Weekly News December 19-23, 2016

Report Cards: Your child’s report card is in your child’s Spring Street Folder today. Please return the signed envelope. You may keep the report card. This tells me that you have received your child’s report card. If you have any questions please let me know. I would be happy to talk with you about your child’s progress.

Winter Celebration Snack: Our Winter Celebration will be on Thursday, December 22nd. You may send in a special snack for your child to enjoy during our celebration.

Homework: Our chapter 5 math test came home today. Please look over it with your child, sign and return it to school. Let me know if you have any questions. The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder. Writing homework is due Friday. Please make sure your child gives you his/her reading log to sign.

Language Arts: We will be reading about baby mammals as we continue to work on finding the main idea of nonfiction text. We will learn about using red flag words in our writing. Red flag words are words that signal that something exciting is coming next. They get the readers attention. Some red flag words include, “all of a sudden,” and  “without warning.” We will continue to practice word family words in our word work.

Mathematics: We will be learning about multiplying by 5s. We will practice finding facts using skip counting and dot paper/arrays.

Social Studies: We will continue to work on getting our Flat Stanley letters ready to be mailed. We will be making a map book. Please send in an address for your child to send his/her Flat Stanley. Thank you for those who have already sent their address back to school.

I hope everyone has a safe, wonderful break!

Weekly News December 5-9, 2016

Mrs. Porter’s Weekly News

December 5-9, 2016

http://porterclassblog2016-2017.blogspot.com

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder. On our reading log students will now be writing a thought about a book they read. Please see the back for sentence starters for your child to use. Keep working on your writing homework. We are on week two.

Language Arts: We will be working on finding the main idea of sections texts. In word work we will be working with final blends st, nt and mp. Last week the children enjoyed writing poems. We are finishing up our color poem. We will be going back to writing personal narratives. The students will listen to the book Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee. We will learn about how to stretch out the main event of a story using TOADS. TOADS stands for thoughts, observations, actions, dialogue and sounds. Later in the week we will be planning our own Roller Coaster or Ride story.

Mathematics: We are continuing our work on multiplication and division. Will be working on word problems involving multiplication and division. Students will identify the equal group and how many equal groups we have for multiplication. In division stories we will find how many we have and identify how many equal/groups there are or how many is in each group. Students will be working with balancing equations. For example, 3 groups of five = 10+ ____;

2+2+2 = ___ x ___.

Social Studies: We are reading about goods and services in our community.

Video of the Week

We will learn about sound words in the video of the week!
Onomatopoeia

Weekly Newsletter November 28-December 2, 2016

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder.

Language Arts: We will be learning about how nonfiction readers put what they see and think together. Readers ask themselves what is this book teaching me? We will use the table of contents to make predictions and to get ready to learn new information. We will write poetry this week. The children will learn about the Poetry Wheel. They will write their own free verse poems. We will also write a color poem. In December we will going back to personal narrative writing. You can help your child by gathering up ideas for some personal narrative stories.

Mathematics: We are beginning chapter 5 on multiplication and division. We will use equal groups and repeated addition to multiply. We will make multiplication stories. We will divide to share equally. We will use repeated subtraction to divide. Please see the chapter letter in your Spring Street Folder for ways to support and extend this at home with your child.

Science: Thanks for coming to our Nocturnal Animal Fair. The children were very proud of all of their hard work.

Social Studies: We will be learning about goods and services in our community.

Video of the Week

This week we will watch the video Needs and Wants.

Needs and Wants

Video of the Week

This is a silly song we will enjoy this week.
Turkey Song

Weekly News November 14-22, 2016

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder. We will not have homework on Monday, November 21st.

Language Arts: The Rotary Club visits second grade on Monday. Our volunteer will read a book to our class and share about what he or she does in the community. We will read the book “I’m New Here.” This book will be discussed at our All-School Meeting on Friday. We will discuss our core value of acceptance. The students will talk about ways we can help new students. We will tie this to ways we show acceptance for all students at school. This week we will work with blends in our word work. We will take our research on our nocturnal animals and discuss how to turn it into a project that teaches others about our animal. We will be writing our informative piece on our nocturnal animal’s adaptations. We will discuss how to use our key words from our notes and turn them into sentences.

Mathematics: We will be working on two step word problems. The students are working on understanding what the problem is asking, representing the problem with bar models, using the bar model to create an equation, solving it and finally record the answer and look back to see if it makes sense. We will be reviewing chapter 4 and most likely be taking our test Friday.

Science: We will be working on showing our learning in our projects.

Social Studies: We will discuss all the services that the library has for Shrewsbury. We will look at maps to identify where our nocturnal animal lives.

Reminders:

•  Our field trip to the library is Tuesday. Please have your child wear sneakers for our walk.

•  Nocturnal Animal Diorama supplies are needed by Wednesday if your child chose this project.

Save the Date: You are invited to attend our Nocturnal Animal Fair on Monday, November 21, 2016 from 9:00-10:00. We hope you can make it!

Weekly News November 7-10, 2016

Homework: This week we will have a reading log for Monday through Wednesday nights. Please return it in your Yellow Homework folder on Thursday. Our other homework assignment for this week is for students to memorize their lunch number even if they never plan to buy lunch. This number will be their number for their entire time in the Shrewsbury School system. I will be quizzing students on their number this week. Some students already know their numbers.

Language Arts: This week we will work with s blends including sm, st and str. We are learning how readers notice details and put the details together to learn. We will begin to study informative writing.

