Week of December 19

Dear Parents,

   Thank you so much for sending in your donations for our winter breakfast Wednesday, December 21st.  You can send in the item with your child that morning or leave in the office and we will get it from there.  Here is what we have coming: 

Henry – plates/napkins

Robert – toaster strudel

John – mini donuts

Brady – pre-fruit/4 small glue bottles

Dorian – pre-fruit

Cassius – muffins

Alyssa – muffins

Haiden – juice boxes/breakfast casserole

Tyler – juice boxes

   I emailed all parents of those students who turned in a donation slip. There were some overlapping items and I emailed parents about that also.   If you don’t see your child’s name on the above list and would still like to donate an item not on the list above, please email me at kimberly.stubbs@nn.k12.va.us.  Some of you had asked if volunteers are needed, we are good and don’t need extra help that day.   This is an early dismissal day (12:15pm).  Students may wear appropriate pajamas that day, no body parts showing if they want to.  I would encourage them not to wear their slippers, but tennis shoes that day.  We will also be viewing the Polar Express.  If students would like to bring a small blanket to school that day, they may. 

Thank you so much,

Mrs. Stubbs

Have a wonderful break!

Week of December 12

Hi families!  Thank you so much for sending in the winter breakfast note on Friday.  Here is what I have so far:
apple juice
muffins
1 breakfast casserole
plates/napkins
fresh fruit
*If you would like to send in another item not listed on the list, please email me.  (suggestions:  sausage balls, cheese bites or sticks, etc....) Reminder, we have nut allergies in the classroom and there are 20 students.

Reading
This week we will be comparing and contrasting biographies and autobiographies.  We will also be using text features to convey meaning while reading non-fiction texts.

Science
We will begin a new unit on habitats.  Make sure to review IN notes nightly and the unit vocabulary.

Math
We will start rounding up to thousands place value and rounding to the underlined digit.  Students will use various strategies to help them round.

Other
Dec 15 10:50am - awards ceremony for students receiving honor roll and recognition of perfect attendance
Dec 21  1/2 day dismissal for students 12:15pm

Week of December 5

Reading
strategy:  determine importance in a passage/text
skill:  reference sources

Writing
Drafting our All About book

Math
subtraction:  2-4 digit and across zeros

Science
We will have a unit assessment on adaptations and begin a new unit on food chains.  Make sure to study your IN notes nightly and review the vocabulary from adaptations.

Other
*Dec  7th    5pm-7:30pm Riverside Night at Barnes and Noble!  There will be music, stories, cupcake decorating, gift wrapping and plenty of time to shop.  I hope to see everyone!  I will be there at 5pm to wrap any special packages you may have!

*Dec 15th award ceremony at RES...more information to come

*Dec 16th Good Citizen Reception...more information to come

*Dec 20th  club day

*Dec 21st    1/2 day and winter celebration...more information to come.  If any of our parents would like to help plan this celebration, send me a note or email.

Week of November 28

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.  This is what we will be learning this week.

Reading
We will be learning about non-fiction text features.  A new list of vocabulary words will be given on Monday and students will test on them the following Friday.

Math
Students will be working on 2, 3, and 4 digit addition.  Continue to work on multiplication facts because we will be working with multiplication all year long.

Science
We started learning about behavioral and physical adaptations before Thanksgiving break.  We will continue learning about all the ways animals protect themselves from predators.  This unit of study is rich with vocabulary.  Students started to create vocabulary cards last week and had to finish them over break.  Remind them I will be checking on them Monday morning.  Make sure your child studies their science notes nightly and learn the vocabulary because there is a test on November 30th.

**If any families have any blue, white, or silver ornaments they are not going to use, send them in with your child.  There is going to be a kindness tree going up in the school lobby.

Week of November 14

This Wednesday we will be taking a field trip to Woodside High School to see a production of Sleeping Beauty.  If your child needs to order a lunch from the cafeteria and you did not indicate it on the permission slip, please let me know.  We will return to school and have lunch after the performance.  Make sure students dress up for the play!  On Monday and Tuesday we will take our benchmark test in reading.

Reading
     This week we are doing an author study from one of my favorite authors.  I am keeping it a secret until Monday!  Make sure to ask your child about it.  The skill this week is theme and we will be reviewing cause and effect.  There will be a vocabulary test on Friday on unit 4 words.  They will be listed in the agenda and also in their word study notebook.

Math
    We will continue to work on division and two digit multiplication.  Make sure to review all multiplication facts 1 through 12.  Students took their math benchmark test on Friday and they all did very well.  These tests will not appear as a grade, but data will be used to remediate where needed.

Science
     Students will continue with their scientific investigation and move into living systems.

Other
Nov   16      report cards come home, please sign envelope and return promptly
                    Woodside Field Trip....dress nice!
          17      college day...wear your favorite college shirt
          18      sock hop dance  6pm-8pm at Riverside
          22      club day
          23-25  Thanksgiving Break

Week of November 7

This week in cottage 34.....

Math
   We will continue to work with division and multiplication.  Make sure to practice your facts each night!  There will be a division quiz this Thursday.  The math benchmark test will be taken on line on November 11th and a division test will be given on Novembetr 21st.  Benchmark tests will not be included in student grades.  I will use the data to review material in small and whole group.

Reading
   This week we will be doing word sorts with the vCe vowel pattern and r controlled words.  We will also be working on cause/effect relationships and sequencing.

Science
   We will be doing scientific investigations.

*Permission slips for the Nov 16 field trip were sent home on Friday.  Please return them by Wednesday with $4 and their lunch choice.

