Week of 12/8/14

Hi Families!
What crazy weather we're having!  Freezing one day and rainy the next!  We're trying to keep moving in here by doing the website GoNoodle where we can do zumba dances, yoga, and other movement breaks to keep our attentions focused and our bodies in check.  You can try it out at home too at
gonoodle.com.

Important information:

• We have a full week next week and then only 2 days the following week.  
• Happy holidays to those who start celebrating next week!  I love hearing all the stories the students have to share with us as they celebrate together with friends and family.
• On Friday, December 19th, we will be doing an activity in the classroom.  I sent an email earlier this week but we are looking for: a mason style jar from each student (please bring in your own).  
• If your child is leaving early before school ends on the 23rd for the winter break, please let me know as there are some things that need to go home.   Thanks!

3, 2, 1…things you should know.
3 things we've been doing in social studies is flying to Mexico and getting our passports stamped, learning where Mexico is on a map, and learning about Luis' life in Mexico and where he lives.

2 skills we started working on in writing workshop are choosing a topic that we know a lot about to write our informational books and writing a table of contents of ideas that we could share with others.

1 thing I am very proud of them for is the reading responses this week!  I can see the students are really thinking about their nonfiction reading!

Don't forget to check out our page on what we learned this week…

Created with Padlet

Week ending 11/21/14

What a busy week it's been!  We've been finishing up our writing workshop stories, focusing on different addition strategies, learning about science unit on ramps, completing a non-fiction feature book to share what we've learned, and we started our poetry notebooks!

Important information:

• Don't forget to check out our "What did we learn this week?" after school ends today!  Each week students will write on their own what they learned in school this week.  This is a great idea to hear what's going on in the classroom and start conversations!  It's at the bottom of this blog! (It may not show up if you received an email, so go directly to the blog! Thanks!)
• I'm still trying to determine how to connect previous Xtramath programs used last year with the students' current accounts.  When I know…I'll let you know!  For now, your child can just continue with what they already have or start a new one…either is fine.
• Wednesday, the 26th is an early dismissal at 12:00 (not 12:30 as other dismissal days).  There is no school Thursday and Friday.
• Math morning is scheduled for Friday, December 5th with 8:30-9 in the auditorium and 9-9:30 in the classrooms.  I have been asked to attend an important conference that day so I will not be there…however, this is about the students sharing their math thinking and games they've learned with YOU!  If you are able to attend, we'd love to have you!  

3, 2, 1 things you should know…

3 skills we've worked on this week are: making predictions and testing them with objects that roll and slide in science, adding fabulous words to show dialogue, instead of "said" (such as blurted, yelled, and exclaimed), and we started making a poetry notebook which we'll do each Monday during morning work.  

2 addition strategies we've worked on to add 2 digit numbers using strategies such as landmark numbers (any number that is a 10) and splitting numbers.

1 thing you should know is that we love the website, GoNoodle!

Created with

Week ending 11/14/14

We only had 4 days this week  but we've been busy!

Important information:

• The Heritage Bears look awesome!  We've started sharing a few a day and the students are so interested in the writing and why the bears are dressed as they are!  I do have to apologize though!  I continued to think the bears were due today, being a Friday.  They are NOT!  The paperwork we sent home says they are due Monday, November 17th.  I let the students know and sorry for the confusion!  
• Thank you so much to those of you that donated books to the classroom!  It was very kind of you and I look forward to reading them to the students over the next few weeks and then placing them in the book boxes for them to read as they wish.
• Wednesday, the 26th is a half day with dismissal at 12:00.  There is no school on the 27th or 28th.
• Math morning has been scheduled for Friday, December 5th.
• The home reading response has started.  It is expected that students will complete this one time a week on a computer or iPad.  You can get to it by going to our classroom website, reading response, then reading response form.  You must hit submit for it to go through.  Please decide which night is best for your family to complete it.  The link is below:

      http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~megan_deking/FOV1-00057CFD/?OpenItemURL=S0B6EF4F9

3, 2, 1 things you should know…
3 skills we worked on this week were: identifying multi syllable words,  finding nonfiction text features in multiple books and explaining their purpose in that book, and deciding if objects roll or slide.

2 new math addition strategies such as adding tens and splitting numbers (just began today and will continue this year as well as learning about landmark numbers).

1 website you need to visit is Padlet!  Each week we will have a "What did I learn this week?" page.  Students will brainstorm a list of skills or activities we worked on this week and then they will type what they think is most important to share. For this week, I will type for them so they can see how the page works but in the coming weeks, they will do the typing and deciding which information to share.
You can visit Padlet either through my own website or here below:

Created with Padlet

Reading Response Online

Reading Response Online

We are starting our reading response online tonight.  It is expected that students will complete this one time a week on a computer or iPad.  You can get to it by going to our classroom website, reading response, then reading response form.  You must hit submit for it to go through.  The link is below:

http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~megan_deking/FOV1-00057CFD/?OpenItemURL=S0B6EF4F9

Here's a few things to keep in mind:

•  Let you child do as much as they can on their own.  I am not looking for spelling so much as the thinking.  
• If you child is struggling typing, you could help them finish up.  They will get faster as the year goes on.  
• Some weeks they will respond using a book they are reading at home.
• This week, we are working on non-fiction.  They received a Time for Kids article about giraffes they can read and use to write their responses.  
• This week, they need to name a non-fiction feature and write how it helps them to understand THEIR story.  
• Features include: photographs, captions, labels, illustrations, maps, titles, diagrams, glossary, index, and table of contents.  
• An example is:  The label points to the crater on the moon.  Another example would be: The caption helps me understand the order of the planets.  

