| January 2007
I hope everyone had an exciting and restful holiday. I divided my time
between nesting in my home and reading books for fun. The kitchen cabinets
are less cluttered and my reading chair has been kept warm with good books.
The school year is flying by and I want to keep you posted on the activities
of the next grading period.
Our math curriculum for this grading period will include the following
concepts. Most of these math concepts will be taught within our own
classroom. January 18 will be the last day we switch math classes.
•We can name shapes (figures) based on how they look. Comparing the
attributes of shapes (figures) helps us to learn the properties peculiar to
a specific shape. Plane figures (shapes) are one dimensional as if flat
like a piece of paper. Solid figures are three-dimensional and have length,
width, and depth (height) like a box.
•Number patterns remain the same for 2-, 3-, and 4-digit numbers. Numbers
can be broken apart in many ways. Numbers can be compared by looking at the
digit in the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones place.
Fractions represent equal parts of a whole thing or a whole set. As a whole
is divided into more parts, the size of the pieces gets smaller. We’ll use
models to work with thirds, sixths, eights, tenths, with models
Students will know the standard units of inch, foot, yard, and metric units
of centimeter and meter and measure length to the nearest inch or centimeter.
Students will estimate, then measure, temperature (Fahrenheit) and
determine if estimations were reasonable.
Students will create simple tables and graphs and interpret their meaning.
Health curriculum will include a study of how you get sick, ways to prevent
disease and some health problems children may have that are not
communicable. We will be doing a science experiment to help us learn about
germs and washing hands.
Our science unit for this grading period will be all about the sun, the
Earth and the moon. We'll understand that stars have different sizes,
brightness, and patterns. The students will also investigate the position
of the sun and moon to show patterns throughout the year. We'll have a
reading incentive for this unit where students can travel to the moon.
We will then begin a study of Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. The
children will be asked to form an opinion about moving the family to Japan.
This assignment will become a part of our writing workshop study of
persuasive writing.
We will continue to work on many traits of good writers. Your young writers
should be using capital letters and end marks in their writing. They should
be composing sentences in legible handwriting that carry a complete thought
and produce at least 3 detailed sentences on a topic. Our writing focus
will be on composing persuasive text. Writing lessons will include
composing a topic sentence, detail sentences and closing sentences, proper
grammar usage and using the writing process. Work will be revised to add
sensory words, active verbs and interesting word choices. We’ll add voice
to elicit an emotional response from our readers. Close attention to
spelling no excuse words correctly and representing the correct vowel in
other words will be expected as our writers edit work.
Our readers will be working with both fiction and informational text as we
learn the reading strategies of creating vivid mental images and inferring.
As always, social studies, science and health learning will be integrated
into our literacy learning.
Thank you once again for sharing your children with me. I enjoy their
company and they bring joy to my day as I watch them learn and grow. Please
do not hesitate to bring up any of your concerns or questions.
| |
