October 14: Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Monday, October 24: Holiday posters are due
• Tuesday, October 25: Turkey Trot
• Friday, October 28: Michigan vs. Michigan State Day
• Monday, October 31: Halloween Party 9:30-10:30

          We hope you can join us for the fun!

• Friday, November 4: Early Release/Dismissal at 12:15

READING:

The students officially completed their first week of SRC (Scholastic Reading Counts).  Many students earned their first point for SRC by taking a quiz this week and passing it with 80% accuracy!   Way to go!!!  Students learned a lot about taking a quiz on the computer or iPad!  They are also finding out how important it is for them to have their SRC book bag at school each day...even if they don't need to take a quiz.  Students do have time to read their SRC books throughout the day.  Also, students will hand in their weekly reading logs on Fridays.  Today you will find a new gold reading log in your child's SRC bag.  Please help your child fill out the chart, sign the bottom, and return it to school on Friday.  Thanks!

Next week we will focus on building comprehension strategies while reading.  Our focus will be on what great readers can do before, during, and after their reading.  We will also practice building our reading fluency.

WRITING:

Next week we will continue to write small moment narratives.  We will work on keeping our stories organized and in order.  To help the reader fully understand the events of story in order, we will add in transitions words.  For example, students could add the words first, next, then, finally, suddenly, or immediately.  I am excited to see how transitions words can transform our stories and make them even easier to read.

MATH:

Today you find a note in your child's Friday folder about Xtramath.  This is an online program that doesn't require much parent help once it is set up. We use XtraMath to increase speed and accuracy with addition and subtraction facts. Please help your child use Xtramath a few minutes each day to practice their math facts on a computer, tablet, or phone.  Even if your child used the program last year, you must register this year to be linked to our classroom.  I receive weekly emails of your child's results.  It only takes a couple minutes a night!

Also, you will find green flashcards in your child's Friday folder.  These are "make a ten" cards.  Ask your child to show you how they can quickly make a ten to solve each addition fact.  The back of each card shows this strategy using a picture.  

SOCIAL STUDIES:

Our focus next week will be on the natural characteristics in a community.  We will learn about many various landforms and bodies of water.  Students will complete a short assessment at the end of the week to see if they can identify the different landforms (mountain, hill, valley, etc.) and bodies of water (ocean, lake, pond, etc.).

VOCABULARY WORD:

Our vocabulary word this week is compare.
Compare means to find likenesses between two or more things.

OTHER NEWS:

• If you child didn't not complete his/her scrapbook page you still have time to finish it.  Please have them turned in by Monday.  It has been so fun looking at all the pages!!!