<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #008000">Dear Parents/Guardians,</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #008000">This week ends the first 5 weeks of school.  You will receive progress reports next week.  Please keep in mind that since it is the beginning of the year, much of our instruction has been review.  We have also been working on classroom procedures and routines.  This week, many assessments will occur.  Your child will receive a review guide this week to help prepare for the tests.  Here is a brief overview of what we are doing this week.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #800080">Instruction</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Literacy:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">We will continue to work on the Daily 5.  Students can successfully read for 45 minutes straight independently without speaking to a neighbor!  I am so proud.  Children are also able to do this in writing as well!  We are not working on integrating buddy reading during our Daily 5 as well as listening.  T</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">This week, students will be introduced to working on the Daily 5 while I am pulling students for Guided Reading.  During Guided Reading this week, students will learn the norms and procedures of what is expected from them.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #ff0000">Mathematics:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #ff0000">During this week, students will work on money, problem solving, and pattern activities.  On Friday, students will have a Unit 1 assessment.  These grades will be on the Progress Report for next week.  Please make sure your child is here on FRIDAY.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #008000">Science:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #008000">We have completed our first investigation on water.  Students observed what water does on a slope as well as surface tension.  Students will have a Science assessment as well on Friday.  This assessment will focus on the investigations we worked on in class.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #0000ff">S</span><span style="color: #0000ff">ocial Studies:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #0000ff">In Social Studies, we will continue to work on Maps and Globes.  Overall, students did a wonderful job on the community map project.  These are the types of projects your child will receive throughout the year and throughout the subjects.  We will also use </span><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #0000ff">TIME Magazine for Kids</span></span><span style="color: #0000ff"> to learn about current events.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #ff6600">Art:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #ff6600">In Art, students will work on a Calico Animal project.  This focuses on collages and connecting this type of artwork with illustrations in storybooks.  We will also analyze an art piece by Franz Marc called “Two Cats”.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #ff00ff">Spanish:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="color: #ff00ff">Please take a look at Mr. Walter’s blog connected with the Ray School Website to learn more about what is going on in Spanish.   The Hispanic Heritage Project is due this week!</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Please email me at <a href="mailto:ssprasad-hei@cps.edu">ssprasad-hei@cps.edu</a> if you have any questions or concerns.</p>