October is here!

I find it unbelievable that we are in October already. I suppose time flies….

This month holds lots of promise. We are officially beginning our Spanish Language studies through PTA-sponsored Rosetta Stone practice.   I will supplement with some conversational work as well. Remember, you can use Rosetta Stone at home with your child. You should have received an email with login information during the last two weeks. Let me know if you have any trouble logging on. Fantastico!

Our annual Del Mar Heights Halloween Parade, on October 30th, will be followed with a performance of “The Ugly Pumpkin” by our own young thespians in the classroom at about 8:30. I also invite parents to bring in pumpkin-themed snacks and so forth for a little reception after the play. You can sign up through the class website.

Our PTA -sponsored music assembly program will be focusing on some of the basics of music theory, rhythm, and fundamental musicianship using kazoos and percussion instruments. Choral work in the classroom with me is supplemental, of course. 

Speaking of our PTA, please have your child consider entering a creative piece in this year’s Reflections Art Show. Entries are due on the 23rd. If needed, please allow your child to replace regular homework with a Reflections entry. Simply write a note on the homework packet to let me know. Also, all students in our class will be writing a poem for entry into the show during class time. 

There is a lot of talk about how math is “different” in schools now as compared to a decade or two ago. The truth is that the math isn’t different, it’s simply that we are asked to understand the math concepts, not just complete formulas for computation or memorize facts. Here’s a little video that, though imperfect, might give a touch of perspective.

Thank you for joining the PTA. You help make our school special.  Del Mar Union School District was tied with two other districts as the top Elementary School District in California. Additionally, out of 5,567 California schools, Del Mar Heights was ranked 23rd! 

I am out tomorrow at district-level meetings but our students will have a great day with our guest teacher as they work on readers’ theater of “The Chocolate Touch” and continue to use their geography skills to design their now fictional lands. 

This Week’s Highlights

October 5-9

Phonics and word study focus

Long vowels, Verbs

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Author Study, Chris Van Allsburg, connections and readers’ questions

Book club individualized strategy lessons: Lessons created for specific skill outcomes based on individual and group needs

Focus books: Van Allsburg, Halloween, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals,

Writing skill- Showing/Telling, Narrative structure and the writing process

Topical writing- expository, Places I know

Math focus

First Assessment

Full Math workshop (mystery number, number decomposition, word problem, independent practice, personal challenge and three math routines)

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Computation- Fluency with groupings and arrays, place value

Social Studies focus

Geography and map skills, introduce Government

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet