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Monthly Archives: February 2021

March 1st, 2021 – Fossil Dig and Read Across America Week

Hello Families!

Ah, spring has sprung!  It’s so nice to see that warm temperatures are here, and hopefully will be here to stay!

Reading

This week is week 3 of Unit 5 in reading.  The kids will learn about teamwork this week, as we read a variety of expository texts about the benefits of working together.   We’ll practice asking and answering questions, discuss point of view, context clues and subject-verb agreements in grammar.  You can expect a spelling list to come home Monday, as well as the final reading homework assignment of the year.

Math

In math, we’ve begun unit 5.  The kids are learning about area and perimeter, and we’ll continue with that this week.  I anticipate homework on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings if all goes well.

Writing

The kids will complete their Personal Essay writing assignments this week.  It’s been a long journey, and I look forward to you reading their completed projects.  I will be sure to send a copy home, as well as include it in their year-end portfolio.

Health

The kids are learning about Nutrition again this week.  Last week we learned about the dangers of too much sugar, and the importance of a balanced diet.  This week, we’ll learn about the power of advertising and making good choices when buying food.  Beware…your shopping list may be influenced by their good choices!  🙂

Fossil Dig!

On Friday, the kids will complete a fossil dig.  This activity is quite messy, so I would encourage the kids to wear comfortable clothes that aren’t too fancy!  The plaster molds won’t stain their clothes, but then plaster does tend to get everywhere.  It’s always a fun activity, and one the kids tend to remember long past third grade.

Zoom kids will have a mold ready for them to pick up Friday morning, if they choose to partake.  The only catch is they will need a screwdriver and perhaps a hammer to help them chisel out and excavate the prize inside the mold.  And again, it’s very messy, so the driveway might be the best place to do some digging.  🙂

If this sounds like too much work, they are welcome to skip this activity, and can end their day a little early on Friday at approximately 2:30.

Read Across America Week

Attached is a flyer explaining the spirit week activities for Read Across America Week.  The kids are welcome to dress as described each day, and we’ll enjoy those fun books each day during the week.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

February 22nd, 2021 – Unit 4 Math Test Week

Hello Families!

Hard to believe, but we are coming down the stretch of third quarter!  Where does the time go?

Reading

This week in reading (Unit 5, Week 2), the kids will learn through a variety of texts about recycling.  We’ll practice point of view, summarizing and homographs during our weekly lessons, as well as object pronouns in our grammar lesson.  Spelling will resume again this week, and you can expect a list and a reading homework to come home Monday evening.

Math

In math, we’ll take our Unit 4 (part 2) test this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We’ll review Monday, and then start a new unit at the end of the week.  I anticipate homework on only Monday and Friday evenings due to the test.

Health

The kids will begin a series of lessons on nutrition on Monday.  We’ll explore nutrition, the effects of sugar, how ads can influence what you eat and spend lots of time learning about healthy dietary choices!

Writing

In writing, the kids will begin writing their personal essay rough drafts this week.  By the end of the week we may even begin polishing those into their final drafts.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

February 17th, 2021 – Unit 5 Begins

Hello Families!

COVID…snow days…cold days…if we haven’t learned to roll with the punches by now, we never will!  🙂

In reading…we will begin Unit 5.  We’ll do our best to cram five days of lessons into three days.  Due to the cold day, we will skip spelling for the week.  I will also count the reading homework assignment as a bonus, and not something that must be turned in with this being such a short week.

In math…we’ll complete a couple of lessons, and have homework on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

In writing…we’ll begin writing personal essays this week with a series of preparatory lessons.

Zoom families…you will notice a lot of extra work in the kits this week.  Please save any extra papers we don’t use, as those assignments will likely get pushed back a week due to the cold day.

Have a great week and stay warm!

Eric Wachter

February 8th, 2021 – Unit 4 Reading Test Week

Hello Families!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  The game is just about to start, and I hope it’s a classic!  I don’t really care who wins, but I think I’m going for Tampa Bay because they have a few Huskers on their team.

Reading

This week the kids will take their Unit 4 Reading Test.  We’ll spread it out over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so it’s not overwhelming.  There will be no spelling words this week, but we will have a reading homework assignment.

Math

In math, we’ll continue to practice telling time.  As usual, this is a very hit and miss skill.  My goal is pretty simple…can they first tell the hour?  Then the minute?  Next is minutes after the hour?  It gets tricky determining the minutes to the next hour, and calculating elapsed time.  Any practice at home with telling time would be great, and we’ll keep practicing at school.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Eric Wachter