September 23, 2013

Hello families!

We hope you had a fantastic weekend, and maybe an extra day off with your kids! Teachers were hard at work on Friday, attending trainings and working to align our curriculum with the new Common Core standards.
It's unbelievable that school has been in session for going on 7 weeks! We have had so much fun getting to know these wonderful students. It has been a whirlwind as we have gotten all our curricular pieces and routines in place. Please contact your child's teacher if you have questions about homework or classroom routines/procedures.

This week, you can expect:     
                   
MATH:  For 2nd and 3rd grade math:  finishing up Unit 2 - Number sense/computation  Stand Out Math Computation tests given every week and Stand Out Math taught on Friday.

WRITING:  We are working on Narrative Writing. Our prompt will be "tell about a time you went on a trip." Through Focused Modeled Writing, kids will have an opportunity to learn as teachers model, as well as apply their thinking as they create their own thinking maps and writing. Our focus will be on building the structure in writing, while still learning to add details and use descriptive language.

PHONICS AND  VOCABULARY:  Continuing to practice our FAST phonics.Fast spelling test (lesson 5) on Friday. Start Lesson 3 in Wordly Wise (our new words are: antenna, balance, boulder, cliff, joint, machine, motor, muscle, planet, slope).

LITERACY:  Continuing whole group reading and responding, as well as small group conferences around individual reading levels.

FOSS Science:  Monday and Thursday

Social Studies- Unit 1 What is a Community?


Community Events:



Scholastic Book Fair is next week, with family night Wednesday from 5:30-8:00. The Snake Lady will be in our gym from 5:30-7:30!




PTCO Fundraiser!!

Our "Get Out of Fundraising" donation drive is underway! Instead of selling "stuff" door-to-door as many elementary schools do, we hold a monetary donation drive every year. The recommended amount of $50 per student goes toward funding different programs and technology for the school.  Look for more detailed information coming home in Friday folders.

We will also be having our Friday Fun Days again this year! For a donation of $1 (or more!), your child can participate in fun events every Friday.  Here is what is planned for this year:

Sept 6 - Hat Day / Crazy Hair Day

Sept 13 - Pajama Day or Team Jersey Day
Sept 19 - Backwards Day (wear your clothes backwards)
Sept 27 - No Matching Day (wear anything mismatched)
Oct 4 - Popcorn Day (purchase popcorn and eat in the classroom)
Oct 11 - Mustache Day

The class that donates the most will win the first Coyote Cup!