Thursday 12/19/13

Please make sure your child is ready for test day tomorrow. Spelling, sight words, and math test tomorrow!

Our holiday party will be tomorrow! We have been doing a unit on the book The Polar Express. We are asking that just like the characters in the book that all children come to school on Friday in their pajamas!

We will also be making holiday crafts! Please send a shoebox (labeled with your child’s name) to school. This shoebox will help in carrying home the holiday crafts and other party goodies.

We will also be having pizza! The school is providing the pizza. Please send your child with a juice or water to enjoy during pizza party!

If you would like to send a treat for the class party please make sure you send enough for 28 students. There are 13 boys and 15 girls. All treats must be store bought and individually wrapped. Please don’t send cupcakes or large bag of chips. 

Homework:

Spelling: practice test

Math: Workbook page

Phonics: workbook pages 169-172

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Wednesday 12/19/13

Hi! Today we looked at diagrams and learned about how diagrams can tell us more about what we are reading. In Math we worked on counting by tens to numbers up to 120. In writing we continued to work on How To books. I also sent a note home about our holiday party for Friday!!!!

Homework:
Spelling: rainbow write

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Phonics: workbook page 163-168

Math: 2 workbook pages 

Our holiday party will be on Friday, December 20, 2013. We have been doing a unit on the book The Polar Express. We are asking that just like the characters in the book that all children come to school on Friday in their pajamas!

We will also be making holiday crafts! Please send a shoebox (labeled with your child’s name) to school. This shoebox will help in carrying home the holiday crafts and other party goodies.

We will also be having pizza! The school is providing the pizza. Please send your child with a juice or water to enjoy during pizza party!

If you would like to send a treat for the class party please make sure you send enough for 28 students. There are 13 boys and 15 girls. All treats must be store bought and individually wrapped. Please don’t send cupcakes or large bag of chips.

Tuesday 12/17/13

Hi! Today we read the book Elephants Grow and focus on reading strategies for nonfiction text. In writing we started our 2nd How-To Book!!! In Math we worked on writing numbers with tens and ones in different ways.

Friday

Homework:
Spelling: 5 sentences

Phonics: workbook pages 159-162

Reading: practice sight words and reading (log)

Math: 2 workbook pages on making tens and ones

Monday 12/16/13

Hi! The count down begins for winter break!!!! We have 4 more school days!!! We will be having a Holiday Pizza Party on Friday!!! The pizza is provided by the school but they don't include drinks. Please send your child with a juice or water to have during the party. 

Weekly Words:

Blue: prune, bump, tooth, grunt, built, crude, suit, cute, flute, build, bruise, plus, spoon, cruise, bloom, skunk, trust, smooth, juice, mule, moon

Green: princess, prince, pretzel, present/ tray, track, triangle, tree, truck/ dragon, dream, drill, drum, draw/ bread, brush, bridge, broom, bride

Yellow: jar, jacket, jeans, jet, jump/ wing, web, wave, wagon, wig/ quilt, quack, question, quarter, quiet

Sight Words: someone, everything, were, that's, your're, wait, saying, we'll, their, can't

Homework:

Spelling: 3 times each

Phonics: 155-158

Reading: practice sight words and poem, and practice reading log

Math: 2 workbook pages

Thursday 12/12/13

Hi! Tomorrow is test day! Please make sure your child is ready to be assessed on sight-words and spelling words. Also, thank you to all the parents who promptly returned progress reports. If you haven't done so, please make sure to return progress reports as soon as possible. 

Homework:
Spelling: practice test

Phonics: workbook pages 143-146

Reading: Practice sight-words and practice reading

Math: two workbook pages on tens and ones

Wednesday 12/11/13

Hi! Today we learned more about different text features and how to identify fiction books from nonfiction. Today we read "A Day in the Life of a Garbage Collector." We practice the skill of identifying what we are learning and what we wonder. In Math, we worked on place value and illustrating tens and ones. In English, we learned about plural nouns and adding "s" to show more than one. 

Also, today progress reports went home. Please review, sign, and return progress reports as soon as possible. 

