Hensley's Happenings
News from Miss Hensley's Class
December 13, 2019
News and Information
Gift Exchange
Our class will be having a gift exchange during the Christmas Party. We ask that you limit the price of your gift to $3.00. Boys need to bring a gift for a boy. Girls need to bring a gift for a girl. We will be playing a game to distribute the gifts, so on the tag please just have your child sign their name. They may bring their gift in anytime that is convenient prior to Dec. 20th.
** If this is a hardship on your family, please let me know by Friday, Dec. 13-- I have a collection of things that your child can "shop" from here at school.
Dress Up Days for Next week:
Monday, Dec. 16 - wear GREEN
Tuesday, Dec. 17- wear Brown/ Reindeer Antlers if you have them (don't make buy any if you don't have them already -- I have a plan for that! )
Wednesday , Dec. 18 Wear RED
Thursday, Dec. 19 PJ Day-Please make sure your child’s pajamas follow the dress code in the handbook. Also, if the weather allows we will be going out for recess. Make sure your child has sweats to slip on over pj s and shoes to wear outdoors.
Friday , Dec. 20- wear a Christmas shirt or sweater
Friday, Dec. 20 8:15-9:00
Thank you in advance to everyone who volunteered to bring party items or other special day items. Click the link if you are unsure what you are supposed to bring. Also, everyone is invited to our party!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F1SvSroYY5UfjzPtTGf8snA9UglV8tdgwvpI1Jj3x70/edit?usp=sharing
Paper Grocery Bags Needed
Each child will need to bring a large PAPER GROCERY (or reusable shopping) BAG to school no later than Friday, Dec. 16. I line the bags up down the classroom and as I take down the holiday decorations they made I walk by and drop them in the open bags. The bag needs to be large, have a flat bottom and be able to stand up on its own. If you have a large collection of paper bags and would like to donate I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Please label your child's coat and accessories with their name!
If you’d like to sit with your child at lunch we’d love to have you. Lunch begins at 11:50 a.m. If you wish to eat the school lunch, please call the office to order a tray.
Homework
Your child's nightly homework: Read 20 minutes every night!
AND math facts for those who have not yet reached LEVEL Z in addition.
Your child will not have homework this year unless:
1. They are absent and make up work for the day will be sent home.
2. They are falling behind on Rocket Math facts, at which time I will send a letter to inform you there will be homework until they catch up and/ or meet the expected level.
Reading
We continued to work on our 5th reading unit that is focusing on making connections to make inferences from a text. You make an inference when you determine what is not said by the author in print. You must use clues from the text, and put those together with your own background knowledge to understand the author's message beyond the written word.
Math
Adding 3 digit numbers- we continued working on this for the majority of this week as well!
Here are the links to the student materials in case you want to review at home.
Student Book
https://teacher-toolbox.com/dam/jcr:0048e2df-a992-473a-be37-f3eb1ad6abe4/CC-2017-IN2M-RI-SE-L13.pdf
Practice and problem solving book
Rocket Math Facts Goals- all students should be at the following levels by:
End of December: Level Z of Addition facts
March - Level M of Subtraction
May- Level Z of Subtraction
English and Writing
In writing, we are working on writing How To stories. We did a quick draft on how to make hot chocolate from a packet of mix . Based on their ideas, this might be something good to do at home together over break! :-)
English- we are reviewing our English skills and also doing Christmas Around the World Activities.
Spelling Words
No spelling words next week!
Homework Help and Hints!
We talk a lot here at school about making healthy choices to grow our brains. I am encouraging all of the boys and girls to spend less time in front of the TV, gaming device, computer or iPad and more time PLAYING with actual toys. My background in early childhood education and the early childhood college courses I teach emphasize that play- playing games, building with blocks, imaginative play, and physical play- are the building blocks for a child's intellect. By playing, children are using their brains to solve problems, develop perseverance, understand cause/ effect relationships, and to develop socially and emotionally.
If you're looking for some quality toys that will build intellect here's a short list:
and by the way-- they are NOT too old for these things :-) You'll be surprised how much they LOVE them.
puzzles- the best gift you could ever buy to help them think mathematically, problem solve, develop visual/ spacial awareness, cause/ effect and perseverance
building blocks or legos - next to puzzles this is my 2nd best gift for all the same reasons as the puzzles, thinking outside the box, imagination
play dough and art supplies and blank paper, let's pretend items: food, kitchen appliances, dolls, vehicles that are not remote control creativity, thinking outside the box, imagination, problem solving, visual/ spacial awareness, cause/ effect, perseverance
board games or card games - these build their strategy and planning skills, as well as that hard lesson that you can't always win. Of course this means that you have to play too! One of my earliest memories of my dad is playing Candy Land with me when he came in from farming. I was probably 3 or 4, but I still remember that!
Data Binders- Look for them Monday !
Important Events
December
20 Christmas Party
20 End of first semester
21-Jan. 3 Christmas Break
January
7 Students return to school
10 Report cards posted to Skyward
20 MLK Day- School will be in session
February
5 Midterms posted to Skyward
14 Valentine Party 1:00-2:00
17 President's Day - no school
Contact Me
Email: staciehe@ohusc.k12.in.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/ohusc.k12.in.us/staciehensley/home
Location: 600 E Walnut St, Converse, IN, United States
Phone: 765-395-3341
Twitter: @staciehensley26