Week of Oct. 22nd

Families of Room 31 –

A few reminders for this week:

SCHOOL PICTURES – Due this Tuesday, Oct. 23^rd.  RETAKES will be Wednesday, Oct. 24^th. 

Parent Conferences – Due to the fact that I am holding student / parent conferences, I have several parent conference times beside Tuesday Nov. 6^th.  Last week I sent home a parent conference preconference form.  Please make sure to return the form with your child a day or two prior to your conference if not sooner.  Reminder – there is NO SCHOOL for students on Tuesday, Nov. 6^th

MATH – We completed our Chapter 2 test on Friday.  I will send them home with the students as soon as I have remediated and corrected the test with teach individual child.    This week we begin Chapter 3 - Whole Number Multiplication and Division.  This chapter is very rich in content truly focusing on multiplying by 2-digit numbers and the process of long division.  Please make sure your child is practicing their math facts (multiplication and division) especially if they have not mastered them yet.  Their nightly practice counts towards the Math incentive.   Program and truly is essential for success in this chapter and chapters to come.

SCIENCE - Last week, we had our first “official” hands-on science investigation.  The goal of this lesson was to learn about mechanical weathering and frost wedging.  We placed water in tin cans and let then freeze overnight.  They observed the cans the following day and certainly had some distinct observations.  I believe many of them sent you a phot via their SEESAW account!  This week we will learn about abrasion and how abrasion affects and change the earth’s surface!

SOCIAL STUDIES - We are continuing with our notetaking of the EAST REGION.  The focus this week will be finishing up learning about the economy of the region as it connects to the natural resources and we will move to learning about the climate.  I hear that there is a possible nor’easter heading our way this coming weekend.  Please have the kids pay class attention to the weather if it happens to be on at home!

WRITING – Our focus recently has been on the components of NARRATIVE writing with a focus on writing ENTERTAINING OPENINGS.  The focus has been on using a variety of TOADS (thoughts / questions, observations, action, dialogue and sound).  WE also began talking about using our SENSES to describe the SETTING of the story.  Later this week, we will move to learning to ask key questions of ourselves to discuss and describe and critical characters and / or critical objects as they relate to a story we create.    Our hope is to wrap up the beginning of the narrative writing diamond (openings and settings) before we move on to informational writing.

READING – We have begun meeting with GUIDED READING groups now that DRA’s are over.  The groups is also using a subscription to STORYWORKS to read some non-fiction articles and respond to the text.  We are also incorporating our read aloud – The Wild Robot – into some written responses on Schoology that the students will read and respond to.  Lastly, this week our focus for whole group reading is to review expectation of reading / responding to multiple choice questions and open responses.  I am modeling my thinking with the students as we work through a passage together.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Book Clubs / Reading and Math Incentive

Families of Room 31 ~

Scholastic Book Clubs - I had a student as me to send home a reminder about the Scholastic Book Clubs.  If you are planning on placing an order, they are technically due tomorrow, yet I will accept any orders up until Friday evening.  If placing an order, you  can place the order online or fill it out and send it in in with a check to school with your child by Friday the latest. 

Reading / Math Incentive Sheets - Don't forget to have your child fill out / bring in their math and reading sheets when they are completed.  Your child should be reading 20 minutes a night and practicing their math fact for me 3 to 4 times a week.  This homework counts towards their Incentive Sheets.  I already have  a few sheets turned in!  For each sheet a child turns in, they will get a ticket to shop at the school store.   This year the students will ONLY be shopping with earned tickets - no money will be accepted at the store!  Don't forget... get those sheets in once completed!
Miss Finneran

Seesaw / Schoology / Xtra Math

Families of Room 31 ~

I'm reaching out regarding a class communication pieces I spoke about at Curriculum Night.  There are a few means of communication that I  / the students are using this year that we need your help with.  We need our families to register for SEESAW, SCHOOLOGY and XTRA MATH if you have not done so already.  I will be re-sending home paper copies to have you sign up for these.  PLEASE SIGN UP BY FRIDAY, October 12th.

SEESAW -  Thus far, 10 out of 19  families have registered to this app.  This year, you child will be taking photos of their work that they complete in class and will send it to you to see.  Many families have already seen the great work the kids are doing and are THRILLED when they receive a response from mom or dad! 

SCHOOLOGY - Thus far, 7 out of 19 families have registered for Schoology.  This sight contains many of the forms  / resources that you may need as well as class information.  Missing your child's math homework- go to the math folder and you can print out the page you need.  Lost your vocabulary list or you study map of the East.... do to those folders and you will find them there.  This is also the sight that your child / you will be using throughout the remainder of their schooling in Shrewsbury.  I am looking for ways to improve it so if you have any suggestions, pleas pass in along.

XTRA-MATH - Thus far, 12 out of 19 families have registered for this site.  We use Xtra math almost everyday in class to practice our math facts.  The kids can also use it at home.  If they are not registered and linked to the site, the work they doe in the two places are not compatible.  Also, any work that they have done in previous years, will not be recognized.

MISS FINNERAN'S CLASS BLOG - There is NO NEED to register for this site, yet it is a recourse of information  that I try to keep up to date.    You can see this site by visiting:  http://kfinneran31.blogspot.com/

For those families that need to register for ANY of the sites above, (Seesaw, Schoology or XTRAMATH) I will send home the registration papers on Tuesday.

Please reach out if you have any questions.