September 10, 2018

Dear Parents,

I sent home the Eureka Math Homework Book today.  It is called Succeed at the top of the book.   Please look for it in your child’s backpack.  Please keep this book somewhere at home where you can easily access it.  After each lesson our class completes, I will be blogging the homework page(s) that are due the next day.  Please remove the page(s) from the book, have your child write his/her name at the top, complete the page and send it in the Red Communication folder back to school the next day.  If your child needs more time completing the page, please send me an email.  I will be checking these assignments in as they arrive in the morning.  I’ll email you if homework is missing and if I didn’t receive an email.

Attached to this note is a guide page for parents explaining some of the features in Eureka math and how there are pages that have helpers and tips for you.

The homework for tonight will be page 5 in the Eureka Math Succeed Book.  Please tear it out of the book for your child.  Students should complete homework on his/her own.  Please help your child if he/she needs help.  The page previous to the homework shows parents how to do the problems.

If you have any questions, please send me an email.

Thanks, Ms. Truxall

Welcome Parents to Open House!

Ms. Truxall

truxalc@dearbornschools.org

IBlog:  Are you getting my emails?

Morning Procedures-Communication Folder in bin, turn in homework, silent reading

Curriculum-Daily 5- and Montessori

-Mini-lesson- I teach whole group a strategy for Reading, Phonics, and different Genres such as Folktales, Informational Reading, etc. for 8-10 minutes.

Round 1- Students work independently on one of the following below:

-Read to Self, Read to Someone , Work on Writing, Listen to Reading , Word Work (Spelling)

While students are working on the Daily 5, I am listening to students read, giving assignments, etc.  Students receive leveled books when we meet.

This continues with 2 more Mini-lessons and 2 more Rounds. Montessori activities will be incorporated during Daily 5.

Spelling– Hot words, Cold words, Dolch Words or Academic vocabulary, Complete 4 or more activities.  Test Friday

Writing Workshop

-Mini Lesson– I teach skill for 8-10 min.  Model how to do write it.

–Guided Practice– Allow time for children to write according to how the lesson was taught.  I will monitor students to be sure they are working towards the learning goal for the day.

–Independent Practice– Students will write on their own either on the skill of the day or on other writings.

-Conferring– While students are working on writing, I will be meeting with individuals/group.

Sharing–  5 min at the end will be one or two students to share writing.

Writing themes throughout year= Narrative, Informational and Opinion pieces.

Eureka Math- There are 3 workbooks for students to use.  2 stay in the classroom and 1 will be sent home for homework.  As we finish a lesson, I will blog what page the homework is.  That homework is to be completed at home and sent in the next day.

Science-Life Science, Earth Science and Physical Science- Mystery Science videos and activities

Social Studies– Communities, Economics, Geography, Civics and Government

Homework- Homework this year will be Eureka Math pages as we finish a lesson, Journal Writing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Students will also need to study for Friday’s spelling test on Thursday nights and do any work not finished in class. We will have a Reading Log of 20 minutes per day.  Reading logs will stay in Red Communication Folders.

There have been some technical issues with the NWEA testing website.  We will be postponing the test for today.  I will let you know when all is clear and we can test again.  Thanks for understanding.

Today we will begin Spelling.  I have a list of words I am sending this afternoon with your child.  Please quiz your child on these words so he/she is ready for the test this Friday. Students will receive a new list every Monday.

Homework begins this week.  Every Tuesday and Thursday this school year your child will have journal writing for homework.  We call this journal, the Home Journal.  I will send a calendar of writing topics with your child and he/she may choose which topics to write about.  Please have your child put the date at the top of the page, write 3 to 5 sentences and draw a picture.

Monday and Wednesday homework will be math.   More info to come as we move through this week. Thanks!

Please join us next Wednesday, September 5, 2018 for our annual Open House.  Let your child show you around our classroom, where he/she sits, etc.  I will provide information on the subjects that will be taught and answer any questions you may have about how the room works, procedures, etc.  Please remember that this is not conference time to discuss how your child is doing in the class.  That will come later after I’ve gotten to know and work with your child.  Thanks for understanding.

Ms. Truxall’s class will be taking the NWEA tests for math and reading next week Wednesday and Thursday in the afternoon. Those dates are September 5th and 6th.  Thank you.

Please return your completed summer reading logs soon!

Dear Parents,

Welcome to our classroom! This will be a year filled with many new experiences and learning for your child. 

We have just begun our Daily 5 and Literacy CAFE adventure. 

Daily 5 is the structure we use to plan our morning. Children will be busy completing meaningful literacy tasks:

• Read to self
• Work on writing
• Word Work
• Listen to reading
• Read to Someone

While the students are engaged in their literacy choices, I will be teaching small groups and individuals, so everyone can get the just-in-time instruction they need to reach their potential.

CAFE is what we study during the Daily 5 time. CAFE is an acronym for the four major components of reading:

• C for Comprehension
• A for Accuracy
• F for Fluency
• E for Expanding Vocabulary

Your child will learn reading strategies within each category. These strategies will become tools that help them become better readers and writers. I will keep you informed through weekly newsletters of the new strategies that are introduced to the whole class. You’ll be updated about your child’s individual strategies through Parent Pipelines. Both of these communications will help you reinforce concepts when you read with your child at home.

Thank you for partnering with me. It is going to be a great year.

Sincerely,

Ms. Truxall

Please email me or write me a note if your child is going to dismiss out front with his/her younger sibling.  Our rule is the younger student comes to the older and dismisses out in the back.  I now have 2 children dismissing with preschool and 4 students dismissing out front with parental permission.  I must have the permission from you so please send me an email or a note.  You can even call the office and Ms. Bernadette will tell me.   I just don’t want to lose any children.  I am responsible for them up until I see your child’s ride home.  Thank you for understanding.