A Note from Averyville
August-September
The Averyville community is now in full swing. The children are beginning to settle into the routine of things. Here is an update to let you know what your child has been doing and what we are planning.
READING/WRITING
We are continuing out unit on friendship in our Open Court series. We will soon begin reading Charlotte’s Web. This story, as you know, offers a wonderful example of love, kindness, and friendship. I know the children will enjoy reading this selection together.
During our Writing Workshop, we have been using various strategies that will help your child discover and decide on topics that he/she would like to write more about. We will be discussing Point of View and looking at stories written in 1st person. We are now beginning the first writing assignment. We will then begin a writing piece from a very unique point of view. We look forward to sharing these stories with you as soon as they are completed.
The reading assignment for September is Fantasy. Each child has selected a chapter book of his/her choice. The book should be completed before September 26. The students will need to bring their books to class on September 26th in order to work on the “book report.”
MATH
We are continuing to work with manipulatives as we study Place Value. This is to establish a solid foundation for math we will be doing throughout the year.
The students continue to work with the more difficult problems presented each morning. Hopefully, these will begin to get easier as the children learn to organize the information presented and find a variety of ways to address these problems.
The students continue to work on addition timed tests. Each child is working to achieve success at various levels – 10 minutes, 7 minutes, 5 minutes, or 3 minutes.
SPELLING
A weekly spelling list is handed out each Monday. You may see no excuse words, content words, and outlaw words in addition to those words that follow a rule presented that week. The test on Friday will include the excuse words, content words, and outlaw words. Also, it will include some of the words on the list that apply to the rule. There will be some words that fit the rule but were not on the list. It is therefore important that your child learn the rule as well as the words.
SOCIAL STUDIES
We are studying the United States. The first region studied is the one most familiar to the students, the states that were part of the thirteen original colonies. The students are expected to label and spell all states of that region as well as Lake Ontario, Atlantic Ocean, Appalachian Mountains, and Washington D.C. A test over this region will be Thursday, September 1st. Please begin this week to help your child learn these difficult words.
STANDARDIZED TEST
We will be testing during the week beginning Monday, September 19. Please make every effort to have your child here at 8:00am. This will give your child a chance to relax and unwind before we begin testing. Make sure your child is well rested and eats a good breakfast.
OTHER DATES
September 1 – States Test
August 30 – Picture Day - dress in Sunday best
September 14 – Conference Day
September 19 – Begin Standardized Testing
September 26- Monthly book assignment due