January 29 - February 2

Hi Families,

Students decided this week that our class wanted to BE the Change by helping to pick up trash rather than walking past it. You can remind your child that they can try this at home too!! :)


Check out the pictures below from the Celebrate NDLC Dress Up Days!

Students got together with their first grade buddies to celebrate being adventurous!

Reminders/Updates

• Please fill out and return the pink confirmation forms with your child ASAP.
• Field Trip forms for Beauty and the Beast were sent home this week. Return those as well!
• STEAM classes will be doing a project and is in need of newspaper. If you have any that you are willing to donate, send them in!

Don't forget...January is a BIG month for our school!  There are many informational events taking place to help others learn more about New Directions.  Please share these dates with anyone you think may be interested in learning more about what a great place New Directions is for students to learn and grow!

Thursday, February 1st-6:00-7:00 PM-Info Session at New Directions


Families can also call Mrs. Frischmann at 766-6116 to set up individual tours.

Upcoming Events

February 1: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7
February 14: Wear Pink/Red
February 16: Funky Friday Wear

Curriculum Update

Math: We finished up Unit 3 this week by taking the test. Take some time to go over it with your child, sign it, and turn it back in. We'll put them in our portfolios! We also took the Mid Year test to assess all that students have learned so far. That means next week we get to start Unit 4, which is Fractions, Measurement, and Time! We'll start by talking about what a fraction is and the terms we use when describing fractions, like numerators and denominators. Fractions are a new concept to students so it will be helpful to show your child where they might see fractions at home! For example, if you're cutting a pizza into 8 equal sized pieces, and you take one slice, you took 1/8 of the pizza. Or, if you have a family of 6, your child is 1/6 of the family. Having students hear fraction terms (one-eighth or one-fourth) and realize that fractions are all around them will get them feeling more comfortable with fractions. 

Writing: This week students have been working on writing a compare/contrast essay between two characters, relationships, or lessons in two books. We have been typing these on Google Docs. Actually, for this essay, students have gotten the chance to voice type! Next week, we'll be working to improve these essays with introductions, topic sentences, and as always reading it over to check to make sure it makes sense. We are getting towards the end of our Opinion unit--if you have internet access at home, feel free to check out your child's work or they're always welcome to work on it at home as well! 

Word Study: We have been working on vowel-consonant-e words, like PINE. Next week, we'll continue with this by discussing vowel-consonant-e syllables, like misTAKE, and exceptions to the v-e rule, like GIVE (the e is silent, but it doesn't make the vowel i say its name.) Have your child work on the Word Study pack a little bit each night! Students also have been trying to use the trick words in one sentence, so if your child is feeling creative, challenge them to write a sentence including the three trick words for next week: right, place, and together. 

Reading: This past week in Reading we looked at how all stories tend to go. They follow the same predictable pattern--a plot mountain. In the beginning of books readers are introduced to characters and usually where the story takes place (setting). Then as you go up the mountain (story) you are introduced to the problems. The climax is the top of the mountain where the problems have escalated and things can't get much worse. Then as you go down the mountain there is a turning point. Something occurs that causes the problems to seem like they might get better and then lastly there is usually a solution to the problems or it is resolved in some way. This coming week we are continuing to pay attention to characters and how they react to their problems. This can usually tell us A LOT about them. We will also start to study the secondary characters in books and realize that they are usually impacting the main character in some way!

Reading at this point in the year for homework is going to be really important! We want students to be building their stamina and practicing their skills. This extra practice will be helpful to build their comprehension as they enter newer reading levels. Here are some possible questions to ask your child about their reading....

• What is the biggest problem your character is facing in your book?

• How do you think your character's biggest problem will be solved?

• Name a secondary character in your book. What role do they play? (advisor, sidekick, challenger) Why?

• What's the turning point in your book?

• What lesson did your character learn? (In life....)

• Tell me about the part you are currently reading. How does this part fit with the rest of the story?

Content: Students have been LOVING our new unit on motion and design! We began by building a model vehicle. I have been impressed with how well the students have been working together in a group and resolving their issues. Next week, we'll build upon the model that we created and do some close reading of an article of a drag racer! Check out Seesaw for pictures and videos of students creating and testing their vehicles!

Know that you can always contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Jenny