Life Long Readers!

We are on our way to becoming readers for life in room 124! This week we talked a lot about choosing JUST RIGHT books.  I cannot stress just how important it is for your child to read books that are just right for them.  This is how we will increase our fluency as well as our comprehension.  We are in full swing of going to the library and checking out books now.  Your child has been given a zpd that tells them exactly what reading level they should be checking out.  If your child brings a library book home that they are having trouble reading, ask them first of all if it is in their zpd.  If it is, then ask your child if they did the 5 finger rule when they picked the book out at the library.  One of the main times the kids go to the library during the day is during reading groups / centers in our classroom.  This means that I don't always see the books that are brought back in during this time.
Also, please make sure your child brings their library books to school each day.  Our weekly library day is Wednesday.  Your child may go back during the week as soon as they have finished and tested on both of their books.  We are doing a great job with this!

MPS has started a new policy with absences this year.  If your child is absent for any reason I am required to call you that day to find out why unless I have already received an email from you about the absence.  In order for me to avoid bothering you at home with a sick child, please just shoot me an email that morning letting me know that your child is sick, etc. and that will be sufficient documentation so I won't have to bother you with a phone call.  Thank you so much for your help with this.

We (teacher included!) are so excited about the McWane Center coming September 28th.  Please remember to send in the money for this on site field trip by September 23rd.  It is going to be an amazing time!!

I am hoping you have heard all about the dirt babies that are now living in room 124.  I am hoping we will see some hair growth on our little babies very soon.  You may want to brainstorm a little with your child about what they would like to dress their little dirty baby up like when it comes home.  We usually keep them until their hair is good and ready for a trim and that is when they come home to you for an outfit makeover.  The kids love this, so have fun!  What a fun time we had wrapping up our chapter on plants by making them. 

Whole Group Reading:

A Walk in the Desert 
Genre: Expository Nonfiction
Phonics: Inflected Endings -s, -ed, -ing
Comprehension Skill: Main Idea and Details
Comprehension Strategy: Text Structure

Grammar:
We will be learning about Statements and Questions
A statement is a sentence that tells something.  A statement ends with a period (.) .
A question is a sentence that asks something.  A question ends with a question mark (?) .

Math:
We will finish up our chapter on subtraction Monday and have a chapter test on it Tuesday.  Remember to go through the review sheet with your child Monday night.  The review sheet is very similar to the test. 
Wednesday we will begin learning about Place Value.
I would like to do a fun activity with place value that will involve large marshmellows, toothpicks, and Fruit Loops.  If you are able to send any of these items please let me know.  Also, if there is a problem with your child eating any of these items, please let me know. 

You may want to put on your calendar a reminder about Nancy's Italian Ice coming every OTHER Monday.  The next Monday they will come is September 26th.  The cost is $1.00.