Dear Parents, 

     Last week in math we focused on the concepts behind multiplication with further discussions about arrays and equal groups.  We also explored equal sharing.  The students took the Unit 6 test on Friday<strong>.</strong>  This week we will start Unit 7 “Patterns and Rules.”  We will start the unit with a review of counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.  We will find differences between 2 digit numbers by playing Hit the Target.  On Wednesday, the students will take their weekly timed tests and we will work together to solve the Open Response problem from last week’s Unit 6 test.

    Last week during writing workshop the students took “inventory” of what they had in their writing folders.  The students looked at the number of finished stories and the amount of unfinished stories in their folders.  We decided to spend the rest of last week focusing on writing, and not start the Revision unit as planned.  Therefore, we will start the “Revision” unit this week.  We will discuss the basic concept behind revision (taking stories that are already written and making them better).  This week we will revise by adding to the middle of stories and by adding dialogue.

     In phonics, the students will discuss when to add an -s to make a word plural (like coat becomes coat<span style="text-decoration: underline">s</span>) and when it is necessary to add an -es (when words end in -ch, -x, -s, -sh, and –z; branch becomes branch<span style="text-decoration: underline">es</span>.)

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>The students had their first Passport Check on Friday.  Those who passed received their own “passports”!  </li>
	<li>This week I am sending home 2 maps: a blank map that the students can use to study for the rest of the year and a map with this week’s target countries and oceans.</li>
	<li>On Wednesday the students will be asked to locate the United States, Haiti, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean on a blank world map.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>We are excited for our Guest Readers and our first Passport Presentation both from Mrs. Pickens!</li>
	<li>We will be having a small Valentine’s Celebration at the end of the day on Wednesday.  Please see the attached list of students’ names if your child would like to pass out Valentines.  It is <span style="text-decoration: underline">not</span> required.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Practice counting by 2’s 5’s and 10’s.  Try to count up to and past 100!</li>
	<li>How do you play Hit the Target?</li>
	<li>Have you revised any of your stories?  How have you made them better?</li>
	<li>What are examples of words that we just add -s to make them plural?  What are examples of words that we add -es to make them plural?  (box, bunch, dish, kiss…)</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="77" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="115"><strong>Monday</strong></td>
<td width="115"><strong>Tuesday</strong></td>
<td width="115"><strong>Wednesday</strong></td>
<td width="115"><strong>Thursday</strong></td>
<td width="115"><strong>Friday</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="77">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Math</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="115">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link 7.1</p>
</td>
<td width="115">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link  7.2</p>
</td>
<td width="115">
<p style="text-align: center">Math Boxes</p>
</td>
<td width="115">(No School)</td>
<td width="115">(No School)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="77">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="115">
<p style="text-align: center">Study the 2 target countries and 2 target oceans</p>
</td>
<td width="115">
<p style="text-align: center">→</p>
</td>
<td width="115">
<p style="text-align: left">Passport Check Today!</p>
</td>
<td width="115"> </td>
<td width="115"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="77">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Reading</span></strong><strong></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="115" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="115" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="115" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="115" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="115" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>