September 6, 2019

Hi Parents,

We are halfway done testing!  We will be taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills Monday through Thursday of this week. The kids are handling the testing schedule well and we are still managing to get some excellent learning in! Check out below to see what we've done this week...

Phonics/Grammar: We reviewed the "no excuse" spelling words. We also began discussing rules for making singular words plural. We talked about the most commonly applied rule; just add -s to the end of the noun. We also began a list of irregular nouns, or words that change spelling when the plural form is needed.

Writing:  We discussed "showing" not "telling" in our writing and looked at several examples from our read alouds. We practiced taking simple sentences and changing them in order to intrigue our readers, then we applied this strategy to our narratives.  We continued work on our small moment narratives, working on the closings.

Reading: We read the story, The Raft. We looked closely at the main character and studied how he changed throughout the story. We identified character traits and supporting evidence and looked at the catalyst for change in this character.  We also completed a close reading, looking at important vocabulary and using context clues to figure out the meaning of the unfamiliar words, which helps us to more deeply understand the text. In small groups, we worked on oral reading fluency and using questioning strategies to monitor our own comprehension.  We also discussed important components of a retelling. We also began using a new website, ReadTheory.org. I have created student accounts for all the children. The username is your child's first name and last name with no spaces. Password is read1234. Each student must first take a pre-test in order to obtain a suggested level, then there are short stories and comprehension questions.  This is a great reading activity to use for the 20-30 minutes of independent reading time if you are concerned your child is not comprehending or not "really reading" during that time.

Math: We learned several strategies for completing two-step word problems involving addition and subtraction.  We used our A.C.E. strategy to help solve the problem in steps.  We also used highlighters and matched up the sentences in the word problem with the numbers and operations in the equations to help us solve accurately.  I'm noticing an improvement in our math fact fluency!  Keep encouraging your child to memorize these single-digit facts (when addition is mastered, move on to subtraction!)

We did not begin a Science or Social Studies unit this week due to testing.

News and Announcements...

Please make sure you have returned the Tellus field trip form. Those were due last Friday. I sent a second form to any student who has not yet returned the form, so please check your child's agenda!

Please also return the Handprint Unveiling Ceremony form. I need to get an exact count to Mr. Ragsdale's office in order for them to prepare adequately for us.  I'm so excited about bringing the children to this event!  It will make this day so special for me!

Fall Break is in two weeks!  Please make sure your child is reading daily!  We've made progress in class and I would hate to see the week off cause any regression.  The students should all be able to read for a solid thirty minutes or more either after school or before bedtime.  It's also very important that whatever book your child is in, he/she can discuss it with you on a higher level.  Ask leading questions about the characters, traits, motivations, feelings, etc. in order to determine if your child is comprehending the story.

With our excellent behavior, my prize box is running low.  I have restocked it several times, but would love any donations.  Things from around the house are great!  Also, the dollar store has perfect items for the prize box.  The kids love mini reading lights, stuffed animals, puzzles, glow-in-the-dark items, or special markers.  If you would like to donate, just send in a bag marked "prize box" and I will gladly accept them!