Friday, November 18, 2016

Weekly Wrap Up

This is the time of year when we often pause to reflect on things we are thankful for. I want you to know that I’m so very thankful to have a class of children who are genuinely nice, care about and help each other, and work hard to learn new things each and every day. It is truly a joy to come to work each day and spend time with your children! They continue to put a smile on my face and make my heart sing! I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

As the holiday season approaches, we often spend a great deal of time thinking about giving to others. At this time of the year, students and their families often like to give gifts to their teachers. This is certainly a very thoughtful and well-appreciated gesture. However, I feel that when one gives, the more people that can receive, the better. So this year, if you and your child would like to give, instead of giving me a gift please consider giving the classroom a gift that all of the children can enjoy. If you want to do this, but need ideas, I’ll be asking the kids to help me brainstorm a list of things they’d like to have in the classroom or that need to be replaced. From that list I’ll created an Amazon wishlist and send home the link in the next newsletter. Please don’t feel obligated to get anything from that list, I just wanted to put together something from the students that has what they wish they could have, or feel we need, in their classroom.

On Wednesday we’re making slime in class!  It’s a VERY messy activity. Your child is very likely to get it on their clothes. Please don’t send them to school in good clothes that day.

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

  • Social Studies: Cultures Across CT
  • Science: Matter experiments
  • Math: Multiplication
  • Reading: Unit 2 pretest on nonfiction (information). Begin looking at nonfiction (information) text features.

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!

Monday, November 14, 2016

Weekly Wrap Up

Today your child brought home the permission slip for our field trip to Indian Rock in Bristol. There’s a very short turn around time for this to be returned. Please sign and return it as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday of this week. This trip is the day after our Thanksgiving break, and we go rain or shine. We are outside for most of the day, so it’s important to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. We need 2 chaperones, so if you’re interested be sure to return those forms, too! Those are needed by this Wednesday.

Don’t forget to try to set aside time from 2:45-3:15 this Friday, November 18 for Curl Up and Read time at Toffolon. Join your child in the classroom for a special half hour of reading together. Let them share some of their favorite classroom reads with you, and see a little of what they’re learning in action! Siblings from other classes are welcome to join us, as long as you send a note to their teacher. Also, if you want your child to leave our room and go to a sibling’s room, please send a note.

Here's what we're learning about next week:
  • Reader’s Workshop: Unit 1 test and unit 2 pretest
  • Science: States of Matter, and physical and chemical changes of matter
  • Social Studies: Cultures Across CT
  • Math: Multiplication
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!

Friday, November 4, 2016

Weekly Wrap Up

Please try to set aside time from 2:45-3:15 on November 18 for Curl Up and Read time at Toffolon. Join your child in the classroom for a special half hour of reading together. Let them share some of their favorite classroom reads with you, and see a little of what they’re learning in action! Siblings from other classes are welcome to join us, as long as you send a note to their teacher. Also, if you want your child to leave our room and go to a sibling’s room, please send a note.

This week we started learning about the meanings of multiplication. Later next week we start with the facts. Our math program does not do them in order (0-10). Topic 5 covers multiplying by 2, 5, 9, 1, 0, and 10, in that order. I also throw in 11 since it’s so easy. Late in the week or early the following week, ask your child to show you the nine’s trick with their hands. I’ll also tweet out a video of the trick on the day we learn it.


Along with studying addition and subtraction facts, your child can begin studying multiplication facts. The website multiplication.com has some great games that kids tend to love. The “Just for Kids” page on our class website has many resources listed by topic, as well as basic fact sites. I hear that the dollar stores also have traditional flash cards. One thing I find is that in their excitement to learn something new and “grown up” kids often fall back in their subtraction progress as they focus on multiplication. So, they’ll need to keep circling back to study subtraction facts (and addition too).

Once again we are collecting treats for troops. This is a great chance for your child to be a Goodness Gorilla (ask them what this means). Please send in a bit of extra Halloween candy between Nov. 7-11. It will be distributed to our troops serving around the world!

Here's what we're learning about next week:
  • Reader’s Workshop: Unit skills review with summarizing, character traits, and predicting.
  • Science: States of Matter, and physical and chemical changes of matter
  • Math: Meanings of multiplication and multiplying by 2 ,5, and 9
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!