Tomorrow is pajama day, crazy hair day, and birthday bash!  If you have not sent in your $5, please do so tomorrow morning so we can pay for the pizza, cupcakes, and ice cream.  I still need money from 11 students!!

Tomorrow is also our spelling test!!!!!

Report cards will come home on Monday.

Since we missed a few spirit days this week, we will make them up next week.  Monday, February 3rd will be hippie day and Tuesday, February 4th will be class color day (that is BLUE for us).

I am realizing when students come to me in reading group that many of them have only read their book once.  Especially for students with shorter books it is a MUST that they go back and read their book over.  In the classroom we discuss that rereading a book helps with comprehension and fluency.  Today I sat down with a group and asked each of them how many times they read their book – every student answered “one time” except for one student who said “four”…when I started asking questions about the story only one student could answer my questions correctly – guess who?  I realize as adults we are easily tired of hearing the same story over and over, but it will help your child become a better reader.  The 1st time through the story you can focus on making sure they are reading all the words correctly.  The 2nd time through the story you can discuss what is happening, who the characters are, what is the main idea, which parts are most important, etc…  The 3rd time through the story really listen to your child as they read – are they stopping at periods?  Is there expression in their voice?  Does it sound smooth?

Students with long chapter books are often reading silently and independently at home, I’m sure.  However, once they have read a chapter (or a couple) to themselves, have them come to you and REREAD their favorite couple of pages or a part where they were confused.  Doing this 3 or 4 times during a chapter book will help you see their strengths and where they need help the most.

I know you are working hard at home and I am very thankful for each and every thing you do 🙂

Spirit week:  Tuesday is hippie day.  Wednesday our class should wear the color blue.  Thursday is sports day.  Friday is pajama day, crazy hair day and our BIRTHDAY BASH. (Wow, that is a busy Friday)

Birthday bash:  please send in $5 to cover the cost of pizza, cake, and ice cream.  If you are unable to send in the money, please let me know through an email.  Any money left over will go towards a craft on Valentine’s Day.

Spelling:  starting this week, students will have 5 pattern words like always, but their other 5 words will be chosen by them.  I gave them a list of words that was tested at the beginning of the year.  The words that they got right were highlighted – they should have chosen 5 words that were not highlighted to put on their list for this week.  It may take us a week or two to get the process down pat.

Reading:  I have a few more students to test but should be able to check in with every reading group by tomorrow if I didn’t check in with them today.

Report Cards: might be coming home as early as Wednesday but I will post a message to let you know for sure that they are on their way home.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is a half day of school – students will be dismissed at 11:45.

For the “Birthday Bash” next Friday, we thought it might be easier for everyone if each student brought in $5 (instead of everyone sending in items).  We will use the money to order pizza and purchase cake/ice cream.  If there is money left over, we will use it towards whatever our craft is at our Valentine’s party next month.  Please send $5 in an envelope labeled with your child’s name by next Wednesday.  If you are unable to send in $5, please send me an email so that I know.

MONDAY IS MOVIE/POPCORN DAY!  We started discussing what movie we wanted to watch and decided that if you have a movie at home that is appropriate, you can send it to school and I will let the kids vote on Monday morning.  Some of the ideas they had (like Ice Age, Hotel Transylvania, Turbo, etc…are PG instead of just G).

Everyone is coming home with a book in their book bag today.  Even though I am doing testing, I wanted them to have something new to read.  Some students were given a worksheet with their book and others were just given the book to practice and will get a worksheet later.  I will not check in with them until next Monday.  For most students, they should have no problem getting their book read (and reread) by then – along with the activities.  It is possible that a few students with longer chapter books may not be completely finished by Monday, I told them not to stress out – just get as much done as they could.

Today is the last day to order from the book order.  You can order online at  https://orders.scholastic.com/MK4VL.

I don’t normally give students homework on Fridays, but this weekend I broke my own rule.  Everyone is coming home with a measuring worksheet to complete over the 3 day weekend.

Here are just a few things I want to highlight:

• Adam graciously pointed out that the due date for the book order is Monday and we have no school that day, so book orders can come in on Tuesday.  – Thanks Adam 😉 –  I have a few already, but I am hoping for more.  This is a good way to get inexpensive books to fill your child’s book box at school.  They use their book box every day during Daily 5 and they are often searching for some new books to put in it.
• The schedule for next week:  No school on Monday and Friday.  Thursday is a half day – students will be dismissed at 11:45.
• The week starting January 27th will be spirit week.  Monday=movie day, Tuesday=hippie day, Wednesday=class color day, Thursday=sports day, Friday=pajama day
• Friday the 31st will also be our class “birthday party”.  More info will follow…
• As report cards get closer, we are working to fit in all of the classroom/district assessments that we are required to do for them.  Last Friday we took a reading inventory on the computer.  Tomorrow we will do a writing test in the morning and a math test in the computer lab in the afternoon.  I am also trying to get DRA’s (individualized reading assessments) done for many of the students which is making it tricky to keep up with reading groups – thank you for your patience, I know how important it is to you that your child is coming home with a book to read everyday.

Spelling test tomorrow morning 🙂