Week 20 - January 31, 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020 No comments

Curriculum

Reading:
Ask your child about Rosa Parks, how they might describe her, and why they'd describe her that way.
This week we read about Rosa Parks.  The students are learning to read books and then think about the characters and decide how to describe the characters.  When you read books together throughout the next week, ask your child to think about how the character acted and what they said and talk about what that tells you about the character.  What kind of person/character are they?  Are they helpful, independent, passionate, leaders, respectful, funny, etc.  Then ask your child to tell you WHY they think that?  What did the character say or do that makes them think that?  These are the same things we'll be talking about in class during our read alouds and small group reading time.

Book Baggies:
Ask your child what books they chose yesterday.
Students brought home six books.  Two books below their level so that they can practice fluency, two books on their level to help them practice decoding strategies and other skills we're learning in class, and two books above level to help students push themselves as readers.  Books should be returned every Thursday.  If your child feels the books are too easy for them, that is okay.  They can build their fluency and confidence as readers.  Levels will change throughout the year, but they will NOT change weekly.

Writing:
Ask your child to tell them one of their opinions.  What are his/her reasons for that opinion?
Students began planning and writing opinion drafts this week.  They learned that an introduction should have a hook, tell the topic, and their opinion.  They also learned that the middles should have their reason and give evidence/examples to support their reason.  Next week we will continue to write opinions and we will learn how to make our endings better.

Math
Ask your child how to compare numbers.  What place value do you look at first to compare numbers?  What are the symbols we use to compare numbers?
Students worked on comparing numbers this week.  We learned to look at the largest place value to start when we compare numbers.  Next week, we will use our place value knowledge to easily and quickly add and subtract 10 to a given number.

Science/Social Studies:
Ask your child what he/she knows about light.
This week, we thought about what we already know about light and what we still wonder about light.  Next week, we will begin to explore light and why it is important. 

Purposeful Play
Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework
  • Read every night
  • Work on a math skill (i.e. counting forwards and backwards within 120, adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 

Specials Schedule

Monday: P.E. (Wear tennis shoes)
Tuesday: Art (Bring an Art shirt labeled with your child's name)
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Media/Library
Friday: Rotates (See the back of your child's OWL folder (everyday folder) for a schedule.)

Important Dates

February 7: Kid's Heart Challenge
February 17-18: No School - Mid Winter Break
February 21: All School Field Trip to Dr. Dolittle
February 27: Science Fair (6-8pm)
March 12: 1/2 Day and Sharpen the Saw Day (more information to come later)
March 19: Spring Conferences for those who need it.  I will contact families.

Week 19 - January 24, 2020

Friday, January 24, 2020 No comments

Curriculum

Reading:
Ask your child about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., how they might describe him, and why they'd describe him that way.
This week we read about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  After our reading, we talked a lot about what he was like and tried to use character traits to describe him.  We talked about how the things he says and does help us to understand more about him.

Book Baggies:
Ask your child what books they chose yesterday.
Students brought home six books.  Two books below their level so that they can practice fluency, two books on their level to help them practice decoding strategies and other skills we're learning in class, and two books above level to help students push themselves as readers.  Books should be returned every Thursday.  If your child feels the books are too easy for them, that is okay.  They can build their fluency and confidence as readers.  Levels will change throughout the year, but they will NOT change weekly.

Writing:
Ask your child what an opinion is and what opinions they have.
Students have been generating lots of opinions this week.  We will use those opinions next week to begin planning and drafting opinion writing.

Math
Ask your child expand some two-digit numbers to see if they understand what each place value truly means.
Students are continuing to learn about place value by building numbers with different materials (base 10 blocks, popsicle sticks and cubes).  They are also beginning to learn about expanded notation (36=30+6).  Having this understanding will help them to eventually add two-digit numbers.  Next week, we will continue learning about expanded notation and learn about comparing numbers.

Science/Social Studies:
Ask your child what pitch and volume mean and how they are different.
This week, the students gained more knowledge about volume and pitch.  

Purposeful Play
Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework
  • Read every night
  • Work on a math skill (i.e. counting forwards and backwards within 120, adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 

Specials Schedule

Monday: P.E. (Wear tennis shoes)
Tuesday: Art (Bring an Art shirt labeled with your child's name)
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Media/Library
Friday: Rotates (See the back of your child's OWL folder (everyday folder) for a schedule.)

Important Dates

January 30: Multicultural Night (6-8pm)
February 7: Kid's Heart Challenge
February 17-18: No School - Mid Winter Break
February 27: Science Fair (6-8pm)

Week 18 - January 17, 2020

Friday, January 17, 2020 No comments

Curriculum

Reading:
Ask your child about these habits and how they can use them in their life.
We have been reviewing our the 7 Habits this week.  Students discussed and listened to stories about Habit 6: Synergize, Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw, and Habit 8: Find your Voice.  Next week, we will begin our unit on character traits.  

