Mrs. Durych's K-2 Weekly Update #7

Dear Parents,

It’s amazing to think that we’ve already been back from Christmas break for two full weeks, and today marks the end of the first semester and the halfway point of our school year! As we look ahead to the second half of the year, there’s so much to be excited about and plenty of learning opportunities to come.

At the end of January, we will have our MAPS testing (Math and Reading), which will help us assess and celebrate the growth your children have made so far.

Our classroom has been a whirlwind of activity, and unfortunately, we’ve also been passing around a cold and a little tummy bug. Hopefully, with the upcoming long weekend, everyone will return healthy, refreshed, and ready to dive back into learning.

Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you have a wonderful four-day weekend with your children!

Warm regards,
Mrs. Durych

Welcome back from Christmas break! We’ve jumped right back into our exciting learning adventures.

We’ve started a new science block on shadows, sparking curiosity and fun! The kids enjoyed going outside to see if they could "run away from" their shadows—turns out, shadows are tricky to escape! We've also begun creating shadow puppets and are preparing for a puppet show using shadow boxes. These activities are helping us explore how shadows form and change.

In addition, we’re experimenting with light and objects. Using a dark box with flashlights, students are inserting various items to see their shape, form, and eventually, with enough light, their color and details.

Lastly, we’ve started our gift project for families! Once a month in January, February, and March, the class will make soup and bread to send home. This month’s treat, chili and cornbread, is heading home today, January 16th. It’s a wonderful way to share warmth and love this winter!

This month, we’re excited to spotlight Hannah! She has been our calendar person this week and is always ready and raring to go for any activity. Hannah loves to participate and is often the first to raise her hand to answer questions or volunteer for tasks. She takes great pride in completing her work and is an absolute joy to have in class, adored by her classmates.

Our younger students have been working hard on recognizing and counting nines and tens. They’ve been practicing with dots arranged in various patterns—lines, scattered shapes, and more—and have been doing great at independently completing their worksheets after each lesson.

The older students are tackling the challenge of adding three addends. They’re learning strategies like making ten first (e.g., 3 + 7 = 10) to simplify their work and exploring other methods like counting on to find the easiest way to solve problems.

In Language Arts, students are learning to observe the physical nuances of sounds—whether their lips, mouths, or chins move; if sounds are voiced or unvoiced; or if air flows with sounds like "P" and "H." These lessons are helping students recognize letters, words, and how to read by decoding words.

Coming back from Christmas break can be a tough adjustment, with later bedtimes and changes in routine. Many students have been feeling tired, especially in the mornings. To help ease the transition back, we recommend:

• Ensuring consistent bedtimes.
• Cutting off screens at least an hour before bedtime.
• Creating a calm bedtime routine.

Getting enough rest helps kids be ready for a full day of learning!

This week, the students engaged in delightful free play. They created a campfire scene using pillows for the fire, pencils with crumpled paper for marshmallows, and arranged chairs for roasting marshmallows together. Their creativity soared as they built a tripod for a “soup pot” (a basket filled with letters and numbers) and added blocks and pencils as firewood. Watching their imaginative play evolve was an absolute joy!

This week, we read a book about having a bad day, which sparked a meaningful discussion about how to turn things around and strategies to cope. During our tea party afterward, students shared their thoughts on the book and recalled key details about the characters and theme. They enjoyed Paiute-made blueberry tea from the local festival, adding a touch of history and connection to our community.

This week, we made chili and cornbread! The kids had a blast cooking, giggling at the "ploop" of eggs and the sight of butter melting in the oven. There was even a dramatic moment when one student couldn’t handle the smell of cooking onions (which led to lots of laughter). Cooking together has been a fun and memorable way to learn and bond.

• Upcoming Dates and Events

  • Monday, January 20th – Martin Luther King Day. No School (Enjoy the four-day weekend!)
  • Tuesday, February 11th, at 1 p.m. – Valentine’s Tea
  • Monday, February 17th – President’s Day (No School)
  • Saturday, March 15th – Bingo Night. Doors open at 4:30 pm.
• We’re still looking for empty Kleenex boxes to use for indoor ice skating.
• Please remember to pack hats, gloves, and snow pants for outdoor play! If possible, leave winter gear at school to ensure your child stays warm and dry during recess.

Thank you for your support and for helping us create such a wonderful classroom community!