Homework:
Spelling: 3 times each

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading (log)

Phonics: workbook pages 139-142

Math: workbook page on tens and ones 

Tuesday 12/10/13

Hi! Today we read The Polar Express and we worked on noticing how characters' feeling change throughout a story. In math, we worked on counting by tens starting from different parts in the hundred chart. In Science, we are learning about food chains and how animals and plants rely on each other to survive. Also, in English we learned about nouns and how to identify them and categorize different nouns. 

Homework:
Spelling: 5 sentences

Reading: practice sight words, poems, and reading (log)

Phonics: 2 phonics workbook pages 133 and 137 

Math: workbook page on counting by tens and worksheet on subtraction

12/09/13

Hi! Today we started Chapter 6 in Math. This unit we will be working on counting and modeling numbers. Students will work with numbers and place value from 0-120. This unit should be fairly easy since we count everyday during morning warm-up.

Weekly Spelling and Sight Words:

Yellow: lips, lizards, lamp, leaf, lock, lion/ kite, kitten, kitchen, kangaroo, key, king
(assessing initial sounds and strong sounds Kangaroo = kangro)

Green: crane, crown, crib, crackers/ cloud, claw, clock, class/ fry, fruit, frame, freezer/  glue, glasses, glass, globe/ grass, grill, grasshopper, groceries
(assessing blends cr, cl, fr, gl, gr and strong sounds grasshopper = grashopr)

Blue: cone, owe, rode, those, throne/ coast, groan, loan, road/ blown, glow, know, slow, throw/ both, cold, ghost, poll, tol/ toe

Spelling: 3times each

Reading: practice reading (log sheet) and practice sight words and poem

Phonics: workbook pages 129-132

Math: workbook page on counting forward

Friday! 12/6/13

Hi! It's been a full week of learning! Today the students had a chance to visit the Science Fair. In Social Studies we learned about different land-forms and water in the United States. We also took all our tests today. Please check test folder!

Also, if you can please send a roll of paper to class it will be greatly appreciated. We are on our last 4 rolls! We use paper towels for spills, napkins for treats, and to clean our desk once a week. 

Homework:

Reading: read every night and complete book report for Monday

Phonics: workbook pages 125-128

Math: workbook page

Test folder: please review, sign, and return all test and log inside test folder

Have a great weekend!!!!!!

Thursday 12/05/13

Hi! Today we worked on adding details, stretching our words, and punctuation in writing our "how-to" books. In science we are learning about the different habitats and the living things that are in that habitat. In math we reviewed material covered in Chapter 5 to prepare for our test tomorrow. Please make sure your child has practice and mastered their sight words and spelling words for tomorrow's tests!

Homework: 
Spelling: spelling practice test (I will grade all spelling from the week tomorrow)

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Phonics:  pages 121-124

Math: workbook page on Chapter 5 Review

Wednesday 12/4/13

Hi! Today we worked on understanding the different parts of an How To book. We read the book "How to be a Baby, by Me, the Big Sister" by Sally Lloyd-Jones. We study this mentor text and got started on our own "how to" book. In Math we worked on understanding that there is no right or wrong way to solve basic math facts, For today's homework students can choose what operation they want to use to solve each problem (draw counters, make a ten frame, related facts, doubles, or just know facts automatically).

P.S. Please make sure your child writes their name on every single homework page. Un-named homework doesn't get graded. This is a very important skill.

Homework:
Spelling: rainbow write

Phonics: pages 115-116 and 119-120

Math: workbook page

Reading: practice sight words and poem. Don't forget to read every night and record in reading log! 

Tuesday 12/03/13

Hi! Today we worked on identifying what we are learning and questioning from non-fiction text as we read Raptors. In math we worked on understanding if number sentences are equal to each other or not. In English we are learning about nouns for people and animals. The students also had a guest speaker who taught them about pedestrian safety.

Homework:

Spelling: 5 sentences and pictures

Phonics: 2 workbook pages

Reading: practice reading in log, practice sight words and poem

Math: workbook page on Is it equal?

Monday 12/2/13

Hi! Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend! Time to get back to business!

