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MARCH 2013 NEWSLETTER: 2L, MR. LIPTON’S CLASS



Special Events for March 2013:March 1: Drop Everything And Read 8-8:20AM

March 15: Scholastic Book Orders Are Due!

March 19: Trip to Children’s Museum 9AM-1PM

March 20: Math Night @ 6PM at Devo Library

****Friday April 5: Breakfast Party and Math Musical ***** 7:45-8:30AM (Note: Date Changed in order not to conflict with the Passover holiday!)

Additional special notes and reminders will be emailed to families in our weekly 2L News & Notes email. If you are not currently on the email list and want to receive these updates, please let me know!

Daniel Lipton, [email protected]



REMINDERS & SPECIAL NOTES:1. Hopefully we are done with the worst of this year’s snow! However, on snowy days, please make sure your child dresses appropriately for outdoor recess (snow pants, boots, etc).

2. Please sign up for bringing food to our family breakfast on March 27. Also, we would love some more chaperones for our trip on March 19. Lastly, I will be posting a sign up for Spring Parent-Teacher conferences shortly. All sign up sheets are located right outside the 2L classroom.

3.We have been quite fortunate this semester to have support from two talented new teachers: Mr. Aaron Swiniuch (prepracticum) has been gracing us with drama activities such as Kung Fu Punctuation on Wednesdays and Fridays. Mr. Sam Tarlin (full time) has shown his masterful guitar playing and storytelling skills throughout the day. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Tarlin on his new job! He will be teaching first grade at Maimonidies in the 2013-2014 school year. We are fortunate to have Mr. Swiniuch joining us until early May and Mr. Tarlin with our class until mid-May.

4. Don’t forget to check out the 2L website. 2Lipton.weebly.com Password: Devotion

5. With summer vacation approaching in a few months, it is important to start to think about summer plans. If you are in need of help with finding a camp for your child and/or obtaining scholarship money, please feel free to check in with me or with Ms. Spitz for assistance.

6. Thank you to everyone for helping to ensure our school day starts on time. Please do your best to make sure your child is in the classroom by 8AM each day.

New Learning In March 2013



MATH: We are continuing our chapter 8 Think Math unit on regrouping, fact families, and place value. This unit will help students to think of multiple ways to solve two digit addition and subtraction problems, including the cross number puzzle, a strategy that will be revisited in later grades as well. Towards the end of the unit, we will create cross number puzzles out of pipe cleaners and other art materials. Our next math unit will be about 2 dimensional geometry. We will learn new vocabulary, such as congruence, symmetry, quadrilaterals, parallelograms, and more. Art projects, such as creating symmetrical designs, spatial puzzles using pattern blocks, and books (such as The Greedy Triangle) will highlight our work in this unit. Our math musical has been a lot of fun to work on and we will continue to prepare for our performance at the beginning of April. At the back of this newsletter is the script from our math show.

LITERACY:



The students are becoming immersed in poetry. One of our most important goals this month is to expose children to as much written and oral poetry as possible in order to prepare them for writing their own poems. While popular children’s poets such as Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky are dominant authors that we will study, we will make sure to read poetry from a variety of poets so that the students see that there are many ways of writing poetry. Students are busy working on fiction stories in their fiction writing journals. While students can write about any topic of their choice, we are often using songs or stories to jumpstart their thinking. Topics include writing about a pet rhino, traveling to Mars, and meeting the Abominable Snowman! Our work with punctuation continues with the study of the book Punctuation Celebration and, as mentioned earlier in our newsletter, the introduction of Kung Fu Punctuation! We are also working on handwriting, spelling and phonics, and guided reading. I am in the midst of finishing up the Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) reading tests for each student. I am so delighted with the progress that EVERY student has been making. We have a lot to celebrate in 2L with such great readers! Speaking of reading and celebrations, on March 1st, in honor of Read Across America and the birthday of Dr. Seuss,

we will have a special Seuss extravaganza featuring books, songs, and art projects celebrating the work of Dr. Seuss. If you have any Dr. Seuss books that you would like to bring in from home for us to borrow on March 1, please bring them in! We are also beginning to learn about the parts of speech. We will focus on nouns (common and proper), adjectives, and verbs. We will use songs from Schoolhouse Rock, as well as games and books, to help enhance our learning. During snack time, we will continue on with the Wayside School series by Louis Sachar. The books have been a hit with the class!

