Thursday, August 23, 2012

8-15-2012 Newsletter


I am so excited to be your child’s teacher for the upcoming year.  I cannot wait to get started and for us to be in our routine so the learning can really begin!  Thank you for being a partner in their learning. 


Reminders

Please complete and turn in all paperwork as soon as possible. 

Please remember to send in the checks for $6.00 made out to:  Scholastic News.  The bill will be in very soon and I will need to send the money in.  You will love getting the magazine 6 times a year and the children get 4 issues per month.  Thank you so much to those of you who have already turned in the money. 

Homework


Homework will begin right after Labor Day.  I like them to get settled in a bit before we start.  I will have specific directions attached to the folder at that time.  My point is not to have it take too long.  It really should take no longer than 15 minutes a night.  There will be a book or two included in the left hand pocket of the folder with a reading log that should be initialed and left in the folder after reading it.  I will replace it with new books the next week.  Please try to keep up with the books and take good care of them because some of them will go to sets that I will not be able to replace.  We usually do not have trouble with it but it is important to set up a nightly routine with homework and return it to the folder.  Homework will go home on Mondays and be returned on Thursdays.  Your child may have an additional day if needed and turn it in on Friday if needed.   Try and enjoy your time together reading.  Snuggle up, read, talk about the story and enjoy!

Reading


We are starting a new idea in reading called the Daily 5.  We have a 30 day window of teaching procedures and how to build stamina for reading and writing.  I am a little nervous to change things yet more than excited to begin a new adventure in learning myself.  Many teachers throughout the district are having great success with it.  It really trains children how to build stamina and become readers.  Once they are independent, the formal reading groups will begin.  I will keep you posted. 

They are taught to:

  • Read to self
  • Read to someone
  • Work on writing
  • Listen to reading
  • And complete word/spelling work

I cannot wait to see how this empowers them as learners.  More information will be coming home weekly as we grow. 

 

 

KIDWRITING

Your child will begin to talk about kidwriting.  This is another great tool to guide young children into becoming readers and writers.  They are encouraged to use word wall words spelled correctly and to write what they hear using sounds.  You will be amazed at how quickly they will begin to write. 

 We will introduce the words:  I, a, and like to the word wall.  Practice these at home.  If your child does not yet write their name, they need to practice this nightly as well.  There are only a few that cannot write their names but nightly practice will help with this skill.  We are working hard on getting quick letter and sound recognition as well.  For those who are reading, I am excited to begin reading strategy instruction and accelerated reader books and quizzes with them. 

MATH

In math we are finding things that are the same and different and explaining why, patterning and calendar concepts.   We are also working on recognizing, counting and grouping numbers and objects to 5.  We will be learning to write the numbers correctly. Look for number poems to come home.  This helps them to remember how to form the numbers.  Straight line down and then you are done.  That’s the way to make a 1.    

 

Social Studies

We will be learning many rules and why there is a need for rules.  We will also be comparing the difference between rules in different settings; home and school for instance.  

Science

Life Cycles are on the menu!  They will be thrilled to observe and experience life cycles of various animals. 

Workshops

We will begin workshops next week.  Your child will look forward to the weekly rotation of workshop learning.  I will let you know which ones we have finished each week so you can discuss them.  There are five new ones each week that they will complete. 

 
If you have any questions, you can call school and leave a message or email me and I will try and get back with you as soon as possible.  Thank you again for sharing your child with me this y

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