Friday, September 23, 2016

                            

Subject	Learning Targets and Activities for week of:  9/26-9/30
Reading	All students met with me this week to get a new book for us to discuss in literature circles.  Your child will have reading assignments and will be responding to what they are reading through our small group discussions or in writing. Students have time during class to read, but may have to read at home if they fall behind. I look forward to the rich conversations we have together in group with one another. As a whole group we will be focusing on making inferences. An inference is an idea or conclusion that's drawn from evidence and reasoning. An inference is an educated guess. We learn about some things by experiencing them first-hand, but we gain other knowledge by inference-the process of inferring things based on what is already known. This is a higher order thinking skill and will continuously work on this throughout the year. Please check your child’s weekly folder for their first reading assessment. Your child’s nightly reading homework is to read at least 20 minutes each night.
Writing	Next week, we discuss student’s showing their writing instead of telling what they want to say. This will be another step to adding details to our writing. We will also craft a beginning that introduces their writing and an ending that gives closure to their writing.
Word Study	Today Unit 3 homework will come home. Their Unit 2 test will be in their weekly folders. Unit 3 skill will focus long vowel pattern in 1st or 2nd syllable. We are sorting and working with these words in class. Students are to complete 2 activities using their Fry words (see list that comes home). This assignment is due Wednesday, October 5th. Students will be tested on their Fry and feature words on Thursday, October 6th.
Flynn Math	I commend the students for doing a great job with our place value unit. We are now conceptualizing multiplication. We are starting the unit by looking and analyzing arrays. Knowing multiplication facts helps your child to make deeper connections and be more efficient in math. Please ensure they are doing this practice at home. I am changing the Reflex Math accounts to multiplication/division to help them progress. Xtramath will still be set at addition/subtraction for those who need practice in those skills. HW for Flynn Math is due: Instead of paper/pencil hw this week, I would like the students to earn 200 points on Sumdog. These points can be earned quickly by playing games. Some games are worth more points than others. The challenge will be open today and ends on Friday, 9/30.
Content Areas	S.S. – Next week, on Tuesday, we will take a quiz on labeling the Ohio land regions and major cities of Ohio. Students will be bringing home a study guide tomorrow to help them prepare. Students will be bringing home their first OSW homework tomorrow due the following Friday. An expectation letter will come home as well. OSW will be graded for 3 points only on if the student used BUNS, coding the type of question, and if they completed it. HW due: Friday, 9/30 Science - Monday will be begin our study of “Changes in the Earth’s Surface”. We will complete some great experiences to make the learning real for the students. They also will prepare their own note cards of vocabulary words to help them master the material. Please remember that this is the first time students have worked with this topic in school so it will mostly be all new material. You may see grades fluctuate and that is okay due to the complexity of the topic.

Reminders and Important Information

From Mr. Goodwin:

LEIGHTON AND CRADDOCK/MILLER SCHOOLS HOLD PCF ~

September 28, 2016

• Leighton and Craddock/Miller Schools will be holding a Parent Communication Forum together on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.  It will be held in the Leighton Elementary School in the media center beginning at 6:30 p.m.  This first meeting will feature a presentation and discussion revolving around the book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful Families by Steven R. Covey.  Leighton teacher, Dana McNally, along with Miller and Craddock School Counselor, Tami Mazzella, will lead the evening's activities.  

• We September 26th will be the cutoff for rolled over Free & Reduced lunch.  If the paperwork is not turned in, the program is not in effect for those families involved look forward to your attendance at this event.

*Please encourage your child to check his/her planner nightly, to help in gaining responsibility for assignments. They should be bringing their planner to you to sign as well as cleaning out their take-home/boomerang folders.

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Important Dates:

Wednesday, 9/28: Parent communication meeting (PCF) in Media Center @ 6:30

Thursday, 10/13-End of 1st Grading Period

Friday, 10/14-No School