A LOOK AHEAD 
Picture Day- September 22
Institute Day- September 25
MAP testing on September 28th and 29th
Early Release- September 30
Book Fair- Coming in October
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During our Literacy Block, we continue to focus on the Workshop Model. We have
been discussing being part of a reading community. Students are members of small
discussion communities where they are practicing speaking, listening, sharing ideas
and giving and receiving feedback. At the conclusion of our launching unit, students
should be able to:
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Develop an understanding of themselves as readers.
Set goals for themselves as readers.
Learn to engage effectively with reading and have collaborative discussions.
Learn how to apply self-monitoring skills.
Develop habits of mind for engaging in complex text.
Learn to ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of text
All of the students have been introduced to myON, the district provided digital
reading resource. We have added a “signpost” to our literacy binder: An AHA
Moment! This refers to a time when you are reading, and suddenly a character
realizes, understand, or figures something out. It is fun to find “AHA Moments”
while reading fiction, and this provides for deeper understanding of what is being
read. This helps students identify life lessons or themes in literature.
Students continue to write in their journals and share with small groups or
sometimes with the entire class if they choose.
I am continuing with my read aloud Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.
During this time, the students have the opportunity to “stop and jot” or “stop and
sketch.”
Our Words Their Way groups have begun. Students are learning the routines and
expectations for the sorts. There is a day by day homework planner stapled to the
front of the spiral listing 8 different days of activities.
In Math, we have begun Module 2. A yellow letter was sent home with the students
explaining the process of addition and subtraction on an open number line as well
as with the standard algorithm. As a reminder, student math books can be taken
home at any time for review with parents. We are also beginning some detailed drill
and practice to master the multiplication facts by Winter Break. We have started
“Fact Fluency Friday.” A few students have already mastered the basic
multiplication facts and have moved to division fact fluency.
Social Studies – The students can identify the Northern and Southern
hemispheres as well as the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Students have
practiced with lines of latitude and longitude while understanding that the equator
and Prime Meridian are dividing lines between the hemispheres. Next week, we
will begin our study of the Northeast.
Science- We will begin our study of the scientific method and the human body in
the month of October.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
We had a wonderful week and I look forward to next week.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Woodley
Kimberly.Woodley@lz95.org
(847)-719-3545
A consistent message we are conveying in our building is“This work is important, you can do it, and I won’t give up on you.”