Week 23

Class Notes:
Welcome back from February break! I hope everyone had a restful and fun week. We are jumping right back into learning and have a busy week ahead.

During the break, many in our community celebrated Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions of people around the world and by many families right here in Needham. It is a time of renewal, family gatherings, and hope for the year ahead. To all who celebrate, we wish you joy, prosperity, and good fortune in the new year!

The PTC is excited to announce the 2nd Annual Mitchell Read-A-Thon from February 25-March 4th. The Read-a-Thon is a week focused on reading. Students are encouraged to set reading goals based on minutes read (or being read to) outside of the classroom. Login emails will be sent to families on Wednesday, Feb. 25th. The online tool should make it easy to track minutes read and ask family and friends for support. Let's READ Mitchell!

Reading:
We will be reading the short story “The Happy Man’s Tunic” from the anthology Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada. We will focus on theme, character traits, and the lessons folktales teach us.

Fundations:
We will begin Unit 9: r-controlled syllables. These are syllables where the letter r changes the sound of the vowel (such as ar, er, ir, or, and ur). Please see the Home Resources Link for ways to support your child at home.

Cursive:
Cursive letter writing lessons will continue this week as students build fluency and confidence.

Science:
We are excited to begin designing DoodleBots — robotic drawing devices! As part of this hands-on design challenge, we need your help. Please send in one empty, clean container (yogurt cups, pint-sized berry bins, small deli containers, etc.) anytime before Friday, 2/27. While each child will only use one container, having extras gives students more design choices. Any additional containers will be shared with our classroom community. Thank you for your support!

Math:
We will be using area diagrams to help students develop a deeper understanding of multiplication. Area diagrams are visual models that break numbers into smaller, more manageable parts. This allows students to see how multiplication works and how properties of operations — like the distributive property — help us solve problems flexibly and efficiently. Our goal is to strengthen number sense and build confidence with multiple strategies.

Social Thinking & Second Step:
Our lessons will focus on Emotion Management. Students will practice recognizing and naming emotions in themselves and others. Understanding and identifying feelings supports problem-solving, self-management, and positive social interactions. We will also focus on noticing the physical signs of strong emotions so students can use strategies to manage them effectively. Please see the Home Connection Link for ways to reinforce this learning at home.

Music:

Check out this VIDEO of our budding musicians playing Eye of the Tiger with Mrs. Young.

Repeat Announcements:

Warm Clothes and Footwear
The heat is ON! Now that the heaters are running, our classroom can get quite toasty. Pro tip: students should dress in layers so they can bundle up for recess but have a lighter layer to stay comfortable indoors. If your child wears rain or snow boots to school, please send in a pair of indoor shoes, sneakers, or even slippers. They’ll be much more comfortable moving around the classroom and school in dry shoes.

Mystery Reader

Would you like to volunteer as our next Mystery Reader? Click HERE to sign up.

Scholastic Book Ordering:

If you would like to order books through Scholastic Book Clubs, our online ordering code is DPC2T (purchasing online is required).  SHOP OUR CLASS PAGE. By building your home library with Scholastic, you will also be helping to build our classroom library. The more books students order, the more free books we get for our classroom library!

Library Reminder: 

Our book swap day in the Media Center is every Wednesday. Please help your child remember to return their library books.

Links for more information: 

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 9 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 8 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 7 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support material for Unit 6 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 5 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 4 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 3 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for  Unit 2 of Fundations

Click HERE  for home support materials for Unit 1 of Fundations

Tech Tips

Many students are excited to access Clever and our Google Classroom from home. 

Directions to Access Clever from Home:

Click HERE for a handy link to Clever

Click Log in with Google

Enter student username (initials + # @students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Enter student password 

Click on ST Math App, Amplify App then Boost or other NPS approved learning apps. 

Directions to Access Google Classroom from Home:

Open a web browser (like Chrome or Safari).

Go to http://www.classroom.google.com and click "Go to Classroom."

Sign in with your school-provided Google account and password.

Special Subject Schedule

Monday -- Art

Tuesday -- P.E. & Spanish

Wednesday -- Media

Thursday -- P.E.

Friday -- Music & Spanish

Important Dates

Monday, February 23rd-- Classes Resume

Wednesday, February 25th-- Read-A-Thon begins, All-School Assembly with Peter Reynolds

Wednesday, March 4th-- Read-A-Thon Ends

Wednesday, March 4th-- Early Release Day

Wednesday, March 18th-- Battle of the Books

Wednesday, March 18th-- Early Release Day

Monday, March 30th-- MCAS (ELA Session 1)

Tuesday, March 31st-- MCAS (ELA Session 2)

Wednesday, April 1st-- Early Release

Friday, April 3rd-- No School, Good Friday

Wednesday, April 15th-- Early Release

Monday, April 20th-- April Vacation Week

Monday, April 27th-- Classes resume

Created 2/2026

Jennifer_ramras@needham.k12.ma.us