May 9-13

We hope you had a great Mother's Day weekend! 

Here are some updates for this week...

1) This week we have STAAR testing.. on these days there are no visitors or volunteers allowed on campus! 

    May 9th - 3rd and 4th Reading, 5th retesting

    May 10th - 3rd and 4th Math, 5th retesting

    May 11th - 5th grade retesting

    May 12th-13th - STAAR makeup days (but visitors may return to campus!

2) On Thursday we have a special program in the library about Life in Classical Greece that coincides with our study of Ancient Greece for Winds of Time!

3) May 12th is Gallery Night! Mrs. Cummings has worked hard to display works of art from our HCE students! This starts at 5pm and the art will be displayed in the cafeteria.. Don’t miss it!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We will continue our study of book series and characters!

Writing: We will continue to write SFML's and our bird books!

Math: We will begin shapes and patterns!

Science: We will continue our bird books!

Social Studies: We will finish up economics and start Winds of Time!

May 2-6

Happy May!

Here are the important dates to remember for May! J

May Events

9- STAAR 3^rd & 4^th Math (no visitors on Campus)

10- STAAR 3^rd & 4^th Reading, 5^th Science (no visitors on Campus)

11- STAAR make-ups

13- 5^th grade iHistory Museum (we will visit these in the 5^th grade classrooms)

23- Publisher’s Picnic (YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!) I believe the 2^nd grade time is 10:30 J

25- 3^rd grade Chariot Races

31- Winds of Time Parade

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We will continue our series books study! We will be looking at characters over the series.

Writing: We are writing our Stories from my Life AND our Bird Books!

Math: We will continue to learn to tell time to the minute!

Social Studies: We will continue economics!

Science: We are researching birds!

April 25-29

Sorry for the late post this week!

A special thanks to our Law Week reader yesterday, Mrs. Lukin, who came to read to the 2nd graders to teach them about the upcoming elections in the fall! Our students learned a lot and had fun, too! Thanks Mrs. Moore for coordinating this for us! :)

Here are some important updates:

1) Second grade has collected enough toilet paper and paper towel rolls for our Winds of Time costumes! THANK YOU to anyone who contributed!

2) Progress reports went home yesterday. Please sign and return!

3) Please (if you haven't already) continue to send your pillow cases for our Winds of Time togas! We will have parent volunteers cutting them Tuesday, May 3rd so we need them by then! Thanks for your help!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We will look at series books! We will use series books to study characters, their traits and feelings and how characters generally stay the same over a series!

Writing: We will continue our SFML unit!

Math: We are starting TIME! Yay! Look for the yellow "math to home connection" letter to see what we will be learning!

Science: We are starting our bird research for our bird books! Ask your student what bird they will be studying and come to publisher's picnic later in May to see the final product!

Social Studies: We are wrapping up our economics unit!

April 11-15

We are almost half-way through April!

Here are some important announcements :)

1)    April 20th is our Zoo Field Trip! We need TWO parent volunteers to ride the bus with us – these parents will have their zoo ticket paid for. Anyone else who would like to chaperone is more than welcome – you will meet us at the zoo and you can either pay for your ticket or use your zoo membership if you have one! Please email me if you want to come so I know how many parents we will have joining us! The first 2 parents to email me will be the two who get their ticket paid for and ride the bus! We would love to have you! Permission slips will be coming home so please fill it out and return it ASAP J

2)   Please start sending your King Size white pillow case for our togas/tunics for Winds of Time! We need these by April 19^th so you can begin sending them now! (Each student needs ONE.. please label in a ziplock bag OR on the packaging in permanent marker with their name. This is for our Winds of Time Parade costume! We will do all the work at school!) I know sometimes these come in sets of 2 so if you want to “partner up” with another parent that works as well!

3)   Also, if anyone has any extra paper towel rolls (empty) or toilet paper rolls (empty) that they would like to donate for part of our costume – please send them with your student! We will use these for Winds of Time too!

4)   Our Customary Measurement Math Test will be Wednesday so please be looking for a completed review coming home on Tuesday!

Important Dates for April and May:

        4/12 – PTA Budget Voting Meeting at 6:00 PM

        4/20 – 2^nd grade Zoo Field Trip

        4/26 – Progress Reports come home

        5/23 – Publisher’s Picnic

        5/31 – Winds of Time Parade

Here's what we are learning:

Reading: Plays - Readers use voice and volume, stage direction and expressions!

