Week of October 1, 2018

Important dates:

October 2 - Parent Teacher Conferences

October 4 - Parent Teacher Conferences

October 5 - School Picture Day

October 8 - 12 Fall Break

October 19 - Ms. Nellis gone

Classroom News (all grades):

All students that come to my classroom have a punch card. If they are showing Wrangler STAR behavior (safe, thoughtful, accountable, and respectful) and try their best or put forth their best effort, they get a punch for that day. Students can trade in their punches for a reward worth 5, 10, 15 and 20 punches.

Many students have started to redeem their rewards and have been so excited. The pizza party they can get for 20 punches seems to be a big hit. Be sure to ask your student which reward they are working for!

New programs we are using this year to support learning:

I have been using the following programs to support students learning needs this year. We are in full swing with these programs and other materials to help students reach their IEP goals.

While different grade levels are using the same programs, students have been place at a level that is right for them and their learning.

Kindergarten and 1st grade - Fundations

2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades - Wilson Reading

Kindergarten News:

Kindergarteners are working hard during Personal Support time (PS) to work independently. Students have been practicing what independent work time looks like and sounds like so they are able to take these skill in to their classrooms. Students have been working on practicing their names and we are doing a lot of work with letter names and sounds as well as writing letters.

1st Grade News: First grade is working on independent work and how to be independent in the classroom. We are working to transfer this skill into the classroom. We have been working hard on writing names independently. I have been doing a read aloud each day to model fluency. We have been working with addition with manipulatives for math and patterns.

2nd Grade News: 2nd grade students are working on all things weather. We are currently reading "Fly Guy Presents: Weather" and the kids are loving it. We spend time each day connecting the book to what students are learning in their classrooms and with what we have seen here in Colorado as well as on the news. The kids in this group have loved their reading lesson each day. Be sure to ask them what it means to 'tap out' a word. We also just began our mini weather "Meteorologist for a Day" project. The kids are loving it and don't seem to realize how much math I have put into this project ;)

3rd Grade News:

3rd graders are having so much fun with their reading lessons each day. They have really taken a liking to what we are doing and I have been so impressed with their willingness to work. Make sure you ask your students how to 'tap out' a word they don't know. I have loved seeing some students use this new strategy in their classes. Each student in this group has unique math goals and I have been working with students in a more one on one setting to target their math goals. It is going well so far.

4th Grade News:

Students have enjoyed the routine of class this year. We complete a reading lesson each day, do a read aloud, and then complete an additional reading or math task each day. This group this year has done such a fantastic job and working together as a team each day and cheering each other on when things seems to get difficult. I am so impressed by how quickly they are learning things. I am surprised at how fast we are moving through our lessons.

Hope you have a great week. I look forward to seeing you at parent teacher conferences.

As always, please reach out with questions or concerns.

Best,

Ms. Nellis