Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Homework for Thursday, November 10, 2011

Due Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Please don’t forget to send back your conference confirmation.
Family Writing: Write something in which you are thankful for about your family or the world around you. You can add your own voice to it, by including your feelings into the paragraph. Include a beginning, middle, and ending. Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading:
Language arts homework, “Dreaming of the Harvest” (3rd grade reading level) and “San Antonio Today” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep reading 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math:
* Go to: www.xtramath.org. Follow the directions on your XtraMath letter (in your packet last week). Practice 10-15 minutes each day! Only a few students have participated in this. It’s such a great way to practice the math facts quickly!
* Math worksheet

Homework for Thursday, November 3, 2011

Due Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2011


Family Writing: Tell about a fun event or holiday that you have participated in. What made it fun? Describe one thing about that event or holiday.

Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading:
Language arts homework, “Planting Dreams” (3rd grade reading level) and “The Texas Story” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep building up the reading time for this month from 20 to 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math:
* Go to: www.xtramath.org. Follow the directions on your XtraMath letter (in your packet last week). Practice 10-15 minutes each day!

• Continue playing two games, Multiplication Pairs and Count and Compare with the array cards. The directions were sent home last week in the homework packet.
• No worksheet for this week. Do XtraMath and play games instead.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Homework for Thursday, October 20, 2011

Due Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Family Speech:
Practice the character speech for Monday, October 31. Say it (Don’t read it!) in front of as many people as you. Mirrors also work, and so do dogs, cats, stuffed animals, tape recorders and many other things! Here is a repeat of the directions for the speech and note cards:
Include (one card for each topic): Who My Character Is (include book and author) in a stunning introduction, A Short Retell of the Book (Think of 8 key points—Main characters, setting, problem, event #1, event #2 (next), event #3 (then), event #4 (finally), Ending ), Other Things (I Want to Share About My Character), What I Like Best About My Character (I’ve provided 4 note cards for the task). You may pretend you’re this character during your speech. Be prepared to share your character and listen to others on Monday, October 31. Your note cards are due. I’ll return them to you for you to practice at home. This will count as the first speech for the year.
*Students will be scored on:
1. Having a beginning (Grab our interest!!), middle, and an ending …the more interesting the better!
2. Using correct grammar.
3. Use descriptive language.
4. Giving the audience eye contact and appropriate body gestures.
5. Speaking loud enough for the audience to hear.
6. Use your voice as a tool in storytelling.
5. Keeping the body from fidgeting.

Writing and working on speeches together encourages your child to see you having fun, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading: (In school we are working on establishing strategies that readers use. This week we’ve worked with retelling (8 key points as listed above for the speech for better understanding of the book.) and tuning into interesting words that students might want to use in their writing.
Language arts homework, “Thunder and Lightning” (3rd grade reading level) and “Boxes, Books and More” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep building up the reading time for this month from 20 to 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math: We’re working on counting by 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 10’s, and 5’s right now.
* Your child needs to continue working on memorizing the addition and subtraction facts. There is a link on our Blog, “Online Flashcards” that is fun for students to use to build up their computational fluency. Help with this would be appreciated.

• Students should have turned in their completed array cards that were handed out two Fridays ago. They are to be returned to school in a baggie with their names on them. If your child has returned them, they will be checked off in my grade book and sent back home.
• Continue playing two games, Multiplication Pairs and Count and Compare with the array cards. The directions were sent home last week in the homework packet.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Homework for Thursday, October 13, 2011

Due Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Family Writing and Speech:
Write notes on cards to tell about what book character you are planning on dressing up as on Monday, October 31. Include (one card for each topic): Who My Character Is (include book and author) in a stunning introduction, A Short Retell of the Book (Think of 8 key points—Main characters, setting, problem, event #1, event #2 (next), event #3 (then), event #4 (finally), Ending ), Other Things (I Want to Share About My Character), What I Like Best About My Character (I’ve provided 4 note cards for the task). You may pretend you’re this character during your speech. Be prepared to share your character and listen to others on Monday, October 31. Your note cards are due. I’ll return them to you for you to practice at home. This will count as the first speech for the year.
*Students will be scored on:
1. Having a beginning (Grab our interest!!), middle, and an ending …the more interesting the better!
2. Using correct grammar.
3. Use descriptive language.
4. Giving the audience eye contact and appropriate body gestures.
5. Speaking loud enough for the audience to hear.
6. Use your voice as a tool in storytelling.
5. Keeping the body from fidgeting.

Writing and working on speeches together encourages your child to see you having fun, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading: (In school we are working on establishing strategies that readers use. This week we’ve worked with retelling ( 8 key points as listed above for the speech for better understanding of the book.)

