Dear Parents, 

     Last week in math we reviewed dollars-and-cents notation.  The students learned how to enter money amounts into a calculator, interpret calculator displays and use calculators to solve problems with money.  We also learned a very fun and very difficult game called “Pick-A-Coin.”  This week we will practice making estimates in our heads when “buying” two items. We will then find the exact cost of these items, using a calculator. We will learn how to make exact change by counting up from the cost to the amount paid.  We will also review place value using number models and connect place value in base 10 blocks with place value in money.

     This week in Writing Workshop, we will continue our Authors as Mentors unit.  The students will continue planning stories in their “tiny notebooks.”  They will use these notebooks to record ‘tiny’ ideas for future stories.  This week we will look at books written by Angela Johnson and discover two new writing devices: ellipses (dot, dot, dot) and comeback lines. The students will be encouraged to use these writing techniques in some of their stories.

     This week in phonics the students will learn that before adding -ed to form the past tense of some words, the final consonant gets doubled.  For example:  grab becomes gra<strong>bb</strong>ed and stop becomes sto<strong>pp</strong>ed.  On Thursday, we will learn how to turn verbs into nouns by adding -er.  For some words (words with a short vowel sound) we must double the last letter before adding the -er. For example: run becomes run<strong>ner </strong>and swim becomes swim<strong>mer</strong>.  In some cases, students just needed to add -er to words like teach<strong>er</strong>.

     In science, the students will finish making their bar graphs to show the weight of our 6 objects; a ball, cup, cylinder, spoon, wooden block and metal cube.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>A United States map is being sent home today with week’s targets: Illinois, Arkansas, California and Washington.</li>
	<li>We are looking forward to a presentation this week focusing on Arkansas from Mrs. Macklin.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Ray School is hosting a blood drive TODAY, Monday April 26<sup>th</sup>, until 6 PM in Room 411.</li>
	<li>We are excited for our Guest Readers this week: Mrs. Pickens.  She read us the entire Pippi Longstocking chapter book!<strong> </strong></li>
	<li>Thank you to everyone who came to Report Card Pick Up last week.  It was a pleasure talking to all of you about your wonderful children.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Ask questions like-What is the estimate amount for $2.39? $0.69?  $1.49?</li>
	<li>If I pay with a $5, how much change would I get back for an item that costs $4.17?</li>
	<li>Why do writers use … (dot, dot, dot)?</li>
	<li>Have you been able to use come back lines in any of your stories?</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Homework:</span></strong>
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<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"><strong>Math</strong></td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link 10.5</p>
</td>
<td width="110">Home Link 10.6</td>
<td width="110">Home Link 10.7</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Home Link 10.8</p>
</td>
<td width="110"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport</span></strong>

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Check </span></strong></td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Study the U.S. Map</p>
</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">→</p>
</td>
<td width="110">Passport Check Today!</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong>Reading</strong><strong></strong></td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Read at least 15 minutes</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>