Newsletter August 26, 2016
Summary of our week: This week we started both Go Math and Wonders. In math we are reviewing what place value means. We are also learning the three different ways of naming a number; word form, (two hundred and sixteen), standard form (216) and expanded form (200 + 10 + 6). In Wonders we are learning about how to make predictions as we read and use context clues as a way to help understand the meaning of words. Our reading genre is Fairy Tales. Ask them to tell you the story of the Princess and the Pizza and how the princess changed from the beginning to the end of the story. They are working hard to earn scholar tickets and the scholar store will officially open on Friday (Sept 2) so they can spend those hard earned scholar dollars. I have asked them to read nightly and get their reading log signed so they can keep track of their minutes. I have also asked them to share their planners with their parents (also evidenced by parent initials) as they are learning to record their homework in their planners. This skill will become invaluable when they hit the upper grades! No movement from our Silkworm babies yet. Perhaps they are dead; however, we did observe that the eggs frequently roll on their sides so perhaps not. (I ordered a new batch just in case). I told the kids they are allowed to present to the class any research they do on their own on silkworms. Perhaps there is something we should be doing (or not doing) to help our little worms hatch. Also, we are still collecting state quarters (a sneaky way to introduce the names of the states. Shhh…don’t tell them of my hidden agenda!) We have found many quarters, but still have about 15 states we haven’t collected yet. Finally, we ended the week with an art activity in which I asked them to consider what gift they have to offer to our class (and to the world). Among their responses I saw “happiness”, “humor”, “thoughtfulness” and “generosity”. They represented this artistically and next week I will ask to them to add narration to their picture.
Homework: I should clarify my homework policy. I don’t grade homework until Friday, so really they have until Friday to get it in before it is considered late. However, we do go over math homework in class the day after it is assigned. For those who do not have their homework done, I give them a sheet of paper to record notes/answers as we go over each problem in class which they turn in at the end of the lesson. It allows them to participate in the discussion even if they do not have their completed homework in front of them. I don’t want them to assume they can just do their homework during class as we are going over the answers, which is why I ask that they keep their unfinished homework in their folders. I display the questions and the answers for the whole class as we are going over their homework.
Next week plans: Look for the addresses, usernames and passwords of the different sites we visit frequently, (Go Math, Wonders, Spelling City, etc). I intend to get them typed up and put into each student’s homework folders this week. I will also be starting spelling this week and sending home spelling lists. I will also be doing one/one reading checks with each student to determine the small reading groups which I group based on ability. This week in math we will be working on rounding numbers, renaming numbers and adding whole numbers. We will also start doing more science and social studies with understanding latitude and longitude and how geography affects human activity. In writing, we are continuing the 4 square writing method but adding more details to our squares. We are also starting with our first grade reading buddies on Wednesday August 31. We will assign buddies from Ms. Bawden’s class. Each month we will get together with them so we can read books with our reading buddies.
Q/A: When does Road to Success Start? Right away. I just got information on Road to Success and honestly, I’m still learning what this is all about. If you’d rather keep track of your student’s minutes through Road to Success rather than the reading log, talk to me and maybe we can reduce the redundancy. I’m still working out exactly how I want to do that.
When do I start volunteering? Thank you to everyone who signed up to volunteer! I could use some help with running small reading groups pretty soon; however, I am still getting this organized as I’m getting to know my students’ needs and abilities. I will know more after Dibels testing on Sept 6th.
As always please call, text or email if you have any questions, problems or concerns. Looking forward to another great week!
Shelly Hamula [email protected] 801-201-5295
Newsletter August 20, 2016
We successfully completed our first week back in school and it went very smoothly! It was very fun to meet the parents at registration, back to school night and/or over the phone. Thank you also for signing up to volunteer. I will be getting that organized within the next couple weeks and I will have it posted on our website. There is always a place for people who don’t want to commit to a weekly time but want to come in now and then. I will let you know when I have any extra needs in the classroom.
Summary of our week: I adore your kids and I feel confident we are going to have a great year! This week our focus was mostly on building relationships, routines, expectations and procedures. We also snuck in some fun science projects and got familiar with the classroom library. I place a strong emphasis on responsibility and one of the ways to teach this is through classroom jobs. They all have team jobs and next week we will also start whole class jobs. Doing a job well is its own source of motivation, but I also know from my own experience, as much as I love teaching, I also get motivated by a paycheck. Our students will get paid for their work in our classroom with “Scholar Dollars” which they can use for extra privileges (such as wearing a hat in class for a day) or prizes (stuffed animals, pencils, snacks, etc). Ask your student about our classroom pets! We are anxiously awaiting the birth of 25 silkworm babies (assuming they are still alive). If anyone wants to do some research on silkworms and bring this in to show/tell for the class I heartily welcome it. Otherwise, show and tell on any other topic is a privilege which they can buy with their scholar dollars
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Homework: This week our homework consisted of having their planner signed nightly and reading 20 minutes every night. Next week I will attach our reading log to the back of their planners. They are to record what book they are reading and how many minutes they read each night. I don’t need to know the amount of pages read. They are expected to read at least 20 minutes/5 nights a week. Our reading goals will be a combination of reading responses and number of minutes read. I will explain this more at SEP’s and in future newsletters. Please look for the reading log stapled to the back of your child’s planner starting on Monday. They get one scholar ticket for getting their planner signed, and one for getting their log signed. (10 scholar tickets equal a scholar dollar).
Next week plans: Next week things start to heat up with academic work and you might see your child is coming home more tired. I’m going to keep homework as minimal as possible while they are building their stamina. I want them to enjoy fresh air, exercise and rest when they are home so they will be ready to work hard in school. We will also be starting with our Chromebooks next week. I will put a list of the usernames/passwords for your child in their homework folder.
Q/A: 1) Does the reading log replace “Reading to Success?” No. But you can double dip with the minutes read. In other words, you can count them for both. 2) Field Trips? Yes! We have one coming up in October. Murray Nature Center 10/19. More details later.
As always please call, text or email if you have any questions, problems or concerns.
Thank you for trusting me with the honor of teaching your children!
Shelly Hamula [email protected] 801-201-5295