March 10, 2017 Dear Parents,   This week, we continued our in-depth study of letter/sound association of initial and medial /Uu/ as in umbrella and gum. We reviewed letters previously taught and practiced manipulating the letters to blend, finger-spell, and write CVC words. We practiced forming the letters and words correctly using multi-sensory strategies and had fun playing games with partners. We highlighted the sight words said, put, get, and got in our shared reading texts and added them to our Word Wall and word rings. We enjoyed reading the poem In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb, discussing vocabulary and imagery. In Reading Workshop, we learned that readers retell the important parts of their books after reading to hold on to information and to share ideas about the book with others. We learned how to use our fingers to help us: Thumb- ”This story is about __ (name specific characters’ names) who ___ (name main idea)”; Pointer- “The story takes place (name the setting)”; Middle- In the Beginning ___ (tell an action/problem); Ring- In the Middle or Next ___ (tell additional actions or problems); Pinky- In the End or Finally ___ (tell how the problem is solved).” We continued reading books in the Ethan Series. We enjoyed discussing character traits, actions, and motives, as well as making predictions, sharing personal connections to the stories, and sharing strategies used to decode tricky words. In Writing Workshop, we completed self-revising and self-editing our stories and coloring the sketches. We completed publishing our books by creating an interesting title and cover. We are looking forward to celebrating our hard work as writers and illustrators by reading our books to an audience! We also began orally sharing opinions with reasons about topics in preparation for opinion-based writing. We thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Story Pirates Assembly on Monday! In Math, we continued exploring and comparing the attributes of solid figures and flat shapes. We used flat shapes manipulatives to design flat shape pictures, as well as abstract designs. We identified flat shapes in a given scene and learned that the shape is the same even if the position is rotated. We completed the Chapter 7 Assessment, made our own addition facts to 5 flashcards using cubes, and worked on solving addition and subtraction story problems to 10 with various manipulatives. In Science, we continued our NGSS investigation of pushes and pulls by thinking through the design plan process. Using halved paper towel rolls, marbles, and blocks, we explored different ways for our marbles to move. We drew a plan and tested our design. We then created questions that we had about our designs, ex: How can we make our marble go faster? Change speed? Race with another marble? Change direction? Working with a partner, we chose a question to try to solve, revised our plan, added additional materials, and tested, revised, and retested our designs. What amazing thinking and design solutions!!! In social Studies, we read and discussed the story Peter’s Chair. We discussed that as we grow, we sometimes outgrow things we needed or used when we were little. We compared food and clothing that infants and toddlers eat and wear to food and clothing that we eat and wear now, noting how need, style, size, ability, and personal tastes and preferences change over time.

Looking Ahead: Special Notes: We learned how to use a new reading app Reading A-Z Raz Kids, which enables us to listen to, and read, leveled books on the iPad in our own personal online book rooms, answer comprehension questions about the books, and earn star points. We are having so much fun reading, thinking, and spending our points to build robots and rockets! We also enjoyed our Maker Monday Explorations! Wishing you a lovely weekend! Linda Yelvington   Looking Ahead: Family Math Night: Tonight! @ 6:30-8:00 p.m. PTO Meeting: Wed., Mar. 15 @ 9:15 a.m. Leprechaun Trap Building with 5D: Wed., Mar. 15 @ 10:15 The Connected Parent- Innovation Lab Guided Tour @ Eisenhower: Thurs., Mar. 16 @ 7-9:00 pm Marking Period Ends: Fri., Mar. 17 Bd of Ed Meeting: Mon., Mar. 20 @ 7 p.m. @ Eisenhower School Report Cards Available: Fri., Mar 24 @ 3:20 p.m. WEF Gala @ Indian Trail Club, Franklin Lakes: Fri., Mar. 24 @ 7:30-11:30 p.m.              Special Notes: Encourage your child to practice addition facts to 5 with their flashcards daily for fluency. Please help your child read and retell the stories in their books across five fingers. Please remember to bring sneakers to school for P.E. and recess when wearing snow or fashion boots.