Happy New Year and Welcome Back!  Our students have re-adjusted to being back to school and we are in full swing again!

     English I class continues to work on letter sounds, vocabulary and oral communication skills.  We are enjoying some new active-board games for phonics.  Our vocabulary is expanding through acting out the definition of a word while you say it.  For example : hop, lift your feet off the ground-students would be hopping while defining the word.  The motor-brain connection makes it easier for them to remember and it's fun!

     English II class is expanding their writing skills.  We have written January resolutions.  As a follow up, we have written ourselves a letter to remind us  of our resolutions.  Expect the letter in early February!  We will be writing different types of paragraphs, practicing our grammar and punctuation skills.

     Social Studies I is doing a unit on Winter.  We have enjoyed making snow with a bar of Ivory soap in the microwave!  We are using our winter vocabulary words in sentences and cross word puzzles.  We have been incorporating some art projects into this unit.

     Social Studies II is exploring current events.  News 2 You is an awesome site we use on the active-board.  Current news stories are written on various reading levels (from picture cues to full articles).  As a project, the students will become news reporters and video their own news show.

     Our Community Based Vocational Training Sites will remain the same but our students will rotate to new sites once second semester starts.  So much learning takes place on the job sites - communication skills, fine motor skills, employable work skills, math skills.                                                                                                                                        

     We will continue the Special Olympic swim program at the YMCA on select Mondays through April.  Spring field trips are being discussed and we are looking for a service project.