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Monday, November 29, 2010

November 29 - December 3, 2010

Dear Parents,
Hope everyone had a pleasant and safe holiday.

Here is this week's schedule:
Each morning the class will begin to have "Bell work" which will consist of variety of reading concepts.  Concepts covered this week are comprehension, context clues, cause and effect, and generalizations.

Spelling - Words are with the vowel sound as in "shout."  Study spelling words every night.  Your child should have their words cards to study on Monday night.

Reading - How Night Comes From the Sea is the story this week.  Pages 318 - 333.
Vocabulary words:
  • brilliant
  • chorus
  • coward
  • gleamed
  • shimmering
Every Monday the definitions of the words and synonyms are written.

Skills this week:  context clues, cause and effect, and generalizations.
Generalization words are:
  • all
  • never
  • generally
  • every
  • always
  • none
  • most
  • many
  • usually
  • often
  • some
  • sometimes
  • everything
  • few
  • seldom
During reading, on Tuesday and Thursday, we have centers.  The four centers are:
      1.  Writing center - Students are given a topic to write about.  After center time is over, students    
           may share their thoughts.
      2.  Fluency center - Students read to me in small groups.
      3.  Spelling center - Students work on workbook pages on Tuesday.  On Thursday, the class will be    
           using their spelling words to write a story.  Spelling City is a website students will be using to study
           their words. 
      4.  Listening center - Tuesday, the class will listen to the story.  On Thursday, they will play a cause   
           and effect game.

Thank you for listening to your child read on Monday night.  Many students are bringing their books home again on Thursday night to review the story before the test on Friday.

During conferences, we discussed how important it is to read 20 minutes every night.  The objective of the reading is to increase their reading ability and to read at a higher reading level.

December 17 is approaching quickly.  This is the last day for your child to earn their AR goal.  I have been sending papers home showing their current percentage earned and asking for parent signatures.  My goal is for every student to reach their reading goal.  A child should reach their goal by reading every night for 20 minutes. At this time, your child should have 70% of their reading goal.

Language - This week main idea and personal narrative are discussed.  The students are working on a paper titled, "Things I am Thankful for."

Social studies -  The class will read about Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.  Pictures will be shown for each state to help the class see the difference between the states.  Activities will be working on state maps.  Another activity is working on a compare and contrast between each state.  The capitols will be learned for each state.

Cursive - The letters Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, and Qq will be practiced.  I am trying to get through the first book of cursive before the winter holiday.  After the holiday, the class will be writing in cursive.

Continue to work on multiplication facts at home.  Work on the facts your child is having trouble remembering.  Try working on 3 or 4 facts at a time.  It will be less overwhelming for your child.

Have a great week.

Susan Burford

Friday, November 5, 2010

Mrs. Burford's Schedule

                    Mrs. Burford's Schedule for 2011-2012

    8:30 - 8:50  Getting ready for the day.  Fill out agenda. Start bell work.
    8:50 - 9:10  Tier Time and AR reading
    9:15 - 9:45  (M-W- F) Gym.  (T-Th) Music
    9:45-10:15  (T) Computer lab
  9:50 - 10:20  Language (M, W, Th, F)
10:20 - 10:43  Social studies
10:45 - 11:15  Science
11:20 - 11:43 Successmaker lab (T/Th)
11:15 - 11:45  Library (F)
11:45 - 12:10  Lunch
12:20 - 12:35  Recess
    12:40-2:10  Mrs. Chadd's class-spelling and reading
                       Mrs. Burford's class in Mrs. Chadd's class for math     
    2:15 - 2:35  Tier Time
      2:40-3:45  Mrs. Burford's class in room for spelling and reading
              3:50   Clean up
              4:00 - Dismiss