Week 7- September 24th- 28th, 2012

Dear Parents,

We hope everyone had a relaxing weekend!

The first graders will be doing their second and third MAP assessments this Monday, September 24th, and Friday, September 28th. The first one will be the second math test and the third will be the first reading assessment. Please have your child review the various math and reading skills learned in class by using the MAP sites posted under the 'Links' heading. There are also various other games/activites that will help your child in language arts and math found under the 'Links' heading.
This Tuesday, September 25th, our school has the wonderful opportunity for a very special activity with Casa Kinich. Casa Kínich, or ¨House of the Sun is the only child based learning center located near a Mayan ruins. Casa Kínich has welcomed over 60,000 visitors, young and old alike, from around the world. Entrance to this child based learning center is free for children and adults pay 1 dollar. They are currently  undertaking a project geared towards the public schools in the Copan area to help raise awareness of the need to protect the Scarleth Macaw and its habitat. The first graders will be having their activity first thing in the morning that day.
Just a reminder that this Wednesday, September 26th, is a half day. Students will be going home at 11:45am. Your child only needs to bring a snack to school. Also, if you have still not payed the $100 or 2000 Lempira class fee, please do so as soon as possible.
 Last, the first graders will be examining different cultures in a couple of weeks. We would like to invite parents to come to school to speak to the children about your culture in 2 weeks. We would like  you to speak about the customs, beliefs, shelter and language of that culture. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Colette or Ms. Magda as soon as possible.
This week your child will be inquiring into the following:

Langauge Arts
Phonics- This week's words their, she, if, do, and how. Your child will be learning these words and reviewing older ones through various chants and activites.

Reading- This week, your child will be reviewing the following reading skills through the book, Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat; predicting, creating mental images, setting, character,beginning, middle and end, and identifying the problem. He/she will also be asked to identify the title and author of the book.
Writing- Your child will be learning about legibility and why it is important in writing.

Math- Your child will be further inquiring into subtraction and learning how to choose the correct opertion when doing problem solving questions.

Theme- Your child will create a family tree for 2 generations this week. You can help your child with this by discussing and showing pictures of your family. Speaking to them in English about the family and/or using the English titles for the various people will help your child better understand the vocabulary required for this unit. Some of the vocabulary words are brother, sister, mother (mom), father (dad), grandmother (grandma), grandfather (grandpa), aunt, uncle, and cousin.

Homework

Monday
Reading-read 10 minutes and complete the reading log
                    -Finding the Main Idea worksheet
Math-Problem Solving worksheet

Tuesday
Reading-read 10 minutes and complete the reading log
                    -Finding the Main Idea worksheet
Math-Using Numbers to Subtract worksheet

Wednesday
Reading-read 10 minutes and complete the reading log
                    -What's on the Cover? activity
Math-Zero in Subtraction

Thursday
Reading-read 10 minutes and complete the reading log
Math-Vertical Subtraction worksheet
Phonics-study for the Spelling Challenge


Reminders

Class Fee- Please pay the $100 class fee as soon as possible
Guest Speaker- Please contact Ms. Colette or Ms. Magda if you are interested to come talk to the students about your culture.
Early Dismissal- Wednesday, September 26th; Students will be going home at 11:45am.
Minuta Friday- This Friday, September 28th, the Language Arts Festival committee will be selling Minutas (slushies) at lunch time for L25. The money raised will be going towards the ABSH Festival this February.

Links
MAP Math
MAP Reading
Starfall- great phonics and reading sites
AAAKnow- great math site where your child can review the math skills taught in class and assess him/herself