Today in Math we worked on a hard skill of different ways to make numbers up to 20. The students had counting cubes in class to help them learn this skill. Then I also taught ways to do this without counting cubes, since at home they won't have access to this. Students can draw out counters (preferably in a ten frame) and then "cut" the number in different ways. Or, you can provide your child with objects (such as beans, buttons) and separate the numbers in different ways. This is a challenging skill so we will be re-visiting this a few times.

Homework: 
Spelling: 3 times each

Reading: practice sight words and poem 

Math: 2 workbook pages 

 


Spelling Words:
Yellow: corn, cow, cake,coat, hose, house, horn, hill, fire, four, fan, fish, door, desk, doll, dog
(assessing for initial and prominent sounds: for example coat = "cot")

Green: plant, plow, plug, pliers, plum, sled, slices, sleep, slippers, slide, blocks, black, blue, blanket, blouse, flag, flower, flute, float, flashlight
(assessing for initial blends bl, pl, sl, fl and prominent sounds  for example pliers = "plirs")

Blue: long, blow, loaf, dome, coach, slow, roast, gloss, lose, roam, boat, know, grow, wrote, globe, throw, chop, drop, shop, note, close

Sight Words: with, there, thought, are, night, our, town, made, away, myself
(not assessing spelling, but fluency to say each word in a snap)

Tuesday 11/28/13

Hi! Today the students had a great day! They got to meet South Paw from the Chicago White Sox's! Then we conduct our Science egg experiment where we tested the effectiveness of different toothpaste. Lastly, we read the story Thanks for Thanksgiving and wrote thank you notes to our family. 

Enjoy the long weekend and wishing you all Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

See you Monday!

Homework:
Reading: read every night and reading log. Don't forget to complete book report for Monday

Math: 2 fact families worksheets

Phonics: making words with THANKSGIVING letter cards

Monday 11/25/13

Hi!

This week there will be no sight words or spelling words due to the short week. I do encourage you to revisit past sight words and poems. Also this week we will take a break from reading nonfiction text unit and focus on reading books about being nice to each other. Lately, our classroom has been having a lot of issues with students being less than friendly with each other and telling on each other. It had become an issue were I decided to take this next two days to read material and teach students about respecting each other, be a nice person, using manners, and have a caring concern for others. Today we read "How to Lose Your Friends" and students reflected on behavior that would result in losing friends and how they can improve their behavior to be a good friend. 


Homework:
Phonics: 2 workbook pages

Math: worksheet on fact families



P.S. NO AFTER-SCHOOL this week!

Thursday 11/21/13

Hi! Today all the students had their hearing and vision screening. We also updated our reading levels, book-boxes with new leveled books, and we got new reading and writing partners. In addition, we changed seats for a new environment and a chance to work with other peers. In Math, we worked on strategies to find the missing number. In reading, we are working on reading non-fiction text. Don't forget tomorrow is Friday. Please make sure your child is prepared to be assessed on sight words and spelling words.

Homework:
Spelling: practice test

Reading: practice sight-words and practice reading

Phonics: 2 workbook pages 99-102

Math: Workbook page on related facts

Wednesday 11/20/13

Hi!

Today we worked more on related numbers and missing numbers in Math. For today's homework, students can decide to pick rather they want tp add first or subtract to solve the fact family. Also, depending on the different levels of mathematicians, they can illustrate their work, make a ten frame, or just quick solve by knowing their facts. We also started our Science Fair project about teeth health. We will be reading lots of books on teeth and conducting an experiment the test the effectiveness of leading toothpaste brand at the end of our unit. 

Spelling: rainbow write

Reading: practice sight words, poem, and reading log 

Phonics: 2 workbook pages 93-96 and page 97 is for stay at home mini-book

Math: workbook page 

Tuesday 11/19/13

Hi! Today we finished testing for our most up-to-date reading levels!!!  I am so proud of all the students that made growth and went up on their levels! I will send home a note informing you on your child's progress and goals later this week. 

Spelling: 5 sentences and pictures

Reading: practice sight words. poem, and reading

Phonics: 2 workbook pages

Math: workbook page on related facts

Monday 11/18/13

Hi! After school starts tomorrow only for those students who were selected for the program. I notified all parents that had children in after program during parent-teacher conferences. After-school program lets out at 4:30pm.

Spelling: 3 times each 

Math: Worksheet on distinguishing between related facts and not related facts 

Phonics: worksheet

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Weekly Words:
Yellow: fish, fox, fire, foot, fan, feather, deer, desk, duck, doll, dog, dive
Green: scale, school, scooter, scout, scarf, snake, snowman, snow, snail, snap, sweater, swan, switch, swing, swim
Blue: clock, none, whole, boat, coat, lock, knock, note, crop, cross, joke, love, toast, toad, stone, chose, slope, float, shop, soap

Sight words: next, take, lastly, then, peanut, eat, squish, good, crunch, spread

Friday 11/15/13

Hi! Today we took are spelling test and sight word test. However, I only tested the students that responded "yes" to the question "Are you ready to test?" The children that responded "no" will test on Monday due to the short week we had this week. Please, review your child's test inside their test folder and return all signed tests and sign the folder log as well.

Have a great weekend!  

Homework:
Reading: book reports and practice reading

Math: Chapter 4 Subtraction packet

Thursday 11/14/15

YAY!!!! WE got a 100% Pizza Party for parent conferences!!!! Turns our our missing parent did come to conferences! They had an emergency but spoke to the office before leaving. THANK YOU parents for coming and being part of your child's education! FREE PIZZA! We will save our pizza party for our Christmas Party! 

Today in Math we are working on fact families and how the facts are related. 
For example...
 if 5+7=12, 
then 7+5=12, 
and 12-7=5 
then 12-5=7

Homework: 
Spelling: practice test (your child had these words since last Friday, so I know they are ready to be tested!)

Math: worksheet

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Wednesday 11/13/13

Hi! THANK YOU to all the parents that came yesterday to Report Card Pick Up! It was great to see you all and have a conversation about your child. We almost had 100% but we were one parent short. I hope the school decides to reward are class anyway, since 99% is awesome!!!! 

Today we started Chapter 5 in Math, we will be learning about fact families and how addition and subtraction facts are related facts. We also read the Three Little Pigs and worked on analyzing character traits. In writing we started our unit on How To, where students will be writing informational text! In Reading we will also be working on reading informational nonfiction text. 

Lastly, if you haven't done so yet please return signed report cards tomorrow. 

Thanks!

Homework: 

Spelling: Rainbow write 

Reading: practice sight words, poems, and reading

Phonics: 2 workbook pages

Math: workbook page on word problems

Weekly Words
Sight Words: somebody, onto, right, off, hold, grew, ever, nothing, beautiful, poor

Yellow: can, cart, cat, cape, cow, comb, hand, ham, hay, horse, hot, hat

Green: skis, skate, spider, smock, spear, skunk, smell, sponge, sky, smile, spout, skirt, small, spill, smoke

Blue: class, past, smash, stand, trash/ blame, brave, shade, shape, taste, wade/ brain, drain, gain, nail, raise/ clay, gray, play, stay, stray, tray

Friday 11/11/13

Hi! Today was an exciting day!!! We wrote our letters to Santa!!!! The students did an awesome job and I can't wait to send them off to the North Pole! We also took our Math, Spelling, and Sight Word Tests today. I will send these in the Test Folder for next Friday. Don't forget there is no school on Monday. So I provided the students with their Spelling words to complete Day1-2 of Spelling Routine and homework. I didn't think it be fair to assess students on words with only 3days of school next week. Lastly, Tuesday is REPORT CARD PICK UP!!!! Please make sure to stop by and pick up your child's report card. If EVERYONE has their parent show up then we get FREE PIZZA PARTY!!!!!!!! 

Homework:
Spelling: Day 1 and 2 Write words 3 times each and 5 sentences

Reading: book report and practice reading

Math: Workbook pages for review

Phonics: workbook page 

Thursday 11/07/13

Hi! Today we reviewed the math concepts on ways to subtract using a ten frame. I am sending home 2 math homework sheets for review work. Our test on Chapter 4 will be tomorrow!!! Please make sure your child is ready to be tested on Sight Words and Spelling!!! This will be their 1st test grade for the new quarter, so it's important to start on a good note!

