Dear Parents, 

     Last week, we started Unit 6, “Whole Number Operations and Number Stories.”  We solved comparison number stories, and collected data about our favorite food.  We then tallied and graphed this data.  We also used all of the number story diagrams that we have learned throughout the year to solve addition and subtraction number stories.  This week we will practice subtraction of 2-digit numbers.  The students will get a <span style="text-decoration: underline">brief</span> introduction to solving problems that require “trading” like 53- 16 (when the bottom number in the ones place is bigger than the top number.)  The students will continue to primarily rely on using a number grid to count up or count back to solve subtraction problems.  We will also start talking about the basic concepts behind multiplication!  We will focus on the concepts of arrays, equal groups, and a multiplication diagram. 

     In Writing Workshop the students practiced going through the writing steps- “Think, Sketch, Plan, Write and Fix-Up.”.  They reviewed a “grading sheet” (writing rubric) that I will use to assess the writing that they completed last week.  At the end of the week, the students started working with partners to fix up their favorite story.  Each student will continue to fix up his/her favorite story, and then publish it.  The students will share their published stories and a “hard to read story” at the Author’s Celebration this Thursday!

     This week in Science we will start focusing on “rollers.”  The students will set up cardboard ramps and different “wheel-and-axle” systems, using a straw and different sized discs.  The students will observe how these systems roll down the ramps.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong><strong></strong>
<ul>
	<li><strong>You are all invited to our “Writing for Readers” Author’s Celebration!  It is this Thursday at </strong><strong>1:15</strong><strong>.  Hope to see you there! </strong></li>
	<li>The student council and PTA are organizing a coin drive to collect change for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  We will have a container in our classroom this week to collect any donations you send to school.</li>
	<li>We are excited for our Guest Readers this week- Ms. Jackson.</li>
	<li>This week marks the end of the 2<sup>nd</sup> quarter!  Report cards will be sent home next week.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Practice drawing arrays. For example a 3 by 4 array:    (3 rows, 4 X’s in each row)</li>
	<li>What makes a story easy to read?  What makes a story hard to read?</li>
	<li>What is a slope?  (a surface that is higher on one end)  How did you make your wheel-and-axle systems roll straight?  How did you make it turn?  </li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Homework</span></strong><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">: </span></strong>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="80" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="109"><strong>Monday</strong></td>
<td width="109"><strong>Tuesday</strong></td>
<td width="109"><strong>Wednesday</strong></td>
<td width="109"><strong>Thursday</strong></td>
<td width="109"><strong>Friday</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="80"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Math</span></strong></td>
<td width="109">Home Link 6.5</td>
<td width="109">Home Link 6.6</td>
<td width="109">Home Link 6.7</td>
<td width="109">Math Boxes</td>
<td width="109">(No School)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="80"><strong>Reading Response</strong></td>
<td width="109"> </td>
<td width="109">Start Reading Response</td>
<td width="109">→</td>
<td width="109">→</td>
<td width="109">Reading Response due Monday!</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="80"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Reading</span></strong><strong></strong></td>
<td width="109" valign="top">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>