October? Seriously? Time is flying by .... Week 6

This week was jam-packed!

In Language Arts we've been focused on inferencing and drawing conclusions. We completed our first Reading Unit Test and reviewed it to gain test taking strategies.  In the gradebook, you see the combined grade (the grade level passage with 10 questions and the district passage which had 3 questions). Then you will see the District Grade by itself for 0%.  This is the information that is saved in your child's cumulative folder by the district.  

Unit 2 in Language Arts is one of my favorites -- Poetry.  Kids generally like it too and really enjoy looking deeper into shorter pieces of text.

In writing we reviewed and practiced the parts of a friendly letter and took the District Writing Assessment.  This is graded on a mastery rubric, not a grade.  

In science we've been focusing on physical properties and states of matter.  We will continue matter next week focusing on changes in matter with heat and mixtures.

Math has returned to multiplication.  This is the pattern outlined for the year: spiraling back through multiplication about every other unit.  This week through next Wednesday our focus is x2 and x4.  The next unit will be a return to place value, but greater numbers.

FALL CONFERENCES!  I will be sending out the schedule of available dates and times.  Can't wait to meet and talk about your child.

Celebration for the Week - Kids seem to be more confident in math
Area to work on - Talking is excessive.  Clip move  and requiring "line order" are not changing the behaviors and valuable time is being lost.

My plug for the PTA:  They support our school in so many ways from the mimeo technology we are using in the classroom, to subscriptions to BrainPop, books for the lit library and performances.  Consider a donation!  I know as a parent I would have appreciated not having door to door sales : )

Our Direct Donation Drive is underway!  

You can go online to make your donation at:

 http://forestcreekpta.my-pta.org/ .  

Or, return your check or cash and flyer in the envelope sent home from school. There are also flyers in the office and 

on the bulletin board in the front hall.