Homework guidelines (task and suggested time spent on tasks) was sent out today. Here are the staples:

~ Social Studies Newspaper- This resource will serve as the Cliff Notes for learning this week. Please have your child review the newspaper content nightly for a suggested 10 minutes. A check-up assignment will occur later this week, and the newspaper will prepare you greatly.

~ Reader's Notebook- Students are required to collect 4-5 interesting words while they are reading. There are several samples that have been provided and discussed for format (including an example on cardstock in the notebook); A reading letter to me should be written before our weekly reading/writing conference. Although the first letter is rather primitive, this letter should be longer and more extensive (at least 20 minutes spent thinking about your reading). A list of possible thinking stems have been sent home.

~ Spelling- Students will receive a developmentally appropriate list of spelling words to sort, practice, and look for spelling patterns while reading. I am NOT looking for drill, kill, memorize, test it on Friday, and forget it on Monday! In addition, students may practice their own personal set of spelling words (5 words, mainly high frequency words). These will be practiced and tested with a partner in class.

~ Math Exemplar- I am starting off with the 3-5 level exemplars until we truly begin to utilize the rubric provided (ex- academic language used, charts, diagrams, writing utilized, etc.). This is the kind of assignment that can utilize a high score with an incorrect answer (values the process, thinking, and writing).

~ Wordly-Wise- We will continue with lesson one. Hopefully, students have paced themselves with the list and will be prepared for a classroom check-up on Thursday.

~ Etymology Study- Although this is completed in class, a copied list of our stem words this week will be sent home. For those that need extra study, please, use it as needed.

~ Math IXL- I didn't place this on the printed version because although the old username and passwords work from last year, we now have five new students to the school. If your child needs additional practice on place value, decimals, fractions, or exponents, this would be a great place to go!

~ Read and Write- Students are encouraged to take their reader's notebook and writer's notebook home each week. They are also highly encouraged to read for pleasure nightly. Book club selection reads should continue this week, and will culminate with another book club meeting this Wednesday (at lunch).

~ Spelling- Visit our spelling link for our patterns and high frequency words being studied. There will not be a spelling test this week.