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Mrs. Marisa Macdonald » Posts

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Thursday, 2/22/24, Notes

1. Read 20 minutes (or more)
 
2. No written Math homework --> We continued to review for our test today.
*Assessment = Friday*
 
3. Practice reading and spelling words with ai, ay ("double vowel syllables")
*Assessment = next week*
 
4. Religion - Keep checking in with your child about his/her Lenten promises. Let's keep reflecting on the following: How are we growing closer to God this Lenten season in ways of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving/charity?
 
Additional Thoughts: 
  • Thank you for your generosity to the Food Pantry!
  • Thank you also to those who participated in the McTeacher's fundraiser!
 
Good News to share: When we were in Media class on Wednesday, Mrs. Hoglund complimented the class on how well they were writing complete sentences and organizing their ideas. They are really working hard on their reading and writing, and it's fantastic to see the skills and knowledge translate to other subjects and with other teachers! :)

Wednesday, 2/21/24, Notes

1. Read 20 minutes
No reading assessment next week - it is a spelling assessment. (I made a mistake!)
 
2. No written Math homework --> We went over the chapter review today and will review more tomorrow.
*Assessment = Friday*
 
3. Practice reading and spelling words with ai, ay ("double vowel syllables")
*Assessment = next week*
 
4. Religion - Check in with your child about his/her Lenten promises. Also, we are in Session 2 of our First Communion prep books, for those of you who are following along at home in the Together Magazines.
 
Additional Reminder: 
  • Food Pantry Collection = Thursday → 2nd grade should bring in chunky soups. (Jewel Osco currently has a coupon in their app for Progresso soups, if you are interested!)

Tuesday, 2/20/24, Notes

Welcome back to another week! I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday weekend. Tonight's homework is as follows:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
*Assessment = next week
 
2. Math 6.8 Homework pages --> problem solving with addition
*Assessment = Friday*
 
3. Practice reading and spelling words with ai, ay ("double vowel syllables")
*Try to point out any of these spelling patterns in books your child is reading or in signs you pass while driving (or while out to eat). It's fun to see what we're learning in print!
 
4. Religion - Check in with your child about his/her Lenten promises.
*Possible Conversation Starters:
  • How are you doing so far with the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?
  • How are you growing closer to God?
  • Who or what can we pray for today?
Additional Reminders:
  • McTeachers Night Fundraiser = Wednesday, 2/21
    • See the flyer in the weekly Knight Notes for more information. 
  • Food Pantry Collection = Thursday → 2nd grade should bring in chunky soups. (Jewel Osco currently has a coupon in their app for Progresso soups, if you are interested!)

Week at a Glance, 2/19/24-2/23/24

Week at a Glance

Week of February 19-23, 2024

Math: We will finish up Chapter 6 on 3-digit addition with a lesson on problem solving strategies. Then we will spend time reviewing the content from the chapter, and the students will take their assessment on Friday. Please see the review sheet that went home in your child’s Friday folder for sample problems and what your child can expect on his/her assessment.

Phonics (Fundations): We will continue working with words that have double vowel (vowel team) syllables with ai and ay spelling patterns. The lessons will shift to more of a focus on multisyllabic words with these spelling patterns (e.g., rainstorm, playpen, etc.). Trick words for the week that we will practice reading and writing are: America, thought, school. Please try to practice these words with your child at home.

Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): Students will work to build on their knowledge of a legend, and they will practice recounting the main character, setting, problem, and resolution of The Legend of the Bluebonnet. Additionally, students will work to hone their writing skills by organizing a paragraph in a logical order and also learning about how and why to write an introduction for an informational paragraph. (Their writing is improving so much this year! It is such a joy to see this growth!)

Science: We are starting our new Science unit next week, and it is all about plants. The first lesson is all about seed dispersal. Students will investigate how a koa tree can grow on two islands that are halfway around the world from each other.

Social Studies: None - see Science

Religion: We will move into Session 2 of our First Communion prep books as we address the topic of gathering together. We will describe how we gather together with our families, school family, and church family. Additionally, we will discuss special moments and events we celebrate with the many families of which we are a part. If you are following along at home in your Together Magazine, please see the pages marked for Session 2.