Mathematics: We are continuing our work in chapter 4. You can help at home by giving your child addition and subtraction word problems. We are focusing on problems involving comparing. Students will be finding how much more or how much fewer. Later this week we will work on two step word problems. Practicing these type of problems is also encouraged. Our math fact practice at school has begun. Students will be quizzed on a set of facts. They must know the problem within three seconds without using their fingers or tapping. If they miss a problem or don’t know it within three seconds they will get a sheet of facts to practice at home. Once they get the set correct in two consecutive quizzes they move on to a new set of facts.

Science: We are researching the bat together as a class. Students are researching their nocturnal animal and taking notes. We will use these notes to write an informative piece.We will also be making a project to share our learning.

Social Studies: We are going to begin our study on goods and services by taking a field trip to the Shrewsbury Public Library. The date on our trip has changed to Tuesday, November 15th due to the library overbooking. Please let me know if your child will not be able to attend due to this change.

Remember that our parent teacher conferences are tomorrow. I am looking forward to talking with families. Please let me know if you can't make it. I would be happy to meet with you at a different time.

Save the Date: You are invited to attend our Nocturnal Animal Fair on Monday, November 21, 2016 from 9:00-10:00. We hope you can make it!

Weekly News October 31-November 4, 2016

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder.

Language Arts: We are working on writing our personal narrative story to Drumlin Farm. We are researching the bat and learning how to take notes. Students are learning about nonfiction text features. In word work we are reviewing some l blends such as cl, bl and sl. Encouraged your child to find blends in words and spell them correctly in words.

Mathematics: We will be doing word problems that are joining sets and taking away sets. Later in the week we will begin problems that involve comparing to find how much more or how much fewer. The students will learn how to make bar models to show these types of problems. For many students they can figure out how to solve for the answer but are working on learning how to show it with a bar model. Knowing how to do bar models will help students as they progress to more challenging word problems. Students will need to know whether they problem requires adding or subtraction. Practicing at home with your child is encouraged!

Science: We are researching the bat together as a class. Students will be selecting a nocturnal animal to research.

Social Studies: We are going to begin our study on goods and services by taking a field trip to the Shrewsbury Public Library. Please see details on the permission slip that was sent home today.

If your child doesn’t have a library card there you are encouraged to  to fill out the form and return it to school. If your child has one you do not need to return it.

here is a Morning Meeting Share Calendar for November and December in the Spring Street Folder.

Remember that our parent teacher conferences are on Tuesday, November 8th. I am looking forward to talking with families. Please let me know if you can't make it. I would be happy to meet with you at a different time.

Video of the Week

Camouflage

Weekly News October 24-28, 2016

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder. We do not have math homework on Tuesday. Please make sure you are ready for the field trip on Wednesday. Read the letter that is in your child’s folder.

Halloween Party: You may send in a special snack for your child to enjoy at our celebration on Monday. Please make sure it is nut free. We will not be dressing up for this celebration.

Language Arts: We will be writing a personal narrative story about our field trip to Drumlin farm. The focus will be on including an entertaining beginning and writing a setting with what we see, hear, touch, and smell. We will talk about how to focus on one part of the trip and stretch that moment out so that it includes specific details. We will compare general sentences to specific.

Mathematics: We will be wrapping up chapter 3 on subtracting three digit numbers with and without regrouping. However this skill will be practiced throughout the remainder of the year. You may be seeing some work come home tonight from our math folder. Please look through it with your child. While some students may not have completed everything the main focus of the lesson has been practiced. These unfinished pages are great practice for your child.

Science: We are discussing what adaptations animals have this week. We We will read about our Scholastic News about Vampire Bats.

Video of the Week

This week we are watching a fun video about a camel's adaptations. Have fun!

Adaptations

Weekly News October 17-21, 2016

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder.

This week there wasn’t any news for our Spring Street Folder so I kept them at school.

Language Arts: We will be discussing why it is important to be practicing our reading in just right books. We will review what makes a book just right. Students will learn the acronym I-PICK. It stands for picking books with a purpose, interest, you can comprehend it and know most of the words.

Mathematics: The boys and girls are doing a great job subtracting with regrouping. Have your child explain the steps for you. This week we will be working on regrouping  a ten to for 10 ones and a hundred for 10 tens. A little rhyme we have is “More on the top, no need to stop. More on the floor, go next door and get ten more. Numbers the same, zero is the game.” We will learn how to subtract across zeroes for equations like 400-219.

Science: We are beginning to learn about nocturnal animals. We will talk about what nocturnal means. We will read about our Scholastic News about Leaf Critters.

Remember to sign and return your child's reflection. Please read your child's writing journal and have your child return it to school on Tuesday.

Video of the Week

This week we will listen to Nocturnal Animal Noises.

Nocturnal Animal Noises

Weekly News October 11-14, 2016

Homework: The math packet and reading log are due on Friday. Please return it in your Yellow Reading Log/Math Homework Folder. Monday Night’s Math and reading Log are optional this week.

Language Arts: We will be learning about our last Daily Five reading activity called Listen to Reading. We will be using our Raz-Kids account to Listen to reading. If you wish to have your child use his/her own personal earbuds or small headphones please send it in a baggie with your child’s name on it. I have a place in the classroom where we will be storing them. Thank you to those who have already sent the earbuds to school at the start of the year. We are learning about personal narratives. We are focusing on entertaining beginnings this week.

Mathematics: We are working on subtracting three digit numbers with regrouping in the tens and ones. Then later this week we will learn how to regroup the hundreds and tens. The children will be playing a game called Break a Hundred.

Social Studies: We will read our Scholastic News on Fire Fighters' Suits. This week is Fire Prevention (Safety) Week. You can find more information about fire prevention at http://www.sparky.org/parentpage/fpwkids.htm

Science: We are finishing up our Frog projects and we will begin our nocturnal animal study. On Friday, we will have a special program called Wingmasters: Birds of Prey. We will learn about the adaptations these have birds that help them to survive.