Social Studies:



As highlighted in last month’s newsletter, we are in the midst of an in depth study of Japan. Students will begin to create non-fiction picture books about Japan as we learn about the geography, weather, traditional customs, Japanese language and alphabet, folktales, and other aspects of Japanese culture.

Our trip to the Children’s Museum on March 19th will include a tour of a traditional Japanese home from Kyoto. Students will explore the traditional features of a Japanese home, including paper sliding doors and tatami (straw mats).

Our work with the Showa Institute has been a wonderful success, and we will welcome a Japanese college student to our classroom for a few days in the spring. She will observe and learn about American schools and share with us one or two lessons from Japan.

Science:

This month, our main focus continues to be on our social studies unit on Japan. In April we will focus on our next science unit about soil & earthworms. In the mean time, we will highlight some concepts of science throughout the month. We will have a chance to work with the school microscopes again. During our trip to the Children’s Museum we will check out the Science Playground, a fun exhibit that reviews many of our force and motion unit concepts through play and hands on activities.

Computer Lab:



We are continuing to use the computer lab to enhance our learning in a variety of subject areas. Two websites that we are currently using, and that you may enjoy trying at home, are described below:

sfskids.org This website, created by the San Francisco Symphony, explores concepts related to the orchestra, instrumentation, reading music, and composition!

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/lookcover/lookcover.htmlThis website is a terrific way to practice word wall words.

Spanish: We had a lot of fun integrating our nutrition unit with new Spanish vocabulary we learned by creating MyPlates which we labeled with Spanish food words. It is wonderful to see how the students are picking up great new vocabulary and becoming more confident with speaking in Spanish! Youtube clips from Pocoyo are a special treat for the kids in reviewing some of their Spanish vocabulary.

Community Building: Morning meeting continues to be a great way to build teamwork and share ideas and strategies for fostering positive friendships. I was very proud of the student work towards our goal of 100 Acts of Kindness by the 100th day of school. Students did a wonderful job working with the elderly residents at 100 Centre Street, and continue to do a great job with our kindergarten reading buddies and our 7th grade math buddies. In addition, the students created thoughtful, handmade gifts for their secret buddies. It is wonderful to be part of such a caring community of learners!

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/lookcover/lookcover.html



The next few pages of this newsletter include parts of our script for our math musical, “Mathopotamia.”

MATHOPOTAMIA: AN ORIGINAL MATH MUSICAL BY DANIEL LIPTON

All: HERE IN THE LAND OF MATHOPOTAMIAOUR LIVES ARE FILLED WITH JOYFROM DUSK TILL DAWN AND ALL DAY LONGWE LOVE MATH---OH BOY

HE ADDS, SHE SUBTRACTSWE LOVE LEARNING MATH FACTSI LOVE GEOMETRYDON’T YOU AGREE?

CHORUS

Narrator: Everything in Mathopotamia was great except for one thing.

All: We love counting coins and telling time on a clock.But we do not like the witch and warlock.

WITCH AND WARLOCK: WAHAHAHA!

WE ARE GREEDY, HEE HEE HEE HEEWE WANT NO MATH FOR YOU AND ALL FOR ME.NOW MY DEAR, OUR PATH IS CLEARHEAR OUR WRATH WE’RE TAKING ALL THE MATH

Townspeople:THEY’RE GONNA TAKE THE SHAPES LIKE THE SQUARE AND THE TRAPEZOIDTHEY’RE GONNA TAKE THE NUMBERS TOOSTOP BEING PARANOID

WITCH & WARLOCK:NOW MY DEAROUR PATH IS CLEARHEAR OUR WRATHWE’RE TAKING ALL THE MATH.

Witch & Warlock:Abracadabra, abracamalculusgive us all the math from kindergarten to calculus. Wahaha

Townspeople: Oh no! Oh no!Woe! Woe! Woe!

Townsperson 1: Want to meet later?

2: Sounds good. See you later alligator.

