Smith update, 1/3

Hello Fantastic Families,

I trust you all enjoyed a festive holiday period. Thank you so much for your very generous class gift! I am humbled by your generosity. 

I am itching to get back in the classroom with the kids. I love to hear the stories and thoughts from vacations and to begin to work on the many activities that we have in store. Thank you for keeping your child on a good and restful routine during the week back from vacation. The mornings can be hard for kids (and their parents) but rest assured we will be starting the days comfortably and easing back into the rhythm of the school weeks. 

Also, thank you for keeping your child reading and thinking during vacation. I can see through both Dreambox and Razkids students have been keeping their skills sharp! Well done!

This Week’s Highlights

1/4-8

Phonics and word study focus

suffixes –ful, -ness

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Fiction texts- The power of Setting,  

Close reading: Text-based questioning

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

Focus books: Author Study- Faith Ringgold

Writing focus

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

Writing skill- Planning Opinion pieces, continued

Topical writing- Opinion pieces, The very finest holiday, The perfect class pet

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Telling time and working with money

Place value and computation (larger numbers)

Social Studies focus

Science focus week

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab and sound

Homework

Daily reading, Homework packet and optional online work (Razkids, Rosetta Stone, Dreambox)