As we transitioned into more summer-like weather last week, the kids looked forward to each recess to enjoy the fresh air. This time of year is also difficult to keep their minds focused on learning and doing our best. As you look over your child's papers, you can help me out by praising them for their hard work, as well as encouraging them to always do their best. Work habits tend to slide this time of year, especially handwriting.
Reading: Our reading goals last week were to read and spell words with the endings of ing and ed. Our comprehension skill was compare and contrast, and our grammar skill was exclamations. Our reading goals this week will be to read and spell words with er and est. Our grammar skill is using the punctuation marks of period, question mark, and exclamation point correctly, and our comprehension skill is the author's purpose. Within our guided reading groups, we are working hard to meet the end of the year FAST goals. Each group is working on the skills they need. Some groups are working daily on reading sight words, and blending nonsense words. Other groups have started working on comprehension skills such as identifying the main idea and important details in a passage. All groups have worked on blending and reading words in short and long vowel booklets. These booklets have introduced many phonics skills such as blends, digraphs, and vowel teams. Once a vowel booklet was complete in group, they brought it home to share/read. I am sure you have seen these in their take-home folders. Thanks for encouraging your child to read at home and signing their log sheet. We have also implemented "Read Naturally" passages within our small groups. These are leveled nonfiction passages that also focus on comprehension. Each week, each group has a new passage that we read/reread all week. On Fridays, my mom has been volunteering to time them on this passage. Their goal is to read it to the end in 1 minute. They have a special folder with a graph to record the number of words they read correctly. This is one way I am focusing on raising their fluency scores for the upcoming FAST assessment. The following words have been added to our word wall: above, bear, even, pushed, studied, surprise, teacher, toward, always, happy, once, different, high, stories, enough, and near.
Math: This week, we will test over Module 13, which is titled “Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction”. I am very impressed with how well they have picked up on the concept of adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers, as well as making a ten when needed. We have practiced using the 120 chart, drawing tens and ones, as well as lining up the numbers. I told them this is a 2nd grade skill and they did very well working hard on these lessons. This week, we will start Module 6, which is titled “Understand Put Together and Take Apart Problems. We will also be using a number of addition and subtraction strategies to solve these word problems.
Writing: We continue to practice writing complete sentences in our journals and on seatwork pages. We have even used our spelling words to write complete sentences. My plan was to start lessons on “Narrative Writing” last week, but we did not have time, therefore, we will start those lessons this week.
Science: Before Easter Break, our "Mystery Science" lesson was titled "Light, Materials, Transparent, and Opaque" "What if there were no Windows?" The kids learned what the following science words mean: transparent, translucent, and opaque. I used several different objects and we sorted them using these words. Last week, our focus was “light”. We learned that in order to see, a light source, whether natural or artificial, is needed. They enjoyed a mystery box activity, which used flashlights and objects inside of boxes with a peek hole.
Star Student: Kobain was the last student to be featured. Kobain likes to drink Orange Juice, and eat pizza. He likes fishing, hunting, riding dirt bikes, and bonfires. When Kobain grows up, he wants to be a PE teacher.
I have been going through my books and on Friday, I let each student choose 5 books to bring home and keep.
Autism Acceptance Week in the CCSD
Monday, April 17: Wear a Fun Hat or Wild Hair
Tuesday, April 18: Wear Rainbow or Tie Dyed Clothes
Wednesday, April 19: Dress to Show Something You Love
Thursday, April 20: Wear Red
Friday, April 21: Wear Comfy Clothes or PJ Day
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