Week 20 - January 31, 2020

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.