Dear Parents and Families,
The new year has us hitting the ground and running! Your students have grown so much since the beginning of the year. Their thoughtfulness, curiosity, and humor brightens my days (even the dreary, rainy, indoor recess days!) Below is an overview of what we have been working on this month and some important upcoming dates.
Important Dates
Tuesday, January 31st:
-PAJAMA DAY and January Birthday Party from 2:30-3:30
-5th Grade Little Caesar's Pizza Kit Fundraiser Orders Due!
Wednesday, February 8th:
Economics Test (Review coming home today!)
Friday, February 10th:
Book Orders Due!
Tuesday, February 14th 2:30-3:30)
Writers' Celebration/Valentine's Day/February Birthday Party! (more information to come!)
-PAJAMA DAY and January Birthday Party from 2:30-3:30
-5th Grade Little Caesar's Pizza Kit Fundraiser Orders Due!
Wednesday, February 8th:
Economics Test (Review coming home today!)
Friday, February 10th:
Book Orders Due!
Tuesday, February 14th 2:30-3:30)
Writers' Celebration/Valentine's Day/February Birthday Party! (more information to come!)
Reading, Writing, and Spelling
The 3rd grade students just completed their Unit 3 Reading Street test. This assessment tests comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics at a 3rd grade level, however, it is only one piece of the puzzle. All of your students have also been re-leveled and have been given updated reading levels, focus goals, and reading groups. When the Reading Street tests come home, it is more helpful to take a look at the "range" that the cover sheet gives you to see where your child falls (Advanced, On Level, Strategic Support). The percentages are not very useful in getting a good idea of where your child scored. Additionally, take a look at the standards that your child mastered (left) and the standards that they still need some support on (right). Mrs. Talamonti-Burgee and I always make sure to go over the assessments with the children after every unit. A big part of doing well on these assessments (which are quite similar to the M-STEP) is having strong test taking strategies. We spend time discussing strategies like reading the questions first, underlining as they read and making notes in the margins, and using process of elimination to choose the best answer. Please try to make time over the next month to go through your child's Reading Street test with them so they can correct their errors and discuss their thinking with you. This will also support them on the M-STEP assessment this spring.
In writing, the students either have completed their informational animal books or are continuing to publish them. After today, we will be moving on to work on opinion writing. The students will still have time to work on their books during Readers' Workshop, if they choose and at home. The books will be displayed in the Glencairn Library from today through February 14th when we do our writers' celebration/February birthday party/Valentine's Day party (more information to come!). If your child is not yet finished with their book, please encourage them to bring it home and to spend a little bit of time each night working on it. I want to extend a HUGE thank you to Shannon Schokora who has spent weeks coming in during writing time and helping me revise, edit, and prepare students' writing for publishing. I couldn't have done it without you! :)
Just a quick note about spelling. The students have a spelling test every Friday. The pretest and lists are sent home each Monday. If your child is absent on Monday, I always put a list in your child's mailbox to take home when they return. There is also always a pile of lists in the shelves by the door that students are allowed to use to study at school and also to take home if they lose their lists. Lastly, you can always access the spelling lists online at www.spellingcity.com. You can search for my lists by looking by School or Teacher Name. Next week we will be on Unit 4.2. The week of February 6th-10th will be Unit 4.3, the week of February 13th-17th will be Unit 4.4 and the week of February 20th-24th will be Unit 4.5. Also, always feel free to e-mail me if you do not have a list and I would be happy to send you an electronic copy. Thank you!
In writing, the students either have completed their informational animal books or are continuing to publish them. After today, we will be moving on to work on opinion writing. The students will still have time to work on their books during Readers' Workshop, if they choose and at home. The books will be displayed in the Glencairn Library from today through February 14th when we do our writers' celebration/February birthday party/Valentine's Day party (more information to come!). If your child is not yet finished with their book, please encourage them to bring it home and to spend a little bit of time each night working on it. I want to extend a HUGE thank you to Shannon Schokora who has spent weeks coming in during writing time and helping me revise, edit, and prepare students' writing for publishing. I couldn't have done it without you! :)
Just a quick note about spelling. The students have a spelling test every Friday. The pretest and lists are sent home each Monday. If your child is absent on Monday, I always put a list in your child's mailbox to take home when they return. There is also always a pile of lists in the shelves by the door that students are allowed to use to study at school and also to take home if they lose their lists. Lastly, you can always access the spelling lists online at www.spellingcity.com. You can search for my lists by looking by School or Teacher Name. Next week we will be on Unit 4.2. The week of February 6th-10th will be Unit 4.3, the week of February 13th-17th will be Unit 4.4 and the week of February 20th-24th will be Unit 4.5. Also, always feel free to e-mail me if you do not have a list and I would be happy to send you an electronic copy. Thank you!
Math
The students just took their Unit 3 math assessment on Time, Measurement, and Graphing. Please be sure to spend some time reviewing the concepts from this assessment. The concepts from this unit are frequently on the M-STEP in the spring, so please be sure to continue to work on any areas where your child needs additional support. Great ideas are to ask students real-world elapsed time questions! The students have now started Unit 4, which covers multi-digit addition and subtraction and place value. Encourage any students who may be struggling with homework to try showing their work and try using the place value drawings to support their learning!
Social Studies
We are just finishing up our social studies unit on Economics. A study guide for the test on Wednesday, February 8th will be sent home today. Please take some time to go over the review. I have included examples and an answer key to support you. Please also let me know if you have any questions. We will be reviewing the concepts in class over the next few weeks as well as taking the test together as a class first before the students will take it independently on the test date. The next unit will cover Michigan history, which covers Native Americans through statehood. This is one of my favorite units to teach and usually is one of the students' favorites! Be ready to hear a lot of new and interesting information about our 180 year old state! :)