May 7, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed May Day Around the World and Goal.  May Day Around the World is a narrative nonfiction selection while Goal is an informational text about soccer.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with open and closed syllables, identifying and using prepositions and prepositional phrases that tell when and where, decoding words with the suffixes "y" and "ly," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We wrapped up chapter 13 by making equal shares that do not have the same shape.  We started chapter 14 over more addition, subtraction, and length.  So far students have solved problems by adding or subtracting length measurements.

RELIGION:  We discussed different types of prayer and recognized the meaning of the prayer that Jesus taught his followers, the Lord's Prayer.  Students also identified daily opportunities for prayer.  

SCIENCE:  We discussed changes caused by wind and water, such as erosion.  We looked at windbreaks, using sandbags, and building a dike as ways to prevent wind and water erosion.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Students learned how citizens of the United States vote for leaders.  They also learned some of the ways in which people find out about candidates.  

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced the uppercase cursive Q, T, and F.

DATES TO REMEMBER:  

• Friday, May 8:  Spirit Day ~ Students can pay $1.00 to wear a hat and/or sweatpants to school
• Wednesday, May 20:  Spring Concert at Creston High School, 6:00 P.M.
• Thursday, May 21:  All library books are due back to the library
• Friday, May 29:  Last day of school ~ three hour early dismissal

April 30, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Hello, World! and Where on Earth Is My Bagel? Hello, World! is an informational text while Where on Earth Is My Bagel? is a realistic fiction selection.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with the prefixes "mis," "de," and "re," and the suffixes "less," "ly," and "ful," spelling words with inflected endings "ed" and "ing," identifying possessive pronouns in sentences, decoding words with the suffixes "ion," "tion," and "sion," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  Students partitioned rectangles into equal-size squares and partitioned circles and rectangles into halves, thirds, and fourths.

SCIENCE:  We described what happens during an earthquake, volcano, landslide, hurricane, and flood.  They all bring about quick changes to Earth's surface.  We also learned about Dr. Rosaly M.C. Lopes.  She is a volcanologist.  A volcanologist is a scientist who studies volcanoes.  She studies the history of volcanoes, measures any seismic activity, and collects date which can help to predict future eruptions.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Students learned how the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court work together to govern the United States.  

FIRST EUCHARIST:  First Eucharist will take place on Saturday, May 2 at 5:00 P.M.  There will be a reception following Mass in the church basement.

SECOND GRADE MASS:  Next Wednesday, May 6, the second grade is in charge of the school Mass.  We will also have a May crowning during this Mass.  Please look in the take home folder for more information concerning this special Mass, as well as your child's parts for the Mass.

April 23, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed a folktale called Abuelo and the Three Bears and discussed a video called Ducklings Jump from Nest.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with consonant + /le/ as in "apple," identifying how to form possessives with nouns that name one or more than one, decoding words with the prefix "pre," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter test over measuring length and started a new chapter over shapes and their attributes.  So far students have recognized plane shapes by how they look.

RELIGION:  We discussed what takes place during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  We explained that God gave us the gift of Jesus.  Jesus gave us the gift of his life, and the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of Jesus' Body and Blood at Mass in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

SCIENCE:  Students described what happens during erosion by water and ice.  We also discussed how farmers try to prevent or reduce the effects of erosion. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  This week students identified functions of government and compared the roles of public officials such as a governor and mayor. 

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced the uppercase cursive Z, V, and W.  They also reviewed the uppercase cursive N, M, H, K, and U.

GLOW-A-THON:  The annual PTO Glow-a-Thon spring fundraiser will take place on Monday, April 27 during your child's P.E. time.  Money raised will help to improve the entrance to the school.  It will also benefit the PTO general fund.  Please return your child's pledge form to school on Monday, April 27 if you have not already done so.  Please have your child bring a water bottle to school this day.  They are also encouraged to wear neon colors or white so they can "glow" during the Glow-a-Thon.  

BRING SACK LUNCH TO SCHOOL:  Monday, April 27 will be a sack lunch day at St. Malachy.  Please have your child bring a sack lunch to school on this day.  Milk will be provided.

April 16, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed an informational text called Sea Otter Pups and a collection of poems entitled At Home in the Wild.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with three letter consonant blends as in "splash" and "throw," identifying adverbs that tell when, where, and how, identifying contractions, decoding words with the prefix "mis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  Students estimated and measured the length and height of objects in inches, feet, and yards, and used a ruler and meter stick to measure the length and height of objects to the nearest centimeter and meter.

