Weekly Wrap Up

I just realized I forgot to post the information from the last newsletter, so this will have info from both.

We recently started something new to help students master their multiplication facts - Multiplication Fact of the Day. Here’s how it works... Assuming that the children have mastered their 0s, 1s, 2s, and 10s, there are only 28 facts to memorize when we take into consideration the commutative property of multiplication (ex: 3x8=8x3). Each day, for 6 out of 7 days, students will have just one multiplication problem to memorize. I’ll write it up on the board that day, and we’ll go over it multiple times during the day. There’s also a home calendar with each fact of the day written on it. I’m asking parents to really go over the problem at home with their child, too. Let them see it, say it, and write it. It won’t hurt to throw in a previous problem of the day, either. I don’t know if this will work for sure, it’s a new idea, but it’s worth a try. If this works, then I’ll do the same thing for division. In case you’re wondering, here are all of the facts that need to be memorized:!

• 3x3, 3x4, 3x5, 3x6, 3x7, 3x8, 3x9 (7 facts)
• 4x4, 4x5, 4x6, 4x7, 4x8, 4x9 (6 facts)
• 5x5, 5x6, 5x7, 5x8, 5x9 (5 facts)
• 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, 6x9 (4 facts)
• 7x7, 7x8, 7x9 (3 facts)
• 8x8, 8x9 (2 facts)
• 9x9 (1 fact)

This week the kids took over the newsletter! Here’s what they want you to know...

• Shannon: Today we learned so much about Helen Keller.
• Elizabeth: We watched a clip of the real Helen Keller in her Easton, CT house.
• Ethan: We had popcorn today during the movie.
• Mary: We also saw a cartoon about Helen Keller.
• Rhiana: We did our monthly multiplication and division quizzes.
• Alana: We now have a wall of honor for multiplication and division.
• Maryla: We saw Helen Keller’s CT house in Google Maps street view.
• Addie: We saw Helen Keller’s Alabama house in Google Maps street view, and it’s now a museum.
• Hailey: We’re finishing our information books
• Amelia: Study your math facts!
• Jared: We’ve learned about writing endings for information books.
• Shannon: We finished packet #4 in cursive handwriting. (Mrs. Carnevale says this means they’ve learned all of the lower case letters in cursive!)
• Mary: Next week we start upper case letters in cursive.
• Ethan: Practice reading!
• Maia: We book shopped this week for our new levels of fiction.
• Tyler: We’re starting a new unit in reading.

If you have extras of these at home, we could use them:!

• Paper plates
• Plastic grocery store bags

A few reminders... 

• Wear sneakers on Wednesdays!!
• Bring recorders and music on Tuesdays!!
• Notes are needed every Friday for electronics during Fun Friday!

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reading - Orienting to Fiction at our new levels
• Writing - Finishing (finally!) information books and information writing test
• Math - Fractions
• Social Studies - Connecticut

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!