"Sharpen The Saw" Family Night This Thursday!

Students watch amazing school announcements on video every morning.

I hope you had an excellent weekend!  Here are the updates for this week.

Homework Journals
Thanks again for getting those Homework Journals in to me last week and again this week.  Last week I was so impressed that every single student brought in their journals and had writing for me to read.  And you did it again this week!  Thank you!

Reminder About Our Humanities Schedule
Our art teacher, Mrs. Brooks, is planning a painting lesson this coming Thursday.  Have your children wear less important clothing on that day!  Just as a reminder, here is our room’s weekly schedule of special classes:
Monday: Spanish and Gym
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: Library
Thursday: Computer Lab and Art
Friday: Gym

"Sharpen The Saw" Family Night
As I mentioned a few weeks back, "Sharpen The Saw" Family Night is this Thursday, October 16th.  This will be a fun night of family games and activities.  I will be there helping out and running some of the games.  Admission is FREE!  That night the Silver Springs Staff will also be sponsoring a silent auction to benefit The Leader in Me and pizza and drinks will be on sale.

Halloween Parade
Silver Springs will be celebrating Halloween with our annual costume parade on October 31st.  Students will bring their costume to school that day and we will change in the afternoon for our party and the parade.  The parade will begin at 2:45 PM.  We will parade around the hallways of the school building.  Parents and families are welcome to dress in costume and attend the parade.  Parents will have a special viewing location located in our gym.  If you would like, you can see me after the parade to sign out your child.  You must sign students out with me if they are going to leave early with you.  Please follow these guidelines when planning your costume:
-Face make-up, hairspray, etc. must be applied at home.
-No fake weapons of any kind are allowed at school.
-No fake blood and no scary costumes. (If it might scare a kindergartener, please don’t wear it!) We encourage students to dress like a storybook or historical character, superhero, or something else fun and positive! 

Parent Teacher Conference Sign Ups
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 12th, 13th, and 14th.  I have created a online sign up form at SignUpGenius.com where you can choose the time that works best for you.  It is important that I meet with all of you, if the times posted don't fit your schedule please let me know.  You can access the sign up page by clicking here.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Studying how characters change across a text.

Math - Three digit addition up to 1,000

Writing - Writing about our lives, stretching out small moments into fantastic writing pieces.  This week we will begin focusing on the writing process: drafting, editing, revising, and publishing.  Publishing is simply perfecting one favorite piece.

Science - Earth Science, understanding that when it rains some rainwater soaks into the earth while other water flows downhill forming streams and rivers that eventually flow into the ocean.

Social Studies - We have begun our new unit which is called “Where is my Community” by learning about maps.  We are learning that using the title, map key, symbols, and directions can help us to read a map.
   
Word Study - This week, in addition to their word sorts, students are also beginning their instruction on vocabulary.  We will begin a vocabulary journal in which students will be defining vocabulary words (from both curriculum and everyday life), identifying synonyms & antonyms, illustrating the words as well as using them in a sentence.  Games, songs and cooperative work will reinforce the words   

Leadership – Organizing our leadership notebooks.  Working on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind.