Phonics
We have reviewed all short vowel sounds and spellings. The children should include a vowel in their spelling approximations when writing. We will be practicing all short vowels throughout this school year. We are looking for students to gain mastery of short vowels by the end of the school year. We have been practicing reading and writing words that include a consonant blend at the beginning of the word (ie. grass, bridge). I am beginning to teach the consonant diagraphs; sh, th, ch and wh. We call them “The four H brothers.” Please be looking for your child to start to incorporate them into their spellings.
Writer’s Workshop
The students are extremely invested in their writing, as they bring their stories from the rough draft to the published form. Students may share their published story to the class before bringing it home to read to you. This format of writer’s workshop is a wonderful way for children to gain both reading and writing practice in an authentic way. I am also looking to see how each child is applying their knowledge of phonics and sight word memory in their spelling approximations. I love writer’s workshop, can you tell?
During writer’s workshop, the children are presently learning to use the five senses to understand and appreciate elaborative detail. Through modeling and reading great literature, children are recognizing the ways in which authors use the five senses to describe story characters, settings, and objects.
Calendar of Events
November 26th (Wed.)- early dismissal 1:00pm + report card distribution
November 27 + 28 – no school, Thanksgiving Break
December 3 + 4th (Wed. and Thurs.) – early dismissal for parent/teacher conferences |
Math
These are the math skills and concepts that we have been working on recently:
- Begin to understand the relationship between addition and subtraction
- Model and solve subtraction problems
- Read and show on-the-hour times on an analog clock
- Give the time one hour before or after an on-the-hour time
- Measure length with multiple copies of the same nonstandard unit laid end to end
- Trade pennies for a nickel or dime, and vice versa, and show amounts to at least 10¢ in different ways
- Count on from 5 or 10 to determine an amount shown with coins
- Add two amounts, each less then 10¢
These are the basic concepts taught. Lessons are adapted to suit children’s individual differences.
 Please help your child at home by allowing him/her to work with money. Sorting and counting pennies, nickels and dimes would be useful practice. Thanks!!
Needed!!
 Each child will need a cardboard, half gallon milk or juice carton. Please rinse it out and write their name on it. We will be turning it into a center piece for your Thanksgiving table. These are due to school by Friday, Nov.14th. If you have an extra one, you can send it in for someone to use.
Recommended web sites:
nettrekker.com
This is a search engine that contains educational links that I have chosen.
Username: islandmadison
Password: 06443
*click on “show”
*under My Tools, click on “My Portfolio”
empoweringwriters.com/parents-corner.html
This site offers parents a comprehensive understanding of children’s writing development.
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