We have made it through another busy week. Each week, I will try to update you on the week that was, as well as events that are up and coming in the week ahead.

This week we have been working a lot on place value in math. We have been working with numbers up to one million - finding the value of digits whether in the ones, tens, hundreds, and so forth. The children have done a fabulous job of learning this skill. We also worked on number patterns. Next week, we will continue with chapter 2 in math and end the week with a quiz over place value and number patterns. Look for more information in the assignment notebook next week.

This week in Language Arts we have learned about interrogative and declarative sentences. We learned how we can identify these types of sentences and how to properly punctuate these types of sentences. Next week we will continue learning imperative and exclamatory sentences. We will read the story Nate the Great in our reading books, and continue to make text-to-self connections and text-to-text connections in Reading Workshop. There seems to be some confusion about the reading logs. Each night, the children are expected to read a minimum of 15 minutes at least 5 nights per week. The children are welcome to read anything they choose. Every night they need to record the title of the book, and then 1 fact from the story they read, and 1 thing they wonder about (think of a question about their reading). At the end of the week, the bottom of the reading log needs to be signed and returned to school each Monday.

In Writers' Workshop, we have been working from the book called The Simple Six. I am using this book as a tool to help the children to become better writers and how to be successful on the ISTEP this spring. So far we have learned how good writers stick to a topic and use logical order when writing. Next week we will learn how interesting words make our writing better.

Spelling has been going great. Remember, the pre-test is on Monday. Spelling homework also goes home on Monday nights and is due on Wednesday. Final test is on Thursday.

Next week we will take the Reading NWEA on Wednesday and the Math NWEA on Friday. I will be able to use these scores to determine differentiation strategies for the children as well as start setting goals for the children for spring testing.

We have been working very hard at establishing routines this week. Last week was all about learning and practicing new routines, this week was all about reinforcing them. The children are
taking a lot in, but they are doing a fantastic job.

Finally, on Thursday, I sent home a yellow information paper. Please review this paper, make any necessary changes, and return this to school with you child on Monday. It is important to get this information back because we use this information in the event of an emergency.

Have a great weekend!! :)

We Survived the First Week!

Whew! We made it! It was a long week, and I am sure that the children are as tired as I am, but I feel like we had a productive week.

We spent the majority of the week establishing routines, routines, routines! When we weren't working on routines, we were learning procedures, procedures, procedures! Seriously, we spent a lot of time learning how our classroom clicks. The children also took beginning of the year assessments in reading and math.

Next week will prove to be another busy week. On Monday, we will have our DIBELS reading assessment. School pictures will be on Wednesday. The following week will be NWEA testing. Once I know the actual days and times, I will be sure to pass along that information.

We will also start a "regular" week. Monday will be the spelling pre-test, and the spelling packet will go home for homework, due on Wednesday. Tuesday the reading book will go home with a bookmark to sign for Wednesday. Thursday will be the final spelling test. We will also be working on place value and other number sense standards this week. It will definitely be a busy week, but I am excited to get started.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has returned the handbook/acceptable use policy paper and Buckaroo Binder contract. If you have not sent it in with your child please do so before Wednesday. We will go to the computer lab, and I'd like for everyone to have access to the internet. I will also be sending out a "test" email early next week to make sure that I have everyone's correct email address.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Runyon