Dear Parents, 

     Last week in math we started Unit 7 “Patterns and Rules.”  We started the unit with a review of counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.  We found the differences between 2 digit numbers by playing Hit the Target.  On Wednesday, the students took timed tests and solved the Open Response problem from the Unit 6 test.   This week we will build mental arithmetic skills for adding three or more numbers while playing Basketball Addition.  We will discover patterns in halves and doubles.  We will also explore weights and practice equal sharing problems. 

    Last week during writing workshop we started our “Revision” unit.  We discussed the basic concept behind revision (taking stories that are already written and making them better).  We learned how to use writing flaps when we need to add more information and details to the middle of our stories.  On Tuesday, the students started a new list of Writing Ideas from their long weekends.  On Thursday and Friday, we will discuss how to revise our small moments by adding dialogue and how to correctly use quotation marks.

     On Wednesday, we will start our third science unit “Balancing and Weighing.” This week the students will build different structures that balance using a beam, a fulcrum, and cubes.

     We will continue reading about the Underground Railroad.  We will learn how runaway slaves used secret codes in quilts to help them travel safely.  On Thursday, the students will start making their own quilt squares.  We will put all of the squares together to create a classroom quilt, which will be on display at the Black History Gallery Walk on February 26<sup>th</sup>.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>The students had their second Passport Check last Wednesday.  Those who passed received stamps on their passports for United States and Haiti!  </li>
	<li>A new map is coming home with this week’s targets: Namibia and the Caribbean Sea.</li>
	<li>Make sure to also review the continents and oceans while studying this week’s targets.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>We are going on a field trip <span style="text-decoration: underline">tomorrow</span>, February 17<sup>th</sup>.  The students must bring a lunch to school.  We will be eating when we return from the trip.</li>
	<li>We are excited for our Guest Readers this week: Mr. Meyers.</li>
	<li>We are excited for another Passport Presentation this week focusing on Namibia from Ms. Gustafson, Tayen’s mom.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>How do you play Basketball Addition?</li>
	<li>Practice adding 3 numbers in your head: What is 6 + 5 + 2?</li>
	<li>Practice halves and doubles.  What is half of 14?  What is the double of 9?</li>
	<li>What have you learned about the Underground Railroad?</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="74" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="110"><strong>Monday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Tuesday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Wednesday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Thursday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Friday</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Math</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">(No School)</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link 7.3</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link 7.4</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link 7.5</p>
</td>
<td width="110"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="110"> </td>
<td width="110">Study the new map and review the continents</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">→</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">→</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Passport Check Today!</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Reading</span></strong><strong></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span><span> </span></span>