News from the Week of 1/9

This week we will be finishing our personal narratives in Writer's Workshop. After the children finish their final corrections, they will choose how they wish to format their stories and then publish them. While the students have been waiting for their papers to be typed, they have started new stories. This time they are writing pure fiction, which makes for very entertaining reading.

Next quarter in Reading, we will focus on reading comprehension skills once again. It is nice that we are able to have three reading teachers, Mrs. Stock, Mrs. A (a teacher/tutor from Columbus City Schools) and myself three days a week (M, Tu, W). This way we are able to divide the class up and have more focused time on small group work. The children will receive a packet of homework from their reading group. It will go home on Wednesday and will need to be returned the following Wednesday. It will contain three days' worth of review assignments.

There will be no spelling list this week due to the short week and the fact that we are still doing our review work in vocabulary. Next quarter, the spelling lists will be changed to words that are phonetically similar in order to reinforce phonics skills. Homework related to these words will continue to be sent home on Tuesdays. Vocabulary words will still be taken from the green level vocabulary books we currently use.

After completing our first chapter in Social Studies, we will be finishing up a book on Rosa Parks before starting our new science chapter. The social studies tests will be sent home after everyone has completed the test. The special project we started will be put on hold until we return to chapter two after our science chapter is completed.

In Math, we will be working from the format set out in the the Buckle Down Math series. We will still continue to use some pages from the Home Links workbook, but they may be taken out of order. Additional math homework from other resources may be sent home as well. The children are working hard to earn an ice cream sundae by learning all of their math facts to 9. In order to pass from one level to the next and earn a part of their sundae, they must be able to say each fact within two seconds of seeing it. Right now they have been tested on X2. Those still needing to earn their sundae "bowl" will be retested as they are ready. Last week we focused on learning the multiples of 3 and this week will memorize the X3 facts. Your child will be making flashcards as part of tomorrow night's homework and are expected to have them memorized by Friday. Please help your child review daily as once they fall behind, it will be difficult for them to catch up.

You should have seen a green slip come home offering an opportunity to sign your child up for "Highlights for Children" magazine. It is important that you return the signed slip to school regardless of whether or not you decide to purchase this for your child. By returning the signed slip, you will help our class earn a nice free gift that will be very useful in the classroom. Thanks for your help with this.

A belated "thank you" to all who donated money during Hanukah in my name. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity. Also, thanks to those who were able to type up his/her child's narrative. I know it meant a lot to the children and it was a huge help to me as well.

Have a great week!

S.S.

We did not have a chance to go over the review pages in class. If you have any questions please email me. Thanks!

Social Studies Link

If you are unable to access the link and would like an additional copy of the review page for social studies, please email me.

News from the Week of 1/3

This week and next, we will be finishing our personal narratives in Writer's Workshop. As soon as everyone has revised with a teacher and made appropriate changes, I will be sending papers (anonymously) to volunteers to type up. (If you would like to type up your child's story, please let me know.) Then a teacher will proofread, the children will make their final edits, and then they will publish their stories. The children are very excited to have their first stories almost finished and are eager to share them.

In Math, we reviewed the partial sums method of additions as well as the traditional method. Your child can choose whatever method is easiest for him/her. We also reviewed subtraction using the trade first method (borrowing). The test for math is on Thursday. The review packet went home before break. If you need another copy, please let me know. If your child can do every problem on the review packet accurately, he/she should have no problem on the test. Also, your child will be working on multiples of three this week. Please be sure they practice saying them every day.

We are currently reviewing the last 4 chapters in our Vocabulary Workbook. Because we have two other tests this week, we will not be having a spelling test. Please use this time to review math and social studies.

In Social Studies this week, we finished reading Lesson 4 and learned about identifying different ways to learn about the community and the steps one takes to interview others and to write to or visit places. Please make sure your child completes all the homework from last week and this week. This will help him/her prepare for the test. Your child should have brought home a blue S.S. review sheet before the break as well as some unfinished review pages on Friday. Your child can complete these review pages at home. We will be going over the answers in class on Monday. The test will be on Tuesday. Following is a link to the review page:

Communites Around Us Unit 1

Have a great week!