Research shows that the more students read at their independent reading level, the better readers and writers they become.Since the start of school, students have been required to read 20 minutes a night as part of their homework.Recently we have been working on teaching students how to pick a “Good Fit Book” (one at their independent reading level).Your child has had access to a wide array of literature.
While at home, please guide your child to make good book choices.If students choose books that are above their independent reading level, while they can often move through the text, they are not be able to “think deep” and “talk long” about it and that is where the true learning comes in to play.
My goal this year is to get your child excited about reading so that they become life long readers.If you get the chance, I encourage you to talk to your child about what they are reading.Get them to share their favorite parts, or parts they questioned or connected to.Have them discuss the characters and how they are growing and changing.Ask them what they think the “lesson” is that the author is trying to get across or to give you examples of great writing (author’s craft).Students are also working on fluency, so if you have the time to sit and listen to them as they read out loud, that would also be very beneficial.Finally, if you are involved in reading (any kind– newspaper, magazines, pleasure novels or even work related text), feel free to talk to your child about it and share with them your thinking.Anything you can do to support their reading will be so helpful!
Math- Unit 1 - We are studying number sense (factors, prime vs. composite numbers, odd vs. even numbers, divisibility and squared numbers). We are also reviewing place value and our multiplication facts.
Students should be practicing their math multiplication facts. We will be having periodic math facts quiz to sharpen our speed and accuracy.
Writing: Students will be involved in various forms of writing this year. While our main emphasis will be on learning the Expository Writing method, we will also be doing journal entries, responding to specific or self chosen topics, and writing stories and poems.
-All year long, in all the writing we do, we will be focusing on Eight Traits of Good Writing. They are:
Ideas
Organization
Elaboration
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Voice
Conventions
Presentation
Reading Students will be engaged in many forms of reading this year!
-Independent Reading - Students are reading novels of their choice and completing weekly reading response activities. Students have 30 minutes of reading time in class each day, and they are expected, as part of their nightly homework, to read 30 minutes at home each night.
-Read Aloud - I read aloud a novel to the class daily. Students listen and respond to the story in a number of ways (turn and talk with your peers, written reading response, practice different reading strategies, discuss character development and author's craft, etc.)
-Guided Reading - I work periodically with small groups of students to work on different comprehension or oral reading strategies.
Reading Strategies - Throughout the year we will be using and developing the following reading strategies:
Making Connections
Questioning
Visualizing and Inferring
Determining Importance
Synthesizing Information
Social Studies: We will be studying 4 topics this year: Maps and Globes, United States Governement, Westward Movement and the Civil War. - During the month of October we will be studying the Three Branches of our Government and the Election Process!
Science: We will be studying 4 topics this year: Move It!, Physical and Chemical Changes, Light Energy and Senses, and Health (drug education, First Aid, Aides, Growth and Development).
Students will be getting to know each other and building a strong community during the first few weeks of school. We will be stressing the "8 C's".
Cooperation
Collaboration
Compromise
Conflict Resolution
Compassion
Creativity
Confidence
Community
We are also discussing what effective leadship looks like, sounds like and feels like. We will learn to recognize our strengths and weaknesses in group work and work to strengthen/improve them.
Students - Don't forget to take responsibility for your feelings and address conflict as soon as it happens by using a kind and respectful "I Message" (Formula: I feel ____(emotion) when ____.
I have provided each student with everything you need including: a daily planner, a folder for notices, a pencil box, a ruler, a template, a highlighter, a pair of scissors, a calculator, an eraser and a pencil. Here is a list of additional supplies that you might want to purchase. Remember that these are all optional.
7 folders, one for each of the following subjects: Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing, Economic System and TRIBES.
a glue stick
pencils and erasers
a one subject notebook - try to get one where you can tear the paper out in a straight line… rough edges make me crazy!
a small set of magic markers – I’ll have a class set, you only need to buy some if you want your own set
a small set of colored pencils – same goes here as with the markers
1 pen for correcting
a package of 3” x 3” sticky notes
a compass
a box of tissues for the classroom would be very much appreciated! Let’s stock up now for the winter months!
February 2010 To view the full calendar, click the above link.
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