Reading: We will finish Frozen Stiff next week and it STILL continues to have us on the edge of our seats. We reached the climax yesterday and I thought our class was going to fall over. The story itself is exciting, and the writing that tells the story is fantastic. The kids can go on Edmodo this weekend to look at a few pictures and videos of images of Hubbard glacier and other things referenced in the book (like crampons and huckleberries). Ask your child about what is happening in Frozen Stiff- what twist did Cody learn about that changed our understanding of the story? Ask your child about his/ her January reading goal- how is he/she trying to accomplish it?
Writing: Our second trimester focus is on informational writing. Your child will have several opportunities to learn about some topics of their choice and then report on them in a variety of ways. We've started to discuss and study the elements of informational writing; we've also looked at a variety of genres of informational writing (newspapers, books, directions, recipes, magazines, museum blurbs, etc) Ask your child about their quick write: "How to scare your teacher." Ask them about the article on the topic of listening to music too loudly.
Centers: Our centers focused on run-on sentences, synonyms and antonyms, typing training, and a small group reading that focused on text structure with me. Ask your student about how to "fix" a run-on sentence (break it into two with a period, or add "but, and, or, so, because").
Math: We started math class off this week learning about factors, multiples, composite, and prime numbers. We made a booklet for our spiral notebooks and worked on a few sheets in our book. After we understood all of those terms we went back to long division. We practiced long division using the standard algorithm for 2,3, and 4 digit numbers divided by 1 number. All of our math lessons are uploaded on Educreations so students can listen to them at home while doing their homework. Ask your child how they are doing with long division. Can they solve 3267 divided by 2?
Social Studies: Before winter vacation everyone finished their book creator on the Northeast. This week we got to share our books! Students presented their books to the class. Even though we all studied the same region there were many different facts we learned from each other. We also saw how different their books are! Ask your child how their presentation went.
Science: Our students are now learning about magnetism from Mrs. Darley. Ask your child what they learned this week!
Miscellaneous Information
- PTO Information: Holmes Elementary has partnered with Parenthesis and Smart Love Family Services to host a workshop focused on “Taking the Stress Out of Homework”. The workshop will be held on January 9th from 9-11 A.M. at Holmes school, and child care will be provided. Both the workshop and child care are being offered free of charge. Holmes is inviting all school communities to attend. Registration is required (but very easy), so that their PTO has an accurate count for child care needs.
- Oak Park Education Foundation: Registration for MLK Day Build 4 Good BASE Camp on Jan 18 is open and scholarships are still available! All kids from any school are invited to join us from 8 am - 3 pm (Extended Camp is available from 3-6 pm) at Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth, Oak Park. Learn more and register online at opef.org/base-camp. Registration for Summer BASE Camp will open on Jan 30; the first 2 weeks will be a mad rush, with some of the most popular camps selling out; scholarships available for free/reduced lunch families
- Oak Park Education Foundation: Battle of the Bots (a FREE fun outing for elementary families) is on Feb 6 at Julian Middle School
- Oak Park Education Foundation: OPEF's Open House will be on Feb 27 at Beye (new location); it's a great way to introduce families to OPEF, with a morning of FREE hands-on projects for K-6 kids; plus folks can learn more about and register for Summer BASE Camp
- Oak Park Education Foundation: Staszak Annual Gala on 4/16; Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" newsquiz, will be our host! Always looking for volunteers to help with this important event, if you or someone you know loves to plan a party -- or if you have an angle on potentially awesome auction donors -- please email opefgala@gmail.com (which will reach Gala co-chairs Kandy Shapiro and Carrie Cotter)
