Welcome...
Welcome to the 2015-16 School year communication hub! I hope you find these blog posts informative, helpful and integral to our home-school partnership! Please find a link to my curriculum night presentation below. I hope this is helpful in understanding my philosophy and my hopes for your child this year.
Math
- We are just about ready to wrap up Unit 1, Naming and Constructing Geometric Figures. We will begin reviewing concepts for the assessment which will be given on Thursday, September 17th. Look for review sheets and study guides to come home Monday and Tuesday this week.
- Please make sure your child is studying Math facts for speed and accuracy for a minimum of 10 minutes nightly. We are completing Mad Minutes daily during Math class to encourage and motivate the mastery of these facts.
- Fall MAP Math assessment will be given in my math class on Friday, September 18th. Please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast that morning.
Literacy
It has been wonderful getting to know the students as readers in these first weeks of school. Our new Literacy program, Schoolwide Essentials, puts emphasis on establishing routines in this first unit and allows ample time for students to read independently which allows time for me to read with all students individually. Students have been practicing choosing "just right" books, using a "stop and jot" method to track their thinking as they read and in these next weeks they will create their Reader's Notebooks.
- Please be sure that your child is reading a minimum of 20 minutes each night.
- It is my hope that students are reading the same book for independent reading time at school, as they are reading for their nightly homework. I ask this in hope that students get into the habit of completing books.
- Fall MAP Literacy Assessment is being given on Tuesday, September 22nd.
WEX/Writer's Workshop
Students began work in the first WEX (Writer's Express) unit which will culminate with students writing a narrative piece. WEX writing, sharing and responding routines are being reviewed and practiced. Habits of good writers were discussed along with where writers get their ideas and inspiration. Students are working on maps of their hearts since good writers write about what is most near and dear to their hearts.
- Daily Language exercises that review grammar and punctuation rules are being completed by students
- Our 1st word study unit was introduced Friday. New units will be introduced on Fridays and post-tests will be given on this day as well.
Science
Our study of Matter is well under way. Through hands-on, "lab" experiences students are acquiring the following "Big Ideas" from the Science Companion unit:
Ask your child about their work as scientists!
- Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass
- Matter commonly exists in three states: solid, liquid and gas
- Properties of the three different states of matter
Ask your child about their work as scientists!