Money and Telling Time

We have such an important Chapter coming up in Math this week.  We are learning how to count money.  It would help your child so much if you would get a bag full of various coins to work with at home.  We will be using fake money at school, but your child will benefit greatly from working with real coins at home.  Telling time will follow after Money so it would be great to start practicing this at home as well. 


Your child brought home the President Report Friday.  I sent it home a little early just to make sure you have plenty of time.  Please make sure your child follows the guidelines on the paper to receive the full amount of points.  The report is due February 21st.  Also, if I have any parents that would like to come in during the month of February to teach us about one of our Presidents we would love to hear from you.  Just send me a quick email and we will set up a time.


Science Voc. test is this Tuesday. 


Please refer to the right side of our page for important dates coming up.


I am going to send Scholastic Book orders home Monday.  I will place the order Friday.  You are welcome to order online or send the order in. 


Story this Week: Life Cycle of a Pumpkin
Genre: Expository Nonfiction
Phonics: Vowels oo, u
Voc. Strategy: Context Clues
Comp. Skill: Fact and Opinion
Comp. Strategy: Ask Questions
Grammar: Adjectives for number, size, and shape


Math: Chapter 7 Money and Time


Have a SUPER week!

Balancing and Weighing

Just Right Books!

Please look for an update on Accelerated Reader to come home with your child this week.  I am going to let you know how many points your child has, as well as their comprehension.  I want to make sure you know that the comprehension is what we need to focus on.  If your child is picking books that are "just right" for them, then it should be a breeze to make a 100 on the AR test.  Your child should have at least 90% comprehension for AR.  If it is lower, then we need to look closely at what they are doing.  It may mean that your child needs to bring home their library books to read out loud with you before they are ready to test on them.  For the most part, the kids are doing fantastic.  This update will let you know where your child stands right now.  We spend a great deal of time talking about books that are just right for us, and the way that we pick them. 


Your child will also have a study guide for Chapter 5 Science Voc. that will come home Tuesday.  We will not test on these words until the following week.  I just want you to have in plenty of time to start studying.


We begin a new Unit this week.  Your child has a new spelling test.  The spelling words are Unit 4 Week 1.  We will take a pre-test on Tuesday.


The kids are doing fantastic with 3-digit addition and subtraction.  We will test on Chapter 6 this Friday.  Please make sure your child is comfortable with the review that will come home Thursday for Math homework. 


Our story in Reading this week involves special quilts that were handmade.  If I have a parent that has any special quilts you could bring in to share with the class, please email me. 


A great big thank-you to Matthew's mom for stocking our treasure box FULL! We were in great need of more treats!


Story this Week: The Quilt Story
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Phonics: Syllables C + le
Voc. Strategy: Word Structure
Comp. Skill: Compare and Contrast
Comp. Strategy: Story Structure
Grammar: Adjectives and our Senses


Please email me with any questions you may have.  Have a fantastic week!

Alabama Shakespeare Festival

Field Trip This Thursday!

Your child brought home a note for Mornings with Mom that is coming up this week.  The days are Tuesday, January 14th and Wednesday, January 15th.  If your last name is A-L you come Tuesday, and if your last name is M-Z you come Wednesday.  The time is 7:15-8:00.


Report cards will come home this Tuesday.  Please remember to sign and return one copy in the envelope.  Signed papers will also come home as well. 


Our Field Trip to the Shakespeare Festival is this Thursday.  Your child may dress up for the play.  I will send out an email to the chaperones Monday.


This week we will have our Unit test in Reading.  We won't have a new set of Spelling words or a Reading story that we will test on. 


We are continuing with 3-digit addition in Math.  The kids have been doing a great job so far.  Please continue to practice with your child at home.  It is very important that your child is completing their homework at night.  I don't assign a great deal of homework, but what I do assign is a good review for what we have learned in class.  Continue to work on Math Facts as well.  Your child's graded timed drill will be in signed papers this week so you can see how they did. 


We are continuing with Balancing and Weighing in Science.  The kids are loving this Unit!


Please email me with any questions you may have.  I hope your week is SUPER!

Happy New Year!

Update: School is closed Monday and Tuesday.  We are expected to return Wednesday, January 8th.  This will work out perfect for my friends that cheer for the Orange and Blue! ;)


Please keep a close eye on the news regarding the weather and school closing.  I know WSFA list school closings as they are told.  We have a good possibility for Monday and Tuesday. 

Everything for this week as far as homework, etc. will be tentative based on how many days we are in school.  Your child needs to be ready with their spelling words either way.  If we aren't in school Monday, I will just give one test on Friday for Spelling.  Your child has their words in their binder to study.

This week begins the 3rd nine weeks.  Report cards are scheduled to come home this Thursday.  Please keep your copy and return the other one signed.

Please don't forget to send in a written excuse when your child is absent.  I have to turn these into the office.

Story this Week: A Weed is a Flower
Genre: Biography
Phonics: Comparative Endings
Comp. Skill: Cause and Effect
Comp. Strategy: Monitor and Fix Up
Grammar: Verbs - Am, Is, Are, Was, Were

In Math we are continuing with subtraction in Chapter 6 / 3-digit addition and subtraction.  Please continue to practice with your child.  Your child should always show the new number when they are regrouping.

In Science we are going to start a Unit on Balancing and Weighing.  This is one of our favorite units in Science! I will make sure I take plenty of pictures so you can enjoy some of the fun with us.

Please continue to work on those math facts with your child.  Check out some of the sites I have to the right of this page.  There are several to choose from. 

Please just send me an email if at any time you would like to have a conference regarding your child.  I am always happy to sit down with you. 

Have a SUPER week, and do your best to stay warm!