Seth Paine Elementary
Classroom Highlights
Lodewyck Room 102
September 29, 2015
50 Miller Rd.
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
847-540-4761
K a r e n . L o d e w yc k @ l z 9 5 . o r g
“Promise me you will always remember, you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you
seem, and smarter than you think.” ~ Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
Curriculum Continued
Message to PARENTS:
If you’re interested in ordering books from
Scholastic, please place your order by
Wednesday, September 30.
Curriculum in Review
Reading
This week, we’ll complete the Storylord Episodes. It has been
wonderful to see the children using the strategies that are
discussed in the Storylord series. Last week, the children
practiced looking for clues in the text to understand the text
better. They also practiced how to stop and check for
understanding. Using questions to prompt their thinking has
been helpful. Click on the link in the reading section of my web
page to see the bookmark that the children are using.
Our first Schoolwide Unit not only includes fictional text, but
we also begin to learn about nonfiction and poetry. To begin
our study on nonfiction, we started using a K-W-L chart. The
K-W-L chart allows children to record what they KNOW before
reading the text, what they WANT to learn, and finally, what
they LEARNED from reading the text.
This week, we’ll be working with MyOn. Your child will be
able to access many books at their reading level. They will be
able to read books of their choice and books to go along with
our curriculum. Be on the look-out for more information.
Writing
We’ll continue to focus on complete sentences. Every sentence
should begin with a capital letter and end with the proper
punctuation. Throughout the week, the children have several
opportunities to write about different topics of their choice and
to write about books they are reading. Within their work, they
are going back to correct their sentences.
We are also trying to focus our writing on one topic. When the
children write about their weekend, they should pick one event
and include several details about the event.
Words Their Way (spelling)
The children are working throughout the week on their word
sorts and remembering to bring their spelling spirals back and
forth between home and school. Your support in learning this
process has been very helpful. Please continue to remind your
child to turn in the ABC order, Spelling Shapes, and Sort/Glue
on Thursdays. In school, the children have the opportunity to
practice their sorts, work on their homework and complete
additional activities to help learn the spelling patterns.
Math
We’ve been busy working on a variety of strategies to add and
subtract including counting on, doubles facts, doubles plus one,
and make ten. We’ve also practiced writing and understanding
turnaround facts and fact families. Throughout the week, we’ll
review and the children will take a test on Friday.
Yesterday, I sent home a letter about our math kits. Please
return the letter by Friday. On Monday, I will send home the
math kits and a folder with games. The games are ones we have
played in class to reinforce the math skills and concepts that
we’ve learned. Throughout the year, I will continue to send
home games to go along with what we are studying.
Social Studies
The children are so eager to take the address quiz! I can tell
they’re practicing at home. Although we didn’t take a quiz last
week, we’ve been doing work in class where they have needed
to include their address and are so proud that they know it and
can spell it! Our next quiz will be on Friday.
We’ve continued to focus on our city, state, country and
continent. Talking about these words with your child will help
him/her remember that our country is the United States of
America and our continent is North America. These two have
been tricky for some to differentiate. This week, we’ll work on
a landform project to reinforce their understanding of a variety
of landforms including mountains, valleys, peninsulas, and
islands. Next week, the children will bring home projects that
they’ve been working on and a study guide to help them prepare
for a test. I will send an email next week with the test date and a
reminder to check your child’s folder.
Important Dates
September
30 – Early Release
30 – Scholastic Book Orders due (if interested)
October
2 – Math test
12 – Columbus Day (No School)
22 – Early Release