Language arts homework, “Night Lights” (3rd grade reading level) and “Moving-In Day” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep building up the reading time for this month from 20 to 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math: We’re working on counting by 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 10’s, and 5’s right now.
* Your child needs to continue working on memorizing the addition and subtraction facts. There is a link on our Blog, “Online Flashcards” that is fun for students to use to build up their computational fluency. Help with this would be appreciated.

• Students should have turned in their completed array cards that were handed out last Friday. They are to be returned to school in a baggie with their names on them. If your child has returned them, they will be checked off in my grade book and sent back home.
• Play two games, Multiplication Pairs and Count and Compare with the array cards. The directions are in the homework packet.

Friday, October 07, 2011

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Homework for October 6

Due Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Be encouraging your child to think about “Character Dress-Up Day” on October 31. Your child needs to choose a favorite book character, and dress up like him/her. Next week’s writing assignment will be about this book character.

Family Writing: (In school we are working on creating story idea lists, telling stories and writing personal narratives.)

Think about an exciting experience or event that you would like to share. Consider creating a mood of suspense, humor, or fantasy. Tell what happened and how you felt.
Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.
If your child is writing it on his/her own, look over the story with your child when he/she is finished. See if you and your child can add some details to make the story more clear and vivid. Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading: (In school we are working on establishing strategies that readers use. This week we’ve reviewed many strategies. We’ve also been working on recognizing suffixes and retelling stories.)

Language arts homework, “One Tent, What Next?” (3rd grade reading level). and “Moving Out Day” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Your child should now be reading 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please sign the card and write in 0 minutes. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math:
* Your child needs to continue working on memorizing the addition and subtraction facts. There is a link on our Blog, “Online Flashcards” that is fun for students to use to build up their computational fluency. Help with this would be appreciated.

* On Friday I will send “Arrays” packet home. Directions will be with the packet. When they are returned by Wednesday, I will send them back home with games to play with them.
*A math game called “Cover 50” has directions with it. It reinforces multiples. This has been a challenge for many students! Play it a few times each week during the month of October. Keep the game and play once in awhile throughout the year.

In science we are continuing our work sample for our matter unit. Students are testing a substance to see if it is a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

Monday, October 03, 2011

Jog-a-thon Coming Up!!

Don't forget the jog-a-thon is coming up on Friday, October 7. Don't forget to help your child get his/her pledges. Our running time is 10:20. Come support your favorite runner! A good breakfast, a good night sleep and a smile on the face in the morning will really help make a successful day.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Actors' Visit to B1 on Tuesday, September 27

Homework for September 29

Due Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Family Writing: (In school we are working on creating story idea lists, telling stories and writing personal narratives.)
Think of an early memory you have that you could write about. Tell a complete story with beginning, middle and ending—See if some personality can come out in the story!
Show your story to your parent. See if you can add some details with your parent to make the story more clear and vivid. Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading: (In school we are working on establishing strategies that readers use. This week we’ve worked with using prior knowledge, visualizing, and retelling for better understanding of the book.)

Language arts homework, “How to Pitch a Tent” (3rd grade reading level) and “Bridges to Remember” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep building up the reading time for this month from 20 to 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math: We’re working on counting by 2’s, 3’s, 10’s, and 5’s right now. Students are creating their own riddles: Example: There are 4 bears. Each bear has 2 eyes. How many eyes in all? Students need to show how they solve the word problem.
* There is a parent sheet and a riddle sheet for students to use to help write 2-5 riddle problems that are due next Wednesday.
* Your child needs to continue working on memorizing the addition and subtraction facts. There is a link on our Blog, “Online Flashcards” that is fun for students to use to build up their computational fluency. Help with this would be appreciated.

* Math worksheets for second and third graders are in the packet.

In science we are beginning a work sample for our matter unit. Students will be figuring out how to test a substance to see if it is a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Homework for September 22

Due Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Family Writing: (In school we are working on creating story idea lists, telling stories and writing personal narratives.)
Create a list of story ideas that can be written at school. Fill in ideas on the attached list and return it to school. Choose one of your ideas to write about for 20 minutes. Tell a complete story with beginning, middle and ending—See if some personality can come out in the story!
Show your story to your parent. See if you can add some details with your parent to make the story more clear and vivid. Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.
Return your list of ideas and your story to school on Wednesday.

Reading: (In school we are working on establishing strategies that readers use. This week we’ve worked with Monitor and Fix Up, Tune into Interesting Words, and Voracious Reading)

Language arts homework, “One Tent, Lots of Stuff” (3rd grade reading level) and “Bridges” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep building up the reading time for this month from 20 to 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math: We have begun a new unit, “Things That Come in Groups”. We’re working on counting by 2’s, 3’s, and 5’s right now, but later we’ll be counting by 4’s, and 9’s. Students are creating their own riddles: Example: There are 4 bears. Each bear has 2 eyes. How many eyes in all? Students need to show how they solve the word problem.
Your child needs to continue working on memorizing the addition and subtraction facts. There is a link on our Blog, “Online Flashcards” that is fun for students to use to build up their computational fluency. Help with this would be appreciated. Soon I will be checking to see which facts your child still needs to work on.

