Weekly Wrap Up

Happy New Year! I hope that the holidays and vacation were fun and restful for all families! We are totally back in the swing of things, and your children have been such hard workers this week! You should be a fly on the wall to see their amazing effort and focus!

We’ve spent the week learning about the meanings of division. Students have learned that dividing means breaking things up into equal groups. They’ve practiced doing that with Fruit Loops (a yummy fun math lesson!) and with counting cubes. They’ve learned how to use repeated subtraction to divide, as well as use a multiplication chart to find the answer (quotient) to a division problem. They’ve also started learning to recognize when a story problem is asking them to divide. That one takes a little practice though. You can help at home by giving them a story problem, and asking them what operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) they should use to solve it and why. The “why” is important, it helps them process through the problem, stopping to think what needs to be done. Once they can give you the why, then have them solve it. An example of a problem you might use at home is: Grandma has 9 cookies to share equally among the three kids in our family. How many cookies should each child get?

Just a reminder, your child has PE every Thursday. Please try to remind them to wear sneakers on that day, or have them in their bag to change into. Also, they have music every Tuesday and should bring their recorder and music folder to school.

The most recent math fact test scores went home this week for your signature. If you have questions or want at-home practice sheets, please let me know. Now that we’re learning division, your child should begin studying division facts at home.

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

• Science: Introduction to Force and Motion/Simple Machines
• Math: Division
• Reading and Writing: Finish up taking notes on information topic. Build new ideas from notes taken through different sources. Organize notes by sub-topic/ chapter. Determine if chapters have enough information, or need to be combined or need more research (this might go into the following week)

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!

Weekly Wrap Up

Now that warmer weather is arriving, please try to make sure your child has a water bottle for school. They are outside 2-3 times a day between wellness and recess, and are quite thirsty when they come in! Also, with the warmer weather can come fluctuations in the classroom temperature. A sweater or sweatshirt kept in the your child’s locker might come in handy once the AC is turned on.

I want to let families know that I’m going to be out of school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week (March 30, 31, and April 1) for minor oral surgery. I’ve already written detailed plans for the sub, so your child’s regular learning will continue! Please know that next Friday there will not be a newsletter or a progress report. There will be homework throughout the week, and home reading and math fact logs should continue. I will check them when I’m back the following week.

A few reminders:

• Students need to have a note from home each week to use their electronics during Fun Friday. 
• Sneakers should be worn on Wednesdays for gym.
• Recorders and music need to come back to school on Tuesdays for music.
• Please do NOT send foods with peanuts, tree nuts or seafoods at snack due to food allergies.

Here's what we're learning about in the next two weeks:

• Reader’s Workshop: Book Clubs
• Writer’s Workshop: Persuasive Writing
• Math: Perimeter and Area
• Social Studies: Plainville

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!