December 2

 Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

• Reading Minutes are due on Monday
• Word work will be given on Monday with a test on Friday.
• December 5-16.  Swimming lessons begin!  We will be at the pool from 1:25-2:10.
• December 14-(Wednesday) The Parent team is providing a Christmas luncheon for the staff and I would love to attend.  If you are willing to supervise the class for lunch from 11:55-12:15 please email me at lstielstra@hollandchristian.org.
• December 21- (Wednesday) Gingerbread houses!  We will be creating these in the gym from 8:30-10:00 a.m.  See the link at the top of the blog to learn more details and sign-up to help.
• December 22- (Thursday) Class Christmas Party from 2:15-3:00 p.m.  I would love to have two or three parents plan a few games/activities for this event.  I have had one mom offer to bake treats for the class.  If you are able to help please contact me at lstielstra@hollandchristian.org
• December 23- (Friday) Cardboard arcade game day at the Middle School!  The 7th graders have been busy making arcade games in their Math class and have invited the 3rd graders to come and play!  We will be walking to the Middle School and having fun with the 7th graders from 9:15-10:00 a.m.
• Positive Options- Instead of doing a student exchange for gifts, Pine Ridge is collecting baby items for positive options (formally Lakeshore Pregnancy Center).  Our class has a nice collection of items right outside our classroom door and we are excited to bless Positive Options in this way.  Currently we have collected 39 items.
• December 26-January 8- Christmas Break
• MUSIC NOTE FROM MRS. BOER - We will begin recorders second semester. The cost of a new recorder is $5. You can pick one up in the office for a Christmas stocking stuffer or you can wait until the New Year.

Curriculum Highlights:
Reading:  Our book clubs continue with rich discussions each day.  Every child has now completed the first book in the book series that he/she reading and began the second book today.  We are busy comparing and contrasting the two books in the series.

Writing:  This week we worked at crafting a lead and conclusion for our personal narratives.  Students worked with a partner to ensure that they included setting, dialogue, action, and even a question in these parts of their writing.  I am very impressed with the quality of writing that I am seeing.

Bible:  This week we saw Jacob lie to Isaac and take Esau's blessing.  Jacob flees from his brother Esau and yet we see how God is faithful to Jacob as He comes to him at Bethel and promises to care for him.  We see God's salvation plan unfolding through the family of Jacob.  We have also begun to memorize Luke 2:6-20.  A copy of this passage will come home next week.

Science:  We have begun a new unit called Changes in Motion.  This week we experimented with different variables that can affect motion while playing with toy cars.

Math:  We have been busy adding and subtracting time on clocks and number lines.  Since we are starting graphing (and swimming) next week I gave the class a peek at the test today.  They did all of the measurement and time problems on the test.  Before Christmas break they will once again get the test back and complete all of the graphing questions as well as check over the problems that they completed today.  Keep on practicing telling time at home!

Have a great weekend!
Lynae