Changing Perspectives

Dear Families,

This week we were very fortunate to be a part of two inspirational presentations focused on peace and celebrating differences.

On Thursday, members of the SBHS Diversity Union joined our school for a celebration of MLK Jr. Day.  They taught us this important message from Dr Martin Luther King Jr. "PEACE is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold."

Today, we listened to a speaker named Sam Drazin.  Sam is an educator born with Treacher Collins Syndrome (similar to the character Auggie,  from the book/movie 'Wonder'). Sam works for Changing Perspectives, Inc. a not for profit organization, whose goal is to help everyone recognize their own challenges and to help promote understanding, respect and acceptance of all people.  Sam visited with the first and second grade classrooms to talk about empathy, kindness and what it means to be different.  Ask your child about it!

Your child might have mentioned working with a new Word Study teacher or having new Word Study words.  Before the holiday break, I reassessed all children using our Words Their Way spelling assessment.  Based on that assessment, your child may be working on new spelling patterns because they mastered the previous or continuing with the same spelling patterns because they need more practice with the pattern.  Let me know if you have any questions!

In math we wrapped up our subtraction unit.   To practice for our subtraction assessment, the children worked in groups solving various subtractions problems and puzzles, in order to escape from Emoji Island.  Check out the escape artists below!

Other Things to Ask Your Child About:
~Draw, Add & Compare in Number Corner
~Cross country skiing in P.E.
~Gooseberry Park
~Putting yourself in your character's shoes
~Publishing a nonfiction writing book

Enjoy the long weekend!
Katie