PHONICS/READING
    In phonics we are working on long a, e,  o, i, and u, a review of short vowels, and the two sounds of g.  We will work on these sounds in our guided reading groups when we read our phonics readers, "Miss Pig's Garden" and "Mike and Dave Sleep Outside".
    In reading we are starting a new theme, "Nature Walk".  The story in our anthology is "Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night". The children will also be reading leveled readers in guided reading groups.  We will be working on comparing and contrasting, questioning for comprehension, and a comprehension skill review. 
High frequency words for this week: beautiful   even   quiet   straight   year
Vocabulary words for this week:
backpack   campfire   camping   hike   lanterns   tent
    Please have your child read at least 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
bone   close   cute   goes   home   hope   joke   nose   note   one   robe   rope   these   those   use   
*drove   *mule
    We will have a practice spelling word test on Tuesday, a word test on Wednesday, and a sentence test on Friday.  Children who receive a 110% on the Tuesday practice test (including the challenge words) will not have to take the Wednesday word test.
    The children will create three to four sentences from their spelling words for Friday's spelling test.  They will copy these sentences and bring home a copy for studying on Wednesday.  Every word in a sentence test as well as punctuation is graded.  They will have a test on these sentences on Friday.  Please practice for these tests.
MATH
    In math we will generate equivalent names for numbers in a name-collection box, use addition and subtraction facts in the Name the Number game, use symbols to write number sentences for Name the Number, practice facts in Frames-and Arrows problems, use patterns to find rules for Frames-and-Arrows problems, find missing numbers and rules for Frames-and-Arrows problems, count on and back by 1s, 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s, practice facts in "What's My Rule?" problems, use patterns to find rules for "What's My Rule?" problems, find missing numbers and rules for "what's My Rule?" problems?, count up and back by 1s, use addition and subtraction facts to solve subtraction problems, use Fact Triangles to practice facts, and use counting-up and counting-back strategies for subtraction.
    We will have a money test (quarters, 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 assignment 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, use of I, and describing words. Children are required to use proper punctuation in all of their work.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
    In science we are discussing fossils, defining paleontologist and explaining how they work with fossils, and discussing how scientists infer information about the past from observing animals today. Science vocabulary is: fossil, paleontologist, skeleton, extinct, and endangered.    
    In social studies we are discussing fire safety, types of neighborhoods, and how neighborhoods change.
CLASSROOM PROJECTS
    We have received several postcards from classes in the United States. We hope to post some of the postcards we have received in the hall this week to share with other students. You may view these postcards on our classroom web site at -
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/class/postcards/ As we read and discuss each postcard we find the state on our classroom map and the children color in the state on their personal maps.
COMPUTER PROJECTS
    We will finish creating our paper monarch butterflies and send them to Mexico by the end of the week.  Our butterflies will winter with real Monarchs in Mexico.  In the spring, twenty-six butterflies will be returned to our classroom.  They will not be the butterflies we sent, but butterflies from other schools.  Our butterflies will be sent to other classes.
    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.
SPECIAL DATES AND EVENTS
Monday       - Applebee Pond
Tuesday       - Art 1:25 - 2:10
Wednesday  - Austinburg Library 2:15 - 2:45p.m.
Thursday      - Gym 1:45 - 2:20 p.m.
Thursday      - Market Day Orders Due
Friday           -  Music  9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Friday           -  End of First Six Weeks
Oct. 13          - Fire Safety Program
Oct. 13          - AESA 7 p.m.
Oct. 14          - Market Day Pick-Up, 6:30-7:30
Oct. 17          - NEOEA Day - No School
Oct. 28          - Arts Center Program
Oct. 29-31    - Book Fair
Oct. 31          - Fall Parade/Party 2:00-2:45
FROM THE TEACHER'S DESK
    Starting next week your child will have a weekly homework assignment.  Your child will receive the assignment on Monday in his/her red homework folder.  The assignment is to be completed and returned no later than Friday. This assignment will also be posted at
http://www.genevaschools.org//austinbg/class/gray/homework/index.htm
    The majority of children are generally working at the "C" or better level of behavior.  Only a couple of children are still having a few problems of talking during work time and/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 Math homework/hometask 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.  We use pencils 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