Newsletter Updates for the Week of January 4th

DATES TO REMEMBER:

-Monday, January 18th—Delayed Start

-Thurs., January 21st—1/2 Day—Dismissal @ 11:55

-Fri., January 22nd—1/2 Day—Dismissal @ 11:55

-Friday, January 29th—Report Cards Home

-Friday, January 29th—Homecoming Game

STUDENT OF THE WEEK:  

Our student of the week is Alan Thomas.  Alan enjoys jumping on his trampoline and playing football.  His favorite book is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and his favorite Ninja Turtle is Leonardo.  He aspires to be able to do a spin & a flip on his bike and to ride a bucking bronco—both daring feats that require a helmet:) Congratulations to Alan on being Student of the Week!

BOOK-IT/HOLIDAY HOMEWORK:  

Please be sure to return your child’s December Book-it Calendar so that I can award Pizza Hut certificates. Also, please be sure to return your child’s initialed Holiday Homework, if they chose to participate:)

WINTER CLOTHES: 

PLEASE be sure to send EVERYTHING to outfit your child for recess—snowpants, coat, boots, hat, & mittens, so they can enjoy recess and stay warm and dry.  Also, please be sure to pack shoes for the classroom, that you child can take on and off independently:)

ASSESSMENTS:  

The end of the marking period is fast approaching; we will be assessing many skills during the next 3 weeks. Students will also be reassessed on DIBELS (letters, sounds, segmenting, & blending) and AIMSWEB (math concepts) to monitor their progress. We will also be taking the NWEA computer-based assessment later in the month. Please help your child do their best by making sure they are well-rested and remind them to 'always' to their best at school. :)

READING: 

This week, our class will be reading about different cultures that make up the communities around the world. Your child is learning how to appreciate the different customs that people share.

Here are some activities that you can do with your child to help reinforce the skills we will be practicing.

· Vocabulary—cultures, appreciate—Visit a library and read stories about children from different cultures. Initiate a discussion about how your culture is similar to other cultures.

· High-Frequency Words—do & up— Have your child practice writing the word do. Think of things your child likes and doesn’t like, and ask simple questions. Encourage your child to respond with the words I do or I do not.

· Category Words—kinds of foods—Use sticky notes to make labels for different foods in your kitchen. Help your child sound out each word and write it. Then affix the label on the food.

· Phonics—Dd—Search for objects that begin or end with the letter d. Make a list of the words. Encourage your child to read each word and then underline the letter d.

· Comprehension: character, setting, events—Read a story about a child from a different culture. Then invite your child to draw pictures of the main character, the setting, and an important event that happened in the story.

· Beanie Baby Strategies—This week we will introduce Peekin’ Poodle who combines several of the accuracy strategies that we’ve learned so far. When we come to a word we don’t know we . . . “Check the picture, check the word, does it look right, does it sound right, does it make sense, keep trying!”

WRITING:  

This week we will complete a journal—”This year I will . . .” We will work on following directions as we ‘Draw a Rhyme Snowman’ together and discuss the importance of details and punctuation.  We will also begin creating a class menu using adjectives and nouns.

MATH:  

This week we will review 2D/flat shapes and start introducing 3D shapes, beginning with the sphere.  We will do some work with pattern blocks, work on building numbers with unifix cubes (beginning addition), and explore the concept of weight.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES:  

This week we will be reading several stories related to Winter and snow. We will also be discussing appropriate winter clothing for staying warm while having fun in the snow.

 Please remember to return your child’s blanket to school for rest time:)