Thompson Times

September 26, 2012

Important Information

  • September 28th- Volunteer Orientation
  • October 2nd- 3rd Grade Reading OAA
  • October 3rd- Math Benchmark test
  • October 5th- Interims go home
  • October 12th- Dawg House Spirit Store
  • October 11th- Fall Picture Day
  • October 22nd-? Study Island Benchmark Testing
  • October 24th- PTO Reading Night
  • November 2nd- Grade Cards go Home
  • November 3rd- PTO Fall Bazaar/Festival
  • Vision/Hearing Screening Next Week

Math

We are currently working on reviewing addition and subtraction facts in Unit 2 and identifying patterns. We will also focus lessons on real-life examples and using story-problems to solve addition and subtraction problems. Please refer to your Everyday Math Parent Letter for Unit 2 for extra support.

We recently took a test over Unit 1. Please check your child’s grade to see how he/she performed. If your child still needs to review the skills stated below, please have your child practice these items on Study Island at home. This is a wonderful site for both reading and math support.

By now your child should know how to do the following:

  • Addition and subtraction facts
  • Telling time and elapsed time
  • Counting change
  • Recognizing patterns for addition and subtraction
  • Addition and Subtraction with Regrouping (Borrowing or Carrying)

One concept that I love about our Everyday Math series is that it teaches students mental math concepts. It also uses games to enhance motivation for learning. Over the last few weeks in our BUILD stations, we have reviewed making change, recognizing number patterns using manipulative and a hundreds chart, telling time/elapsed time and reviewing number grid problems, which reviews the concept of organizing problems mentally.

Some websites of particular use that we’ve used during our Technology Time are the following:

  • Willoughby Eastlake Technology: Sheppard Math Facts, Talking Calculator, Base 10, Math Millionaire, Math Jeopardy (there is an error on one), APLUS Math, Speed Addition & Speed Subtraction, Give a Dog a Bone, Virtual Base Blocks, Time and Money are some of our favorites.
  • Funbrain- Number Cracker and Place Value
  • Cash Out
  • Just Kids Games-Making Change

I hope you find these websites useful for your child to review concepts at home.

Tri-Valley has just added Renaissance Math to our program. This is a wonderful tool to assess your child’s facts skills and target areas that need improvement. I have yet to check it out.

Social Studies/Science

We are still working diligently on our unit on Local Government. Your child should understand the following:

  • Why we need laws
  • What is local government?
  • What makes up our local government?
  • 3 Branches of Government

(Legislative, Judicial and Executive) and who is in charge of each.

  • Functions of each branch of government
  • Recognize the major functions of our local government (safety and services)
  • Know the following vocabulary:

Vote, election, mayor, county, city council, responsibilities, rights, citizens, common good, volunteer, 3 Branches, taxes

We will be having a Local Government quiz this week. I will send home a study guide the day before the quiz.

Next week we will begin a unit on Forces and Motion.

Spelling/Language Arts

Don’t forget to visit Spelling City. This is an exciting way for your child to practice his/her spelling words each evening. Mrs. Schulteis has graciously donated her time and placed all of the spelling words by unit already on Spelling City so that your child can play independently. It is FREE and a wonderful tool. We are currently working on Unit 4 and we take tests for Spelling every Friday.

We also have reviewed CVC, VCV and other long vowel patterns in class. This week we are working on recognizing these patterns inside of our reading material. Please check out the Phonics Dance on our Website to help your child with common phonics patterns. We’re also working on nonsense words to check for understanding.

We have been reading and rereading poems to enhance our learning of phonemic awareness, phonics skills and to increase fluency. Having your child reread passages at home will help with his/her fluency. Fluency is not just reading the words accurately and quickly, but tuning into the punctuation and phrasing in the appropriate areas. At the current time, your child should be able to read approximately 74 words correct per minute. Feel free to time your child on the same passage or page to see how he/she is doing.

For writing, we are creating our own personal narratives. We’ve shared some of our experiences orally, have reviewed many examples of personal narratives and now we will be writing our own.

Reading

In reading, we’ve been working on the book, Poppy, discussing vocabulary and learning facts about the animals in the story. We are also building our comprehension skills by reviewing the events in the story and summarizing events. In the near future, we will be dissecting owl pellets and making our story come to life.

We’re also discussing the following vocabulary:

  • Genres- Poppy is fantasy
  • Theme- message
  • Context Clues
  • Synonyms/Antonyms
  • Compound Words
  • Contractions
  • Multiple Meaning Words/Tier 2 Words
  • Understanding purposes for reading

Don’t forget to monitor your child’s progress on the Accelerated Reading Home Connect site. Your child knows how to login. By now, your child should be at 50% of his/her reading goal. By the end of the nine weeks your child should have the following completed:

  • 100% of goal met
  • An average of 85% on his/her reading level
  • Reading books in his/her range unless otherwise stated
  • Have completed 4 non-fiction books

Please check your child’s progress. If you have questions or concerns please let me know. I give an AR grade every week as we monitor our progress.

Grandparents Day

Our Grandparents’ Day was a great success! Thanks to everyone for helping we organize such a fun and exciting way to appreciate our grandparents.

I want to thank all of you for your continued support with our academics. We wouldn’t be able to do it without all of you!

Please feel free to email me with questions or concerns. Have a happy week!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Thompson 