November 18-22, 2013

Dear Families and Friends,

Whoa! Is it me, or are you all also noticing the “busyness” of the holiday season in the air already? Seriously, I heard a Christmas commercial for a jewelry store on the radio last week! Can we slow down and enjoy Thanksgiving for just a moment, please? Now, speaking of Thanksgiving, I've got some exciting news... the children and I have finally completed our Thanksgiving research. I must tell you that it has been a BLAST! We have learned TONS of information and have recorded TONS of fresh learning!! Our class book was completed today, and I’ve got a special treat in store for you! Mr. Bhattacharya came in and helped me record the children reading their learning and showing their art work. I am soooo very proud of each one of them! You will be able to watch and listen to them on the RRISD website within the next couple of weeks. If you would NOT like your child and their work to be shown with the rest of the class, please send an email to let me know this. Meanwhile, be on the lookout for your child’s own, individual research book to be hanging in the hall outside of our classroom!

Math: Students will use repeating and additive growing patterns to make predictions. They use patterns to skip count by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s. We will collect, sort, and organize data in up to three categories using models/representations such as tally marks or T-charts. The Students will display math concepts using concrete and pictorial models in problem solving connected to everyday experiences.

     According to John A. Van de Walle, author of Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics K-3 the "big ideas" behind Algbraic Reasoning are grounded in patterns.  Students who can "recognize, extend and generalize with both words and symbols in many different forms" will master reasoning skills.  "Patterns are found in physical and geometric situations as well as in numbers." 

Reading Workshop:  The children have done a wonderful job with researching using non-fiction books.  We are extending our researching into two days next week with learning about corn and using reading strategies to help us remember and understand our research.  The children will fill in a graphic organizer and compare and contrast using a Venn diagram while researching from two different sources to learn about corn.  Next we will start non-fiction reading about Thanksgiving where we will practice making connections using text to text and text to self reading strategies.  It is important for children to learn how to make connections with their reading because it helps them with comprehension.  We will also learn how to make predictions as we read and talk about the author’s purpose.  All reading lessons will tie into a written assignment during our writer’s workshop time.

Word Study:

Green Group: et, eg, en word families (net, peg, hen)

Blue Group:  c, h, and ch diagraph (comb, heart, check)

Red Group:  Short –e and Long –e (CVVC)  (next, sweet, speak)

Writing Workshop: Our Thanksgiving Research project are in their final week. Soon, Pilgrim Dolls will be completed and turned in, and the class book will be on its way to the publishing company. To wind down this unit, the students will be using "signal words" in their "How To" writings to help the reader understand the correct order in which events are to happen.  

Social Studies:  This week we will be learning about maps, globes, compasses, and using these tools to tell direction.  We will look at and compare and contrast many different maps. The kids will even make their very own map!

Habit #5:  Seek first to understand, then to be understood.  I listen to others without interrupting.  I try to see things from their viewpoint.  I am confident in voicing my own ideas.

 

Reminders:

*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.

*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

*Library day is Thursday.

*Please remember work with your child on homework each night, and to return your child's book bag and contents on Friday morning .

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of the parent volunteers who came through the doors this week!! You have made a positive impact on the lives of 22 children and this teacher!

Dates to remember:

November 20:  Pilgrim Dolls are due! Woo hoo!! (Cheesy, I know. :)

November 27-29:  Thanksgiving Holidays

December 4:  Early Release Day

December 5:  Family Art Night

December 9-13:  Book Fair

December 23:  Winter Break Begins