PHONICS/READING
    In phonics we are reviewing long and short vowels.   In reading we are working on Thematic Skills Tests.  We will be testing all week.  In guided reading groups we will be discussing and reading about monarch  butterflies. 
    Please have your child read 75 minutes a week. Children are to return their reading logs and folders for checking the first day of each week. 
    Please continue to work on the Dolch words.  The Dolch words are high frequency words that children need to learn to help them read fluently.
SPELLING
    This is our first review unit.  All of the words are from previous lessons.  The bonus words are each worth two extra points on the Word Test on  Wednesday.  The sentence test will be on Friday. Your child may also practice this week's spelling list by going to Spelling City at http://www.spellingcity.com/index.php?option=com_spellcity&Itemid=122&task=viewList&listId=36238
Wednesday's  test
Lesson 6  "Theme 1 Review"
am   ate   bite   dig   fox   fun   hide   his   hug   job   late   leg   made   mop   nut   ran   sat   size   went   wet   
*block   *every   *scratch   *shake   *write   
Friday's sentence  test
1. Did his dog bite or scratch the leg of a wet fox?
2. I went to hide every mop you made.
3. I am late for my fun job.
4. He sat on the block and ate the nut.
Please practice for these tests.
MATH
    The children will practice doubles facts; develop and practice strategies for addition that use double facts; use doubles patterns to practice facts; practice subtraction facts; develop and use patterns to solve subtraction facts; use symbols to write number sentences for fact families; practice basic facts in the context of Fact Triangles; use symbols to write number sentences for fact families; use repeated addition to solve equal groups problems; use a spring scale to weigh objects that are about 1 pound; and model the relationship between two objects.
    We will have a money test (dimes, nickels and pennies) on Monday, an addition facts test on Tuesday and Thursday, and a clocks test (o'clock, half past, quarter to and quarter past) on Wednesday.  We will also have a review quiz on this week's math skills on Friday. Children will have a homelink every day except Friday.
PRINTING/ENGLISH
    In printing we are working on proper formation, spacing, and neatness. In English we are working on punctuation, parts of a sentence, describing words, an story writing. Children are required to use proper punctuation in all of their work.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
    In science we are discussing how earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes change the Earth. We will also complete our first science assessment. Our science vocabulary is evaporate, water vapor, condense, water cycle, precipitation, erosion, earthquake, landslide, and volcano.    In social studies we are discussing types of neighborhoods and how neighborhoods change..
CLASSROOM PROJECTS
    A special thank you to the parents who have sent in postcards and stamps for our regular postcard project. We have received several postcards.  We will  be posting these postcards in the hall by our room and on our classroom web site at
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/class/postcards/
COMPUTER PROJECTS
    This week we will be visiting some sites about fire prevention. We will visit these sites: Online Tour of Davis Fire Engine 31 - City of Davis - http://www.city.davis.ca.us/fire/tour/  Firefighter Protective Clothing Tour - City of Davis Fire Department_
http://www.city.davis.ca.us/fire/pct/   Sparky the Fire Dog Site  http://www.nfpa.org/sparky/index.html
    We will continue to practice reading and math skills  at ThinkLink. Children may also do these probes from their home computers. Children are not required to do these probes at home, but they are excellent practice for second grade skills. The reading home probe code is EC0218 and the math home probe code is EF3811. To do these probes go to
http://www.thinklinkassessments.com/ Then click on "Student Login".  Next click in  the "Practice Probes" graphic.  Type in the code for the practice probe. Then have your child type in his.her student number.
    Your child may also wish to visit our collection of numerous kid-friendly educational web sites that we sometimes use during computer time. The url is http://www.portaportal.com   You may login under guest as class7 to view the various websites.  This page will grow as we add more sites throughout the year.
APPLEBEE POND
    Starting next week, we will have Applebee Pond on Mondays for six weeks. This is a special program with puppets and stories that discuss self-image, peer pressure, dangers of drugs and alcohol, strangers, and general safety issues. The children always love the program. We will have this one-hour program every Monday for six weeks. You may view a web page about the program at this url,
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/applebee/index.htm
SPECIAL DATES AND EVENTS
Wednesday  - Austinburg Library 2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Thursday      - Gym 1:45 - 2:20 p.m.
Friday           -  Music  9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Oct. 10          -  End of First Six Weeks
Oct. 17          -  NEOEA Day - No School
FROM THE TEACHER'S DESK
    Please remember to send your child's lunch/lunch money in an envelope with his/her name on it. This helps the children move through the line quicker and gives them a little longer to eat.
    The majority of children are generally working at the "C" or better level of behavior.  We still have a few children who are talking during work time or not completing their work in class.  This is "B" level behavior and not acceptable in our classroom.
    It is very important that your child learn to stay on task and  complete his/her work every day.  If your child is bringing home several papers a day to finish besides his/her homelink paper, then he/she is not staying on task in school. If your child stays on task, he/she will have  plenty of time to finish. We will work on work skills all year.    
    Please look at the papers your child brings home in his/her task/work-folder.  Praise your child for good marks and help him/her improve any weak areas. Please keep the graded papers, sign the weekly report sheet in the clear pocket, and return the folder and sheet in the clear pocket to school as soon as possible. Papers marked with an I  or Inc. should be corrected and returned.
    Please ask your child if they need pencils, erasers, or crayons.  Several children are borrowing pencils, erasers and crayons. We use pencils, erasers and crayons every day.

    If you have any ideas, concerns, questions, etc. please write me a note, call (school -466-4831 ext. 169), or e-mail (school - roberta.gray@neomin.org ). 
            Roberta Gray