Week of September 14, 2009

This week’s story is “Tomas and the Library Lady”. Our understanding of Spanish and the larger world is increased in this sweet story of a migrant family. Our enjoyment & understanding of this story will be enriched by activities this week that tie in with this story. The grandfather in the story is an excellent storyteller; today we had our in-school field trip today with Professional storyteller, Chris Fascione! On Wednesday afternoon we will visit our neighborhood public library, just the way Tomas visited his neighborhood library. The vocabulary words to learn by Friday are: midnight, chatter, thorny, eager, howling. The spelling words all end with the /k/ sound.

In math we continue working with the 100 chart and the number patterns-these are the concepts that underlie our Base 10 number system. We will also make number models (equations) with greater than (>) and less than (<), for example 8 > 5 is a true number model.

In social studies we’re learning about “People & Places”, an introductory unit that deals with groups, communities and rules, similar to our Longfellow PBIS “cool tools

Homework
Daily: Read aloud for 20 minutes; do 1 page of A3 Mad Minute, practice spelling & use the vocabulary words in sentences. Any time a math “home link” comes home, it is due the following day.
For Parents: PTO meeting tomorrow evening, 9/15, at 7 PM in the school auditorium. Due Wednesday: spelling workbook, pages 10-11; Students with the regular spelling list (p. 12) need to do pages 12 & 13; Students who were given the challenge spelling words to learn are to choose 5 of the challenge words, and write a sentence with each. Remember to bring your library book if you want to check out a new one! Note: If you want, bring your public library card to check out a book or 2 on our field trip. Parents who have not yet granted permission for me to take your child on a walking field trip need to send me a note by Wednesday granting your permission. For Friday: spelling test; our first graded reading test on the content and vocabulary of “Tomas and the Library Lady” I will encourage the students to take the reading book home, to read & discuss it with you.
Due next Monday, Mad Minute packet A3 is due; remember your gym shoes! Wednesday. 9/23, 7 PM—come see authors David Shannon & John Scieszka! (We’ll also get to see them during the day!)

Are you able to help us?

1. Next week we begin “Tastings”, a delicious way we learn about good nutrition, staying healthy and other cultures. We need 2 volunteers to help set the table & wash dishes before & after the tasting. It will be most every Tuesday afternoon (time to be determined) this fall. Please let me know if you can help.

2. Can you help us collect things for our Rocks & Soil science study? We need rinsed out 2-liter bottles, and clean yogurt cups with lids. Just send them in as they’re available.

Ask your child to tell you: the special “-ck” spelling pattern (it’s in the workbook); a summary of his/her favorite story that Chris Fascione told; the number patterns on a 100 chart (ideally s/he will use words like “tens place” and “ones place”).