We are beginning our second week of ITBS testing and it is going very well.  I anticipate finishing on Wednesday.

This week we continue our unit on ecosystems and will begin discussing the interactions of living things.  The students have been given their chapter 2 science vocabulary packets.  You will find this in the homework folders and the vocabulary should be reviewed every night.  Students enjoy this unit because we watch several California Streaming media pieces that show animals interacting in their natural environments.

Students will learn how to write and evaluate addition and subtraction expressions containing variables as we continue preparing to become America’s next generation of mathematicians!  I have to say that Math is among my favorite subjects to teach.  There is nothing so rewarding as to see the excitement in a student’s eyes when he or she realizes how fun math can be!  Thank you for the continued support of your children in helping them to have quick recall of multiplication facts.  Students who do not master these facts are at a great disadvantage as we approach division.

This week we will begin exploring the early people of California.  You will begin to find social studies vocabulary in your student’s homework folder.  Chapter two has a total of 28 vocabulary words.  We read and discuss one lesson at a time, the students write the vocabulary and the definitions after each section.  There are 4 lessons in chapter 2.

This week is a spelling review week and I will not be giving a spelling test.  I will give a Gooseberry Park vocabulary quiz on Wednesday.  I spend a lot of time reviewing the vocabulary in class so students are usually very well prepared for quizzes.

We will continue to work on this month’s book reports.  The students are enjoying the  process and are doing very well.  Each student should be reading or choosing a book for the next report (student’s choice.)  The children are using sticky notes to ask questions, make comments or connections, or  write notes about what they are reading.  I have been impressing upon them the importance of “thinking” about what they are reading.  Too often they read the text, and have no idea about what they reading!

I met with our room moms, Mrs. Hoyt and Mrs. Rios, on Friday.  Please offer them your support if they contact you.  All of the “extra” help that is given by you parents is greatly appreciated.  It is the fun “fluff” of our school year!  Thank you all so much in advance.

I am greatly enjoying your children.  They are enthusiastic and excited to learn!  Thank you for sharing them with me this year.