Week 21

This week is National Lutheran Schools Week, and we’ll spend the week celebrating how special and unique Lutheran schools are!  We also have dress up days all week.  Here’s the list:

-Monday:  Music Monday
-Tuesday:  Time Travel Tuesday
-Wednesday:  Where’s Waldo Wednesday
-Thursday: Throw the Ball Thursday
-Friday: Indoor Olympics!

Indoor Olympics:
One of the best days of the year, Indoor Olympics, is this Friday!  It’s a crazy morning full of friendly competition, bonding as a school, and crazy outfits!  A few things to note about this day:
-Students do not need to bring anything (no water bottles, lunch boxes, snacks, backpacks)
-We’ll be inside all morning, rotating through events
-This is a half day, so dismissal is at 11:15.  Students going to Eagles’ Nest will be sent down to Eagles’ Nest; those being picked up can be picked up in their classrooms or at pick up line.  Students will return to their classrooms to change out of gym shoes and for dismissal.

We do have a week full of learning, in addition to all of the fun things going on!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about Jesus’ childhood.  We’ll learn about Him being presented at the temple, and we’ll discuss Simeon and Anna and their reactions to Jesus.  We’ll also discuss the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, as John baptizes Jesus.

Math:
This week in math we’ll start the process of two-digit addition and subtraction.  We’ll learn how to move over our tens (we call this “regrouping”) to add and subtract.  I’ll talk to the kids about the language we use—I’ll tell them their parents might have learned the phrases “carry the one” and “borrow,” but we now call it “regrouping,” since it’s more accurate to what we’re doing.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is Bossy R: ar.  We’ll practice words with that pattern, and we’ll practice that concept in sentences.

Science:
This week we’ll start to look at a problem (fewer grand spider orchids in an area each year), and we’ll start to ask questions about why there might be fewer plants each year.  As the unit progresses, we’ll add questions based on what we’re learning.

Week 20

We’re packing lots of learning into this short week!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll move through the beginning of the New Testament.  We’ll talk about Jesus’ birth and the visit of the wise men.  We’ll discuss what Jesus’ birth means for us, and we’ll talk about gifts that we can give to Jesus.

Math:
This week in math we’ll review and finish up our module on decomposing numbers in different ways to add and subtract.  Then we’ll start our next module on adding and subtracting two-digit numbers.  We’ll be regrouping (“carrying the one” and “borrowing”) in order to add and subtract in the correct order.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is a really important one, as it shows up all over the English language: kind old words.  These words have long vowel sounds, not following the rules.  These words have the following endings: -ild, -ind, -old, -ost, -olt.  While we only have four days this week, we’re going to have the same number of phonics sessions, rather than rushing through our word studies.

Science:
This week we’ll start off our science unit on finding the best place for a plant to grow by examining what we already know.   We’ll ask questions and determine our thoughts and predictions before moving into more of the unit.

Week 19

I hope everyone got some good rest after coming back to a full week after Christmas break!  We’re diving into some new learning this week and will be cruising along!

Christian Studies:
In Christian Studies this week we’ll transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  We’ll start by looking at the prophesies about Jesus, looking at how God promised to send a Savior.  Then we’ll talk about the foretelling and birth of John the Baptist, paving the way for Jesus to come.

Math:
This week in math we’ll continue to look at strategies for adding and subtracting.  We’ll start to decompose (break apart) numbers to more quickly and accurately add and subtract.  We’ll be looking for the closest ten and we’ll practice breaking apart ones and tens.

Language Arts:
This week’s spelling concept is consonant-le endings.  We’ll learn that these endings are their own syllable.  We’ll practice two new red words, too: sure, buy.  Look for the family connection page going home on Monday for more information about this concept.

In reading we’ll take a deeper look at our text, The Green Kid’s Guide to Watering Plants, and we’ll answer questions about the text.  We’ll dive into the structure of the text and we’ll give evidence for why it’s informational text, why the author included headings, and how to use them.

Science:
We’ll start our new unit on what plants need to grow.  We’ll introduce the unit and talk about science safety before we dive into the lessons.

Social Studies:
We’ll look at the word “community” and what it means.  Then we’ll play a game online that helps us determine what we have in our communities and what those things are used for.  We’ll look at places where people live, work, play, and solve problems.

Week 18

I hope everyone had a great, relaxing Christmas break!  I’m excited to get back to school and settle into our normal routine!

REMINDERS:
-Library books are due on Tuesday!
-Extra credit is due by Tuesday to receive credit.
-Dress for the weather--every student should bring a winter coat each day.
-Hot lunch is no longer offered.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about Jonah and the minor prophets.  We’ll discuss the messages God sent through them and how it points to Jesus.  We’ll also discuss Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and how we fix what is broken in our lives.

Math:
This week is a short module on using a hundreds chart and a number line to add and subtract.  We’ll review and practice counting strategies, getting us ready to do some double-digit adding and subtracting in future modules.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concepts will be review of the last few several concepts we learned:  diphthongs oi/oy and ou/ow, igh, and the 3 Great Rules (doubling, drop the “e,” and change the “y” to an “i”).  We’ll do some practice each day and our spelling words will be pulled from the daily practices.

We’ll also start a new week in our reading books.  This week we’ll read What’s in the Egg, Little Pip?  We’ll focus on reading strategies that help us understand the text better, specifically the characters.  We’ll also discuss the characteristics of fiction and identify those characteristics in our story as we read.