Writing: What makes a good story? We will make a criterion chart!

Math: Customary Measurement - we will test on WEDNESDAY!

Social Studies: Jobs, Income, Spending, Saving, Supply & Demand

Science: We will finish up plants!

April 4-8

Wow! Happy April!

We hope you enjoyed our Birds of a Feather play! The students loved practicing and performing for you! If you came to a performance we really appreciate it! :)

Don't forget that this THURSDAY AND FRIDAY are noon dismissal for our Spring Parent Teacher Conferences! These conferences are optional but the dismissal is at noon! The students WILL have lunch time so they will have eaten before they come home unless you tell your child's teacher otherwise. If you plan to take them to lunch or have lunch at home please send a small snack for them to enjoy during lunch instead!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We are continuing our study of plays! We are taking familiar books and making plays of our own. We are using our knowledge of voice, volume, stage directions and expression!

Writing: We will continue to look at Stories from my Life! This week we will talk about: what makes a strong story and what makes a not so strong story? We will be creating a criterion chart to help us critique these stories!

Math: We will continue Customary Measurement! We plan to have our test on Friday but that is subject to change and we will keep you updated!

Social Studies: We are continuing to study Economics. This week we will talk about jobs, spending and saving!

Science: We are beginning to learn about plants!

March 28 - April 1

Wow! We can't believe this week is going to be April!

Don't forget we have a couple important things coming up!

Our BIRDS PROGRAM is this Thursday at 6:00pm! Your child needs to be in their classroom to get ready at 5:30 - this is when doors will open for you to get seats as well!

Also, please make sure if you want a Parent Teacher Conference for April 7th or 8th you sign up on your teacher's signup genius. These can be done in person or on the phone and they are optional!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We will be taking familiar books and turning them into plays! Readers are able to navigate plays, read dialogue, interpret stage directions and present their play!

Writing: We will review craft elements!

Math: We will wrap up Metric Measurement - our test will be on Wednesday so look for a Chapter Review coming home on Tuesday!

Social Studies: We will wrap up our Economics unit!

Science: We will wrap up our Life Cycles unit and start plants!

March 21-25

WELCOME BACK! We hope you had a wonderful Spring Break! We are happy to see your students' smiling faces!

Please remember that FRIDAY is a school holiday for Good Friday!

We will not be having NEW spelling words this week but we will be reviewing our words from last week and taking another test on the same words. We will take this opportunity to dig into vocabulary with these spelling words!

We are excited to be starting our Birds program rehearsal this week!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: Readers notice that some nonfiction texts give directions that can be followed! We will be studying procedural texts such as recipes, manuals, map instructions, building directions, game directions/rules, science experiments, and assignment directions.

Writing: Writers will work on publishing their poems!

Math: We will be learning about metric units of measurement: centimeters and meters!

Social Studies: We will continue to study economics: needs vs. wants, goods vs. services and jobs!

Science: We will continue to study life cycles!

We hope you have a great week and a wonderful long weekend coming up!

March 7-11

Happy almost Spring Break! It's going to be a great week this week!

Don't forget that FRIDAY is our money store! Make sure you check your email from your teacher to see how many items to bring on Friday! We will do the money store during our math time from 12:00-1:10!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: Readers will use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words, they will also notice how you can look at pictures to understand meaning of the words.

Writing: Poets can use repetition of words or phrases in their poems. Poets also create poetic language when they compare an ordinary item to something unusual. Poets reread their poems to edit them carefully! We will celebrate our poetry writing on Friday.

Math: Real world money problems - we will look at making change, spending, comparing and counting! Our money test is THURSDAY!

Social Studies: We will learn about the economy! We will look at work, income, earning, jobs, spending, community, needs vs. wants and goods vs. services!

Science: We will learn about life cycles!

5 days until Spring Break! ... but who's counting anyways? :)

February 29 - March 4

Wow - we are already moving into March! We have an exciting week this week!

2nd Grade will take our field trip to the Arboretum on Wednesday! We will leave school around 9:00am and return by 2:00pm. PLEASE make sure to send your child in their HCE Spirit Shirt and make sure they pack a sack lunch - it must all be disposable! No lunch boxes! We have to be able to throw everything away at the arboretum - thank you in advance!

