Adventures in 1st Grade

I returned on Monday from my trip across the country.  I flew in to Portland OR, met my friend and then drove back east through Idaho, Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park and  Yellowstone National Park where we camped under beautiful star-filled skies and saw buffalo, antelope, deer, elk, coyotes, a bald eagle and a bear!  Next we drove to Deadwood in South Dakota where I learned about Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.  Mt. Rushmore was next on the agenda and then the Badlands via an awesome back road that snaked its way through the Black Hills.  The Badlands had spectacular views and we also saw bighorn sheep, more buffalo and many prairie dogs. We took a hike up to a pass through the mountains and were able to see for many miles all around us.  Our trip from there was fast and furious with the greatest highlight being a trip to Arthur Bryant’s Bar-b-que in Kansas City , MO for a tasty lunch of ribs and some burnt ends and pulled pork take out for dinner.  When we arrived in Baltimore, there was the strangest storm I have ever seen brewing.  The clouds were low and black and thick, swirling menacingly around and around and there was a magnificent rainbow that seemed to end right in my friend’s backyard! (Didn’t find the pot of gold, though.)

My family and I will be heading to the beach and then I’ll be working on my classroom, getting ready for August 19!

See you then!!

Dear Old Friends from Y-7 and New Friends from B-4,

How’s your summer going? Mine is excellent. I have been spending a lot of time with my children at our neighborhood pool and also preparing for this coming school year. (Check out the Harcourt Robust Vocabulary section at the top of the page.)
I am getting ready to go on vacation at the end of July. I will be flying out to Portland Oregon, meeting an old friend and driving back across the country to Delaware. I hope to post some pictures of our adventures along the way.

Have you done anything interesting? You can fill out the form below to let me know!

Have fun and be safe!

Mr. Ostheimer

Wow, I can’t believe our school year is already over.  We had an amazing year in Y-7 and I am sure that everyone is up to the challenges that the new school year will bring.  Don’t forget to visit me next year in room B-4 (Blue hallway).

Have a great summer and don’t forget to read and write!!!

Here’s another website to try:

http://scholastic.com/summerreading/summerchallenge/

Mr. Ostheimer

Here is another resource for finding appropriate books for your child:

http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewCustomSearchForm.do?RowsPerPageOptions=%5B10%2C+50%5DReminders!!

Friday is early dismissal and Monday there is no school.

Want to go to a Blue Rocks game?  Your student brought home a sheet with information.  If it was lost, please email me for date and time.  Cost is $7.00 per ticket and students must be accompanied by an adult.  Let me know by Friday 5/22 how many in your family will be coming and I’ll need the money by next Friday 5/29.  My wife, son and I are going. I hope to see your family, too!

We are entering the home stretch in room Y-7.  This week we will be taking our end of year assessment for Math as well as our final Organisms assessment for Science.  We will be working on our last major writing assignment, as well.  In Social Studies, we will be learning some map skills.  

Your child will not have any more homework this year!  Now they have no excuses for not reading  books and earning a trip to the prize box!!

Don’t forget, Friday is an early dismissal day and next Monday, we are off for Memorial Day.

I have some work booklets that I can send home for the summer.  If you are interested, please let me know.

I am also researching summer reading lists and I have posted one from Hornbook on my Parents Resources links.  If you would like your child to continue their success in 2nd grade, please make sure (s)he reads over the summer!!

We had an awesome field trip today.  The weather cooperated, the traffic was minimal and we were able to find many organisms in the pond including crayfish, tadpoles, guppies, dragonfly nymphs, and mayflies.  Ms. M’s class even found a baby turtle which we were fortunate enough to see.  I was really impressed with the answers the students gave and the questions that they asked, we have a very dynamic class!!  Thanks to our chaperones for helping our day go smoothly.

Our field trip to Bellevue State Park is Thursday 5/14.  We leave the school at 9:15 sharp.  Chaperones, please be there no later than 9:00 (by there I mean in the classroom).  Earlier is OK!!  Make sure your child wears clothes and shoes that can get dirty, packs a lunch in disposable bags and containers and wears sunscreen.  Parents who are driving and meeting us there can wait in the parking lot and follow the buses or find directions on mapquest.

Our year is winding down…. Students have already started taking their end of year Language Arts assessment – so far I have been impressed with the results.  You should have seen their latest Math assessment, please sign it and return it ASAP.  

Thanks!!

Parents,

I have one chaperone for our field trip on 5/14 and need one or two more.  If you would like to go, please email me at dostheimer@colonial.k12.de.us  First come, first served!!

On Friday, our students will be taking a trip to different countries from around the world.  Passports are not necessary as we won’t have to leave our school!  Where are we going?  We won’t know ’til we get there!!

Bon Voyage!!

Parents,

Please return your filled out and signed field trip permission forms as well as the $7.00 cash and the lunch form (if applicable).

Thanks!!