Week 8/26 to 8/30- week three

The year is off to a great start so far!  My students are beginning to follow a structured routine.  Many are not having to be reminded of the classroom rules or the playground rules.  However, some students need to be reminded to raise their hand before they leave their seat or to talk.  Please continue to remind them in the morning to follow these rules.  Also, please discuss with them whether or not they have a cold lunch or if they will be ordering a hot lunch each day.  This would be a great help so we can take less time on taking the count in the morning and have more time for our morning lessons.  I really would appreciate your support with this.  Thank you.

We will begin going to the library and to computer classes this week.  My students are so excited about this. Please remind them that they need to follow the same rules in the library and computer lab as they do in the classroom.  

I really appreciate that most of the parents are reading the planner and signing it .  Also, most students are doing the homework that has been written in the planner each day.  This will teach them responsibility.

Please remember to read the blog.  I post important information and reminders for the week's upcoming events.  I also try to post things that need to be discussed with your child.  This is a great way to prepare for the week ahead.  I really appreciate those of you who take the time to read it!

This week we will begin sending the weekly reading book home on Thursdays.  Please have them read the story.  A great way to build comprehension skills is to ask them questions about the story.  For example ask

* what is the story about?

* what happened in the beginning, middle , or at the end?

* who is the story about?

They should be able to read you the story.  The vocabulary words for the week's story go home the previous week, so they are given time to practice them before they are asked to read the story.  This helps them to read more fluently so they are able to concentrate on what the story is about rather than just what the words are.  It is important to review past and present vocabulary words because the stories build on the vocabulary from previous weeks.  Thank you for reviewing and practicing vocabulary daily with your child.  I see a big difference with the children who practice vocabulary and those who do not.  This is very important in building their reading vocabulary and reading fluency. 

Please talk to your child about doing their best work.  Some of the students are rushing to get their work done, and it shows in the quality of work turned in.  They are given plenty of time to complete their work, so remind them to take their time and do their best.  

We will continue to review the consonant sounds this week. Soon we will begin learning the short vowels sounds.  

We will continue working on numbers- writing the numbers and the number words.  Some students are writing their numbers backwards.  Practicing writing their numbers at home would be helpful.

Spelling lists will begin going home in two weeks. 

 We will begin basic addition timed tests next week.  Please practice basic facts up to the sums of ten.  

Vocabulary this week:

over

out

said

and

little

copy

far

away

come

here

new

in

want

bear

I apologize for the error last week regarding the vocabulary word sunken.  It was supposed to be sun.  I appreciated the heads up on this.  Thank you for letting me know and being understanding that people make mistakes.  

I look forward to another great week with your child!