Newsletter 12-20-16

We filled our marble jar and earned a read-a-thon tomorrow!  Hooray!  Please have your child bring a chapter book or a few picture books tomorrow.  They may also bring a small pillow/blanket/stuffed animal.  You can decide what is reasonable. They can also bring a small snack if they want.
  

We have had a great time this week writing to Santa, making star Santa’s, and making a graph of Santa's favorite cookies.

It’s been great seeing so many kids bringing back their 20-Book Challenge papers.  They are getting some fun prizes.  The holiday break is a good time to catch up if your child is behind on reading.  Our goal is to have at least ten books read by the next parent- teacher conference in January.  

Congratulations to Mya for already finishing her 20-book challenge.  Fabulous!

We had lots of fun putting together our Soaring Sunrise News for the school in November.  Here is the link where you can see it:
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnD1x2H4f4IY6YfAJjOMx4jnkldVK1Nwd

Thank you for all the nice gifts you've sent.  Have a wonderful holiday break!

Newsletter 12-18-16

Last week in language arts, we read Pearl and Wagner and learned about creativity, inventions, and friendship.  We practiced using verbs and comparing and contrasting.  This week we read Dear Juno and learned how to write a friendly letter.  

We're getting so excited for Christmas!  We’re practicing opinion writing by giving evidence of being good in our letters to Santa.  We also made reindeer and practiced counting their eyes by 2's.  

We read a couple Christmas books by Jan Brett.  The kids love her stories and pictures.  You can find her website under the language arts link on the right.

In math we have been practicing two-digit subtraction.  This is a difficult topic, but our class has been doing great!  Practicing basic facts on Reflex Math has helped students so much with their fluency and accuracy in bigger problems.

Congratulations to Sam for getting 100% fluency in Reflex Math.  Terrific!

The PTA now has prizes for students as they progress through the 20 Book Challenge.  Students get a prize when they have completed 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the challenge.  They can bring in their papers as they reach each milestone or wait until they have met their goal.  They will still get all four prizes.

Lucas and Tayah passed off levels in Lexia.  Hooray!  Lexia provides valuable phonics practice for all students, even advanced readers, and it's fun!  The easiest way to log in is through Clever. 

Scholastic sent coupons for a free book worth up to five dollars with a ten-dollar order.  If you would like to order, please do it by December 28, and I’ll send it in over the break.

Our last day of school before Christmas break is Wednesday.  There will not be homework this week.  Have a wonderful holiday break! 

           

Newsletter 11-29-16

It’s our review week in language arts.  Every day this week, we review the story, vocabulary words, comprehension skill, language concept, and song we learned during each week of the unit.  We will take the unit two test at the end of the week to see what we successfully completed and what we still need to review.

In math we’re finishing up topic 5, Subtracting Within 100 Using Strategies.  Students are learning different strategies to solve problems in their heads or with tools like number lines and hundred charts.  Remember to go to https://www.pearsonrealize.com/#/ to see how we use each strategy. 

Although there is no homework during review weeks, I hope that your child will use the extra time to do Reflex Math and read.  Reading websites like Lexia and MyOn are fun and educational. 

We wrote acrostic poems for Veteran's Day.

Here are samples of our Thanksgiving writing.

Congratulations to McKenna for earning 100% in Reflex Math!

Sam earned the award for citizenship this month.  Way to go!

Bennett moved on to the district level with his Reflections entry.  Congratulations!

We had an awesome radKIDS graduation!  The kids learned so much and were eager to show everyone.

Thanks for all your support at home.  Please remember to keep checking and signing planners.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.