Weekly Update

Hi Parents!

Short weeks sometimes feel like long weeks, but this week flew by.  I think the kids are settling into the year.  On the whole, I am quite pleased with how quickly they're picking up on classroom routines and procedures.  Staying focused during the afternoon has been a bit difficult, but I am hopeful that as the kids build stamina for a full school day, they will have an easier time staying on task.  

We will have our Patriot Day ceremony at the flag pole on Wednesday morning. We will honor those who lost their lives on September 11th, along with all service members and first responders who keep us safe.  It's never lost on me that for our kids, September 11th is part of history, but for those of us alive on that day...well, our hearts continue to weep at the memories.  Truly, we will never forget.

Here's your update for the week:

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Room Parent Needed:
I am still in need of at least one Room Parent to help coordinate and plan our yearly parties and events.  If you can help with this, please email me.  You will be guided through the year by our PTA Room Parent Coordinator, beginning on Wednesday, September 11th with a Room Parent and Volunteer Welcome Coffee at 8:35 am in the Pinebrook cafe. 

Homework Update:
Homework will begin on September 16th.  To both afford families flexibility and to facilitate time management, homework will follow a predictable pattern.  Each week, your child will receive a homework packet on Mondays.  The completed packet will be due back to school no later than Friday.  Each week students will practice writing our 5 words of the week, and complete some math and/or literacy practice.  Nightly reading will continue as a homework requirement.  

Substitute Update:
LCPS has implemented a new literacy training program for all teachers.  These half-day trainings take place during the school day, which means I will be out of the classroom for half the day on select dates throughout the year.  To afford consistency and predictability in our classroom routines, Mrs. Ryan will most often be in to substitute for me.  If you hear the kids talk about her, please reinforce the idea that our classroom routines, procedures, and behavior expectations are the same, no matter who is the teacher.  Many thanks! :)

Thursday Folders:
Please empty your child's Thursday folder each Thursday and return it to school on Fridays. I do reuse these folders each week.

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will begin Book Shopping, which is the process of choosing just right books for our book boxes.
• Writing:  We will talk about types of sentences, learn about our Super Star Spelling Dictionaries, and discuss how writers edit their writing.
• Math:  We will begin establishing the routines and procedures of Math Workshop as we focus on number sense, counting, ordering numbers, and comparing numbers.
• Science / Social Studies:  We will talk about the meaning of Patriot Day.  We will define and discuss the 5 senses.  We will learn about the 4 seasons.

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

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  Savey is enjoying his last weekend of freedom before he begins working at the Cox Farms Fall Festival.  Jonah's birthday is next week, so we are starting to prepare for our celebration.  My mother's birthday is Tuesday.  We will remember her this weekend on what would have been her 74th birthday. 💜