Weekly News - Update

• It was wonderful to get back into our regular routine. I'm glad everyone remember it. We just need to practice using indoor voices while in the workshop model. Please remind your children to focus on the task at hand and to use their indoor voices when working with their partners.
• In Math students are beginning the second part of Module one. They are learning how to add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals. These skills can get confusing at times so please make sure you check your children's homework to see if they are understanding the concept. Please write me a note in their planner if they are having trouble. Things to look for: 1.) in addition and subtraction please make sure they line up the decimals and put the numbers in the correct place before adding. 2.) When multiplying make sure they count how many spaces before they place the decimal in their answer. 3.) in division make sure they move the decimal up into their answer. Thank you for your help.
• Literacy - We should finish Text Structure this coming week. Our final topic will be Narrative Events. Students will learn about: Theme of a story, drama or poem. They will summarize the text, do a character study, discuss the setting, events and specific details. From this they will write summaries about   non-fiction and fiction articles. Writing may be done across the curriculum.
• In Social Students we read a lesson on the first group of early tribes. I modeled how locate information needed to complete the project. Students learned how to locate the tribe on a map, what kind of shelter they had, their clothing and other interesting information. Next week they will work with their partners to create their map and continue reading and searching for information.
• I have been given a site that should help you with any homework issues your child is having (especially the Math). It is free to sign up and you get your own private tutor. Go to  (www.askri.org). Click homework help, create an account, go to student center and choose a subject. Follow the selections to get to a private tutor who will work you through your problems.

Have a restful weekend and as always thank you for your continued support and help from the homefront.