Thursday, December 13, 2012

December 13, 2012


Dear Parents: 
            Continue the great work in reading with your child for 30 minutes each day and recording it in the RAH folder.  The first part this term in reading, we’re working on character qualities, point of view, cause and effect relationships, recounting stories, theme, moral and lesson, sequence of events, and compare and contrast.

            Math: Continue playing the array games a couple of times a week.  Second graders actually only need to know their multiplication (arrays) through 5X5, but I've included all the arrays because many of the second graders are ready for them!  For third graders (and second graders who are ready), looking on the backside of the array, tell the other factor. That’s division!

            If you don’t have computer access for you child, please work on flashcard practice or the array games.  Second graders need to know their addition facts through 10 + 10 (or 20’s) and subtraction facts through 20’s.  Third graders need to know addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts through 10’s (11’s and 12’s would be nice, too!)  Falcon Fast Facts will officially begin in January and it will be added to the RAH minute folder.

            Please continue to have your child use Xtra Math and SumDog.  If you need the passwords, please let me know. 

       Family Writing:  We’ve been working on fiction stories and developing the main character through physical descriptions, dialogue, actions, and other character’s reactions.  Your child should know about setting (time and place) and plot (problem/conflict and solution) as well. 

            Create your own fiction story.  Often times the best fiction story is based on something that really happened to you, but you’ve elaborated to make the story even better.   Use your graphic organizer to plan your story.  Include a beginning, middle, and ending.   Skip lines as you write to make revising and editing easier.

Next revise (add missing parts, complete sentences, and details) and edit (spelling, capitals, periods, matching verb tense, paragraphs) your paper.  Try to use a different word to begin each sentence.

Divide your story into about five parts.  Draw five different scenes of the story and neatly write the part of the story under your picture it goes with.  Papers clip your finished book together. 

At school, we’ll make a movie out of your story!  Be sure it’s back by Wednesday, January 9!
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.

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