Classroom News 

Sight Words

By request, we had our first sight word test today!  I had mentioned a while back that I used to do sight word tests so I could see how students were doing with their practice.  To my amazement, students asked if we could do this!  They LOVED it!  Each and every one of them took our "test" very seriously.  We had the talk about the importance of trying our best and making sure to keep our eyes on our own papers.  We send these papers home on Thursday, so you could get a better understanding of where your child is at with their knowledge of sight words thus far.  It is important for students to not only be able to read the sight word, but to be able to write it as well! 

Holidays Around the World:

We learned that the Christmas tree is not native to Iceland.  A long time ago, they used to use a wooden pole and stick branches into it and spray paint it all green and then decorate it.  Everyone loved listening to the story of the Yule Lads, or little mischievous elves that visit the towns each night for 13 nights around the holiday season. We decided that they have very silly names:

Stekkjarstaur - Gimpy
Giljagaur - Gully Imp
Stúfur - Itty Bitty
Þvörusleikir - Pot Scraper Licker
Pottasleikir - Pot Licker
Askasleikir - Bowl Licker
Hurðaskellir - Door Slammer
Skyrgámur - Skyr Gobbler (Skyr, an Icelandic yoghurt)
Bjúgnakrækir - Sausage Snatcher
Gluggagægir - Window Peeper
GáttaÞefur - Doorway Sniffer
Ketkrókur - Meat Hooker
Kertasníkir - Candle Beggar

We visited Japan and learned about the how they celebrate the Japanese New Year. Students learned how to make oragami foxes and paper fans.  They even learned how to say "decorations, shrine, money, New Years Eve, cooking and gift" in Japanese!  

, 

Students are learning a song about Kwanzaa in music class and a while back they asked if this is something that we could learn about.  Students learned that Kwanzaa is based on the year-end harvest festivals that used to take place in Africa. The name comes from Swahili meaning "first fruits of the harvest."  We each made a Kinara (which friends made the connection between the Kinara and the Menorah because they look very similar)!

We will continue our Holiday's Around the World theme with our last stop being the United States.  Children will share about what their traditions are around the holiday season! Please be on the look out for your child's blue Passport next week! 

Remember:

We have school 12/21 and 12/22 and then I will see everyone back at school on Monday, 1/4