January 5, 2015
Happy New Year! I hope that you had a restful and relaxing holiday break. I am looking forward to the new year and continuing to teach your wonderful children! Listed below is some information about our classroom, as well as upcoming dates that may be helpful to you.
Reading - We will continue learning strategies to help us comprehend nonfiction text. This week our focus will be on determining the main idea and supporting details in a reading passage. Please continue to have your child read 25 minutes nightly and check for understanding by making predictions, rereading, questioning, etc. Students should be reading fiction, nonfiction, and poetry at home. Thank you in advance for continuing to sign the reading log, verifying that your child has read.
Math - We will be learning how to read and interpret the data on graphs this week in math. I think the students will enjoy the hands-on activities such as penny tossing and measuring objects to gather data for their graphs. Your child should be memorizing their multiplication facts and studying at home. Please sign the multiplication log nightly, acknowledging that your child studied a set of their facts for that night. The multiplication log should be coming home along with the reading log each night. Your child will take a one minute multiplication fact test when they feel they have mastered a set - for example, the two's times tables, the three's times tables, etc. We will chart our progress with a sticker chart posted in the classroom. At the end of the year, I am planning to have a Multiplication Ice Cream Sundae Party to celebrate our mastery of the multiplication facts.
Writing - The first few days of this week students will be completing the final drafts of their opinion essays. We will then begin exploring informational writing as students research an animal of their choice. This is always an exciting unit because students enjoy learning new and interesting facts during their research.
Tests in Conduct/Work Habits Folder - As a reminder, I will continue to send important papers and tests that need to be signed in the conduct and work habits folder found in the Monday folder. Please review these assessments/papers with your child and discuss areas in which your child had difficulty. If you would like to keep the papers longer for review, just jot me a note or send an email so that I do not penalize your child for bringing the papers in late. Please sign and return the papers when you have finished reviewing them with your child.
Scholastic Book Orders - January book orders from Scholastic are included in this week's Monday folder. If you are interested in ordering, book orders are due Wednesday, Jan. 14. The classroom code for online orders is J64DG.
Thank You! - Thank you to Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Sydnor, Mrs. Motamen, and Mrs. Milliken for providing the "Gift of Time" on Tuesday, Dec. 16th. Thank you to Mrs. Errato and Mrs. Payams for arranging our Winter Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 18. Your kindness and generosity was very much appreciated. The children enjoyed the delicious snacks, craft time, and fun-filled afternoons before they left on winter break.
Important Dates
Monday, Jan. 12 - Score 21 Benchmark Testing - Reading
Tuesday, Jan. 13 - Score 21 Benchmark Testing - Math
Monday, Jan. 19 - School Holiday - No School
Tuesday, Jan. 20 - Teacher Workday - No School for Students
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