MRS. DRISCOLL 2018 OUR LEARNING FOCUS

Every Student’s Job

I think when I read, listen and look. I track my thinking to help me understand. I can explain and justify my thinking using

what I’ve read, heard and seen.

December Dates: 3 WAMS Library visit 4 Lilly Bookmobile Visits Mrs. Driscoll at a workshop 7 Book orders due Barnes and Noble Book Fair 10 PTG Meeting 6:30pm 12 Governance Council 7:30am 13 Holiday Show 9:30am 17 Sharing our Holidays due 20 Craft-a-thon 9:00am-11:00am Teacher Holiday Luncheon 21 New Year’s Dance 1:15pm 24-Jan 1st NO SCHOOL –vacation

Questions, Comments, Concerns? I’m always available!

Send a note, call or email! 508-799-3575 or

The Craft-a-thon will be on Dec. 20th! All craft items and raffle tickets will sell for 25¢ - the proceeds will

be donated to charity. We made nearly 100 adorable ornaments on November 20th to sell a the Craft-a-thon. (Thank you for your help, Mrs. Kohl and Mrs. Burns!) If possible, please send $1 or $2 with your child on Dec. 20th so s/he can shop. that day.

Holiday Gifts: Please do not feel obligated IN ANY WAY to give a gift! However if you are considering a gift to share with me during the holiday season, please consider donating something to the class-room...a class gift bene-fits everyone!

CLASSROOM WISH LIST Ear buds for each student’s personal use when using the computer, sticky notes, flip chart mark-ers, tissues, strong magnetic clips for chalkboard, ...

HOLIDAY SHOW

Just a reminder—the show is De-cember 13th at 9:30m. Students should wear dark pants or jeans. We are also asking students to send in a spare winter hat to wear the day of the show. We are creating the rest of our costume in school. Children should not wear boots during the day on December 12th or 13th because they are too diffi-cult to dance in. THANK YOU!

We need 1 or 2 parent volunteers to help us sell our crafts on 12/20 from 9:00-11 and to watch our class during the Teacher Luncheon on 12/20 from 11:30-12:30. Please let me know if you are able to help

out on that day! Thank you!!

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS: We continue whole group reading using Mini Les-sons, Phonics/ Word Study, read alouds, shared reading and close reading strategies. We will continue to focus on thinking while reading to monitor comprehension. Additionally, we will continue writing paragraphs using “TIDE” as we pull apart the prompt and restate the question for the T ~ topic sentence, I ~ use Important Details (3 or more), D ~ Ex-plain why the detail is important (detailed explanation), and E reminds us to write an ending. We are using this to write from fiction and non fiction texts. In addition to whole group lessons, we will also continue to meet in reading groups. Please re-member that Reading homework is assigned Monday-Thursday nights. This homework is a priority, and it should be completed before any other homework. Please see the attached updated word list

MATH: We have begun Topic 5. We are revisiting the strategies we used to mentally solve 2 digit addition equations (hundred chart, open number line, compensation, break apart etc, but we are using them for subtraction!) As I’ve mentioned previously, we are not only working on specific math skills, but we are working on problem solving strategies and test taking skills as well. Students are really working hard, and I’ve seen some great growth! We will likely begin Topic 6 before vacation. Topic 6 will teach the standard algorithm (the old fashioned way) for subtraction. When helping with homework, please say “regrouping” or “trading”, NOT “borrowing”. Thank you! FACT MASTERY IS ESSENTIAL!! - Please practice daily!

SOCIAL STUDIES: We will learn about the relationships between producers and con-sumers as we learn the differences between goods and services. We will learn about the many holidays and cultural celebrations that take place in December. Please complete the “Sharing our Holidays” handout and return it by Dec. 17th. If you have any special holiday traditions or customs that you’d like to share with us, please contact me as soon as possible, and we’ll invite you in!

***Many parents have asked me to share my opinion of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. I urge you to stay involved with what your child reads just as you would with whom s/he plays and what s/he does in his/her spare time. Only you know what is best for your family. I suggest you read the books before you decide. Please know that they are written for a middle school audience and there is talk of “Spin the Bottle”, boy/girl parties and middle school dances. There are also words like “butt”, “dumb”, “stupid” and “moron”. ***

Please sign below indicating you’ve received this newsletter. THANKS! We have received Mrs. Driscoll’s December, 2018 newsletter. ________________________________ ________________ Name Date

Please sign below indicating you’ve received this newsletter. THANKS! We have received Mrs. Driscoll’s December, 2018 newsletter. __________________________________ ________________ Name Date

. Please sign below indicating you’ve received this newsletter. THANKS! We have received Mrs. Driscoll’s December, 2018 newsletter. __________________________________ ________________ Name Date

Please sign below indicating you’ve received this newsletter. THANKS! We have received Mrs. Driscoll’s December, 2018 newsletter. __________________________________ ________________ Name Date