Welcome 2016!

We have had a great first week back from break! We dove right back in to our learning and have enjoyed getting back into the routine of school.

This week in reading we wrapped up our Nonfiction unit. We talked about Narrative Non-Fiction and how we can read it like a fiction story and use our fiction comprehension strategies to help us understand the information. We also looked at two different types of narrative nonfiction. We looked at achievement stories and disaster stories. Ask your child how you can determine between the two types. Next week we will be starting our fantasy unit and we will be reading The Lightning Thief.

In writing we have started our informational books. Students were asked to think of topics that they already know a lot about, they then created categories or sub-topics that fit with their main topic. Students also wrote all the knew about a topic using precise language, concrete details and examples.

This week in Math we also started a new unit. We began by learning how to use variables (letters in place of a number) in an equation and how to solve for or evaluate the equation. We have also been working on solving comparison problems with all four operations. We talked about key words to look for that tell us what operation to use to solve the problem. Ask your child what “as times as many” tells you to do.

In Science we are wrapping up our Unit on Organisms in Their Environment. This week we learned about invasive species and how their introduction into a habitat can disrupt the natural balance of the habitat. Your child will be taking a Science test next Tuesday. They will be bringing home their vocabulary cards today to help them prepare. We will be reviewing in class as well. Yesterday we played a Jeopardy game to review and we will be doing additional review on Wednesday.

Chocolate bar sales begin next Friday for those that have chosen to participate in the fundraising for Chicago. Notes are going home today with the amount your child earned from the Cookie Dough fundraiser and the amount they still owe, if any.  Those that still have a balance will be expected to participate in the Chocolate Bar sale.

Have a great weekend! I hear we have a bit of winter weather on the way this weekend, I hope it holds off until after we return from Clayton’s hockey games in Chicago Sunday evening!

Important Dates:

Tuesday, January 12 ~ WATCHDOG DADS meeting 5:30-6:30

Friday, January 15 ~ Popcorn Day and World’s Finest Chocolate sale begins

Friday, January 22 ~ Holmes Carnival 5pm-8pm

Monday, January 25 ~ Parent iPad Meeting 6pm-7pm SLMS

Saturday, January 30 ~ Laker Tailgate Dinner/Dance

Friday, February 5 ~ Half Day

Monday, February 8 – Tuesday, February 9 Mid-Winter Break ~ No School

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