The weather is getting warmer, the plants are going to start sprouting soon, and the students are making so much growth and progress! Thank you all for your support so far this year. We are looking forward to celebrating Spring with the students. 

Important Dates & Reminders

• March 5th, 2024: NO SCHOOL, Student Holiday
• March 25th - 29th, 2024: NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
• April 1st -2nd, 2024; NO SCHOOL, Teacher Workdays 
• Please return all library books as soon as you are done reading them!
• Please remember to send in a healthy snack with your child daily. 

Language Arts

What are we learning?

• We are focusing on non-fiction books and learning about text features.
• We are learning to ask questions about a topic before reading and building our vocabulary. 
• We are learning how to research topics and write about our findings.
• We are learning about vowel teams in phonics. 
• We are working on sharing our writing with others. 

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• “What do you think this book will be about? What questions do you have about ______?” 
• “What did you learn about ______ after reading?”  

Math

What are we learning?

• This month, we are focusing on learning about fractions.
• We will be learning about how to represent fair and equal shares using different models and materials.
• Fractions will include whole, halves, and quarters.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• What does it mean to share something equally?
• Use a material found at home, how can you equally split the material into halves and quarters. How can you split food or toys into equal shares?
• Cook or bake together. How can you find fractions in cooking?

Science

What are we learning?

• describing the basic life needs of plants 
• planning and conducting an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow 
• creating and interpreting a physical model/drawing of a plant, including the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, and explaining the functions of each part 
• classifying plants by characteristics

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• What does a plant that is getting all of its needs look like? What words could we use to describe this plant?
• What are the basic needs of plants? What do you think would happen if we took some of the needs away? 
• What parts of trees and other plants do you think help a plant get water and nutrients it needs?
• Do all plants have stems and leaves? 
• Do all plants have flowers?

Social Studies

What are we learning?

• Students will be learning about economics. 
• Students will understand the relationship between money and savings by using the language of cause and effect (i.e. explain the relationship between money and savings.)
• Students will be learning about geography.
• Students will learn about geographical features, such as landforms. They will understand that location can affect how people live.
• Students will learn geography may impact daily life for people around the world (food, clothing, shelter).

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• How do people get the things they need and want?
• How might people save money?
• How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
• In what ways do maps show us how places change over time or stay the same?

Specials (note: specialists will fill the following out)

What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: 
  • 1st grade students are learning to create questions about what they are curious about, and how to research and use text features to answer their questions! They will use print and digital sources to find information.
• PE: 
  • Hello Forestdale Families!
    Your PE Team has completed the Winter round of fitness testing. We are now beginning our “Striking with Hands Unit” and will master these concepts through the sport of volleyball. Students will complete skill repetitions, play team games, net games, and practice their athletic communication habits during this unit. We’ve also discussed safety factors for this unit and how EMOTIONS always factor into our playing.
  •  Perhaps discuss with your student: “How do you act when you’re playing a game that you feel GOOD at?” “How do you act when you’re playing a game that feels DIFFICULT for you?” “What is it like when a friend shows anger or disappointment while you’re playing with them?” “What does it feel like when a teammate encourages you?”
  • Thank you and talk soon! ❤ Mr. Bergin and Ms. Brod
• Music: 
  • Ms. Shaw’s first grade classes are dancing to the Irish Fiddle tune, The Rakes of Mallow. We are also learning the Orff xylophone arrangement Oliver Twist.
  • In Mr. Sawasky’s class, all grades will be working on our frame drumming composition.  All students will know how to create their own rhythms.
    • We will practice singing our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” All students will have the opportunity to express themselves through playing xylophones, frame drums and percussion instruments.
    • K – 2^nd grade will be exploring rhythms through frame drumming and creating their own rhythm.
• Art: 
  • In the Forestdale art program, the primary goal is to create an environment in which every student feels confident, safe, and supported by Ms. Barrett and by the other students. The goal is that each student will reach a level of technical mastery and self-confidence that allows them to take risks with their own artwork and create work that they value.
  • In March,  all students will be creating planning drawings for the upcoming Clay units! 
  • 1st graders will create clay "Evergreen Plates" by pressing plastic evergreen branches into moist earthenware clay.
  • After the clay pieces have dried for 2 weeks Ms. Barrett will load them into the Kiln and fire them. A kiln firing lasts all day! After the pieces have been fired students will glaze them with shiny green ceramic glaze.
  • All students’ ceramic pieces are delightful.
  • Thank you to all families for returning the Parent Interview Forms for each art unit! Students in grades 1st - 6th continue to use their Art Planning and Reflection Books, increasing their literacy skill practice during art classes!
  • As always, Ms. Barrett ([email protected]) is here for any questions or concerns regarding the art program.

AAP Corner 

What are we learning?

• This month we are focused on visualizing. We read the book, Turn Around, Upside Down Alphabet and then we turned letters into different objects. Kids loved using their creativity. Look for these in Thursday Folders!

Home/School Connection

Hello! Each year we screen all students for new AAP services for the following school year. Information on referrals are in the Spring Newsletter. Please read and email Katelyn Spengler at @email with any questions.  Translations are included below:

Spring AAP Newsletter ES (PDF)
Arabic | Chinese | English | Korean | Spanish | Urdu | Vietnamese

ESOL 

Home/School Connection

All ESOL students have now completed their WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessments. The ESOL Team is very proud of how hard every student worked on each of their tests! Results from this assessment will be sent to families before the end of the school year. We are looking forward to seeing how much growth our students have made in learning academic English.