WEEK OF FEBRUARY 25 - FEBRUARY 29

We have returned to a full week of school and the children have been working hard.  We have begun doing some test preparation using our Senteo response system.  I am very appreciative of the time many of the children are spending at home on the CRCT practice site.  I am also appreciative of the time taken on the Raz-Kids site.   Just as a reminder, your child was given a starting level for Raz-Kids.  The tests can be and should be retaken until they are passed.  When all of the starting letter level books have been read, your child should be moving to the next letter in the alphabet.  In looking at their tests several children are skipping all over the place.  Please have them go in order to achieve maximum growth.  There is no reason for someone reading an H book to follow up with an A book.

I am really stressing the importance of  listening.  It is obviously very important everyday but especially in preparation for the future CRCT testing. I cannot repeat directions during the test. Therefore, listening that day, as in everyday, is key.  If your child is bringing home  papers marked,  Are you listening? that comment is written because  it is a page that we have done together in class.   If you find yourself asking your child to do something over and over again this might be a good time to hold them accountable to actively listen to you the first time you speak.  Thank you for your support with this very important life skill.

I am sending a paper today which lists activities for next week's Read Across America.  We will meet our grade level goal of reading 100 minutes throughout the week.  Please take note of daily activities.  Be sure to send your child with their favorite book on Monday.  Friday will be a day to dress in stripes to honor Dr. Seuss and The Cat in the Hat.  A school-wide Book Swap is also happening next week . That information is also coming home today. What a great way to get some new books for your child to read. 

As the month draws to an end with the 29th day on Friday, (Yeah, my leap year son gets a birthday this year!) it is time to return Math Blaster folders, Monthly Reading Logs and Family Fun Calendars.  Please look over timed tests coming home.  We will be starting addition facts to 18.  We always review the strategies we have learned and the children should be using these strategies while taking their practice timed tests.

Congratulations to Luke for being chosen by his classmates as our Character Education winner for February.  Luke won for "tolerance".  Way to go Luke!

We have moved on to Chapter 19 in math.  Please read the parent letter and take note of the math packet I have sent home today.  Chapter 19 stresses many concepts we practice daily at calendar, such as using the fewest coins to show an amount of money.  The children will also be introduced to the one, five, ten and twenty dollar bill.  Most of the children are doing quite well with counting mixed change.  I have given the children a technique to use if they are having difficulty counting mixed coins.  Please ask them to show you how to use dots to help with the process.

We continue to work on comprehension in our reading.  The children are becoming quite proficient at identifying answers in a passage, as well as inferring answers from the clues given by the author. The children have completed a Table of Contents  for their non-fiction books.  They are now in the process of  using graphic organizers to plan the layout of each of their chapters.  We have also begun an ABC handwriting poetry book. The children are quite excited about this book and their handwriting is already improving tremendously!

Tuesday, March 4th is an early release day with a 12:20 dismissal.  Smile!!!! Picture Day is next Wednesday, March 5th.