Events of the Week:  

• Math—We continued working with number bonds.  We practiced using the numbers 6, 7, and 8 and breaking the numbers into different parts.  A math homework paper is coming home today.  Be sure to sit with your child and help him/her complete the page together.  Please return the page on Monday.  

• Language Workshop— We started our research project on seals.  We read a variety of books and used many resources to help us find facts (PebbleGO, Kids World Book Online, National Geographic Kids, various websites, etc.).  As we gathered information on seals, we wrote a list of facts about them.  Next week, we’ll use these facts to write an informational paper as a class about seals.
• Writing Workshop— We used our seal facts to practice writing in a complete sentence.   Your child should be able to tell you the components of a good sentence:  It is a complete thought, begins with a capital letter, ends with a punctuation mark, includes finger spacing between words, and unknown words are “stretched out” (spelled phonetically.  For example, “boat” = “bot”).
• Reading Workshop—Students are working daily in Literacy Centers.  While students are working independently, I am meeting with small groups to focus on different reading skills.  
• Word Study— We focused on syllable segmenting and blending this week.  We practiced by counting the number of syllables in our names, food items from the kitchen center, and by sorting  pictures on the smartboard.  We also practiced blending the syllables to make a word (ex. /jel/ /ly/ /fish/).  

Important Dates:

• Jan. 29:  100th Day of School (dress like a 100 year-old)
• Jan. 30:  101st Day of School (dress in black & white)
• Feb. 9:  Valentine Party (be watching for more details)
• Feb. 15:  Jump Rope for Heart form and money due
• Feb. 22:  Jump Rope for Heart (during our P.E. time)

Valentine Party Information was sent home this week.  Remember, please let your child write the Valentine’s.

Have fun creating the box together!

Library Books:  Remember to please take care of the library books while they are at your house.  A good idea is to keep the library book in your child’s backpack when it is not being read.  Library books are due back each Friday, so your child can check out a new book.  :)

Next Week:

• We will continue our class research project about penguins.
• We will continue to work on number bonds and begin addition.
• Our sight word will be “are” and bonus words “
• We will learn about segmenting the sounds in words and blending sounds together to form words.
• We will celebrate the 100th and 101st days of school!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn

Tooth Truck

A NOTE FROM THE NURSE

January 19, 2018

Dear Parent or Guardian,

We are pleased to announce the Tooth Truck has the opportunity to treat eligible
children at our site in the coming weeks. The Tooth Truck provides comprehensive
treatment, from cleanings and x-rays, to repairing cavities at no charge for
qualifying families. Requirements for being seen and treated on the Tooth Truck
are:
-Qualify for the free and reduced lunch program at school
-Cannot be an established patient of a local dentist
-Cannot have private dental insurance
-Must complete a Tooth Truck application form
The Tooth Truck treats Medicaid-eligible and uninsured children from ages 3-18
years. Children seen last year are not eligible for a routine check up but should
apply if there is a new dental concern.
You may call your school and request an application form. Please complete
an application form and return to the school nurse as soon as possible.
The Tooth Truck staff will be scheduling students very soon.

Thank You,

Your School Nurse

Friday Note 1/12/18

NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!

This Week:  In math we continued to work on composing and decomposing using number bonds.    

Our focus in reading this week was winter.

•   Language Workshop—We read two informational texts about winter, Winter and Exploring Winter.  We reviewed the characteristics of informational texts (table of contents, glossary and index).  We listed key details from each text and wrote about these details in our Reading Journals.

•      Reading Workshop—Students are working daily in Literacy Centers while I work in small groups or one on one with students.

• Word Study- This week we worked on rhyming words.  Students practiced being able to correctly identify if two words did or did not rhyme.  They also practiced being able to produce their own word when given a word to rhyme with.  The rhyming assessment was sent home today.  If your child did not score proficient we will continue to work on this and I will re-test them at the end of the quarter.

Important Dates:

•    Jan. 15:  No School
•    Jan. 18:  Cox Care Mobile (call the nurse to schedule an appointment)
•  Jan. 24:  100th Day

Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to send in an item for the 100th day of school!  There are a few items left to sign up for if you have not had a chance to do so yet.  We really appreciate it!!! :)  Click on the line below:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848a8a92fa0f49-100th

Students should be coming home with some cut out characters from a book we read today called The Mitten.  We used these in class to practice retelling the story.  I told them their homework was to use them to retell the story to you at home.  :)  

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I is like    see my a    the be

it   he she   to  can   with  go  we  me  you  and

Next Week:

• We will begin our research unit on our class arctic animal which is a seal.
• We will continue to work with number bonds in math.
• Our sight word will be “have” and bonus words are “did” and “get”  
• Students will be introduced to syllables.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn

Friday Note 1/05/18

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and were able to spend a lot of time with your families.

This Week:  

Math: We started learning to join groups within five, which lays the foundation for addition.

Language Workshop: We started our winter theme.  We read several winter fiction books.  

Writing Workshop: We worked on writing complete sentences.  We learned that a sentence is a complete thought that includes correct capitalization, spacing, and an ending mark.  Please encourage your child to work on writing at home.   

Reading Workshop: We spent time reviewing expectations during literacy centers and introduced new activities. Next week, we will continue with guided reading groups and  I will be focusing on the appropriate leveled book and word study skills within each reading group.  

Word Study: Our sight word was “you”.  We practiced writing our sight words on whiteboards.  

Important Dates:

• Jan. 8-11:  NWEA Testing (We will test from 8:15-9:00 each day.)
• Jan. 8-11: Cheer Clinic
• Jan. 12: Cheer Clinic Performance  
• Jan. 15:  No School
• Jan. 18:  Cox Care Mobile (call the nurse to schedule an appointment)

** 2nd Quarter Progress Reports are coming home today.  Please look over it and work with your child on the skills they have not mastered yet.  This is your copy to keep.  Let me know if you have any questions.  **

NWEA Testing Information:                

NWEA is a computer-based assessment program.  It is designed to assess each student’s individual ability and to track the student’s progress over multiple years.  To the students, the test is similar to a computer game.  The students wear headphones and the questions are read to them.  NWEA is called an adaptive test.  This means that the test questions are determined by the student's answer to the previous item.  An incorrect answer prompts an easier follow-up question.  Correct answers prompt the test questions to increase in difficulty.  The resulting score shows the student's unique academic level.  Please talk to your child about the importance of taking his/her time when testing next week.  We will be testing on Chromebooks in our classroom.  

IXL: A parent letter came home before break explaining this online program.  IXL  allows your child  to have extra practice at home on our current math and language skills.  I want to encourage you to login with your child and check it out.  There are several highlighted skills for your child to complete.  Please let me know if you have any questions.    

Thank you to everyone who sent in items for our Makerspace!!!  Students did a great job creating today, they loved it!  Pictures coming soon to SeeSaw :)

Next Week:

• We will continue our theme on winter.  
• We will continue working on joining groups.
• Our sight word will be “and”.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn