Friday, August 16, 2013

Classroom News for the Week of August 19th


Notices and Reminders:



REMINDERS: Please make sure to check (and sign) your child's Homework Log each evening.  

Students need to have their school supplies here on MONDAY. The most important supplies are: (2) two-pocket homework folders, 2 spiral notebooks, and a pencil case/box. 

SAVE THE DATE: Back to School Night is Tuesday Aug. 27th 6:00 p.m.

READING LIST: Wondering what your child should be reading? Check out NPR's 100 Must-Reads for 9 to 14 year olds 100 Must-Reads

DONORS CHOOSE:  You can support the purchase of high quality art materials your child will be using throughout this school year. Please click on this link: Donors Choose to read more about the project and to make a donation. It's fast, easy, and tax-deductible. Every little bit helps. Thank you!



What's Going On This Week In Class:



Math: 

Place Value continued...- How do we make sense of numbers?; Explaining Our Thinking Using the Language of Math; Beginning of Year Assessments
Students will have a short quiz on Place Value (Topic 1) on Friday.

Writing:
Students will be taking the five steps of the writing process a little deeper this year. Our first assignment is a narrative. This week students will have lessons on showing instead of telling in their writing and when to an indent and begin a new paragraph.

Reading:

We will be learning to identify six types of syllables so we can decode longer, more complicated words. Also, students will learn how to complete their "Greek and Latin Roots" homework : This week they will be doing the assignments in class so they can learn what is expected from them. Next week, it will be assigned as homework.

We have also begun reading our first literature selection : Bridge to Terabithia. We will be reviewing six comprehension strategies to boost our understanding of what we are reading.

This week students will also be working with their first issue of Scholastic News.


Art:

Design Challenge: Design an NBS (Never-Before-Seen) Vector

Class Building:

We have a name! The students have elected to call our class "The Next Generation". I think they chose well. Runner-up ideas were "Smart Bacon" and "The Conveys" :)

This week we will continue to work together as a class to help one another do and achieve our best. Overall, the students have done an excellent job learning classroom rules and procedures. The focus this week will be on listening to one another well.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Classroom News for the Week of August 12th


Notices and Reminders:

Dear Families:
Welcome back to the 2013/2014 school year! I'm very excited to be teaching your children this year. On the first day of school your child will be bring home important notices pertaining to our classroom and school. Please read through the information carefully. You can check here at the beginning of each week to learn more about what we will be doing in class and to stay current on special events, project deadlines, field trip information, and more. 

REMINDERS: Please make sure to turn in your child's yellow emergency card no later than Friday, August 16th and make sure to check (and sign) your child's Homework Log each evening. 

SAVE THE DATE: Back to School Night is Tuesday Aug. 27th 6:00 p.m.

READING LIST: Wondering what your child should be reading? Check out NPR's 100 Must-Reads for 9 to 14 year olds 100 Must-Reads

DONORS CHOOSE:  You can support the purchase of high quality art materials your child will be using throughout this school year. Please click on this link: Donors Choose to read more about the project and to make a donation. It's fast, easy, and tax-deductible.



What's Going On This Week In Class:



Math: 

Place Value - How do we make sense of numbers?; Explaining Our Thinking Using the Language of Math; Beginning of Year Assessments

Writing:
Getting to Know You - Writing Letters To Ms. Convey

Reading:

Listening Comprehension; Beginning of Year Assessments

Our first visit to the school library will be Tuesday, August 20th. Please bring a book from home to read during silent reading time in the meantime.

Art:

Looking at and Discussing Art; Contour Drawing and Line Designs

Class Building:

The beginning of the year is a special time. We will be doing many activities this week with the purpose of getting to know one another better and to practice working together cooperatively. Students will also be learning many of the routines, procedures, and expectations of our class.