Week of February 24, 2014 

Happy Friday!  I hope you all have enjoyed the week despite the roller coaster weather.
Here's what you can expect next week:

Math :  2nd grade math: We will finish Unit 9 on measurement and start Unit 10.  Unit 10 will discuss decimal notation and place value. Stand Out Math facts' test will continue in your child's homeroom.  Remember the goal for every 2nd grader is to master all addition and subtraction facts by the end of the year. In 3rd grade math,  we are still working in Unit 7. There will be a two day review on Monday and Tuesday with our Unit 7 test on Wednesday.
Literacy:  Our common focus remains comparing a variety of stories. Looking at what is the same and different between the texts key parts. Main idea and non-fiction text features (captions, diagrams, headings, etc.) will continue to be a focus. Through our Weekly Reader and read alouds, we will hit additional reading strategies for shorter mini lessons that cycle through the year:  inferencing, visualization, cause/effect, problem/solution, theme, moral, key events and details, and nonfiction text features to name a few.

FAST:  Students will learn about the long /i/ spellings.  We will also discuss the rules for the "soft /c/."  Our spelling words for the week can be found on list 21.

Wordly Wise:  Lesson 11 words will be introduced. Did you know you can view and practice Wordly Wise lessons online? Here's the link: Wordly Wise 
The link is also available on the sidebar of the blog homepage.

Writing:  We will continue our work in expository writing. This week we will try a more persuasive type of writing.  "How would you convince a leprechaun to show you their gold?" 

Science:  We will continue with our FOSS program on Mondays and Thursdays.

Social Studies:  We are still learning about, "How do people use our environment?" This is Unit 5 in our Social Studies curriculum.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 23rd is the Father Daughter Dance at the Denver Marriott

February 28th report cards go home

March 3rd-6th spring parent conferences

March 6th and 7th no school

March 12th Teacher of the Year Tea at Grandview High School 4:00-6:00

Week of February 17, 2014 

Good morning and happy Saturday.  I hope you all had a wonderful Friday!! 
Here's what you can expect next week:

Math :  2nd grade math: We will continue with Unit 9 and our focus on measurement.  Look for Home Link 9.6 on Wednesday, and 9.7 on Thursday. Stand Out Math facts' test will continue in your child's homeroom.  Remember the goal for every 2nd grader is to master all addition and subtraction facts by the end of the year. In 3rd grade math,  we are still working in Unit 7. This unit focuses on patterns in products and building "fact power" in multiplication.  We will explore ratios and geometric figures and then start our review for the unit test early the week of 2/24/14.

Literacy:  Our common focus remains comparing a variety of stories. Looking at what is the same and different between the texts key parts. Main idea and non-fiction text features (captions, diagrams, headings, etc.) will continue to be a focus. Through our Weekly Reader and read alouds, we will hit additional reading strategies for shorter mini lessons that cycle through the year:  inferencing, visualization, cause/effect, problem/solution, theme, moral, key events and details, and nonfiction text features to name a few.

With the short week continue to look for additional information sent out by your child's teacher.  Monday/Wednesday readers will meet with their teacher on Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday readers will meet with their teacher on Thursday.

FAST:  We will be reviewing previous concepts.  Due to the short week we will have no spelling.  Lesson 21 will start us off for the week of 2/24/14.

Wordly Wise:  Lesson 10 words will be continued. Did you know you can view and practice Wordly Wise lessons online? Here's the link: Wordly Wise 
The link is also available on the sidebar of the blog homepage.

Writing:  We will continue our work in expository writing. There will not be a new prompt this week.  Instead each class will focus on mini-lessons that are based on the student's needs. Examples of mini-lessons could be how to use more adjectives in your writing, or the proper way to write a clarifying detail.

Science:  We will continue with our FOSS program on Mondays and Thursdays.