1: But how will we know when to meet?

2: I don’t know. We can’t tell time any more.

1 & 2: Boy the witch and warlock make me sore!

Townspeople: Oh no! Oh no! Woe, woe, woe!

Architect: Ladies and gentlemen, I am the greatest architect that you will ever see.I can design the greatest buildings thanks to geometry.This building will be in the shape of…of…. I don’t know.

Townspeople: Oh no! Oh no! Woe! Woe! Woe!

Narrator: At school things seemed to be fun at first, but soon it was clear that math was desperately needed.

Teacher: Class, there will be no more math. It seems the thing to do is to have an extra hour of recess.

Student: Woo hoo!

Student 2: I never thought I’d live to see this day!

Teacher: But before we get started, let’s give each of you some cake. But oh no! There are no more numbers left. How will I know how many students there are and how will I divide the cake equally?

All: AND SO THE TEACHER, JUST SAT AND CRIEDSHE LOOKED UP ONCE IN A WHILE AND SIGHEDWITHOUT FRACTIONS, WHAT COULD SHE DO?WE NEVER GOT OUR MATH, AND WE TURNED BLUE.

Store Owner: I will sell you chocolate and honey if you give me the right amount of money.

Customer: But the witch and warlock took our dollars and cents.How will we buy these refreshments?

Store Owner: No cash, no food. Sorry pal.

Townspeople: Oh no! Oh no! Woe, woe, woe!

Townsperson: We must get our math back! Who’s with me?

All: I am!

Narrator: And so the townspeople went to visit the witch and warlock.

Witch & Warlock: We’re the richest mathematicians in the world. Wahaha!

Witch: Oh honey. Please pass me a quadrilateral. Wahaha.

Townspeople: Stop right there! We’ve come for our math.

Warlock: Guards! Seize these people.

Guards: Halt! Who dares disturb the witch and warlock?

Townspeople: We do. Got a problem with that?

TOWNSPEOPLE: THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN SAYAND NOTHING YOU CAN DOTHAT WILL MAKE US TURN AWAYUNTIL OUR MISSION IS THROUGH.

WE’LL DO ANYTHING.

WITCH AND WARLOCK: DID THEY SAY ANYTHING.

TOWNSPEOPLE: ANYTHING!

WITCH AND WARLOCK: WHAT AN INTERESTING IDEA.

TOWNPEOPLE: GO AHEAD! DO YOUR WORST!WE HAVE NO FEAR.

WITCH AND WARLOCK: WE MUST THINK OF SOME EVIL. IT MUST BE THE BEST.

TOWNSPEOPLE: WE’LL DO ANYTHING! WHAT DO YOU REQUEST.

WITCH: I HAVE IT!WARLOCK: WHAT?

WITCH AND WARLOCK: YOU’LL HAVE TO TAKE THIS MATH TEST.

TOWNSPEOPLE: HORROR! HORROR! SHAKING IN FRIGHT.

WITCH AND WARLOCK: TO GET YOUR MATH, YOU HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING RIGHT.

TOWNSPEOPLE: THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN SAYAND NOTHING YOU CAN DOTHAT WILL MAKE US TURN AWAYUNTIL OUR MISSION IS THROUGH.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the math test. Please welcome your hosts, the witch and warlock.

Witch and Warlock: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Before we get started, let’s hear from some of our sponsors.

Commercial 1: Tired of chewing the same old gum? Try parallelogum. Not only is it delicious, but its opposite sides are parallel.

Commercial 2: Want a delicious cereal? Try Kellog’s Frosted Shapes. Frosted trapezoids, triangles, and squares. Low in cholesterol but lots of great taste! They’re great!

Commercial 3: And for another delicious cereal, try Six. It’s kid tested and mother approved.

Announcer: You’ll have one minute to answer all the questions. Good luck. Question 1: Show me two lines that are parallel.

(Townspeople make parallel lines with their arms.)

Announcer: Rats! You have done well. But only time will tell.

Witch: Speaking of time, what time is it?

