Newsletter September 23 - September 27

I'm just going to get right to it....

Here are this week's happenings:

• I will send home SEP notices tomorrow.  I just got them filled out.  Please look for them in your child's homework folder.  Please send back the bottom portion ASAP so we can rearrange the date or time if necessary.  I look forward to meeting with all of you next week.  We will discuss how your child is doing in school and acquaint you with standards based grading and it will be a time to connect and ask questions.  School is dismiss EVERY day including Wednesday at 2:30 next week.
• I have sent home a couple of things from the PTA recently--one was sent home last week about pizza with Dads and an introduction to the Watch Dogs program.  The other was sent home today for a Grandparents breakfast which will be held next Tuesday, October 1 from 8:00-8:40.  I would suggest coming earlier than later for this breakfast as there is usually a line up.  Next week the PTA will also be sponsoring a Book Fair in the library.  That's a nice thing to do after SEP conferences (just a suggestion).
• In your child's folder today there was a note from Raven Photography.  It has an access code on it and you can look at your child's pictures as well as order online if you would like to do that.  Picture retakes will be October 25 for those interested. 
• This week we are finishing up our unit on subtraction from 10 or less.  Today we learned about subtracting all or zero from a number.  Tomorrow we will take apart numbers (ex. 5 - 1 = 4, 5 - 2 = 3, 5 - 3 = 2 and so forth).  We will review and the test will be on Friday.  
• We will also finish up our first unit in reading this week where we mostly reviewed short vowel sounds, digraphs (sh, ch, th) and double consonant spellings. We have been writing sentences and learning the difference between a statement and a question.   We will also take a test on these skills this week.  Students will be asked to spell words with all of the short vowel sounds as well as read words with digraphs, double consonants and short vowel.  Our next unit we will start diving into long vowel sounds.  We will have a new book to read with the unit and will be writing multiple sentences on a topic in preparation for simple paragraphs.  We have small reading groups everyday except Wednesday and are still holding WIN (What I Need) groups daily for both remediation and extension on reading and writing skills.  
• We had our vision and dental screenings last week.  If you child needs further evaluation a note or phone call will come home from the school nurse.  Dental notes came home last Friday or Thursday--I can't remember the exact day but it was last week.  

Remember to look for your SEP appointment time and send back the bottom portion of the note.  If you can't make the time or day please write down a time or day that will work better for you on the note.  Don't forget that Sight Word Soldiers is every Wednesday!!

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Armstrong