Newsletter 11/11/16

WE ARE SUPER READERS!!!   We are learning all about our reading "Super Powers" in Reader's Workshop.  We all have strategies that we use while reading- our "super powers"!  This week we learned all about Pointer Power!  Readers point to each word they know while reading, matching words with one to one correspondence.  We used "Double Pointer Power" when our partners did the pointing and we had to read.  Using a pointer finger while reading helps your child slow down his/her pace and recognize more words.  We had fun learning about how longer words may look like you need to point to them more than once, but "one word gets one tap".  We will soon be sending home paper books that your child can read to you.  Please make sure that s/he is pointing to each word (not just running his/her finger along the bottom) and reading with one to one correspondence.

We used magnifying glasses to really look closely at our specimens in Writing Workshop this week.  We wrote about every little thing we saw on our leaves: holes, spots, etc.  We also used our other senses and tried to describe our leaves with even more detail.  See the photos below.

We finished our number books in math this week and have now learned how to form all numerals correctly.  A practice sheet was sent home on Friday for you. Please feel free to make copies for additional work.  Reversals of numerals are very common at this age, so please do not worry if you see that happening.  Ask your child to notice that a number is written incorrectly and to please fix it. Remind him/her of each numeral's starting point and that all numbers and letters start at the top.

We also measured the lengths of our names this week, using even more new math vocabulary.  We compared names to see whose names were the shortest, longest and equal.

Social studies was all about the election and Veteran's Day.  What an important week for our nation. We completed our Election Day packets and enjoyed singing for our local veterans.  See my prior post for a photo.

News and Notes:

• the deadline to send in school supplies for Ox Ridge's 50th birthday is next Tuesday.
• students will attend a Music for Youth assembly next Wednesday about Mozart

Phonics fun

Looking closely in Writing Workshop

Comparing names in math