READING: After several weeks of reading and writing with a literature set and having some great fun with reader's theaters, we are returning to our reading room routines. Unit 3 in our Treasures series will present some skill challenges, but it is exciting to see the progress in fluency and comprehension that our class has made. Our class is also looking forward to an exciting field trip on March 19th. We will be traveling to UCM in Warrensburg to the Author's/Literature Festival. Many wonderful and accomplished authors will be there to talk to us about their books and how they became successful authors. We hope to see and listen to several of these great authors and illustrators: Roland Smith, Barbara Robinson, and Cheryl Harness.

MATH: Our Saxon math series rolls on and we have been introduced to many new concepts in the past month. We are practicing the relationship between fractions, decimals and percents, and recently the concept of two-digit division was introduced. I am so pleased with the progress that I see with this program. The repetitive nature of the daily lesson practice is helping students to retain a greater variety of math skills. That's exciting for me as well as for them! Please continue to practice multiplication facts at home.

SOCIAL STUDIES: The early explorers and the importance of the Louisiana Purchase were the topic of discussion in early January. Lately, we have been researching Missouri symbols. Ask your child about the meaning of all the symbols on the Missouri state seal. Soon it will be time to pack our wagons, say goodbye to friends and head west on the Oregon trail. Be careful to make wise packing decisions and remember to work cooperatively with your wagon train. Plenty of tough challenges lie ahead. Will your wagon train survive such fates as drought, snakes, Indian attacks, fire, and disease? Teamwork is the key to a successful trip. Westward Ho!

SCIENCE: On February 23, 2012 we will be traveling to Kansas City to visit EarthWorks. EarthWorks is located in a limestone mine (cave) called Hunt Subtropolis. EarthWorks is a place where students can do the work of real scientists and learn more about how the Earth works. It is a learning laboratory for scientific work but is also a natural history museum where we can see native plants and animals. Mrs. O'Neal has been working hard to make sure we are ready for our jobs at Earthworks.

Valentine's Day: We will celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14. I will have sacks for students to decorate, but if your child wants to bring a covered box instead, we will add decorations on February 10. Your child does not have to bring Valentines to share. However, if they choose to do so, they must bring one for every student in our class.