Newsletter 12-9-17

ELA
We read Pearl and Wagner this week, and we talked about how working with others can help with a creative idea.  We practiced long e words, and we started learning about verbs. We spent a lot of time on author's purpose, which is still a tricky concept.  When your child is reading at home, please ask them why the author wrote the book: to persuade, inform, or entertain.  

Math
We are finishing topic 6, subtraction with regrouping.  With a lot of practice, we have become experts in regrouping.  Common mistakes include subtracting the top number from the bottom number in the ones column.  (More on the floor, go next door, get ten more!)  Another one is that students sometimes regroup when they don't have to.  (More on top, no need to stop!)  Our biggest challenge is story problems, especially ones that have two steps.  We will continue to work on them and have the test on Tuesday.

Social Studies
We finished landforms and map skills this week.  Next week we will be using our presentations to learn about how families pass on traditions and customs, including ones from other cultures.    

Reflex Math


With a new student joining our class, we dropped down to 81%, but we've already moved back up to 82%.  We have four more students who are so close to getting 100%!  Please make sure your child is getting on Reflex at least five days a week with 80% green lights.

Driggs earned 100% fluency.  Way to go!

radKIDS
We finished radKIDS this week and had our graduation on Friday.  It was great to see so many parents there supporting us.  Here are a few pictures, in case you weren't able to make it.

Message from instructors:  Thank you parents for your amazing attendance at radKIDS graduation!   We have loved teaching your children, and we hope you will remind them often how special they are and that "No one has the right to hurt them!"   

We couldn't continue teaching this incredible program without you!!   We are accepting radKIDS donations all year. You can give in the main office or donate online at  https://foundation.canyonsdistrict.org/index.php/donate.  Thanks SO much for your  ongoing support!   

If you would like more information about radKIDS please check out our website or watch these success stories about radKIDS in the news:

 www.radkids.org

 http://www.good4utah.com/new/local-new/8-year-old-south-jordan-boys-fights-off-would-be-abductor/495783133

 http://www.kens5.com/news/education/close-call-highlights-the-benefit-of-schools-curriculum/393165446

We got to listen to our Sunrise Singers on Friday, including Madelyn and Elise.  

We had a visit from the Living Planet Aquarium on Monday.  They taught us about tropical rainforests around the world and reinforced our map skills.  We got to see and touch live animals and learn about how they adapt to their environments.

Upcoming Events

Remember that holiday tradition reports are due on Wednesday.  We'll do a few each day until winter break.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Reminders

Several students are forgetting their snacks every day.  Please remind your student to bring a healthy snack each day.  Some students bring a snack (cereal, crackers, goldfish, etc.) in a large bag at the beginning of the week and eat a little each day.  Other students keep their snacks for the week (granola bars, snack packs, etc.) in their backpacks and eat one each day.  Some students keep an emergency snack in their backpack, in case they forget to pack one.

Thank you for your support.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Newsletter 12-1-17

Thanksgiving
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break.  We had fun in class learning about the first Thanksgiving, writing about about what we are grateful for, graphing our favorite foods, and making a turkey craft.

Report Cards

Report cards were sent home today.  Here are some things to keep in mind as you look over the report.

Please remember this is a progress report.  We will be revisiting and reteaching all of these skills throughout  the school year.

What each score means:

3 : On Track at this Time - Student is on track to master this standard by the end of the school year.  This means they have met the first set of requirements for the standard.  Additional requirements will be added as we progress through the year.  

2 : Progressing - Student is making progress toward meeting the standard at this time; sometimes demonstrating skills needed to meet standards, at other times showing a lack of understanding or ability to apply the concept or skills.  This means the student has been inconsistent with showing mastery of the skill.  I will continue to monitor and reteach    
the skills until I feel they are consistently showing mastery.    

1 : Insufficient Progress - Student is showing risk of not mastering the standard by the end of the year and is receiving intervention support. The student is receiving tier 2 support or additional reteaching in a small group setting to help the student progress towards mastery.

Remember that the learning skill "Completes tasks on time" includes classwork and homework.

Language Arts
We reviewed unit two this week and practiced with stories, games, and online quizzes on Quizizz.  We took a cumulative test on all the comprehension, phonics, and grammar skills we have learned.    

Math
We are still working on two-digit subtraction, using the standard algorithm.  Regrouping can be tricky, but the more we practice, the better we get.  I have noticed a big difference in students who know their math facts.  Once they have mastered the regrouping, the rest is quick and easy.         

Reflex Math



We are working together and getting closer to our 100% fluency goal.  We are hoping to be at 85% by Monday.  We have several students who have made their individual goals:

Congratulations, Thomas!

Way to go, Lucy!

Fantastic, Connell!

Terrific, Izzy!

Social Studies
We worked more on landforms this week.  We did a great Nearpod lesson.  Ask your child about it!

Assembly
We had a fun assembly with awards and a magician.  

Madelyn earned the citizenship award.  Congratulations!

Lucy magically made a live rabbit appear!

Tommy got to be part of an entertaining skit.


Field Trip
We had a great time at the Natural History Museum!  There was so much to explore.  Thank you to our parent volunteers who helped out that day.

radKIDS
This week in radKIDS we discussed out and about safety, dog defense, fire safety and Internet safety (pages 21-23, 26-33 in the family manual).  We also learned the last of our defensive moves (toe strike, heel strike, and shin kicks).    Please plan/review with your child your family escape route and meeting place in a fire or other emergency.  Please also ask your child to explain what the Sight-Sound-Distance Rule is.  If you have any questions please email Melanie Ferguson, radKIDS coordinator, at melanieferg8@gmail.com.  radKIDS graduation will be Friday, December 8 at 8:30 a.m.  Hope you can be there!