Other
*Nov 7 end of the nine weeks
*Nov 8 Teacher Work Day...students do not report
*Nov 16 report cards issued
              Woodside field trip to ballet
*Nov  18 Sock Hop Dance 6pm-8pm
*Nov. 22 club day
*Nov. 23-25 Thanksgiving

*send in box tops

Week of October 31

This week in cottage 34....
Reading
  This week we will be working on context clues in reading.  Students will learn several ways to figure out what words mean in a story if they don't know what they mean. Remember to read 20 minutes each night.   In writing we will continue to work on personal narratives.

Math
     This week we are working with division.  Continue to work on your multiplication facts.  There will be a multipilication test on Thursday.  A study guide will be given out on Monday.

Science
  We will continue to work with matter this week.  On Monday we will do a fun activity working with the properties of matter.  Remember to review matter notes in their IN each night.  Students will begin working on a matter brochure at home starting on Monday.  The brochure will be due on Friday.  Directions will be given to students on Monday.  I look forward to seeing some really incredible matter brochures on Friday!

Other
*Monday is Halloween.  No costumes to school that day.
*Nov 7 end of the nine weeks
*Nov 8 Teacher Work Day...students do not report
*Nov 16 report cards issued
*send in box tops

Week of October 24

This week in cottage 34....
Reading
   We will be reading different fiction stories and learning about questioning before, during, and after reading.  Students will also focus on 3 different kinds of questions found in texts.  If you see a piece of notebook paper that comes home with lots of numbered boxes and writing on it, this is an answer document students use during a computerized test/quiz.  Students are asked to title their paper with what assessment they are taking and a grade will appear on it.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Math
     This week we are working with multiplication word problems, exploring multiples of 100 chart, and using tables and charts to solve multiplication problem.  There will be an assessment on the computer covering number lines, arrays, and other multiplication problems.

Science
   We started out unit about matter on Monday.  Students are asked to look around their house for different kinds of matter.  Please have students review their notes each night.  There will be a hardback science book coming home this week for students to read.  The pages they are to read are listed below on a worksheet.  Make sure they return both to school.  This reading can count for their 20 minutes.

Other
*Red Ribbon Week is this week.  Please see below about what to wear each day
  Tues - team jersey or shirt
  Wed - silly socks
   Thurs - favorite hat
  Fri - anything blue
*Monday is Halloween.  No costumes to school that day.
*October 28  Club Day at Riverside
*Nov 7 end of the nine weeks
*Nov 8 Teacher Work Day...students do not report
*Nov 16 report cards issued
*send in box tops

Week of October 17

This week at Riverside is going to be very busy.  On Monday, STAND DAY, students are asked to wear BLUE in recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month.  On Wednesday, UNITY DAY, students are asked to wear ORANGE for Bully Awareness Day.  There will be a parade starting at 2:30pm on Wednesday, October 19th in the front of the school.  Students will create signs and say a chant they have been working on with Mrs. Hunter. The  Menchville drumline will be here to march with us!

This week in room 34.....

Reading - We will be working on sequencing, summarizing, and creating plot maps with stories read in class.  Have your child share some of the stories from the week with you.  Ask them about the characters and how the author uses rich language to make the stories come alive!  There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday 11/21.  Your child might want to create flash cards with the word on one side and the definition on the other side to help them study for the quiz.  They will also be tested on synonyms and antonyms of those words which they have worked with last week.

Math - This week we will explore number lines and multiplication. Students have learned different strategies to help them figure out the answers to multiplication problems.  Students may want to get a set of multiplication flash cards to work on their facts at home.

Science - Students will be scientists this week.  They will be conducting investigations and start learning about matter.  Make sure to ask your child about the investigations each day!  Have your child bring in a small object from home.  Remember no weapons, something small no bigger than the palm of your hand.

Other
Oct 17  wear blue
       19  wear orange....parade starting at 2:30pm in front of the school
       20  Dimes Worth Of Difference...more information coming home...start collecting
                                                            your loose change and bring to school
       22  Riverside Carnival 9am-3pm...information was sent home last week

week of October 10, 2016

I hope everyone was safe during the crazy weather this past weekend.

This week we will be learning...

writing - Examining the elements of a personal narrative and writing a personal narrative.
reading - Determining problem, solution, and plot in stories, and multisyllabic words.
math - Working with arrays and moving into multiplication.
vocabulary work - We will start a new list with a test on 10/21.  Make sure to review your words nightly so you will be ready for the test!
history - Continue learning about economics.  Make sure to review your notes nightly and learn those key terms.  All notes are in your content notebook.

Other
*wear blue or school spirit gear on Fridays
*Oct 19  Bully Prevention Awareness...wear orange
*Oct 22 Riverside Carnival

Week of October 3rd

Reading - We are learning about character traits, how their feelings, thoughts, and motives describe their character.  There is a vocabulary test on 10 words and their meaning on Thursday, October 6th. Please review them using your word work notebook.  

Writing - Working on making our writing better by adding a variety of adjectives to our work.

Math - Reviewing place value, comparing numbers and patterns.  There will be a test on Friday, October 7th.  A study guide was given out on Monday and is in your child's IN.

Other

October 4th Back To School Night
October 7th 1/2 dismiss at 12:15pm

October 9th  Parent's Against Bully Rally at Todd's Stadium  2pm-5pm

October 19th  Wear Orange Day for bully awareness

October 22nd  Riverside Carnival

**Wear blue every Friday to show School spirit!

**Friday, October 7th grab and go lunch on early dismissal day.  Students can buy a lunch from the cafeteria or bring their lunch from home.