March 18, 2016
Dear Parents,
This week, the students learned about shamrocks and leprechauns. On Monday, the students
wrote a journal page about who is worth more to them than gold. They were all very excited to write
about their family members! On Tuesday, we read a story about a leprechaun loose in the school,
and the students wrote a journal page about what they would do with a pot of gold. Mrs. Tessa also
did a shamrock painting with the students during OT group. On Wednesday, we read the story The
Night Before St. Patrick’s Day, and the students talked about special things they could build to catch
a leprechaun so they could have some of its gold, and wrote a journal page about what they would
put in their leprechaun traps to catch a leprechaun. During Center Time, the students worked in
groups to turn cardboard boxes into leprechaun traps to kindly and safely catch a leprechaun. One
group made a box to look like a bank complete with shamrocks and pretend $100 bills because
leprechauns like money and the color green. The other group made a box covered in gold paper with
tall ladders, shiny buttons hanging inside, shamrocks on the side, “Come In” signs, and silver coins
attached to pipe cleaners. The students had a great time working together and being creative with all
the art supplies to design their lucky leprechaun boxes. On Thursday, the students had quite a
surprise when they walked into the classroom. Someone dumped out all of their crayon boxes, and
the floor was covered in markers, crayons, blocks, and toys! They knew right away that leprechauns
had been in our classroom and they quickly cleaned up the mess and found shamrock clues that
were left behind inside their leprechaun traps. Our class went on a shamrock hunt around the school
to find all the clues, and then they put all their clues together to catch a leprechaun! Each child took
a picture with the leprechaun to prove that he/she caught one, and then they each received a special
certificate, and shamrock pencil, and 3 pieces of gold from the leprechaun. Each child also made a
special leprechaun hat to wear for the day. In the afternoon, they students used their shamrocks to
show partner equations that equal 10. Today, the students finished up the shamrock unit with
shamrock CVC word writing, and a few fun math activities and dice games.
We have a new class book that will be coming home in the backpack with a different child
each day. If our “Who do you love more than gold?” class book is in your child’s backpack, please
read it with your child that night and return it to school the next day. We will be checking the book in
each day to make sure that everyone has a turn to read the book at home during the next two weeks.
If you have not returned your child’s report card yet, please return it to school on Monday. If
you would like a copy of your child’s report card to keep at home, please let me know and I will send
a paper copy home when I receive your child’s report card on Monday.
In the Friday folder today, you will find a letter discussing the skills we will be focusing on for
rd
the 3 trimester. If you have any questions about any of the Language Arts and Math skills that we
will be covering, please feel free to email me any time.
Don’t forget about Emerson Family Bowling Night on March 23rd! This is a fun event that the
PTA does every year and includes a silent auction. I will be bowling on the Emerson Teachers’ team
that night. I am looking forward to seeing everyone who comes to bowl with us!
****Reminders****
March 23 – Emerson Family Bowling Night
March – 25 – April 1 – Spring Break
Have a wonderful weekend!
Miss Jen Hottendorf