Sunday, February 22, 2015

Feb. 23-27

Reading
We are focusing on thinking during reading this week for comprehension. Students already do this but I want them to learn to be aware what they are thinking about when they are reading. Our story of the week is The Night Worker. It is about a boy that goes to work with his father at night on a construction site.

Writing
We are continuing to work on capitalization, ending marks, and adding more. Students should also be writing their sight words correctly in their writing (i.e. like, my not lik, mi).

Phonics
Students will continue to sort short and long vowel sounds and we will do a "H-brother" review on Friday (sh, th, ch, wh).

Math
We are finishing numbers to 100 and working with the 100 chart. Students will do an assessment using the 100 chart on Wednesday. If your child is still struggling with their numbers to 100 I will send some math stuff home for extra practice at the end of the week. This week we will learn new math vocabulary: greater, least, more, less, fewer. We will start introducing comparing sets on Thursday.

Social Studies
We will continue with our social/emotional curriculum with Miss Sapieka on Monday.

Science
Since our book of the week is about night time, I will be reading about nocturnal animals.

Updates
This is the last week for your child to get Dojo points for the February prize (double recess and no homework for a week!). Please encourage your child to do their best at school. Students will bring home a certificate this week if they have gotten the 50 points.
This is also the last week for the IXL and Raz-kids February challenges. Encourage your child to work on these websites for a chance at a book set or a pizza party.

Mr. E

Monday, February 16, 2015

Feb. 17-20

Reading
We will be reading some President books and 100th day books this week. We will also be focusing on asking questions while reading for our comprehension strategy.

Phonics
Students will be given phonics instruction based on their need in small groups throughout the day. Students are learning that vowels have two sounds and identifying words that have the different sounds.

Writing
Students will be writing about what they will be like when they are 100 years old. Students will also be writing about what they think the world will be like in 100 years. We are continuing to work on adding more to our writing, organizing our writing using writing webs, and using spaces, capitalization, and ending marks.

Social Studies
Presidents.

Math
We are learning numbers 80-100 this week. Students should be able to count to 100 by ones and tens. They should be able to identify and write numbers to 100. We will also be using/studying a 100 chart a lot this week. The 100th day of school is Thursday so we will be doing a lot of 100 activities. Students should bring their 100 items to school before Thursday.

Spelling
Students will be bringing home a baggy with cut out letters home tomorrow to work on spelling their spelling words. Use them when studying by building the words letter by letter.

Mr. E

Our daily schedule

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Feb. 9-13

Reading
During our comprehension time this week I will be modeling think-alouds and then the students will get a chance to practice the strategy. Basically students are asked to "think-aloud" while they read. So they might stop reading and make a connection aloud, or ask a question, or make a prediction. These are all strategies we have been learning but with young readers doing it aloud it more developmentally appropriate then having them think in their heads. I encourage you to think-aloud when reading books to your child at home. They learn by seeing and copying so have fun with it. We will also be reading valentine books and discussing how we can show love to each other (not the romance kind but the caring friend kind). Students will be writing valentines to each other and reviewing how we can be caring friends to everyone.

With that being said, I wanted to say this. At this point in the year students have become comfortable with each other and are starting to find who they really connect with. While friendships are great and I encourage friendship development I am also trying to teach the students to be a caring "friend" to everyone. I have started to see some students becoming "attached" to each other and protective over each other. Please have a discussion with your child about being a caring friend to everyone, even if they are different or your not really "friends" with them. Thanks.

Social Studies
We are focusing on our social skills and being caring friends and loving others. (see above)

Writing
Students will be using a writing web for the first time this week. They will use it to organize their ideas before writing. This will be in addition to our regular writing curriculum.

I feel like the students need extra writing instruction now until the end of the year to improve writing. We will be moving to writer's workshop in a month or so and the students need to become independent writers. Please help your child remember capitalization, spacing, and an ending mark when they are writing.

Phonics
Students will be given focused phonics instruction based on their needs. Some students are still working on sounding out Consonant Vowel Consonant (CVC) words while others are learning different spellings for long vowel words (rain). All students will be bringing home a baggy filled with letters that can be put together to make their spelling words. This is a more engaging way for them to practice their words although they should still work on writing them too.

Math
We are learning number up to 79 this week and students are continuing to learn using "ten towers" and "cubes" to make up numbers. They are also being introduced to place value and should soon be able to explain that the number 53 is made up of five "towers" and 3 "cubes" or ones. All students should be able to identify, count and order numbers 1-100 by the end of February.

Family Project
I will be sending home the February family project tomorrow. Students are asked to bring in a collection of 100 things for the 100th day (which is next week). Students should work on counting out their 100 items by making ten groups of ten. Please send the 100 items to school SOMETIME during the week of Feb.17th-20th.

Valentines Party
We will be celebrating valentine's day on Friday, Feb. 13th with an afternoon party. Student may bring in valentines BUT NO FOOD/CANDY/TREATS please. Email Jen Vojticek if you are able to volunteer for the party 1:15-2:45.

Thanks,
Mr. Edwards