
The students took a vote on February 1st, on whether the Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil would or would not see his shadow on Groundhog’s Day. The news was: he did see his shadow, so it will be 6 more weeks of Winter. We also read some books about Groundhogs, made a puppet and learned a new poem too. When the weather clears up, we will go out on the basketball court and do a science lesson on our shadows.
100th Day Celebration
We had a fantastic 100th Day Celebration. They have listened to several stories about the 100th Day, and really enjoyed bringing in their collections of 100 things. Students especially loved visiting all the math workstations and doing all the 100th Day activities. They created a book with 100 stamps, made necklaces with 100 fruit loops, badges, hats, made funny feet so we can count to 100 by fives and filled out a number chart all the way to 100. It was a fun and busy day for everyone.
February Book of the Month
Our Book of the month for February is “The Legend of Freedom Hill” by Linda Jacobs-Altman. This story takes place during the California gold rush era. Sophie, a Jewish girl, and Rosabel, an African American girl, plan to save Rosabel’s mother, a runaway slave caught by a slave catcher. The girls realize they must have money to save her, armed with bravery and determination, they find enough gold to buy the freedom of Rosabel’s mother and many other slaves too.
Valentine’s Day
Next Tuesday is Valentines Day. We will be handing out Valentines in class that day. Students will need 17 Valentines for their friends. I will be sending home a list with all the students names later this week, so they can get started writing their valentines. I am going to encourage them to wait till they get home Tuesday afternoon to open their Valentines, so they don’t loose any or get tempted by the candy. We are also planning a simple party in the afternoon before the students go home.
Dolphin Running Club
On Tuesday, January 17th we celebrated the kick-off of the Dolphin Running Club. Students go out on the soccer field twice a week, where they will either run or walk around the designated cones as many times as they can during our scheduled running time. We are signed up to participate in the Dolphin Running Club every Monday and Wednesday. Students need to wear their tennis shoes to school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for P.E. All of the students receive awards for participating in the Dolphin Running Club. They earn an award for the first mile they reach, and for every five miles after that. All this running will help prepare the students for the marathon in April.
Candy Grams
Candy Grams will be on sale in the Cafeteria before and after school on Tuesday, February 7th – Tuesday, February 14th. They cost 25 cents a piece or you can buy Candy Grams for the entire class for $5.00. Be on the lookout this week for the Candy Gram order forms.
Our Classroom Collection
In our classroom, we are still collecting soda can pop-tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. The RMH recycles the tabs and the money is used towards paying the water and electrical bills. This Collection drive is an easy and fun way to help other families. If you would like to help, please keep sending in your pop-tabs. Thank you!
Just a Reminder
Our Early Release Days for this month, are Wednesday, February 8th and Wednesday, February 22nd. Students will be dismissed at 1:40. On Tuesday, February 14th we will have a Kindergarten Resource Day in the morning. Then on Wednesday, February 15th, the painters will be painting our classroom. We will meet at our room first, then walk down to the Media Center, where we will work for the rest of the day. There will be a Family Night at Pizza Hut on Thursday, February 16th from 5-7 p.m. We will have a School Holiday on Monday, February 21st. It is President’s Day and there is no school.