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!  Think ahead of time which day would be best for your child to complete this so it isn't done last minute.  It must be completed by Friday of each week.  It may take a few weeks to get used to it, but I know they all can do it!  

Week ending 11/7/13

This November has started off well!  We've started some new units and all the students seem to be really enjoying them!  

Important information: 

• Monday is our day to shop the book fair.  We will be shopping 2:15-2:45.  Today, Friday, we are going to preview the books and made a wish list for those we are interested in.  Students will bring home the lists and you can decide together which, if any, books you'd like your child to buy and then send in the correct money.  Keep in mind there is tax on items.  If you choose to send in money, please do so in a zip loc bag with their name on it.  If you would like to join us at the book fair, you may come in Monday, sign in at the office and meet us in the library at 2:15. 
• Tuesday, November 11, there is no school.  
• Over the next week, your child will have an extra homework project centered on heritage and culture.  This ties in with our Social Studies curriculum.  Information and bears (chosen by the students) were sent home in backpacks today.  Please be as creative as you'd like and send back whenever it's complete, but not later than November 17th.  
• For the next 2 week, we are working on a special math unit titled, Measuring for the Art Show.  It is focused on number facts, strategies for counting, and a math congress of sharing and respecting ideas.  There may not be regular math homework and if not, please practice either number facts or Xtramath.  
• We are starting the at home reading response.  Students have practiced in school and they are READY!  I'm so excited for them and they are looking forward to it.  The reading response is based on a skill we are working on during the week in the classroom.  It is completed 1x a week on the computer (or iPad) and may take students awhile until they become more comfortable with typing.  If it is very difficult, you may type for them as they tell you their thoughts.  The link and all the information can be found here on my website...

          http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~megan_deking/FOV1-00057CFD/

3, 2, 1 ideas you should know about our week:

3 skills we've worked on are: naming, identifying, and learning about non-fiction features of books (such as labels, captions, and photographs), discussing our measuring strategies of large size paper and how we counted our cubes (students a variety of ideas and we needed to sort out which ideas worked and why they worked), and we started finishing up our United States unit by talking about the U.S. Constitution.  

2 events this week were honoring veterans at our ceremony Tuesday am and previewing the book fair. 

1 thing you should know is that by practicing adding 10 to 1 digit numbers will help us become faster mathematicians.  -Eli

Week ending 10/31/14

Hi Families!
Can you believe October is over already?  I'm amazed that 2 months and 42 days have gone by already!  I'm also amazed how much we've learned and applied in those 42 days!

Important information:
*Thanks to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to come in with your child to meet about their progress.   
*Thanks to everyone who was able to help with the pumpkin activity!  It's not a hard job but the more hands to help, the easier it is for the kids.  
*Thank you to those the brought in tissues and a new pencil sharpener this week!  Both were badly needed and I appreciate your donations.
*This week I sent home a sheet with a passcode for Xtramath.  Please start practicing your facts this way at least 2 times a week.  The more they practice the more automatic the facts are.  If the computer or iPad isn't for your child, please begin using flash cards.
*Tuesday, November 11, there is no school for Veteran's Day.  
*Looking ahead, there is an early dismissal on November 26, a Wednesday at 12:00 (not 12:30) and no school the 27th or 28th.  

3, 2, 1 things you should know…

3 skills we worked on this week were: telling details about the problem and solution of a read aloud and our own just right book, how to make change when paying at a vegetable stand, and how to make, read, and interpret a tally chart, pictograph, and bar graph.

2 skills we looked at in social studies were landforms and landmarks of the United States.  Ask your child to tell you about 1 landmark and 1 landform we discussed in class.

1 very important thing we think you should know is we had fun decorating the pumpkins and the door. -Arianna

Enjoy the weekend and happy trick or treating!

Here is a picture of our classroom door with our haunted houses & scary jack-o-lanterns and a picture of all of use with our decorated pumpkins!

    

Week ending 10/24/14

We've had a great week!  We've worked on many new concepts, built on those we've already started, and practiced those we've learned before to be sure we've mastered them.

Important Information

• Conferences begin Monday, the 27th and end Friday, the 31st. for our class.
• Please be sure to bring your child with you.  They have work they are very excited to share with you! 
• Thursday, the 30th, is an early dismissal for conferences.  Please have your child picked up by 12:30.  
• Thank you to all who bought books this past time through Scholastic!  It was wonderful see all those bonus points!  I was able to use many of the bonus points and still have some left! I purchased some early Amelia Bedelia books, a Fly Guy book, and some early chapter books.    I'll send home information again for another order soon.

