Weekly News May 1-5, 2017

Homework: We will be working on a Timeline Project for homework. Please see the information sheet and let me know if you have any questions. The math packet is due on Friday. Be sure to return your math and signed reading log in your yellow homework folder on Friday.

Reminder: Tuesday is an early release day. We dismiss at 12:15. Please send in a healthy snack for your child.

Language Arts/Social Studies: We will be working with oi and oy words in our word work. We will continue to read and study the continents. We are continuing our work on making inferences as we read. In writing we wrote an opinion piece about the playground equipment we would like to have for recess. We will be finishing up this writing and be working on an opinion piece using a reading text. We will read The Day the Crayons Quit. Then we will collect evidence for the reasons each crayon wanted to quit. Students will then select the crayon they feel had the best reasons for quitting. Finally we will complete our opinion pillar and write an opinion paragraph for our reading response.

Mathematics: We will be reviewing A.M. and P.M. We are also working with elapsed time. Students are working on knowing how to read a time on a clock and know what time is an hour (half hour) before or after this time. Also they will do problems like it is 2:00. 1:30 is ______ minutes before or after. The elapsed time is only expected to be known at a conceptual level. We will be taking the test on time on Thursday. We will begin chapter 17 on graphs and line plots.

Science:  We have a States of Matter presentation from the Museum of Science on Friday.

 Ways you can help at home: Have your child practice reading his/her writing assignment out loud to you. Practice using expression, speaking loud enough and reading not too fast or not to slow. Look for oi and oy words as you read. Look for sight words that your child could practice. After you read a book together talk about your opinion of the book and back the opinion up with reasons and examples from the text. Talk about AM and PM as you go through the day. Have your child read times from an analog clock and then say what time was an hour (half hour) earlier and what was an hour (half hour) later.

Writing Journals: Please enjoy your child’s journal and make sure it comes back for Tuesday.

Sign and return your child’s Friday Reflection.

Weekly New April 24-28, 2017

Homework: The math packet is due on Friday. Be sure to return your math and signed reading log in your yellow homework folder on Friday.

Language Arts/Social Studies: We will continue to be working on ir, er and ur words in our word work. We will be reading about South America and Asia as we learn about the continents. We are working on making inferences as we read. Readers use clues from stories to make inferences about characters and events in stories. In writing we will be working on opinion writing for the next several weeks. We will begin by reviewing what we remember about this genre.

Mathematics:  The boys and girls did a fantastic job on their measurement test. They will be coming home this week. Please sign and return your test. We will begin chapter14 on time. Please see the School to Home Connection Letter for this chapter.

 Ways you can help at home: Look for ir,er, ur words. When your child states an opinion have him/her give your clear reasons that supports the opinion. Read a fiction book with your child that has a setting in another continent. Talk about the special features from place. Practice telling time with your child. Have  your child read analogue clocks and express the time different ways. For example, ten minutes after eight and 8:10. Have your child write the time in words and in digits. Later in the week we will practice elapsed time. You can have your child identify how long they spent doing something to the nearest five minutes. Read the School to Home Connections letter for more ideas.

Writing Journals: Please enjoy your child’s journal and make sure it comes back for Tuesday.

Sign and return your child’s Friday Reflection.

Weekly News April 10-14, 2017

Homework: The math packet is due on Friday. Be sure to return your math and signed reading log in your yellow homework folder on Friday.

Language Arts/Social Studies: We will continue to be working on bossy r words this week in our word work. This week we will be sorting ir, er and ur words. In reading we will continue to work on finding the theme. In writing, we are beginning a new narrative. The boys and girls are writing about an exciting time or a time that someone in their family (parents) surprised them. I told the children to research their topic at home. They should ask you questions, look at old family photos and practice talking through their story with you. This is what writers do  when they research their topic. This is a process narrative writers do as well.

Mathematics: We are working on solving one and two step word problems involving measuring. We will be reviewing measurement and will probably be ready to take our test Wednesday of this week.

Social Studies: We will be focusing on continents and oceans. We will begin to explore North America. We will be talking about Earth Day and what we can do to help our planet.

Cursive: We have finished our clock climbers and are working on our kite string letters.

 Ways you can help at home: Look for ir,er, ur words. Read together and talk about the author’s message and then think about what theme the message addresses. Share ways you must use measuring in your life with your child. Practice estimating lengths and measuring items. Have your child practice his/her narrative story out loud for you. We are working on stretching out the main event with thoughts, observation, action, dialogue and sounds.

Writing Journals: Please enjoy your child’s journal and make sure it comes back for Tuesday.

Sign and return your child’s Friday Reflection.

Weekly News April 3-7, 2017

Homework: The math packet is due on Friday. We are back to our regular reading log. Be sure to return your math and signed reading log in your yellow homework folder on Friday.

Tuesday is an Early release Day. We dismiss at 12:15. Please send your child to school with a healthy snack to enjoy. We will be taking a snack break in the morning.

Language Arts/Social Studies: We will be learning about bossy r words this week in our word work. This week we will be sorting ar and or words. In reading we will be learning about finding the theme. In writing the boys and girls are doing a fantastic job on their Ouch Stories. We are going to be revising this week. We will try to add a simile or metaphor to our work. In addition we will edit for our best spelling, capitals and end marks. We will also be writing author April Jones Prince a thank you letter for teaching us about her writing. We are reading about different regions for social studies. The students are working to see how someone’s environment affects how they live.

Mathematics: We will begin chapter 13. We will be working on using inches and feet to measure height and length. We will be measuring to the nearest inch and nearest foot. Please see the Home Connection Letter for ways you can support your child at home. The students did a great job on our Fractions unit. Please review the test, sign and return it.

 Ways you can help at home: Look for or and ar words. Read together and talk about the author’s message and then think about what theme the message addresses. Share ways you must use measuring in your life with your child. Practice estimating lengths and measuring items.

Writing Journals: Please enjoy your child’s journal and make sure it comes back for Tuesday.

Sign and return your child’s Friday Reflection.