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Dear Parents,
October is here and there is snow on the mountains. With all
the recent rain, it was such a relief to have a dry recess yesterday.
The kids enjoyed a day in the sun. I wanted to take a few minutes
to bring you up to date on the happenings in our classroom. Before
I get ahead of myself, you should know that your child has already
received one Progress Report and will receive their second Progress
Report on Monday, October 7th. If you have not seen it, you might
want to check their backpack.
If your child seems to be speaking a foreign language, you might
be right. We are trying to learn how to say "good morning"
or "good day" in different languages. Each week we
try to learn something new. So far we have tried English, Spanish,
Japanese, French, German...... and now I am about at my personal
limit. If you know how to say "good morning" in a different
language, please help us out by teaching us. You are welcome
to come by, or to teach your child how to say it and your child
can teach us. We can all learn from each other.
Academically, we are progressing nicely with math. While we are
at about page 30 in the Everyday Math Journal, we are also spending
time practicing our computation skills. The research tells us
that if a child has a gap in one part of their basic skills,
it has an impact on their ability to learn higher level math
skills. It is extremely important that your child has memorized
their multiplication facts. You can help with that by helping
your child to practice. Next week we will dive into complex multiplication
and an introduction to division.
In math, as well as in language development, I use an interactive
bulletin board. Assignments are posted on the board. It includes
review and skill practice. With math, students are also working
each week on a Math Mission. The is a program developed in Oregon
to build a child's ability to write about math. As this is a
skill expected of students on Benchmark exams, I decided to begin
teaching it now. Students are finding that "just because"
is not the answer. It is a difficult skill, but we will keep
working on it.
In science, we are exploring energy. We have the Food Chemistry
kit first, but between the kits, I will be teaching more of the
physics of Energy.
Social Studies is moving at two levels at this point. On one
hand, we are learning geography beginning with the Dynamic Earth.
We completed an experiment this week on the movement of minerals
and materials within the mantle. Students are required to memorize
the continents, and eventually, around January, will be asked
to memorize the states. My next step in geography will be to
set up a geology/mineral lab. It is an area of special interest
to me and I enjoy sharing that with my students.
On the other hand in social studies, we have begun our study
of Colonial America. I have attached a copy of my expectations
and project specifics to this parent letter. Students are already
busily completing the reading assignment. I can hardly stay a
step ahead of them. They will also be studying some primary source
documents in order to help them to better understand that period
in time. They completed an interesting internet visit to Jamestown.
As we have already done an archaeology dig in the classroom,
I thought they would enjoy seeing a dig at Jamestown. Some kids
are saying now they want to grow up to be an archaeologist.
In reading, students are in one of two groups. One group is reading
How to Eat Fried Worms and the other group is reading There's
a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom. The fried worm book really isn't
as gross as it sounds. In language arts, we are playing Grammar
Zone. It is an interactive game to help kids learn the parts
of speech while they solve a mystery. With writing, we just completed
the Anchorage School District Writing Assessments. You will receive
those scores sometime this year and I would be glad to talk with
you about those scores when they arrive. All students are on
independent spelling lists. As they pass one list, they are moved
on to the next.
I have a wonderful class. I appreciate how well they work together
and seem to enjoy learning. Thanks for all you do for your child.
In joy,
Lauren Ewing
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