Curriculum Update

Here is a quick overview of what we have been covering in math, reading, and writing so far this year and where we are headed next.

Math - We just finished a unit on place value where students demonstrated an ability to read, write, compare, and round numbers through the hundred millions place.  We also practiced adding and subtracting using the traditional algorithm.  Next, we will be reviewing perimeter and area and practicing our multiplication skills.  Throughout the year, an emphasis will be placed on deepening our sense of numbers (by finding different ways to manipulate numbers and through mental math activities) and explaining our thinking both orally and in writing.  Anytime a student struggles with a particular concept, we will continue to practice and reteach that concept even as we move on to new topics.  The goal is that by the end of the year all students will master all concepts.

Writing - The year began with a focus on using our speaking, listening, and writing skills to conduct interviews and write pieces based upon the information learned.  In addition, we also discussed the ways in which authors come up with ideas for stories.  This led into our narrative unit, which we are just finishing up.  For the first trimester, we focused most of our time on the structure of a well-written narrative.  We will be revisiting narratives later in the year to spice up our stories by adding dialogue and description, as well as interesting beginnings and endings.   For now we are moving on to opinion writing, where again, we will focus on the structure and purpose of this type of writing.

Reading - Our emphasis for the first trimester has been on picking details out of texts in order to answer questions and make inferences.  In fiction stories we have specifically used text details to support our thoughts about the setting and characters.  In nonfiction texts, we will continue to pull details from the text while also identifying the text structure and the main idea.  We have been participating in reading groups for several weeks now, which allows each student to read texts at their reading level and also receive differentiated instruction in phonics, syllabication, and word study.

Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions about what your child is learning in class.  Thank you for all of your help and support at home!

Four Winds

A special thank you to Claire Wendling and Cindy Hale for volunteering to lead the Four Winds lessons for our class this year.  For those of you who are not familiar with the program, Four Winds is a hands-on natural science program.  The theme of the lessons this year is Patterns in Nature.  I learned a lot of new things about conifers on Friday, so hopefully your child did as well!

Pumpkin Harvesting

The students did a super job picking vegetables on Thursday.  Many of the vegetables will be used as part of the school lunches.  The pumpkins were sold this past weekend to raise money for our class.  Thank you to those of you who volunteered your time to help out!

October book orders were sent home in the Friday Folder.  They are due back on Thursday, if you would like to order any books.

Internet Resources

I want to make you aware of a few different websites that we will be using in class this year, which you can also use at home with your child.  I sent a letter home last Friday about AdaptedMindMath, and I can see that some of the students have already been practicing their math skills at home.  IXL is another math program that is being used across the supervisory union.  Students can practice skills in many different areas of math.  Right now, it would be particularly helpful if students practiced number sense skills (letter A).  The easiest way to access the site is through http://www.wsesu.net/dashboard and I have included a letter with the login information.  If you are just looking for some fun, yet educational, math games for your child to play, OCSD Interactive Games (http://resources.oswego.org/games/) and ABCya (www.abcya.com) are two of my favorites.

Students can also access the reading program Lexia from home (http://www.lexialearning.com/).  This is a great program that practices reading and spelling sight words, syllabication, comprehension, phonics skills, and understanding prefixes, suffixes, and root words.  If your child is having trouble remembering their login information, please let me know.

Finally, just a note that Wednesday, October 8th is Health and Safety Day.  Students will be practicing bus evacuations and listening to a fire safety talk.  In addition, we will also be going on that day to help harvest some vegetables that the students planted last spring.  It should be an exciting day!