August 15th

AND SO IT BEGINS...

Here's a quick run down of this week's assignments and learning. More detailed explinations will be given at BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT and via emails.

Reading: Genre Studies/Independent Reading Routines
-My goal is for student's to love to read. Students are to read each night for their homework, not specific with time amounts just yet (more details to come). They should be reading "just right" books of their choice.
-On Friday's students will turn in a letter about their reading to me as proof of their homework. Students are bringing that home tonight. We wrote a practice letter at the top of the page. Students are to copy the template and replace the blanks with their reading.
-On the back is a reading log, which isn't required to be completed.  I told students it would be a good idea to complete about their nightly reading so that when they write their letter on Thursday they have ideas of their weekly reading. 
-LOTS MORE to come on reading at home and homework soon. 

Vocabulary: Unit 1-Week 1: fragile, research, defend, specific, pledge
-Vocabulary lists will come home with each week's words (5 words per week). 
-Tests will be every TWO weeks over 10 words.

Word Study:
-Students are coming home with their first word study list Unit 1.1 (short vowels). 
-Students have circled which list to work on - regular or challenge.  If YOU feel the challenge words are too difficult this week, then have your child study the regular list. We haven't worked on multi-syllable phonics rules, so it may confuse some.
-The letter in blue folders explains how the test will be given on Friday. 10 words to study (either the regular or challenge) and the 3 No Excuse Words for writing. These words don't follow patterns, but are common in writing. Students will need to write these words IN A SENTENCE ON THE TEST.  Students will also be given 10 additional words that follow the spelling pattern - which this week is short vowels.  They will not be given these words to study, but should apply the pattern of the week.

Math: Addition and Subtraction Patterns and Facts to 20 
-We start the year with a quick review of second grade skills, then jump into large digit addition and subtraction with measurement problems. 

Writing: Narratives
-We are setting writer's workshop routines in class. 
-For grammar we are studying possessives and subjects/predicts.  Students will have a quiz on Friday.

This post is much more scripted than a normal outline, but I want you to feel informed of routines.

Dates to Remember:
-August 22nd - City Saver Kick Off

-August 25th - Back to School Night (Grades 3-5 @ 7:30)