The Bacher Blog For parents of students in Room 16 Monday, September 9, 2013 Fundations: We are finishing up Unit 1 this week, focusing on closed syllables. This unit is a big review of Level 1 Fundations, so it's fairly easy for most students, but don't let that fool you! It will get harder as we learn more spelling options. The test will be this Friday. I will not collect homework packets until that morning. The writing grid in the back of the packet is for the weekly test (found on the back of the family letter), as well as any extra practice. Please make sure your child is completing his/her Fundations packet a little each night! Important Announcements: Be sure to look at the back of this paper for the Homework Log Thursday, September 12 will be another PTA sponsored Book Fair, in case you couldn't make the last one! Conference sign up forms will be coming home in the next couple of weeks with my newsletter/log. Consider joining PTA! Join up forms were sent home last week. If you are interested in being a room parent, you MUST be a PTA member. The Daily 5/Work on Writing We have begun to work on DOL (Daily Oral Language) to develop editing skills and explore parts of speech, as well as basic writing rules. Toward the end of this week I will introduce Work on Writing. Students will be introduced to writing targets and will begin to write in writing journals. A note will come home explaining decorating the journals, etc. later this week. Everyday Math This week we'll be working with money and number grids a lot. We'll continue to count by 1s, 5s, 10s, 25s, and 100s. The number grid will be used to identify number patterns, missing numbers, and addition facts. In 2nd grade, there is a big push for mastering addition and subtraction facts. By the end of 2nd grade, your child should be able to complete 100 math facts in 5 minutes – it's not just about knowing the facts, but having good fluency (able to do facts quickly from their head). We do encourage the use of number grids. You may not understand how to use them for now, but I will be sure to show how they work at conferences. All of my students now have an Everyday Math login card attached to his/her Take Home Folder. Your child can use this on www.everydaymathonline.com to access online games, the online MRB, and much more. I will go over at school how to use the login cards with your child. Homework: Reading Log: “With a Friend” – read every night Math Log: Mon. – money wksht Tues. – + odd balls wksht Wed. – time worksheet Thurs. – doubles wksht Fri. – +9 wksht Fundations packet: U1 packet due Friday, 9/13/13 The Daily 5/CAFÉ time/Reading: We continue to practice Read to Self every day. Currently, the students have built up enough stamina to read for 6 minutes and 54 seconds without being distracted. When students are sent off to Read to Self, they are asked to keep in mind the 3 Ways to Read a book (read the pictures, read the words, and retell a previously read story), as well as choosing an I PICK book (purpose, interest, comprehension, knowledge of words). At the same time, we have been adding reading strategies to our CAFE board to help us become better readers. Tomorrow we begin working with Officer Buckle and Gloria. We will practice a few strategies...rereading text for better fluency and accuracy, predicting and confirming, and tuning in to interesting words. Last week we created our second I Chart for Daily 5...Word Work! Science/Social Studies: This week we honor Patriots Day on September 11. We will be talking about citizenship...what that means and how we can be good citizens. Recommended Website: www.madisonschools.net Click on the “schools” link at the top of my page, and select South Elementary School. Then click on staff websites. My name (Bacher) should be listed under B. Click on this and explore my website. I do link weekly newsletters and logs under Mrs. Bacher's Site For All, and there are other things you might find helpful and informative. 1