News from Mrs. Head

Mrs. Head's January News Items

Here are som notes about what will be happening in our class during the month of January:

Language Arts

As you may have noticed, we have started working on journaling and other types of writing.  Even though this has been challenging for many of our classmates, they are gaining new confidence with their writing skills.  And even if the spelling isn’t perfect, the words and ideas are starting to make sense.  Plus, here’s the best part ~ every child’s unique “voice” is beginning to emerge!

We are making progress with our high-frequency words, spelling lists and weekly word families.  Please encourage your child to practice these words, even if it’s only for a few minutes each day.

Math

Our math series will build on skills the children have already mastered, and will also introduce new concepts such as simple fractions, telling time and currency.  Please watch for math homework to come home most nights each week ~ each worksheet should take less than ten minutes to complete, but the practice makes an enormous difference when the written assessments are given.

Social Studies

Toward the end of the month, we will start a new social studies unit titled “Where We Live.”  This unit will focus on understanding maps, using maps and globes to learn about the physical characteristics of our Earth and using our environment responsibly.  We will also learn about different aspects of culture through comparing family life. 

Science  

In December, we began learning about tools of the scientist and states of matter.  This month, we will continue to focus on physical science while we examine the three states of water, understand the magnetic properties of different materials and investigate whether objects sink or float.  Since the weather didn’t really cooperate with our science schedule in December, I’m still hoping we can fit in some experiments with snow and ice (as long as it stays off the roads)!

Extra Notes

Thank you to everyone who contributed items and/or were able to come in for our holiday party.  I truly don’t know what I would do without the support I receive from my students’ families!

Due to some changes in scheduling at the elementary school, our special services schedule will change at the start of the new semester (January 23).  Our students will have specials five days each week, but our library time and a few other things may end up changing in our schedule.

I’d like to try having students bring their favorite book instead of a show-and-tell item when it is their snack day.  They can choose to read it to the class or I can read it for them!

With the cold weather settled in for a few months, please continue to send appropriate outdoor gear for your child ~ there is recess at least twice each day.

There is no school for children on Monday, January 16.  This is a professional inservice day for teachers, and progress reports will be sent home the following week.

Also, the children are scheduled for early dismissal on Thursday and Friday, January 19 and 20.  They will be dismissed at 11:00 both of those days.