October Newsletter

Dear Parents,



What a start to our year! After our unexpected break we are back into the swing of things.

Progress reports will be sent home on Friday, October 3. Please sign a copy and send it back to school on Monday so I know you have seen it.

I look forward to meeting all who can attend Thursday, October 2 at 4:30 pm. Our wonderful long term substitute Susan Woodard will be joining us. She'll be happy to answer questions after I rush off to my childbirth class.

Sincerely,

Naletta Galbraith


Science

Today, October 2, we take our first science quiz. This is the one that was postponed due to Ike.

We have finished our unit on plants and have moved on to the classification of animals. We learned the way scientists classify animals and have looked more closely at the differences and similarities of invertebrates and vertebrates. We also further classified vertebrates and looked at the similarities and differences among mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds.

Next week we begin our unit on the human body. We will look at the systems of the body beginning with the skeletal system. We are lucky to have owl pellets to dissect to see actual bones of small animals. We will try to identify these bones and if possible put together a skeleton. Students will work in pairs for this project.

We will also study the muscular system, the digestive system, and the circulatory system.

Thanks to everyone who is making our science enrichment program possible. We can't wait to do Mr. Bones this Friday as an introduction to our skeletal system.


Math

Our first math quiz will be next Wednesday, October 8. It will cover rounding, the different forms of words (standard, expanded, and word), place value, multiplication facts, 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication, arrays, representing simple division facts, and ordered pairs (input/output tables). With the exception of 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication this should be a review from last year.

This month we will begin a unit on measurement. We will be studying area and perimeter first. We will also begin studying elapsed time. This can be a difficult concept for some students. I recommend having your child wear an analog watch to help with this. The more they use an analog watch the easier elapsed time becomes.


Writing

We are beginning to write personal narratives this month. We are focusing on the writing process and strategies that author's use to really make their writing shine. Most recently we've discussed the inner and outer story of a composition. The students understand the importance of the inner story as it tells how the main characters are feeling about the situation. We will be conferencing with peers and me throughout the writing process.


Reading

This month we will begin to use book clubs for reading. We will begin by focusing on the main character and setting of a story. Book clubs last several weeks. Students do weekly activities in class that relate to the story. I also meet with book clubs to discuss their reading and help them talk about the book.

Social Studies

Our next unit of study in Social Studies is the regions of Texas. We will look at the 4 regions of Texas individually and also discuss their similarities and differences. The culminating project for this unit is a salt dough map. It's a fun and slightly messy project!