The Jungle Book
Mrs. Knueven's Classroom Newsletter
Upcoming Events
10/31 Book Fair
11/1 Book Fair - We attend as a class
11/2 Book Fair
11/2 Donuts with Dad
11/2 Vocabulary Quiz
11/2 Spelling Quiz
11/6 Picture Retake Day
11/7 Body Safety Parent Night - ESC @ 6:00 pm
11/7 Map Skills Quiz
11/8 Unit 2 Math Test
11/21 Thanksgiving Break begins
Curriculum Corner
We have started our drafts of our narrative stories. We will spend from now until Thanksgiving typing, editing, and revising our stories. We can't wait to share them with you! You will also see some new activities beginning in language arts:
Spelling: Students have been given their first spelling list. I will be running 3 different groups. Students have been placed into a group that is at their developmental spelling level based on an assessment that they took at the beginning of the year. Spelling is typically done over 1 week (list given on Monday, quiz on Friday), but we will take 2 weeks to go over this first list so students become familiar with in class activities. The Friday quiz will cover the 10 words that they have been given, plus 4 "mystery" words that follow the spelling pattern and show that they can apply what they have learned to other words.
Vocabulary: Like spelling, this will typically be done over one week, but we will take two weeks for this first unit to go over activities and expectations together. Vocabulary study will focus on prefixes, suffixes, and root words. The first unit will focus on graph (write) & ir- and non- (not).
Word Work: I am working with a new curriculum this year called MegaWords. This curriculum teaches common rules for breaking words down into syllables and has decoding, spelling, and vocabulary components. There will not be tests over these skills, but students will work in class to apply the skills to improve reading fluency and spelling skills.
Reading:
We will be finishing up our realistic fiction unit by reading The Hundred Dresses. Each student will be applying their reading strategies that we practiced during Fish In a Tree and will be reading, responding to comprehension questions, and discussing the book both independently and within a reading group. There are many parallels between the two books, so we will be spending time discussing the similarities and differences.
Indiana History:
We will begin our map skills unit this week. We will be focusing on identifying parts of a map including: continents, oceans, map key, compass rose, lines of latitude & longitude, hemispheres, and identifying Indiana and surrounding states & bodies of water (Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, & Lake Michigan) on a map. We have finished all of our notes at this point, so students can bring home materials at any point to study.
Science:
As many of you probably know, we have an agreement with Purdue University for our science kits. We receive a kit, use it, then send it back. We are currently in a "between kits" week, so we are focusing on our brains, growth mindset, and how they learn this week. We will also spend some time learning about the moon, moon phases, tides, eclipses, and seasons. If your child has any allergies that would prevent him/her from handling and/or eating an Oreo, please let me know!
Math:
We will continue working on Unit 2 in math. This week, we will be focusing on multiplicative comparisons, properties of triangles, properties of quadrilaterals, lines of symmetry, and number patterns. Keep working on those multiplication facts! The majority of the students who are struggling with factoring understand what to do, but are having trouble with their multiplication facts. Study guides for the test were passed out Monday and will be due Wednesday, 11/7.
STEPS to SIEW:
This year, student will be participating in a new curriculum called Second Step. At Stonegate, we will be referring to it as "Steps to Strong In Every Way." Every Friday, students will be participating in a lesson focused on social-emotional learning. This week, we will be focusing on managing their emotions.
Body Safety
There is a parent night on November 7 at 6:00 pm at the ESC where parents can learn more about the information and ask questions. Opt-out papers will be sent home on Friday. You only need to return the paper if you DO NOT want your child to participate.