Mrs. Alvarado's Class News

Friday, Aug.26th

Mrs.Alvarado’s Class News                                                     Friday, Aug. 26^th

Dear Parents,

     What a great week!  The class is behaving like we have been in school for months!  This is a very smart and impressive group!  We have had a great learning week!  Take a look at what we are working on next week:

Reading- We finished the book Dinosaur Hunters.  We worked on answering comprehension questions in complete sentences.  Next week we will be reading the book The Secret Moose.  The story is about a boy that finds a wounded moose and the story takes place in Alaska.  Our focus lessons will be on comprehension and vocabulary.

Grammar- We worked on nouns this week.  We will continue to work on singular and plural nouns as well as spelling changes when nouns are changed to plural.

Spelling- Next week is Sort 3.  The pattern will be long vowel sounds in accented syllables. Test Friday.

Math- We will begin Chapter 2 in Math next week.  Chapter 2 is a review of basic addition and subtraction.  We will also be working on rounding and problem solving.

Writer’s Workshop- We are working on the writing trait “Ideas”.  This week we wrote topic sentences and detail sentences in paragraphs.  Next week we will be exploring how to describe the main character in a story.  The class will practice writing details about a character to paint a picture of that character. 

Social Studies- We finished up our mapping unit with a test Friday.  Monday we will begin Chapter 2 in the Social Studies book.  The chapter covers the Paleo-Indians and how man may have migrated over an ice bridge to North and South America.

I need your help!!!  I made an error in returning the last page of the behavior booklet!  I was suppose to keep that sheet on file and I sent those home.  I have copied the last page of the book again and have attached it to this newsletter.  If you could be so kind and re-sign!  Send these back to me ASAP.  Thank you!!! 

Have a great weekend!!!        Mrs.Alvarado

Friday, Aug. 19th

Mrs.Alvarado’s Class News                                                     Friday, Aug.19th

Dear Parents,

     We have had a great beginning to the school year!  I am very impressed with the class already!  They have come to me with the skills they need to succeed.  They have already learned the systems for organization.  Students are coming in with their homework completed and their planners signed!  It has been a very smooth beginning!  Take a look at what we are working on next week:

Reading- We just started a book called Dinosaur Hunters . The story talks about how paleontologists use bones to tell the story of dinosaurs that lived long ago. We have been working on comprehension this week.  I have been working with the class to show them how to answer comprehension questions in complete sentences. Next week we will work on comprehension and vocabulary.

Grammar- We are beginning a unit on nouns. We will be reviewing common/proper nouns, singular/plural nouns and the spelling changes that come with some plural nouns.

Spelling- We started working on Sort 1 in spelling this week.  I will be giving the class a practice test this Friday that will not be recorded.  We will start spelling for a grade next week.  We will have two spelling tests each Friday.  The first test is just your basic spelling test where words are called.  The spelling of these words will be graded.  The second test is on that week’s sort.  The sort is based on letter patterns found in the words.  We practice these sorts every day. Please be sure to study these sorts at home each week.  The new lists are given out on Mondays and will be tested on Fridays.

Math- We started this year by reviewing place value.  We will be finishing Chapter 1 with a Math test Friday.  Please review basic multiplication and division facts at home.  The timed tests I gave at the beginning of the week show a need for review.

Social Studies- We started the year with a mapping unit. There will be a map test next Friday.  I will send home a study guide Thursday night.  Please help your child study Thursday night. The study guide closely follows the test so it should be easy for your child to do well!

Writer’s Workshop- I teach writing with the 6-Traits of Writing system. The trait we started working on this week was “Ideas”.

Media Center- As soon as we are able to sign up for the media center I will get us a time.  The kids are excited to get new books! 

Have a great weekend!  Mrs.Alvarado