August 30, 2010

August 30, 2010

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Wow, I can’t believe Monday is the 14^th day of school.  The kids have learned so much about school life so far and seem to be adjusting very well. 

Thanks to all of the parents who were able to attend our Parent Orientation Night!  Please let me know if you have any lingering questions about school. 

Homework officially starts Monday.  Please read with or to your child every night for 10-20 minutes.  Record the title of the book you read on your child’s weekly planner.  Look in your child’s Take-Home Folder on Monday night for your child’s Word Wall Words.  I will include all of the words we have already learned (a, and, he, the, & to), plus our new words for this week (I, you, & it).  Practice reading these words every night.  After your child has mastered reading the words, practice writing/spelling the words.  Remember Word Wall Word Assessments are every Friday.  



Mark your calendar... Harmony Elementary is hosting Skate Night at Champ's on Wednesday, September 8th from 6-8 pm.  The class with the highest attendance will win a pizza.

 
In order to make our classroom feel more like home, please send a photograph of your child and your family in a picture frame (please take out the front piece of glass).  It will be returned at the end of the year.

What are we learning?

 Reading Workshop

This week we are learning to how to take care of books, use our classroom library, how to choose a book, and what reading workshop looks and sounds like. We will be visiting the school library on Friday.

Writing Workshop

We are continuing our Kid Writing unit this week.  Students will focus on using the sounds they already know to sound out their words.  On Friday, we are writing our third entry in our Family Journals.  Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Handwriting

Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  T, t, G, & g 

Word Study

This week, we will explore the letters Tt and Gg. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: I, you, & it. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

 Math

We are learning how to make sound, motion, and color patterns, how to compare coins, and how to put numbers in order.  Don’t forget to send in your child’s bag of coins on Monday (see purple note sent home on Friday, August 27). 

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: Sorting helps children develop the ability to examine a variety of items and to develop classification categories into which they can be grouped.  Activity: Before unpacking the grocery bag, try to guess how many items are inside it.  Then count to see how close you were.  Sort the grocery items into groups.  Explain why you put certain items together.  Can you think of a different way to sort the items?  You can also practice sorting other items at home such as toys, books, or coins.

 Social Studies

This week we are finishing our Weather and Seasons Unit.  We will learn about climate and the climate zones, how to measure temperature, how clouds are formed and the different types of clouds, and about precipitation, rainbows, and thunderstorms.  Please send a bag of white cotton balls by Tuesday, August 31^st for our cloud project.

 Reminders

*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.

* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 

* Have your child practice memorizing their lunch number at home.

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!

Related Arts Schedule

Monday         Art

Tuesday        Music

Wednesday    Music

Thursday       Music

Friday           Music