Now the we know each other...

We've made it through the first week.  I hope you guys had as much fun as I did.  I especially enjoyed your center skits, making the reading strategy posters, and discussing the Land Bridge Theory with you.  Hopefully the play-dough model of Beringia was helpful and created a meaningful image in your mind of the Land Bridge.  What did you enjoy about this week?

Looking ahead:
AAP ELA: We will be reading The Toothpaste Millionaire.  This text will provide opportunities for us to discuss main idea and supporting details, point of view, and figurative language.  Additionally, we will focus on expository writing in the coming weeks.  I will emphasize the use of a graphic organizer to plan and using facts to support your main idea.

ELA: Over the next few weeks we will be focusing on weather.  This unit will provide opportunities to discuss many aspects of literacy.  Initially though, we will focus on main idea/supporting details and text features.  We will also focus on expository writing in the coming weeks.  Using a graphic organizer will help you to plan and format a well written expository piece. 

***Both ELA classes will be given spelling words every week.  These words will focus on common spelling patterns and will be helpful in both reading and writing.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Last week we discussed the Land Bridge Theory, which explains one possible way that people may have first come to live in North and South America.  Over the next few weeks we will explore the main Native American groups that inhabited North America. 

***HOMEWORK***
Homework will be assigned daily Monday through Thursday.  Homework should be completed at home and returned the following morning when you enter the classroom.  Homework is IMPORTANT.  It is important for you to practice the skills and concepts that you learn at school every day.  Practice makes better!  I want you to be successful in all that you do and practice is an essential piece of success.  With that in mind, if you are unable to complete this vital practice at home or, for some other reason, unable to turn in your homework, I will provide you and opportunity to do it at recess time.