Week of January 5-9, 2015

I hope you all enjoyed your break and had time to relax and enjoy time as a family.  I certainly enjoyed my time off and I am excited to get back to school to see friendly faces!

In reading this week, we will read the classic story, Stone Soup.  (Unit 3, Week 1) Students will practice the reading strategy of inferring, as well as the Common Core Standard RL.3.2 recounting stories from different cultures.  Here students use their background knowledge and clues in the text to make their inferences.  It's kind of like reading between the lines! The author doesn't come right out and say, "Susan was sad." But, students can figure out that Susan is sad by looking at actions, words, and thoughts.  The spelling words this week have the /ar/ and /or/ sounds.  In grammar, we will learn about actions verbs.

In math, we will begin Chapter 4 Multiplication Facts and Strategies.  The ultimate goal is to know the multiplication facts fluently by the time students complete third grade.  Practicing at home helps tremendously in being able to find the product automatically. In social studies, we are continuing our unit on Michigan's Geography.  Students have learned about the natural characteristics of our state (islands, waterfalls, sand dunes, lakes, mountains, peninsulas, etc.) and we will begin on human characteristics on Monday.  We will finish the unit by exploring ways humans interact with both of this characteristics.

Two former students in Room 210, Kate McCrackin and Carlee Payne (now in 7th grade), are doing a toilet paper drive for Eve's House in Lansing.  Eve's House is a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.  It is a safe place for them to go.  For the past 6 years, these two girls have been doing a community service project for their shared birthdays on January 10.  Instead of having a party and receiving gifts, they do a community project.  Last year, they collected 4,122 rolls of toilet paper.  This year, their goal is 5,000 rolls.  If you would like to donate to the shelter by sending in toilet paper, please do so.  They will be collecting through January 20.  Thanks in advance for helping these two community minded students.

Important dates to remember and mark on your calendar:
January 19 NO SCHOOL MLK Day -- PD for Teachers
January 22, 23 Half Days -- School dismissed at 12:05 PM
January 24  End of the 2nd Marking Period and First Semester

January 30 Report Cards Sent Home