Here is what we are learning this week...

Reading: Readers understand features of nonfiction texts and how they support the meaning of the book. We will look at: headings, subheadings, photos, captions, diagrams, maps, labels and the index and recognize the purpose that each feature serves!

Writing: We will continue our poetry unit! This week some things we are looking at are: poets using language to show what they mean instead of telling it, poets using precise words in their poems, poets using sensory details to help their reader visualize, and poets using patterns in their work.

Math: We will continue our unit on money looking at comparing amounts of money and real world money problems such as making change and how much money we have to spend!

Social Studies: In this part of our history unit, students will discuss how science and technology have changed the way people meet their basic needs.

Science: We will compare physical characteristics that animals share to help them meet their basic needs. We will also investigate the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals and how those characteristics help animals survive in their environment.

We are excited for marvelous March!

February 22-26

Wow! We have a crazy week ahead here at Hunters Creek! Make sure you read this entire post so you don't miss anything important!

Tuesday is our first day of the Book Fair! Here are our times that each class will visit the Book Fair this week in case you want to come shop with your child:

Howard- 9:45-10:15

Giese & Coan - 10:15-10:45

Scott & Boyd - 2:15-2:45

Tuesday night is our Family and Special Friends Night at the Bookfair! It is from 5:30-7:30PM. There will be dinner offered there by Mike's subs that includes a sandwich, chips and a cookie for $6!

Wednesday is Donuts with Dads! It is from 7:15-8:00AM. Come enjoy doughnuts provided by the Dad's Club and then browse the Book Fair!

Thursday is an EARLY DISMISSAL DAY so please plan to make arrangements to pick up your student at 1:30!

Friday is GO TEXAN DAY and 2nd grade will be performing Square Dancing at 9:00-9:50AM - visitors welcome to come watch! Just make sure to sign in to the front office!

That was a lot of announcements! Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We will continue studying Nonfiction texts!

Writing: We will begin writing our own Poetry!

Math: We will begin our unit on Money!

Social Studies: We will continue to learn about Important Americans!

Science: We will study basic needs of living things!

February 16-19

Just a reminder - since this week is short we will not be having spelling! Spelling will resume next week! We hope you enjoyed your long 3 day weekend!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: We will learn all about Nonfiction books!

Writing: We will work through the process of revising, editing and publishing our Story from Our Lives!

Math: We will wrap up our Multiplication unit! Our test will be FRIDAY so look for a chapter review coming home Thursday!

Social Studies: We will continue to learn about Important Americans and their significance in history.

Science: We will continue to learn about natural resources.

Have a great week!

February 8-12

 It’s KINDNESS WEEK at Hunters Creek! Each day we will talk about a different aspect of being kind. Students will have the opportunity to fill “buckets” hanging on classroom doors with notes of encouragement to friends and teachers. This week is a schoolwide challenge focusing on appreciating and encouraging others with kind words, hugs, sharing a smile and writing notes of appreciation. We LOVE kindness week! Ask your student about it J

 We will be decorating bags for our Valentines Party as a class activity so there’s no need to send anything from home. We have a fun time decorating our bags and make it special in class!

Please send your Valentines for the class on Friday morning (since we don’t have much storage space in our classrooms, holding onto them until Friday would be much appreciated!), February 12^th. Check with your teacher to see how many students they have! Please make sure if your child chooses to bring Valentines that they bring a Valentine for every student in my class J Each year we have decided it is easiest if you do not write a child’s name on the To blank but just have your student sign their name so that they don’t have to go hunting for each specific Valentine Bag! Thanks so much for your help!

Our Valentines Parties will be Friday, February 12th from 2:20-2:50 in your child's classroom!

Here's what we are learning this week:

Reading: Readers notice the language poets use to create mental images. Readers also notice the language poets use to create specific feelings in their readers. They reflect on the overall meaning of poetry as well as consider what message the author is trying to convey. They also think about the characters in narrative poems as if they are in a story - looking at their characteristics and traits!

Writing: We will continue to write our Stories from Our Lives and add "craft elements" to them.

Math: We will continue our Multiplication unit by moving on to 5's and 10's!

Social Studies: We will continue to learn about important Americans!

