The Anne Sullivan School
P.S. 238
1633 East 8th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11223
January 2009
Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 1
ESL News Around Town:January
We want to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!
Second Grade Rocks!!
Our Kindergarten Family During Writer’s Workshop our second
During Writer’s Workshop our graders are writing narrative procedures or “How
kindergarten cuties and young authors are to” reports, using the important time cue words,
writing their narrative procedures or “How first, next, last, and finally to sequence their
to” reports detailing the steps of how to make writing and show a beginning middle and end to
their procedures. Students may be giving us the
or do something. They learned the
steps to their secret family recipes or the steps to
importance of sequence in a story and are creating fantastic flower arrangements.
using time cue words, first, next, last, and In Reader’s Workshop the students are
finally to help put the steps of the narrative engaged in a new and exciting reading program,
in proper sequence or order. “Imagine It.” This program uses various methods
During Reader’s Workshop the students and strategies to address the multiple learning
are engaged in guided reading groups where styles of students. From its innovative use of
sound spelling cards for letter and sound
they learn letters of the alphabet, the sounds
recognition, to engrossing stories teaching
they make and specific words that begin with students the important themes of kindness,
the letters. In addition, they are learning to exploration, and community, the new program is
recognize and pronounce sight words, and use off to a great start. The students love reading
them properly in sentences. the stories and are able to relate to the important
themes being taught.
First Grade Fun!
Third Grade Thrills!
As students continue reading and growing
During Writer’s Workshop the third grade
as authors, they will use different strategies to students are working on narrative procedures or “How
enhance their writing skills. Graphic organizers to” reports. They are showing the sequential steps
and thinking maps help students organize their needed to create or produce a finished product. In
addition our ESL students are completing their “All
thoughts as they begin the writing process.
About Me” autobiography dolls, introducing themselves
During Writer’s Workshop the first graders are and describing their hobbies, likes and dislikes. We
currently writing their narrative procedures or look forward to sharing and displaying their work.
“How to” reports detailing the steps of how to In science we are busy learning how scientists
use an organized plan, or scientific method to conduct
create or do something. Some students are an investigation. In addition we are learning about
writing step by step procedures for their various inquiry tools such as forceps, droppers and
delicious deserts while others are teaching us microscopes used by scientists to conduct their
how to create lovely arts and crafts designs. observations and experiments.
In social studies the students learned
During Reader’s Workshop the students are about the five boroughs comprising New York City and
using a wonderful new reading program, proceeded to learn about the seven continents of the
“Imagine It.” This program uses various world. They learned a cute song to help them master
the names of the seven continents. The third graders
strategies to address the multiple learning styles are diligently working to prepare for the upcoming
of students. The program uses phonics and English Language Arts (ELA) Exam to be taken on
vocabulary as well as wonderful stories that January 13th and 14th. We wish them much good luck
teach students important themes ranging from and success.
responsibility to community involvement.
ESL News Around Town: January pg 2
Reminders to Parents
Fantastic Fourth Grade Far Out Fifth Grade!
During Writer’s Workshop the students
have been working diligently to complete The fifth grade kicked off the school year
their legends. We look forward to sharing by exploring map skills and world cultures in
and reading their adventures. social studies. The students explored the
In science we are learning all about history of New York State, while also expanding
animals and plants in their environments. their content area vocabulary, and improving
We learned about the roles of living things in writing skills. Their newfound skills assisted
their habitats as well as food chains and them on the New York State Social Studies
food webs. We are currently learning about Exam, which the students took in November. In
plants and their life cycles. December, the students began a new unit in
In social studies we learned about which they learned reading and note-taking
various land forms such as mountains and strategies. This unit also focused on developing
islands. The students learned how glaciers grammar and editing. Students will utilize
or large ice sheets once covered much of the these new skills and strategies on the upcoming
earth. We are currently learning about New New York State English Language Arts Exam,
York’s first people, the Native Americans which will be administered on January 13th and
who first inhabited New York State. 14th. We would like to wish all students and
The fourth graders are working very families a happy and healthy new year as well
hard preparing for the upcoming English as the best of luck on the upcoming state exam!
Language Arts (ELA) Exam to be taken on
January 13th, 14th and15th. We wish them Reminders to Parents
much good luck and success!
1) English classes are being taught every
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
mornings from 8:00 a.m. until 8:50 a.m.
2) Sewing classes are given on Tuesday
mornings at 8:50 a.m. until 9:36 a.m.
3) On Monday January 19, 2009, we will
celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s
birthday. School will be closed.
