Week 22 - February 14, 2020

Curriculum

Reading:
Ask your child about Ruby Bridges, how they might describe her, and why they'd describe her that way.
This week we read about Ruby Bridges.  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, think about how the character acted and what they said.  What does that tell you about the character?What kind of person/character are they?  Are they helpful, independent, passionate, leaders, respectful, funny, etc.  These are the same things we'll be talking about in class during our read alouds and small group reading time.  Next week, we will be reading about Abraham Lincoln and thinking about how we can describe his character.

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 also learned to make a good conclusion by restating our opinion, summarizing our reasons and then giving a final thought to the reader.  We will continue this work next week, but we will also learn that opinion writings can be used to persuade someone of something.  We will talk about what that might look like.

Math: 
Ask your child how to balance an equation.
Students worked on balancing equations this week by making both sides the same.  Next week, we will try to gain a better understanding of place value by identifying the value of the digits in different spots.

Science/Social Studies:
Ask your child what he/she knows about light, shadows, reflections and what opaque, translucent and transparent mean.
Students investigated more about light this week by using mirrors and flashlights.  We also learned about how the eye works.  Next week, we will learn more about these things as well as why we need 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

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.