Tests and Quizzes:

  • Math Chapter 6 Assessment = Friday, 2/23
    • See the review sheet in your child’s Friday folder.
  • Phonics Unit 10 Assessment = week of 2/26 → words with ai, ay

Additional Reminders:

  • Please take your children to Mass this weekend to celebrate the first Sunday of Lent. This is a wonderful opportunity to prepare our hearts for Easter, and it is also the best way to prepare your children for First Communion.
    • Saturday = 5pm
    • Sunday = 7am, 9am (with Children’s Liturgy of the Word), 11am, 5pm
  • No school = Monday → Happy Presidents’ Day!
  • All School Mass = Tuesday at 8:30am in the church
    • As a class, we are working on participating in the prayer responses, and we are also working on staying focused on the priest and readers (not our friends near us or other people throughout the church). Any reinforcement of expected church behaviors from you is greatly appreciated!
  • McTeachers Night Fundraiser = Wednesday, 2/21
    • See the flyer in the weekly Knight Notes for more information. 
  • Food Pantry Collection = Thursday → 2nd grade should bring in chunky soups. (Jewel Osco currently has a coupon in their app for Progresso soups, if you are interested!)
Field trip forms are due Friday, 2/16 - If you have not yet sent in the form and the fee, please do so as soon as possible so we can pay for the bus and the tickets. Many thanks! (Please note: We do not need additional chaperones for this trip, as we are using staff members from St. Joe’s.)

Thursday, 2/15/24, Notes

Thursday Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
*We worked on how to figure out the meaning of unknown words today in class. Your child is bringing home a paper that has the different strategies we reviewed. Please keep the copy at home for reference to reinforce what we are working on. :)
 
2. Math 6.7 Homework pages --> more regrouping with addition
*Please keep practicing addition and subtraction fact fluency for a few minutes each night at home. This really helps with the multi-digit addition and subtraction.
 
3. Practice words with ai, ay
*Try to point out any of these spelling patterns in books your child is reading or in signs you pass while driving (or while out to eat). It's fun to see what we're learning in print!
 
4. Religion - Check in with your child about his/her Lenten promises.
*Possible Conversation Starters:
  • How are you doing so far with the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?
  • How are you growing closer to God?
  • Who or what can we pray for today?
 
Additional Reminders:
  • No school Monday, 2/19 --> Presidents' Day
    • Our Scholastic Magazine today was about George Washington. Be sure to ask your child what s/he learned.
  • Please return the *NEW* field trip permission form and $23 to school at your earliest convenience. These are due by Friday, 2/16. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Please see the email(s) I sent out for more details.

Together "Magazine"

Dear Families,
 
Each student will bring home a "Together" magazine today from school. Please keep it in a safe place. It pairs with our First Communion preparation books here at school. This week we will start Session 1. Next week we will finish up Session 1 and move through Session 2. It is a beautiful way to connect to and extend from what we are working on here. Thank you for being the primary catechists of your children. We are looking forward to First Communion in May!

Wednesday, 2/14/24, Notes

Wishing you all a blessed and beautiful start to the Lenten season. Please talk with your child about his/her Lenten promises we went over today. We talked about ideas for prayer, fasting (giving up something) and charity (giving to others). The students also brought home a coloring "count up" to Lent. Our 40 days of Lent mirrors Jesus' 40 days in the desert and is a wonderful opportunity to prepare our minds and hearts for Jesus' resurrection at Easter.
 
Here is tonight's homework:
 
1. Read 20 (or more) minutes
 
2. Practice words with ai, ay
 
3. Math 6.6 homework pages
 
Additional Reminders:
  • No school Monday, 2/19 --> Presidents' Day
  • Please return the *NEW* field trip permission form and $23 to school at your earliest convenience. These are due by Friday, 2/16. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Please see the email(s) I sent out for more details.

Tuesday, 2/13/24, Notes

Happy Tuesday! Please help your child remember to empty his/her backpack of the Valentine's Party cards, etc. before coming back to school on Wednesday. Thanks!
 
Here is tonight's homework:
 
1. Read 20 (or more) minutes
 
2. Practice words with ai, ay --> new packet went home in your child's Friday folder last week with ideas of words and how to practice.
 
3. Math 6.5 homework pages --> addition with regrouping (regrouping tens for hundreds)
 
Additional Reminders:
  • All School Mass = Wednesday at 8:30am in the church
    • All are welcome to join us for Ash Wednesday
    • If you cannot attend but would like to attend another service that day, please see the parish website for more information about what Ash Wednesday is, why we celebrate it, and times:
      • 6:30am, 8:30am, 4:30pm, 7:00pm (Mass with ash distribution)
      • Noon (word service with ash distribution)
  • No school Monday, 2/19 --> Presidents' Day
  • Please return the *NEW* field trip permission form and $23 to school at your earliest convenience. These are due by Friday, 2/16. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Please see the email(s) I sent out for more details.

Monday, 2/12/24, Notes

Happy 100th Day of School!
We are 100 days smarter and kinder. :)
 
Also... Happy Monday following an exciting Superbowl game!
 
