What's Happening in Room 34.....

Things You Should Know....

• A note went home last week regarding our upcoming classroom holiday party.  The parents who are planning the party are requesting that each student bring in $5 to cover the cost of the party instead of sending in items.  This cost will cover the snacks, a craft, games and treat bags. Thank you!

• The students will be tested over their multiplication facts on Tuesday and Friday this week.  Our goal is to have everyone master their facts before Winter Break!  A lot of students have met this goal and looking forward to seeing more! 

• For the month of December, our character word is "kindness".  Each day in December, the students are participating in a school-wide act of kindness.  This week, we will focus more on our peers in the classroom by making it a fun "Secret Pal".  On Monday, the students will draw a name of a student in our classroom and each day they will focus on doing a random act of kindness for their "Secret Pal".  We will brainstorm acts of kindness ideas on Monday.  These can range from putting down his/her chair in the morning, leaving a kind note, drawing a picture, leaving a homemade gift on his/her desk, etc.)  We will reveal our "Secret Pals" on Friday.

Dates to Remember..... 
Tuesday:  Facts test

Thursday:  Social Studies test
Friday:  Spelling and facts test
             Library

What's Going on in Our Classroom....
Reader's Workshop:

• The students will finish their book club book this week.  The students are continuing to do a great job reading their assigned pages, completing a writing task and leading book discussions with their peers.  As your child talked about their book club book with you?  Ask them about it.  They would probably love to tell you about the story.  They are all very suspenseful mysteries!

Writer's Workshop:

• Last week, the students learned how to include research in their persuasive essay and how to include more interesting transitional words and phrases.  This week, the students will create a lead to hook their readers and use words and short stories to draw on a reader's emotion.  The students will finish their essays this week.  I will let you know later this week which day next week will be our Writing Celebration.  Be ready to be persuaded on many different topics!

Math:

• We will be working with non numeric and numeric patterns this week.  The students will learn how to write an equation for an input/output table.  They will also learn the Order of Operations this week as they solve problems with more than one operation.

• The students are assigned to complete at least 3 topics on ALEKS at home by Friday.

Social Studies:

• The students will review the Early English Settlements this week through interactive activities and online games.  They will be given a written review on Monday that they will be able to use to study along with their notes for their test on Thursday.  I am encouraging the students to study and prepare for the test over a few evenings at home this week.