December 9-13, 2013

Math: This week, students will continue to work on recognizing the penny, nickel, dime and quarter and their value.  We will extend this learning by skip counting and applying our knowledge to problem solving. 

Reading Workshop:  This week in reading workshop we will introduce an important and often times the most difficult reading strategy to implement and that is inferring.  Inferring is the bedrock of understanding.  Writers don't always spill information onto the page; often they leak it slowly leaving clues along the way to keep the reader engaged in the act of constructing meaning.  Inferring involves taking what you know, your background knowledge, and merging it with clues in the text to come up with some information that isn't explicitly stated there.  We will continue with this strategy until the winter break, giving the students plenty of time me to model and the children to practice using this important reading skill.

Word Study:

Green Group: un, ut, ug word families (run, cut, mug)

Blue Group:  h, sh, ch diagraphs (house, shop, cheese)

Red Group:  "The Devil Sort" short -e (CVC and CVVC) and long -e (CVVC)  (sled, bread, tree, dream)

(Because of unforeseen events last week, we did not get to spend as much time on these sorts as I would have liked to.)

Writing Workshop:  This week and next week during writing workshop, we will continue our unit on writing friendly letters. As an extension to a story that will be read during Reading, we will each write a letter to a dog at the animal shelter. We will then decorate a bag with dog treats that will be brought to a local animal shelter to help the animals feel loved.  We will also use our Writer’s Workshop time to research and record facts about the different customs and traditions celebrated around the world that our elf travels to each day.

Social Studies:  This week, we will continue our cultural unit on winter holiday traditions around the world.  This unit helps children to understand the differences and similarities in traditions around the world.  Since we are such a diverse group here at Caraway, we are also able to learn more about each other. 

Habit #6:  Synergize.  I value other people’s strengths and learn from them.  I seek out other people’s ideas because I know that by teaming with others, we can create better solutions than anyone of us can alone.

 

Reminders:

*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.

*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

*Library day is Tuesday.

*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.

Dates to remember:

December 9-13:  Book Fair

December 19:  Winter Holiday Party @1 pm-2 pm

December 20:  Polar Express Day (wear pajamas)

December 23:  Winter Break Begins

January 7:  2^nd Semester Begins

January 20:  No School

January 22:  International Festival

January 30:  Science Fair