Love is in the Air…..well, so is rain, snow, ice and anything else Mother’ Nature will throw our way.
In class this week our Living Organism unit began. The class has put on their scientist hat and begun to observe and make woodland terrariums. The woodland terrarium starts with a layer of rocks, then leaves, dirt, and we planted a pine seedling and moss on top. The class is anxiously awaiting the special bugs that will live in their new homes. Arrival date will be in a week or two. During this unit, the class will be using their own science observation journals and taking note of the changes that occur. We are also going to have aquariums for fish and snails.
Our new writing unit this month is on opinion writing and persuasive letter writing. Please do not be worried if a note comes home from your child asking for something or trying to persuade you to do something different. It is just part of our unit. Encourage their writing skills.
In reading we are working on our comprehension strategies. I am sending home a handy bookmark with these strategies to use with your child when they read. We are past the half way mark of our school year and our reading is really clicking. Our readers are beginning to read with ease and fluency. Next is another crucial component of reading instruction that teachers students how to apply reading comprehension strategies. When children start to place less emphasis on identifying words, they can put more emphasis on understanding what they read. Use your very own Reading comprehension Strategies bookmark as a visual while reading at home with your child. Help your child practice and learn to use their own comprehension strategies to make sure they understand what they read. This is the number one reason why your child sometimes reads at a lower reading level. Keep practicing these skills and you will see the reading improve. We have not learned all of the strategies yet, but I wanted to give you a heads up so you would know what we are doing in class.
In math we have started our second math book. Book one is completed and yours to keep at home. Unit 6 will have a strong emphasis on developing fact power. I am also going to start sending home Rocket Math (5 minute fact timed papers). I try to do them once a week. The class is amazed how many more each week they can complete in 5 minutes.
Our Valentine’s Day Boxes are completed and ready to begin accepting valentines. Your child can bring in Valentine’s Day cards starting Monday. Please just have your child sign their name to the card; do not put a name on it. It makes it easier to distribution of the cards. We have 21 students in the class.
Enjoy your weekend.
