January 7 - 11

We had a successful first week back in 2013.  Our newest news is that Jaedyn Teachey is now a big brother.  His baby brother was born January 1st, 2013.  Both mom and baby are healthy.  Congratulations Teachey Family!

  Baby Garrett is here!

We should be back in full swing this week as far as academics are concerned.  This is what is happening:

MATH:

We will continue our review for our 2nd semester math test.  Again, problems on this test will include the following:

Story Problems

Money

Time

Adding two digit place value blocks

Pictographs/Bar Graphs  

I think most of the students have this under control.  If you see your child struggling with the homework squares sent home last week and this week - PLEASE REVIEW THE TROUBLESOME CONCEPTS.

Thanks for your help.  

We will take the test on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

SPELLING:  WORDS THEIR WAY!
We are back to Words Their Way.  I am sending home a new look for the spelling folders.  I have laminated a simple folder in which I will place the weekly spelling sort as well as a couple of black sheets of paper on which to do the assigned nightly work.  (I've also included a small envelope that the students should store their word sorts within.)The nightly homework is the same as last time. . .

MONDAY:  Cut and sort the words, identifying the norms.  COPY THE WORD SORT ONTO A PIECE OF PAPER. DO NOT GLUE THE WORD SORT!  Simply store the cut words in the envelope I have provided.   Don't forget to write your name on the top of the paper.

TUESDAY:  Ask parent to help you verbally sort the words.  See the example in folder.  Please help your child identify the homophones such as break/brake.  

Once finished please sign that you and your child did this exercise - below Monday's copied word sort.  You may also copy the sort again if this helps.

WEDNESDAY:  Choose TEN words and write TEN sentences NEATLY!  Pleas check over your child's sentences.  If your child misspells word it defeats the purpose.  Help them correct the spelling.

When finished with this exercise, please sign that you have checked over your child's work.

THURSDAY:  PRETEST!  Give a test and see where your child struggles.  Practice these words.

FRIDAY:   TEST!

NOTE:

This time please cut the word sorts and store in the small envelope I provided in the laminated folder.  They will use these words occasionally in class.

READING:

This week we will read our final Patricia Polacco book, WHEN LIGHTNING COMES IN A JAR.

This is a delightful story Polacco writes about her annual family reunion.  I'm certain the students will enjoy this text.  We will also be finishing working on adjectives as well as touching on sequencing.

SCIENCE:

SMALL GROUPS - For the month of January we will be using our small group time to explore SOUND.  The field trip served as a great introduction and now we will use some non-fiction literature to dive a bit deeper into this science theme. 

 Be watching for the text that should come home twice a week for the students to read and respond to some homework questions.  

Once we finish our SOUND study at the end of the month the students will be required to make an ear diagram labeling the various parts of the ear.  Help your child brainstorm the medium he/she would like to use as you both discuss the weekly homework.  This project is not due until the first week in February.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

We will be continuing our study of government.  This week we will focus mainly on state government.  Make certain your child chooses a state and records the required information to use on Friday!

FINAL NOTES:

There will be another science field trip coming up in February.  It will be another SCIENCE MADE FUN exploration.  These trips cost $8.50.  I will be sending home the permission slip as well as the details this week.  The theme will be Matter (the study of solids/liquids and gasses)