Weekly Update for Week of January 9-13th

January 9, 2012

A note from Mrs. Horn…

As you know, your child has been bringing home books from their guided reading groups all year.  Please make an effort to read these books with your child when they bring them home.  Rereading books helps build fluency, an important skill for proficient readers. Your child may read the book to an older or younger sibling.  This is considered all or part of their nightly reading homework (depending on the length of the book).  Keep in mind that shorter books are often read at least twice during school.  Word wall words should be practiced for 5-10 minutes per night.  If they can read the words, have them practice writing the words.  Make it fun by using markers, chalk, and shaving cream!

Thanks for your help!

Look for information to come home about our 100^th Day of School Fashion Show! 

Important Dates this Month:

January 16^th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School

January 24^th: 100^th Day of School!

January 25^th: Early Release Day

January 26^th: MegaSkills Assembly

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

The kids are keyed up over the nonfiction books we have been exploring.  They have learned all about bees, pumpkins, sharks, spiders, France, and even penguins while searching nonfiction text features (table of contents, labels, diagrams, maps, charts, fun facts, etc).  We will continue investigating nonfiction text features this week. 

Writing Workshop

This week we will continue working on our All About Me books.  The kids are so excited about writing a book all about themselves and their family!  They cannot wait for you to read them.  Family journals will be sent home on Friday.  Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Word Study

This week, we will be reviewing our previously learned word families. We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: would, me, will. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

In math, we are learning shape vocabulary (side, corner, and angle), about attributes, and the differences and similarities between 2-D & 3-D shapes. 

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: Manipulating, exploring, and discussing 3-dimensional objects helps children learn the names of these objects and build spatial sense.  Many familiar objects are common 3-D geometric shapes: balls are spheres; dice are cubes, for example.  Children have been learning about 2-D and 3-D shapes and noticing shapes all around them.  At home, encourage your child to think about 2-D and 3-D shapes as he or she looks for objects to place in our classroom Shape Museum.  Activity: Look around your home for objects that have 3-dimensional geometric shapes.  See if you can find examples like these: Sphere: ball, globe Cube: dice, square box Cylinder: can of food Cone: ice cream cone, party hat Rectangular Prism: cereal box, book Bring in a few objects to add to our classroom Shape Museum on Thursday or Friday.

Social Studies

Ms. Hammons our counselor will be coming in to teach us about Good Touch and Bad Touch.

Reminders

*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day.

* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night.

* Library book due every Friday.

Related Arts Schedule

Monday-Thursday               PE

Friday                                     Art