Book Baggies:
Ask your child what books they chose yesterday.
Students brought home six books.  Two books below their level so that they can practice fluency, two books on their level to help them practice decoding strategies and other skills we're learning in class, and two books above level to help students push themselves as readers.  Books should be returned every Thursday.  If your child feels the books are too easy for them, that is okay.  They can build their fluency and confidence as readers.  Levels will change throughout the year, but they will NOT change weekly.

Writing:
Ask your child what a How to book is and what it has in it as well as an opinion writing and what it includes.
Students finished writing their how to's this week.  They may bring some unfinished how to writing home to complete at home.  Next week, we will begin writing opinions.  We will begin by discussing the structure of an opinion writing and then we will begin planning and drafting our writing.

Math
Ask your child how to count base 10 blocks or how to build two-digit numbers.
This week, the students learned to count base 10 blocks, how to draw two digit numbers with base 10 blocks and how to build two digit numbers using base 10 blocks, cubes and popsicle sticks.  Next week, we will continue to learn about place value by learning about expanded notation and how to compare numbers.

Science/Social Studies:
Ask your child what sound is and how it is made and what pitch and volume mean.
We wrapped up our learning about sound this week by allowing the students to create headlines about their learning and what they think is the most important learning about sound.  We will finish this next week and then begin learning about light.

Purposeful Play
Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework
  • Read every night
  • Work on a math skill (i.e. counting forwards and backwards within 120, adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 

Specials Schedule

Monday: P.E. (Wear tennis shoes)
Tuesday: Art (Bring an Art shirt labeled with your child's name)
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Media/Library
Friday: Rotates (See the back of your child's OWL folder (everyday folder) for a schedule.)

Important Dates

January 20: No School - MLK Day
January 30: Multicultural Night (6-8pm)
February 7: Kid's Heart Challenge
February 17-18: No School - Mid Winter Break
February 27: Science Fair (6-8pm)

Week 17 - January 10, 2020

Friday, January 10, 2020 No comments

Curriculum

Reading:
Ask your child what the first three habits are and how they can apply them to their life.
We have been reviewing our the 7 Habits this week.  Students discussed and listened to stories about Habit 1: Be Proactive, Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, Habit 3: Put first things first, and Habit 4: Think Win-Win.  Next

Book Baggies:
Ask your child what books they chose yesterday.
Students brought home six books.  Two books below their level so that they can practice fluency, two books on their level to help them practice decoding strategies and other skills we're learning in class, and two books above level to help students push themselves as readers.  Books should be returned every Thursday.  If your child feels the books are too easy for them, that is okay.  They can build their fluency and confidence as readers.  Levels will change throughout the year, but they will NOT change weekly.

Writing:
Ask your child what a How to book is and what it has in it as well as an opinion writing and what it includes.
This week, as writers we are beginning to learn about opinion writing.  Students did a practice opinion writing.  We then discussed what an opinion was and the format of an opinion writing (beginning - state your opinion, 3 reasons/evidence for your opinion, ending - restate your opinion).  The students were able to figure out the format on their own and seemed to have some background knowledge on what an opinion is.  Next week, we will finish our How to writing unit by writing one more How to.

Math
Ask your child about their strategy for adding 3 addends.
Students worked hard using different strategies to add 3 addends.  We've discussed using make 10 facts and doubles and adding the larger numbers first and counting on.  Next week, we will begin unit 5 which focuses on place value.

Science/Social Studies:
Ask your child what sound is and how it is made and what pitch and volume mean.
As scientists, the students learned more about sound, vibrations, pitch and volume.  They also had an opportunity to make their own instruments.  Next week, we will begin exploring light.

Purposeful Play
Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework
  • Read every night
  • Work on a math skill (i.e. counting forwards and backwards within 120, adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 

Specials Schedule

Monday: P.E. (Wear tennis shoes)
Tuesday: Art (Bring an Art shirt labeled with your child's name)
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Media/Library
Friday: Rotates (See the back of your child's OWL folder (everyday folder) for a schedule.)

Important Dates

January 16: Family Movie Night (4:30-6:00)
Happy New Year Deerfield,  

Please join us for our first Deerfield Movie Night.  This movie night will be Thursday Jan 16th 4:30-6:15pm.  We will be showing the movie Abominable.  This is a PG rated animated movie and the run time is 1 hr. and 37 minutes.  There is no charge for this event, and siblings are welcomed.  We will be serving POPCORN and CANDY(peanut free), along with WATER.  Below is the Signup Genius if you are able to help out.


Deerfield PTO
January 20: No School - MLK Day
January 30: Multicultural Night (6-8pm)
February 7: Kid's Heart Challenge
February 17-18: No School - Mid Winter Break
February 27: Science Fair (6-8pm)