March 3-7, 2014

Math:  This week in Math we will be learning strategies using Count on 3 subtraction.  We are linking our thinking with addition to subtraction.  We will practice our strategies during stations and problem solving situations.  We will identify fact families (3+2=5, 2+3=5, 5-3=2, 5-2=3) and related facts (3+2=5, 5-3=2).  The objective is to quickly recall facts by visualizing and using a strategy when we solve problems.

Reading Workshop:  This week in Reading Workshop we will be celebrating Read Across America with Dr. Seuss books!.  Our focus this week is: author study!  We will start the week off exploring the biography of this famous author.  Each day we will read a new book and do an activity with the literature.  Wednesday we will readWacky Wednesday and wear wacky socks to school.  We will kick off our shoes and spend our reading time reading different Dr. Seuss books with our partners!  If you have any Dr. Seuss books, please bring them to school for this fun reading time. Please put your child's name on the book so we can make sure it gets returned to you.  If you don't want to write on the book, please use the blue painters tape and write your child's name on the tape.  It will remove easily and not harm the book. :)  This author study will lead itself into our poetry unit that will follow after spring break.  We will also be learning how, as a reader, we will know that we REALLY understand what we are reading.

Word Study:

Green Group:  an and ad Word Families

Blue Group:  pl, sl, and bl blends

Red Group:  Review of ar, Schwa-plus-r, and or Words (jar, earn, thorn)

Writing Workshop:   This week, we will be learning to write Procedural texts.  We will discuss that this type of writing will teach our readers how to perform a task.  The students will think about what they would like to teach the reader, and write and illustrate each step of the task.  

Science:  This week we will finish up our unit on objects in the sky.  We will observe the sun during the morning, noon and afternoon and notice that how the position of the sun seems to change in the sky. We will learn about the moon and the stars and how the moon appears to change in the night sky.  This week we will be the super scientists who make careful observations and record their observations in their journal.

Habit #1:  Be Proactive.  I am responsible.  I am in charge of my actions.  I choose my actions, attitude, and mood. 

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.

*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:

March 1:  Family Dinner Night

March 3-4:  Turkey Trot

March 10-14:  Spring Break

March 19:  Early Release Day

     Family Skate Night

March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up

April 2:  Spirit Night

May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)

May 2:  Field Day

          Talent Show (4-5)

May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7:  Early Release Day

May 9:  Career Day

May 12-16:  Book Fair

May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!