Dear Parents, 

     Last week in math we practiced doubles facts, learned a +9 trick when using the number grid, and discussed “turn around facts.”  On Friday, the students started a bar graph to record their timed test scores.  Once a student receives two consecutive perfect scores, s/he will move onto the next test.   This week we will discuss how subtraction facts are related to addition facts, write subtraction number stories, explore weights, scales, and equal groups and use “Name Collection Boxes” to review the idea that a number can be named in many ways.

     In Language Arts, the students started working independently at the different centers while I worked with individual or groups of students. This week the reading groups and I will choose their first books for our Guiding Reading Groups.  

     In Writing Workshop, we discussed using story booklets, and discuss the many real world purposes for writing.  This week we will start talking about “fancying up” (editing) one piece of writing for our first Author’s Celebration, which will be next week!

     We will continue to work in our “Air and Weather” unit in science.  Last week the students pushed on air with partners.  This week we will start observing weather.  We will discuss different words used to describe weather.  We start asking a student to describe the weather every morning during our calendar routine.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span style="font-size: small">·</span><span>        </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;font-family: Times New Roman">We will be performing in the Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly this Friday.<span>  </span>Performances are at 9:45 and 1:30.<span>  </span>Parent volunteers would be appreciated to help the students get into their costumes.<span>  </span>A note will be sent home about what the students should wear to school on Friday.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span style="font-size: small">·</span><span>        </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;font-family: Times New Roman">October 30<sup>th</sup> is “Reading Day.” The students should start thinking of a literary character that they would like to dress up as.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span style="font-size: small">·</span><span>        </span></span></span><span>Mr. Walter would like parents to visit his blog, which can also be found on the </span><span>Ray</span><span> </span><span>School</span><span> website.<span>  </span>He will be posting important notes and homework there.</span></p>

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>What is the difference between a spring balance and a pan balance?</li>
	<li>Ask questions like- What are other names for 15? (10+5, 21-6, DN…)</li>
	<li>What story are you going to share at our Writing Celebration?</li>
</ul>
What are some words to describe today’s weather?<span> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;color: black"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">Questions to ask at home:</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="font-size: 10pt;font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span>         </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">What is the difference between a spring balance and a pan balance?<span style="font-size: 10pt"></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="font-size: 10pt;font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span>         </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">Ask questions like- What are other names for 15? (10+5, 21-6, DN…) <span style="font-size: 10pt"></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="font-size: 10pt;font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span>         </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">What story are you going to share at our Writing Celebration?<span style="font-size: 10pt"></span></span></span></p>

<span>What are some words to describe today’s weather?</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span> </p>