Social Studies:  We are still learning about, "How do people use our environment?" This is Unit 5 in our Social Studies curriculum.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

There is no school on February 17th and 18th

February 23rd is the Father Daughter Dance at the Denver Marriott

February 28th report cards go home

March 3rd-6th spring parent conferences

March 6th and 7th no school

Week of February 10, 2014

Happy Friday! I hope you all are staying warm. 
Here's what you can expect next week:

Math :  2nd grade math: We will continue with Unit 9 and our focus on measurement. Stand Out Math facts' test will continue in your child's homeroom.  Remember the goal for every 2nd grader is to master all addition and subtraction facts by the end of the year. In 3rd grade math,  we are still working in Unit 7. This unit focuses on patterns in products and building "fact power" in multiplication.

Literacy:  Our common focus remains comparing a variety of Cinderella stories from different cultures. Looking at what is the same and different between the texts key parts. Main idea and non-fiction text features (captions, diagrams, headings, etc.) will continue to be a focus. Through our Weekly Reader and read alouds, we will hit additional reading strategies for shorter mini lessons that cycle through the year:  inferencing, visualization, cause/effect, problem/solution, theme, moral, key events and details, and nonfiction text features to name a few.

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication as we have mixed up reading groups.  Continue to look for additional information sent out by your child's teacher.

FAST:  We will be working on the "Yellows."  These are vowel teams that may or may not follow "the rules."  Spelling list 20 will be the week's words to study.  

Wordly Wise:  Lesson 10 words will be introduced starting Monday. Did you know you can view and practice Wordly Wise lessons online? Here's the link: Wordly Wise 
The link is also available on the sidebar of the blog homepage.

Writing:  We will continue our work in expository writing. The week's prompt will be "Explain why sometimes it is hard to be a parent."

Science:  We will continue with our FOSS program on Mondays and Thursdays.

Social Studies:  We are moving into Unit 5, "How do people use our environment?"

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Don't forget next week is Valentine's Day.  Be sure to look for emails from your room parents and classroom teachers for Valentine's Day updates.

There is no school on February 17th and 18th

February 23rd is the Father Daughter Dance at the Denver Marriott

February 28th report cards go home

 Please contact your homeroom teacher if you have any questions or comments.  Thank you for your support as always!

Week of February 3, 2014

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed this weekend. 
Here's what you can expect this week:

Math :  2nd grade math: We will finish up Unit 7, and start Unit 9.  This unit focuses on measurement. Stand Out Math facts' test will continue in your child's homeroom.  Remember the goal for every 2nd grader is to master all addition and subtraction facts by the end of the year. In 3rd grade math,  we will start Unit 7. This unit focuses on patterns in products and building "fact power" in multiplication.

Literacy:  Our new common focus will be comparing a variety of Cinderella stories from different cultures. Looking at what is the same and different between the texts key parts. Main idea and non-fiction text features (captions, diagrams, headings, etc.) will continue to be a focus. Through our Weekly Reader and read alouds, we will hit additional reading strategies for shorter mini lessons that cycle through the year:  inferencing, visualization, cause/effect, problem/solution, theme, moral, key events and details, and nonfiction text features to name a few.

New reading groups for reading conferences are under way. Look for additional information sent out by your child's teacher.


 FAST:  We will be working reviewing past concepts in the FAST weekly lessons, and review the  R family concept for our Lesson 19 test on Friday.  We also test on review concepts to ensure application and success for the test!

Wordly Wise:  We will finish up Lesson 9. Did you know you can view and practice Wordly Wise lessons online? Here's the link: Wordly Wise 
The link is also available on the sidebar of the blog homepage.

Writing:  We will continue our work in expository writing. This week's prompt will be Explain why reading is important?

Science:  We will continue with our FOSS program on Mondays and Thursdays.

Social Studies:  We will continue with Unit 4 Geography.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Pennies for Patients- We have officially finished this amazing fundraiser.  We are awaiting the official amount collected as a school, but rumor has it we made the $10,000 goal!!!! 

Be sure to look for emails from your room parents and classroom teachers for Valentine's Day updates.

There is no school on February 17th and 18th

February 23rd is the Father Daughter Dance at the Denver Marriott

February 28th report cards go home

 Please contact your homeroom teacher if you have any questions or comments.  Thank you for your support as always!