Weekly Letter September 17th

Can you believe that we are already starting the second full week of school?! The first week was fantastic and it can only get better as the year progresses. The students have been working very hard to follow the routines and rules of the classroom and they are starting to get comfortable in their new classroom! I am very excited to get started this week with some new and exciting topics.

Reading: 

            During the month of September, the students will be working on strategies that will help them become better readers. We are still focusing on the importance of reading workshop and how all the components come together to form engaging and meaningful instruction. The process of reading workshop takes time and practice, but we are taking it day by day. Students will be talking about just right books, book shopping and strategies for reading independently this week.

            Also during this first month of school we will be reading books about friendship and appropriate behavior as we explore the work of Kevin Henkes. Henkes’ books help explore real life conflicts and emotions experienced by his characters in a child-friendly approach. Last week we met Wemberly fromWemberly Worried, and this week the students will meet Lilly from Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. The students will discover some great ways to solve some of the problems the character’s experience in the stories. The use of these books and characters will help build a friendly classroom community needed for a successful school year!

Phonics/ Spelling:

Last week your child was sent home with a Spelling Packet. The Spelling Packet will be distributed on Mondays and will have directions for homework each night. Only 1 packet will be distributed each week, please make sure your child does not misplace the packet as this is their homework for the week. Also, please make sure your child writes their name and date on their homework each night. This week the phonics skill will focus on the short ivowel pattern. There will be a new spelling packet in the green folder. Please review the spelling words and sight words each night with your child. The more practice your child gets using phonics patterns, the more confident they will be when it comes to reading and writing! 

Math:

Last week we started our first chapter in Go Math that focused on the concept of addition. This week we will be continuing addition and looking further into problem solving skills and adding with the number zero. The important vocabulary that we have been using throughout this chapter is: sum, addition sentence, addends and plus. Please encourage your child to practice their addition facts each night while doing their homework. If there are any problems completing math homework please let me know!

Religion:

            This week we will be continuing chapter one in our religion textbook. We are exploring all the wonderful things that God created. We learned that God created the world and all people. Students even created a picture in class of something beautiful that God created. Please discuss these ideas at home with your child. Take a walk around the neighborhood looking at all of the beautiful things around us! 

*There will be a religion assessment on Thursday, September 20. Books will go home on Tuesday. The questions that students will be asked to answer are…

1. Draw a picture of something God created
2. Draw a picture and write a sentence about how you can take care of God’s world.

Reminders:

• Picture day: Individuals- Wednesday, September 19^th
• Class Photo- Friday, September 21^st
• Scholastic Online Class Code: NHWTP– Orders due by Monday, October 1^st Orders can be made by check and sent into school or made online using the above code.
• Please sign up for class dojo if you haven’t already. Forms went home with back to school night packets.

Weekly Letter September 10th

This week starts the first full week of school! We will continue to establish routines and procedures in our classroom that will help to create a safe and cooperative learning environment! During this school year I will be posting important information, homework, and the class newsletter on our class webpage. Please use the class web page as a resource as it is a very useful tool to help connect home and school. Below are the topics and strategies that will be covered this week.

Reading & Writing

       This week the students will be introduced to Reading and Writing Workshop! We will be going over the behaviors of active writers and readers as well as why we read and write. We had great conversations last week about the way that our workshop schedule will work and I am sure it will become more in depth this week. Our Reading Workshop includes: guided reading, word work, reading/writing activity, book shopping, and independent reading. Students will be exploring each component of the workshop this week and will have a better idea of what this type of learning will look like.

Phonics/Spelling

       This week your child will be coming home with a spelling packet. All spelling packets will be distributed every Monday and will have directions for homework each night. Only 1 packet will be distributed each week, please make sure your child does not misplace the packet, as this is their homework for the week. Also, please make sure your child writes their name and date on their homework each night. You do not need to send the whole packet back each day. You can send in the one homework sheet that was completed so that we do not misplace it by accident

       Another component of homework is your child’s reading log. The reading log is so that I can make sure every student is reading at least 5-10 minutes a night. Your child should fill out the reading log each night and keep in a safe place. Reading logs should come back to school on Friday.

       This week the phonics skill will focus on the short a vowel pattern. I have attached a copy of the spelling and sight words for the week; please review these words with your child each night. The more practice your child gets using phonics patterns, the more confident they will be when it comes to reading and writing!

Mathematics

       In math we will start learning all about addition concepts! The students will learn that adding is putting together or joining. Students will use pictures to add as well as using objects to solve various problems. We will be starting chapter 1 this week. Homework will be in their math workbooks each night. Please do not rip out any pages. Just simply return the whole book the next day 

Religion

       In religion students will learn about the wonderful things God created! Students will learn that God created the world and all people. Students will discuss the importance of everything God has created for our universe. We will also discuss the special gifts that God has given us including the ability to love and help others. We will discuss how we can love and help our classmates, our family and our community.

Reminders

• ALL Back to School paperwork should have been sent to school by now. If you have not done so already, please do so as soon as possible. You can find all the important documents on the school website.
• If you have not done so already, please send in all summer work and/or labeled supplies.
• Our class has gym on Tuesdays. Please make sure your child is wearing the proper attire on this day.