Recycling

Please remember to send in any papers we can recycle. I think it's too late for us to actually win the school contest, but if we recycle, we all win!
I have a bag near my kitchen counter. When I get the mail, I stand next to the bag and drop in any junk mail, catalogs and magazines that I don't want. I've been bringing these to school and it's amazing how much paper comes into our house! Yikes!
I have also bought some reusable bags. I bring them with me to the grocery store, Walgreens, Target...just about everywhere I go. It has made such a difference! I saw a sign at Trader Joe's that said thanks to people using those bags, that ONE STORE used 18,950 fewer bags last month. It made me feel proud to have been one little person who helped!

In other news, tomorrow is "Wear something backward" day. I do not, however, recommend you wear your shoes backward. Ouch!

We met with our fourth grade buddies for a while today. Next week we will be writing a book to share with them. They may even help us if we run short on time.

Don't tell on me, but I skipped physical therapy tonight. I just have too much to do! My back will probably make me pay for this tomorrow, but I did some exercises on my own and I hope that's enough.

Happy Wednesday, all! See you tomorrow. Remember, it's a 1:30 release day for YOU, but not for me.

Love,
Mrs. Mau

Monday 10/22

This week's spelling words:

car
barn
art
start
farm
card
yarn
part
dark
hard

and the challenge words:
barnyard
starlight
carpet
artist
market

Beginning this week, those who got 100% on their pretest will not have to take the final test on Friday. You may still write the sentences to get the bonus points, but that's your choice.

Tomorrow is "inside out" day, so wear something inside out! (Not your shoes. That would hurt!)
Love,
Mrs. Mau

How is Your Weekend Going?

I hope you're having a great weekend. Mine has been interesting. On Friday night, my big dog was unusually playful. Guess what he did. He SMACKED me several times. Really! He actually hit me with his paw. The final time was right in the face! Ouch! He was just playing and didn't mean to hurt me, but wow! That was a big surprise. I don't want to play that game any more, thank you.

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Rialto to see Flat Stanley. Do you think you'd like to be flat? It might be fun to slip under doors and be able to travel all over the world for just the price of a postage stamp.

Red Ribbon Week also begins tomorrow. Remember, we should wear sweats tomorrow. You might "get caught" and win a prize!

Mrs. Dooley and I have planned for you to get together with your fourth grade reading buddies for a little while on Wednesday. We will also be writing a story to share with them next week. Thursday is an early release day. YOU all get a free afternoon. We teachers have to go to school instead. Hey, that's not fair! ha ha

We have two tests on Friday. First is our spelling test, then the usual reading lesson test. The plan is to do the writing part together. I just hope we have enough time with all the events going on this week. We're pretty good at going with the flow, though, aren't we?

The photo above shows you the dog who got carried away with the playing on Friday. He is Wedge, an American Bulldog. He is the sweetest thing- such a good boy! We got him from a shelter two years ago. He weighs about 85 pounds, which is more than you weigh! He's usually very quiet, but I guess he was all excited the other night, for some reason. I was gone longer than usual because I had to go to physical therapy for my back. Nice way to show you miss someone, eh? Smack them in the face with your paw!

Love,

Mrs. Mau and Wedgie Boy

Pssst

I want to tell you a secret.
Are you listening?
I think second graders just might be my favorite people ever.
Really!
You are all so smart and funny and kind. If I start out the day feeling a little sad, it doesn't take long for you to make me smile.
Thank you. I love you all!

And here is another secret for you:
Tomorrow there will be no homework. Get out there and enjoy the weather before winter comes. Most of us agreed that we do like winter, but it's a lot easier to play outside before you have to bundle up, right?

Maybe more later.
Love,
Mrs. Mau

And Tuesday...

Well, I tried to update this from school, but it seems that the host site is blocked there. That just means I will only be able to do it from home.In case you misplaced your list, here are this week's spelling words:
pay
mail
paint
day
rain
stay
sail
way
train
tray
challenge words:
mailbox
highway
daytime
raindrop
crayon

The spelling test will be on Friday, as usual.This week's reading lesson test is scheduled for Friday, but if it looks like we need one more day for the lessons, we will take that extra day.Remember, a good way to add quickly is to use doubles (3 + 3, etc.) or try to make a 10. Flashcards can help, too. There are many ways to make games with flashcards. It's fun that way!
Not much else is new. Lily and Nina are happy in Germany, but they miss us and wish they could have seen you all one more time before they left. Lily started preschool and she loves it! Have a good Tuesday night. See you in the morning!
Love,Mrs. Mau

I Posted This on Monday...

Welcome to our class blog. Please feel free to leave comments. I love it when someone talks back to me so I'm not talking to myself all the time!
I will put up the spelling words for each week, as well as anything we might need to know as the year progresses. I have a lot of ideas, now I just need about four more hours in each day. Yes, that would be perfect! If you know how to do that, please fill me in!
We are starting a new lesson in reading tomorrow. We'll be reading a story about a boy who learns to ride a bike without training wheels. Expect more predicting and reading with feeling. Our phonics lessons involve the long "a" sound using the ai and ay spelling. We're in the middle of our math chapter about addition. We've learned that if you know your doubles and how to make a ten, adding is much faster! After our test (it should be on Thursday), we will start a chapter about subtracting. Flash cards are always helpful!
Also new are our reading centers. We have Center Experts who help us if we have a question while Mrs. Mau (that's me!) is working with a small group.
Above, you see a picture of my pug, Carmen. I know we have a lot of dog lovers in our class, don't we? At least a couple of you also either have pugs or know pugs that you like, so here is mine. She is a year old and the best dog (most of the time).
Love,
Mrs. Mau and Carmen