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Monthly Archives: November 2020

December 1st, 2020 – Abraham Lincoln and MAP Reading Test Week

Hello Families!

I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving break and were able to spend some quality time with your family.  As strange as this year has been, I’m so thankful for a moment to reset and recharge for the coming weeks!

Reading

This week the kids will practice visualization, cause and effect and idioms as we learn about Abraham Lincoln.  We will also take round #2 of the MAP Reading Test this week.  Even though we’ll be busy, you can still expect a spelling list to come home Tuesday evening, along with a reading homework assignment.

Math

In math class, the kids will continue to learn different strategies to add and subtract larger numbers.  Due to our schedule being reduced by a couple of days, I’m anticipating homework coming home every night this week.  However, this is always subject to change if a lesson doesn’t go as planned.

Writing

In writing class, the kids have been working on a presidential profile.  So far, the kids have taken notes, and this we’ll we’ll take the next step and turn those notes into a rough draft.

Headphones and Water Bottles

Just a friendly reminder that students are welcome to bring headphones from home to use in class with their Chromebooks.  Also, kids are still encouraged to bring a water bottle for use during the day as the drinking fountains are still not in use due to COVID restrictions.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

November 16th, 2020 – Reading Unit 3 Begins

Hello Families!

Are we really half-way through November?  That’s just crazy to me.  Before you know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here and we’ll be on to 2021!

Reading 

This week, the kids will begin unit 3 (week 1) in reading.  We will practice visualization, synonyms and discuss problems and solutions while reading various folktales.  We will resume spelling this week, and you can expect a list to come home Monday evening.  

Math

In math class, the kids will begin to practice rounding numbers.  This can be a tricky skill, and most of our lessons this week will be two-day sessions.  I anticipate homework on the following evenings.

Monday – No Homework

Tuesday – Homework 3-5

Wednesday – No Homework

Thursday – Homework 3-6

Friday – Homework 3-7

Reading Homework

Reading homework will also continue this week.  The kids will bring a new story home Monday, and it will again be due on Friday.  Thank you so much for those of you that took the time to help your child with his/her one-minute reads last week.  Also, please remind your child to practice answer the comprehension questions in complete sentences. 

Writing

In the homeroom writing class, the kids have begun their 2nd quarter research reports.  Each child has chosen a president, and they began taking notes about that president last week.  This week, we’ll likely begin a rough draft.  After the Thanksgiving break, we’ll write a final draft.  They have done a great job so far, and I’m excited to share their finished work with your during the spring conferences.  

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

November 9th, 2020 – Reading Unit 2 Ends and Math Unit 3 Begins

Hello Families!

I hope you are having a nice weekend, and are able to recharge your batteries for the week ahead.

Reading 

This week, the kids will begin week 2, of unit 6 in reading.  This is our Unit Test week, so we will spend the first part of the week reviewing skills, and end the week taking the test.  There will be no spelling words this week.

Math

In math class, the kids will begin their third unit of the year.  This unit will focus on addition and subtraction strategies, which will be a nice break from multiplication and division.  The kids missed a lot of subtraction instruction during 4th quarter, so I anticipate this unit might be challenging for some kids.  We’ll take it slow, if necessary, and make sure they understand the concepts they would have been introduced to last spring.  I anticipate homework on the following evenings…

Monday – Homework 3-1

Tuesday – Homework 3-2

Wednesday – No Homework

Thursday – Homework 3-3

Friday – Homework 3-4

Reading Homework

This week the kids will begin a new literacy homework assignment.  This assignment will come home on Monday, and will be due at the end of the week on Friday.  Each weekly assignment has a story to read, a few comprehension questions, and a fluency rate to fill out.  On the back, there are a number of repetitive questions that review skills we practice each week in class.

We’ll practice this assignment in class, and ideally they will be able to complete the assignment at home independently.  The only thing they will need help with is five 1-minute reads for fluency practice.

Headphones and Water Bottles

Just a reminder that kids are welcome to bring headphones from home to use with their Chromebooks.  The ones I offer don’t always fit right, and are quite inexpensive.  In other words, they don’t last.

Also, the kids are encouraged to bring water bottles from home for use in class.  We still can’t use the drinking fountains due to COVID, so they come in pretty handy when the kids are thirsty.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

Class Web Site:  Mr. Wachter’s Class

 

November 4th, 2020 – Poetry Week

Hello Families!

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the nice warm weather!  We had better enjoy it while it lasts!

Reading

This week in reading (Unit 2, Week 5) the kids will learn from a variety of different poems.  We’ll again discuss point of view, similes and nouns.  Being that it’s a short week, we will not have a spelling test on Friday.

Math

In math class the kids will spend Wednesday reviewing for their Unit 2 Test.  We’ll take most of the test Thursday, then finish up any last problems on Friday.  The kids will have a review homework on Wednesday, but no homework on Thursday or Friday.

Conferences

I really enjoyed meeting with so many of you via Zoom last week during conferences.  As weird as that format is, it was nice to celebrate the growth of you children with you!  If I didn’t meet with you, I will send home the cover sheets of what we would have discussed this week.  If you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter