Update for the week of September 8-11

Important Dates: Click the calendar tab above to see what's coming.

Dojo- It is nice to see that almost all parents have logged on to Class Dojo and have been using the app to check in and see how your child is doing so each day. If you haven't yet, please do so. It is a great program and the kids are liking using it.

Tasty Tuesday - We are going to have our first Tasty Tuesday on the last Tuesday of the month. I am providing all the ingredients for this month. There are still spots left for signup outside my classroom door for the last 3 months of the school year.

Art - Together we have been learning different reading strategies using Splat the Cat as our focus for the week. Therefore in art it just made sense to create our own. Now that they are dry and sitting flat again, they will be hung outside our room for you to check out.

Daily/Language Arts - The CAFE strategies we introduced and practice this week were tuning into interesting words, back up and re-read and cross checking. Each day we practice building our stamina and are now at 10 minutes during read to self time and 8 minutes during writing time. Our goal is to be able to do each of those things uninterrupted for 15 minutes solid. Most importantly, we have been practicing our reading during these times. The class knows that the only way to be come a better reader is to practice, practice, practice reading. During our writing time, the focus has been on writing proper sentences that contain capitals and ending punctuation. I have really been enjoying reading and commenting in each student's journals and learning about all the interesting things they have to say.

Home Reading - Home reading books went out on Friday. Please keep them until Monday. We will do the exchange then. The books sent home are typically ones I have purchased personally and some from the school library. I ask that they stay in the panga-pouches when they are not being read so that they don't get lost or wrecked. I also told the kids to keep them away from their younger siblings. :) I cannot stress enough how important it is to have your child read to you at least 15 minutes each night. Be sure to log those minutes in their white log book.

Social Studies - We have been learning how to read and create maps this past week. We learned about following directions and the compass rose. This week we are going to start a little project that has the kids creating a map of their own fictional town that includes all the features we have been studying.

Spelling - On Friday the class was given an initial test for spelling groupings. I will be running 3-4 spelling groups so that students are working on the skills that actually pertain to their needs rather than just a general list of words. Those groups will be starting in the coming weeks so stay tuned for more information. I am however looking for a parent volunteer to help prep the activities for each of these groups. It isn't hard work, I promise. But having the help will make it a lot easier for me to be able to differentiate spelling instruction for your child on our limited time restraints for prepping materials.

Library - Our library day will be on Tuesdays. However, since we currently don't have a librarian, I am going to take the class into the library on Thursday and get them started with their first library book sign out for the year.

Math - This week the class practiced creating simple addition sentences and story problems. At the end of the week we started creating our own subtraction number sentences and will continue with that this coming week. Our basic facts focus was +/- 0. This week our focus for basic facts will be to continue practicing from last week and +1/-1.