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Monthly Archives: January 2020

January 27th, 2020 – Aviation Week!

Hello Families!

This week, your child’s classroom will be learning about aviation.  We’ll practice rereading, cause and effect, homographs and homophones through a variety of expository texts about flight.  The wonder of flying always seems to intrigue kids, so I’m looking forward to a great week of work!  This is week 4.4 in reading, and you can expect a spelling list and literacy homework to come home on Monday.

In math, we’re at the halfway point of unit 4, and will take a short test over the first portion of our study of fractions and measurement.  We’ll begin to practice telling time, and read and create a variety of graphs in part 2 of unit 4.  I anticipate a review homework coming home on Monday, then homework on Thursday and Friday following the test.

In writing, we’re wrapping up our “What am I?” animal adaptations book.  The kids did a great job researching an animal, and writing descriptive clues about their animal for our book.  It’s been fun to hear their writing, and listen to the class guess what animal is being described.  Next, we’ll begin to learn how to write personal essays.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

January 21st, 2020 – Animal Adaptations Week

Hello Families!

This week, the kids will begin to learn about Animal Adaptations.  In reading, we’ll practice rereading strategies and compare and contrast various animals in a variety of expository texts.  The kids will also begin exploring animal adaptations in writing class, and will complete an animal mini-research report for a classroom book.  You can expect a spelling list (4.3) to come home Tuesday, as well as a literacy homework assignment.

In math class, the kids will continue learning about fractions, and we’ll practice comparing fractions with different denominators.  Towards the end of the week, we’ll begin exploring different units of measure.  In my math class, I anticipate homework on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.  That of course is subject to change, especially if we struggle with a lesson, or get hit with another snow day!

The kids have been studying nutrition in Health class.  We’ve learned about the five food groups, and completed a lesson about how to read fruit/soda drink labels.  This week, we’ll spend time analyzing food commercials in an effort to recognize what foods are good or bad for us.  Then on Thursday, teachers from the UNL Extension Office will make a return visit (they first came on January 9th) and teach the kids how to make a healthy snack.

Thanks for reading, stay warm and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

January 13, 2020 – Morrill Hall Week

Hello Families!

This week the class will take their first field trip of the year!  On Tuesday, we’ll travel to Morrill Hall at 12:00, and return at approximately 2:45.  Since we leave at noon, the kids will eat early, at approximately 11:15.  The kids will learn what it’s like to be paleontologists as they enhance what they have learned about fossils in science class.  They will also get to tour the museum, and get to explore and play in the hands-on “Encounter Center.”  It’s a great trip and always one of the highlights of the year!

In reading, the kids will practice asking and answering questions, point of view and contractions as we read a variety of realistic fiction stories.  We will have literacy homework this week, and you can expect a spelling list (Unit 4, Week 2) to come home Monday evening, as well.

In math class, the kids will continue practicing fractions.  The first two lessons this week will take two days each, so I anticipate homework in my math class on TuesdayThursday and Friday evenings.

In writing class, the kids are practicing a variety of different poems.  They’ll finish up their “Cinquain Snow Globes” this week, and decorate their lockers with the finished product.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

January 7th, 2020 – Happy New Year!

Hello Families!

I hope your family had a great holiday season and your new year is off to a great start!  Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing your kids, and getting back into a regular routine.  It seems like we’ve been out of school forever!

In reading, we’ll spend a fair amount of time getting everyone that was sick the last week of school caught up on their end-of-semester reading exams.  We’ll also learn about point of view, root words and practice asking and answering questions through folktale stories.  We will have spelling this week, and you can expect a practice list to come home Tuesday evening.

In math, the kids will take their mid-year Math MAP test.  We’ll also spend a fair amount of time getting those kids that were sick the last week of school caught up on their end of semester math exams.  What a nice way to come back to school, huh?  Test, test, test!  🙂  Our new unit will begin with fraction practice.  I only anticipate one homework assignment in my class due to the testing, which would likely be Thursday or Friday evening.

Speaking of the illnesses in December, I’ve never seen anything quite like it in my 21 years at Arnold.  Our class was really decimated with sickness, so I hope everyone has been able to rest up and recover!

Lastly, our class will be going to Morrill Hall on Tuesday, January 14th.  An information letter will be coming home (likely Wednesday) that has all the details.  You can also find the letter on our web site, under the “Events” tab.

Thanks or reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter