Weekly Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter August 18-22
What are we doing this week?
HORN ·         DIBELS assessment will be done all this week. ·         Our focus for math this week is the 4 step problem solving process. We will continue our Problem Solving unit and talk about estimation and being part of a learning community! ·         Our focus for Science this week will be the 7 Habit story book. We will read it aloud and discuss ways to incorporate the habits into our lives. We will also complete a few activities from scholastic newsletters.	WOODS ·         This week our focus in Reading will be to extend our understanding of story elements by practicing identifying problems and solutions in a story! We will practice this in class by reading the stories A Pen Pal for Max and Loved Best.  ·         As for independent reading students will continue easing into the routine of taking AR tests. They will also be required to take an AR test for their Summer Reading Book! ·         We will improve our writing by strengthening our language skills through correct usage of subjects, predicates, and the 4 types of sentences. Students will also receive their first spelling list. This week’s list features long vs. short vowels.
HOMEWORK
-Students must read for 20 minutes each night & record in their Agenda/Husky Pad in the section directly under the Language Arts and Reading Section.
Tests HORN: No tests for Horn this week. WOODS: Spelling Test on Thursday ;Vocabulary and Reading Assessment on Friday

The Week Ahead…		Upcoming Events
Math	·         Students will explore various strategies that can be used in problem solving situations. ·         Practice 4 step problem solving process ·         Learn to solve multi-step problems	·         Parent Chat Night is Thursday, August 21, 6:00-7:30 in Miss Woods' classroom!  ·         Global Scholar testing begins the week of August 25.
Science	·         Plans in the making
Reading	·         Students will practice identifying characters and settings. ·         Students will practice identifying the problem and solution in a story.
Language	·         Review subjects and predicates. ·         Identifying and correctly using the 4 types of sentences! ·         We will spell words with long and short vowels
Writing	·         Beginning original Narrative Writing pieces!

Spelling Words

cap,  hop, man, kit, cut, fin, spin, cape, hope, man,  kite,  cute,  fine,  spine,  fluff, fell, spell, floss,  stress.

Vocabulary Words

deciphered, mistaken, translate, repairs, heaving, fortunate, dodging, din, bothersome, catastrophe,

Tonight's Homework

Parents, 

A few things regarding your child's reading homework:

1. Please remember that whenever I assign a story to read for homework, this can be used as their 20 minutes of nightly reading. I have communicated this  several times with students, but I just wanted to make sure I clearly communicated this to you as well.

2. Remember that students will only be tested on the vocabulary words with STARS on them. That is a total of 11 words. Our test is Friday!

3. I have attached a picture of a completed example of the graphic organizer students brought home tonight. We completed this in class together. Please understand that the one your child completes tonight does NOT have to be that detailed! 

Have a great evening!

STAR Enterprise Reports!

                                August 13, 2014

Dear Parents,

Tonight you should have received a Student Diagnostic Report from today’s STAR Enterprise Test in your child’s academic binder. On that report you will notice important information regarding your child’s reading range, statistical information about where they fall on the national spectrum, and the grade level they are currently reading on. You might also notice a color coded information bar. This bar helps us determine the direction of the instruction we will give your child. If you notice that they fall in the red, yellow, or blue part of that spectrum, this means that we will begin pulling them in small invitational groups during morning intervention next week. These invitational groups will be conducted each morning and are geared toward meeting your child’s unique and specific reading needs.  

                Also, please remember that this a Student Diagnostic Report is from our very first STAR Enterprise Test of the year and gives us baseline data by which we can measure their reading progress this year. No matter where your child starts, we believe there is room for growth and improvement this year, and that is our desire for each of your precious children! We also believe that as we encourage students to read daily and to read a wide range of appropriate books, growth will occur. We can also confidently say that  our students are already on the right path to growing as readers, because they have been reading up a storm!  So, please continue to help us to encourage the children to READ, READ, READ!

Thanks for all you do,

Mrs. Horn and Miss Woods

STAR Enterprise!

Parents,

Tomorrow your child will be taking a computerized assessment called the STAR Enterprise test . This test is an updated version of the STAR test that most students are familiar with and have taken. Although there is no preparation required for this test, will you please help us encourage children to do their absolute best? This assessment is nothing to be stressed about, but it will require stamina. So will you help us encourage the students not to give up?

            This assessment will help provide valuable information about your child as a reader. This information is also used to determine your child’s Reading Range, which is something that can be used to help students find books that are a good fit for them. This week, you will receive a report detailing how your child did on their STAR Enterprise test. This will give us good baseline data that will help us to measure your child’s growth as a reader this year! Also, please keep in mind that the STAR Enterprise is only ONE measure of your child’s abilities as a reader.  Please be on the lookout for more information about STAR and Accelerated Reader (AR) this week!

Miss Woods and Mrs. Horn

Weekly Newsletter August 11—15

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
What are we doing this week?
HORN Review and practice adding multi-digit numbers using the traditional algorithm.  Introduce 7 habits.	HORN Review and practice subtracting multi-digit numbers using the traditional algorithm. Introduce 7 habits.	HORN Review and practice subtracting across zero using the traditional algorithm. Introduce 7 habits.   WOODS -STAR Testing	HORN Begin Problem Solving Unit. Introduce 7 habits.	HORN Begin Problem Solving Unit. Introduce 7 habits.
HOMEWORK
-Students must read for 20 minutes each night & record in their Agenda/Husky Pad in the section directly under the Language Arts and Reading Section.
Tests HORN: formative assessments for basic fact fluency (this is not for a grade) WOODS: reading and vocabulary assessment Friday

The Week Ahead…		Upcoming Events
Math	Continue with problem solving unit and learn the importance of being a community member in the classroom.
Science	7 Habit continued instruction and activities
Reading	-Identify the characters in a story and tell what they are like (character traits) -Explain how the main character changes or what he or she learns during the story
Language	-Identify the parts (subject & predicate) of a sentence -Identify and write the 4 kinds of sentences­­
Writing	-Begin Narrative Writing pieces - Review letters in the cursive alphabet

 

Spelling Words

No spelling words this week. We will begin spelling August 18th!

 

Vocabulary Words

Students will be given all of the following words but will only be tested on the bolded words: conquer, resistance, assembly, plenty, dismiss, squirmed, patchwork, autographed, ponder, anticipation, trudged, gushed, coincidence, pleasant, modeled, murmur, loyal, loyal recited, frustrated, imitated.

UPCOMING PROJECT NEXT WEEK!!

PARENTS: I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ABOUT A PROJECT WE WILL BEGIN IN CLASS NEXT MONDAY! I WILL SEND A WRITTEN COPY OF THESE STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS HOME TOMORROW J.

Self-Portrait Collage

Dear Students,

We will be creating a self-portrait collage in class.  To complete this project you will need to bring some things from home. Choose at least 8 small pictures or words from magazines or newspapers* that describe you, a hobby or hobbies you have, and any of your favorite things.  Be sure to include your favorite color, favorite food, something you love, something you don’t like and something that you are afraid of.  These need to be brought in a baggie (please include your name) by Monday, August 11 th .  You will be drawing the self-portrait in class.  These creations will be displayed all year long.

*Do not send photos!

Love,

Miss Woods 

Welcome Back!

Whew! The first day is officially behind us, and boy did it fly by! We had a great time getting to know each other and learning about Paine Intermediate today. What an honor and delight it is to teach your children, we can confidently say that we love them already. Here are just a few things to be aware of and look for this week.

• Please make sure that students know their bus number and lunch numbers! Here is a link for information regarding bus routes : https://www.trussvillecityschools.com/SupportServices/Pages/Transportation.aspx
• This week (and for the rest of the year), your is expected to write their homework in their husky/agenda pad every day. They are to then show it to you and have you initial it, so please keep an eye out for it this week. We check and initial husky pads/agendas EVERY morning.You can also use the husky pad as a form of communication by writing or stapling notes for us to it.
• We want communication to flow freely this year so don't forget you can contact us via email. Here are our email addresses again: Miss Woods-jessica.woods@trussvillecityschools.com and Mrs. Horn-elaine.horn@trussvillecityschools.com. 

We look forward to collaborating with you this year,

Miss Woods and Mrs. Horn