Romano:gromano@LWSD.org / September 26, 2007

What to Ask About

·        In Science:

§  Air and water ‘fountain’ system

§  Balloon Rockets

§  Our Science Journal

·        Predicting what happens next in Cowardly Clyde

·        The Fun Run

·        Bill Peet Books: Big Bad Bruce, Cowardly Clyde, Droofus the Dragon

·        Non-fiction Book: When Autumn Comes(Friday)

·        Class Book like When Autumn Comes

·        Math: ‘How many of each’ problems, Compare, Red and White Counters, Counters in a Cup (Friday)

·        Sweet Pickles Books (Alligator, Fish, Goose, Lion)

Reading Assessments Going Home

Please look for 2 initial screening going home today assessing students’ skills naming letter sounds and sight words (the 36 from kindergarten).  I will be focusing on these in reading groups for those students who have not yet mastered these skills.  You can also practice these skills at home.

Reading Group Time

This week we began practicing our reading groups.  We went through the process of working independently and making good choices.  I emphasized the need for great behavior during reading group time, our most important learning time of the day.

Starting next week, students will be placed in a reading group with other students who are reading at a similar level.  Students waiting their turn to read with me will be working in our learning centers.  Learning centers allow students to work on academic tasks independently while I am working with a reading group.  We have a variety of literacy centers that involve reading, writing, spelling, and listening activities.  

Please stress to your child the need to work appropriately and independently during read group time.

Read Naturally Make-up

A number of parents asked about a make-up training.  Gloria Hammond, the IA in charge of Read Naturally, could do a make-up sessions but it would have to be scheduled with her.  A better option is to come in on a day when Susan Howe (Tyler) is working with students and watch her do it.

Deb Oroszlan will soon be contacting parent volunteers to set up our schedule.

Math

·        Look for a pattern assessment going home today.

·        Math work this week included problems and games designed to help students understand numbers can be ‘decomposed’ into a series of smaller numbers.  (Such as 10 is equivalent to 9+1, 8+2, 7+3 etc.)  Students are building this understanding by solving problems and playing math games.

§  “How many of each’ problems: For example: I have 12 pets.  They are all cats and dogs.  How many cats and dogs can I have.

§  Red and White counters: students have 10 2-color counters in a cup, the cup is turned over, students record how many of each color and examine how many different ways they can get 10

§  Counters in a cup: students have 10 counters, Player 1 hides some counters in a cup, Player 2 counts how many are outside and predicts how many are inside