Here is tonight's homework:
 
1. Go to bed early to make up for lost sleep, if needed. ;)
 
2. Read 20 (or more) minutes
 
3. Practice words with ai, ay --> new packet went home in your child's Friday folder last week with ideas of words and how to practice.
 
4. Math 6.4 homework pages --> addition with regrouping (regrouping ones for tens)
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Tuesday = $1 dress down --> All proceeds go toward the gala. Please wear purple, gold, and/or green to celebrate Mardi Gras.
  • Class Valentine's Parties = Tuesday, 2/14
    • Please do not send goodie bags. (If the Valentine comes with an inedible treat like a sticker or pencil, that is fine.)
    • Your child is not required to bring Valentines, but if s/he does, please send in enough for each student.
    • Please only fill out the "from" section on each Valentine.
  • No all school Mass Tuesday
  • All School Mass = Wednesday at 8:30am in the church
    • All are welcome to join us for Ash Wednesday
    • If you cannot attend but would like to attend another service that day, please see the parish website for more information about what Ash Wednesday is, why we celebrate it, and times:
      • 6:30am, 8:30am, 4:30pm, 7:00pm (Mass with ash distribution)
      • Noon (word service with ash distribution)
  • No school Monday, 2/19 --> Presidents' Day
  • Please return the field trip permission form and $23 to school at your earliest convenience. These are due by Friday, 2/16. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Please see the email I sent out for more details.
  • Thank you to all parents who took time to meet with me for conferences. I look forward to seeing your children continue to grow during the rest of the school year! :) 

Week at a Glance 2/12/24-2/16/24

Week at a Glance

February 12-16, 2024

Math: Our adventures in 3-digit addition continue next week when we identify when we need to regroup ones for tens and tens for hundreds. We will take extra care in lining up the place values of the numbers to make sure we avoid careless errors. We will also practice rewriting horizontal problems vertically prior to solving. Please keep practicing basic addition and subtraction facts with your children at home. This fact fluency will be a huge asset for three digit addition and subtraction.

Phonics (Fundations): We will practice reading and writing words that have long a sounds. We will practice spelling words with the double vowel (d) syllables ai and ay. Students will also read and write the following trick words: great, country, away. Additionally, students will discuss the meaning of long a homophones (e.g., mail vs male, plain vs plane). Please see the packet that went home in your child’s Friday folder (on Wednesday) for ideas of words and ways to practice these skills.

Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): This past week students wrote informational paragraphs about the challenges pioneers faced and how they responded to those challenges. This upcoming week, students will spend some time revising and editing their own paragraphs, and they will also work with their peers to peer edit and revise their paragraphs. We will also read a new shared text - The Legend of the Bluebonnet - and we will focus on the life of the Comanche people. Please help your child take time to read each night. If possible, spend some time asking your child about what s/he is reading, especially about the characters, setting, and main plot points.

Science: None - We will finish up our Social Studies chapter this week and switch back to Science next week.

Social Studies: As we finish up our chapter on Economics, we will learn about how to be a smart consumer. Students will define the terms: need, want, resource, save, and scarcity. They will also analyze the costs and benefits of purchasing goods.

Religion: We are going to start our new First Communion preparation books. The first session is all about belonging, so we will discuss the many communities to which we belong, and we will focus more specifically how we belong to the church and to Jesus through the gift of the sacraments. We will also spend time each week reviewing parts the mass and the responses we say and sing. Please help your child take time to pray at home. A really good opportunity would be before meals and before bed. 🙂

 

Tests and Quizzes:

  • No tests or quizzes
 

Additional Reminders:

  • Please try to take your children to Mass over the weekend. This is the best preparation for First Communion. Thank you for being the primary catechists for your children.
    • Saturday - 5pm
    • Sunday - 7am, 9am (children’s liturgy of the word), 11am, 5pm
  • No school Friday - enjoy the time off!
  • Be sure to check out this fun opportunity at the Morton Arboretum if your child enjoys Legos and/or trains: https://mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/lego-trains/
  • No All School Mass Tuesday
  • Valentine’s Party = Tuesday, 2/13 → Please follow these guidelines:
    1. No candy/snacks or goody bags should be sent in with the cards/notes
    2. Students should only bring cards if they have enough for everyone
    3. Students should not write the names of all of the kids in the class on the cards. They should just write "from ____"
    • Thank you in advance to the parent volunteers!
 
  • All School Mass = Wednesday, 2/14, at 8:30am in the church - All are welcome to join us on Ash Wednesday for the start of the liturgical season of Lent.

