Classroom News: January 9, 2012

This Week

It is hard to believe that Friday marks the half-way point in our school year! I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to educate your children this year. Each and every one of them is a kind and caring individual and they are all genuinely good people. We have had a great year so far, and I look forward to sharing these last few months with your children as I help them to prepare for third grade.

Here are a few reminders:

• Don't forget that Friday is early dismissal and we will be off next Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
  
• Please mark your calendars to join us for worship here at Solomon on Sunday, January 22 as we begin our festivities to celebrate 150^th anniversary.
  

Reading/Creative Writing

This week our reading skills are summarizing and sequencing. We will finish unit 3 and have an end of unit test to close out the quarter on Friday. I am developing literature circles that I hope to implement within the next few weeks. After some group practice, this will allow students to read in small groups and lead their own book discussions. Each student will have a different job within the literature circle and it will hopefully help them to develop some independent thought processes in response to what they read.

During creative writing time, we are beginning to write expository or "how to" texts. Our topic is how to build a snowman. We will talk about snowmen and the correct order that is needed to build one.

Phonics/Language

Our sound of the week is the "oo,ou" sound. We are also learning about the comparative endings "er" and "est".

Math

This week we will continue to work on chapter 6. Topics include mixed addition and subtraction number stories and beginning multiplication concepts. The first week of addition timed tests went well. Most students were able to answer 50 questions in 5 minutes. This week, I am increasing the number of problems to 60. Please continue to work on flashcards at home. It really makes a difference!

Sumdog: I have added our class to the more than one million users of sumdog.com. This site is set up with games that require students to answer math questions correctly to earn points. The points can be used to "shop" for their character and move to the next animal level. We will use this from time to time at school and I recommend visiting it at home. It is a great way to spend a few minutes if you need a homework break.

This Week's Assignments

Your child should have brought home a story and worksheet on Friday. They are due this Friday January 13th.

Please practice the sight word list with your child. I will check each student on Friday and award stickers for each column completed successfully. When a child "graduates" from a page, they will move up to the next level.

Math homelinks pages will go home Mon-Thursday



Upcoming Events

Wednesday: Chapel at 8:30

Friday: End of quarter: early dismissal

January 16: MLK Day, no school

January 22: Worship at Solomon 150^th: luncheon to follow.



Have a Great week,

Mrs. O'Brien