Weekly Newsletter December 8th-12th

December 8th – December 12th
What are we doing this week?
HORN ·          This week in Math we will continue our fluency PowerPoint and learn new strategies for the 5’s multiplication facts. J I hope you will join us in encouraging the STRATEGIES at home with the multiplication facts. Be sure to constantly check the blog for updates and pictures! Also ask your student about the strategy 10’s! ·          Additionally in math this week we will continue our unit “Muffles Truffles.” Students will be creating arrays of different dimensions and calculating the cost of their boxes of truffles. ·          This week in Science we will continue our human body unit. Ask your child about constructing the models of thumbs and hands last week! Be sure to discuss tendons and ligaments. J This week we will begin a new investigation, coordination! Part one will entail a stimulus/response activity.	WOODS ·         This week we will continue our  novel study of the book Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo! As we read, we will practice determining the point of view of the characters throughout the book. We will also use this novel study as an opportunity to practice important writing skills like summarizing and IRSC paragraph writing (Indent, Restate Question, Supporting Evidence, and Closing Sentence).Please note that this will be a three week novel study and therefore we will NOT have a reading or vocabulary assessment until we completed the novel. I will announce the assessment date at a later time! ·          The skill is(aw) sound spelled aw, au, augh, ough, all, al. We are currently on 3 Lesson 3! Don’t forget to take advantage of our spellingcity.com/paine3 site. This website has our lists built into it for the year AND generates interactive games using these words. It is a great tool to utilize for spelling practice!
HOMEWORK
WOODS: -Reading and Logging: Students must read for 20 minutes each night & log information about their reading on the new reading log!  This log requires them to record the title of the book they read and the pages they’ve read. They will also be asked to indicate whether they understood what they’ve read. Reading is Thinking: Students will complete a brief paragraph writing assignment that requires them reflect on what they have read.  This assignment will be referred to as “Reading is Thinking” and will be completed once this week!  This is another great way to practice summarizing AND gauge student understanding of what they have read.  HORN: Students must complete 30 minutes of Dreambox this week at home. Additional (low amount of problems) homework may be given if the teacher sees the need for practice of a particular skill. Remember Dreambox records time from Sunday to Saturday.
Tests HORN: Students will have a daily math skills assessment this week.   WOODS: Spelling Assessment is on Thursday ! NO VOCABULARY ASESSESSMENT THIS WEEK!