Science: We will continue our rocks and geology unit by looking at natural resources and different kinds of rocks!

Have a WONDERFUL Kindness Week! 

February 1-5

Happy February! This semester sure is going by quickly!

Please look for the blue letter coming home with your child - our math School to Home connection letter explaining our upcoming math chapter which is Chapter 6: Multiplication and skip counting!

Progress Reports go home FRIDAY!

Here is what we are learning this week:

Reading: We are starting our poetry unit! We will learn all about rhyming and non-rhyming, alliteration, narrative poems, concrete poems, line breaks, two voice poems and much more!

Writing: We will continue to go through the writing process for our stories from our lives!

Math: We will delve deeper into multiplication and skip counting! We will be making the connections between multiplication and division!

Social Studies: We will continue to learn about important Americans and their influences!

Science: We will continue our study of geology and rocks!

Have a FABULOUS February!

January 25-29

Happy last week of January! Woah! Crazy how the time flies!

TOMORROW, January 26th is our LAST DAY of NRT testing! Yay! Your students have done a wonderful job working hard and doing their best and we appreciate your partnership in supporting them throughout testing!

Check out what we are learning this week:

Reading: Readers consume narratives with backstory! We will talk about backstory, what it is, and how it improves a story!

Writing: We will continue to write our Stories from My Life!

Math: We will finish division! This FRIDAY we will have our Chapter 5 test. Look for a completed chapter review coming home on Thursday night!

Social Studies: We will continue to learn about historical figures and how they impacted our world today!

Science: We are beginning our geology unit as we study rocks!

Spelling and homework this week is normal! Have a wonderful week!

January 19-22

Happy Tuesday! We hope you enjoyed your Martin Luther King, Jr. day and your long weekend!

There will be NO SPELLING this week due to a short week - we will resume with spelling again next week. However, there WILL be regular homework for Tuesday and Wednesday with our math and reading practice as usual. The homework packet is coming home today with your student!

We will be continuing our Norm Referenced Testing this week by taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Our testing dates for this week are January 19th, 20th and 21st. Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and comes to school on time as we will be starting promptly each morning!

Here's what we are learning about this week!

Reading: Readers consume narratives with descriptive detail! We will be noticing descriptive detail and how they improve the quality of a story. We will be learning how we can add this descriptive detail in our own writing and notice it in the books we are reading on our own too!

Writing: We will continue writing stories from our lives! We will continue to use a story arc to map events, add details, and expand it into a story that's worth telling.

Math: We will continue with division and repeated subtraction!

Social Studies: We are beginning our biography unit on historical figures! Your students will learn about various people throughout history. Ask them about it!

Science: We will continue our study of animal survival including adaptations, hibernation and migration!

We hope you enjoy your short week!

January 11-15

Happy Monday everyone! 

Please remember that this week is our first week of Norm Referenced Testing! We start testing tomorrow, January 12th. Our testing dates for this week are: January 12, January 13 and January 15. Please make sure your student gets a good night's rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and comes fueled to give their best effort! Each test will be first thing in the morning so please make sure that your child is on time to school!

If you have any questions concerning testing please feel free to email your child's teacher and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Here's what we are learning this week!

Reading: In reading we will be talking about inner thinking. Readers understand that inner thinking is when the author shows a conversation inside a character's head!

Writing: In writing we will continue to write stories from our lives. We will use our story arc to decide on a personal narrative that is a story worth telling!

Math: We will continue our study of multiplication by introducing arrays - another way to visualize a multiplication sentence.

Social Studies: We will continue our study of timelines and create our own timeline of our day!

Science: We will wrap up our study on magnets and start learning about animals and their different adaptations!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

January 5-8

There is no spelling this week! :) Our other homework is as usual - tonight will be reading!

Next Monday we will resume spelling!

Check out what we are learning this week:

Reading: We are talking about substance versus presentation in stories. How do author's use different craft elements to make their stories more interesting and entertaining?

Writing: We are learning to tell stories from our lives and take a "small moment" and add detail to it.

Math: We are beginning our unit on multiplication! We talk about multiplication being the same thing as repeated addition. Please look for the letter from our Math in Focus that explains how we teach this!

Social Studies: We are learning about timelines and how to create New Years resolutions for ourselves!

Science: We are continuing our unit on magnets!