3, 2, 1 for this week…

3 skills we worked on this week were making text to world connections to help us understand how our story relates to the real world in reading workshop.  In writing workshop, we focused on making our sentences more powerful by adding in adjectives throughout.  In social studies, we learned where we live in the world from our galaxy all the way to our own house.

2 skills we practiced in math were regrouping tens and ones and we learned math games to further our understanding.  We also practiced counting coins to buy things.

1 thing you need to know is…we're making our stories better and better so we can have a more detailed story to share with you at conferences!    -Jordyn

Have a great weekend!

Week ending 10/17

We're halfway through the month of October and the weather is not feeling very Fall like!  One day is warm and the next is chilly and rainy!  Hopefully the rest of October  will show us the cooler weather and we'll be able to enjoy pumpkins, sweaters, and hot chocolate soon!

Important information:

• If you haven't signed up for conferences yet, please do so.  

Here is the link as well: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ea8a928a20-fall

• Please keep in mind that if the weather begins to get colder…please send in sweatshirts, jackets, etc. as we try to make it out for snack recess and they go out for lunch recess.
• Homework has started and has been going very well!  They have all turned in their homework and it looks great!  Please keep in mind that if your child has trouble with the homework, you can help them, but please add a note at the top or circle where they had difficulty so I know to go over those skills with them.  

3, 2, 1…things we want to share with you:

3 skills we've worked on this week: In reading, we worked on comparing texts (Amazing Grace and William's Doll) to understand the text and characters better.  In writing, we worked on self-assessing ourselves using the checklist to see what our story needs more of and how to make it more interesting to the reader.  In math, we've been working on understanding, reading, and writing place value focusing on tens and ones to start. 

2 read aloud books shared this week were One Green Apple to discuss text to world connections and Weekend with Wendell to discuss making meaningful connections.  Meaningful connections are those that help us make predictions, understand how the character feels, or helps us understand why the character did the actions they did.  

1 thing we want you to know is: Math was fun because we like to solve problems. (Daniel H.)

Week Ending 10/10/14

Thank you to those that could make it to Social Emotional Morning today.  I hope it gave you a little insight into our morning meeting and how our day starts.  I know it can be difficult to attends events and I want you to know that there will be other events throughout the year that you'll be invited to as well.
Important Information:

• There is no school on Monday, October 13.
• Conference sign ups have started (as in the email I sent this morning) and the link is in that email to sign up.  Please remember this is a short conference with you and your child to share their work.  They feel very proud of themselves with what they have accomplished and we will look at what's to come.  
• The link for sign ups is http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ea8a928a20-fall
• October 30 is an early release day, with dismissal at 12:30.

Homework Information:

This week, we practiced working in a quiet spot to complete math and phonics worksheets.  Please work with your child to identify a quiet place in your home where he or she should work on homework and plan a time for completing homework that will work with their at-home schedule.  

At-home homework expectations will begin next week on Tuesday, October 14.  

(Complete homework expectations for the year are in my classroom website.)

Pointers for kids:

• Complete two worksheets (typically math and phonics).  Write you name and date on both sheets.
• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Work carefully.
• If it's too hard, ask for help.

Pointers for families:

• Help as needed (putting a star or little note at the top lets me know help was needed).
• Use homework as an opportunity to engage in discussions about your child's learning.
• The week of the 14th, students will have one math and one phonics sheet.  
• You are encouraged to read with your child and ask questions about the text.  (More about reading expectations will follow later).

3, 2, 1 skills we worked on this week…

In reading workshop we worked on schema.  In math worked on name collection boxes, ways to show different numbers, and "What's my rule?".  During social studies, we've been working on locating the continents are, cardinal directions, and the oceans.

2 things to ask your child…

What schema is and how it helps you understand the text?

What is name collection boxes and how can you show 10 four ways?

1 fact we learned this week…

A long long time ago the lands were not apart from the oceans, they were all connected. -From Renee

Week ending 10/3/14

I can't believe it's October already!  September went by so quickly!  I hope you're enjoying the fall time with your families.
Some important information:

• I sent home the Scholastic flyers yesterday and the information for ordering.  It's a great way to get books for your child or gifts for others.  I also use the bonus points gained through parent orders to add to the classroom library for your children to read.  If you are going to order, please do so by Friday, October 10. Thanks!
• Next Thursday, October 9, is an early release day with dismissal at 12:30.
• Next Friday, October 10, is our Social-Emotional morning.  You will meet with staff from our school first in the auditorium and then join us in the classroom for morning meeting.  It's 8:30-9:30.  

3, 2, 1 things to know…

3 things we began studying and reviewing this week were: fact families focusing on always having 2 addition and 2 subtraction number sentences and the largest number goes at the end of a subtraction sentence; there are oceans and continents in our world and continents are larger than countries; and text to text connections help us understand the texts better.

2 skills we're working on in writing workshop are showing and not just telling the reader about our small moment story and writing goals for our narrative writing helps us be focused on the things we need to do to be strong writers.

1 thing that's awesome about our class is that we earned pajama day!  The students have been working really hard to learn routines, expectations, and begin working together.  Earning the baseballs for compliments for working together, trying their best, and doing above what is expected is awesome!

Have a great weekend!