Old Mill Pond News
October, 2018
Kindergarten News
Students are learning letters and sounds and have begun learning their first set of kindergarten sight words. We are on our way to being able to read! In math, we are learning different ways to represent numbers 0-5 and ways to make those numbers. We will be going on a field trip to Austin's Farm in Belchertown to pick pumpkins and learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin.
One of the best things you can do to help your child is to READ to them. Reading out loud is a positive influence. It helps in brain development, increases language development and strengthens family relationships. Time to grab a good book and read together!!
1st Grade Updates
Students have happily adjusted to the routines of first grade. We have begun a reading unit where the big idea is “Getting to Know Us.” We will develop this idea by reading stories about school, where we live, our pets, making friends, and ways we move.
First graders have collected so many school team tickets, that we will be celebrating with a pajama day. This was voted on by the students with a secret ballot. Be on the look out for a notice on when this will take place.
Happy fall to all!
News from 2nd grade
Grade Three News
Third grade has had quite a busy start to the year! We are enjoying our new reading series “Wonders” with so many rich stories to share. Much of our work is modeling expectations at this time, but soon we will begin our small group work too. In Math, our classes have been reviewing place value concepts. We are learning to round to the nearest ten and hundred. Soon we will begin learning addition strategies for three digit numbers, as well as subtraction strategies. Much our work with addition and subtraction will be done by understanding and solving word problems, or number stories. Each of our classes have begun our plant study in science. The children love science and learning about the world around them. They also enjoy sharing what they know and what they notice. Please talk and share with your children all the many changes that happen to plant life during the season of fall!
5th Grade News
General News You Can Use.
Purple emergency forms are still needed, please get these in ASAP.
Watch for picture info to come home soon. You should have received a progress report on Friday September 28th.
We have been implementing PBIS to help students share feeling in an appropriate manner, and in a safe setting. We use color to help express different emotions. Students and classes can earn blue and gold tickets for rewards. Our school had a treat on September 28th, as we all joined together to watch the movie, “Inside Out”.
October Math News
Students have been working very hard on place value, multiplying and dividing by powers of ten, and converting within the metric system. They have learned that it is actually a shifting of digits when multiplying or dividing by a power of ten rather than the decimal changing places.
Students have done a fantastic job with the POW game and their interactive notebook activities. These have been valuable reinforcement tools.
Students should continue to practice multiplication facts as every skill this year is reliant on them. There are weekly tests to show progress.
October English Language Arts News
Our new curriculum, Wonders, is being fully implemented in the classroom. Students are doing a nice job learning the routines that go with this instructional program. Please look for weekly newsletters from your child’s ELA teacher for week-by-week specific information including a particular week’s spelling words, vocabulary list, genre focus, and comprehension strategies and skills. Please continue with STUDYING homework and READING for 20 minutes a night.
Literacy News
Old Mill Pond is so excited to be starting our new Wonders program K-5! This program focuses on all aspects of literacy development using whole group instruction, small group instruction, traditional anthologies and workbooks, and technology enhanced instruction and assessment. It is our hope that over time students will develop common language (“words we need to know”) around reading and writing, be able to read and write with purpose and fluency, and grow to be 21st century literate!
This year we are also continuing to work closely with Hill Literacy, a consulting company that partners with schools to shape and guide whole school change through leadership development and teacher training. Together we are evaluating our current literacy practices and working to create change from within. A major initiative this year is the development of a data system to help us better understand the students in front of us, pinpoint areas in need of improvement at a school level, and better provide targeted instruction to individual students and in small groups.
Old Mill Pond is continuing to use Lexia this year in addition to our core Wonders curriculum. Lexia is a fun computer-based program that helps promote independent reading. Students can access this program at home or at school by going to mylexia.com. Students are assigned a five digit username (specific to your child) and use the password 1234. The five digit username stays with your child throughout his/her years at OMP. Many students refer to their user name as their Lexia number and remember it from year to year. Ask your child about Lexia and if you need more information don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or email Ivy Peritz-Smith, OMP K-5 Literacy Coach, at iperitz-smith@palmerschools.org.
Finally, one skill everyone at OMP is working on this year is how to be a close reader. Close reading involves rereading one paragraph, one page, or one section of a passage of any genre for a specific purpose. Students look for evidence within the section read to support an answer, make an inference, come to a conclusion, etc. To close read, students must always read a story or passage once just to “get the jist.” During the 1st read, the focus is only on reading the story or passage and just figuring out what it is about. In most situations, the 1st read should not be interrupted with questions or other stops (“just like you don’t like to stop a movie over and over”). After reading once, students then go back for a 2nd (and sometimes a 3rd) read to focus on one specific purpose (often a question).
For example, students in a 4th grade read an informational article on butterflies. The 1st time they read it they just focus on getting “the jist” of the article. After finishing the 1st read, the students may be asked to reread one paragraph in the middle of the article focusing on the specific purpose of identifying how climate can affect the butterfly population. Students then reread (the 2nd read) the specified paragraph and try to find an answer to the question using specific evidence from the text to support what they have to say.
Close reading is just one skill that will help your child understand the purposes for reading and help him/her become a reader who can not only comprehend what he/she is reading but can also support answers with evidence and details.
Parent Reading Tip of the Month: When you are trying to figure out if a book is too easy, too hard, or just right for your child, use the Five Finger rule. Have your child read one page from the middle of the book. If he/she struggles on more than five words, it may be too difficult. If he/she reads one page with no mistakes, it may be too easy or possibly just right. ***This is just a general rule. If your child already knows a lot about a topic or is really interested in a topic, a few more mistakes on a page may be ok.
If you have any questions regarding literacy, please don’t hesitate to ask. By building common literacy practices between home and school, we can help your child thrive!
Mrs. Ivy Peritz-Smith, OMP K-5 Literacy Coach
Greetings from Physical Education!
In K-2, we’re off to a great start! So far, we’ve been working hard to understand how to be safe movers, kind friends, and positive teammates. You may even hear your child talk about the
“Team Player Award”, which is a golden bracelet awarded to a student
who demonstrates these three attributes during class!
Up next, we will be working on our soccer skills!
Please make sure your child has sneakers!
Happy Moving,
Miss Bechthold
PE Teacher (K-2)
Hi OMP Families,
My name is Dave Petit and I am teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Physical Education for the 2018-2019 school year. My physical education classes provide students with an opportunity to develop a physically fit lifestyle. The students develop sports skills and a variety of movement skills that they can use throughout their lifetime. The students gain understanding, enjoyment, and opportunity to challenge themselves in sports and movement skills. I put the students in situations where they have the opportunity to interact in a positive social manner with each other as well as myself.
I am always looking to broaden my curriculum so that your children can experience new and exciting activities. My goal is develop more individual/life time sports activities in my curriculum. Unfortunately the cost for equipment to start new activities is extremely expensive, so I am looking for your help. If you or anyone you know could donate used golf club that you do not use to the school I would sincerely appreciate it. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or donations at 413-283-4300 ext 1311 or through my email (dpetit@palmerschools.org).
Lastly, please make sure your child wears his/her sneakers on their Physical Education day. We also will be going outside in October so have your child bring a sweatshirt in case it gets cold.
Thank you,
Dave Petit
Physical Education Teacher
Old Mill Pond
October Dates to Remember
School Pictures - October 2, 3 and 4
Monday, October 1 - No Preschool; PTO Meeting; 6pm
Monday, October 8 - Columbus Day
Tuesday, October 23 - School Banking
Wednesday, October 24 - 1/2 Day for Students; No Preschool
Wednesday, October 31 - Term 1 Grades Close