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Monthly Archives: September 2020

September 28th, 2020 – Unit Testing Week

Hello Families!

I hope you had a nice weekend, and your child is ready for a new week of school!

Reading and Math

This week, the kids will take unit 1 tests in both reading and math.  In an effort to not overwhelm them, we’ll take the math test over two days on Monday and Tuesday.  Then, we’ll spread the reading test out over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

We won’t have a spelling list this week, and I don’t anticipate any math homework with the exception of Thursday evening (Homework 2-1).  Hopefully this will help the kids stay focused and fresh for the tests.

Writing

We have completed practicing the cursive alphabet, and now will switch our focus to a research project.  We’ll learn how to access information online, practice taking notes and write a report as we research Benjamin Franklin during the next two weeks.

Thanks so much for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

September 21st, 2020 – History Week

Hello Families!

I hope you all had a great weekend!  Personally, I was glued to the couch watching golf and football.  So nice to have some live sports back!

Reading

This week is Unit 1, Week 5 in reading.  We’ll spend the week learning about expository texts while reading about famous landmarks and monuments throughout the United States.  We’ll practice asking and answering questions, as well as finding the main idea of a text.  We’ll also practice correcting run-on sentences, as well as learn about multiple meaning words.  You can expect a practice spelling list to come home Monday, and our weekly test will be on Friday.

Spelling Test

This Friday (I think!), I’m going to attempt a digital form of the spelling test.  I will say the words as always, but the kids will type them into a Google Form document, rather than write them.  I think this will be helpful for the Zoom-In learners, as they can take and submit their test all at the same time.  I’m crossing my fingers we never go to all remote learning, but in case we do, I think it will be helpful for all the kids to know how to do this method.  The nice thing is, the kids will receive an immediate score.  The drawback is they don’t have a physical test to bring home.  Please feel free to email me if you want to know their exact score for the week.  Like I said…I think I’m going to give it a try this week and see how it goes!

Math

In math class, we’ll wrap up our lesson for Unit 1 by mid-week.  Then, we’ll spend a couple days reviewing at the end of the week.  Our unit test will be the following week.  I expect to have homework each night next week, as we prepare for that test.  That is, of course, unless we don’t finish a lesson and get to homework, as was the case Friday.

Monday – Homework 1-15 or 1-16

Tuesday – Homework 1-17

Wednesday – Homework 1-18

Thursday – Review 1.1

Friday – Review 1.2 and 1.3

Writing

In writing, the kids have been learning their capital cursive letters, as well as reviewing their lowercase letters.  I’ve been really impressed with their work so far!  Some kids actually have better cursive than manuscript, I think.  Ha!

Remote Learners

I have tweaked the minutes for our daily schedule, to allow for a little smoother transition between subjects in the afternoon.  Please look at the attachments to see the exact times, but I basically bumped the start of independent work to 1:45, and the start of writing to 2:50.  This should ease the stress trying to stay on schedule in the afternoon.

Thank you so much for returning any papers, work, spelling, homework, etc, that your child is working on.  It really helps me to formulate a grade for them based on their work.  I’ll say again, if they write on it…return it!  I’d love to look at anything they are doing.

Thanks so much for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

Class Web Site:  Mr. Wachter’s Class

September 14th, 2020 – Inventions Week

Hello Families,

I hope this note finds you enjoying the weekend, and you and your children recharge for a new week of school.

Reading

This week (Unit 1, Week 4), the kids will read a variety of biographies about inventors.  We’ll practice asking and answering questions, cause and effect and metaphors.  We’ll also learn about predicates, as last week we learned about sentence subjects.  You can expect a spelling list to come home Monday, and our test will be on Friday.

Math

In math, we’ll continue our study of multiplication and division.  So far, we’ve practiced 5s, 2s, 9s, 3s and 4s.  At the end of the week, we’ll explore the Zero Property and the Property of One, as we learn about 1s and 0s.  Our lesson ran long Friday, and we didn’t get to the homework assignment.  So I think…think…homework will look like this for the week.

Monday – Homework 1-12 or 1-13

Tuesday – No Homework

Wednesday – Homework 1-14

Thursday – No Homework

Friday – Homework 1-15

Zoom-In Learners

Thanks so much for those of you picking up and returning work from home.  I know it’s hard to discern which items are needed when, so hopefully the packets were helpful last week.  They are arranged that way again this week.  I think next week I’ll attempt to bundle each day of math together to make things even easier.

A good rule of thumb is, if we work on something in a lesson…turn it in.  Not just homework, but practice pages in math, any practice pages during reading lessons, spelling tests, etc.  If they write on it…turn it in.  That will really help me get an idea as to how they are comprehending the lessons.

Remote Learners Zoom-In Schedule-September 14-18

Amelia’s Zoom-In Schedule-September 14-18

JaMarkus’s Zoom-In Schedule-September 14-18

Nuisance Items

I’ve noticed a lot of toys, trinkets and trading cards coming from home.  As I tell the kids, I love those things too, but they need to stay at home.  Thanks for helping remind your child not to bring anything non-school related to school.

Headphones

Just a reminder that kids are welcome to bring their own personal headphones from home for use with their Chromebooks.  The ear buds I provide do not last long, sadly, and often don’t fit tiny ears very well.  So, if your child has a favorite pair, please feel free to bring those to school.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

September 8th, 2020 – MAP Reading Test Week

Hello Families,

This week the in-class kids will take their fall Reading MAP Test.  Kids are generally fresher in the morning, so we will flip-flop Math and Word Work/Independent Work on Tuesday and Thursday of this week.  If you’re a Zoom-In family, your child will not have to Zoom in at that time.  Please make note of those adjusted times on the attaches Zoom-In schedules

Reading

In reading, the kids will have a few abbreviated lessons this week focusing on narrative non-fiction texts, and will practice asking and answering questions, sequencing and compound words.

Math

In math, the kids will continue exploring multiplication and division strategies.  We’ll explore 3s and 4s, and learn how to find the area of shapes.  I anticipate homework on the following nights.

Tuesday-Homework 1-10

Wednesday-No Homework

Thursday-Homework 1-11

Friday-Homework 1-12

Zoom-In Learners

I did my best to “streamline” your take home kits this week into two main piles: reading and math.  With the MAP test this week, we will likely not get to all of the activities included, but I’m trying to over-prepare, in case we have time.  At the end of the week, simply turn in anything that is completed, and keep all items that are incomplete.  We may get to those another day.

Another slight adjustment is having the kids come back from lunch and recess at 1:15, rather than 1:20.  That five minutes will allow me to fit in a lesson easier before Independent Work.

I think that’s all for this week!  Thanks again for your patience as I learn to navigate in-class and Zoom-In teaching.  I would rate myself about a C+ right now, so there is lots of room for improvement!  I truly appreciate helping you recreate the school experience at home, and help them make the most of their learning.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter