1-5-20

Happy New Year!!

Week at a Glance

Monday: F Day (Gym and Art)
Tuesday: A Day (Gym and Library)
Wednesday: B Day (Gym and SEL)
Thursday: C Day (Music)
Friday: D Day (Music)

Academics in January

Math: This month we join the school wide math center program. This consists of a weekly timed test.  As students correctly complete each test they proceed at their own pace through progressively difficult tests.  Our focus this month will be on measurement.  Children will discuss length as a measurable attribute and compare the lengths of objects directly and indirectly.  Children will estimate and measure a variety of objects using non standard units.  We will continue to practice adding and subtracting.  New this month: three addends!

Reading: Our focus will be on making connections and inferencing as we read.  Later this week, ask your Firstie about Alexander and his "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". Students will be adding on to this classic tale in their own writing.

Phonics: Long vowel sounds take center stage this month, starting with long A.  We will be hunting for various ways to make the sound including sneaky e and vowel teams like: ai, ei, and ay. Words to practice at home: snake, stay, sprain, say, tail, whale, clay, waist, shave, snail, weigh.

Science: All month long we will continue learning about light and sound.  Special sound effects are welcome! Topics include: sound vibrations, transparent, opaque, illumination, communicating over long distances, and our vision in the dark and fog.

Social Studies: Based on our Junior Achievement lessons on entrepreneurship and the concept of the book, "If I Built a Car," students will consider and write an imaginative piece about what they might do in the future.

Volunteering this Week

Wednesday: Math Rotations at 9:30
Thursday: Math Rotations at 9:30
Friday: Tinker Time at 3:00

Take-home Books/Games

Student will be coming home this week with a cloth bag containing a book from our classroom.  The books should be right at their reading level which means they should be able to read them independently.  Please encourage your Firstie to read the book aloud to anyone who will listen! As soon as the bag and book are returned I will send a new book home. Occasionally I may also include various flashcards or games tailored to your child's needs.  Unless otherwise noted, please return all supplies.

Coming up Soon-Just for Fun

January 15: Hat day (in our classroom only)
January 21: Squirrel appreciation day
January 31: Backward day

Upcoming Field Trip

We will visit the Upton Planetarium on Friday, January 31.  Unfortunately this is for students only-no parents.