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September 17, 2007 Dear Parents, Our year is well under way now, and your children are doing well. They seem to be very cohesive now, and it really feels like a class! I am enjoying them very much! They are doing a good job with homework, and we continue to work on study skills and organization, since those are things that will help tremendously in middle school. We finished our Time Capsule activities, which gave the students several chances to present before a group. That is a skill we will continue to practice throughout the year. Already, I can see that many of them are speaking up and are much less shy before a group, We are almost finished with our study of the Civil War and Reconstruction. In math, we are finished with place value, including decimal place value, comparing, and ordering. We have also experienced problem solving, using a variety of strategies, including drawing a diagram. It is beneficial for the students to learn that there are many ways to approach problems, and to be able to show and communicate their reasoning through writing, words, pictures, and more. These skills are part of the new math standards. Some of the problems have been quite complex! We are differentiating, which means that on any given day, some of the students may receive help on a skill they are having difficulty with, and other students may be attempting to solve a challenge of some kind. The students are learning about how to engage their audience when they write, through using a hook, organizing their thoughts, and developing a voice, so that their writing has strong elements of style. We are currently working on persuasive writing. Today we worked on different kinds of hooks, including quotations, questions, vivid descriptions, humor, strong opinions, and more. They did a super job! I am amazed at the students’ ability to work with high –level thinking and to express themselves so well. When we read together, we often discuss the story’s theme, or main ideas. I told them they sound like they are in high school! We have also enjoyed some hands-on science activities, centers, and group activities. Thank you for checking your child’s agenda and signing it on Thursday night and for going over their Thursday folders with them. Thank you for seeing that they read four or more times a week and for signing their reading sheets. The students in this class are very enthusiastic about participating in activities, and it is wonderful to see them develop their talents and interests. We have students participating in the Reflections contest, serving as Safety Patrols or Media Center helpers, helping with the News Show, and learning through karate, chess, and other after school activities. Some of the students will soon be staying after school for Book Club or chorus, and soon we will start 4-H for those who are interested. We are planning to publish student writing on our class blog soon. We will also keep you updated about Rock Eagle and other upcoming activities. Thank you for all your continued help and support! Sincerely, Dixie Minor |