* Math worksheets for second and third graders are in the packet.

In science we are continuing our study of matter. (See last weeks parent note.)
Thank you for your support!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Homework for September 15

Due Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Family Writing: (In school we are working on telling stories and writing personal narratives.)
Our goal this year at Forest Ridge is to improve students’ writing. I’d like to encourage you and your child to write together. Write about something you did together. Tell a short story using setting (time and place), characters (example: you and your child—See if some personality can come out in the story!), and plot (simple problem and solution) Next, use details to make the story more clear and vivid. Finally, end with a satisfying conclusion. Writing together encourages your child to see you having fun with writing, and allows you an opportunity to spend time with your child while he/she learns.

Reading: (In school we are working on establishing strategies that readers use. Ask your child about text to text, text to self, slow down for meaning, read the first letter of an unknown word, read the rest of the sentence, and then back up to reread the sentence, back up to reread parts you don’t understand, cross check, and check for understanding.) Students need to be reading books at their INDEPENDENT reading level (only missing 1-3 words/page) while reading on their own. The bookmark has their independent level on it.
Language arts homework, “Two Boys, Big Plans” (3rd grade reading level) and “Dad’s First Day” (2nd grade reading level) are similar in format and skills to the Oregon third grade reading assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary. I tried to give your child the story at the reading level that will benefit him/her the most.

Keep building up the reading time for this month from 20 to 30 minutes each day. Don’t forget to help your child remember to bring the RAH (Read at Home) folder back to school each day. If you don’t have time to read one evening, please still sign the card with 0 minutes written in. That’s ok once in awhile!

Math: We’ve been reviewing place value for 2 and 3 digit numbers, showing the standard form (234) the expanded form (200 + 30 + 4) and the models ( . . . .)
Your child needs to continue working on memorizing the addition and subtraction facts. Help with this would be appreciated. Soon I will be checking to see which facts your child still needs to work on.

* Math worksheets for second and third graders are in the packet.

In science we are studying matter. What is matter? (It is everything around you. It takes up space and has mass.) What are some properties of matter? (size, shape, temperature, how it feels, color, etc.) What are 3 forms of matter? (solid, liquid, gas) How can you tell which form matter is in? solid-has definite (stays the same) shape and volume; liquid-has no definite shape, but has a definite volume; gas-has no definite shape and no definite volume).

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Parents May Check Out Library Books

You are welcome to come into the library on Tuesday and Thursdays from 11:00am-12:00, and also Thursday from 3:00pm-3:30pm to check out books for your family, up to 5 books per week. If you have not filled out a Patron Account Information form, you will need to do that before you can check out. These small little forms are at Mrs. Morrow's desk in the library.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Read at Home

Each child has been given a Read at Home (RAH) folder to take home. Inside should be a book that he/she has choosen at his/her level. Please help him/her develop good reading habits by helping him/her find a time to read at home each day for 20-30 minutes. Your child needs to bring his/her RAH folder home each day and back to school the next day. Please take the time to ask your child about the book. I put a white handout inside the folder that you may take out to keep at home. It has suggestions for questions and discussion points. The reading log and the number of minutes your child reads needs to be filled out each day and signed. Thank you for your help.

Thursday, September 08, 2011

A Few Things

School is off to a good start. Thank you for all the tennis balls and reams of paper you've sent! We have plenty now, so if you haven't sent any, yet, please don't :)!
If you wish to make a donation in another way, we could always use broad-tipped BLACK dry erase markers. We do a lot of practice work on dry erase boards, and we go through the markers pretty quickly. THANK YOU!!!

Homework September 8, 2011

Dear Parents,
Regular homework will begin next week Thursday. Please do the following things between now and next Wednesday:

1. For math, please practice addition and subtraction flashcards about 10 minutes each day. If you don’t have flashcards, you can download them from the link on my blog site (http://forestridgec4.blogspot.com) or send me an e-mail (ryan_ginny@salkeiz.k12.or.us), and I’ll be sure your child receives a set.
2. Explore the different websites for math on our blog site (http://forestridgec4.blogspot.com).
3. Practice counting by 2, 3, 5, 10. Then try counting by 2’s beginning with the number 3 or 9. Then try counting by 3’s beginning with 1, 4, or 7. Try counting by 10’s beginning with 11 or 17, etc.
4. Don’t forget to have your child read 20-30 minutes a day. Your child is to return the clear plastic book folder with the filled out reading log (kept inside the folder) each day.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Field Day 2011

Have a happy summer!

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Summer Activities for Kids

Here's a great site for students to learn during the summer. It has quite a variety of activities. One activity a day, so check it out!