Weekly Update
This week in our Morning Meetings, we talked finding our peaceful spot, goals, sending out positive and negative vibes, and being strong. We also spent time reviewing our classroom rules and expectations. We discussed how we can improve the overall classroom climate and how we can improve our specialist time. Our goal is to be respectful, mind our own business, not make noises or blurt out, and use our time wisely. In our 95% program we started the unit on vowel team syllables. This week we worked on identifying pseudowords with a vowel team. We also learned that -ay and aw are rule breakers because they are considered vowel teams.
Cold Weather Gear: Since colder weather is finally here to stay, we want to remind you of our general guidelines:
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Coats are needed for recess when the temperature is below 45 degrees.
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If students choose to wear shorts, they will need to have long pants to put over them for recess. Students will be kept inside without these items.
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Hats and mittens are needed for recess any time the temperature is below 40 degrees.
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Snow pants and boots are needed in order to play in areas except for the blacktop any time there is snow on the ground.
Due to the short week next week, there will not be a newsletter.
Our goal is to become fluent with our multiplication facts (1-9) by the end of November. Automatically knowing multiplication facts will make multiplication with two digits and division so much easier! Currently, we are working on x4. We practice each day for about 10 minutes. All students should also practice at home each night. You can do this with flashcards, card games (Multiplication Battle), just verbally giving problems. There are also some sites available online. If anyone wants paper copies of practice sheets, just let me know. We will practice each number for a week and test on Tuesdays. The goal is to get at least 23/25 correct in 1 minute and 15 seconds. After passing weekly tests on 1-9, the students will take a mixed test with 100 problems. We will have 5 minutes to complete that with 90% accuracy. This is a good visual of the actual 36 facts that are learned. Some kids do have a hard time flipping the problems around (2x3=6, 3x2=6), so practicing them both ways is helpful.
Blended Learning packets were sent home with your child. There are three packets in a ziploc baggie. Each packet includes all of the pages that need to be completed for each Blended Learning Day. Your child does not need a computer to complete any of the work. We tried to make the work as independent as possible. You will see there is a required column (that's what included in the packet), two option columns if you want your child to do more, and a specialist column (required - complete activities from one specialist not all four). In your child's assignment notebook (planner), there is a list of log-in information on the last page. These codes should allow your child to access those optional sites from home. I have also included their NP log-in information. Please keep the packets in a safe place for when they are needed (hopefully not soon). If you misplace the packets, the same information will be on the Blending Learning website. There will be an option to print the pages or complete the work on lined paper.
Weekly Accomplishments:
Math: We learned about multiplying by ten, one hundred, and one thousand. We also learned about input / output tables.
Reading: We worked on character traits and inferencing. We finished our personal narratives.
Science / Social Studies / Health: We learned about the landforms and water of the Northeast region. Students began working on a travel guide with information about the NE region.
Important Dates:
November 27 - No School
November 28 - No School
November 29 - No School
December 2 - No School (K-5)
December 23 - January 1 - No school
January 2 - School resumes
February 6 - PAC meeting
March 10 - PAC meeting
