Monday, October 1, 2012

What We Will Learn This Week

Math: We are continuing our work on Chapter 4, which familiarizes scholars with vertical subtraction and word problems with subtraction.

Word Study: This week we will continue our review of consonant and vowel patterns.  We will also work on alphabetizing to the second letter.

Literacy Block:  We are continuing our next comprehension unit: schema (using what you know to connect with and relate to a text).  We are continuing to practice literacy station rotations.

Writer’s Workshop:  Scholars are continuing to work independently during writer’s workshop to become authors.  Scholars are focusing on adding details to their story in the correct sequence.

Science: We will continue our introductory unit to the human body.

Words to Practice

  here, am, make, saw, find, white, not, blue, run, put

Fall Break Packets

This week scholars will receive two fun and challenging packets (one for math and one for reading), personalized to meet their individual academic needs.  These packets are to be completed over fall break. Although we have covered these topics and skills in class already, it is important that you supervise and your student as they complete all assignments. The packet is to be turned in on Monday, October 15^th.  All late packets will result in a grade of a 0, with no exceptions.

Reading Logs

Scholars have received a NEW reading log for the month of October.  Scholars are expected to read at home with a family member for 30 minutes EACH NIGHT, INCLUDING OVER FALL BREAK.  These logs will be collected and graded at the end of every month.  The logs are to be kept neatly in the clear page protector in their binder.

REMINDER: THERE IS NO SCHOOL FROM OCTOBER 8TH-OCTOBER 12TH FOR FALL BREAK.

Monday, September 24, 2012

What We Will Learn This Week

Math: We will finish Chapter 3 (subtraction sentences) and begin Chapter 4, which will familiarize scholars with vertical subtraction and word problems with subtraction.

Word Study: We are focusing on matching beginning and ending sounds.  We will also begin our review of consonant and vowel patterns.

Literacy Block:  We are continuing to practice literacy station rotations.  We are also beginning on our next comprehension unit: schema (using what you already know plus what is in the text to make an observation or form an opinion).

Writer’s Workshop:  Scholars are continuing to work independently during writer’s workshop to become authors.  Scholars are focusing on using correct capitalization and punctuation.

Science: We will begin our introductory unit to the human body.

Welcome, Ms. Betts!

This week, we are excited to welcome Ms. Betts into our classroom!  She will be teaching with Ms. Klemenz for the remainder of the school year.  We are lucky to have two experienced educators who bring many talents to our classroom community.  Please feel free to introduce yourself to Ms. Betts before or after school.

Sight Word Packets

Scholars will receive a Sight Word Packet featuring 5 to 10 new sight words each week.  The goal of the sight word packet is for your child to do the work on a daily basis, NOT all at once. 

Exposing your child to the sight words is essential and will help them become better readers and writers.  They should practice recognizing and writing their words as much as possible before their test each Friday. 

Both the sight word packet and weekly test will count toward your child’s grade.  Please work with your child to ensure that they have success with this weekly test.

Don’t forget!

Scholars have received a monthly reading log for the remaining weeks in September.  Scholars are expected to read at home with a family member for 30 minutes EACH NIGHT.  These logs will be collected and graded at the end of every month.  The logs are to be kept neatly in the clear page protector in their binder.

Monday, September 17, 2012

What We Will Learn This Week

Math: We will begin Chapter 3 in our curriculum.  This covers basic subtraction symbols, writing subtraction sentences, and subtracting zero from numbers.

Word Study: We are continuing to study word families.  Please review the following word families with your scholar: -op, -ot, -og.

Literacy Block:  We are continuing to practice literacy station rotations.  We are also finishing our metacognition unit (thinking about our reading).

Writer’s Workshop:  Scholars are continuing to work independently during writer’s workshop to become authors.  Scholars are focusing on adding details to their stories.

Social Studies:  We are finishing up our introductory character-building unit, “The ABC’s of Feelings,” and will begin learning about different genres in our first Core knowledge unit.

Reminders and Notes

Scholars have received a monthly reading log for the remaining weeks in September.  Scholars are expected to read at home with a family member for 30 minutes EACH NIGHT.  These logs will be collected and graded at the end of every month.  The logs are to be kept neatly in the clear page protector in their binder.

During the first quarter, homework will consist of 1 page of aligned math review and 1 page of writing.  This amount will increase in future quarters. 

Please work WITH your scholar on editing their writing each night.  Scholars should be working on at least one of the following skills each night (depending on ability level): labeling pictures, sounding out words, using correct spelling, adding details, capitalizing and using correct punctuation, revising and editing their work.

Should your scholar need to fill out a behavior reflection (if they are on Orange or Red), they must be signed and returned in your scholar’s binder the following day.

A Peek at Our Week

Monday: Music

Tuesday: Gym (wear uniform)

Wednesday: No Special

Thursday: Spanish

Friday: Gym (wear uniform), Prize day

Scholars receive prizes for winning the weekly table point competition and for being on Blue (having 5 green days in a week).  If you can donate small pries for our prize box, we would appreciate it.  Small prizes might include: snacks, juice boxes, fun school supplies, small toys, etc.