Room 404 Newsletter
February 11, 2016
Curriculum Updates
Reading: We have begun the Nonfiction
unit in our group reading lessons. The
students will be studying the text
features of the nonfiction genre as well
as continuing to develop their
comprehension and collaboration skills in
relation to this genre.
In phonics, we are finishing up with Magic
E and will be continuing to work with long
vowel combinations. When reading with
your child, please help them to attend to
long vs. short vowel words as well as the
various long vowel patterns seen in their
reading materials.
We have also been working on putting
words into alphabetical order. The
children are doing quite well with ABC
order when all of the words begin with a
different letter. We are beginning to
work with ordering words with the same
initial sound and how to look to the
second and third letters to alphabetize.
We are so proud of the hard work our
students are doing in their guided reading
groups as well as with their home reading.
They are truly becoming readers! Keep
up all the good work! :)
Language Arts: We have finally finished
up with creative writing and the students
have written quite a few stories. We will
soon begin on non-fiction writing to go
along with our nonfiction reading unit.
Some time ago, the students were given a
“Criteria for Success” for sentence
writing. The Criteria lists all of the skills
the students must demonstrate to be
successful sentence writers. We will be
sending a copy home next week and we
ask that you have your child refer to it
when they write their weekly spelling
sentences at home. The students should
be using the criteria to check their
sentences on their own. We have
demonstrated and practiced using this
approach in class and they are ready to
attempt the skills on their own.
Spelling: The 2nd trimester sight word
spelling test will be coming home soon.
Many students still need to practice the
writing of the sight words taught to date.
PLEASE work on learning to spell these
words.
Math: Please practice basic math facts
5-10 minutes per day. Students should be
able to add and subtract with numbers
thru 20 easily. The strategies taught to
date include: doubles, doubles plus 1,
count, count back and make a ten.
Science: We are busy learning all about
rocks in science! Our vocabulary words
for this chapter include property,
texture, and minerals. Ask your student
what they can tell you about rocks!
Room 404 Newsletter
February 11, 2016
General Information
Our classroom is very dry. We do have a
humidifier in the classroom. We have
noticed several students with dry lips or
hands. Please feel free to send in lip
balm or small hand lotion to have them
keep at their table. Also, water bottles
are welcome as long as bathroom
privileges are not abused.
We want to send a shout out to our
amazing parent volunteers for a terrific
Valentine’s Day party! A great time was
had by all!
Homework is due Thursday. Please check
your child’s backpack daily. We have
homework every Monday that is due
Thursday!!
Social Hour
The students have been working with Mrs.
Hope on developing tools to help them
manage their emotions and be in the
GREEN ZONE. Some of the tools they
have learned so far are Lazy 8 Breathing
(deep breathing), progressive muscle
relaxation techniques, and guided imagery
and visualization. The students drew a
picture of their “Happy Place”, which is a
place they can go to in their minds that
should elicit calm, happy and relaxed
feelings. Ask them about these new skills
they learned at home!
Reminders
Feb 24 ~ Great America Reading Logs
Due! NO LATER!!
Feb. 26 ~ Trimester 2 ends
March 11 ~ Report Cards come home
March 25 – April 1~ Spring Break
Thank you!
Mrs. Sheri Brizzee
Mrs. Ellen Finer