Welcome back and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Can you believe that we are half way through the year?  It’s always so amazing to me how quickly the year goes and how much they grow every month.  I missed them so much…glad to see them and hear all of their news!

Yesterday they took the READING portion of the NWEA test.  This is the same test that was given in September and will be given again in the Spring.  I am thrilled to report that ALL OF MY STUDENTS went up in reading!  I am so proud of them.  Thanks for your help on the home front.  It’s a team effort, isn’t it?  Next week we will take the Math portion of NWEA.

This week I have met with each reading group.  Next week, due to NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY and district assessments, I will not be meeting with the groups.  Reading Groups (Book Bags will resume the week of January 22.   However, please continue reading the books at home with your child.

Next week:

READING-We will continue our unit about FOOD.  We’ll read a story from our Anthology book about a Grandfather Bear who is Hungry.

LETTERS/SOUNDS  long i and long o    This week we worked with long a  and e.  There were work papers that went home this week with words on them, indicating words with long a and e.  

WORDS-look   make

We also have been working with different ways to connect texts (books) to things.

ie  Text to Text -When reading a new story, does it remind us of another book we have read?

     Text to Self-When reading a new book, does it remind us of something about ourself, an experience that we’ve had, something we’d like, a trip, vacation, new sibbling, etc?

Text to World-When reading a new book, does it remind us of something we’ve talked about in class, in our community, on TV, etc

Have a casual discussion with your child as you read together or at the dinner table, riding in the car, just time together.

MATH-Assessments and Partner story problems.  Students should be able to add and subtract fluently from 0-10.  Practice at home.  Doesn’t have to be written down, mentally is fine.

Remember that WEDNESDAY is LATE START.

Have a glorious weekend.  Enjoy the beautiful weather.  Appreciate life and each other.

Mrs. Smith