Week of January 30

Hi families!  A few quick reminders:
*Dr. Seuss t-shirt money is due Feb 1.  If your child needs another form let me know.  We will be wearing them during the Read Across America week coming at the end of February.
*If you child is out please send in a note.
*Make sure to sign and return the weekly folder on Friday.

Reading
     This week we will be working on dictionary skills and guide words.  Please have your child share how they use guide words to look up words.

Math
   We will begin a unit on fractions.  Have your child explore their home and see how fractions fit into their life.  The focus this week is parts of a whole.

History
   We are starting a unit on resources.  Ask to see your child's interactive notebook to see what resources we are studying.

Writing
   Students will begin to work on an all about research book.  They have decided on a topic to research and are excited to get to work.

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