10/31/2011

Happy Halloween!

Thank you so much to Chevy and all who helped out with our Halloween breakfast this morning! It was wonderful and I know the kids really enjoyed it. We are trying to have somewhat of a normal afternoon :)

Our Crew will be climbing in PE next week, IF we have enough volunteers to belay for us. If you have been trained and are available to belay from 2:10-3:00, we need you! There will be another training this Wednesday, 11/2. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Here is what we will be learning this week:
Reader's Workshop
Our new focus is using questioning to help us understand what we're learning. As readers read, they are constantly asking themselves questions to help them learn more and to help them monitor their understanding. While reading with your child at home, stop periodically to talk about questions they have and questions you have.

Writer's Workshop
We are wrapping up our genre study of personal narratives. By the end of the week, we will have learned how to revise our writing to make sure it sounds exactly how we want it to sound. We'll also learn how to edit for correct capitalization and punctuation, as well as circle words that looked like they are spelled incorrectly. I will be helping the students publish their pieces on the computer.

Math
We are learning how to recognize and continue patterns in numbers. This is also helping us with our addition and subtraction skills. We have learned how to play a new game called "Name that Number." This is a game that can be played at home with a regular deck of cards. Ask your child to teach you how to play. I love playing this game with the kids!

Expedition
We have learned a little bit about the ghost town of Dearfield, Co. This week, we will continue to build our knowledge about what this community was like in the past as well as what it is like today. We will be watching a video about Dearfield. I encourage families to do their own research at home and see what you can learn about this community that didn't survive.