Spelling: practice test

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Phonics: workbook page (keep mini-book at home)

Math: 2 workbook pages for review

P.S.Those students who didn't return their Wish List homework last night. Please have it completed by tonight!

Wednesday 11/06/13

Hi! After grading last night's math homework, I notice that this skill is a bit challenging. Today, I re-taught making a ten frame and breaking apart to subtract again. I also included some sample lessons in the pictures below. Today's Math homework includes lots of word problems. This can be challenging because your child needs to be 1) a good reader, 2) decided what type of math they need to complete, and 3) workout the math. I promise you word problems will be in your child's education all through college, so this is an important skill to start working on. 

Tonight's Homework

Spelling: Rainbow Write

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Phonics: workbook page 

Writing: Wish List

Math: workbook page on word problems 

In class work. 

Tuesday 11/05/13

Hi! Today was a wonderful day! We got through our entire schedule!!! The students are becoming more and more independent everyday. Today we started our unit on nonfiction text. We will be learning about non fiction text features to help us understand what we are learning. We read Kangaroo Joey Grows Up. We discussed the text by using sentence stems such as "I am learning... and I am wondering..." In Math we worked on breaking apart numbers to subtract using a ten frame. In science we started our unit on different habitats. 

Homework: 
Spelling: 5 sentences

Phonics: workbook page

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Math: workbook page 

Monday 11/04/13

Hi! Sorry for late post. Today we started a new writing unit on writing letters! This week we will also be starting our unit on nonfiction reading. in addition, today students received their Words Their Way workbook. You probably noticed that your child's words for groups Green and Yellow were handwritten. Please cross check with the words below to ensure your child's work. 

Spelling: 3 times each

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Phonics: worksheet

Math: workbook page on using ten-frame to subtract.
Students borrowed counters to help them with math homework! 

Spelling Words:

Yellow: tape, gas, pear, neck, nurse, tire, pail, goose, put, tan, goat, nail, game, tub, purple nest

Green: tag, tire, steak, sun, stamp, soap, tiger, tape, stairs, star, saw, stove, sit, seal, top

Blue: brain, dash, mane, faint, camp, train, stamp, blame, paint, said, snake, crane, snack, want, main, flash, place, snail, bake, black

Wednesday 10/30/13

YAY!!! The show was a success!!! Thank you for your support and help with the costumes! They all looked so adorable! Tomorrow is our Halloween Party and students can come in their costumes again!!!! You may send in store bought treats, but make sure you have enough for 28 (15 girls and 13 boys). 

Also, tomorrow is like a Friday since we don't have school on Friday. So make sure your child is ready and prepare to be tested on Spelling and Sight Words!!!!

Spelling: rainbow write and practice test

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Math: worksheet on fact families

Tuesday 10/29/13

Hi! TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY! ASSEMBLY DAY! Please make sure your child is dressed up in their cute and furry monster costume! There will be 2 shows. One at 8:15am and the other show at 1:15pm! Bring your cameras!!!!!!!

Spelling: 5 sentences

Math: workbook page using addition to subtract

Phonics: worksheet

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Monday 10/29/13

Hi!

Today we read the story The Thirteen Nights of Halloween for our emergent reader this week. We worked on distinguishing fantasy from realistic details. In math we started a new chapter on subtraction. Today the students learned to count backwards to help them subtraction. For those students struggling with count back you can have your child make a number line from 0-12 for tonight's homework.

P.S. Tomorrow is Mr. Barrera's birthday and as the gift to the students they can come out of uniform all week!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!

Spelling: 3 times each

Phonics: workbook page

Math: workbook page on count back

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Spelling Words:

Yellow:nap, pie, pin, net, peg, nose, nest, pig, nail, pen, peach, nurse

Green: chin, chip, wheel, shoe, think, thin, chain, where, shirt, shelf, Thursday, cheese, shell, what

Blue: mule, rule, crab, cape, have, which, done, skin, wife, tide, drip, wipe, wax, safe, lots, gum, vote

Sight Words: care, five, some, first, went, it's, went, ready, third, fifth, fourth

Friday! 10/25/13

Hi! We had a busy with Test Day and making time to practice for our Halloween Assembly! Please remind you child to practice the dance moves for the show. The song can be downloaded on iTunes "It's Our Job" by Monster Inc. if you are interested.

