January 2nd Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to school!  I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing but fun winter break!  We're excited to say that this month we'll be integrating our science, social studies and literacy in a unit all about polar region animals!  Beginning this week with some informational read alouds about polar bears and other animals that live in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world.  We'll also discuss and do some shared writing about what we already know on this topic.  Throughout the month we study the informational genre of writing as we explore many books and notice how authors teach us about topics. 

This week in math, we will...

• Practice counting forward and backward by 10s on and off the decade using a number line. We will race on a number line making hops of 1, 5 and 10. 
• Solve addition and subtraction story problems involving multiples of ten by jumping on a number line. Students will record equations to represent the story problems.

This week in social studies, we will...

• Review classroom and school-wide expectations for being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to Learn.

Special Points of Interest

• The holiday party was fun for all.  Thank you so much to all of the parents who donated items!
• THANK YOU for all of the wonderful gifts and cards!  I appreciate your thoughtfulness!
• Please send an extra pair of socks and mittens in your child's backpack for the wet winter weather.
• Winter MAP testing begins next week.
• Scholastic Book orders are due on Friday, January 17th.  I have not received the paper copy of the books orders, but I will send them home as soon as I receive them.  Go to: www.scholastic.com/bookclubs Online Code:  JBVLK