Week 21 - February 7, 2020

Curriculum

Reading:
Ask your child about Harriet Tubman, how they might describe her, and why they'd describe her that way.
This week we read about Harriet Tubman.  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 continued to plan and write opinion writings this week.  They learned to include transitions to connect their different reasons and continue to work on adding evidence to support their reasons.  We will continue this work next week.

Math: 
Ask your child how to add and subtract 10 to any number.
Students worked on adding and subtracting 10 this week.  Next week, we will learn to balance equations.

Science/Social Studies:
Ask your child what he/she knows about light, shadows and what opaque, translucent and transparent mean.
Students had an opportunity to explore with flashlights this week.  They learned that some items let all light through, some block the light and some let only some light through.  We learned the vocabulary that goes with these ideas and also talked about the shadows created when objects block light.  Next week, we will continue to explore light using mirrors.

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 (6pm)

February 17-18: No School - Mid Winter Break
February 20: Black History Trivia Night (4:30-6pm)
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.