News From Our Classroom

     Hello, Families!  Happy Holidays to you!  This newsletter will be a short one, since we haven't really accomplished a great deal during this last week!  We have finished our short a word families, and will continue on after the Break.  Because some kids are ready, we have also been starting to work on long vowels, particularly those made using "silent e" at the end of the word.  We have discussed that a single vowel has its short sound if it is placed between two consonants (usually, anyhow), but that a single vowel AT THE END OF A WORD has a long sound: go, he, hi, me are all examples of this rule.   This week, we have been talking about words that have two vowels, and that end in "e"--make,  rule,  tone,  Pete, bike are all examples of this rule.   If we remember that a word with two vowels that ends in "e" usually has the long sound of the first vowel, and the "e" at the end of the word is silent, then we have learned that long vowel/ silent e rule.
   In Math, we have been working on what "place value" means, and how to write the numbers between 9- 100.  We also have had a brief introduction to the names and values of all the coins.  Now we are starting to add coins under 25⍧.  After vacation, we will work in detail with time (hours, half  hours, and "quarter of" and "quarter past") coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars), and place value.  We will also spend some time with graphing, nonstandard and standard measurement. 
     Also after vacation, we will work on the remaining human body systems, between January 2nd and February Break.

      I wanted the chance to wish you all a Very MERRY CHRISTMAS or Happy Hanukkah.  Enjoy this time with your child/ren.  I know that you want to give them a break, too, but please encourage them to read for at least 15 minutes a day--that still leaves a LOT of time for play and outdoor activity, but keeps your child remembering his  or her sight words and phonics rules.   It takes the kids so long to learn this stuff, and they forget it so easily.  If you do not have the necessary materials on hand, I highly recommend Reading Ato Z (Raz-Kids) found through my website.  This site contains reading materials that are right at your child's reading level AND INTEREST LEVEL!  Check it out!  The cards and dice I have given them as presents are for math games we have played at school.  They should know how to play several dice games, and several card games, but if not, then they can look them up online.   Just type in dice games for kids / card games for kids and you will find many games they can play with these two tools!  Don't forget  that I have all of these computer sites for you to tap into when you want your child to practice "school" without feeling like they are back at school!   Have a wonderful two weeks with your child!