Wednesday, 2/7/24, Notes

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. No Spelling/Phonics Homework --> New packet went home today --> words with long /a/ sound (spelling patterns ai, ay) and trick words: great, country, away.
 
3. Math --> 6.3 Homework pages
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Chemo Cares bags donations = Due Thursday, 2/8
    • Please try to donate items if you can. Many items (like the large print word search books) can be found at the Dollar Tree.
    • Please see the note linked here to view the specific items that are needed. 
    • Thank you for your generosity with this!
  • Thursday, 2/8 = 10:50 am dismissal
    • If your child is going to be absent on Thursday, this is not a problem. Please just email me and Mrs. Lentino so that we know who to expect at school that day. :)
  • Thursday, 2/8 = *Optional* Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences 12:00-4:30pm
    • I look forward to speaking with those of you who signed up for a time.
    • If you did sign up for a time, please remember to fill out the "pre-conference" Google Form that I emailed to you last week. Thank you!
  • Friday, 2/9 = No School

Tuesday, 2/6/24, Notes

Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Practice words with er, ir, ur --> Unit 9 Assessment = Wednesday, 2/7
 
3. Math --> 6.2 Homework pages (We are back to the book pages. The pages from lesson 1 were organized in a very confusing way, so that is why I opted for different pages for lesson 1 to learn the concept of adding with expanded form. That method can ultimately lead to easier mental math when adding 3-digit numbers.)
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Chemo Cares bags donations = Due Thursday, 2/8
    • Please try to donate items if you can. Many items (like the large print word search books) can be found at the Dollar Tree.
    • Please see the note linked here to view the specific items that are needed. 
  • All School Mass = Tuesday, 2/6, at 8:30am in the church
  • Thursday, 2/8 = 10:50 am dismissal
    • If your child is going to be absent on Thursday, this is not a problem. Please just email me and Mrs. Lentino so that we know who to expect at school that day. :)
  • Thursday, 2/8 = *Optional* Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences 12:00-4:30pm
    • I look forward to speaking with those of you who signed up for a time.
    • If you did sign up for a time, please remember to fill out the "pre-conference" Google Form that I emailed to you last week. Thank you!
  • Friday, 2/9 = No School

Monday, 2/5/24, Notes

Thank you to all of the families who participated in First Reconciliation on Sunday. They were very prepared, and they did a nice job. This was the first time we had the sacrament following the 5pm Sunday evening Mass, so thank you for your patience and understanding with this.
 
Monday's Homework:
 
1. Read 20 minutes
 
2. Practice words with er, ir, ur --> Unit 9 Assessment = Wednesday, 2/7
 
3. Math --> 3-digit addition expanded form "Independent Practice" page --> Note: This page looks different from the normal handout from the book. (The students will have completed the front side if you want to look at examples.)
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Chemo Cares bags donations = Due Thursday, 2/8
    • Please try to donate items if you can.
    • Please see the note linked here to view the specific items that are needed. 
  • All School Mass = Tuesday, 2/6, at 8:30am in the church
  • Thursday, 2/8 = 10:50 am dismissal
    • If your child is going to be absent on Thursday, this is not a problem. Please just email me and Mrs. Lentino so that we know who to expect at school that day. :)
  • Thursday, 2/8 = *Optional* Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences 12:00-4:30pm
    • I look forward to speaking with those of you who have signed up for a time.
    • If you did sign up for a time, please remember to fill out the "pre-conference" Google Form that I emailed to you last week. Thank you!
  • Friday, 2/9 = No School

Week at a Glance 2/5/24-2/9/24

Week at a Glance

February 5-9, 2024

Math: We will move into 3-digit addition with Chapter 6 in our My Math series. We will practice adding by using expanded form to help add with mental math. We will also review how to regroup ones for tens and tens for hundreds.

  • Ways to help at home: Keep working on building addition fact fluency, either with flashcards, card games, or written practice problems.
 

Phonics (Fundations): We will wrap up unit 9 on words with er, ir, ur spelling patterns. We will review reading and spelling the following trick words: earth, learn, picture, mother, brother, father. We will build these words on our magnet boards, practice writing them on our dry erase boards, read these words in context in our story “The Red Planet”, and take our assessment on Wednesday.

  • Ways to help at home: Review the packet that went home last week with er, ir, ur words; point out the spelling patterns in words as your child reads with you; give your child a practice spelling test but really work on him/her stretching out the sounds rather than trying to memorize the words.
 

