Weekly Update

Hi Everyone!

We've had a fantastic week!  I'm starting to see little personalities emerge as the kids become more comfortable with me, and with each other.  This is when I can really start to build a relationship with them, connect with them, and see our class environment take shape.  It makes me happy.  :)

Meantime, ask your child about our special guest teacher at math today!

Here's your weekly update:

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Homework Starts Next Week:
The kids have practiced doing their homework in class this week.  Next week, they will begin to do their homework at home.  I have taped the homework routine to the inside front cover of their homework journals.  Please read that for the outline of what to do each day.  A few notes about homework:

• I will send homework journals home on Tuesdays, since that's the day the written homework begins.
• Homework journals are due back on Fridays.  I will check homework journals on Fridays.  Your child will receive a completion grade.
• The homework journal gives your child practice writing the 1st Grade Words of the Week.  I will assign 5 words per week.  On some pages of the homework journal, there is room to practice more than 5 words. Your child should, at a minimum, practice the 5 words for that week. Your child may use the rest of the room on the homework page to practice writing any other words from our 1st grade list.  This is encouraged, but not required.  The 1st grade word list was sent home earlier this year, and it is posted in the 1st Grade section of the Puma Paw.  You can visit the Puma Paw by clicking the link on the Pinebrook home page.

Ice Cream:
As a general rule, ice cream will now be available for sale on Fridays in the cafeteria. Your child may buy ice cream to eat with a school lunch, or to eat with a packed lunch.  I don't ask the kids if they are buying ice cream on Fridays; I expect them to know whether they have permission to purchase ice cream.

Library Books:
Please help your child remember his/her Library books each Wednesday.  

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will begin learning the routines and procedures of Reader's Workshop.
• Writing:  We will continue handwriting practice, emphasizing proper letter formation and starting letters at the top.
• Math:  We will continue learning the routines and procedures of Math Workshop as we finish our number sense and counting unit.
• Science:  We will talk about the 4 seasons, earth's rotation on its axis and around the sun, and why we have day and night.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns!  

I'm not sure about the weather this weekend!  If you have family in the path of the hurricane, I sincerely hope they are all safe.