Also, I am sending home Chapter 3 Math test. This was a very challenging chapter for some students. Please note that the test is read a loud to the class and we work on each problem at the same time. This curriculum is new to our school, but it is aligned with the Common Core Standards which have higher expectations than past standards. 

What's due Monday?

Book Report: Please make sure book reports are completed with full illustrations and sentences. Now that we have been in school for 2 months, students should be writing about what they read in complete sentences.

Friday Test Folder: please review, sign, and return test/folder back

Thursday 10/24/13

Hi! Tonight is Family Literacy Night!!!! I hope to see you all at 6:30pm! Also, tomorrow is Friday, Test Day! Please make sure your child is ready and prepared to be assessed on spelling and sight words and math facts. We made flashcards in Math today to practice our doubles and math facts to make ten. Students will be tested on Chapter 3 Math tomorrow!

Homework:
Spelling: practice test

Math: study flashcards and workbook page reviewing Chapter 3

Reading: practice sight-words and practice reading

Wednesday 10/23/13

Hi! Sorry I was out of town these past two days and didn't have access to the internet! I heard nothing but good things from the substitute! Today was a busy day. I retaught the lesson in Math about adding 3 numbers from yesterday. We also reread this week's story Caps for Sale! In Writing we are working on another narrative and the children are becoming more independent writers and writing with a lot more volume! It's amazing!  

Homework:
Spelling: rainbow write

Math: Workbook page

Reading:practice sight words and practice reading

Spelling Words:

Yellow:gold, tie, tor, gate, tooth, girl, goose, tire, game, top, goat, toys

Green: thirteen, white, think, whisker, whale, thin, thorn, thermos, wheel, thumb, whistle, wheat

Blue: cube, bus, cut, plus, mule, huge, just, drum, jump, hunt, shut, tube, cute, tune, such, club, June, rude

Sight Words: think, most, an, who, could, was, why, know, old, there

Thursday 10/17/13

Hi! This short week just flew by!!! Tomorrow is Test Day! Please make sure your child is ready to be tested on sight words and spelling words for the week. Today we read "The Best Mariachi in the World" for Family Literacy Night! We learned about character change and using text details to support our answer. In math we are working on making a ten frame to add by observing which number is bigger to start the ten frame and then filling it up with the second addend. Most students seemed to grasp this concept pretty easy. Lastly, please make sure if you are interested in signing up your child for after-school you do so by 1) completing the form and sending it back or 2) attending the SES registration with more info on the blue handout that went home today. I will be teaching Newton if you are interested in having your child in my after school program. 

Homework:
Spelling: practice test

Phonics: worksheet on sight words

Reading: PRACTICE SIGHT WORDS and practice reading

Math: workbook page on make ten to add

Wednesday 10/17/13

Hi! Today we worked on using a ten frame to add. We also worked on using mentor text to study and analyze what real writers do to make their stories juicy. We borrowed ideas from real books that we could try in our own writing. Then in the afternoon we worked on our Monsters Inc. performance! 

Also, I just noticed that I mistakenly typed the wrong spelling words on yesterday's post. I just edited and updated yesterday's post with the correct words. Sorry! 

Lastly, I will be working for Newton after school program if you are interested in signing up your child for SES!

Homework: 
Spelling: Rainbow Write

Phonics: worksheet

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading 

Math: Workbook page on adding with ten frame

iREAD

Today I added iRead to Students' Websites link to the left. Students can access another great reading program to help the become stronger readers. I also taped inside each student's orange folder their username and student ID number for the password. Please note that the password needs "Cps" before the ID number to access iRead. 

I apologize for the very long and confusing password/username but this was completely out of my control and was provided by the computer teacher.

Username: (letters)
Password: Cps(follow by ID number)

https://h100000065.education.scholastic.com/iRead/loader/iRead_login.html?cb=1381694329433;0.7039353575091809