HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am so excited for a new year to begin and see what wonderful things 2011 has in store for our class! I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful break!
Here's what we'll be learning this month:
Language Arts: Inferencing - using our prior knowledge and context clues to figure out what the author is not telling us in a story, fact statements vs. opinion, homophones and homonyms, vowel digraphs, ("when 2 vowels go walking, the first one does the talking") diphthongs (oi, oy), informational writing - how to look up and write about different topics and how to write about things that we are “experts” on
Math: Review of place value concepts, fractions - making fair shares, fractions of a set, and symmetry
Social Studies: The life and contributions of Harriet Tubman
Science: Lights and shadows
Dates to Remember
Jan. 4th: Welcome Back!
Jan. 4th: Domino’s Night
Jan. 7th: Report Cards go home
Jan. 17th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - no school!
Jan. 18th: Chick-Fil-A Night
Jan. 21st: PTA Meeting and Bingo Night at 6:30
Important Reminders
*Most of the letter reversals in our room have straightened themselves out, but if you see your child is STILL reversing letters, please correct them each time and talk about it. I am doing the same thing in class while at the same time trying to help form the habit of looking at the alphabet on his/her nametag and/or the wall to DOUBLE CHECK.
* Please be sure that you are checking your child's take home folder DAILY!
*Homework is due each Monday. This gives your child an entire week to work on homework. Remember, homework is a review of concepts that we have already learned in class. Your child may need help with the directions, but should know how to complete the work!
*Reading logs are part of homework. It is very important that you read with, to, or listen to your child read for a minimum of 20 minutes each night. Please don’t forget to (or have your child) record the reading each night!
* As we are entering the second half of the year, I am beginning to encourage the students to become more and more independent and self-sufficient with their class work and keeping track of their things. If you could please help us out at home by encouraging them to do the same, especially with their homework we would very much appreciate it. We're getting prepared to be second graders next year! :)
*If your child is sick (has thrown up or had a fever) he or she needs to remain at home for at least 24 hours! Following this procedure will help minimize the spread of those yucky contagious illnesses!
Thanks for all of your help and support! I am really looking forward to all of the fun and exciting learning that we have ahead of us this year!