Business
We have a traditions report coming up.  Students will report on a holiday tradition from another country or on a family tradition.  It will be three to four minutes long and will be a good opportunity to practice speaking skills.  Visual aids are encouraged.  I will send home more information on Monday, but you can start thinking about it now.  They will be presenting December 13-19.

Please remember to send a healthy snack for your child each day.  A water bottle is also a good idea.  Students can get longer and more frequent drinks when their water bottle is right in our classroom.   

Our food drive starts next week.  Please encourage your child to help with this important service project.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.  Have a great weekend!


  

Newsletter 11-15-17

ELA
We read Bremen Town Musicians last week and performed it in our classroom on Friday.  We also practiced plural nouns and cause and effect.  This week we're working on possessive nouns and comparing and contrasting.

Math
We have been working on different strategies for subtracting two-digit numbers.  Our main strategies are using a hundred chart, drawing an open number line, and breaking apart numbers.  We will be taking the topic 5 math test on Thursday, and a review page went home today.  Please have your child do it tonight to review for the test.  It helps a lot if you go over it with your child.  Students who bring it back tomorrow with a parent signature will get a something to celebrate ticket. 

Social Studies
We learned about voting and elections in the United States.  We had our own mock election of storybook characters in our classroom.  It was a close race, but the pigeon won!

We learned about Veteran's Day and wrote these acrostic poems.

Reflex Math

Look at us!  I'm so proud of our students for working hard and improving every day.  Our goal is to be at 80% by the end of the week, and we're working together to meet it.  Please make sure your child is getting on Reflex at least five days a week and getting a green light at least 80% of the time. 

Eli got 100% fluency just in time for the party.  Fabulous!

rad KIDS

Last week in radKIDS your child received a family manual!  This manual reviews all the safety strategies we teach in radKIDS.  Please ask your child about it.   We discussed danger and emergencies (pages 1-14 in the Family Safety Manual). We also learned some radKIDS moves to help us defend ourselves if we are attacked (radKIDS stance, blocking and peppering).  Please help your child practice dialing 911 on your phones and create a family password.  

This week in radKIDS we will discuss school and home safety (pages 15-21, 24-25 in the family manual). We will also learn more defensive moves (high hammer fist, low hammer first, and elbow strikes).   If you have any questions please email Melanie Ferguson, radKIDS coordinator, at melanieferg8@gmail.com.     

    

Book Orders
Your child brought home a book order yesterday with a large selection of books, but you can also look online at https://clubs.scholastic.com/newparent to see more.  Just type in our class code GYPDT or type in my name.  I have recommended some of my favorite fiction books and science books that go with our curriculum.  Books make great Christmas books, and some are as low as a dollar.  Please have your order in by Tuesday, November 21.   

Other News
Please make sure your child is returning their completed homework on time each week.  There will be no homework next week or the following week, since it is a review week.  Students should use the extra time to read and do Reflex Math.

We're excited for our field trip on Tuesday, November 28.  Thank you for returning the permission slips.  We had so many parents offer to chaperone, but we have a limit on the number of parents we can take.  We'll have another field trip in May, so you'll have another chance if you don't get to go on this one.   

If you are going on vacation, please fill out the Canyons District vacation release form in the office at least five school days before you leave.  You can also print the one I sent in the email.  The office will give me a copy of the form, which will give me time to get work ready for your child.  Also, approved vacation releases do not count on your child's attendance.  Please note that there is a maximum of ten vacation days a year. 

Please make sure your child is reading every day and working on the 20-book challenge.  The form is in the front of the planner.  I included a copy in the email in case you need another copy.  Students can bring it in every five books for a prize, or they can bring it at the end and get all four prizes. 

We are still trying to get donations at DonorsChoose.org to fund two iPads for our classroom.  Students will be able to use these to create science presentations, which will increase their comprehension and further their technology skills.  We've already had three donations and would love more!  Here's the link: iPads for Mini Learners 

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!  

Newsletter 11-4-17

ELA
We learned about economics when we read Scarcity this week.  We also practiced words with r-controled vowels, plural nouns, and facts and details.

Math
We finished up our two-digit addition unit with our test on Wednesday.  I was pleased to see how many of you did the practice page with your children.  It really helped!  We started two-digit subtraction on Thursday.  We are using the same strategies we used with addition but reversed.  

Halloween
We had a great Halloween party with crafts, games, and stories.  Thank you to our room moms who made it such a fun day!

Reflex Math

We are making so much progress in Reflex Math!  It's exciting to see our percentage steadily increasing.  The goal is still at least five days a week with a green light 80% of the time.  Signing up for a parent account will you let you get this information.  You can also email me, and I'll send it to you.  

Our students who had 100% fluency and our students who were meeting the goal of 5 days a week and 80% green lights for the last month got to go to our party.  They covered the teachers with whipped cream!

Please keep reading for the 20-book challenge.  The PTA has fun prizes for 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%.

Picture retakes will be this Monday.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.  Our students are such hard workers.  I appreciate all of your help at support at home.  We have a great class!