Newsletter volume 6

In math, we worked on the counting on strategy.  This is where we get the bigger number in our head and count on the lower number.  For example if we have the problem 6+2, we could get 6 in our head and add two more to it, giving us 6: 7 and 8. This is a much easier and quicker strategy than using the counting all strategy where we count every number, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and then adding two more 7 and 8.

In Wilson’s Fundations, we have continued to work on tapping out the beginning, middle, and ending sounds to a word. We have also learned two trick words: the and of.  These words we cannot tap out, so they are on the word wall for us to use. We have also worked on sentence dictation, where I say a sentence and they repeat it.  Then we work on tapping out each word and make sure to include a capital at the beginning of the sentence and put a period at the end.

In Daily 5, we learned our last two components in the Daily 5 literacy block. This week we learned and practiced daily “Read to Someone” and “Listen to Reading”. We made an “I chart” for each of these so the students know what is expected of them at each of these components. This week we also began practicing doing rotations where students were in three different groups and each group was doing a different component of the Daily 5.

In writing, we worked on revising, editing and publishing our first stories for very first writing celebration.  All of the students have worked so hard to become better writers our first 25 days of school. We worked on adding more details to our story and checked it over to make sure we used correct spacing, capitals at beginning of sentences, “I” by itself, and for proper nouns, and had periods at the end of complete thoughts. I will have your child’s first published story to share with you at Open House this Thursday at 5:00.

This week in Social Studies, we made and colored our “Mini-Me’s” which will help the students learn about themselves, their families, our school, and our community throughout the school year.

Important information:

- Spirit Day- Make sure to wear your Banks Road t-shirt or school colors (green and blue) every Friday!

- Scholastic Book Orders- Our first Scholastic book order forms are coming home this Thursday.  Scholastic provides a great way for you to build a great library at home at a very affordable price. If you are interested in buy any books, the order form and check (made out to Scholastic book club) will be due on Wednesday, August 29^th.