Welcome to Room22! To contact me, please call the school office (860-648-5025) between 8-4 or email me at tgrobard@swindsor.k12.ct.us
Areas of focus in the curriculum:
Math - We are currently working our way through unit 2 which focuses on estimation and computation. Through guided discovery and exploration, the children are reviewing addition and subtraction, multiplication algorithms, estimating products, and place value. We have been playing math games and working with partners, small groups, and independently to reinforce these concepts. Reflection is an integral part of our work, whether it is in writing or verbal.
Reading - We have been focusing our attention on how to think deep level thoughts and record them to capture what we read. We have also been practicing taking a sticky note and talking long. We have been exploding one thought a night to practice writing long. We continue to establish individual goals that can then be reinforced in all aspects of the reading workshop. Our guided reading groups and skill groups are up and running. The improvement in the thinking that your children have demonstrated is incredible. We are in the midst of working on our first Turn and Talk book as well.
Words Their Way - Your children have completed their first sort and assessment in their word study time. I will score them and then they will bring home a copy of their new sort, which identifies the features that they will be studying in class. Rest assured, your child is working in a good fit sort for him/her based on assessmentdata, his/her work with words in class, and his/her success on his previous sorts.
Writing - A key part of the writing workshop experience is moving through the writing workshop stages from brainstorming writing ideas, to using a graphic organizer to capturing thoughts and ideas, to writing a rough draft, to editing and revising, to publishing. Each stage of the process builds upon the one before and helps your child to work at a high level. We are also setting individual writing goals to focus your child's attention on specific areas for improvement. Your children have been working in their Writer's Notebook and other genre writing daily.
Science - The children just finished up a unit on physical and chemical changes with Mrs. Hemp. They are now working on light and lenses with Mrs. Gott.
I have been most impressed with the community that we have worked so hard to build in room 22. Your children are remarkable individuals who understand the tenets that a Tribes Community is built upon. They are constantly working to refine what it means to work together, look out for each other, and hold each other accountable. It has been an exciting journey, one that will continue through the rest of this year. I am very proud of each and every member of this learning communtiy.
Your child has a homework planner which is an extremely important tool for recording nightly homework and making sure that deadlines and responsibilities are met. It is crucial that your child develops good homework skills and understands that homework is his/her job. If your child falls behind on assignments, it sets a tone that is hard to overcome. Please ask to see your child's planner on a nightly basis and ask to see each assignment once it is completed. You do not need to correct assignments, but asking to see them lets your child know that you are an important part in the school to home homework connection. Thanks for your support in this matter.
Here are some improtant dates to add to your calendar:
-11/2o/08 - Hartford Symphony Field Trip - Mrs. Rosenbaum and Mrs. Sandberg will chaperone. Please have your child dress for a trip to the symphony.
-11/26/08 - Half day for Thanksgiving break
-11/27-11/28/08 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Well, that is about it for right now. Please keep in touch if you have any questions or comments.
Until next time,
Mrs. Tracy Grobard
