Weekly newsletter volume 6

In math, we started working on subtraction word problems. We know we have to start off with the bigger number and listen for key words like “rolled away”, “flew away”, “were eaten”, “gave away” and have to take that many away. So if we have the problem, “there were 6 birds and 2 flew away. How many birds are left?” They would start off with 6 circles, and we use circles since they are quick to draw, and cross off 2 and that would leave us with 4 circles. So we would write the equation 6-2=4. Then to show understanding we would need to write, “There are 4 birds left.” In Letterland, we learned the letters “I, w, x, g, and the digraph th.” We worked with the word families –in, -ick, and –ix. Our tricky words for the week that have been added to our word wall are likes, to, this, and he. For the digraph “th”, we learned it has two different sounds. It has the unvoiced th as in words like thick, thin, and thunder. And then it has the voiced th as in words like this, that, and then. Remember digraphs are two letters, but only make one sound. In writing, we worked on adding transitional words for the beginning, middle, and end of our story. For the beginning we use words like first. Then for the middle, we can use words like then, next, and second. For the ending, we can use words like last, finally, at last, and after. This week in Social Studies, we read more about the three different communities of rural, urban, and suburban. Then we compared how the three communities were alike and how they are different. Important information: - Assessments- To keep you better informed at home, I will be sending home assessments on Tuesday from the first few weeks of school for you to view your child’s grades. Please sign and date the attached sheet and return all assessments tomorrow. If I see that assessments are not coming back to school, I will stop sending them home and will ask that you make an appointment for a conference to discuss your child’s grades. - Scholastic Book Orders- Our first Scholastic book order forms are coming home this Wednesday. 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 Thursday, August 29th. If you would like to order online- see the attached sheet on how to do it on the computer. - “Book in a Bag”- The “Book in the Bag” for homework is meant to be a book on your child’s level that they can read independently. They can continue to read other books from the library or from home.