TOWNSPEOPLE: WE’RE GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TODAYWE’RE GONNA LEARN ABOUT TIME IN A MAJOR WAYWE’RE GONNA ROCK, GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TODAY.WHEN 15 MINUTES HAVE GONE BYIT’S A QUARTER PAST THE HOUR AND THAT’S NO LIE.WE’RE GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TODAY….WHEN 30 MINUTES ARE THROUGHHALF PAST THE HOUR IS WHAT WE’RE UP TOWE’RE GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TODAY…IT’S 45 PAST THE HOURLOOK HOW TIME FLEWWE CAN NOW SAY IT’S A QUARTER TO.WE’RE GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK…..

Announcer: Question 3—How are subtraction and addition related to each other?

TOWNSPEOPLE: THERE IS NO COMPETITION BETWEEN SUBTRACTION AND ADDITIONTHEY BOTH WORK TOGETHERLIKE TWO PEAS IN A PODIT’S REALLY NOT THAT ODDTO THINK OF THEM AS BEST OF FRIENDS FOREVER.NOW YOU’RE NOT OVERREACTINGIF YOU USE ADDING TO CHECK YOUR SUBTRACTINGNO NEED TO WONDER IF YOU’RE RIGHT ANY MORELET ME SHOW YOU WHAT TO DOTO CHECK IF 4 MINUS 2 IS 2ADD 2 PLUS 2 AND YOU’LL GET FOURDO NOT FRETDO NOT WORRYEVEN IF YOU’RE IN A HURRY

JUST USE THIS STRATEGYIF 3 PLUS 7 IS TENCHECK YOUR WORK AGAINBY ASKING IS TEN MINUS SEVEN THREE?

ANNOUNCER: Question 4. What is regrouping?

TOWNSPEOPLE: WE’RE REGROUPING IT’S FUN TO DOWE’RE REGROUPING ME AND YOUWE’RE REGROUPING AND YES IT’S TRUEWE’RE REGROUPING THANKS TO PLACE VALUE

IF I HAVE TEN ONES WHAT DO I DO?I’LL GIVE THEM TO THE TENS, OH MY THANK YOUIF I HAVE TEN TENS THEN YOU’LL SEEI’LL GIVE THEM TO THE HUNDREDS, GRACIAS, THANK YOU, MERCI.

ANNOUNCER: It’s now time for our bonus round. Last question of the night and math is yours for the taking.

Townsperson: I’m so excited I can’t stop shaking.

Announcer: What is the largest number ever to be?

Townsperson: It’s too hard. We’ll never get it.Townsperson: I agree.

Townsperson: I think we need some help from our live studio audience.

All: Can anyone help us set math free?

Audience Member: That’s a trick question. There is no largest number. Numbers go all the way into infinity.

All: Numbers go all the way into infinity!

Townspeople: YOU CAN COUNT BY TWOSYOU CAN COUNT BY THREESYOU CAN COUNT BY FIVESBUT YOU’LL NEVER COUNT TO INFINITYHOW MANY GRAINS OF SAND ARE ON THE LANDHOW MANY STARS ARE IN THE SKIESHOW MANY LEAVES ARE ON THE TREESCAN YOU COUNT THE BUTTERFLIESTHE ANSWER MY FRIENDHAS NO END

YOU CAN NEVER TRULY SEE INFINITYNO MATTER HOW HIGH, NO MATTER HOW LOWTHE VERY LAST NUMBER YOU CAN NEVER KNOW.

Witch and Warlock: Rats! You have done well. We will give you back your math. But beware. You haven’t seen the last of us! Wahaha!

Townsperson: Thanks audience member, whom I’ve never seen before in my life, for saving the day.

Townsperson: Give a cheer!

Townsperson: 2, 4, 6, 8Who do we appreciate?Math, math, yay math!

All: ON A CLOUDY DAYWHEN IT’S RAINING AND WETAND YOU ARE STARTING TO GET UPSETHERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DOIT’S AS SIMPLE AS ONE PLUS ONE IS TWOFROM THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN TO THE OCEAN AND SEAOUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH GEOMETRYAT ANY TIME, IN ANY PLACEMATH UNITES THE HUMAN RACETHE ANSWER IS CLEARJUST FOLLOW THIS PATHTHERE’S NOTHING TO FEARJUST DO THE MATH!

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