SCIENCE:  We started a new unit over changes to Earth's surface.  So far we have described what happens during weathering by water and ice, weathering by plants, and erosion by wind.   All are slow processes.

HANDWRITING:  This week students practicing writing the uppercase cursive U, Y, and Z.

GLOW-A-THON:  The annual PTO Glow-a-Thon spring fundraiser will take place on Monday, April 27 during your child's P.E. time.  Money raised will help to improve the entrance to the school.  It will also benefit the PTO general fund.  Please return your child's pledge form to school by Monday, April 27.  Please have your child bring a water bottle to school this day.  They are also encouraged to wear neon colors or white so they can "glow" during the Glow-a-Thon.  

BRING SACK LUNCH TO SCHOOL:  Monday, April 27 will be a sack lunch day at St. Malachy.  Please have your child bring a sack lunch to school on this day.  Milk will be provided.

BOOK ORDERS:  Book orders are due tomorrow, April 17.  Please note this is the last time I will be sending book orders home this school year.   If you are interested in ordering, please order online by going to clubs.scholastic.com.  Our class code to order online is LJWD4.

April 9, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed The Best Habitat for Me and The Long, Long Journey.  The Best Habitat for Me is an opinion essay while The Long, Long Journey is an informational text.  We worked on skills such as decoding compound words, using apostrophes to form contractions, decoding multisyllabic words with the prefixes "pre," "dis," "un," and "re," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We started chapter 12 over measuring length.  So far students have estimated the length of an object by relating the length of an object to a known measurement.  They also used a ruler to measure length and height of objects in inches, feet, and yards.

GUIDANCE:  On April 10 we will discuss our final lesson in the guidance book.  Lesson 10 is called "More Connections."  In this lesson we will identify the different kinds of families we belong to and what we can learn from our families.  We will also explain what having a friend means and the importance of friendship. 

RELIGION:  We have been discussing Easter and the resurrection of Jesus.

SCIENCE:  We are wrapping up our unit over Earth's surface.  Next week we will begin a new unit over changes to Earth's surface.

HANDWRITING:  This week students have been practicing the uppercase cursive N, M, H, and K.

BOOK ORDERS:  I am sending book orders in the take home folder today.  If you are interested in ordering, please order online by going to clubs.scholastic.com.  Book orders are due Friday, April 17.  Our class code to order online is LJWD4.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, April 10 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.

April 2, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Don't Touch Me.  This informational text is about how plants have many ways of defending themselves from hungry animals.  Some of their defenses can hurt you, sting you, or make you itch if you get too close, so we must be careful about touching plants we don't recognize.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /au,/ /aw,/ /o,/ and /al/ that all make the same sound as short "o" as in sauce, jaw, olive, and talk, identifying and forming irregular action verbs such as say/said, eat/ate, run/ran, hide/hid, sit/sat, tell/told, give/gave, take/took, see/saw, and go/went, decoding words with the prefix "dis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We wrapped up our chapter over subtracting numbers within 1,000 by recording three-digit subtraction using the standard algorithm with possible regrouping of both tens and hundreds, and explaining why subtraction strategies work using models, place value, and mental math.  We will begin a new chapter over measuring length next week.

RELIGION:  We have been discussing Holy Week and the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday).  We described what makes each day so special and how we can remember Jesus during the Easter Triduum.

HANDWRITING:  Students practiced writing the uppercase cursive C and E.  They also reviewed the uppercase cursive A, O, and D.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:  School will not be in session tomorrow, April 3 since it is Good Friday.  School will also not be in session on Monday, April 13 due to teacher professional development.

SPIRIT DAY:  Next Friday, April 10 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.

March 26, 2026

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Jack and the Beanstalk and Jackie and the Beanstalk.  Both are fairy tales.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with /ou/ and /ow/ as in cloud and cow, identifying when to use irregular verbs has/have/had and do/does/did, decoding words with /oi/ and /oy/ as in coin and joy, decoding words with the prefix "mis," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  Students subtracted 10 or 100 mentally using place value strategies, used an open number line and models to subtract three-digit numbers, and recorded three-digit subtraction using the standard algorithm with the possible regrouping of tens.

GUIDANCE:  On March 27 we will discuss lesson 9 called "Family Connections."  In this lesson students will identify seasons and times when families celebrate together and explore how families celebrate and help each other. 

HANDWRITING:  This week students practiced writing the uppercase cursive A, O, and D.

SCIENCE:  We discussed how water can be in the form of a solid, liquid, or a gas.  We also explored the water cycle.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, March 27 is a "Spirit Day" at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.