Reading and Writing (Wit & Wisdom): We will use our knowledge that we have been building about the life of the pioneers during westward expansion and the Oregon Trail in order to write informational paragraphs about the challenges the pioneers faced. We will use our book Journey of a Pioneer, along with various charts we have made and vocabulary words we have learned to write a topic sentence and additional supporting details. We are especially working on adding specific details to our sentences to communicate our ideas more clearly to our readers.

  • Ways to help at home: Consider checking out books about pioneers from your local library (you can find some suggestions here); ask your child questions about what s/he is reading (who/what/where/when, etc.); practice writing an informational paragraph about another topic they know, paying special attention to writing a topic sentence with the main idea; play a game like 20 Questions where your child has to consider specific details while you guess what they are thinking about.

Science: None - we are trying to finish up our Social Studies unit on Economics.

Social Studies: We will learn about what services are in the community and who provides them. Students will be able to classify goods and services, describe the jobs of various service workers (e.g., police officers and doctors), and learn how specialization occurs in work today.

Religion: We have spent a lot of additional time on Religion topics in the past 2-3 weeks, so we will focus some extra attention on our Social Studies unit to make sure we move through that and get back to our next Science unit soon. 🙂

 

Tests and Quizzes:

  • Unit 9 Phonics Assessment = Wednesday, 2/7
 

Additional Reminders:

  • Your child did not bring home a Friday folder today. I will send them home next week. Thank you for understanding.
  • First Reconciliation = Sunday, 2/4/24
    • Please find me before the 5pm Mass in the narthex of the church for your child’s certificate and paper heart that s/he will need for Fr. Trout’s homily.
    • Please remain quiet during the individual reconciliations following the 5pm Mass.
    • Please keep practicing the Act of Contrition prayer with your child. (We will say this all together during Mass.)
  • ***Chemo Cares Bags Service Project*** → Please help us support our community with the Chemo Cares Bags, which will be sent to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital Breast Cancer Center → Please see the note linked here to view the specific items that are needed. 
  • All School Mass = Tuesday, 2/6, at 8:30 am - All are welcome to attend!
  • Please send your child with a lunch and water bottle every day.
  • Thursday, 2/8 = 10:50 am dismissal
    • If your child is going to be absent on Thursday, this is not a problem. Please just email me and Mrs. Lentino so that we know who to expect at school that day. :)
  • Thursday, 2/8 = Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences 12:00-4:30pm - I look forward to speaking with those of you who have signed up for a time.
  • Friday, 2/9 = No School
  • If your child wears boots to school, s/he needs to bring an additional pair of school shoes to wear during the day.
First Communion Banner Kits - Please see the email from Mrs. Lombardo with information about how to order a Communion Banner Kit. You can also visit this link to purchase one: https://www.givecentral.org/location/181/event/39492 Please let me know if you have any questions.

Wednesday, 1/31/24, Notes

Happy Feast of St. John Bosco! (He is a Salesian saint who is known for educating the young and helping the poor. He was a saint we celebrated every year at my Catholic high school growing up.)
 
1. Read 20 minutes (or more) - Thanks for supporting the read-a-thon!
 
2. No Math homework (for the rest of this week) - we took our Math chapter 4 test yesterday, and we started our i-Ready diagnostic today (and will continue it on Thursday). (Friday we will review, like we normally do.)
 
3. Spelling/Phonics --> Continue to practice reading and writing words with er, ir, ur. Tomorrow we will focus more on multisyllabic words with er, ir, ur. (Assessment = Wednesday, 2/7)
 
Additional Reminders:
  • Catholic Schools Week Reminders:
    • Thursday --> Pillow Drive - Please bring in new *standard size* pillows for our bed building ministry.
    • Friday --> Celebrate students --> Spirit Wear dress down day --> Please also bring books from home to read with our 8th grade buddies!
  • i-Ready math diagnostic 2 = Wednesday, 1/31 and Thursday, 2/1 --> 
    • Please help your child get a good night’s rest and eat a healthy breakfast each day.
  • 1st Reconciliation = Sunday, 2/4/24, following the 5pm Mass → Please keep practicing the Act of Contrition prayer with your children.
    • I will be in the narthex of the church prior to Mass handing out your child's certificate, along with a heart and bandaid s/he will need during Mass. Please come find me to receive these items. :)
 
First Communion Banner Kits - Please see the email from Mrs. Lombardo with information about how to order a Communion Banner Kit. You can also visit this link to purchase one: https://www.givecentral.org/location/181/event/39492 Please let me know if you have any questions.
 
***Chemo Cares Bags Service Project***
The Chemo Cares Bags will be sent to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital Breast Cancer Center → Please see the note linked here to view the specific items that are needed. Thank you for your generosity! These items are due next Thursday, 2/8.