Friday, April 11, 2014

Dear Families,

This week the first and second graders created a bar graph showing the height of several different kinds of penguins. Then, they were able to answer questions about the penguins using the information they graphed. They also measured themselves in inches and determined which penguin was closest to their height. And, last, they found out and marked where in the world several different types of penguins live. (All penguin work will go home at the end of the unit.)

My math group began a unit on place value. We completed several fun activities. For example,  students were given task cards such as take the numbers 7, 2, 9 and 4. Put the 7 in the tens place, the 2 in the thousands place, etc. Read the number. All of my students were so motivated and created numbers into the millions! Now, we need to learn to read the numbers!

This morning we cleaned our classroom and searched for chametz. What great cleaners!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Pesach break!

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren

Proudly displaying the lowest number and highest number made with picked numbers.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Dear Families,

We had a wonderful trip to the Chabad in Natick for the matzah making workshop. Check out the photos below.

My math group continued to learn about graphs: pictographs, line graphs, bar graphs, etc. Our next unit is place value.

My literacy group reviewed possessives in addition to reading some fabulous books such as The Littles series by John Peterson and The Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant.

The second graders are so busy working on their country study boards. We can't wait for all of you to see their finished work!! I'm still looking for a volunteer to do some cooking with the kids right before the fair.

And, finally, my science and social studies students made a graph to show the height of different kids of penguins and then they compared the heights to themselves. Next week we will learn where different penguins live.

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren

Rolling out the matzah dough. 

The chametz station.

Grinding the wheat.

More grinding . . . . 

Learning about how matzah is made.

Friday, March 28, 2014

This week my science and social studies class continued learning about penguins. Do you know what a rookery is? Do you know what a penguin does if it doesn't have enough rocks to make a nest? Ask your first or second grader!

My math group reviewed bar graphs and line graphs.  Next we will look at pictographs. The most important thing we learned this week is that we have to READ all of the information about a graph before we can understand it. Now that it is spring, I am pushing all of my students to read all directions carefully before they say, "I don't get it!"

My literacy group learned about possessives. The kids had a great time cutting out various pictures of people, animals and objects and making different pairs (the penguin's ice cream, the girl's magnifying glass).

And, finally, grades 1 and 2 completed the science experiment for the Science Fair. Will wheat grow in a straw without soil? If you want to know, you'll have to find out at the fair!

A reminder that our trip to Chabad in Natick is this Monday. The kids are looking forward to learning about how matzah is made.

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren

Morning math review on elapsed time.

Some of my literacy students displaying their beautiful dioramas.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Dear Families,

The students had a great time celebrating Purim on Monday. The carnival was fun and it was  exciting to see all the wonderful costumes!

My math group completed their "Best Day" maps in inches as well as our unit on measuring. Check out the final products in the hallway.

My literacy group finished learning about plurals this week. We covered the rules for s, es, y, f and fe. We also learned about exceptions to the rules. Check out the Dinosaur Cafe menu that went home on Wednesday.

And, finally, grades 1 and 2 worked on their weekly science observations. Out of the 30 wheat seeds that we placed in straws, 28 are growing or changing.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Hamorah Caren

Friday, March 14, 2014


Dear Families,

This week in science/social studies we learned about Rockhopper penguins. The kids did a great job researching interesting facts about them. We generated a class list and compared it to our class list of Emperor penguin facts. Then, the kids filled in Venn Diagrams to compare the two on their own.
We also made adorable penguin covers to contain all of our work. They could choose a template or design their own.

My math group learned about area, volume and measurement this week. We are in the middle of creating our own "special day" maps. When the maps are complete, we will measure, in inches, the distance between all of the stops during our special days.

My literacy group began learning about plurals this week. So far we have covered changing the "y" to an "i" and adding an "es" as well as how to determine whether a word needs an "s" or an "es."

Our science experiment is well underway. Some of our wheat seeds have sprouted in some of the straws, but not all.

Reminders:
Next Monday is our Purim carnival. Please send your child to school in a costume.
Also, no school on Friday due to parent/teacher conferences. Please sign up!

Shabbat Shalom,
Hamorah Caren

Friday, March 7, 2014

Dear Families,

This week, as we continued our unit on geometry, my math students learned how to solve for perimeter. We looked at all sorts of shapes to practice and then we created some "perimeter art." The students were given one inch squares and asked to create a unique shape. Then, using one inch pieces of yarn, they marked the shapes and determined perimeter. Check out their work in the hall!

My literacy group continued to practice contractions. We also continued with writer's workshop (one of the favorites of the week). The students are becoming quite the authors! They write stories with amazing detail and great illustrations. Several days a week our class authors share their finished products with the rest of the group.

In Social Studies we began learning about Emperor penguins. The students were put into groups and given information to read. They had to determine which facts they thought were the most important and then record them. Together as a class we compiled our lists and made one class poster.

We had a successful pajama day and ice cream party. See our "pajama twins" below.

And, last, grades 1 and 2 began their science experiment for the science fair. Will grass and wheat seeds sprout and grow through a straw? Through a curly straw?

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren

Friday, February 28, 2014


Dear Families,

Our first week back from February break was a busy one!

We spent Monday celebrating our 100th day of school. The students made posters to display 100 items, they did fun worksheets involving the number 100 and they had a "scavenger hunt" to find 100 items hidden within five containers of colored foam.

My math group began learning about symmetry as the first part of our unit on geometry. We looked at many different shapes and pictures of different items and tried to find a line of symmetry. Then we made our own creative symmetrical designs using construction paper, scissors and glue. Check them out in the hall!

My literacy group began to learn about contractions this week. We will continue to practice in class. Although the students didn't know the term "contraction," they all knew what they were. Please help your child to practice at home using the flashcards that we made in class.

And, last, we spent our first "Science Friday" learning about how important it is to follow specific steps when conducting an experiment. Teachers modeled for the students how to make a bowl of cereal. Then, the students were put into groups and together they had to write and illustrate the steps to brushing their teeth. We will begin our grades 1/2 experiment next week.

Reminders: my math group is having a celebratory ice cream party on Monday (Tuesday is the make up date) and grades 1/2 will be having a pajama day on Tuesday.


Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren